I laced my arms around his neck, shifting closer to the edge of the counter. Closer to him.
“You never said you wanted kids before.”
“It wasn’t something I consciously thought about. But with you... I want them. Two girls, or boys, I’m not picky. Before... I wasn’t sure I could be a good father. I’ve spent so much of my life just focused on getting to the next step, giving it my best shot, that I didn’t know if I was capable of anything more. But you did say I’m a good husband.”
I grinned. “And I meant every word. Cross my heart.”
“I can also learn to be a good father.”
I nodded, too overwhelmed to say anything.
“When do you want to start trying?”
“Hunter, you do remember I said I want to make partner first, right?”
“Yes. But given all statistics, it can take time. Never hurts to start early. I like to go the extra mile.”
That grin on his face... damn. I loved that I’d put it there. That I could make him light up like this.
I laughed as he bit the shell of my ear gently. “First, we need to talk about that celebratory vacation. Whisk me away. I don’t even want to know where we’re going.”
He pulled back abruptly. “You’re giving me permission to surprise you?”
“Yes.”
“Half the fun is you giving me shit about it.”
“If you insist, I can always fight you right until we board the plane.”
Hunter slid his hands under my ass, lifting me up. I yelped, right before clenching my knees at his sides. He winced. Right. My yoga routine was helping with my flexibility, but not my instincts. I hadn’t gotten the hang of wrapping my legs gracefully around him, but I was working on it. For now, I was awkwardly clinging to him like a monkey. Hunter tried to rearrange my arm around his neck. I had a hunch that I was half strangling him.
“Hey, watch the bracelet. A certain someone gave it to me.”
I’d slept with it and showered with it and didn’t intend to take it off at all. I absolutely loved it.
“And this someone... what exactly do you feel for him?”
“I think he’s the best man. And I love him.”
His grin softened, turning into a warm smile. Feeling all those hard abs pressing against my belly and his strong arms wrapped around me was doing things to me. My entire body reacted to him. My nipples pebbled, and a familiar ache pulsed between my thighs. I kissed his neck, drawing my tongue in little circles just above his clavicle.
“Forgot about breakfast?” he whispered on a chuckle. Ah, I totally had. All I could think about was indulging in this perfect, gorgeous man.
“I always forget how devious you are.”
“Always happy to remind you.”
He shifted me a little lower. I gasped when I realized he was hard already. How could he want me so much?
It hadn’t sunk in yet. My husband loved me. I was living a life I hadn’t even dared dream about. Part of me still didn’t dare to hope too much. But God, the way he held me, the way he looked at me. As if I was more precious to him than anything else. How could I not hope?
“Then what are you waiting for, husband?”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Hunter
Two weeks later, we were lying on the beach in the Bahamas. Josie couldn’t take too much time off, so we were here only for an extended weekend—Friday to Monday—but I intended to make every minute count. Josie was lying on her belly while I smeared sunscreen on her back. She insisted on applying it religiously.
“I don’t remember you being such a huge fan of sunscreen.”
“Now I’m addicted to it. I think it has something to do with the person applying it.” She looked at me over her shoulder.
“Glad I’m contributing.”
“Always.”
I leaned over, biting one ass cheek. She winced, almost falling off the lounge chair. I steadied her, laughing as I straightened.
“Hunter! You can’t scare me like that.”
“Yes, I can. You’re cute, all puzzled.”
Shaking her head, she let out a soft hmpf before resuming her position on her belly. She got out a book too, laying it in front of her. I pinched her arm.
“What are you doing?”
“Scoot over, wife. I want to read too.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Otherwise, you’ll tell me that it’s so good I have to read it too. You keep telling me what happens while you read it though. Spoiling everything.”
She laughed, throwing her head back. “I do, don’t I? I’m a terrible fiction reader. Nonfiction comes so much easier to me. Probably the lawyer in me just needs to dissect everything I read.”
She made space for me, but we were a little crammed on the lounge chair. Our sides were touching. Total unexpected perk.
“We’re gonna get weird tan lines,” she said.
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
I brought my mouth to her ear, tugging at it. “No one’s going to see them but me.”
She laughed, leaning into me even more. When it became clear neither of us would do any reading in this awkward position, I sat up, allowing her to be more comfortable. I couldn’t believe the beauty of this place: the clear, turquoise water, the green foliage around us. The smell of salt water and rush of waves instantly relaxed me.
“You’re reading a lot for someone who’s obsessed with trying out everything the resort has to offer.”
“Are you saying that you’re up for skydiving?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.
Fucking hell. That escalated quickly.
“Absolutely not.”
She kept batting her eyelashes. I sensed a trap.
“How about Jet Skiing?” she suggested.
“I can be talked into that.”
Josie grinned, shimmying a little on the lounge chair. “Ha! I’m good.”
“What do you mean?”
“I knew that if I brought up skydiving, you’d agree to Jet Skiing.”
I bit her earlobe again, fondling her ass just so she didn’t get even more ideas.
“You’re playing with fire, wife.”
“I know, but it’s so much fun that I can’t stop.”
I tickled her before she even took her next breath. She shrieked with laughter. I drank up every sound. I enjoyed everything with her: the quiet times and the adventures. Josie made me feel whole in a way I’d never even thought was possible.
***
I was completely tired when I went into the office the following week, but I had to get my act together fast, because I had a mountain of work ahead of me.
Cole also reminded me that the rest of my cousins were dropping by for lunch.
“It’s a council this time,” he added. More reason to wake up.
Ryker, Tess, and Skye were chatting animatedly when we joined them in the meeting room. We looked over spreadsheets with the funds the Ballroom Galas had gathered so far, brainstorming about potential new activities we could integrate throughout the evening, especially since not everyone wanted to dance. I was in such a good mood that I was willing to entertain even the more... extravagant ideas.
“Someone’s happy,” Tess remarked. “Second honeymoon went smoothly, by the looks of it.”