His Unknown Heir(51)

‘I always respected my father, but it was not until the last months of his life that I realised how much I loved him, and that he loved me,’ Ramon admitted deeply. ‘I was taught that men should be strong and hide their emotions. But my sisters’ husbands are all excellent fathers, who do not believe it is a sign of weakness to show their love for their children. I want to be like them, but it is hard to change the habits that have been ingrained from childhood.’ He hesitated. ‘I need you to help me be a good father, Lauren.’

The note of uncertainty in his voice tugged on Lauren’s heart. It took a strong man to admit he felt vulnerable, and she loved him even more for his honesty. Without pausing to think what he might make of her actions, she leaned towards him and pressed her mouth to his olive-skinned cheek. ‘You’re already doing brilliantly,’ she told him softly. ‘Parenting is all new to me too, but we can learn together.’

‘That sounds good, querida,’ Ramon murmured, turning his head so that his lips brushed over hers in a gentle kiss that stirred her soul.

There had been an unspoken promise in that kiss, of their unity in doing their best for their child, Lauren mused a little while later, when Matty had fallen asleep and they’d carried him back to the lodge. He did not stir when they laid him in the travel cot, and as they crept from the room and shut the door it suddenly struck her that she and Ramon were alone—and this was their honeymoon.

He must have read her mind, because he swept her up into his arms and strode into the main bedroom, the hungry gleam in his eyes causing her heart-rate to quicken. ‘I think our son’s idea of a siesta is an excellent idea,’ he stated, as he placed her on the bed and began to unbutton his shirt.

‘You’re planning to go to sleep?’ she asked him, her voice emerging as a husky whisper as desire flooded between her thighs.

‘No. I’m planning to spend the next hour making love to you,’ he promised her, feeling a gentle tug on his heart when he looked into her eyes. He smiled at her quiver of delight when he knelt above her and slid his hands beneath her tee shirt to cup her bare breasts in his palms. Her skin felt like satin beneath his fingertips, and with a groan Ramon tugged her shirt over her head and closed his mouth around one taut nipple and then its twin.

He swiftly removed the rest of their clothes, the urgency of his desire for her making him uncharacteristically clumsy. But Lauren did not mind when she heard her cotton skirt rip. Her impatience matched his. She obligingly lifted her hips so that he could tug her knickers down, sighing with pleasure when he caressed her gently with his fingers before moving over her. He made love to her with tenderness as well as passion, each deep stroke taking her higher and higher, until with a cry she reached the pinnacle and fell back down, to be held safe in his arms.


They spent a glorious week in the mountains. Away from the responsibilities of being a duque, and running a multi-million-pound company, Ramon relaxed and became once more the charismatic, witty and amusing lover Lauren had fallen in love with in London almost two years before. It was a chance for them to rediscover the companionship they had once shared, and to focus on being parents to their son.

Lauren privately decided that they should escape the formality of the castle and come to the lodge for a least a few days every month.

The honeymoon had been a turning point in their relationship, she thought some weeks later, as she stepped into the elegant cream silk dress she had chosen to wear to the christening of Ramon’s new nephews. Two weeks after they had married his sister Valentina had given birth to twin boys. The christening service was to be held in the castle’s private chapel and, knowing that Valentina was run off her feet now that she had four children, Lauren had offered to organise the reception.

Ramon emerged from the en suite bathroom, rubbing his hand over his newly shaven jaw. His steps slowed when he saw her, and his sensual smile evoked the familiar ache in her chest. ‘You look beautiful, mi corazón.’

Her heart leapt at the discernible tenderness in his voice. It was not the first time he had called her ‘his heart’, but she must not get her hopes too high that he meant the endearment literally, she reminded herself. And yet in the weeks since their wedding she had felt that they were growing closer—mainly due, it was true, to their intensely passionate sex life. In bed they were dynamite—and they were in bed a lot, she acknowledged with a smile.

Ramon worked long hours, but this gave him the excuse to insist on early nights and lazy Sunday mornings, and of course there were numerous occasions when he took a coffee break that just happened to coincide with Matty’s afternoon nap!