'Darling,' Tessa tore her lips away from Brad's, 'perhaps we should continue this tonight.' She unsuccessfully tried to escape out of his embrace.

'You promised me thirty minutes,' he reminded her, tugging at the towel covering her nakedness.  He let it slide to the floor.

'But I didn't plan on you using half of that time in the sho---wer.' Tessa's palms gripped the dressing table behind her, involuntarily her back arched as Brad's lips captured her aroused nipple. His teeth gently teased it, making her loose all train of thought.

Surrendering to the heat of the moment, all thoughts of rushing to the airport was put on hold. She ripped of the towel around his waist, pushing him onto the bed. Brad wanted her beneath him, but she had other intentions. They wrestled, he attempted to use his pelvis to hold her down, but her lanky legs wrapped around him. They rolled, but Tessa's legs managed to hold him prisoner. He surrendered, or he seemed to surrender, for his eyes did not reflect defeat.

Happily satiated, Brad pulled the silk cover over their naked bodies, holding her tightly. Tessa gazed lovingly into his eyes. Her fingers caressed his cheek as she brushed her lips to his. Brad kissed her back, taking his time, having no desire whatsoever to release her.

'Darling, you know I need to get to the airport. I am so late,' she breathed, trying to escape his fierce grip around her body.

'Suppose I get you there in the helicopter,' he hoisted her over his chest.

'Aren't you returning to the office?' Tessa lifted her face to look into his eyes.

'Maybe I've cleared my diary for the rest of the day,' he smiled mysteriously. 'Perhaps that will give me__,' he looked at the bedside clock, 'another thirty minutes with my wife.'

'You'll do that for me?' Tessa laughed.

'Oh nothing's for nothing,' he pinned her down meaningfully. He was aroused all over again. It never ceased to amaze Tessa that after three years of marriage, her husband still had an insatiable appetite and the power to arouse her as well. Unbelievably she could feel her own body stirring again. Truth be told, she should not really be surprised, he had that amazing ability to arouse her time and time again. He'd been doing it countless times during their blissfully wedded life. Brad ensured he used every precious second of his valuable thirty minutes and in record time headed for the airport in his helicopter.

       'Tessa!' Fabian lifted her in his arms and swung her around excitedly.

'Fabian,' Tessa laughed softly, 'it's been so long, she hugged him. Tessa and Melissa hugged affectionately, whilst the men did so enthusiastically as well.

'Did you have a good flight?' Tessa inquired, lifting little Marcus into her arms.

'Hello darling, how are you?' Tessa kissed Marcus' very plumpy cheeks.

'No momma, daddy is your darling,' Lyndon tugged his mother's arm possessively. Tessa grinned and bit on her lower lip. 'Oh yes, how could I forget?' she ruffled her son's hair, as her eyes met Brad's. He just threw his head back and laughed.

'That is baby Marcus momma, and I am a big boy,' he emphasized, proudly raising his head, and strapping his shoulders back.

'I hope I'm still allowed to pick up our big boy,' Fabian hauled Lyndon into his arms.

'Fabian can carry Lyndon,' Lyndon wrapped one arm around Fabian's neck, but his eyes were grudgingly focused on the little boy in his mummy's arms. Marcus' dad had not been kidding about the little one's weight.

'Melissa what on earth are you feeding this gorgeous young man? I can barely hold him,' Tessa spoke softly as she smiled.

'I know,' Melissa groaned. 'I think he must have worms,' she whispered to Tessa.

'Momma carry Lyndon,' Lyndon reached out his arms to his mother.

'Daddy will carry you son,' Brad offered, reaching for Lyndon.

'Mom---momma,' Lyndon sobbed, brushing his father's arms away.

'Darling, you take Marcus,' Tessa suggested to Brad.

'Come on tiger,' Brad effortlessly lifted little Marcus from Tessa's arms, allowing Tessa to take Lyndon and reassure the insecure little blighter that his mommy loves him very much.

