Page 30 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

The next morning, Alessandra and Edward said their farewells to Alessandra's mother and father, with the promise that both parents would travel to Edward's estate in the coming months.

Once on their journey, Edward and Alessandra both started to think about the night ahead, staying in the same inn once again.

Edward found himself fuelled at the thought, but now also worried about her being pregnant.

He was desperate to not do anything that might harm her or the life growing inside of her.

After greetings at the inn, they calmly followed the innkeeper up to their room, and immediately closed the door behind them.

Once there, Edward found his desire to maintain control was forcefully counteracted by his wife wrapping her arms around him and kissing him passionately.

Alessandra heard him groan deeply, but then felt him pull away from her.

"What is it?" she asked him and could see conflict on his face.

"Are we going to hurt the baby?" Edward asked shyly.

Alessandra smiled broadly at him and pulled him closer to her again.

"No, the doctor said that everything will be fine for months yet," Alessandra said.

When Edward didn't say anything, she continued.

"Edward, all is well.

My body is hardly changed at all yet."

She leaned in to kiss him tentatively, to feel her way and make sure she wasn't pressuring him.

Slowly he melted against her, having missed her warmth so much in previous nights.

Lying in bed, still connected to his wife, Edward relaxed after the vigour of their lovemaking.

He relished the feeling of being so close to her, lying on top of her as he rested inside her.

As she kissed him all over his face and stroked his hair, he felt at rest.

"I love you so much," he whispered to her, wondering how he was going to get through months without such intimacy if she carried the child to full term.

Alessandra kissed him deeply, perceiving that he was still concerned for her.

"I love you too, Edward," she said.

"Please stop worrying.

You and I both know that babies do not always survive through to birth, or after birth.

I do not want that thought to stop us from enjoying our love for one another."

Edward said nothing in reply, instead quietly moving beside her, cuddling into her further, and holding her tighter.