Chapter 314

"Tea?" Sebastian asked Pearl as she carried Christian to the breakfast table.

"Yes please. How long have you been up?" She asked.

"A little while. I have a lot on my mind and much to do." Sebastian said.

"Mr. Delaney has arrived." One of the house staff announced.

"Mr. Delaney?" Pearl asked.

"Yes. Please, come meet him." Sebastian said.

They walked into the living room to see an older man, maybe late 60's, with glasses,

in dress pants and a brown and blue argyle sweater with a bow tie.

"Little Bash, it's so wonderful to see you." He said. His accent was think and proper sounding. Cockney, she thought.

"Mr. Delaney. Thank you so much for coming. How is retirement treating you?" He asked.

"I have ne'er fished more in m' life." He said, smiling.

"I want you to meet Pearl." He said. "Pearl, this is Mr. Delaney. He was my grandfather's personal advisor and advisor to Edward for a short while before he decided early retirement was... best suited for him. He is also mine and Louis' godfather." Sebastian said.

"Please, call me Samuel. 'Tis an honor." He said.

Pearl shook his hand and smiled.

"Wow! It is wonderful to meet you." Pearl said. Sebastian invited him to sit and offered him a cup of tea.

"Yes, once upon a time, I was a king's right hand and at the center of British rule. Your grandfather and I did great things in his later years of life during my service. He wanted a young and fiery man, one with ambition and new ideas. We were going to change the world. And instead, he became ill and Edward came into power. Two years in and I had to take my leave. I don't like to involve myself with organized crime and unfortunately, there really is not any other word for Edward and his thugs." Samuel said.

"I appreciate that about you." Sebastian said. He turned to Pearl. "Samuel and I stayed in touch, of course. He and my father are the best of friends."

"Yes. And I must confess, this news of your true birthright is not surprising to me. Since you were a wee lad, I always knew you were a going to be a great man." He said. "And so, dear boy. It sounds as if things have taken quite the turn since I left." Samuel said, smiling.

"Indeed they have, sir." He said.

"And this is Christian?" He asked, looking at him in Pearl's arms.

"It is." Sebastian said, proudly.

Samuel looked at him and smiled. "Congratulations to you both." He said. "My, my, what a unique situation you find yourselves in." He said, sipping his tea.

"Indeed." Sebastian said. "Looks as though I will need some advising. Do you know where I could find a good confidant that can help me overthrow a corrupt crown, become a king, turn an archaic monarchy into a modern democracy and spend the rest of my life happily ever after with the woman I love and my beautiful children?" Sebastian asked.

Samuel lifted his eyebrow and turned one corner of his mouth into a smile.

"As a matter of fact, I happen to know someone that may be suited for that." He said with a cunning smile. Sebastian looked at him knowingly and smiled. "I thought you might." He said.

Later that day, Pearl found Sebastian upstairs, looking into Christian's crib as he slept.

"Hey there. I found you." She said. He looked up at her and she saw his eyes were reddened and tear filled.

"What's wrong?" She asked, walking over to him and putting her hand on his.

"Nothing is wrong. I am just so in love with this beautiful little creature. Look at him." He said. "Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?" He asked. She looked at him, this big, strong military man, crying from the outpouring of love for his infant son.

"Yes. Yes I have." She said. She stood on her tip toes and kissed him. He smiled, kissing her back.

He took her hand and walked her out of the room, continuing to walk to his bedroom. Standing her at the foot of his bed, he took off his shirt and he kissed her again, bringing her face to his with his hands. He turned her and laid her down running his hand along the side of her face and pulling her into his arms.

He was right, she thought. If he wanted this, he didn't need to ask. She was going to give herself to him again and hopefully, he would keep her forever.

She smiled and pulled off her dress and then her panties. He watched her and smiled back. Their lovemaking was so personal and intimate and made her feel happy and wanted and beautiful not just carnally satisfied.

"What is this called?" He asked, tracing her throat and landing his fingers at the hollow in between her collar bones.

"I don't know." Pearl said, giggling.

"I love this part of you. The way it sits in between these bones. So feminine and perfect." He said, kissing it gently.

She smiled and ran her hands through this hair. He kissed her collar bones and then moved back up her neck, meeting her mouth.

"To be here, with you like this, is a kind of dream. A dream I never want to wake up from." Sebastian said, moving over her and lifting his weight onto his elbows, kissing her. He looked into her eyes as he entered her, both of them seeing and feeling the intensity between them. The electricity in the silence was more powerful than any words could describe.

He moved in and out of her, looking into her eyes and kissing her mouth and her throat, cradling her head gently in his hands.

She came, wrapping her legs around him and whispering his name. She could feel his body begin to tremble as his peak neared but he stopped and then pulled out, emptying himself on her tummy.

It was unexpected, and Pearl's expression told him she wanted an explanation.

"I don't want to put any more stress on you right now. The last thing we need is for another child to come into this before we are finally stable enough to give him a life he can have peace in." He said. "I won't allow us to create another life until we are truly secure and hopefully, fully together and happy."

No man in her life had ever done that. Had cared enough about her or another life more than themselves, in the heat of the moment.

"That is a great idea." She said.

He smiled and kissed her. "I'm famished." He said, helping her up and getting dressed.

"Me too." She said, smiling.