'Shall we stop for coffee or head straight back to Surrey?' Brad draped one arm around his wife's waist guiding them to his helicopter.

'I'm exhausted, 'Fabian spoke tiredly. 'Marcus definitely could do with a bath and rest. Although my wife does not know what jet lag is,' Fabian laughed.

'Well thankfully, I'm grounded now,' she laughed. Melissa used to be an air stewardess when she met Fabian, but after having had baby Marcus, she had applied for a position to do ground duty. She was grateful that she did not have to be away from home for days on end, on long distance trips. Now she got to go home every day to her husband and baby son.

'I can't tell you how pleased I am about that,' Fabian kissed his wife's temple.

Brad strapped and secured Lyndon and Marcus into the back seats in the helicopter. Tessa and Melissa sat in the back with the boys. Fabian accompanied Brad in the front.

        'Let me help you with Marcus' bath, then we will join the guys for some drinks,' Tessa suggested, leading Melissa to their suite. Fabian and Melissa had visited previously before Marcus was born, so they were familiar with Brad's fabulous home.

'Tessa, you've settled in wonderfully,' Melissa touched her arm.

'Thank you,' Tessa laughed, as she helped to fill up Marcus' bath. 'I never knew what to expect before I got here,' she thought back to the first day she'd nervously walked into Brad's home. 'But the minute I saw the place I fell in love with it,' she smiled. 'You know I thought my home in Scarsdale was heaven, but this is heaven right here,' she smiled brightly.

'You look so happy and so content,' Melissa gently placed Marcus on the baby counter and undressed him, whilst Tessa dipped her hand into the water to test the temperature.

'I am so happy Melissa. Brad is an amazing husband and such a doting dad.'

'Oh it's not often a guy overhears good things spoken about him,' Brad knocked on the bathroom door that was wide opened.

'The both of you are amazing,' Melissa laughed, as she lowered little Marcus into the water. She squeezed bath gel into a sponge and gently scrubbed down the little fellow.

'Hey,' Tessa smiled and walked towards her husband. She draped her arm around Brad's waist and gave him a peck on his cheek.

'Melissa I've set up Lyndon's cot in your suite,' Brad smiled.

'Oh thank you,' Melissa lifted Marcus out of the water, unplugged it and wrapped Marcus in a towel. 'I think Marcus is going to be lights out in the next five minutes,' she smiled.

'Will he not want something to drink?' Tessa asked.

'No, he had a bottle, just before you guys came through,' Melissa smiled. 'But he will be up in about three hours with a raging thirst.

'Good, we can have an early dinner then?' Brad suggested. 'I believe the kitchen has prepared a sumptuous barbecue and something sinful for dessert.' It dawned on Tessa, Brad had not had lunch, neither had she for that matter. They had skipped the main course and went straight to two helpings of dessert. Brad must be starving.

'Melissa, I'm going to have the kitchen set up dinner. When you've put Marcus down, you can meet us in the smaller dining room,' Tessa laced her fingers through Brad's.

'You need help with anything Melissa,' Brad offered.

'No guys. Go ahead. I will meet you there within ten minutes,' Melissa spoke softly as the tired Marcus's eyes fluttered sleepily.

When Tessa walked into the living room, she found Fabian on his knees. He was mimicking an animal making growling sounds and wielding a tight fisted palm, as if darting a threatening paw towards an intended victim.

'Daddy help Lyndon,' he gurgled excitedly, running to hide behind his father, and hugging his father's legs tightly.

'Daddy to the rescue,' Brad picked up his son, and swiftly placed Lyndon on his shoulders, seemingly away from harm's way.

'Fabian can't catch Lyndon now,' Lyndon shook his head, as he looked down on the crawling figure that was too low to reach him.

'Are we not going to have a nap?' Brad asked Tessa. She looked at her son who was wide awake and just too full of energy at the moment.

'He's just too excited right now,' Tessa pursed her lips. 'Let him have dinner with us, then he will be ready for bed.'

