Tristan gave her a kiss on the temple. “Don’t try to make me move you to the ocean now.”
She placed her hand against his face. “Not to worry. I’ll love our adobe desert home. It’s what we both want.”
“Come on.” Tristan led them to the railing. He closed his eyes, tipped his head back while inhaling. “What a life…for a few days.” He peered over the railing a moment. “Drink up, honey. This is our wedding night.” He tapped their glasses. Tristan directed his glass toward the shore. “We’re making love on that beach before we leave.”
“Count on it.” She tickled his chest with her fingertips. Lowering her eyes in a flirtatious manner, she whispered, “You’re making me excited.”
He set their glasses on a table. “Oh, yeah? It’s good you’re excited because I’m taking you on a journey I can guarantee you’ll like. Remember back to earlier…” He lifted her chin, beginning with a kiss to her neck, but instead of stopping, he licked her throat in one long swipe to her lips. “You still taste good…sexy.”
She closed her eyes, shuddering. “Oooh… I’ve been there. Trust me, it’s a place I want to go again.” Her breath caught. “And…again.” Nora leaned forward to kiss him. “I don’t know if I can get enough of this outside air, but let’s go inside for a piece of chocolate.” She closed her eyes again. “Whew! You’re blowing me away here, Tristan.”
He opened the balcony door. “You know one of their properties here has a babymoon package.” Tristan shrugged. “Maybe come June, we’ll need a trip back. It’s only a little over an hour flight.”
“I did see that package listed online. It could be our last romantic trip together before our little one arrives.” A slow smile built as she stared at him. “I hear they do a pre-natal massage. Your idea sounds marvelous.” Nora patted her belly. “By then, I’ll need a babymoon and these ocean breezes to cool my hot skin.”
Tristan stroked her neck with his fingertip. “Is your skin hot now, darlin’?” A sensation of warmth crept over his body. His new bride’s jubilance turned him on in a big way.
She tilted her face against his hand. “Mmm, yes, I do believe it is rather warm.” Her eyes narrowed with an inner glow of mischief he loved.
He lowered his voice and leaned forward. “Nice. I’m looking forward to further licking of warm skin…but I bet it will be hot before long.”
***
Once inside Tristan took her arm as she headed toward their luggage. “Wait.”
“What’s up?” Her gaze ran up his body. “Besides you.”
“Listen to you, Mrs. Carlson. You there trying to be so innocent. Maybe you need some cooling off before you get heated up.” His eyebrow quirked. “We’re both awake.”
“I’ve been known to accept a challenge now and then. But, the cooling off part? Hmm…”
In the closet he removed a blanket from the shelf. “How about going down to the water?” Tristan dropped the blanket on the bed and grabbed her into his arms. “Let’s not put it off.”
Nora nodded. “Okay. I’ll be happy to go to the ocean with you.”
He knelt, smoothing his hands all the way up her legs, and under her dress, removing her satin panties. He dragged two fingers over her swollen center. “Mmm, just what I needed,” he whispered, followed by a slow, drawn out groan.
His warm fingers tiptoed all the way up her thigh. Her knees weakened—threatened to give out, and she tossed her head back. “Honey…mmm.” She took in a deep breath, slowly releasing it. “What are you doing?”
He stood and whispered into her ear. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Tucking the blanket beneath his arm, he took her hand, sticking the key card into his pants pocket on the way out the door.
In the elevator she circled her arms around his waist. “This is only one part of what I love about you…your spur-of-the-minute ideas,” she whispered. “Also, making love in odd places. You keep adding to our repertoire.”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right.” Wiggling his eyebrows, he asked, “Does that make me kinky?” He pulled her hair away from her neck and kissed there. “Because if it does, I’m not stopping.”
“Not at all,” she said, her words broken. “Unless I’m too kinky to realize it.”
He spoke low into her ear. “Maybe that’s what I love about you!”
