Beach Reads Boxed Set

by Marie Force

  “I agree.” Her fingertips outlined each of the muscles that made up an impressive six-pack.

  “Do you approve of the results?”

  “Most definitely.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and drew her in tight against him. “Every single thing I’ve done since the last time I saw you was done with you in mind. Every breath I took, every waking minute was devoted to you.”

  “You amaze me. You never doubted us.”

  “I had lots of worries, but I never doubted my love for you—or yours for me.”

  Juliana glanced at the ring that was now where it belonged, on the third finger of her left hand, where it would stay for the rest of her life. “How soon do you want to get married?”

  “What’re you doing tomorrow?”

  She smiled up at him. “We might need a week or two to make some plans.”

  “I can live with that, but not much longer. I have a friend from high school who owns a stake in one of the big wedding venues here in town. It’s quiet in the winter, so we might be able to do it there, if that works for you.”

  “Whatever you want is fine with me.”

  He tipped her chin up so he could kiss her. One kiss became two and then a third. His kisses were hungry and almost desperate, as if trying to make up for all the time they’d spent apart. “Not here,” he whispered against her lips. “I want you back in my bed where you belong.”

  They made quick work of getting out of the shower and laughed as they rushed through drying each other. His arms slid around her from behind, his lips nuzzling her neck and making her crazy.

  “Michael…”

  “What, honey?”

  “I can’t wait anymore. I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I thought I would die sometimes from missing you.”

  “I’m so glad you didn’t.”

  He turned her to face him. “So am I.” Nuzzling her neck again, he said, “In case you were wondering, today was the second-best day of my entire life.”

  “What was the best day?”

  “It was a Friday night at BWI when I looked over to find the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen sitting next to me. I knew in the first ten minutes that you were going to change my life.” He walked her backwards to the bed and came down on top of her. “I want you to know that I was giving you until tomorrow and then I was coming after you.”

  “You were? Really?”

  Nodding, Michael said, “I was prepared to do whatever it took to convince you to give us another chance.”

  “How would you have found me?”

  He brushed the hair back from her face. “I knew where you were the whole time.”

  “How?”

  “I might’ve called Mrs. R and asked her to take mercy on a man in love. I heard you got an A in the class you took. I was so proud of you. That was the closest I came to saying fuck it and calling you.”

  Astounded to hear he’d kept tabs on her, she said, “I wanted to tell you so badly. You were the only one I wanted to tell.”

  “You should take more classes, if you want to.”

  “We’ll see. It was fun to take that one and to prove something to myself.”

  “I never had any doubt that you’d be an amazing college student.”

  “I had enough doubt for both of us.”

  “You can do anything. I have no doubt about that either.”

  She reached up to rest her hand on his face. “You make me believe that.”

  “It’s true.” He punctuated his sweet words with sweet kisses that had her arching into him, wanting him so badly after living so long without his touch.

  “God, Juliana. I want to kiss you and touch you everywhere, but more than anything, I need to be inside you. I need you so badly.”

  “You have me. I’m all yours.”

  Michael took himself in hand and nudged at her center, going slowly and giving her time to accommodate him. They were always a tight fit, but more so now after it’d been so long. “Every night we were apart, I thought about you and this and how incredible it feels to make love to you.”

  “Me, too,” she said, her fingers digging into his back as she raised her hips to take more of him. His chest hair rubbed against her sensitive nipples as his tongue twisted with hers. This was what she’d missed so much and what she never wanted to live without again. “I thought about you and this every single night.”

  “I love you,” he said, breaking the kiss to breathe. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Give me your hands, baby.” He linked their fingers and raised her arms over her head. “Hold on to me.”

  Juliana tightened her grasp on his hands and held on as he began to move, thrusting into her until she began to feel the telltale signs of impending climax. “Michael…”

  “Let it happen, love. You feel so good. Nothing has ever felt better than this.”

  Knowing they had forever to spend together, Juliana let go and gave in to the orgasm that whipped through her. She cried out from the power of it.

  “Yes,” he said as he came with her. “Juliana…” He collapsed on top of her, breathing hard and trembling. “Sorry that was so quick. I’ll make it up to you.”

  “That was perfect, but I’ll still let you make it up to me.” She tugged her hands free and wrapped her arms around him.

  “Just think,” he said after a long silence. “We get to do that every day for the rest of our lives.”

  “Sign me up.”

  They were married four weeks later at the oceanfront venue Michael’s friend co-owned. Juliana’s siblings flew in for the occasion, Vincent accompanying Mrs. Romanello, who gave Juliana away. Her sisters and Michael’s nieces served as her attendants, while Michael’s brothers-in-law stood up for him.

  In all, they had thirty guests, most of them family.

  The day was everything they wanted and filled with the kind of joy Juliana had rarely experienced until recently, when all the pieces of her life came together to make the most perfect picture she ever could’ve imagined.

  Life with Michael was even more blissful than the first time they’d lived together, because now they knew they had a lifetime to look forward to.

