I leaned forward and pressed my lips to the side of her neck. “I can think of a few reasons to stay inside.”
“Mmm…you can, can’t you?”
“Yep.” I kissed my way up to behind her ear, loving the way her body trembled under mine. “Many reasons and none of them include sand in places that never see the sun.”
That was when Christine’s stomach growled. I glanced down to where she wrapped her hands around her middle and back up to her face where a blush tinted her cheeks. “Maybe…we could get something to eat before we decide that spending our day inside is the best way to go.”
“Anything for you, my love.” I held out a hand to help her up. “There’s a menu and phone inside for us to order from.”
She slid her palm across mine, the heat from her sun-kissed skin burning through me. I helped her down from the hammock and led her back into the villa.
The menu sat on the small counter on the side of the kitchen. I handed it to her, trying to keep my attention on the food and not on the small blue bikini Christine was wearing.
She quickly glanced over the menu. “The stuffed French toast sounds amazing. Can you call it in while I take a quick shower? I didn’t want to wake you earlier.”
I took the menu from her hands. “Anything my love wants.” I pressed a brief kiss to her lips.
She took a few step backward, her teeth sinking into her lower lip, before she eventually sauntered into the bedroom. Blood rush from my head south as I thought about the small scraps of fabric hitting the floor.
I picked the first thing I saw on the menu and called room service to bring it. Another benefit of being so far away from the main resort was the time it would take for them to deliver breakfast. Enough time to get a little dirty with my wife before we got clean.
I didn’t bother waiting until I reached the bedroom to start discarding my clothes. A trail of fabric followed me into the bedroom where I could hear the shower running.
Steam filled the bathroom when I stepped inside. I hadn’t paid much attention the night before, but the bathroom was practically the same size as the bedroom. Along one wall sat a long two-sink vanity.
On the other side, the large, glass enclosed shower took up the entire length of the wall. Even with the fog making it difficult to see through the glass, I could still make out Christine’s outline.
With nothing left to take off, I stepped forward and reached for the door handle. Christine turned around with a smirk on her lips when I opened the door.
“I was wondering how long it would take you.”
“So, you don’t mind the company?”
“Not in the least.”
I stepped into the shower and shut us in. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as the water ran down in rivulets between her breasts.
“Fuck, you are absolutely gorgeous.”
I backed her up against the wall, more than ready to get dirty before getting clean.
* * *
A light rap of knuckles sounded on the door. Thank God the hot water ran out, I thought as I reached for the door handles. Otherwise, we might have stayed in the shower for round two. I opened the door to let room service in.
“Mmm…that smells delicious.” Christine stepped out of the bedroom, drying her long hair with a towel as the attendant wheeled the cart into the room.
“Thank you.” I tipped the man and shut the door behind him, then turned to gesture to the room service tray. “Your breakfast is served, Mrs. Cormack.”
“That sounds perfect since my husband just made me work up an appetite.”
I walked over to stand directly in front of her. “Are you complaining?”
“Not in the least. Actually, I’m thinking that’s a good way to work out before every meal. I think I might need his help after lunch and dinner today.”
I leaned forward, tasting her lips. “I’m pretty sure that can be arranged.”
A rumbling sound left my stomach. Christine stepped out of my reach with a laugh. “Now who’s hungry?”
“All right, all right. All my ideas of christening every room in this place can wait until later.”
She began lifting the lids off the trays, revealing her French toast, which I had to say looked amazing. Almost like it was cut out of a magazine, with a slice of butter slightly melted on top. She moved to the next one—an omelet covered with mushrooms. She glanced up with a furrowed brow.
“Mushrooms? You hate mushrooms.”
I laughed as I reached for the fork, flicking the mushrooms off onto the side of the plate. “Let’s just say I was distracted by the idea of you naked in the shower.”
She pulled out her chair and took a seat, lifting a few pieces of French toast onto her plate. “Well, considering I shower every day at home, it seems a little insane that you ordered something you didn’t like just to jump in the shower with me.”
I could see the crinkles at the corner of her eye as she tried to hold back her laugh.
“Yes…but you never wander around in that little blue bikini before getting in the shower.”
She cut a bite of her breakfast and stopped right at her lips. “I take it you like it then.”
“Like doesn’t seem like a strong enough word. Fucking love seems more accurate.”
“Good to know it might be too distracting for you later to take a swim.”
“Not at all.” I leaned my elbow on the table, resting my chin in my palm. “I actually think I would really enjoy seeing that.”
“I’m sure I can make that happen.” She popped the bite of food into her mouth and hummed in the back of her throat. “This is delicious,” she said when she finished chewing.
I pushed the rest of the mushrooms off my plate into the tray top and hoped it was the last of the nasty little things. If only I’d be able to say the same thing about mine. Not likely.
Next time I’d think with my head or stomach instead of my dick and maybe I’d get something edible to eat.
