Riley slung the towel around his hips, found his pants and fished out his phone.  He and Vanessa heard it vibrate several times from his pocket after their third round of love making, this time in the tub.  Since it was after 1:00 in the morning, Vanessa, ever being the worry wart, feared there may be an emergency.  He had several missed calls and texts, all from Darby.  Without reading them, he fired off a quick response.

Thanks for the gift.  Good hunch.  Tell NO ONE.  Talk tomorrow.

He turned off the phone and returned to Vanessa, helping her stand, opening her towel, wrapping her in it and helping her step out of the tub. 

“So, how’re we gonna do this, Riley?”  Vanessa asked, wrapped in his arms, her head cuddled against his chest.

“After three times, you can’t possibly be thinking I can do it again.”  He grinned down at her.

“No.”  She looked up at him seriously.  “What are we going to tell everyone?”

“I hope you don’t get mad, but I just told Darby.”  He searched her face for a freak out, but there was none.  “I asked her not to tell anyone.  She won’t.  I promise.”

She sighed.  “No.  She deserved to be told.  But what about everyone else?”

“Vanessa, we will do whatever you want to do.  Whatever decision you make, I’ll stick to it.”

“I want to wait.  Let’s keep it just between us for now.”  She smiled.  “I want to have time to wrap my own head around it before anyone else knows.”

He bent down and kissed her lightly on the lips.  “I love that plan.”  He rested his forehead against hers.  “I talked to Darby’s publicist today about releasing the news about the wedding.  It’s better for it to come from us than to have the press get wind of it on their own.  I proofed the press release earlier, but I wanted to run it by you first.  She just needs an okay from me to send it.” 

She thought for a moment and groaned.  “Send the okay in the morning.  By the time it hits, we’ll be on our way to Hawaii.” 

“Speaking of that, we should go to bed.   We have an early breakfast with everyone before we leave.”  He moved her hair out of her eyes.  “You are carrying my child now, and you need your sleep.”

“Ugh.  Is that how it’s going to be now?” she grouched, but the gleam in her eye told him she wasn’t completely serious.  “Are you planning on using the ‘mother-of-my-kid’ card all the time?”

“Yes ma’am,” he answered, absolutely no shame in his tone.

 

***

 

“Please promise one more time,” Vanessa pleaded as she finished wrapping her hair in a ponytail.

“Jeez, Vanessa.  For the third time, I promise I won’t say a word about the baby,” Riley said smiling.

“Pinky swear?”  She held up her right fist, pinky extended.

He laughed, laced his pinky with hers and kissed her pinky.  “Pinky swear.  Now c’mon.  We’re already late.”

They held hands the entire way down to the same secluded room where they had their reception. 
Right before they entered, Vanessa squeezed his hand.  “Remember, not a word.”

“Trust me, Vanessa,” he assured her.

A small buffet lined the back wall.  Everyone from the wedding was already there either filling their plates or sitting at the tables, chatting about various topics. 

“Good morning, everyone,” Riley sang to the group, as he led Vanessa to the food.  He noticed how she smiled and nodded at everyone, but did not say a word while the others greeted them warmly. 

Vanessa’s father walked over to them and extended a hand to Riley.  He turned to his daughter and opened his arms for a hug. 

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted loudly and threw herself in her father’s arms.  He stiffened and stepped back to look at his daughter’s face.  All chatter and activity stopped, except for Riley’s chuckle, and all eyes turned to stare open mouthed at Vanessa and her father.  After what seemed like an eternity of shocked, awkward silence, Officer Taylor spoke.

“Is this why you got married?” he asked sternly.

Vanessa shook her head.  “No, Daddy,” she answered, barely above a whisper.  “I didn’t even suspect until last night after the ceremony.”  She shot a glance at Darby.  “I took a test and it was positive.”  She gave her father a tight, timid smile waiting for his response.  He was quiet for a long time, his face expressionless.

“I’m going to be a grandpa?” he smiled. 

“Well, you already are.” She nodded to Seth.  “But yeah.”  She patted her stomach.  “This time, it’s your flesh and blood grandchild.”

Robert crushed his daughter to his chest as the room erupted with noisy congratulations.  Riley was hugged and patted on the back and watched closely as Vanessa was passed around from person to person. 

Darby was the last to hug him.  "How did you know, Darbs?” he whispered in her ear.

“I didn’t.  I called and texted you to tell you I sent you the wrong bag.  I sent you a figurine of Hera, the goddess of marriage.  Ally and I have decided to try and have a baby.  She was inseminated the week after we travelled to Texas.  We have an appointment next Monday to see if she’s pregnant, but I couldn’t wait.  I bought the test yesterday to give to Ally last night after the ceremony.  As soon as she opened her bag, I knew I gave you the wrong one and that Vanessa would freak.  It was honestly a mistake.”

