While Lucien had gotten Alexander ready for bed and given him his bedtime feed, Sabrina had put the finishing touches to their Christmas Eve dinner. She’d cooked beef stew and dumplings, which would be followed with a light chocolate mousse—Lucien’s favorite.
She still worried about her husband, but they’d been in Lexington for a couple of days and he already seemed in a lighter mood. It was as though his worry had fallen away now that he was close to his family. She didn’t really know how she felt about that because she was his family.
Her husband wasn’t only layered with scars; he had so much depth that it scared her sometimes. They’d had a very bumpy start that had lasted a good while, but once he’d taken her to his house in Denver, everything had come together. Now she wasn’t too sure what was going on with him. She knew what he told her, but getting anything out of him was like getting a tooth pulled at the dentist—painful.
The meal was now out on the table, and her one glass of wine for the evening poured.
Instead of waiting for Lucien to appear, she decided to slip down to their son’s bedroom and watch her two men together. The socks on her feet meant that she didn’t make a sound and as she approached, she heard Lucien as he whispered to their son. She couldn’t make out what he said, but as she peered around the corner, he had a book on his lap. He’d glance at their son in his arms and then back to the book as he read him a Christmas story, and her heart melted.
Lucien glanced up and noticed her, the smile on his face, the one he reserved for her, was radiant. At that moment she knew that there had been no reason to worry. Her husband felt true happiness with them, and if she was honest with herself, they were both happier for being back in Kentucky.
He stood and placed their son in his crib and with one last glance, walked toward her. Sabrina’s heart felt so full that it might burst with the look on his face. He cupped her face between his hands and tenderly caressed along each cheekbone. He backed her out of the room and kissed her. He kissed her long and deep until her knees started to buckle and her toes curled with delight.
*
Lucien had seen the look on Sabrina’s face when he caught sight of her before she’d masked it into a smile. She’d been worried, and he knew he had caused it. If he hadn’t voiced his worry at his wife’s urging, then she wouldn’t have had more to worry about.
He broke the kiss, and smiled when she moaned and tried to capture his mouth with her own. “More.” She kissed his chin and moved down to his neck and collarbone.
“Let’s go eat, and talk, because I can see the worry in your eyes.”
She dropped her head to his chest and he felt her inhale against him.
“You smell good. You always do.” Sabrina smiled up at him and let him take her hand as they walked to the table that she’d set out beautifully.
The table was black marble, and Sabrina had placed green napkins down to match the red plates. He smiled. She’d obviously done some shopping because he only remembered having black plates and dishes in the cupboards.
“You like?” She smiled, and urged him to take his seat.
She’d made his favorite dish and served it with potatoes. His belly rumbled at the sight, but he found that he couldn’t eat just yet. He needed to make Sabrina realize that he really was all right. He took a sip of wine and said, “I love you.”
He was glad that he’d caught her off guard. Oh, she knew that he loved her but it wasn’t something he usually just blurted out.
“Back in Denver, I suffered from anxiety, Sabrina. It was an accumulation of my life being turned upside down, and for the better. Once we arrived in Lexington, and I mentioned to you about moving back here, everything seemed to fall in to place.”
Sabrina reached for his hand, staying silent while he continued.
“When I locked my emotions away, I found it easier living away from my family, but once I had you, and eventually Alexander, everything was unlocked and I missed being here.” He sighed. “Am I making any sense to you?”
“Oh, Lucien. You are making so much sense, and I’m so glad that you’ve finally let the past go because that’s really what you’re telling me, isn’t it?”
He felt tearful at Sabrina’s words because she was right. He had finally let the past go, and he looked forward to their future in Lexington.
“Fuck,” the last word to leave Ramon’s mouth before his cell smashed in the hearth. That fucking woman would be the death of him.
He turned and found Noah standing behind him with a huge smile as he tried to contain his laughter. “What did she say?” Noah finally gave in and chuckled.
“You would find it funny,” Ramon grumbled.