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***
IF BEAMING SMILES, frequent Post-It notes, and a never-ending supply of destination pamphlets didn’t clue Da
“Eeep, I can’t believe we’re finally going,” Julie squealed, her round eyes glued to the window facing the plane at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
“The world is ours, honey,” Da
And for the four weeks that followed, it was.
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace was something he’d seen on television, but that wasn’t nearly as cool as seeing it in person. Snuggling in the high-speed train to Paris felt luxurious—even a bit naughty when he draped a blanket over them and made Julie come quietly so as not to disturb the other travelers.
Once in Paris, they did all of the “touristy” things—the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe. But what the other tourists didn’t get that he did was the look of fascination and awe that blanketed his wife’s face and softened her eyes.
He fell in love with Julie day after day on that trip, without exception.
***
TRAVELING TO SPAIN was a dream. What was she thinking—the whole damn trip was a dream. But there was something special about Barcelona. The city still sparkled with its post-Olympic shine.
As they traveled from place to beautiful place, taking in sights and turning them into memories, something clicked in Julie’s mind. The old saying “everything happens for a reason” played on a loop in her mind as the trip wound down, and she realized that while her original plans with her parents would have been an unbelievable dream come true, she couldn’t imagine sharing her first world traveling experience with anyone but Da
“How’s this for the grand finale?” Da
Julie had pla
Bora Bora was heaven on earth. The small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti was surrounded by turquoise water and coral reefs. Never had she seen something more exquisite, and never could her dreams have imagined such beauty.
“Da
“This is what I should have given you when you accepted my last name.” He cupped her cheek, lifting her eyes to his. “Stu
In that moment, she wondered if her husband was still talking about Bora Bora.
For four days and four nights, they worshipped the sun, snorkeled in the lagoon, hiked, and made love. They stayed in a bungalow perched on stilts above the lagoon, making the lapping sounds of water part of their soundtrack each night.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he rumbled, his hands stroking the sensitive flesh between her thighs.
“You’ve had me three times today, sweetheart.” Though she certainly wasn’t complaining. She could spend full days devouring her man, and that was exactly what she’d intended to do on their last day in paradise. Mission accomplished. Warm water splashed around them as the jets from the hot tub massaged her skin.
“Fucked you, baby. Over and over again.” As always, his naughty words had her body tingling before his fingers penetrated her. “Wa
Emotion made her throat so thick, her words got caught.
Da
With that, he shut down the jets, scooped her up, and exited the tub. With lagoon water lapping in the background and a warm breeze blowing through the open room, her husband gave her the most poignant memory of their whole trip.
Chapter Ten
Hint Number Three
THE BEDROOM WAS still dark when Julie’s eyes popped open. A slight wave of nausea rolled through her, reminding her of the lulling waters she and Da
When her tummy clenched again, she slid out of bed, mindful not to wake her husband. There was no reason to get him excited if the test was once again negative. She tiptoed to the bathroom. Once the door was shut and the light on, Julie pulled out the home pregnancy test kit she had purchased several days before. Her period was late—two weeks late, to be exact—but over the past few months, her previously regular cycle had become more sporadic. The doctor had informed her that nerves could mess with her menstrual cycle, and since she had been nervous about their trip, she didn’t jump the gun when her period was late…again. Two weeks late, however, was something to be concerned with.
Her hands fumbled as she opened the box and pulled out the articles inside. She’d purchased a different brand of home pregnancy test, foolishly hoping the new test would give different results, positive ones. Butterflies replaced the nausea as she read the instructions. Oh, God, I want this. Please let me be pregnant.
As soon as the stick was dipped in the “first morning urine” resting on the vanity, Julie sat on the closed toilet lid and waited. Three minutes, she thought as she stared at her watch, may as well be three hours.
“Jul?” The bathroom door creaked open, and there stood Da
“I…I didn’t want to wake…” She shrugged as heat moved from her neck up to her cheeks.
“Baby,” Da
She dropped her gaze as her cheeks rose, the smile too hard to fight. She should have known he’d wake up without her by his side. The man kept her tucked close as they slept; she often felt as though he protected her even in sleep, and she loved it. Since marrying Da
“Da
Puffing out his beautifully naked chest, an expression of confidence formed on a very alert Da
How was it possible for him to look so serious even with his lush lips curved into a shit-eating smile? That was what crossed Julie’s mind. What crossed her lips was, “Stop it, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“The fuck I don’t.” His brows arched as if to punctuate his statement. He lowered himself before her, his knees resting on the blue, fluffy bath mat, his large hands on her bare thighs. “It’s my job to know your body.”
Goose bumps rose on her heated flesh as his hands slid down her legs and rested on her knees. Slowly he parted her legs, exposing her most intimate parts. There was something so sexy, so naughty, and so primal about him when he just watched her, staring at her nakedness, as an expression of his desire for her. She’d lost her inhibitions with him years back, but Christ, she got so seduced by his hunger.