'Okay champ, let's go get cleaned up?' Brad headed to the bathroom to bath Lyndon.

'I still can't come to terms that you are a mommy,' Fabian laughed draping his arm around Tessa's shoulder.

'Well I can't believe that you plucked up the courage to actually ask a girl to marry you,' she elbowed him.

'Ouch!' Fabian moaned nosily.

'You're still a sissy, I see,' Tessa laughed, linking her arm into Fabian's.

'And you're not there to protect me anymore,' he sulked.

'Oh I think Melissa's doing a splendid job pampering you, you big baby.'

'Remember in high school, how you used to protect me from the bullies,' he laughed, patting her arm.

'How could I forget?  You followed me everywhere like a puppy dog and ruined every opportunity of me ever getting a date,' Tessa rolled her eyes.

'Not that you ever believed in dating,' Fabian teased. 'Even in university you never did the exclusive relationship thing.'

'Umm---I better see what our spouses are up to,' Tessa stood up.

'Oh no, 'Fabian pulled her down again, 'You're not doing your escape routine again, von Biljoen.'

'It's Blakely now,' she smacked his chest again.'

'Ouch! And that's another thing,' he waged his finger at her. 'You're not only doing exclusivity, you've actually stayed married. That is a miracle.'

Tessa's eyes turned sorrowful for just a second, before her eyes met Fabian's. 'I almost got divorced, remember?'

Occasionally, but not often Tessa reflected on that dark period, when she had been married to Brad for a meager three months and he'd wanted her to join him on a trip to London. She had stubbornly refused. Tessa had felt the marriage a tremendous strain back then, for she thought Brad had only demanded they marry, because she had been pregnant. Of course she had been in love with him, but had never confessed her feelings to him, and not knowing how Brad had felt about her, she had held out.

After his disastrous plan had back fired on him, Brad had been too afraid to confess his true feelings especially since he'd only initially pursued her to acquire her shares of her father's company and gain controlling interest of that company. Brad had  been over confident, thinking he'd take her to bed, get the shares and dump her, but fate had had other plans for Brad Blakely. He'd fallen in love with the stunning, intelligent, wealthy, and strikingly beautiful Tessa von Biljoen.

Even though back then Tessa had fallen in love with Brad, she had not trusted him. She had only married him for the sake of their baby. In the three stressfully difficult months they'd been married, they'd walked on tip toes around each other, neither giving way. Shockingly, even with the explosive attraction between them, the marriage had not been consummated.

That fateful day when Tessa refused to accompany Brad on his week long trip to London, he had finally resigned himself to the fact that it was time to set Tessa free and walk away from his failed marriage. He thought he could walk away from the woman he loved. He thought he could pick up the pieces and move on, but found he lost the will to live, began drinking himself to unconsciousness every night, until his brave P.A. Bentley , flew to New York and coerced Tessa to return with him to England. The minute Bentley had informed her of Brad's ongoing alcoholic binge, she knew she had to go to her husband. She loved him too much to see him drink himself to death.

Trembling, and with her heart in her hand, she had walked into his home in Surrey, and confessed her love for him. Thankfully and wisely Brad had reciprocated the feelings and the rest was history, and since that joyous day they have enjoyed three wonderful years of marriage and had a gorgeous, adorable baby son to show.

'Yeah, it is a miracle,' Tessa inhaled deeply and smiled.

'I'm happy for you Tessa,' Fabian leaned over and kissed her cheek. She smiled and hugged her friend.

'Thank you,' she laughed softly.

'The day you fell in love with Brad, a light started to shine within you,' he grinned. 'Before Brad you raised hell, and broke every man's heart that had the misfortune to fall under your spell.'

'You're exaggerating,' she smacked him over the head.

'Ouch that hurts,' Fabian moaned rubbing his head.

'Is Fabian a bad boy momma?' Tessa heard giggling from the doorway. She looked up and saw Lyndon in his daddy's arms, bathed and all clean and looking adorable in a popular cartoon character PJ's.

