One-hundred-and-one Estera Roberts’ POV (A few weeks later…)

Evan had prepared a special table for my aunt, his mother and Mary Antoinette Dallas. My aunt—I could see–-had rescued Ashley and Ameera and had taken charge of our boys and when we approached the table I saw four men in black suits, hovering close to my aunt Sophia and the boys.
I gave Evan a side glance but his eyes were held forward. Lowering my gaze, I saw how the men monitored the boys' every move and let out a sigh. Evan was quite serious about our children’s safety and with the look of it, it seemed he couldn’t even take a risk when they were with family. Mary Antoinette Dallas beamed at me. I gave her a warm smile, pretty glad the other woman was much better despite the ravaging chemo after her surgery. I had thought she might resent me a little when she found out about Evan’s duplicity in regards to his marriage to her but the woman took it in her stride. And with Charlotte Sterling's help, she went back home to pay her last respite to her mother and bury the tortured soul. I hadn’t expected her to come to Paris for our wedding but she chose to. I was glad there was no animosity towards me.
As for my relationship with Charlotte, we were not best buddies yet and it was especially difficult to bond with her with Evan constantly watching the woman’s every move. I understood why he was cautious, but I wish he would give her a second chance. I wasn’t the naive girl I once was, I doubted she could do anything to me now. Charlotte got up made as if she wanted to hug me but hesitated as she took a glance at Evan, I scowled at him and drew the older woman into a hug.
“Congratulations, Estera, I am so happy to have you as a daughter and thanks again for these two trouble makers!” Charlotte said with feelings. I smiled warmly at her.
“I hope they are not too much trouble,” I said, reaching forward to hug Ro and then Adrian who were both sitting on the cleared space on the table in front of my aunt Sophia and Charlotte.
“Trouble?! No way. I live for this now,” Charlotte said, peppering kisses on both their faces. Ro threw her a raised eyebrow.
“I am not a baby, gran—” he stated in a quite mature way. I giggled and combed my fingers through his wavy curls. Evan’s rich laughter rang out and he reached forward to lift him off of the table. Adrian raised his hands for him to carry him too and he did.
“You are a grown young man, son, I’m certain the ladies already noticed,” Evan said, playing along.
“Yes, daddy, I am a man, please tell them—” he said hesitantly in a careful mesh of words, using his small hands to hold his father’s face with a solemn gaze. Evan chuckled, pressing a kiss to his nose.
“Alright, son, let’s do this. I suppose an introduction is necessary. And so, Grandma Sterling and Aunt Sophia,” Evan said, gesturing, and added, “--meet young master Rolland and Adrian Sterling. Please, do treat these young gentlemen accordingly,” Evan said theatrically, drawing the attention of the other guest. The women laughed.
“They are so adorable!” Mary Antoinette Dallas gushed, causing Ro to sighed dramatically.
And then he said, “You tried, daddy—” shaking his head in sad resignation.
Everyone laughed. Evan hugged him and Adrian tightly to his chest, shaking with laughter.
A distinguishably dressed, tall man with witch-dark hair and brown eyes came to stand behind the other woman. And with the way he reached out to press an open hand to her back, I couldn’t help wondering who he was. Mary Antoinette must have noticed my curiosity, she turned in the direction of the man, smiled up at him and then added, “Evan, Dr. Roberts Sterling, I want you two to meet David Weber—”
Evan repeated the name, adjusting the boys in his arms, he held out his hand, offering the other man a handshake. David took it immediately.
“Thank you for coming,” Evan said.
“I should be the one thanking you. Antie… sorry, Mary Antoinette told me how you and your wife helped to save her life. I truly appreciate that,” the man replied. I couldn’t help but notice he had a slight accent and wished he genuinely loved Mary Antoinette. The other woman needed a man that could love and cherish her, helping to blur her past. I reached out to lay a hand over the man’s hand, causing him to direct his gaze my way.
Looking into his eyes, I said, “Please, take care of her—”
He swallowed, holding my gaze for about a minute and then nodded.
“I promise—” David replied in a voice that had suddenly gone husky.