I cut into the omelet, peering at the bit I pierced with my fork, looking for any sign of mushrooms or ham. God only knows what was in the damn thing. I popped it into my mouth and with the first bite down, the bitter, musty flavor of the mushroom hit my tongue.
It took everything in me not to spit it out onto the plate. With an effort, I finished chewing and swallowed it down. I grabbed the glass of orange juice and drank at least half the glass, trying to get the taste out of my mouth.
When I looked up at Christine, her eyes sparkled as she held out her fork with a piece of French toast already cut on it.
I shook my head. “I’m good.” I was the idiot who ordered something I didn’t like because I was too busy trying to get laid.
“If the green pallor of your skin is any indication, I’d have to disagree with you. I’m pretty sure if you try and eat that omelet you’re going to puke on the table and ruin my breakfast.” She pushed the plate with the rest of the French toast toward me.
“I’m not going to eat your breakfast.”
“I’m never going to finish all of this.” She gestured at the large stack still left on the plate then at her own plate full of food. “And if I’m still hungry after I’ve eater all this, I’ll eat the omelet. I don’t hate mushrooms.”
I curled up my nose. “I’m not sure how you eat those things.”
“Easy. I put some on my fork.” She reached over with her fork and stabbed one of the mushrooms I pushed aside on my plate. “Then I open my mouth and eat it.” She opened her mouth and pushed the fork in, closing her lips around it and sucking the mushrooms off the fork before sliding it out of her mouth slowly.
The way her lips wrapped around the fork had me imagining the way they would look wrapped around my dick, making me hard all over again.
“If only mushrooms tasted as sexy as that looked.”
She pushed the other plate of French toast toward me again.
“Eat. I want to go swimming.”
I slid the omelet closer to her and put th
e French toast right in front of me.
“Only the most amazing wife would be willing to switch breakfasts with me because I’m an idiot who thinks with his dick instead of his brain.”
She leaned over and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “You are an idiot, but you’re my idiot. Now eat.”
19
The breakfast trays had been taken away, and Christine had changed back into the blue bikini. Another reason to be thankful we had this part of the resort all to ourselves—the swim trunks that could barely hide the erection that was pressed firmly against the fabric. I adjusted myself as I stepped out the door of the villa and followed Christine down to the water.
She dropped the towel onto the beach, then glanced over her shoulder at me before stepping into the water.
“Ahh…the temperature is perfect.”
She turned to face me, continuing to walk backward, deeper into the clear, blue ocean. “Aren’t you going to join me?”
I wandered to the edge of the water, knowing full well if I got in with her, I’d never be able to keep my hands to myself. Then again, who said I had to?
She dove beneath the surface, coming up face first, droplets of water covering her skin. Her long, wet hair slicked back from her face.
“Jesus,” I breathed. Unable to stand being away from her away longer, I dropped the towel onto the ground next to hers and waded in.
She was right, the temperature was absolutely perfect. Not too warm, not too cold. Just right to be refreshing without freezing the moment you stepped out of it.
I kept moving until I’d almost reached Christine, except she disappeared under the surface again, swimming farther out into the ocean.
“Where are you going?” I called out when she came up again.
“I told you I want to swim.”
“I thought we were going to have a little fun.”
She lifted a brow. “Oh, we can have fun, but only if you catch me.”
I braced my feet apart and crossed my arms over my chest, the throbbing in my dick momentarily forgotten. “Is that a challenge?”
“Yes. Yes, it is.”
She dove once more, swimming even farther out. I didn’t waste a single second, jumping into the water and swimming as fast as I could toward where I last saw Christine.
When I thought I’d swum out far enough to catch her, I stopped and stood up in the water. She was nowhere to be seen. I brushed the water from my eyes, then searched for where she might have swum off to.
Warm hands slid across my abs. “Got you,” she whispered near my ear.
I turned in her arms. “Yes, you have. You got me from the moment I saw you from the stage.”
She slid her arms up my chest and around my neck. I ran my hands down over her ass and, gripping her thighs, I hoisted her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Every smile, every breath, with everything you are.”
She cupped my cheeks, leaning forward, and pressed her mouth to mine. The hint of salt water on her lips as she slipped her tongue into my mouth.
Surreal.
Standing in the middle of an empty ocean with my wife—my wife—tangled around me. Never in all my years with Christine had I imagined our honeymoon like this. Absolute perfection.
We were both breathless by the time she lifted her head and pressed her forehead to mine.
“I can’t believe we finally made it here.”
I leaned back. “You can’t believe we finally made it where? Down the aisle or to the island?”
She smacked me on the arm. “I knew we’d make it down the aisle. But this?” She waved her hand through the air as I lowered her back to her feet. “This is unreal.”
“I was thinking the same thing a few minutes ago.”
“You didn’t visit places like this growing up?”
“Not like this. Sure, we took vacations to tropical places, but we were always surrounded by a bunch of others doing the exact same thing. I’ve never had a private beach to enjoy.”
I swam out a little farther, where I could still touch, but more of me was in the water. Water so clear, I could still see my feet, no matter how far out I seemed to get. Christine came out to join me.
