Epilogue
THERE’S a woman in the chair beside mine, her blonde head poking out from behind a book. I can’t help but smile because it’s one of my husband’s.
When she looks away for a moment in search of her smoothie, I recognize her as someone I’ve seen around the resort a few times. She’s a few years younger than me, but her husband—who might be a living embodiment of the term “silver fox”—has to be Dar’s age.
Things must be going for them well, though, because her hand is resting on a baby bump and she has that happy, relaxed glow of a woman on vacation with the love of her life. I know it well, because it’s the same one I saw when I looked in the mirror when we first arrived here.
“Hi.” I smile at her as I settle back in my seat.
She looks around, eyebrows lifting in surprise that I’m looking at her, and I feel the usual pinch of self-consciousness that I’m bothering someone.
“Hi.” She offers a shy smile back. “I like your hair.”
“Oh!” I touch the tips, which I dyed a light, romantic pink for the wedding. “Thanks! I did the hot-pink thing for years, but it was time for a change.”
She sets the book down, and my heart lifts.
“My sister keeps telling me I should go brunette for a while so we look more alike.”
I stare at her, considering. “Nah, don’t do it. You’re so pretty, you don’t need to change anything.”
Her cheeks flush. “You sound like my husband.” She’s so cute. I love her. “I’m Savvy, by the way.”
“Isobel.”
“How long are you here for?”
Her expression goes dreamy. “Still another eight days. You?” “Same! We’re from upstate New York.”
“Washington, D.C. I grew up in Manhattan, though, and we’re up there all the time because Judah’s son and my sister live there.”
“No way! Such a small world.” I’m smiling like a lunatic, pleased with myself for being social. “Also, it’s awesome that they both live there. It must make visiting so easy!”
Her flush deepens. “Well, they live there together. They’re married.” She married her sister’s father-in-law? Oh, hell yeah, girl. If anything,
I’m impressed. From the way she says it, though—a little defensive—I’m guessing she’s used to people making judgements about that.
My cheeks ache from beaming so big. “My husband was best friends with my late father, so I’ve known him my whole life. Do you think that’s better or worse than how you guys met?”
“Wait, seriously?” She’s smiling now, and I can sense she’s letting down whatever guard went up when I started talking to her.
I nod, and we’ve both fallen into peals of laughter at the ridiculousness of this chance encounter when the tall, silver-haired man I recognize as Isobel’s husband appears. He takes the lounge chair beside hers, looking between us with bemused interest.
“Sorry, honey,” Isobel says when the last of our laughs have finally faded away, and she beams at him. “This is my new friend, Savvy. Savvy, this is my husband, Judah.”
“No apology necessary.” He smiles at me warmly, passing a fresh smoothie to his wife. “Nice to meet you, Savvy. I think I was just speaking to your husband at the bar.”
I grin, because I still get a thrill every time I hear that—my husband. It’s the best. “Tall? Dark hair? Likely scowling? Probably complaining about the sun or sand? Possibly both?”
“Ah.” Judah chuckles. “Yes, I believe that’s him.”
Right on cue, Darwin appears beside my chair, looking unbelievably hot dressed in only a pair of black swim trunks and a loose, unbuttoned cotton shirt. He’s holding a ridiculous coconut cocktail with a mini umbrella and fruit sticking out of it, as I requested, and doesn’t even look put upon as he hands it to me.
My heart flutters. I love this grump so much.
“Dar, this is Isobel, and her husband, Judah.” I gesture to my new friend.
“Hello,” he offers obligingly, sitting down beside me and leaning over to kiss my temple.
Isobel squints at him. “You look super familiar. Have we met before?”
“I don’t believe so.”
I laugh, curling closer to my husband, my chest filling with pride. “He wrote the book you’re reading.”
Isobel’s mouth pops open in disbelief. She flips it over, gazing down at the scowling headshot on the back of the paperback cover, up to Dar, then back to the picture.
Judah recovers first, and grins. “Great to meet you. I’ve read the whole series, but this is Issy’s first time. Big fan of your work. I’m excited for the show.”