The beach was quiet except for the endless waves crashing against the shore. The sand was crisp and cool. Nora spread the blanket out on the sand then kicked her shoes off. Tristan removed his, rolled his pant legs up, and grabbed her hand. She held her dress up to her thighs when they ran out into the water. He kept going until the water was up to her waist.
“What are we doing?” She squealed, shivering. “Don’t lose that key card.”
Tristan wrapped his arms around her, kissing her recklessly, as if the longing had built up for days. His tongue was hot, sweet against her lips. The beginning of what he promised.
“The water is cold, but you’re so hot,” she mumbled against his mouth. She reached to the button on his pants and lowered the zipper enough to ease her fingers inside, caressing him as their moans sounded in perfect unison. “You have nothing on underneath?”
“If these pants go down, I’m drowning. You better save me.” His words rolled out with a laugh.
“Take them off.”
Her legs clenched around his body when he lifted her, but the waves bounced them around, so he had no choice but to release her before they fell over. “This didn’t go as planned.” Tristan pulled his zipper up. He tiptoed his fingers up her arms and slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders. “One of us is getting naked in the Pacific.”
“Tristan!” She screeched out his name. “There’s probably camera’s out here. Let’s get to that blanket before you get naked…”
“Not me.” Tristan released her, only to have her float on her back away from him.
“Get over here, woman. I can’t swim. See what happens when you take me out of the desert?” Grabbing a hold of her foot, he pulled her back.
Nora stood in water up to her chest. “Are you kidding me? Wait, I know you can swim.”
“Yeah, I am, darlin’.” He hauled her into his arms. “I wasn’t only the star quarterback in high school. I was on the swim team, too.”
“Well, listen to you, rancher.” Nora broke free, plowing through the waves back to shore. She dropped down to the blanket, bringing part of it around her.
Tristan dropped beside her. Ripping off his wet shirt, he tossed it aside. He pushed her dress up, his cold hands caressing her abdomen, ending with a gentle pat. “Our baby’s first ocean dip.”
“Yes, it is.” She placed her hand over his. “I’m so happy to be here with you. Fre-ee-ezing, but happy! We’re in the Pacific Ocean in February.” Sand littered their skin as the misty breeze blew it over them.
“Better than being in the Atlantic in February!” He sat astride her, caressing her skin with long, slow strokes. “Let’s warm you up now.” Leaning forward, he kissed and suckled her breasts until she shivered beneath his lips.
“Umm, I’m c-cold.” Words rattled out through chattering teeth.
Tristan caressed her breast, kissing where his fingers left off. Tenderly rolling her nipple between his fingers, he licked the bead, mumbling, “I know you’re cold. Whoa, just look at this. Mmm, hard as a rock, baby.”
“You’re bad! No wonder you wanted me in the cold water.” Nora tossed her head back and gave a hardy laugh. “Let me see what the cold water did to you. You’re so bad.”
“Oh, Nora, honey, there is a lot of good to make up for that little bit of bad.” With that said, he kissed her, his lips tender, but his kisses didn’t stop at her lips. He trailed a wet line of kisses over her neck. When his mouth touched her ear, he whispered, “I’m so much in love with you.”
He kissed her face, her eyelids, and her temple, all of it adding to her arousal. She squirmed beneath him, wanting him now, ready for him. But he wasn’t going to
grant her wish, yet. The wet dress clung to her upper body, her lower body exposed to him. He went lower, caressing and kissing his way down, making her insides tingle.
Tristan rose to his elbows, wetting his lips, ending with a once over of her body. He cupped her face with both hands. “You’re beautiful, honey.” Slanting his mouth over hers, he gave her a soft kiss that built in intensity the longer it went on. A sound behind them near the hotel patio stopped him abruptly. “What the hell was that?” He raised up to survey the area.
Nora loved the sight of him, shirtless, above her in the moonlight. She cranked her head around to see what was behind them, glad that palm trees covered their presence. Nora reached for him. “You’re one sexy husband.”
