Chapter 65

Lanie

I whisked the curtains open, taking in the white beach and the sparkling blue water. Palm trees and other foliage covered the far side of the bay. A few people surfed, but other than that, the area was empty.

“Oh my god,” I breathed. “It’s beautiful.”

Andrew’s strong arms wrapped around me from behind. “Yeah?” he murmured, laying a kiss on the side of my neck.

We’d gotten to the resort after dark the night before, and all I’d really gotten to see were the patios and the lobby. I’d pored over the brochure, though, listing all the things I wanted to do.

“I can’t believe we’re here for a whole week.” I rested my arms against Andrew’s.

“What do you want to do today?”

“Mm.” I leaned against him, thinking about it some. “Sunbathe? Take a surfing lesson? I dunno. What do you want to do?”

“Spend time with you.”

I spun around to face him. “I like that answer.”

A knock on the door made me look over his shoulder. “It’s so early. Who is that?”

Andrew shrugged but couldn’t hide the knowing look on his face.

“Andrew?” I asked.

He didn’t answer, only opened the door and accepted the breakfast tray an employee was wheeling in.

“Breakfast,” Andrew said, taking the silver cover off the spread.

“Is that champagne?” I nodded at the bottle and two flutes nestled between the breakfast plates. “At eight in the morning?”

“It’s our honeymoon.” Andrew grinned. “Do you have anywhere to be that requires you to be sober?”

“Not that I know of.” I laughed.

“Then cheers to us.” He popped the bottle and filled the glasses to the brim.

Ten minutes later and, somehow, I was on my second glass and jumping on the couch.

“Don’t spill your drink,” Andrew chastised with a smile.

I stuck my tongue out at him but stopped bouncing. It was making me too dizzy. Standing on the middle cushion, I finished off my champagne.

“Can you believe we got married just yesterday?” I asked.

“No,” he admitted. He was sitting on the sofa across from me, legs spread and arm languidly dangling over the seat’s back. I could have this man anytime I wanted, and yet my mouth still watered at the sight of him there.

“It feels strange. I’m going to have to get used to it.”

“What, you don’t like being married to me?”

“No! That’s not what I’m saying at all. It’s just weird because, I don’t know. You’re my husband now.” I smiled at the word. “But I do like it.”

“Good,” he answered in a syrupy voice.

“I miss Raven and Karen already.” I frowned.

Andrew laughed.

“I’m serious!” I chastised him. “Raven will be gone soon. I don’t know what I’m going to do without her.”

“She’ll be back before you know it. She’s just traveling to a few countries, not going to the moon.”

Still, I couldn’t smile. Over the last six months, Raven and I had become closer than I’d ever hoped. She was more than a stepdaughter to me. Because of the strange combination of the close age difference and the fact that I was her school counselor, we had a relationship that couldn’t really be labeled.

It was mostly like she was the sister I’d never had. Little sister, that was. Our relationship wasn’t completely rainbows and sunshine. I’d had to put on my parenting hat a few times and get on her case after she came home late. Mostly, though, we were thick as thieves.

Sighing, I plopped down on my butt.

Andrew patted the cushion next to him. “Come over here.”

Grinning, I set my champagne glass down on the end table. “Why?” I teased.

Andrew raised an eyebrow. “Are you playing hard to get?” he asked in a husky voice.

“Maybe.” I seductively trailed my finger across the top of my T-shirt. The champagne had given me a good buzz, making me feel like I wanted to be a little wild.

Slowly, my eyes on Andrew, I took my shirt off and dropped it to the floor. His lips twitched upward, but he didn’t say a thing.

Still making a big show out of the process, I stood up and wiggled out of my shorts. I still had my bra and panties on. Stretching my arms up high, I sighed. “See anything you like?”

Andrew chuckled. “I like everything I see.”
Winking, I did a little shimmy and unhooked my bra. Instead of exposing myself to my husband, I turned my back to him as I kicked off my panties. I could feel his hungry gaze on me. It heated up my skin and made desire collect between my thighs.

“Okay, now you’ve done it,” Andrew growled.

A second later and his arms were around me. I yelped as he lifted me over his shoulder and carried me into the suite’s bedroom.

Setting me in the middle of the bed, he crawled right over top of me, arms on either side of my shoulders. The giant bulge beneath his pajama pants brushed my leg. I shivered in pleasure, looping my arms around his neck and tilting my face up toward his.