“Thank you,” says Dar graciously. He’s been making more of an effort to connect with his readers, attending conventions and book signings semi- regularly now, but I know he’s still not used to being recognized.
“Isobel, I booked pedicures for Dar and I in the morning, but he objected to that plan.” I shoot him a playful scowl. “Do you want to come with me instead? No pressure, I know you guys are here to spend time together.”
Isobel is glowing, though, and a quick glance at her husband (who looks beyond pleased his wife has made a new friend) seems to quell any of her reservations about abandoning him for a few hours.
“Yes. I would love that,” she agrees. “Should we exchange numbers?”
We do, then chatter about our plans for our vacations, what we do at home, and our hobbies. Our husbands fall into quiet conversation off to the side, and by the time Isobel says they have to get going for a dinner reservation, we’ve made plans to have a double lunch date after our spa treatments tomorrow.
“Text me in the morning! We can get baby-safe drinks before our appointment!” I call after her as they leave, and my heart is so full.
“You like her,” Dar observes, and he nudges me forward so he can slide behind me.
I sigh happily and settle back against his warm chest, sipping my drink. “I’ve kind of avoided making new friends for a while. Raven says I’m obsessed with her.”
His hand roams over my bare stomach, settling below my belly button, and I know what’s on his mind. “Do you think it’s already happened?” he asks in my ear, voice thick with longing.
I giggle, pushing my fingers through his. “If it hasn’t, it’s not for lack of effort. You’re obsessed.”
He really is. Since we decided to start trying, the man has been reading every book about conception, pregnancy, and parenting he can get his hands on. My proposal to get drunk and have sex on the living room floor was not appreciated (though we did it anyway).
I probably should have known it would be like this. When my husband puts his mind to something, there’s no stopping him.
Dar’s warm breath ghosts over my ear, raising goosebumps over my arms that are at odds with the sticky, tropical air. “Do you know what I was thinking about a moment ago?”
I shake my head, admiring the matching wedding bands on our fingers as I sip my drink. “If it’s my current level of cervical mucus, I’m leaving you.”
He ignores me. “The plug in your tight ass. How does it feel, little tornado?”
Oh. Right. I should have guessed that’s where he was going with this.
Smirking, I shift a little, enjoying the sensation. “Full,” I admit. “It’s bigger than I’m used to.”
“Not as big as I am.” I can’t see him, but I know exactly which smug, satisfied smirk he’s wearing right now.
My eyelids flutter. “Are you going to fuck my ass tonight, husband?” It’s an intimidating prospect, but I’m up for a challenge.
To my disappointment, Dar chuckles. “No, wife. Until I knock you up, the only place my cum is going is your pussy. I had something else in mind. No rush, though. Enjoy your drink.”
I take a long sip, slurping noisily, and his chest shakes with laughter. Setting the coconut on the table beside the lounger, I lean over so I can meet my Dar’s eyes. “Can we go back to the bungalow now?”
It doesn’t take much convincing, and soon we’re walking hand in hand through the resort, the late-afternoon tropical sun on our backs.
Despite saying Dar would never pull off something like the signing at Galactic Guild again, this entire trip was a surprise. He very sneakily told me I’d need to get a passport about six months ago so I could accompany him to a conference in Montreal. He coordinated with Marley, who is now my assistant manager while she goes to community college, and I didn’t realize anything was afoot until he handed me my ticket in line for security at the airport.
I arrived in Bora Bora with a suitcase full of jeans and sweatshirts, so our first stop was an expensive little boutique, where my new husband was happy to sit back and give his opinions on my new selection of floaty cotton sundresses and tiny bikinis.
My hand tightens in his as we step onto the dock that leads to a big loop of private, over-water bungalows, ours among them. “When did you decide to do this? I never asked.”
Dar hums, his eyes on the ocean. “Right after we got engaged. It occurred to me we’ve never had an extended period to just enjoy each other’s company, uninterrupted. There’s always so much going on.”
