“Okay, let’s go.”
Showering takes a lot longer than it should. He makes me come three times while we’re under the steamy water, and not one act makes me feel clean. He brings out this dirty side of me that I never knew I had. By the time we’re actually dressed and ready to go, it’s well past midday.
As we head out into the street, I make for the hotel’s section of the beach, but Jaxson shakes his head at me.
“We’re not going there today. I’ve called a cab. We’re going somewhere a little more...private.”
I grin. “Are you going to tell me where?”
He kisses the top of my head. I love the way he towers over me. It makes me feel so protected by him. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
Our cab arrives and we get in, quickly beginning our journey to our secluded paradise. Jaxson insists on sitting right next to me so that he can cover my eyes, making it a true surprise. He kisses my neck gently as we trundle along the road and I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time, even with my father’s response to us this morning still in the back of my mind.
I don’t want to lose my father, but how can I lose Jaxson now when he’s giving me the world.
When the car comes to a stop and the driver opens the door for me, I can feel the heat of the summer sun beating down on me and Jaxson’s gentle hands still over my eyes. I smile.
“Can I look yet?”
“I guess you can.”
He takes his hands away from my eyes and slips one hand into mine. We’re on a secluded cove with a small beach. There are a few tourists farther out snapping pictures in the opposite direction, but the beach is deserted.
“I thought this would be a little more private. I’ve been here a few times just to think,” Jaxson says. I squeeze his hand.
“It’s perfect.”
We head down to the beach hand in hand. The sound of the waves lapping at the sand is so soothing that I feel like I could fall asleep in seconds if I just closed my eyes. I’m a little tired after spending most of last night making love with Jaxson, but it was totally worth it.
And now, we’ve got a place to be at peace. Away from the hustle and bustle of the hotel, I feel good. It almost makes me forget everything I’ve endured over the past twenty-four hours. I’ve been at my highest highs and my lowest lows. With Jaxson at my side, my world has turned upside down in the best and worst way possible, but I can handle it if it means I get to keep him.
As we sit down, I put a hand to my stomach, thinking of my baby. I know it sounds crazy, but I can feel that there’s a child inside me. The moment we made love for the first time, it was like the world made so much sense, and with that came our little miracle. I don’t know if we’re having a girl or a boy, or what the child will look or be like, but it’s ours, and that makes it so magical.
Jaxson strips off his shirt and sits behind me, pulling me back against his chest. I nestle into him quietly. Just being in one another’s company feels so perfect. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world just to be here with him.
He’s mine and I’m his.
Jaxson
Stella takes a nap lying on my chest and I stroke her hair as she dozes. It’s easy to believe we’re in paradise here. The water lapping against the shore is clear and blue and clean. The sand is soft and hot and white, unspoiled. The sun is tanning our skin and giving us a healthy glow. This is what most couples dream of doing on a relaxing holiday.
But there are things on my mind. We can’t stay on this beach forever and when we leave, we’re going to have to face reality. Now that Sam has abandoned Stella, I need to step up. I wanted her to be mine and now she is, and I need to make sure she knows that I’ll take care of her, forever. Not just because our baby is growing inside her, something that will bind us together forever, but because I love her. Sam might not be able to handle that idea, but for me it’s a dream come true.
I look down at Stella and feel so much love in my heart for her. She’s so goddamn beautiful with her curvy body, soft blue eyes and dark wavy hair. I can barely believe she’s mine. My cock twinges under my shorts, but now isn’t the time to think about sex. Now, I need to think of our future.
And I’ve got something important to ask her when she wakes up.
She shifts and sits up as though she’s been reading my thoughts. She smiles a little sleepily at me.
“I think I needed that,” she says, rubbing her eyes. She cocks her head to the side when she sees my expression. “What’s on your mind?”
“You,” I growl. I take her hand in mine. I want this to be special for her, and I know I’ve got the perfect location for what I want to ask her. “Stella...the past few days have been crazy. I never thought that something like this would happen to me. I was beginning to think I’d be alone forever. I knew I wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfection in my love life. And then I met you and I knew I’d give up everything to be with you. You’re the only thing that matters to me.”
Stella’s eyes widen. “Oh, Jaxson...that’s so sweet.”
“You’re my world, Stella,” I say. “I want to protect you from
