Page 14 of Calamity Rayne Over the Moon

“Now, touch yourself, baby.”

I reached between us and started to rub, gasping when the first shiver of an orgasm stole through me. “Oh, my God.”

“Keep going,” he said, pumping his finger in and out. “You’re almost there. I can feel you tightening around me.”

“Ah…” My head fell back as a wash of pleasure rained over me. I trembled and Hale held me close, riding the storm with me until we were both panting and replete.

“Beautiful.”

I would always favor Italy a little more than all the other places we visited because that was where Hale made the impossible possible. He might have destroyed my modesty that day, fucking me in broad daylight while villagers walked by the open windows—some had undoubtedly looked in. But what they saw was a woman in command of her own pleasure. A woman in love with an incredible man. A woman set free.

I could have stayed in Italy forever, but we had two more stops to make. Next was Santorini, Greece, which I was relieved to learn was only a short three-hour flight away from the Amalfi Coast.

Santorini was very similar to the Amalfi Coast with its busy streets and heavy tourist attractions, but the atmosphere was slightly different in that it lacked the brightly colored architecture of Amalfi.

Homes stacked along the coast like a pile of salt building from the briny sea. Each one uniquely carved of the same white stone. The crisp, bleached landscape was stunning at sunset when the sky seemed to reflect off the crystal clear waters and illuminate the buildings in shades of pink and gold.

I hadn’t felt great in Greece. It might have been all the walking, or perhaps it was the non-stop seafood we’d eaten, or maybe the stubborn jackass I rode on the way in. Not Hale, but the actual donkey he stuck me on to get to the villa.

“I’m sorry you didn’t get to enjoy Greece as much as all our other stops,” Hale said toward the end of our stay.

I’d been exhausted and fighting a stomach bug. “I’m sure we’ll come back.”

“I promise we will.”

I smiled up at him adoringly, knowing he’d keep his word.

By the time our stay ended, I was ready to go home. I missed American food and my creature comforts. I missed drive-throughs, central air, and ice in my drinks. But most of all, I missed Elara.

The last time we video chatted with her she looked enormous. She was saying new words and toddling around like a pro. And we were missing it.

I had a hunch Hale was also homesick for his daughter, but he seemed determined to make sure we enjoyed every last minute of our trip. We had one more stop in Maui and then it was back to Key West where I planned to stay for a long time.

When we landed in Hawaii I suddenly recalled a lot from my high school geography class. Namely, how the island was famous for its volcanos.

Hale thought this was a silly concern, but if anyone was going to suffer a brutal death in liquid-hot volcanic magma, it was probably me. My abnormally lucky husband would find the one dry spot in an eruption and outlive us all.

Knowing there was only one week left of our honeymoon I made the most of it. We spent the first day on the beach, but after that, it was all about Hale.

I booked us a tour through the rainforest, which was incredible. Then we took surfing lessons, which was hilarious. Hale picked the skill up in an instant. Me, not so much.

For our last night, I booked us a reservation at a restaurant known for its eccentric dining experience and unique menu. It was one of those fancy places where the chef picks the menu for guests and they only serve so many people a night. Very exclusive. Very Hale.

“Where did you find this place?” he asked as we entered through a grotto covered by a pergola wrapped in a year’s worth of flowers and twisting vines.

“The surfing instructor’s girlfriend told me about it when you were out riding the waves.”

They had our table ready when we arrived. What I didn’t expect was to be sitting with other people, but apparently, every night was broadcast live on the restaurant’s YouTube channel. Had I known that, I would have watched a few episodes first.

We introduced ourselves to the two other couples dining with us. One woman appeared drunk and the other looked bored. The men, however, were sociable and eager to chat.

“Rayne, is it?”

I nodded and the man held out a large hand.

“Name’s Bob. This is Judy. We’re from Oklahoma. Where are you two from?”

“We live in Key West.” I didn’t see the need to explain that Hale had multiple houses all over the country.

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