This guy. “You’re very romantic, for a science-fiction author. Tell me, Mr. Wilder, will there be any open door scenes in your next book? As your number one fan, I can tell you those fade-to-black moments were very frustrating.”
“I bet they were.” He smirks, and as we turn onto the little pathway toward our bungalow, a weight drops into my lower belly.
If sex with Dar was incredible in the beginning of our relationship, it’s leveled up since we got married, and I’m addicted. Now, with the baby- making efforts… the situation has officially gotten out of hand. Our first two days here, we didn’t even leave the bedroom.
Neither of us speak as the door closes behind us, and a sly glance over my shoulder confirms Dar is on the same page. “Bed,” he grunts, eyes roaming over my body, which has gotten tanner in the few days since we’ve emerged from our sex bubble. I haven’t been bothering with actual clothing unless we’re going out to eat, and the pale-pink bikini that matches my hair now feels too tight.
Giggling, I almost trip over myself as I book it through the living area to our bedroom, which was freshened up while we were out. The big windows are open, and the ocean breeze is making the gauzy white canopy over the massive bed flutter.
“I still can’t believe you did this for me.” I sigh, my fingers moving under the bands of my bathing suit without turning. He’s there. The weight of his gaze makes heat prickle restlessly under my skin as I let my top fall, the soft brush of the fabric lost in the sound of the waves lapping against the bungalow’s supports. My bottoms go next, and I bend over to guide them down my legs, making sure he can see the pink, heart-shaped jewel resting between my cheeks.
The sex shop located right across the road from the boutique where we bought all my vacation clothes was a very lucky find.
I gasp when a pair of large, warm hands settle on my bare waist, and Dar’s lips brush over the curve of my neck to nip at my ear. “I would do anything for you.”
My breath catches. “Dar…”
“Get on your knees for me, baby. I need your mouth.”
God, I love it when he talks to me like this. There’s no pretending that the low, authoritative order doesn’t make my pulse spike and my breasts heavy. Turning in his arms, I pause only to push the cotton shirt off his shoulders before dropping to my knees.
Dar is already hard, the long ridge of his erection tenting his trunks, and my mouth waters as I pull them down, freeing his cock. Leaning forward, I drag my tongue along the underside of his shaft, tasting the ocean on his skin.
I keep my pace slow and worshipful, kissing and licking every inch before I finally lift my eyes to meet his and take him fully in my mouth. His tip bumps the back of my throat, but I keep going, forcing myself to relax as I take more of him than I ever have before.
The temporary discomfort is worth it for the way Dar is shaking, a low stream of praise and curses coming from his lips. I love doing this to him, reducing my bigger, stronger, older husband to a shuddering mess. It might seem counterintuitive, but I never feel more powerful than when he’s using me for his pleasure.
When my nose brushes the dark, wiry hair at the base of his cock, he pulls me off. “Get on the bed,” he grits out as he stares down at me, chest heaving. “Ass in the air.”
I’m panting too as I hurry to do as he says, crawling onto the edge of the mattress and spreading my thighs.
“So eager, baby. I wish you could see how you look right now,” Dar murmurs behind me, his hands caressing my behind. I moan quietly, squirming as he presses on the end of the plug. “Dripping wet from sucking my cock and having your cute little ass stretched.”
Without warning, three fingers plunge into my pussy. The wet, sloppy noises that come from him guiding them in and out of my body make my face burn. I’m still tender from the sheer quantity (and quality) of sex we’ve been having, but I think I might die if he doesn’t fuck me.
“That’s my girl,” Dar coos, and the head of his cock brushes the backs of my thighs, smearing pre-cum over the sensitive skin. “So greedy. Are you going to let me stuff both your holes full?”
Holy crap.
I’m shaking with need now and barely aware of what I’m saying. It must be affirmative, though, because I absolutely do want that. I’m not a total stranger to anal play, but we’ve never done this before. When Dar’s fingers pull free from my pussy, a nervous thrill settles in my core.
