My Cherie Amour Page 11

  weren’t for the fact Diego wanted to be as far away from Florida as possible when his

  estranged ex-wife arrived they might have stayed even longer.

  After creating a false trail from Florida, to Cuba, then to Haiti, they finally set sail

  towards New Orleans. During the entire trip “Dear ‘Tienne” had done nothing but get

  under his skin. The boy hovered around his woman constantly. The boy was determined to

  win her back. ‘Tienne, as she called him, didn’t let any opportunity go by to touch her, to

  assist her in anyway, just to be near her, much to Diego’s chagrin. He just might have to

  kill the insolent little bastard and be done with it.

  “We will arrive soon, non?” Well speak of the devil.

  “About a week,” Diego tersely replied.

  Étienne studied the man beside him. He was obviously upset with him and

  rightfully so. The man believed that he had found a rare treasure only to find someone else

  had a prior claim. Were the situation reversed, Étienne would probably be holding on to

  Cherie with every bit as much tenacity as the duque. He felt no real animosity towards the

  older man. But he would not ever give up his beloved.

  “Do you see why I can’t just let her go?”

  Diego raised a brow at the boy’s sudden change in tactics. They had never openly

  acknowledged the battle for the heart of Cherie they were engaged in. It was just implicitly

  understood.

  “I understand completely, pup,” Diego growled. “That does not mean I will let her

  go.”

  “I can offer her more.”

  Diego whirled to face him. “Can you, pup? Can you make her scream your name

  the way she screams mine? Can you make her forget everything except your cock taking her

  to the edge over and over again? Can you give her a child like the one she carries now?”

  He had not meant to say anything. Cherie herself didn’t even realize it yet, but she

  was most definitely carrying his child. She had not had her cycle for three months now, a fact that gave Diego immense pride and satisfaction. Looking at Étienne now, he could tell

  the pup had known, too. It pissed him off to see the pup knew his woman so well.

  “You will not give her your name, Diego. For whatever reason, you will not give her

  the protection that comes with marriage. You may be able to take her child as your heir,

  but would she ever forgive you if you took her baby back to Spain with you? And without

  the full protection marriage can provide her, she will forever be vulnerable in ways you

  cannot begin to comprehend.”

  “I comprehend just fine, puppy! I will always provide for her. If I do decide to go

  back to Spain, I can take her…”

  “As what?” Étienne demanded. “Your mistress? Spain is not as tolerant or welcoming

  as France. She would never be happy there and only the most selfish of bastards would ask

  that of her!”

  Diego know everything the irritating little shit was saying was true, but that didn’t

  mean he had to like it. Stepping closer, he grabbed the younger man by his shirt and got

  right in his face. “You don’t think I know that?!” Diego roared. “You don’t think those

  very thoughts haven’t kept me up at night? I know the right thing to do would be to marry

  her or let her go, but I can’t give her up! I cannot go through another marriage and…I

  cannot let her go! I will NEVER let her go!” How the hell could possibly explain his

  feelings about marriage to this, this, kid? His brief stint in holy matrimony had been pure hell. He couldn’t do that again. He knew Cherie was nothing like Maria-Teresa, but he

  could not be trapped like that again.

  Gray eyes clashed with blue as neither man backed away. Their faces were so close

  their noses were almost touching. The tense silence stretched for a full minute before

  Étienne responded softly.

  “I can no sooner walk away than you.”

  Diego looked at the younger man in amazement. They were well and truly at an

  impasse. The little shit wasn’t going to let go, he could see it in his eyes. Never had any

  man stood up to the formidable Duque de Suárez and lived to tell about it, but this pup

  was not afraid of incurring his wrath. Standing toe to toe, Étienne’s eyes never wavered, his

  body did not flinch. Diego had the most insane urge to lean forward and peck the little

  bastard on the cheek-or on the lips. What the hell?! Diego abruptly released the other man

  and took a step back. It was the stress. He hadn’t been intimate with Cherie for at least a

  week. She had been ill since leaving Cuba. Morning sickness, though she didn’t have a clue

  yet. The pup looked so much like a girl, he was probably just horny, and that’s all. A very

  masculine girl, but he was too pretty by far. He had not seriously been contemplating

  kissing the little shit. Turning away, Diego took a calming breath and tried to clear his

  head. Étienne on the other hand understood very well what had just happened. He had

  seen the look Diego had just given him whenever Claude looked at Luc. He was not nearly

  as shaken up by the sudden rush of blood to his cock at the thought of Diego’s lips

  descending on his. That he had developed a habit of getting as hard as a rock whenever

  staring at the older man no longer came as a surprise to him. He accepted that he was

  beginning to want Diego as much as he wanted Cherie. Watching Diego breath in and out

  roughly as he glared at the waves, Étienne finally knew what he had to do to win his fiancé

  back. He had to welcome Diego into his life as well. Smiling at the plan hatching in his

  head Étienne leaned against the ship’s rail.

