I couldn't put my finger on her mood. She was quieter than usual. But I knew pregnancy could cause so many changes… I just wanted to do everything I could to support her. To reassure her.

The moon was high and bright, reflecting off the water. Moki was awake now and straining at her leash. Hand in hand, we headed back to her, to be greeted with a whirlwind of yips and kisses. She was content only when Libby picked her up and cuddled her.

"I talked to India earlier," I offered, hoping to draw her out. We were taking the long way back to the house. "Blake, too. The merger's on track. And they both hoped we were having a great time…" I stopped as Libby put the puppy down on the sand, then I took her gently by the chin.

"I just want you to know… I've never enjoyed anyone's company as much as I do yours." Her eyes flickered and she looked back down. "It's not just about our agreement… or the baby. Or even how fucking good it is when we've crossed that line…

You're an amazing person, sweetheart. I want you to be happy…" I put my arms around her and felt her lean into me, her forehead on my chest. The puppy was busy nosing around in the bushes. "I know so much has happened so fast… Are you happy, Libby? No doubts, now that it's all really happening?"

I felt her shake her head, but she didn't answer. When she finally lifted her face to mine, her cheeks were wet.

"No doubts," she said very softly. "I want to do this for you… With you… I just don't want anything to happen… to disappoint you…"

I caught her face between my hands. Her skin was cool, soft. Everything inside me demanded I kiss her, but I held back. I fucking held it all back…

"You won't disappoint me, sweetheart. Not ever. It's the pregnancy that's making you emotional, that's all. Something we'll both have to get used to…" I smiled teasingly into her eyes. "It's made you even lovelier too…

And, god help me, that may end up being the biggest problem of all…"

We honored our commitment that night. Fucking hard as it was… and as I was… I saw Libby to her own room that night, leaving her with a chaste kiss on the forehead and Moki sprawled on the pillows. Libby had pleaded exhaustion, even though it was still fairly early in the evening. I headed back out to the beach for a moonlight swim. I was too keyed up to sleep and needed to work off all the energy running through me. Something told me that nine months from now, I was going to be in the best shape of my life.

The moon was full, and the light good enough there was no danger. I could make laps almost the length of the island without ever losing sight of the house. I stripped down completely, leaving my clothes on the sand.

The water churned and rolled as I swam. For more than an hour, I poured every ounce of energy into the ocean, legs pounding, arms reaching, stretching, pulling. I wanted to be completely spent by the time I climbed into bed alone. Otherwise, the lure of her might be too much. For no matter how hard I pushed myself, her image never left me. As hard as I swam, I seemed only to be getting closer to her… No matter how hard I tried to empty my mind, to let go of my need for her, all I could see was her bright, beautiful eyes and her soft, round body filled with me, filled with our child…

I headed for shallower water, a narrow cove with walls of rock. It was darker there, sheltered from the moonlight. For a while, I stood still, letting the waves push and pull at my body. It lapped at my chest and I remembered how Libby looked with the water licking at her full, heavy breasts. The water was so fucking warm, even at night. It swirled around my balls as they tightened. My cock throbbed as the water lapped against it. Wet and warm, the way Libby had been. It felt so good to be surrounded, engulfed. I took my cock in one hand and cupped my balls in the other. "I so fucking want this with you, sweetheart…"

I worked myself hard, punishingly hard. All the while, thinking of Libby.

I wanted her, but didn't have her.

I needed her, but she didn't feel the same.

She was going to have my baby, but I would have to raise that child without her…

It was how it had to be, and yet I didn't know how I could live…

The faster the thoughts came to me, the harder I stroked. Like I could push the truth away if I pushed myself hard and over the edge. I spread my legs wide, letting the water pound against my groin. I jerked, harder, faster, pushing myself toward oblivion and the image of my wife… I closed my eyes to the water and the stars. For just a moment, there was nothing else but her… and I exploded, giving everything I had inside me.

