Chapter 40
SAM
Becca’s curled into the seat beside me, one leg tucked under her, blanket pulled halfway up like she still doesn’t fully believe this is real.
She's in a soft, long-sleeve maxi dress, travel mode Becca. She keeps glancing around, out of the window through the clouds, the passengers nearby, and our seats. The fact that no one is bumping into her elbow every five seconds. I can tell she’s doing the math.
Of course she is. I reach over, brushing my hand along her thigh.
“Don’t,” I say.
Her eyes flick to mine. “Don’t what?”
“Start calculating what this costs.”
She narrows her eyes slightly. “I wasn’t—”
“You were,” I say, not unkindly.
“Maybe a little,” she admits.
I nod. “Points.”
She blinks. “What?”
“I’ve had a ridiculous amount of airline points sitting there for years. Never used them.” I shrug. “Figured now was a good time.”
Her shoulders drop slightly.
“And the upgrade to business class?” she asks.
I huff a quiet laugh. “Still points. Just … more of them.”
She studies me for a second longer than necessary.
“You’re not secretly draining an account I don’t know about?” She tries for a teasing tone. There is no malice in her question, but I still feel the insecurity, the trust I broke.
I shake my head. “No.”
“Taking out a loan?” she asks, eyebrows raising.
“No.”
“Selling one of your organs?” Now she sounds like she’s on a game show.
“Becca,” I admonish slightly, wanting her to enjoy the moment and not think about the money.
She smiles a little. “Okay, I believe you.”
But I can still see it, that part of her that’s learning how to trust this kind of thing again. I slide my hand up her leg slowly, deliberately.
“Also,” I add, voice lower now, “I’m not the only one who planned something.”
Her brow lifts. “Oh?”
“The condo we are staying at in Hawaii,” I say. “It was a gift from the Rothschilds. They said, and I quote, ‘Bernard insists that Becca go and receive some Vitamin D and relaxation.’”
Her expression shifts, touched and surprised. “They are really letting us use their condo? They love that place!”
“They do. But they love you more. You take care of so many people; let others take care of you.”
“That’s … actually really nice,” she says.
“Yeah,” I reply. “I thought if the endorsement came from Bernie, you would be more willing to accept it.”
She laughs as she leans closer, her hand resting on my chest, fingers curling into my shirt.
“I weirdly am,” she says quietly, snuggling in. Then, a little softer, “Thank you.”
It’s not just about the trip. I know that. I lean in, brushing my mouth against hers.
“The best is yet to come,” I murmur.
The condo is better than I expected. It’s open and bright, with windows that make you feel like the ocean stretches forever beneath you There’s literally waves crashing right below us.
Everything is white and salt-worn wood, the kind of place that smells like sunscreen and ocean air even with the windows closed.
But I barely register any of it. Because Becca walks in, drops her bag, and stares at the view.
“Wow, I can’t believe we’re here.” I can tell by the tone in her voice that she means more than in Hawaii.
“Me too, it was too long coming.”
I pause before continuing, “ This is the kind of life you deserve, Becca, what I want for us.”
“Sam, I don’t need a Hawaii oceanfront condo life. I just want one with you.”
“I know, you deserve a life where you are first, second, and always.”
I pull her closer to me and look in her eyes. “I am sorry I delayed our honeymoon.”
The thought still stings. Not because she's made me feel it, but because I know what it cost her, us, to let it go. She put her dream honeymoon aside when I asked her to and never mentioned it again.
“I’m not going to get it perfect every time,” I admit. “But I’m never going to lose sight of you again.”
Her smile is watery as she gets on her toes to kiss me softly first, then more.
“You'd better lock the door so we can get our honeymoon started,” she purrs at me.
I reach behind me, and the second it clicks–
She’s on me. Hands in my shirt, mouth on mine, no hesitation or restraint.
I lift her without thinking, her legs wrapping around my waist like they’ve done a hundred times before. I push her back against the expansive window, kissing down her neck as she frantically grabs my shirt to pull it over my head.
I ground my hips into her as we both moan. I sweep my fingertips around her waist, sliding up her dress, feeling how wet she is.
“Damn baby, is this all for me?” I start teasing her folds.
“No.” She breathes, angling her pussy closer to my hips. “It’s for the view.”
I bark out a laugh. “Well, if that’s the case, it would be a shame for you not to see it.”
I set her down and spin her so she is facing the sea. I get on my knees, pulling her panties down with me.
“So damn beautiful.” I peel up her dress. “Bend over, hands on the windows.”
She does as she’s told. “Good girl.” I flip up her dress, spreading her legs wider. Drawing my tongue across her clit.
“You like that?” I ask as I drag my tongue across her again. She moans something incoherent, and I take that as a yes. In no time at all, her body is shaking, so close, and I pull away.
“What …” she gets out, looking behind her. Before she can form a coherent sentence, I push down my shorts, pinning her against the wall with my hips.
With one thrust, I drive into her. She gasps, and her pussy constricts around my cock. She’s shaking now, needing the release, but I know she needs more.
“Pull down that dress, baby, play with those pretty nipples.” She does as I say without hesitation.
“That’s it, soak my cock, let the whole damn beach hear you.” They can’t. These walls are clearly soundproof, and the windows are tinted, but the excitement of being heard has her body reacting more.
I reach around and give her the final bit she needs to fall over the edge. Pinching her clit while driving my hips and getting exactly what she needs. Becca cries out as I feel her constrict around me. It’s all I need as I release inside her.
As we both lean against the window, catching our breath, Becca turns her head to look at me.
“Best vacation ever,” she says with a satisfied smile.
I kiss her gently, wanting to savor this feeling. “We are just getting started, baby. We have two full weeks of this.”
With that, she smiles and looks at me sheepishly. “Show me the bedroom?”
Later, she’s stretched out beside me, sheets twisted around her legs, hair a mess across the pillow. The sun has shifted lower outside, throwing long gold light across the bed. I’m on my side, watching her.
“I should’ve done this sooner,” I say.
She tilts her head. “Taken me to Hawaii?”
“No. I mean, yes, but given you the honeymoon you deserved. Chosen the way you deserved. I should have never made you feel like you came second to anything.”
She doesn’t answer right away. Doesn’t rush to fix it or soften it. “You’re doing it now,” she says.
“I am.” I let that be good enough, because it’s all I can do. I can’t change my mistakes, but I can make damn sure I don’t do it again.
She studies me for a second longer, then leans in, pressing a slow kiss to my mouth. I pull her closer, her back fitting against me like it was always meant to.
She exhales slowly, like something in her finally gave way. As if she set something down she’s been carrying far too long. And I feel it too.
Outside, the light is starting to shift, the day moving forward whether we pay attention to it or not. And for once, neither of us is thinking about what is next or what's on our to-do list—not chasing anything or trying to prove something.
I’ve got everything I was about to lose right here in my arms, but now, I’m never letting go. Because this time, I know exactly what it’s worth, and I will spend every damn day making sure she does too.