Taming Eric (56 page)

He anxiously scanned the carpet waiting for her and suddenly there she was. She was hanging onto Tom’s arm like she was terrified of falling and she looked so nervous. As she drew closer he got his first real look at her wedding dress. For all her worries about looking too big and pregnant to get married, she looked stunning. Her dress was strapless, cream rather than white. It seemed to be more figure hugging over her breasts before flowing loosely to her feet. There was some fold, or additional fabric in the front which helped to cleverly disguise her pregnant stomach and as she walked towards him, he could see there was a train that trailed along behind her for a few metres. Her hair was piled up on top of her head in a riot of curls that cascaded down her back. Fuck but she looked so beau
tiful.

With every step that drew her closer to him, his heart felt like it was getting bigger and bigger inside his chest. He held his breath when Tom brought her down the few steps to the lower level and finally she was close enough and their eyes met for the first time. He smiled at her, all the love he felt for her shining in his eyes and he could see her nervous look fade away and her lips curved up in a warm, loving smile when she met his
gaze.

When she reached him and Tom handed her over to him before walking off to take his seat his eyes moved over her from head to toe, drinking in the sheer beauty of her. She looked amazing, stunning, absolutely gorgeous and she was just moments off being his, of becoming his wife, of being his fo
rever.

The relief that flooded him was overwhelming. Although a part of him knew she wouldn’t leave him, it was hard to shed years of insecurities and he’d still hung onto that fear that she might change her mind. To have her standing before him, looking a vision of sheer beauty and to see the love for him shining in her eyes was enough to make his throat tighten with the emotions flowing through him. “You made it baby. You look stunning.” He whis
pered.

She leaned towards him. “I was a little late. I had to pee. Do you have any idea how hard it is to do with this much dress to deal
with?”

At her words, he couldn’t help himself, he burst out laughing. The things that came out of her mouth sometimes and with those few words of hers, all his tension evaporated and he was just excited and impatient to make her his
wife.

They pulled themselves together and turned to face the marriage celebrant as the music faded away. Eric had opted for the traditional marriage vows but Natasha had dug in her heels over the honour and obey part. She was prepared to honour him but no way was she going to obey him. He had laughed at her words. “When have you ever obeyed me
baby?”

Natasha had insisted on changing the word ‘obey’ to ‘cherish’ and he’d been happy to go along with that c
hange.

The marriage celebrant began to talk about the sanctity of marriage and Eric was aware that Natasha kept sneaking little looks his way but he wanted to stay focused on what was being said. When it finally got to the vows, he repeated his in a clear, confident voice and waited as Natasha said hers too. While she spoke, he stared at the diamond necklace around her neck. It was a beautiful necklace but around her neck, it was stunning. It suited her perfectly and it filled in the plunging strapless neckline of her dress just as perfectly. She caught him staring and she mouthed ‘I love you’ to him and he grinned before mouthing back ‘I love you
too.’

When it came time to exchange rings, Eric slipped the wedding band on her finger which was made to match the engagement ring with small diamonds mounted flush in the band and when it was Natasha’s turn, she slipped the wedding band she’d bought for him onto his f
inger.

Finally the marriage celebrant got to the part he’d been waiting for, where she announced they were husband and wife and he could kiss his bride. He turned to his wife, fuck she was his wife now and cupped her cheeks before bending to touch his lips to hers. He kissed her gently and tenderly before reluctantly lifting his head. He wanted to kiss her for so much longer but this was not the time or place with their guests watching
them.

He took her hand and with their guests clapping and smiling enthusiastically at them, they walked back up the aisle towards the house. When he looked down at her she was smiling up at him and he squeezed her hand as he led her inside. They’d done it. He’d finally got her down the aisle and she’d married him, she hadn’t gone running for the hills like he’d panicked she wou
ld do.

Vladimir kept them busy for the next hour or so with photo after photo. They got Maggie, Tom and Alice in for photos with them too and finally once they were finished Eric took her out to the marquee so she could see the final a
ffect.

When she saw the ice sculpture of the swan a big smile lit up her face and he knew immediately that it had been worth it to try and get the things she’d mentioned to him as part of her childhood d
reams.

He took her over to see the cake next, all impressive 5 tiers of it and he watched her expression as she studied it, her mouth open, eyes wide. Finally she turned to him, a look of amusement on her face. “Are you sure you couldn’t have got a bigger
cake?”

He grinned. “Don’t you like it baby? It’s decorated to match the theme around
here.”

“It’s beautiful Eric, you know that but we’re going to be eating cake for the next 6 months. It’s huge. We don’t have enough guests here to give out that much
cake.”

“Big is best baby.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively. “Aren’t you supposed to freeze some to have later an
yway?”

Natasha snorted at him. “You’re an idiot Mr Rothman. We can’t freeze that much cake.” She reached up and brought his head down to her and Eric went willingly. “But you’re my idiot.” She touched her lips t
o his.

It was him that reluctantly lifted his head first. “I love you
baby.”

“I love you more.” She raised her hand to caress his
cheek.

It was the sound of someone clearing their throat nearby that dragged their focus off each other and Eric felt Natasha stiffen when she saw it was Francine. He looked down at her curiously. What was it about the wedding planner that she didn’t
like?

“If you and your wife would kindly take your seats please Mr Rothman. The buffet will be served sho
rtly.”

Natasha grinned at him. “You have been a good boy and listened to me haven’t
you?”

“Of course baby.” She had told him that she’d been to weddings with set menus and didn’t particularly like them as sometimes it was food that wasn’t to her taste or there just wasn’t enough of it. He’d agreed that a buffet would be best for everyone’s t
astes.