'Hey mummy's angel, don't you look gorgeous,' Tessa smiled. She rose and went to her husband and son. 'Thank you darling,' Tessa kissed Brad and took Lyndon.

'My pleasure,' 'you better make sure dinner is served real quick. Somebody was dozing of as I was buttoning on his PJ's.

'Oh you smell so divine,' Tessa kissed Lyndon's cheek and tickled him. She was awarded with a delightful gurgle and tiny arms hugging her lovingly.

'I'm starving,' Brad complained softly, wrapping his arms around his wife's waist as he stood behind her.

'Dinner is on the table darling. I was just about to fetch you and Melissa when that big baby there,' she pointed to Fabian, 'refused to let me come get you guys.'

'Don't believe a word she says,' Fabian shook his head. 'She's been bullying me since I was ten years old.'

'Son, let's you and I go to the table,' Brad grinned. He took Lyndon into his arms, refusing to be dragged into the battle between his wife and her best friend.

'Momma---momma,' Lyndon's little palm rubbed his eyes sleepily.

'Fabian, please see if baby Marcus has fallen asleep. My family needs to be fed,' Tessa took Lyndon to the table. She put a little mash and gravy into a bowl to feed Lyndon before he passed out.

'Ah here's my wife,' Fabian smiled, extending his hand to Melissa.

'Sorry to keep you waiting guys. Marcus was tired, but I think his body was sore from the trip. I was just rubbing his aching muscles.'

'No problem,' Tessa laughed, although my men urgently need their nourishment. She scooped a healthy portion of mash and fed it to Brad.

'Mmm, thank you mummy,' Brad munched on the delicious mash.

'Momma has two angels tonight my daddy.'

'Yes she has, and this little angel must finish his meal before he falls asleep,' Brad pressed a kiss on his son's little head.

'Darling can I serve you?' Brad asked Tessa.

'Yes thank you.'

'Melissa honey, pass me a bread roll please,' Fabian asked.

'Oh it's a long time since I've enjoyed a barbecue,' Melissa bit into a piece of juicy tender steak.

'But Fabian loves barbecues,' Tessa looked from one to the other.

'My wife's big on fruit and vegetable and healthy food,' Fabian groaned.

'Oh sorry Melissa, tomorrow I'm serving broccoli and spinach. Will that be okay?' Tessa grinned.

'Fabian,' Brad winked, 'there's this pub that serves Texan size steaks. Doing anything tomorrow?'

'No, nothing at all,' Fabian played right along.

'You two are grounded,' Tessa stated. 'You're not going anywhere tomorrow.'

'I have to go to the office tomorrow morning,' Brad announced, 'and then we're picking Aunt Bertha up.'

'Yes we're picking Aunt Bertha up,' Fabian agreed. 'She just called and invited me for muffins.' Fabian and Melissa had met Aunt Bertha on a previous trip and had taken an instant liking to the sweet dear old lady.

'Guess what you're having for dinner tomorrow evening,' Tessa looked from Brad to Fabian.

'No,' Fabian whispered pleadingly to Brad.

'One more spoon darling, open your mouth please' Tessa tried to feed the sleepy Lyndon.

'Here let me tuck him in bed,' Brad offered, standing up.

'No darling, have your meal. I will be back in a minute,' Tessa stood up.

'But you have not yet started eating,' Brad held up her chair.

'I promise I will be down again in a minute,' Tessa gently put Lyndon over her shoulder.

'Okay hurry,' Brad took his seat again.

Tessa stretched sleepily and reached out for Brad, he was not there. Automatically her fingers feathered his pillow. It was warm. Brad had woken up not too long ago. She lifted her head and looked at the bedside clock. It was seven ten. She dropped her head back onto her pillow. It was close on two o' clock when they'd gone up to bed. After dinner they'd had coffee. Then the men wanted sherry. Thereafter they'd had more coffee and plenty of free flowing conversation and easy banter amongst them.

