Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [87]
Then suddenly Ashton held still within her, looked down into her eyes. “Wa-Do,” he whispered hoarsely before starting his rhythm again. This time the pace was faster and faster, deeper and deeper. He threw his head back for one final, earth-shattering thrust at the same moment she screamed out his name in her own powerful release.
He rubbed his cheek against hers, overflowing with all the love any man could possibly feel for one woman. He had seen the difficulties ahead and had prepared for them…or so he had thought. He didn’t think anything would ever have fully prepared him for Netherland Kalloren Brooms and what she did to his heart and his soul. This woman was his dream, his vision and his reality. He had come out of the darkness into the light. Out of the fire and back into her arms.
And that’s where he intended to stay.
Chapter 25
The church was packed for the christening of Rio Maurice Nathan Grant.
Being held in his father’s arms, the infant slept through the entire ceremony, even when he was passed around to each of his three godfathers, Dex Madaris, Ashton Sinclair and Drake Warren. Everyone had done a double take when Sir Drake arrived at the church in a suit. And a couple of the young women made sure he knew of their interest, which was a wasted effort since he didn’t pay them any attention.
After the service everyone was invited to dinner at Trevor and Corinthians’s home. Thanks to Rio’s two grandmothers, who had done all the cooking, there was plenty of food for all.
Rio, now wide-awake, was being held by godfather number three, Sir Drake, with Daddy Trevor and godfather number two, Ashton, looking on.
“So who do you think he looks like?” Trevor asked, beaming, knowing the answer would be that his son favored him since quite a number of people had mentioned that fact already.
Sir Drake studied the facial features of the child in his arms. He met Trevor’s gaze and said, “I think he has a strong resemblance to Corinthians’s brother Joshua.” Drake couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the deep frown that appeared on his friend’s face. He knew that Trevor and his brother-in-law did not get along.
“Don’t you dare think something like that,” Trevor bit back angrily, threateningly.
Sir Drake shrugged. “Well, if you didn’t want the truth, you shouldn’t have asked me.”
Ashton decided to intervene before there was bloodshed. He quickly took the baby out of Sir Drake’s hands just in case Trevor felt like hitting somebody. “What you need, Sir Drake, is a woman to keep you out of trouble.”
Sir Drake was quiet for a few moments before saying, “No, I don’t.”
Ashton shook his head. “Yes, you do. It’s been four years now, Drake. It’s time to let things go.”
“I won’t be able to do that, Ash, until I find Solomon Cross and make him pay for what he did to Sandy.”
Across the room, Corinthians saw the tense expressions on the faces of the three men who were standing in a huddle and passing around her son. “I think we need to intervene with that bunch,” she whispered to Netherland. “Those three are the best of friends who would kill someone in a heartbeat to protect one another, but I’m not putting anything past them possibly killing each other if they got mad enough.”
Netherland nodded and followed Corinthians as she crossed the room to the three men. Corinthians slipped between Sir Drake and Trevor, and Netherland stood next to Ashton.
“So, guys, what’s up?” Corinthians asked, smiling.
Sir Drake chuckled. “Trevor got teed off because I said Rio favored your brother.”
Corinthians nodded. She could see her husband getting upset because of that.
“Speaking of your brother, where is he?” Ashton asked, glancing around the room.
“Wherever he is, he can stay there,” Trevor muttered, taking his son out of Ashton’s arms.
Corinthians gave her husband a scolding glance. “Joshua should be here in a little while. His plane was late.”
“Is he still licking his wounds after being defeated as Texas’s first black governor?” Sir Drake asked, smiling as though the thought was really amusing