He led her to the bridal table where Kathryn, Maggie, Thomas and Alice were already seated. Since they had no bridesmaids or groomsmen they chose to have the most important people in their lives at their table with
them.

Kathryn was beaming at them. “Oh you two, just look at the pair of you. Such love for one another.” At her words they grinned at each other and he dropped his head to give her a quick kiss. Grinning over at his Mother in law when he heard her dramatic
sigh.

Numerous waiters began laying out platter after platter of food on some long tables set up down one end of the marquee. They brought out large platters of seafood, sushi, different meats, salads, hot vegetables, the platters just kept c
oming.

When Eric looked over at Natasha she was staring at the steady stream of waiters and platters with a bemused expression on her face. “Are you expecting more people?” She asked, amusement showing in her
eyes.

“We have to feed our guests baby. You don’t want to have the wedding that everyone talks about behind our backs and complains about there being hardly anything to eat, do
you?”

“Somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen. We’re going to have to offer this around the neighbourhood, there’s going to be so much leftover food.” Her tone was dry as she watched the steady procession of food coming into the ma
rquee.

He squeezed her hand. “Stop worrying baby. If you’re worrying about how much this wedding has cost, stop it now. I can afford i
t ok?”

The rest of the reception passed smoothly with speeches done, they cut the cake and finally hit the floor for the bridal waltz. Eric pulled his bride into his arms as they danced, their bodies moving as one around the dance floor. “Is there anything you’re not good at?” She aske
d him.

“Well, I can’t sing to save myself baby but otherwise, nah, I’m just so damned good at everything.” He sm
irked.

She rolled her eyes and hit him on the arm at his words and he made a big show of acting like he’d been wounded, even asking people at nearby tables if they’d seen her hit him. He grinned at the blush he saw rise in her cheeks when a few people laughed at their a
ntics.

After the dancing Eric got to remove Natasha’s garter which he made a show of doing with his teeth and she threw her bouquet which Kathryn caught with a great deal of excitable scre
aming.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves but after several more hours Eric could see the fatigue in his wife’s eyes. When he questioned her she reluctantly confessed that her feet and back were hurting plus she said her face felt like it was going to crack from hour after hour of having to smile for photos. That was it as far as he was concerned, she needed to
rest.

He started going around all their guests explaining that his wife needed to rest so he was taking her up to bed. Natasha groaned. “They’re not going to think we’re going to rest Eric. They’re going to think we can’t wait to start our wedding n
ight.”

He pulled her into his arms growling in her ear. “I don’t give a fuck what the guests think we’re doing baby. We’ll do the right thing, go around and thank everyone for coming and then we can politely disappear.” He didn’t care what they thought about them heading upstairs. There was still plenty of food and alcohol to keep the guests happy for as long as they wanted to
stay.

They started making their way around all their guests, thanking them for having been there to share their day with them and finally they got to Kathryn, Maggie, Thomas and Alice. Everyone hugged and Kathryn got teary as she hugged and kissed her daughter and even pulled him into her arms for a tigh
t hug.

“When do you leave on your honeymoon baby girl?” Kathryn
asked.

“Tomo
rrow.”

“Well you make sure you two have a great time.” She grinned at them and Eric watched Natasha’s cheeks colour which seemed to make Kathryn’s grin even bigger. Even he had to smile at her response. She was almost 8 months pregnant with their babies and she seemed embarrassed about discussing her honeymoon with anyone? He was pretty sure everyone would know she was pregnant from them making love, not an immaculate conception which seemed almost like the impression she was trying to
give.

Once they were finished saying goodbye to everyone, he took his wife upstairs in the lift and helped her undress and prepare for bed. He lay with her until he was sure she was asleep and then he carefully crawled back off the bed and slipped back downs
tairs.

Everyone but Maggie, Tom, Alice and Kathryn had left and Eric pulled Alice aside to discuss with her plans he’d put in place for while he and Natasha were at the hotel. He had decorators coming in to turn the blue room into the nursery and he was armed with the list of things he wanted done that he knew were things Natasha wanted. She’d pointed out different baby furniture she liked and that was on the list to be purchased for the nursery. They only had 4 days to get the work done in and the contractors had assured him they could do it easily in that
time.

“Alice, I need you to keep an eye on their progress for me while we’re away please. If they have any problems can you deal with them unless you don’t think you can, in which case, you’re going to have to contact me but I’m leaving you with this list of what I want done and what has to be purchased for the room
, ok?”

“Eric, she’s going to love this.” She said as she stared at the design plans for the room and the list he’d printed out. “Of course if there’s a problem I’ll try to take care of it first. I don’t want to disturb you if I can avoid it. You just concentrate on having a good time. You don’t have much longer to go before those babies are going to be
here.”

He couldn’t control the quiver of fear that ran through him at the thought. Alice noticed and gave him a reassuring pat on his shoulder. “You’re going to be a great Father Eric, don’t you w
orry.”

“Of course he will Alice.” Maggie joined in and wrapped her arms around him to hug him close to her petite
frame.

“Yes he will and my baby girl is going to be blown away when she sees what you’re getting done for her.” Kathryn grinned at him before joining the circle and hugging hi
m too.

Eric found it all a little overwhelming with all the attention he was suddenly receiving. “I’m going to head back upstairs to Natasha. Please, remember everyone, don’t mention anything about this to her
, ok?”

With them all nodding their agreement to keep quiet and to the chorus of them all bidding him good night, he turned and headed back upstairs so he could hold his wife in his arms while she
slept.

*     *
     *

Eric pushed open the door with his foot to the penthouse suite of the hotel the next afternoon before swinging Natasha into his arms so he could carry her over the threshold. “Eric, for crying out loud, put me down. I’ll break your back. I’m too heavy especially with these two on b
oard.”