  “So you know I will never give up trying to steal my fiancé back from you, non?”

  “What is your point, pup?”

  “We can always share.”

  Diego’s entire body went rigid. He wanted so much to be able to yell “No!” at the

  top of his lungs, but he couldn’t. From the day Étienne entered his study Diego had

  dreamed of little else. It was a complete blow to his pride, but damned if he didn’t want the

  little shit in his bed. Not as much as he wanted or needed Cherie, but the longing was

  there. “Cherie is not a whore,” Diego managed to croak out. He knew damn well that

  wasn't what the younger man was implying, but it was the only defense he had. “I am

  surprised that the man claiming to want to marry her would ever suggest such a thing.” Étienne’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t remember implying she was.”

  Diego turned to face the younger man but refused to look him in the eye. “This

  conversation is over pup.”

  Étienne smiled as he watched Diego stride towards the spacious cabin he shared with

  the woman of both of their dreams desperately trying to hide the hard on he was sporting.

  “Ask Cherie to tell you about Luc,” he called after him. Diego paused, but did not turn

  around. Étienne knew he heard him and that was all he needed. Diego might not ask right

  away, but he would ask. He only wished he could be around to see his face when she told

  him.

  *******

  “Maman!”

  Cherie flew into the arms of her mother as soon as the carriage stopped in front of

  her grandfather’s luxurious mansion located in the heart of the Garden District. Claude

  followed in his daughter’s wake more sedately. He watched the mother-daug
hter reunion

  with a mixture of pleasure and trepidation. They had received word from Étienne that he

  had retrieved their lost child at long last a little more than a month ago. What the young

  man had failed to reveal was that Cherie had become the paramour of a notorious Spanish

  duque. A royal duque at that. Though Étienne had assured him more than once since

  meeting the ship he had every intention of marrying her, Claude had his doubts the young man would ever get the chance. Diego Esteban de Aguilar would not let his lady love go so

  easily. It had taken Claude less than five minutes of observing the enigmatic duque with

  Cherie to recognize the depth of feelings the man had for her. Possessiveness boarding on

  obsession coupled with a healthy dose of pure unadulterated lust only began to describe it.

  Then there was the question of the child his daughter was now carrying.

  Claude gave himself a mental shake. Now was not the time to dwell on the all the

  problems he feared he would not be able to help his only daughter resolve. Besides, she

  wasn’t even aware she was pregnant. Now was the time to rejoice and celebrate her return

  home.

  “Ma petit fille, come, you must be tired,” Amélie ushered Cherie into the house.

  “Your grandmére is most anxious to see you!”

  Cherie relaxed and allowed herself to bask in the love of her family. How she had

  missed them! After hugs and kisses from her grandfather and brothers, her mother and

  grandmother had ushered her upstairs putting off the demands from the men to know the

  details of her kidnapping.

  “There will time enough for that later,” Solange admonished. “The child is no doubt

  weary after such an ordeal, non?”

  Cher was grateful for her timely interference. Now alone with her mother and

  grandmother she let herself relax completely. The older women had ordered her a hot bath and were now busily helping her out of her heavy traveling gown so she could enjoy a nice,

  long soak and perhaps some answers to the myriad questions about this whole placée

  business. Both women would no doubt be disappointed she would not be marrying

  Étienne, but how could she now? It didn’t matter that she still had feelings for him; she

  was hopelessly in love with her fierce duque. The thought of never being in his arms again

  was too terrible to contemplate.

  Relaxing all of her muscles in the fragrant bath, she allowed her mother and

  grandmother to soothe all the aches and pains from her travel weary body. Funny, she

  didn’t remember her original trip to Florida being so very exhausting. But then, they had

  made several stops along the way. And then there was Diego, who had been extremely

  diligent in his attentions towards her. Though she had tried to assure him she would always

  belong to him, no matter what her family had to say in the matter, it almost seemed as if he

  was afraid of losing her and made love to her every night as if it would be the last time. Part

  of his actions was probably brought on by the presence of Étienne. But surely he must

  know she could never marry ‘Tienne.

  A sharp gasp from her grandmother brought her out of quiet contemplations.

  “What is it?” she asked her grandmother anxiously. “I am not hurt…”

  “Cher, when was the last time you had your menses?” Amélie asked her daughter

  softly. Cherie looked from her mother to her grandmother. Her menses? Why would they

  ask her about that?

  “Maman, I am perfectly fine,” she assured her firmly. “Christine ensured my safety

  at all times. I was never unescorted or abused in any way. I know it sounds odd, but she

  took care of me as you would. And after Diego, uh, found me, I was never out of his sight.”

  “Ma amoureux,” Solange soothed, “we have no doubt your Diego took very good

  care of you. We only want to know when was the last time you bled? Your womanly

  bleeding?”

