by Abby Knox
Tonight, we’re using his outdoor shower hidden in his overgrown backyard. It’s a beautiful space, and I have big plans for it. He’s rubbing a soapy loofah over my tummy when I’m oddly reminded of grooming horses.
“Oh, that reminds me. I saw something online about a therapist who uses donkeys for therapy. I might see if they need volunteers taking care of the animals.”
Austin arches an eyebrow at me. “Me rubbing you down reminded you of that how? Wait, let me guess. Donkey grooming?”
I nod and giggle. “You know my number.”
Austin runs the soft sponge over my breasts, which have grown much fuller since I’ve gotten pregnant. “No working or volunteering until after the baby’s born. And only if you want to.”
I pout. “But I want to now.”
His eyes grow dark. “If you spend time with the donkeys, I’ll never see you again.”
“That’s not true. I’ll go whenever you have to work. I have nothing else to do around here but plan the wedding.”
“My future wife likes to be busy taking care of everyone around her.”
I wait for it, because I know what’s next. And I get it. Austin drags the loofah down between my legs and gently swipes. I gasp slightly and reach my arms to hug his neck while balancing my foot on the shower bench.
“Nope. Have a seat. I’m going to take care of my wife.”
The next second, I’m seated with my fingers gripping Austin’s hair with his head between my legs. This happens whenever we shower together. And if we’re home, neither of us showers alone.
His mouth devours my pussy, filling my entire body with so much sensation I can feel my spirit leave my body. When his lips find my clit, he gently nuzzles it, licking it until my thighs begin to tremble. He sucks it into his mouth, and I come apart.
“Austin!” I cry.
He answers with a grunt, and I laugh even as my body jerks through my intense release.
Minutes later, he feeds me ice cream while my legs are propped up in his lap.
I sigh. “You wanna chat about the guest list or baby names?”
He considers this. “Wedding guests. My brother in Santa Fe and his wife are coming.”
“Right,” I say, flipping through my planner. “I have them down.”
Austin eyes me warily. “Have your parents responded yet?”
I wince. It’s been months since I saw them when I flew back home to pack up my condo and told them the news that I found love in the middle of the South Pacific.
“No.”
“Should we move the wedding to the States? Would that make them happy?”
I sigh and shake my head. “Nothing will make them happy unless I come home and take over the family business. So that’s not happening. I’ll keep trying, though. Sooner or later, they will realize they are about to be grandparents, and we won’t be able to keep them away.”
“I hope you’re right. So let’s mark them down as a yes just in case they have a last-minute change of heart.”
“Jax and Brooks?”
I laugh. “If they ever come out of their love cocoon, then maybe,” I say. “As they’re the best man and best woman, let’s plan on it.”
Eventually, we move on to baby names.
I say, “If it’s a boy, Kipling. If it’s a girl, Jules.”
Austin stares at me for a few beats. “So, your parents might be a more fun topic.”
I swat him in the shoulder playfully.
“Fine, what do you suggest?”
He looks thoughtful. “Ralphie?”
“Come on!”
“Burke Belcher?”
“Oh my god, you can’t stop thinking about that guy, can you?”
Austin attacks me about as roughly as he will allow himself to do with my new baby bump.
Careful not to put weight on my tum, he presses a hot, claiming kiss to my mouth.
“Still jealous even though it’s your baby in me?”
He growls and nudges his knee in between my thighs, drawing it up deliciously.
“Mine. Always and forever.”
“All I’ll ever want is you and our baby, Captain.”
Austin pulls me up onto his lap and crowds me against his chest, kissing my forehead. “You know what I think? I think it’s time for a real babymoon.”
I look at him skeptically and ask what he means.
“Now that you’re pregnant, it’s time for one last vacation together before the baby arrives. Anywhere you want to go. Name it. I’ll fly us there.”
“To Santa Fe. I want to meet your mom before the wedding.”