Mary Antoinette’s lips trembled and she reached out to wrap me up in a hug. When I drew back, I caught Charlotte dabbing her eyes with a white, embroidered handkerchief. I leaned against Evan and snaked an arm around his back to hold on to him. He craned his neck to press a kiss on my hair.
After the ceremonial speeches and the vote of thanks delivered by Evan, the guests were urged to take advantage of all the fun things arranged by the hotel and the hall truly came alive. Aunt Sophia and Charlotte decided to retire to their rooms around 10 p.m., carrying the boys with them. The bodyguards promptly followed.
There was dancing, adult games, Karaoke, and lots and lots of drinking. When I threw Evan a concerned gaze, he gestured to the security personnel provided by the hotel, letting me know each of the guests would be seen safely to their rooms at exactly 12 a.m. The Jets that was to take my colleagues back to the States was scheduled to leave at 10 in the morning and he felt it wise to make sure everyone had enough sleep. I nodded, satisfied with his careful planning and my eyes drifted to the people on the dancing floor and settled on Jacob McKnight. He was on the dance floor with a stunning brunette, swaying slowly to the classical music resounding in the hall.
Evan must have followed my gaze because he said, That’s Isabella, Jacob’s wife. She just got here.” I let out a sigh of relief. I was beginning to think the man was inherently wild. “Come, let me introduce you—” Evan said, snaking an arm around my middle and shepherding me forward. The dress I wore was cut in the back exposing my skin to his warm touch and I felt his fingers gently stroking my skin as we walked up to meet the dancing couple.
If I could purr like a contented kitten, I would. My attention was no longer on Evan’s friend but centered on how he was making me feel. His gentle caresses seemed to be drawing the energy in me turning me into melting butter, I leaned against him.
“Tired?” he asked in that sexy voice of his. I merely rubbed against him like a true kitten. He pressed a kiss to my hair and said, “We will leave after this.” His voice was low and sexy with an undertone of all kinds of after-dark promises which made me swallow in anticipation.
Jacob stopped dancing when he saw us, holding out a hand to shake Evan, before pulling his wife close to his body.
He seemed possessive towards her and I couldn't help grinning especially when I saw her swollen belly. Jacob’s wife was pregnant. And by the look of it, the baby could come any time. Still, the woman looked quite elegant in her black, body-clinging dinner dress. I wondered if I could be considered elegant at that stage of my pregnancy with the boys. ‘Nah!’ I thought to myself. I was certain I was more like a whale.
“I was beginning to think you would not make it, Isabella,” Evan said. The other woman smiled.
“Like I could leave this one by himself—” she said. Evan and Jacob chuckle. I smiled. ‘Good. She knew to whom she was married,’ I thought to myself.
“Meet my wife, Dr. Estera Roberts Sterling,” Evan said and the woman drew me into a hug.
“Congratulations, and welcome to the club,” she said. I smiled, thanked her, and then took a glance at Evan, smiling up into his smoldering eyes. I wish I could let the woman know this wasn’t our first rodeo and that we have been married for quite a while, but how long we have been married didn’t matter. What mattered right now was knowing we have an eternity to spend together -– forever and always. Evan raised his hand to cup the side of my face and then he muttered, “I hate to bail on you Jacob but it’s been a long day, I need to be alone with my wife.”
Jacob laughed. Isabella went “Aww…” and snuggled against her husband. The two men shook hands. Isabella hugged me again with the promise to hang out later.
Evan ushered me away from the dance floor and towards the elevator door designed to take us up and all the way to the penthouse suite. We both stepped inside the champagne gold lift and Evan pressed the topmost floor button. The elevator double doors went shut and it began to ascend. He lowered his eyes to meet mine and the lovely gems darted from my eyes to my lips and then back to hold my gaze. The desire in his eyes made my breath quicken.
“Fuck it!” he said, jerked me into his arms and covered my mouth with his. I moaned as he held me by the side of my neck, pressed me hard against the side wall and lifted me up, making me wrap my legs around his waist. A thrilling rush coursed through me.
“Evan!” I called out in unbridled passion when he pulled my sleeve off of one shoulder, revealing my breast. The cold air hit my warm skin. He latched his mouth to my left nipple and suckled. A low groan emitted from him and I felt his warm fingers shift the fabric covering my girl part. I shook hard and panted in anticipation. I was lost.