  “I don’t know. It had to be…”

  Cherie’s voice trailed off as realization struck her. She had not bled for a little more

  than three months. Color drained from her face as her knees threatened to buckle. She was

  with child! Wordlessly, Amélie and Solange grabbed her arms and settled her on the soft

  bed. Her eyes and hands flew to her stomach in wonder. Sure enough there was a soft

  rounding she had failed to notice. Her thoughts wandered to just this morning when she

  had attempted to don a corset, for propriety, she had explained to Diego. He had literally

  snatched it from her, railing all kinds of nonsense about how unhealthy the “damnable

  contraptions” were. He had known. All this time he had known, but hadn’t told her.

  But of course he had known the bâtard! Lately he made love to her so gently she

  thought she go mad. She had to say the dirtiest things to make him loose control and take her with authority and even then he had seemed overly cautious. He had even taken up the

  habit of rubbing her belly a lot lately, holding it closely as they slept. Gradually shock gave

  away to joy. Yes, he had known and he had been glad. She was going to have a baby! Their

  baby. She didn’t have explain or excuse her choice to stay with Diego. The baby did all of

  that for her.

  Loud voices ascending the stairs snapped the women out of their silent reflection.

  Cherie could make out her grandfather and brothers raised voices getting closer. Solange

  quickly threw a light blanket over the shoulders of her granddaughter before the door burst

  open.

  “Diego!”

  Throwing the blanket off Cherie threw herself into the arms of her lover as soon as

  he burst through the door. Solange and Amélie quickly moved to push most of the younger

  men out of the room leaving only Gaspar, who stared dumbfounded at the man who had

  stormed into his home demanding to see his only granddaughter. The brash man now

  stood in the middle of the bedroom holding his very bare grandchild as if they were alone.

  Solange placed a comforting hand on her long time lover’s arm.

  “Let’s just give them a minute.”

  Gaspar raised a brow, but allowed himself to be led out of the room. “I suppose you know what this is all about?” he asked after Solange had firmly shut

  the door.

  Solange nodded her head sadly. Both Gaspar and Claude had wanted so badly to see

  Cherie married with a secure place in society. Now their machinations would come to

  naught.

  “I fear there will be no wedding between Cherie and Étienne,” she sighed.

  “But I just spoke to the boy and his father not thirty minutes ago and they both

  assured me no matter what Cher has been through, 'Tienne has every intention of making

  her his bride.”

  Solange sighed again. There was no hope for it.

  “Oui, but there has been a recent development I am afraid. Cher is pregnant.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Have you unpacked yet?” Diego demanded burying his face in Cherie’s freshly

  washed hair.

  God knows he had tried to stay away, to let her have a happy reunion with her

  family. But the specter that they might try to convince her to give him up was driving him

  crazy. It took him all of an hour and a half to secure a home right here in the Garden

  District. There was no furniture other than the massive bed he had dismantled and shipped

  with them, along with various other smaller hous
ehold items. She could attain as many

  servants and as much furniture as she needed to decorate and maintain the mansion as she

  saw fit later. He would be damned if he spent one night away from the woman who was

  quickly becoming as necessary to him as the air he breathed.

  “No, my luggage just arrived,” she indicated to the trunk that stood by the bedroom

  door. “But I have an entire wardrobe here already. I did not exactly pack for my little

  adventure.”

  He would never say it aloud but Diego would forever be grateful for the misdeeds

  that blew Cherie his way.

  “Find something to put on so I can take you home.” Cherie’s heart sped at the authoritative tone in which he spoke. Still, she had not

  seen her family in over a year!

  “I can’t possibly leave yet,” she said taking a step back. “There is so much I have to

  talk to Maman and Grandmére about. And my brothers, I must see how they are. I’m sure

  they were all worried sick about me! And Papa Luc! I have not seen him at all. Papa Claude

  went to collect him, I’m sure…”

  Diego grasped her by the waist bring her freshly bathed body flush with his as he

  took her mouth. Immediately his shaft rose to attention at her nearness, but there would

  time enough for that later. Right now he had to make sure his woman understood her place

  would forever be at his side. Tilting her head up to face him he bent to place a feather soft

  kiss on her parted lips.

  “I will not spend the night without you, querida. I can’t.”

  Cherie was held captive by the possessiveness and longing she saw in the burning

  gray depths of his eyes. With one look she was unbearably hot and needy. As much as she

  might wanted to deny him, to assert her independence there was no way she would not

  give in. The fact excited and infuriated her at the same time.

  “Your family can visit you…Tomorrow, I promise.” Diego’s gripped tightened on

  her waist. “I need you tonight, bebé. Just you and me.” He wanted to tell her of his fears she would turn away from him and return to her

  fiancé. He wanted to share how scared he was that now that she was back among family

  and friends that he might lose her. The words stuck in his throat, his pride refusing to let

  her know how much he needed her. Diego would have been astonished to know Cherie did