Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Erika
Having just stepped foot on the stairs of the jet leading down to an awaiting sparkling white limo in Bora Bora, I stop for a minute and turn my nose to the sky, letting the sun wash over me and warm my tired bones.
Even though I slept most of the way here, wrapped in Leon’s arms in the bedroom on board his private jet, my body knows it needs more from working so hard this past year. I’ve barely had a minute to breathe.
That’s why I need this vacation. Sun, sea, great sex and lots of it, please.
I shouldn’t have doubted our sexual compatibility, because together we just click, as if our bodies already understand each other. For the first time in my life, I am having great sex. Mind-blowing sex that I want all the time.
“What a day.” I inhale a deep breath, filling my nostrils with what can only be described as a tropical paradise.
It smells like jasmine, salty sea breeze, and vanilla; it’s fresh and clean, like a freshly cut bouquet of flowers.
I’ve never seen a sky so blue. It looks like a giant blanket scattered with tiny patches of clouds. “It’s beautiful.”
“Just like you,” Leon says from behind me as I move down the steps in my super high espadrilles, being careful not to lose my footing on the high platform soles, while he dishes out another compliment like confetti at a wedding.
“Mr. and Mrs. Hill.” Our chauffeur tips his hat as we both step off the last step.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill. I guess Leon must have called or emailed ahead, instructing him how he wants us to be addressed. That’s so sweet of him. My heart has never felt so full.
Leon pushes his sunglasses up his nose, then takes my hand and walks with a dominant, authoritative stride toward the car.
Wearing cream linen shorts, a plain white designer T-shirt, and matching gleaming white sneakers that cost more than a month’s loan payment on my house, he looks gorgeous, and I find it hard not to keep looking at him.
Every part of his life oozes luxury and opulence, and now I understand why he bought a jet, which I busted his balls about when he told me, but I get it now.
Having a private jet has so many advantages, specifically for flying to places like Bora Bora.
We flew direct and even had showers before we landed.
Yeah, a girl could most definitely get used to this.
Leon lets go of my hand, then places his palm on the small of my back, gesturing for me to get inside the car before him.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Hill. My name is Larry.”
I give him a little wave. “It’s lovely to meet you too, Larry. Please, call me Erika.”
He nods in acknowledgement.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Hill.”
“Feels like yesterday, Larry.” Leon shakes his hand with enthusiasm as I slide inside the cool air-conditioned limo.
“I believe the yacht is finished, sir,” Larry says, sounding genuinely excited.
“She is, and she’s beautiful.” There’s a lot of pride in Leon’s reply.
Does Leon have a yacht? When did he buy that?
Leon slips off his sunglasses as he climbs in next to me, and before Larry closes the car door, he informs us, “There are bottles of water in the chiller. Please, help yourselves. We aren’t far from the resort.
Sit tight, and as soon as your luggage is in the trunk, I’ll have you there in no time at all.
And congratulations on the marriage. I hope you’re as happy as my wife and I are, and we’ve been married for thirty-two years this year. ” He throws us a cheeky wink.
Deep in my bones, I know that Leon and I will go the distance: Till death do us part.
In an appreciative tone, Leon replies, “Thank you, Larry.”
“Sir.” Larry closes the door, and a puff of hot air fills the car before being overwhelmed by the air conditioning. The glass partition separates us from the driver’s cockpit, giving us privacy.
I can’t help myself and blurt out, “You bought a yacht?”
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted one, so I bought one,” Leon replies casually, like he just bought a soda.
“You never said.”
“It’s been years in the making. There was nothing to tell until she was ready.”
“And it’s here? Is that how you know Larry?”
He runs his hands through his hair, pushing it back off his face.
“It was in Papeete, in Tahiti. I met Larry the last time I was there to check on the progress of the build, and we got talking. I liked him, so I asked him if he could be my driver when I visit from time to time, and he said yes. I emailed him when I knew I was coming here, and so he flew in from Papeete to meet me.”
“You own a private jet and a yacht?”
“We have a private jet, and it’s a luxury yacht.” He emphasizes the we. “What’s mine is yours.”
“A yacht makes it sound super fancy.” Nerves swim around my throat, causing me to scoff because we don’t even have a prenup.
Not that I want anything from him. I have my own house and car.
It’s not as fancy as Leon’s, but I worked my ass off to buy them.
“You don’t have to call them mine. I didn’t work to achieve them. ”
“Your last name is now Hill, which means, as my wife, everything I have is yours. Now that you’re my wife, I’d love for you to come to as many of the events I am invited to that your schedule allows. I also want you to sleep between shifts too, though. I know how grouchy you get with no sleep.”
I bask in his confidence, reveling in his open confidence, granting me access to everything in his life, when all I want is him, body, mind, soul, and heart.
“Think of my yacht, my jet, my house, and my seven cars as compensation—to apologize for being a workaholic. Also, I will ask for your forgiveness in advance because I’ve lived alone for a very long time.
So if I leave the toilet seat up, my underwear on the floor, or the lid off the toothpaste, I will try harder. I promise.”
“You’re ridiculous.” I lean over and kiss him on the lips. He’s the tidiest man I know, and his house is immaculate to the point that it doesn’t even look like anyone lives in it.
That reminds me.
“Are you still serious about me moving in with you?” I hope so. Now that we are married, it makes sense.
“I am.”
“And if you leave the toilet seat up, I can ask for your plane?”
“You learn fast.”
“I don’t need a plane.” All I want is him. “We might need a prenup, though.”
“Why?” He jerks, as if he’s taken aback at my comment.
“What if we get divorced? I want something in writing that says I don’t want any of your assets.”
“We’re not getting divorced,” he growls, his mood turning slightly sour. “And we are definitely not getting a fucking prenup because we don’t need one, and I don’t want to hear any more of this shit talk. You hear me?”
I rest my hand on his shoulder to calm him, my touch working instantly. “I was only thinking about you. Getting hitched in a hurry made us cut out a lot of steps.”
“I would never ask you to sign a prenup. Don’t ever mention it again.” He shakes his head vehemently.
“Okay,” I agree because he looks hurt. I would never screw Leon over. That’s not in my nature, and I have money. Not as much as Leon, but I have savings, and most of my trust fund, which I received when I was twenty-one.
“What’s mine is yours, yeah?”
“And what’s mine, and all of me, is yours, Leon.”
He pulls me in for another kiss because we can’t stop touching each other. “What a pair of soppy fools we’ve become,” he breathes against my lips.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.