Tessa dragged herself out of bed. Lyndon would be up already. He was an early riser just like his daddy. She showered quickly and went to Lyndon's bedroom, whilst Brad was getting ready for work.

'Good morning Stacy,' Tessa greeting Lyndon's nanny. 'That's a lovely dress,' Tessa admired the nanny's white cotton dress that draped down to her ankles. Stacy was a slim young girl, with a trendy, easy to manage, just below the neck hair style.

'Thank you Mrs. Blakely,' she smiled shyly, as she was having difficulty getting Lyndon into a pair of jeans.

'Morning momma,' Lyndon lifted his hands to his mummy.

'Morning darling, here let's help Stacy put your jeans on,' she kissed his rosy red lips. 'Did you sleep well my angel?' Tessa gently tucked Lyndon's one leg into the jeans.

'Lyndon and Mr. Penguin finished sleeping momma. Carry me' he pleaded.

'In a minute angel. Let mummy put your trainers on.' Lyndon sat patiently whilst Stacy buttoned his jeans and mummy laced his trainers. 'Okay you handsome young man, let's go have some breakfast. 'Thank you Stacy. Come and fetch Lyndon in about an hour from the breakfast room.'

'Yes Mrs. Blakely.'

'You have baby Marcus to play with today darling,' Tessa smiled.

'Is baby Marcus having breakfast with me?' Lyndon asked his mom. His palms patted his mom's cheeks as he spoke.

'I don't know if he's awake yet. We shall wait for him in the breakfast room okay.'

'Marcus, Marcus,' Lyndon clapped his hands, and called out, as they entered the breakfast room. Melissa was already up feeding him a bottle of formula. Marcus's tiny fingers were curiously experimenting with his mom's shirt buttons. He turned when he heard Lyndon call his name, but his mouth continued sucking enthusiastically on his bottle.

'Morning Melissa,' Tessa smiled. 'You been up long?'

'Morning,' Melissa smiled brightly. We just came downstairs five minutes ago,' she smiled. 'Morning Lyndon.'

'Morning Melissa. Can Marcus play with me?'

'You need to have your breakfast first Lyndon Blakely,' Tessa instructed her son, as she placed his cereal in a bowl. 'I hope you slept well Melissa.'

'Like a baby,' she grinned. 'I was up at seven waiting for Marcus to wake up.' Melissa was dressed in black slacks and a cream sweater. She still had not lost all her pregnancy weight. She had tried to nurse Marcus, but he persistently refused to be breastfed, preferring the bottle. Melissa had just given up and continued with the bottle.

'Fabian still loves his beauty sleep?' Tessa laughed softly.

'Some things have not changed,' Melissa rolled her eyes. 'Though I must admit, when Marcus cries during the night, Fabian is up in a flash before I can get out of bed.'

'Marcus is adorable,' Tessa ruffled his hair. 'Does he get up often at night?'

'No, thank heavens. He sleeps through, most nights.'

'Oh I remember those two o' clock in the morning feeding sessions,' Tessa sighed, 'and I nursed Lyndon until he was a year.'

'I so wanted to breast feed Marcus,' Melissa spoke disappointedly.

'I guess when the little guy saw how easy the bottle was, he made the easier choice,' Tessa smiled.

'Good morning ladies,' Brad walked in looking gorgeously arresting in a figure hugging dark tailored suit. He kissed Tessa on the lips and planted a peck on his son's cheek. 'Morning son.'

'Morning Brad,' Melissa smiled.

'Morning my daddy,' Lyndon shifted his mouth away refusing his cereal.

'Momma, Lyndon wants chocolate cake.'

'Not before your cereal darling,' she tried to put a spoon of cereal into his mouth.

'Lyndon wants chocolate cake,' he pursed his lips tightly refusing the cereal.

'Lyndon has mommy not spoken to you?' Brad towered in front of his son. His eyes bore into his son's. 'Would you like to spend the day in your room?' Brad threatened.

