Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
I spent over twenty years making her feel the opposite of that.
I plan to spend the rest of my days making sure she never feels that way again.
Turning onto my back, I shove my sweats down and pull her onto my lap. I’ll take this woman any way I can, but there’s something about watching her ride me that makes every other position pale in comparison. It’s the intense concentration on her face as she grinds. It’s the way her hair cascades down her shoulders when she throws her head back, messy and wild. It’s the way she bites her lip when she’s almost there …
I don’t know that I’ll ever get enough of this woman.
“I like this tradition already.” Campbell’s breathless when we’re finished. She’s lying on my chest, my drained cock still pulsing inside her. Her heart beats against mine, practically in sync. Her nipples graze my flesh as she situates herself, reviving my hardness. I could easily go for another round, but we’ve got some packing to do. “So what’s the plan? You going into the office today? You haven’t been in once since we’ve been back.”
She sits up and carefully climbs off of me, my seed spilling down her inner thigh.
“I’m taking an extended leave of absence,” I say.
She balks, though I can’t blame her for being confused. “Really? Why?”
“Because I’m taking my wife on our honeymoon.”
Grinning, she claps her hand over her mouth, bouncing with excitement.
“We leave tonight,” I tell her. “I’m taking you to Bali and I’m going to marry you all over again, on top of that mountain in the clouds, just like I promised.”
Campbell cups my face in her hands, dipping in to kiss me.
“I love you so much,” she says.
“But I love you more.”
40
One Week Later
Campbell
The soft caress of the Balinese breeze plays with my hair as I stand on the edge of the world, atop a mountain where clouds float like a gentle embrace all around us. Bali, with its lush landscapes, vibrant culture, and serene beaches, captured my heart the moment we landed.
This past week has been a whirlwind of adventures. Slade and I explored the bustling streets of Ubud with its intricate temples and fragrant markets, tasted street food so flavorful it practically burst in my mouth with every bite, and when we couldn’t eat any more, we danced under the stars to the tune of gamelan music playing from a nearby festival.
But so far my favorite thing about being here with Slade are our quiet mornings watching the sunrise off our terrace, where the sun casts a golden glow on all of the dew-kissed greenery.
If Heaven is real, I think we’ve found it.
“You ready?” Slade asks as he takes my hands in his.
I nod, my stomach filled with more butterflies than I’ve ever felt in my life.
We’re getting married—again.
Only today it’s just the two of us on a mountain in the clouds. No fanfare. No witnesses. Just us. We figured we needed a redo after everything. The first time we exchanged vows, our words were empty and our hearts were elsewhere. Today though, I feel every part of him in my soul, and I can’t wait to pledge my commitment.
Slade is dashingly handsome in a simple white shirt and pressed khakis, the sunlight adding a golden hue to his bronzed skin. He smiles at me, his loving gaze holding the raw depth of emotion that was missing on our wedding day.
“Should I go first?” he asks when he notices the tears pricking my eyes. They’re happy tears, of course, but there’s no hiding them. And in true Slade fashion, he notices everything.
“Please,” I say with a laugh.
“This isn’t easy for me,” he says. “You know I hate talking about my feelings.”
“I know.” I squeeze his hands.
“But, uh.” For a moment, he appears to be choked up, but that moment passes. “For the longest time, I was a man who built walls around his heart, certain that what lay inside was neither worthy of giving nor capable of embracing it. I associated love with loss and uncertainty, believing if I could avoid love, I could avoid the pain that inevitably happens when you lose someone you care deeply about. Campbell, I made a lot of mistakes, and there are a million things I would do differently if I had the chance. But as we build our future and no longer focus on the past, I want to stand before you and give you my word. From now until the end of time, I promise to be the man you saw in me when I couldn’t see him myself. I vow to cherish you, even when times are tough—especially when times are tough. I’ll listen, truly listen to your dreams, fear, hopes, and laughter, ensuring that you never feel alone and that you’re supported in all that you do. I vow to remind myself daily of the gift I’ve been given, this second chance at a love I never thought I needed, wanted, or deserved. And I’ll work every day to be deserving of that love, of your trust, and of this beautiful life we’re creating together against all odds. You’re the other half of my soul, the best part of every day, and my best friend. I promise, Campbell, from this day forward, I’ll love you with every beat of my heart.”