“The universe speaking to us?” he teased. 

She smiled.  “Sounds like it.  See, I’ll make a believer out of you yet.  And if Ally’s pregnant, our kids can be besties.”

He let go of Darby and saw Vanessa seated and talking to Emily.  He filled a plate for Vanessa and sat it down in front of her.  “Seriously?” she muttered and rolled her eyes at him but complied. 

After everyone finished eating he stood to address the group.

“Thanks, everyone.  For all you’ve done.  Everyone in this room is important to both Vanessa and me.  It is perfect to share our happiness with those we love.  We really want to keep quiet about the pregnancy for now.  In fact, we didn’t plan to tell you today.”  He grinned down at Vanessa.  “We want for the press to be able to digest the marriage first before the pregnancy goes public.  But now, we really need to get to the airport.”

A fresh round of hugging and goodbyes commenced.  Vanessa’s grandmother approached them.  “You know, your grandfather knocked me up with your father on our wedding night.”  She turned to Riley.  “Once I got past the sickie stage, I turned into one horny beast.”  She patted Riley on the butt.  “I hope for your sake it’s hereditary.”

 

***

 

“Keep them closed,” Riley instructed as he led her out of the car and down a gravel pathway.  He held on to her shoulders from behind to keep her steady.  Easing her to a stop, he turned her slightly.  He watched her inhale deeply and quickly moved to the side of her to watch her expression for the big reveal.

“Okay, you can open them.”  Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. 

“Oh my goodness, Riley.  It’s breathtaking.”  She moved forward down the pathway to the small house, cupping and sniffing the plumeria, hibiscus and other tropical flowers Riley didn’t know all the names of growing wild along the pathway.

“I told you it was not big.”

“Riley, it’s perfect.  Open the door.”

He unlocked the door and swept her up in his arms to carry her over the threshold, keeping in time with all the traditional fanfare.  She looked around the wood-paneled room, decorated in overstuffed rustic furniture in hues of mismatched blues, accented in traditional Hawaiian prints, a perfect surfer getaway.  Just like his house in Malibu, the entire back wall showed an amazing view of a private beach about 50 yards away.

“No one except Darby and Allison knows about my little hideaway.  I usually spend my vacation time here alone.  I have some friends who watch over the place when I’m not here.  I called Leo and Leia yesterday and asked them to stock the kitchen.  We might see them soon, but they only will come by to say hi.  They know I’m on my honeymoon, so they may leave us alone.”  He carried her around the corner.  “Kitchen.”  She nodded, an adorable grin on her face.  “Are you hungry?”

“Not terribly.  I just really need to pee.”

He laughed and set her down gently.  “The bedrooms are this way.”  He grabbed her hand and led her through the living room to a hallway.  “We can take whichever one you like better.”  He opened two doors on either side of the hallway.  One was decorated in earth tones with the view of the tropical side of the house.  The second room was brightly decorated in loud Hawaiian prints, but it had a view of the beach. 

“I can’t really make any decisions until I use the restroom.  This having to pee all the time sucks.”  He opened the door at the end of the hall to reveal a large bathroom with a large shower, a vanity with two sinks and a toilet.  “What is it with you and showers with benches?” she joked right before she shut the door.

“I’m going to get the bags out of the car,” he said through the door.  “Then we can go get something to eat.”

He collected their bags from the car, smiling that he only had to make one trip.  Vanessa had packed one small suitcase and a vanity.  She was definitely not like most women who would bring their whole closet for a weekend trip, and they planned to stay for at least two weeks.  He added this to the list of things he loved about this woman.

He entered the hallway and heard her retching in the bathroom.  His heart clenched, until he remembered the reason for her getting sick, and smiled, not that he was happy about her getting sick, just about the reason for it.  Knowing she would refuse his help, he dropped the bags inside the beach room and headed to the kitchen for some ginger ale and crackers.  When he heard the bathroom door open, he quickly finished cleaning up and made his way down the hall.  He found her curled up on the bed.

“I thought you’d choose this room.  I brought you some crackers.  And you really need to stay hydrated.” He sat the items down on the table next to the bed.

She devoured a cracker and gulped the ginger ale.  “You don’t know how much I hate to throw up,” she grumbled and took another generous sip. 

He curled up behind her, careful not to move the bed too much.  She snuggled in next to him, so he began stroking her hair.  After a time, he thought she’d fallen asleep.  He relaxed and decided to join her.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, causing him to open his eyes. 

“Why would you be sorry, Nessa?” he asked, resuming stroking her hair.