'No my daddy,' little arms clung to mommy's neck fearfully. Moist dark eyes looked at her pleadingly. Tessa tore her eyes away from her adorable son. An instinctive maternal urge wanted to pacify Lyndon, but she dare not undermine daddy's authority. They needed to display a unified front.

'I cannot feed you if you hide your face on my shoulder Lyndon.' He settled on mummy's lap again. His dark eyes darted from daddy to the dreaded spoon of cereal coming closer to his mouth. With concerted effort, his mouth opened and the cereal was instantly swallowed.

As Tessa continued to feed Lyndon, Brad served himself breakfast and engaged in a conversation with Melissa. He inquired if they all had slept well. Brad was informing Melissa of a show at the theater, and a musical at the opera. Brad laughed, reminding Melissa, she had to indulge in the essential ritual of visiting London's designer boutiques.

'Tessa, you're not coming into the office?' Brad observed her casually dressed in denims and a sweater. Her head swung from feeding Lyndon to Brad's face.

'Did you ---need me? I did not plan on going in today,' Tessa carefully placed Lyndon's empty cereal bowl back on the table. Brad's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. One would not have recognized it on Brad's guarded face, but she knew her husband intimately, and she caught it.

'Look my daddy, Lyndon good boy,' he proudly displayed his empty bowl to his daddy.

'Now you can have some cake son,' Brad stood up and opened his arms to his son. Lyndon slid of his mommy and ran into Brad's arms. Tessa stood up, walked to the buffet table and placed a slice of cake on a saucer for Lyndon.

'There you are angel,' Tessa turned around, but Lyndon was already sitting on the floor patiently awaiting his cake.

'Lyndon, good boy momma.'

'Yes you are darling,' she kissed his cheek and placed the saucer on his lap.

'Do you need to go into the office Tessa? We will be fine till you return, and we'll gladly keep Lyndon,' Melissa smiled encouragingly.

Tessa looked at Brad, his face was a mask. Neither was he saying anything further.

'I'm not sure,' Tessa offered a weak smile to Melissa. 'Excuse me, while I find out,' she tucked her hand into Brad's. 'Can we speak in your study?'

'Sure, excuse us please Melissa.'

'Take your time guys, no problem.'

'Lyndon wait here till mummy comes back,' Tessa instructed over her shoulder.

'Yes momma,' he smiled, with chocolate all over his chin and cheek.'

Brad opened his study door and waved his hand for Tessa to precede him. He stood with his hands in his pockets patiently waiting for Tessa to speak.

'I'm sorry,' she murmured guiltily. 'Did you need me in the office?'

'I would have appreciated some form of communication from you,' he charged. 'I'm resuming negotiations with Darya Titov this morning,' he informed her evenly.

What do you want? Should I be there to protect my interest? Do you need legal counsel?

Tessa inhaled heavily, 'what are your expectations of me in that regard?' she asked uncomfortably.

'I may be mistaken,' his eyes held hers, 'but I assumed you would want to be present in all future interactions with Darya.'

Tessa swallowed, her eyes shifted away from his. Then she took a step closer to Brad.

'I do trust you,' she whispered, draping her arms around his neck. 'I know you love me. You demonstrated that yesterday,' her eyes met his assuredly.

'So you are okay with me meeting Darya by myself?'

NO!

'I can go upstairs, change, and attend the meeting with you.'

'I can handle Darya, as long as you have no insecurities,' his hands slipped under her sweater cupping her waist. Tessa pulled his head down, her mouth sought his. She kissed him tenderly.

'I love you,' she whispered.

'I love you too,' he replied huskily.

'So I will see you at twelve,' she affirmed.

'Yes,' he kissed the tip of her nose. 'You guys decide where you want us to spend the evening. I would like to dine out tonight,' Brad pressed a kiss to her throat, then led her to the door.

'I'll check with Fabian and Melissa,' Tessa stopped at the door, she leaned towards Brad, her palm pressed lightly on his chest, as she kissed him one more time before he could leave for the office.

             -end chapter two-