“I try, my love.” He bent forward, kissing the throbbing pulse in her neck. “I believe we’re all alone.” He continued where he left off before being disturbed. His fingers caressed her with tender strokes. This time with no distractions, he took his kisses lower while his fingers added to her pleasure. She grasped his hair, arching her hips to meet his warm mouth.
Nora tossed her head back, losing focus, except for the pleasure ripping through her body—his lips expertly kissing, teasing while her body shivered from the inside out. The combination of his hot lips and tongue, the cool wind, and salty spray took her to the places he promised. Oblivion. The journey into ecstasy he swore by. Her body bucked against him in the sand as she unknowingly dug her fingers into his shoulders, her whispered moans floating into the night air. She breathed deep as tremors and vibrations took over her extremities. “Ahhh. Mmm…” Breathless, she whispered, “Tristan, you’re wonderful.”
Warm lips kissed her cold skin all the way to her throat. Her pulse beat out of control when he licked from her neck to her ear, where he whispered, “I know.” Tristan laid his head on her shoulder. She aimed to catch her breath before passing out from the journey.
“Wow.” She couldn’t get anything else out. “Just wow.”
Tristan pulled the blanket over their bodies. He rolled over until they were bundled up in it.
Nora reveled in the beauty of his body—the sight of him gave her so much pleasure. Unable to keep her hands off him, she raked her nails down his chest in uncontrolled passion. “You blew me away.” She shook her head. “I’m not back to normal yet. You are so good at that, cowboy.”
“There’s more waiting. Go for it now.” Tristan pushed her dripping hair over her shoulders. “Now. I wanna see your face when I explode into you.” He licked his lips. “Now, Nora, honey.”
Nora peered into his heated gaze in the moon’s glow, and slowly lowered her body onto him. Tristan’s eyes closed; his head went back. His mouth opened as he groaned and arched high to meet her. Yes. She needed a moment, the connection with him more than physical, as if her body had been jarred by a bolt of lightning, striking right into her lovesick heart.
No longer able to hold it in, she literally screamed out his name, finishing with, “I love you…” She moaned as she rocked with him in the sandy blanket until he grabbed her against him and clamped his lips against her neck, his arms tightening around her. He held her until his breathing slowed, relaxing with a pleasurable sigh.
“I don’t know what to say, woman. Honest to God, I’m crazy in love with you. With what you do to me.”
Nora collapsed against him. “I know exactly what you mean,” she whispered. “It’s like some kind of heaven making love with you.” She laid her head against his shoulder and clasped her fingers around the back of his neck. “Perfect.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He brought the gritty blanket over their shoulders, but lifted his head. “It’s almost dawn. We need to go inside in a moment.” Tristan sighed. “Hold me.”
“Mmm, sure. Whenever you’re ready.”
***
The sky had lightened when they got up from the sand. They shook the blanket before wrapping it around them both. Cuddling close they entered the hotel, shivering as they stood in the elevator.
Two employees got on. They glanced over their shoulder once. One asked, “Newlyweds?”
They both chuckled and nodded. By time they reached their door, Nora couldn’t stop laughing. “I wasn’t even sure my dress was on right!”
“Your dress is on just right.” Tristan chortled. “I’ll set the blanket on the balcony for now.”
“A shower sounds g-great.” Nora turned the water on when she got to the bathroom. She definitely needed a hot one. It had been chilly, but it was a memory she’d keep close for the rest of her life. A chill overtook the room when the door opened.
Tristan stepped inside with her. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get the sand out of some places.”
Nora set her hands on his shoulders. “That’s a horrible thought. Maybe our baby will be born with sand in his or her hair.”
“Nora, that’s bad! But you’re probably right, because I’m sure I came close to touching a baby.”
“Talk about bad.” Nora reached for the shampoo. Tristan’s hands went around her waist. She glanced down as his fingers splayed across her skin. It was comforting, causing an internal warmth to trickle throughout her body. “Sharing this pregnancy with you is the best.” She faced him and tilted her head back to get her hair wet. “I’m really tired now.”