She sat up and turned to face him, her words tumbling out quickly.  “Well, I’m sure this isn’t the way you intended to spend your honeymoon, with your sick wife who can’t seem to control any of her bodily functions.  Peeing every five minutes and throwing up three times today, once on the plane?  Nice.  Not to mention the fact that I got myself knocked up in the first place, not even one week after we met each other.  Who does that?  Me, apparently.  And now, once the press gets ahold of this, I’m going to be the evil gold-digging slut who trapped innocent Riley Tate in a marriage.  Oh yeah, I’m the reason you had to fire your agent, possibly damaging your career.  Plus, I don’t know what I’m going to do about my career; it hasn’t even gotten off the ground before I have to take a snoozer because I’m pregnant.  All that schooling for what?  Damn, Riley, you sure know how to pick ‘em.”

Riley tried to fight his smile, but he couldn’t.  She jumped up off the bed.

“What?  You think this is funny?” she bellowed.

Riley chuckled as he stood and wrapped his arms around her, his hands rubbing her back soothingly.  “No, Vanessa.  I’ve just been waiting for you to react to this.  I’m a little surprised it took this long.”

She sighed and sunk into him, resting her hands on his chest.  “I’m that predictable?”

“No.  I’m just happy to know that I know you so well.”

She looked up at him.  “How can you?  We’ve known each other only weeks.”

“But it feels like I’ve known you forever.”  He leaned down slowly and kissed her forehead.  “That I have been in love with you all my life.”  He kissed her temple.  “I think I conjured you.”  He kissed her cheek softly.  “The perfect girl.”  He kissed the corner of her mouth.  “My dream woman.”  He kissed her lips lightly.  “I waited for you.”  He kissed her lightly again.  “I’m so glad you fell for me, Vanessa.”  He rested his forehead against hers.

She stepped forward and pushed him so he fell onto the bed.  She straddled him, taking his shirt over his head in one fluid motion, moving her hands to undo the button and zipper on his shorts.  “You sure have a way with words, Tate.”  She kissed down his neck, pushed him to lay back on the bed, kissed down his chest, pausing only to rip off her shirt and bra.  She maneuvered his shorts and underwear over his hips and immediately took him into her mouth.  He hissed a breath between his teeth at the initial sensation.  An electric current ran up his body, and he threw his head back against the pillow.  Then guilt rained down; he couldn’t let her continue.  She’d been sick not twenty minutes ago.  Reaching down to cup her cheeks, he forced her to stop.

“Vanessa, are you sure you want to…”

“Shhh,” she interrupted, breaking his hold on her.  She grabbed his length and stroked him, bringing the tip to her lips.  “I want to make you feel as good as you make me feel.”  She swirled her tongue around his tip and took him slowly into her mouth, stroking him with her hand at the same time.     “So just lay there and enjoy it.”

She took her time, seeming to savor every inch of him.  Her achingly slow pace told him that her mission was to arouse and tease, not to satisfy.  At his urging, she moved her body to the side, closer to him, and helped him take off her shorts.  He ran his hand up the inside of her left thigh to the edge of her panties.  Moving them aside, he groaned at how wet she had become and easily slipped a finger inside her. 

“Jeez, Vanessa,” he murmured. 

She smiled up at him.  “You like that, huh?”

“God, I wanna be inside that.  Now.”  He sat up on his knees and ripped off her underwear, lifted her to straddle him facing away from him, and plunged himself deeply inside her.  She gasped at the abruptness of his actions.  “You okay?”

“Holy shit, yes, Riley.  Don’t stop.”

He kissed her shoulder as he moved slowly inside her.  She leaned back into his chest, reaching behind to grab his left arm.  She lifted it to her breast, guiding him to squeeze it gently and rub her nipples.  “Careful, they’re a little sensitive,” she whispered in his ear. 

His right hand reached around to her thigh, sliding up to the inside to tease her clit with his fingers.  She followed with her own right hand, holding his securely in place.  She arched against him, throwing her head back against his shoulder. 

“Faster,” she ordered, turning her head and tugging his earlobe with her teeth.  He obeyed, quickening the movement of his fingers with his movement inside her.  “Oh.  My.  God.  Riley,” she said to each one of his thrusts.  “I’m.  Gonna.  Come.  Hurry.  Now.  Now.  Now.”  She groaned loudly, grabbed the back of his neck and collapsed into his chest.  The first feeling of her flexing around him triggered him to do the same. 

She panted.  “Oh my God, that was…”

“Pretty amazing?” he questioned, panting just as hard as she was.

“Fucking awesome.”

He smiled and drug his tongue from her shoulder to her ear.  “You feeling okay?”

She quickly rose, turned around and straddled him chest to chest, guiding the still hard Riley back inside her.  “Good enough to do that again.”

He chuckled.  “Unleashing your horny beast already, Love?”

She smiled and began moving against him.  “She’s never been leashed, just asleep for a really long time.  You just woke her up, and she really likes you.”