No one will tell me where this plane will land. They won’t even let me look out the window in case I figure it out before we get there. Even the flight attendant has been sworn to secrecy and only smiles sweetly when I try to press her for information. I’ve given up on trying to get someone to let it slip and decided to enjoy the ride, wherever they may take me. When the pilot announces we’re beginning our descent for landing, I’m so excited I can barely contain myself.

We step out onto the tarmac of the small, private airport, and the heat instantly engulfs me. Small beads of sweat pop up on my skin from the high humidity. We have to be near a beach—there’s no way we’re anywhere that doesn’t have lots of sun, sand, and surf. This day just keeps getting better and better.

I grab Blake’s hand and drag him behind me to one of the waiting limousines. “Kyle, come on, son. We don’t have all day.”

“Nope. We have all week, Mom.”

We pile into the line of luxury cars, and I watch anxiously out the window for signs telling me where we’ve landed. Blake chuckles from beside me, knowing exactly what I’m doing.

“I wanted to take you somewhere exotic and tropical, but not everyone had enough forewarning to get passports in time for the trip. Plus, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea with your chemo anyway. So, we’re in Florida, headed for Madeira Beach to have some fun, throw in a few surprises, and still have some time alone.” Blake pulls the back of my hand to his lips. “Maybe we’ll just have dinner and relax on the beach tonight, though. You’ve had a long day. You need to be rested up for tomorrow.”

“What’s tomorrow?”

He just smiles at me, not falling for my obvious trick. I snuggle into him and watch the scenery as we drive out of the touristy part of town and into a less populated area. When we pull into the lavish beachfront villa, I feel like we’ve been transported to a tropical island. Palm trees line the private drive. A huge pool area overlooks the white sand beach and clear turquoise water. Blake tries to hide his pleased smile when he sees the wonder in my eyes, but I know pride swells in his chest.

“There’s still a little while of daylight left. Why don’t you step out and take a look around for a minute? I’ll be right back, babe.”

I slide out of the back seat with him and walk across the boardwalk that leads over the sand dunes and to the open beach. The waves break and the white crest of water rolls in, one after the other, gently lapping the shore. The peaceful roar belies the power the water contains just underneath the surface, but it has a calming effect on me. With my eyes closed, I can discern each distinct sound around me…and I almost feel at home.

“My God. You take my breath away, Grace. You have the most beautiful, serene expression on your face. Your whole body looks relaxed and free of all the stress you’ve been under lately.”

He’s so close, I feel his breath on my cheek when he speaks. I inhale his masculine cologne and feel his inherent strength as if it were my own. His arms wrap around me, tentatively at first until I pull him closer. Now, this feels like home.

“I haven’t even seen the room, but it doesn’t matter. This place feels magical.”

“I should’ve brought you here years ago.” A touch of forlorn regret tints his voice.

“No regrets over what has passed, Blake. We live in the now and plan for the future. And right now, I’m in heaven here with you, and I haven’t even stepped foot in the ocean yet.”

“Let’s fix that right now, then.”

We walk forward together and stand in ankle-deep water, letting the waves pull the sand from beneath our feet with every surge. When our legs are buried up to our ankles, I turn my head to look up at him. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, Blake Hardy.”

“Perfect. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, and no one else I’d rather be stuck with, Grace Hardy.”

I lean back against his chest as he holds me up, safe and secure in his arms, and watch the sun set behind the horizon. If only this moment could last forever.

“Blake, we’re going up to the condo to sort out all the luggage, make sure it gets to the right places. I’m sure the bellhop put all the bags in one room. You have the key cards, right? Gretchen and Anna are itching to unpack everything and get it all sorted out. You two stay out here in the ocean breeze and take it easy,” Dad says.

“Sure, Matt. Thank you. I’ll take you up on that offer and keep Grace buried in the sand with me. There’s a card in here for everyone.”

When I open my eyes and look over at my dad, I realize everyone is out here with us. I mean everyone—my parents, Blake’s parents, Kyle, Leigh, and Alex. I don’t know how long I’ve been standing here, ignoring the world while I disappear into the ocean’s depths. But now I realize I’ve also held them hostage out here with me.

“I’m sorry, guys—I’m so rude! I’ve been standing here like the world is my oyster and didn’t even consider anyone else. We can help with unpacking the luggage and putting up the clothes.”

“Nonsense. We love it out here as much as you do. If we didn’t want to be out here, we already would’ve said something. And no, you cannot help us with the luggage or anything else. You stay out here and soak it all in as long as you want,” Dad replies. “Don’t argue with your father, little girl.”

“He’s right, Grace. There are plenty of us here to take care of the bags,” Jeffery replies with a wink.

When Dad hands out the room keys, he gives one set back to Blake. “These are for your condo.”

“We have a separate one?” I ask.

“Yeah, we sure do, babe. Our parents and Kyle are staying in one three-bedroom condo. Alex and Leigh have their own, and we have our own. But they’re all on the same floor, so we’re still close. Don’t worry about a thing—we’ve thought of everything. Trust me.”