Tristan took the shampoo bottle from her hands. He proceeded to wash her hair. “I like doing this for you.” He backed her under the water again to rinse. Trading places with her, he did his own.
Nora peered upon his strong, muscular body—masculine…so exciting to gaze at. He stood with his eyes closed, his head tilted back. His chest was tan and ripped with so many muscles she couldn’t resist touching him. Her fingers traced his firm six-pack. She ran her hands over his slippery biceps then to his waist. Observing him—her husband, aroused her yet again.
When she lowered her hand to caress him, he opened his eyes. “Oh, Nora… I could take you again, but I know you’re exhausted. So am I.”
Nora backed him beneath the water, letting the hot spray come down upon them. Tristan leaned back and turned it off. He shook his head. “I think we better get some sleep.”
Nora handed him a towel. “We’re making up for lost time. Not much time alone together.” She snickered. “Good thing I’m already pregnant.”
“That’s for sure because I never liked using condoms. At this rate we’d go through a box mighty quick.”
“Ditto on that.” Nora wrapped a towel around her hair. “Let’s go to bed. We’ll wake up to our first day married.” She slid her fingers over his wet hair. “My world is a happy place today…because of you.”
“Ditto on that, too.” In their bedroom, he slid beneath the covers.
Nora ran a brush through her hair. Not an easy task without using conditioner in the shower. She slid in bed beside him, and he pulled her close, her back against his chest. They were a family now. A real family. “We need to call Destiny in the morning.”
“We will, darlin’. I miss my child when I’m not with her.” He whispered, “I love you.”
Chapter 7
The phone rang at nine-thirty in the morning. “Whoa, what the hell?” Tristan searched for his phone, getting his bearings at the same time. He removed it from his jacket pocket. “Hello?”
“Daddy! Dad…” Destiny sniffled—her voice shrill and sharp.
Tristan paced across the room. “What’s the matter, honey? Why are you crying?” What the hell was going on? My child’s almost hysterical.
“My horse is missing. I went to look for it, but Uncle Jase stopped me…”
“What?” He dropped to the chair while a million horrible thoughts raced through his mind. Jase stopped her? “Where were—”
“Come here, Destiny, give me my phone,” Jase said in the background before taking the phone to speak to Tristan. “Hey, it’s me. She’s okay. I’m going out to look as soon as I get Destiny back to Mom’s.”
Destiny screeched in the background. “No, I�
�m going with you, Uncle Jase.”
That didn’t even sound like his kid throwing a fit. “Good God, what happened? What do you mean, back to Mom’s?” His blood pressure just hit the ceiling. He bounced to his feet, crossing the room and back.
“You’re not going with me. Quit squirming in my arms, little girl. Let me carry you.” Destiny’s cries were muffled near the phone.
Tristan pictured her head on his brother’s shoulder. Sonofabitch what happened? “Start talking! Is Destiny all right?”
“Yeah.” Jase raised his voice to be heard above her cries. “The gate got left opened enough for the filly to get out. The mare couldn’t fit through, but she put up a fight.”
“She okay?” Tristan glanced at Nora, saw she was awake, so he put his phone on speaker. He dropped to the edge of the bed.
“Yeah, I was on my way to Mom’s. I heard Destiny crying and calling for her horse. The mare has a little cut on her side, but she’s okay. Nothing serious, so don’t worry.”
Crimminy, I’m not gone a day before chaos happens. “Where you gonna look for her?” Dammit!
“I see her tracks heading toward the direction of my ranch. She can’t be far.” A door opened. He must’ve put Destiny down because his mom spoke to her.
“I gotta go get saddled. I’ll let you know what’s going on.”
Jase covered the phone a minute and Tristan pictured the kitchen at his mom’s. He whispered to Nora, “Des probably went to give the horse a cookie when she got up.”
“Is she okay?” Nora asked.
Tristan nodded. Jase came back on the phone. “Don’t take Destiny.” He paused. “You on speaker?”
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