He laughs and gives me a sweet ice cream kiss. “Family isn’t exactly a vacation, babe.”
Dabbing a spoon of ice cream on his nose then licking it off, I tell him the truth that he needs to know. “Everywhere is a vacation with you, Captain.”
Epilogue
Five years later
Austin
Sierra, Jax, Brooks, and I have started a tradition in which we celebrate our wedding anniversaries together.
In earlier years, the four of us plus my and Sierra’s son, Kiran, were content with a thatched-roof hut in the remote Severed Key. Those were simpler times. But now, between our two families, we may be causing a population explosion on The Pearl Crescent islands.
Kiran has been joined by a sister, Sidney. The four-year-old and the two-year-old are too fearless and need constant supervision. For us to feel relaxed and enjoy a true vacation, we’ve rented out a villa at DragonZone, the family-friendly sector of Cerulean Resort.
As for Jax and Brooks, their two boys, Lief and Kai, are even more of a handful.
We’re raising four wild island children who are expert swimmers, fearless climbers, and adept paddle-boarders. The DragonZone staff has their work cut out for them.
On this day, we four adults have parked ourselves at the beachfront tiki bar not far from where the kids are making sandcastles with a bunch of other visitors and resort staffers.
Understandably, Sierra feels the need to turn and check on the tiny Sidney, who’s as likely as not to wander away from the group.
I reach over squeeze her hand. “Do you ever regret not moving back to the States? It’s not too late.”
Sierra cuts her eyes over to Jax and Brooks, who no doubt will live out their days here on the islands. Going back may never be safe for her, but especially not for Brooks.
My question must have reminded her of something, because she takes a moment to send a text. “Just sending some photos of the kids to my parents and to your mom.”
I squeeze her hand again, because I know that her decision to stay here was not received well by her family. Although they’ve warmed up to her because of the kids — and let’s face it; kids are a great buffer for judgmental family — the distance has meant that the kids don’t receive enough traditional grandparent time.
“Here’s the way I see it. Your mom is not made of money, and yet she visits as often as she’s able to save up the money, refusing any help. My parents are retired, with oodles of money. They could retire here or visit as much as they want, but they seldom do,” Sierra says. “Life is all about who and what you make time for. Traditional doesn’t work for me. Raising our kids almost one hundred percent outdoors, with an entire island full of people looking out for them, as total nonconformists who can grow up to be whatever they want? It far outweighs any traditional family set up. We take our chances and we don’t look back.”
My heart swells with love for this woman. I fell in love with her the instant we met, and though I tried to resist, she taught me to let go of the stranglehold I had over my emotions.
Sierra sees the strange look on my face; I can’t hide it when I’m getting choked up, thinking of how we’ve had nothing but time to get to know each other these past few years. I don’t take for granted a single second. “What’s on your mind, babe?”
“What’s on my mind is how I was never sure I’d have a wife, a family and real friends
. Everyone in my life up until I met you was already married with kids. Way ahead of where I wanted to be. But this place is full of found families of all different backgrounds,” I comment. “I just never thought I’d find mine.”
THE END
Thank you for reading Babymoon! If you enjoyed this short story, please visit my website for links to my Amazon page where you can find lots more titles to read. Follow me there to keep up with my latest releases. Or, just say hello! Turn the page and find out where to track me down on social media and email, or sign up for my mailing list to be the first to know about upcoming projects.
About the Author
Abby Knox lives a dual life. Fantasy Abby would love to live on a farm with goats, bees, chickens, donkeys and alpaca, making her own soap, yarn, honey and cheese. Reality Abby has no desire to do actual farm work. So, the ever-pragmatic Reality Abby keeps Fantasy Abby happy by putting her into adorable little works of romantic fiction with her pretend hobbies. Both Abbies hope you enjoy her sweet, sexy — sometimes a little over the top and weird — storytelling.
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More by Abby Knox
The complete Homemade Heat series is now available on AMZ and with KU.
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