I’m a little too pleased that Blake and I have a separate room from the rest of our entourage. Not that I don’t want to spend time with our extended family, but while we’re at the beach, I need some time alone with my man too.

“Let’s have a seat in the sand,” Blake murmurs against my cheek.

“Okay. Lead the way.”

He picks out a seat with a view and pulls me down in front of him, resting between his legs. He moves the tails of my scarf out of the way to press sensual kisses on the back of my neck.

“I know you,” he says then kisses me again.

“You’ll have a million questions tomorrow.”

More kisses.

“But we won’t give you any answers.”

The warmth of his tongue on my skin sends waves of electricity throughout my body.

“You should just go ahead and accept that this is the way it has to be.”

Oh my God, that was a full lick up my spine. Goose bumps cover my arms, and my heart flutters.

“And let me spoil you, take care of you, and surprise you at every turn.”

Holy hell, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of my neck drives me crazy. My toes curl and my fingers grip his legs as he moves up and down the side of my neck with wet kisses and teasing bites while he waits for me to surrender to him.

“Mmm.” I can’t control the moans he elicits from deep inside me. He knows exactly what to do to me. He always has.

“Does that mean you agree?” Without giving me time to answer, he dives back in, biting me then sucking my skin into his mouth.

“Yes,” I manage to reply in a pant.

I feel him smile against my skin. “That’s what I wanted to hear. But now there are a lot more sounds I need to hear you make.”

He slides his hand down between my legs, and my knees widen of their own accord, giving him all the space he wants. I turn my face to his, and he immediately takes my mouth, his tongue sliding across mine with frantic need. He slips his hand inside my pants then under my panties. When he thrusts a finger inside me, my hips buck upward, giving him access to push even deeper. At the curl of his finger, I come undone under his touch and involuntarily cry out in ecstasy.

“That was so fucking hot, Grace. I can’t wait until later tonight when I have you all to myself in our room. But right now, we have to go get ready for dinner with the family. Do you feel up for it?”

“If I have to. I’d rather spend the time with you stealing all my energy instead.”

“Stop tempting me.” With more restraint than I possess, Blake stands and pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go eat, then I’ll have dessert when we get back to our room. Speaking of, you haven’t even seen it yet. Come with me, my love.”

---

We walk back into the room after dinner, and Grace kicks her heels off as soon as she’s across the threshold.

“Unzip me.” She turns around and offers me her back.

I slide down the zipper of her little black dress, letting my fingers graze her bare skin as the fabric separates. Without thinking, I lean in and follow the trail with my lips and tongue. Her dress falls to the floor into a pool at her feet before I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to the bedroom.

We left the bedroom balcony door open to enjoy the ocean scents and sounds before we went to dinner. The balmy temperature in the bedroom helps keep Grace warm, but the small beads of sweat that pop up on her skin become my aphrodisiac. After I deposit her in the center of the bed, I shed my clothes as fast as I can. In an instant, my mouth is on her, flattening my tongue against her soft slit and licking up to her clit. Circling around it, I increase the pressure, and her fingers grip my head.

“Blake, I need you inside me now. I don’t want to wait.”

Positioned at her wet entrance, my cock throbs from the heat emanating from her pussy. I slide into her slowly at first, relishing the wet softness, the way her body stretches to take all of me, and how her fingernails dig into my skin from the intense pleasure. Once I’m fully seated to her hilt, I lean down to her ear and whisper, “Hold on to me, babe. I’ll make sure you sleep well tonight after I drain every ounce of energy from your body.”

With the intensity of a madman, I repeatedly drive into her, turning and flipping her in every imaginable position as I claim every climax her body has to offer. The warm room only adds fuel to my fire. The sweat of our bodies mixes, our slick bodies slide against each other in an erotic dance. Her name falls from my lips when her inner walls grip me tighter. With my every pump into her, she responds with louder cries until she can no longer hold out, and the buildup inside her releases like a dam breaking. My release follows closely behind hers, and we fall onto the bed in a heap of tangled limbs.

Before I reach over to turn off the lamp, she’s already sound asleep beside me. She curls into me, her arm crosses my body, and her grip tightens around me without conscious effort. With only the light of the moon streaming in through the wall of glass, I watch her sleep. My fingers brush over her cooling skin as I lie awake thinking about our life together. The life we’ve created since the day I almost gave her up for good. I’ve changed so much since then—or maybe I just realized what I had, what I almost lost, and reverted to the man I already knew I was. The man she deserved to have all along—the one who loves her unconditionally.

But everything I do now is to make all of that up to her. This week will be a major step in that direction. I can’t wait until she experiences all the events we have planned. If she has any lingering doubts about my feelings for her, she won’t after I’m done. Then every day for the rest of my life, she’ll feel the depth of my love for her. I’ll make damn sure of that.