Mr Spencer (Mr. 2)

He cups my cheek in his hand. “Yeah, I’m disappointed.” He exhales heavily. “I wanted to start our life together right now, but I also understand.”

I’m losing track of this conversation. “What do you understand?”

“I understand that your family comes first, and that you will always, on some level, do what they want you to do.”

I frown.

“It’s okay.” He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip and stares at me for a moment. "I’ll just have to learn to deal with it.” He shrugs. “As long as they’re happy, you’ll be happy, right? I’m going to take a shower now.” He turns and, without another word, he walks away to make his way upstairs.

I stare at the refrigerator, his words playing on repeat in my mind.

As long as they’re happy, you’ll be happy, right?

Is that true?

Will I only be happy if my family accept Spencer?

What if I do this for them, and then they never accept him anyway? What if I let them drive a wedge between the two of us?

I do want to keep my father happy. It’s how I am… but should I want that at Spencer’s expense?

They don’t even know him. What gives them the right to judge him?

We’re so happy together.

He did everything right. He got a prenup to protect me, he tried to be civil while Edward was just attacking him non-stop. What was he supposed to do? Of course he was going to fight back eventually.

I drop my head into my hands.

I’m so confused.

I’m going to have to think about this. I don’t want to just push Spencer’s needs aside because my family doesn’t want to be embarrassed by the tabloids. It’s what he does from here on in that matters to me. I don’t care about his past, I want his future.

I finish my wine and head upstairs to find Spencer in the shower. He’s washing himself when he turns to me and smiles sexily. He has no idea of the turmoil I’m in.

“You getting in?” he asks.

I give him a lopsided smile, undress, and get in under the hot water. His big arms come around me and he holds me tight.

“I love you.” I smile up at him.

“I know you do, angel.” His mouth takes mine, and his tongue slowly slides through my lips.

“I don’t want to disappoint you, Spence,” I whisper.

“Baby, you could never truly disappoint me. I know where they’re coming from, and to be honest, I would give anything to have a father who loves me as much as your father loves you. It’s a blessing.”

My eyes fill with tears, My poor man.

My heart breaks for him and the pain he has been through at the hands of his so-called father.

We kiss again, and it’s long and deep and tender and I feel my arousal burn deep inside me. His erection is up against my stomach. He motions to lift me, but I stop him.

“Spence, I can’t.”

“What?”

“I have my period.”