But the kiss didn’t come.

Instead, Andrew looked down at me, his gaze jumping all over my face.

“Do you want a baby?”

The question took my breath away. I blinked in surprise. “Wh-what?”

“Do you want a baby?” he repeated, asking it like it was the simplest thing in the world.

“Like, in the future?”

“Sure.” He ran the back of his hand down my cheek. “Or nine months from now.”

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart fluttered. A baby?

I’d thought about kids before, and Andrew and I had discussed it a couple times after getting engaged. He was open to more kids, and I’d always wanted them. The possibility had seemed so abstract, though, a thing that could happen one day years in the future.

But now here Andrew was, here my husband was, asking me point blank if I wanted a baby right then?

“Are you asking me if I want to try for a baby right now?” I carefully questioned.

Andrew’s eyes softened. “Lanie Marx, you don’t know how badly I want to put my baby in you, but I’m only going to do it if you want it as much as I do.”

My whole body burned at his words. In one delicious wave of realization, I knew what the answer was.

“Yes,” I cooed. “Let’s do it.”

A smile broke across Andrew’s mouth, and he finally dropped his lips to mine. His kiss was hungry, feverish.

As our tongues moved across each other, I tugged his shirt off and pushed his pajama pants down. Andrew helped me when he needed to, but his mouth never stayed away from mine for more than a few seconds. Within a few breaths, he was always back to kissing me, back to pouring his love and devotion on me.

With us both naked, he slipped his arms under my back. My legs spread wide, and Andrew nestled his weight between them. I was already wet, my desire for him and my excitement for what we were doing sending my body into a frenzied overdrive.

His lips caressing mine, Andrew pushed against my opening. With one fluid movement, his length disappeared inside me. I dropped my hips completely open, crying out against the pleasure.

Leaving my mouth, Andrew lightly clamped his teeth into the side of my neck. Gently, he rocked into me, thrusting completely in before pulling back as much as he could manage.

Delirious pleasure soared through me. With each stroke, I came a little more undone. I was melting, disappearing into the ethers.

I dug my nails into Andrew’s lower back, squeezing my eyes shut tight as he pumped into me. I could feel his girth widening, could feel him hitting as far as he could, going almost to my cervix.

The pleasure increased, and I began to shake as I started to come. Andrew took my mouth again, kissing me heartily as he pumped faster. A new warmth filled me, and he groaned against my mouth. Long ropes of his seed shot deep inside of me, where my body eagerly sucked it up.

Gasping, Andrew rested his face into the crook of my neck. For a long time, we lay there, sweating and breathing heavily. His length was still inside of me, and our limbs were intertwined.

“Well?” he asked after a while, hot breath tickling my neck.

“Hm?” I turned my face to the side, pressing my cheek against his. I’d been floating away, getting close to sleep.

“Do you think it worked?”

I ran my fingers down his back, collecting drops of sweat. “We’d better try again real soon. You know, just in case.”

I felt Andrew’s throat and chest vibrate as he chuckled. “You won’t get any complaints from me on that.”

“Mm.” I turned against him, snuggling closer. He got the cue and rolled over onto his back, bringing me with him.

Taking my hand, Andrew laced our fingers together. With my arm tossed over his chest and my head resting on his shoulder, I was in my happy place.

“So?” I asked, stifling a yawn. “Surfing? Or sunbathing? Or a hike?”

“You sure there’s nothing else you want to do?”

“Andrew.” I giggled. “You seriously cannot have that kind of stamina.”

“You’re only saying that because you don’t know what it’s like to get to sleep with you.”

I sighed happily. “Okay, maybe staying in this suite all week long isn’t such a bad idea after all.”

“If we’re going to get you pregnant, we’ll have to set aside at least a few hours a day for trying.”

Again, he had me laughing. “You’re going to make me sore.”

“Don’t worry, baby.” He kissed my head. “I’ll take care of you.”

A smile stretched across my face. I knew he’d be good with that promise. Since the day he’d proposed to me, Andrew had treated me like I was the sun and moon. He was never letting me go, and it was the same deal on my side.

Andrew rubbed my arm, and the nearly imperceptible sound of crashing waves entered our room. Outside, the day was bright and perfect, waiting for us to seize it.

Just like the rest of our lives.