“I think that’s my favorite part of this place. You know I love what you do. I absolutely love listening to you sing. Most of the time it feels like you’re singing directly to me.”
I wound an arm around her waist again. “That’s ’cause I am.”
She reached up and brushed a piece of hair from my eyes. “I know, but your fans think you’re singing to them.” She sighed. “I guess, I’m saying that I love the fact we can have the next two weeks to ourselves. That I can have you to myself.”
“You always have me to yourself.” I sighed. “But I know what you mean. Even when we think it’s just us, someone is always watching.” I ran my thumb along her cheek. “For the next two weeks, I’m yours. No fans. No cameras. No interruptions.”
“And that sounds absolutely perfect.”
I glided backward, the water swirling around as I pushed it forward. “Then let’s swim for a bit before we relax on the beach with a drink and a nap.”
“A drink and a book.”
I stopped and waited for her to catch up. “Whatever makes you happy.” I kissed her lips, then took off again.
For the next hour, we chased each other through the water, stopping to watch the brightly-colored fish as they swam below. The whole thing was majestic.
By the time we reached the shore again, my stomach growled, begging for something. Christine settled onto one of the chaise lounges while I ordered food and mixed us a drink.
I carried it back down to the water and settled into the chair next to her. She’d already gotten engrossed in whatever book she was reading that morning. I set the drink on the table between so as not to disturb her.
This was our chance to relax before we both had to jump back into life again and I planned on enjoying every minute of it. The food arrived right before my stomach tried to claw its way out and find food.
The fish tacos and slaw were perfect in the heat and after the long swim. They were also enough to sap any energy I had left. Christine was still reading when I slid down on the chaise. With the warm sun on my face, I let my eyes slide closed, listening to the waves as they hit the shore.
A soft hand on mine pulled me awake. The scent of her sunscreen invading my senses. “Aiden,” she whispered. “Wake up.”
“Why?” I groaned, even as my dick sprang to life again.
“Because if you don’t, you’ll be up all night.”
I opened my eyes, squinting into the sunlight. Christine still sat on the chaise next to me. “Maybe I want to be up all night.”
She rolled her eyes with a laugh. “Of course you do.”
Moving to my side, I ran my fingers lightly up from her knee and over her thigh. “Mmm…you don’t want to join me.”
She laid the e-reader on the table and climbed from her own chair into mine. “Of course I want to join you.”
“Then why did you wake me? I need to build up my energy.”
She laughed. “I’m sure you’re full of energy. Now come take a walk with me down the beach. Then we’ll come back and find something else fun we can do.”
She ran her finger down the middle of my chest. A fire in her eyes.
“Why not take the walk later and find something fun to do now?”
She pointed out into the water. “I want to watch the sunset.”
The sun was hanging low over the horizon, casting a pinkish orange glow across the surface. I scrubbed a hand over my eyes. “How long did I sleep?”
“A few hours.”
Damn. “It’s hard to remember it’s winter at home when it’s so warm here.”
She giggled. “Still used to the Maryland winters?”
“I think so.” This would be our first winter in California since we bought the house. Very different from the millions of lay
ers you had to wear to keep warm on the East Coast. She stood and started down to the water and I was quick to follow her. “I won’t lie, it’ll be nice to head home and not freeze our asses off at the airport.”
“I’m glad we bought the second house.” She suddenly burst out laughing.
I linked our fingers together as we wandered down the beach. “What are you laughing at?”
It took her a few seconds to get the giggles under control. “I just talked about buying a second house like it was nothing. It’s just something I never thought I’d say. Not that it would be possible without you.”
I stopped and turned her to me. “Hey, we’ve talked about this before. Everything I have is yours. And I wouldn’t have any of it without you.”
“Yes, you would.” A light pink raced up her cheeks.
“No.” I shook my head. “When we got our chance with Punk Beat, did I ever tell you what song made them call?”
She shook her head. “No, what song?”
I couldn’t believe we never had this conversation before. Then again, Christine had always been very tight-lipped about money. She didn’t like overspending and her eyes still bugged out whenever we talked about spending more on something than she was used to.
“‘Time to Go’.”
Her eyes widened.
“Without that song, we wouldn’t have anything. They love our music, but ‘Time to Go’ made them take a second look.”
“Oh my God. I never knew.”
“I know that now. I feel like an idiot for never mentioning it before. So really, everything I have is because of you. You’re the reason I pick up my guitar each day. The reason I sing. Every piece of music I’ve ever made reminds me of you and it always will.”
The sun was getting closer to the horizon. The pinks and oranges reflecting through the clouds in the sky. With Christine’s hand in mine, I lowered to the ground, drawing my knees up to my chest. Christine wrapped her arms around my waist and laid her head on my shoulder.
“This is perfect.” Her voice was a whisper in the breeze.
“Anything is perfect with you.”
20
First and Always: The Forever Duet Page 14