Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
We both smiled, a comfortable silence slipping between us.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, nodding toward my swollen belly.
“Okay, actually,” I said. “A little tired. My back hurts. But otherwise, I’m okay.”
“Hungry?”
“Always.”
He smirked, helping me stand and pulling me into the kitchen. He sat me at the island and poured a tall glass of my favorite sparkling grape juice, and then proceeded to make me the best grilled cheese of my life.
I was halfway through it when he leaned over the island with a mischievous grin. “So, energy has been feeling decent lately?”
“If you’re asking if I want to ride you, good sir, the answer is absofuckinglutely,” I said around a mouthful of cheese. “But first, I’m going to finish every bite of this and lick the plate clean.”
Kyle chuckled. “Not what I was getting at, but very happy to know where this evening is headed.” His eyes were shining in the low light of the kitchen. “I asked because I have a surprise.”
“A surprise?” I asked, again, around a mouthful of food. Apparently, I didn’t have it in me to put this sandwich down.
“Your parents are staying for another ten days.”
I blinked. “Uh… they are?”
“They are. And I have a suitcase half-packed for you in our bedroom, but you’ll need to go through it and add anything you might want that I’ve forgotten. I’m phenomenal at many things,” he added with a salacious grin. “But packing, admittedly, is not one of them.”
I chewed on the last bite of my sandwich for a long time, washing it down with a gulp of grape juice before I arched a brow at him. “Okay, and what exactly am I packing for?”
“A baby moon.”
“A what?”
Kyle rounded the island, sliding his hands over my belly before they trailed up to frame my face. God, I loved when he held me like that, when his hands cradled my neck, and his thumbs tilted my chin up, when his eyes stared deep into mine.
“I want to spoil you, Madelyn,” he said. “I have a pretty good hunch your first pregnancy wasn’t exactly rainbows and roses. And so far, this one hasn’t been much better. I had the season. We had the court case. We moved to a new house, moved Sebastian to a new school… it’s been one thing after another.”
He kissed my forehead, holding his lips there a long time before his gaze found mine again.
“And I want a vacation with you. You, and me. Just the two of us. I want to buy you the most expensive massages I can afford, and see your beautiful body relaxing in an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and make love to you in a bed meant for kings and queens.”
“Okay, you have my attention.”
He smirked. “Everything happened so fast for us. We never really even got one real, traditional date. Granted, nothing has ever been traditional with us — and you know what, I love that. I fucking love that our story is ours and ours alone. But,” he added, tapping my nose. “This is the last chance we have to take a moment for ourselves before we become a family of four. And while I can’t fucking wait for that day, there’s nothing I’d love more than to whisk you away to a tropical island and spoil you rotten for a week before we slip into our new life.”
“Damn it, Kyle,” I cursed, swiping at the tears sliding down my cheeks. “I’m too hormonal for this shit.”
He smiled against my lips before kissing me long and slow, his hands massaging my neck and holding me to him.
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
“It’s a hell yes,” I said on a laugh. “But… when do we leave?”
“Well, at first, I wanted to leave in the morning,” he said. “But then I thought about it, and I think we should spend a few days with Sebastian first. We can take off on Saturday?”
I shook my head, pulling him in for a kiss and wrapping my arms around his neck. “God, I love you. Do you know that?”
“I do, but I’m very content to let you show me just how much, if you’d really like to,” he said with a grin, and then I was in his arms, and his lips were devouring me on the way back to our bedroom.
Our bedroom.
Our home.
Our life.
Finally, the storm was settling, the waters calming, the sun peeking through the gray clouds in the distance. With the trial out of the way, I saw nothing but pure gold and possibility.
I saw a luxurious week away with my soon-to-be husband.
I saw a pregnancy so unlike the first one I had, one where I was safe and cared for and loved.
I saw the birth of our daughter, the growth of our family.
I saw our wedding.
Each vision filled my heart with more joy than it knew how to hold, and I was nearly bursting with it when Kyle laid me down in the cool sheets and took his time stripping every article of clothing from my body.