Page 40 of Embrace

“I don’t want this to end,” I announced in a somber tone.

It was the final night before we returned to our new reality, and I’d been overcome with a bittersweet mood. Our time together was the best time I’d ever had, and I didn’t want it to end. However, I knew we had no choice but to enjoy our last few hours in paradise before we headed home to figure out the rest of our lives together.

The final night was magical. We lay under the stars, wrapped in each other’s arms. Blaze had his body pressed against mine while we lay on a thick blanket in the sand. The beaches in Belize were a different experience to what we had on Galveston, Island. I loved the experience, but the murky water was nothing compared to the clear blue sea before us.

“It doesn’t have to,” Blaze replied.

I craned my neck to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“This doesn’t have to be the only time we travel. We can do monthly vacations and biweekly staycations. I don’t mind making time to make sure we always have this feeling,” Blaze explained.

My eyes burned. “The gesture would definitely be appreciated. Thank you.”

“You’re my wife. As your husband, it’s my job to make sure you’re happy and loved how you need to be.”

I turned around and straddled his waist. He rested his hands on my hips as I leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. The passion was powerful as I tried to convey just how grateful I was of him. Nothing in my past could compare to the attentive and caring man I had now.

“It’s going to be weird finding a routine that works for our new lives together. I love my space, but I also don’t think I’ll be able to live a day without waking up in the morning to this fine ass face.” I rubbed my fingers through his beard. The soft hair felt like smooth velvet in the moment.

“Nah. I think we’ll make it work. We can do a week at your spot and then a week at mine until we find a place to call our home together.”

“I like the idea a lot,” I agreed. “I know in the beginning when you first posed the question, I had my reservations about the whole thing. However, since we’ve shared so much time together, I wouldn’t mind packing my things and staying with you until we find our forever home.”

Blaze showed his perfect white teeth. “I knew you’d come around. I have the spare room we can turn into your office for the time being,” he suggested.

“Yes, please.”

He rubbed his hands on the curve of my ass. “I’ll contact the realtor next week to get the ball rolling. Tell me about your dream home.”

I was quiet for a long time. My dream home had changed many times over the years—especially when I discovered the home renovation shows on the HGTV network. “My dream house has changed over the years. Currently, I want something that will look good now, ten years, and even thirty years down the line. I want a home with a solid foundation where we ain’t got to worry about damages in certain seasons. I want a home that we can raise a large family in.”

“What happened to two kids max?” Blaze chimed in.

“Listen, the way I enjoy getting filled by you, I mentally prepared myself for at least three or four,” I joked, slightly.

“Wait a minute.” Blaze laughed.

“What?” I fluttered my eyelashes as I rubbed the nape of his neck.

“Three of four is kind of a lot. I know we’d be good, but I really wouldn’t want to havetoomany kids. I’d get my nuts snipped after a third, not even gon’ lie to you.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Hell fuck yeah.”

My head fell back as I hollered. “Boy, you’re hilarious. No but in all seriousness, I want to be prepared for the possibility of at least three kids. I want us both to have a space in the home to get away from life.”

“I agree. Our personal space is key to a successful marriage, as well. I’m cool with a little man cave, and you can get a room outside of your office to do what you want.”

“I want a decent sized backyard too. I want to be able to host cookouts for the family, send the kids outside to play, and shit like that.”

“I agree. I don’t want a pool in the backyard because of the dangers of drowning when unsupervised.”

“I agree. And the maintenance on a backyard pool is insane,” I added.

“Do you know what part of the city you want to live in?”

“Honestly, The Woodlands, Pearland, and Katy havebeautifulhomes. They’re not technicallyinthe city of Houston, but close enough to travel and see family as needed.”

---