  They danced to “When You Say Nothing at All,” the same song they’d danced to on that long-ago night when Michael showed her the house they now called home.

  “Happy?” he asked as he guided her around the dance floor while their guests looked on. Outside, a blizzard howled and icy snow pinged against the windows, but they couldn’t have cared less about the lousy weather.

  “Happy is not a big enough word to describe it.”

  He smiled down at her. “You’re so beautiful every day, but today… You took my breath away when you came down the stairs with Mrs. R.”

  “Did I?” She’d chosen an ivory gown that left her shoulders bare. Intricate beading at the neckline, waist and hemline were the only embellishments. A friend of Michael’s sister Shannon had done her hair in an elaborate updo that was topped off by a small tiara. She’d carried a bouquet of white lilies and roses.

  “Totally.”

  “You look rather beautiful yourself. I’ve never seen you in a tux before.”

  He held her closer, his forehead propped against hers. “This might take the cake for the best day yet.”

  “And it’s not over yet.”

  Since the hotel was mostly shut down for the winter, all their guests spent the night, and it was a good thing as the snow continued to fall. Michael and Juliana danced with their friends and family until two in the morning, when the party began to break up.

  Juliana hugged her sister Dona and accepted a kiss on the cheek from Vincent.

  “You did good, sis,” he said. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you—and thanks for being here.”

  “Wouldn’t have missed it,” Vincent said.

  They accepted hugs and kisses from Michael’s parents, his sisters and brothers-in-law
. The kids had long since been sent up to bed with the teenagers watching over their younger siblings and cousins.

  “Welcome to our family, Juliana,” Maureen Maguire said. “I hope we don’t drive you completely bonkers.”

  Used to them by now, Juliana laughed. “I’ve loved every minute I’ve spent with the Maguires.”

  “It’s too late to warn her off, Mom,” Michael said, hugging his mother.

  Juliana grasped her mother-in-law’s hand. “You’ll never know what it’s meant to me to be made to feel so welcome with all of you.”

  “You’ll never know what it’s meant to us that Michael is so happy. Thank you for that.”

  The two women hugged, and when they released each other, they were both teary-eyed.

  “Come on, Mrs. Maguire,” Michael said, taking Juliana’s hand to lead her from the room. “God, I’ve waited a long time to be able to call you that.”

  “Juliana Maguire. I like the way that sounds.”

  “So do I, sweetheart.” He swept her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to the third floor. “Grab the keycard from my shirt pocket, will you?”

  She retrieved the card and held it up to the door, which clicked open.

  Michael carried her across the threshold and into the honeymoon suite, where candles in hurricane lamps cast a warm glow over the spacious room. Someone had sprinkled rose petals on the bed and left a bottle of champagne to chill.

  “This is so pretty!” Juliana said.

  “But wait,” he said, putting her down next to the bed, “there’s more.” He went to the fireplace and pushed a button to start the gas fire.

  “Very cozy. Who said never get married in the winter?”

  “Not me, that’s for sure. I love being snowed in with you.”

  “And our families.”

  He shook his head. “Only you. I hope your siblings won’t mind if I keep you all to myself for a couple of days.” They’d decided to spend a few nights at the hotel and planned to head south for a Caribbean honeymoon in a month or so.

  “They won’t mind. They have to get back to their lives tomorrow, if the airport is open.”

  “Enough about anyone who isn’t you or me.” He took hold of her hands and stepped back for a better look at her dress. “I want to remember every detail of how you looked on the day you finally married me.” Taking a slow look from the top of her head to her feet and back up again, he said, “There were so many times when I thought this day would never happen.”

  “I’m sorry I put you through so much.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You aren’t?”

  “Nope. If all that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t appreciate what we have now as much as I do.”

  “I love you, Michael. I have from the first time I ever saw you, and I always will. I hope you never doubt that.”

  “I’ve never doubted it. Why do you think I waited for you? I always knew.” He took her hand and laid it flat against his heart, which beat fast for her. “You were meant for me.”

  “And you were meant for me.” She raised her hands to his bow tie, working to remove it before she started on the ivory buttons on his shirt.

  He’d worn an old-school tux with flat pleats on the shirt, velvet trim on the burgundy jacket and a black vest.

  Juliana removed the jacket, the vest, the shirt and his T-shirt. When she would’ve started on his belt, he stopped her.

  “My turn.” He helped her to turn around so her back was to him so he could unzip her dress. His lips skimming over the back of her shoulder made her shiver in response. He slid his hands inside her dress, encircling her waist, his chin on her shoulder.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Absolutely nothing. I just want to touch you for a minute.”

  “Take all the minutes you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I feel so lucky to have forever to spend with you.”

  “So do I.”

  Juliana shimmied out of her wedding gown, and it landed in a silk cloud at her feet.

  “Holy crap,” Michael whispered as he got a look at the thong and garters she’d worn under the dress. He flattened his hands on her back and dragged them down to cup her bottom. “You just took my breath away for the second time today.”