He isn’t fucking around. Seconds later, the head of my husband’s thick cock is pressing against my entrance.
“That’s it.” Dar’s praise is strained as he eases forward.
It’s… a lot. The pressure is intense. I can feel the ridge of the plug pressing against his cock, and, judging by the way his hands tighten on my hips, Dar feels it too.
“Shit,” I whimper, arching my back to give him more space. The rest of his length slides in, leaving me impossibly full.
Dar doesn’t move, and when I rock against him, his hands tighten, forcing me to be still. “You feel incredible, baby. Tighter than my fucking fist—shit. Hold still or I’m going to fill you after one pump.”
My tongue darts out to wet my lips. “It’s so full.”
“I know. I can feel it.” He begins to move, easing back a few inches, then forward in slow, measured thrusts. “Such a good girl, letting me stuff your little holes. I bet you’d take more if I asked you to.”
I let out a hysterical little giggle, wetness spreading to my inner thighs. “That’s probably not possible.”
I squeak when a long finger slides into my pussy alongside his cock.
It’s just for a second, and his silent laugh rumbles through both of us as he pulls it back, not losing the slow rhythm he’s fucking me with. Seconds later, that finger is being pushed into my mouth. “Suck me clean, then you’re going to get it rough.”
He isn’t kidding. No sooner have my lips fallen open again than his thrusts become harsh. My hands scrabble helplessly at the mattress as the overload of sensations makes me almost dizzy. It seems unbelievable that I could come like this, but Dar’s cock is everywhere, and it’s not long before my legs are shaking.
“I’m gonna come,” I slur. “Please, I need, I need—” He knows what I need.
The rough pinch to my clit is all it takes to send me over the edge. I’m still shaking, reeling from the intensity of my orgasm, when Dar’s pace begins to falter.
“Tell me where you want my cum,” he demands, clutching my hips so hard that there will probably be bruises.
Oh fuck, that’s so hot.
I moan. “Come inside me, please, Dar. I need it deep!”
“Yeah?” Our skin slaps together, and the knot of pleasure hasn’t fully unwound before it starts to tighten again, one orgasm rolling into the next. “You’re not on birth control, baby. Do you want it anyway? Do you want me to get you pregnant?”
I come again, so hard that if it weren’t his hands holding me up, I would have fallen flat on the mattress.
He slaps my ass. “Tell me.”
“Get me pregnant, please, Dar.”
There’s a rough curse, and a few frantic pumps later, he stills, pressing deep. The warm, wet lash of his cum coats my inner walls, filling me in more ways than one.
I peek over my shoulder, and my stomach flips at the sight of Dar’s expression. He’s staring at the place where we’re still connected, jaw slack from the pleasure he’s taken from my body and the intimacy of this moment.
Our eyes meet, and a slow, lazy smile curls my lips.
He shakes his head, like he’s just as lost for words as I am, and pulls out. I feel his release and my own dripping out after him, but long fingers gather it up, pushing every drop back in. “Are you okay?” he finally asks as he eases the plug out and lets it fall to the floor.
My face still pressed against the sheets, I nod, humming. Dar crawls over me and gathers me close, kissing the crown of my hair. “I love you,” I mumble, my eyes fluttering shut as I play absently with the coarse hairs of his beard.
Another kiss, this time to my temple. “I love you back.” His voice is distant, though, distracted.
I crack one eye back open. “Are you okay?”
His answering smile is warm and relaxed. “I’m better than okay. I’m… I didn’t know it was possible. To be this happy every day.”
My heart swells. “Well, we are on vacation,” I remind him, nodding toward the crystal-clear ocean beyond the window of the bedroom. “It’s pretty hard to be upset about anything when we’re here.”
“Where we are has nothing to do with it, Savvy.” As he stares down at me, there’s something more than love in his dark eyes. “You’re it.”
Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed this story, please take the time to leave a rating or review. It is such an enormous help for indie authors like myself, and I genuinely love hearing peoples thoughts on my work!
- Cleo