"I fucking love you, Libby. Oh, fuck… sweetheart…

I love you…"

A long time later, I gathered my clothes from the beach and dressed. I wanted a quick shower before bed, even though it was damned late. My body was exhausted, ready for sleep, but nothing I'd done had eased the need inside me. I stopped in the hall, by Libby's door, putting my hand on the knob. I wouldn't wake her. I just needed to see her… to know she was alright.

I opened the door, expecting to see her sound asleep with Moki in her arms. But she was crouched on the floor, her eyes wide and full of fear. There was a mess on the carpet and the puppy was limp and whining in her arms. In a second, I had them both in my arms.

"Oh, thank god, Jack! It's Moki. I woke up… she was sick… Oh, god, I think she's so sick…"

The relief I felt that it wasn't Libby who was in trouble was short lived. I took the puppy from her arms and saw her tongue loll. But she was breathing. And I could feel her heartbeat. "What happened? She seemed fine when we were on the beach…"

"She was," Libby said, leaning over my arm, stroking the puppy's head. "We got into bed and she fell right asleep. We both did. The next thing I knew, she was on the floor and… Oh, my god. She was sniffing around in the plants and flowers when we were talking. What if she ate something, Jack? Something that's poisonous…" Libby's face was white with fear, her voice small.

I wrapped Moki carefully in a blanket and handed her back to Libby. One call and I had a helicopter on the way. There was a landing pad behind the house and I'd had the pilot on standby all along, for Libby's sake. And for the baby's…

"St. Thomas," I ordered. "I want us there in fucking less than an hour." I shoved the phone in my pocket. "Let me take her, Libby," I said reaching out. "You should stay here and try to get some sleep. There's a vet clinic on St. Thomas, and I promise I'll let you know as soon as do."

"No, Jack," the words came out clipped. "I'm going too. There's no way I'm leaving her…" She held the puppy closer. "She needs me… I can't let her go without me…"

Her eyes pleaded as she held Moki tighter. "I need to be with her."

"Then get dressed. And I want you to eat something before the chopper gets here. We have a few minutes left…" I stroked the side of her face. "It'll be alright, sweetheart. I promise you. I'm not going to let anything happen to either one of you."

"It's a good thing you got her here when you did." The vet ran a hand through his grey hair. "I'd say she got into some kind of plant. It can cause some pretty serious gastritis in such a young dog. But she's not in any danger now and she's resting comfortably. We'll get her rehydrated, and if all goes well overnight, I think she can go home in the morning."

I felt Libby's body sag in relief against mine and I wrapped my arms around her. She'd spent the last two hours pacing, resting only when I made her sit beside me. I shook the man's hand and led Libby over to a loveseat in the corner.

"We should find a hotel and get some rest, sweetheart." I stroked her back with my hand, long, soothing strokes. "Moki needs her sleep, and so do you… There isn't anything else we can do here."

"I was so afraid… She's just so little and so helpless…" The tears Libby was holding back started to flow. "I couldn't bear it, if anything happened to her. I'm sorry, Jack. I'm so sorry, but I can't leave. Even if she's sleeping… even if she's going to be fine now." A huge sob shook her shoulders as all the stress she'd been holding in started to let go. "You can go if you need to, but I won't leave Moki here all alone."

I held her as she let it all go and I wiped her tears, patting her back as if she were a child. My heart swelled with love for her, this kind and precious woman. There was so much I was aching inside to say to her, but I was quiet and just held her until her body finally relaxed and she was spent.

Once Libby was calm and had sipped the water I'd given her, I left her for a moment to speak with the receptionist. Maybe it was the generous donation check I dropped into the collection box, but five minutes later I had what I wanted, and headed back to collect my sweetheart.

I gathered her into my arms and kissed her forehead. Then I slipped down to take a quick, sweet taste of her salty, swollen lips. "So… I'll see you in the morning?" Her voice was unsure. I smiled, sinking into her eyes.

"No, sweetheart. They have an empty office here we can use for the night." I kissed her again, unable to stop myself.

"I know you can't leave her alone tonight. So if you're staying… then so am I."