  “I thought you might like that.”

  “I love it.” With his hands on her shoulders he encouraged her to turn to face him and pulled the pins from her hair, one by one, until it tumbled down around her shoulders. “You’re gorgeous. I feel like the luckiest guy alive right now.”

  “We’re both lucky.”

  Tipping his head, he brought his lips down on hers as he backed her up to the bed. “I want to make love to my wife.”

  “Your wife would like that very much.”

  Two years later…

  “Michael, I can’t… I can’t do it. I thought I could, but I can’t.”

  The panic he heard in her voice spiked his anxiety into the red zone. He stood by her bed, holding her hand and trying to keep her focused. “You’re the strongest person I know. You’ve got this.”

  “No,” she said, tears running down her face. “It hurts too much.”

  “They’re coming soon to give you an epidural. Everything will feel better then.” He glanced at the nurse, silently imploring her to find out what was taking the anesthesiologist so long.

  She left the room, and Juliana cried out as another contraction overtook her.

  As Michael tried to help her find her focus during the latest vicious contraction, he couldn’t bear to see her suffering. Bathing her face with a cool cloth, he wished he could change places with her.

  Thankfully, she dozed off after the contraction, which gave him a minute to stretch his cramped muscles and do some deep breathing of his own. None of the classes, books or videos on childbirth had prepared him to see his wife in such agony. Sure, he’d known it wouldn’t be pleasant, but it’d been way worse than advertised.

  His phone buzzed with yet another text, and since Juliana was getting some much-needed rest, he checked his phone.

  From his mom: How’s it going?

  Not so great. She’s in a LOT of pain. Can you come?

  On my way.

  Thank you.

  Hang in there, honey. She’ll be fine.

  Michael already felt better knowing his mom was coming to offer her support, and her assurances went a long way toward alleviating some of his stress.

  The nurse returned with a doctor who was introduced as the anesthesiologist. Thank you, Jesus.

  Before the doctor had a chance to say hello, Juliana was gripped with yet another contraction. Every new battle left her more fatigued and less focused.

  “Let’s see what we can do to make it better, Mrs. Maguire,” the doctor said.

  The nurse suggested Michael come around the bed to let Juliana lean against him while the doctor administered the epidural in her back.

  “I’m sorry it’s so awful,” he whispered to her.

  “They say it’ll be worth it in the end.”

  “Times two in our case.”

  She groaned. “Don’t remind me that I have to push out two babies.”

  Smiling at her saucy comment—and relieved that she felt up to sparring with him—he stroked her hair and kept his eyes closed so he wouldn’t pass out at the sight of a needle going into her back.

  Everything was better after the epidural. Thank goodness for modern medicine.

  Maureen came in a short time later and kept them company while Juliana went through what they called transition. Soon they said it was time to push. Everyone moved quickly, getting things ready, positioning Juliana and settling him behind her so he could support her.

  “I can wait outside,” Maureen said.

  “No, stay,” Juliana said, reaching out to her. “Please stay.”

  She took hold of Juliana’s hand. “Of course, honey. I don’t want to be anywhere but with you.”

  His moth
er’s presence seemed to calm Juliana, which in turn calmed Michael.

  The OB came in, and with everyone in position, Juliana was encouraged to push.

  His wife was a warrior. Her courage moved him to tears as she brought their first daughter into the world after an hour of pushing. Twelve minutes later, her identical twin sister arrived. They both had a cap of dark hair and the palest skin Michael had ever seen.

  “They’re absolutely beautiful,” his mother said, mopping up a flood of tears.

  “What’re their names?” one of the nurses asked. “Since they’re identical, we need to get ID on them right away.”

  “Sadie Maureen Maguire and Sophie Paulina Maguire,” Michael said.

  Juliana squeezed his hand.

  “I’m so honored,” Maureen said, “and I know your mother is, too, Juliana. She’s watching over you.”

  “I like to think so,” Juliana said.

  The babies were evaluated, measured, weighed, foot-printed and swaddled before they were handed to their overwhelmed father. He cradled one in each arm as he brought them to meet their exhausted but elated mother.

  “Oh, Michael! Look at how perfect they are.”

  “Thankfully, they look just like you.”

  “I see you in them, too. Their noses and mouths are all you.”

  “They have your eyes.”

  “The books say the color will change.”

  “The shape is the same as yours.”

  “Look at what we did,” she said, gazing at the babies with blatant adoration.

  “Look at what you did.”

  Reaching for Sophie, she gazed up at him and smiled. “We did it together.”

  “If you say so, but I’m giving you all the credit, my love.” He leaned over to kiss her. “Thank you for my gorgeous daughters.”

  “I’d say it was a pleasure, but…”

  They laughed, and as they watched their sleeping daughters, Michael said a silent prayer of thanks for their safe arrival.

  Two years after that…

  “You’ll understand if I never have sex with you again,” Juliana said as they gazed down at their newborn identical twin sons.