The package dropped, and Fray cupped my face, kissing me. I wrapped my arms around him as my world shifted and my back met the floor.
“Thank you. Second best present ever—after you” he proclaimed, kissing me.
He was my best, too. The best surprise I’d ever received.
“I love you, Fray.”
“I love you. So much.” He lifted me into his arms and carried me back to our bed where we got lost in each other once again. And it was a long, long time before any other presents were opened. It didn’t matter. Together, we had everything we could possibly need.
Epilogue Three
Fray
Five More Years Later
“Happy anniversary, love,” I whispered to my wife of ten years, the most beautiful woman I knew. She turned her head to look at me from where she lay on the lounger beside me on the beach. The kids were with their aunt and uncle back home, and we were baking on a private beach in the sunny tropics, where we’d flown in rather than cruising.
“Happy anniversary, Fray,” she murmured with a soft, drowsy smile. She sighed as she rested her head on her arms, no doubt tired after our overnight travel, since we’d had to attend a gala at The Met last night. “This sun feels so good, but I feel like I need a nap.”
That perked me up, and I was sitting, my legs swinging over to the edge of my lounger in moments. Em’s lips rolled together as she laughed.
“That’s not what I meant, but I can get onboard.”
I pulled her up. “I’m gonna take you on a very special cruise.”
“Oh yeah?” she questioned, leaning her body into mine, her arms around my shoulders. “And what are the amenities on this cruise of yours?”
“I think I need to give you a tour…”
I guided her to the nearby boardwalk that led directly to our private bungalow. Jungle surrounded us for the most part, affording us complete privacy for the week. We could make love on the beach, but…I had other ideas and didn’t trust paparazzi from invading our paradise with long-range cameras. Instead, I pulled her through the louvered doors that led right into our bedroom then guided her toward the luxurious bathroom.
“First up, we offer a daily full-body massage.”
“Yes?” she asked as I stripped off my board shorts then reached for her, peeling down her tank suit. “Naked massages?”
“They are the best. Most therapeutic.” I lifted her onto the counter then skimmed my hands along her sides to cup her breasts that were a little larger than they had been when we’d married. Em was in fantastic shape, even after three kids, our son and our twin girls, but she bemoaned the extra curves. I loved them.
“Therapeutic,” she moaned softly, her head dropping back as her back arched, pushing the supple mounds deeper into my palms. “That’s good. Work’s been taxing lately.”
I pinched her nipples, making her whimper. “No work talk.”
“Okay,” she gasped.
Dipping forward, I laved one peak to soothe it, rolling the other in my fingers. Em buried her fingers in my hair, holding me against her. We still enjoyed each other as often as possible, and I was sure our kids would probably be embarrassed by us someday. I didn’t care. I loved Em with everything in me.
“I’m feeling this…tightness,” she breathed. “Maybe you can help massage it.”
Grasping my hand, she brought it down to her center.
“Here?” I asked, slipping my fingers through her slick fold then pushing two fingers inside her. Her warm walls clenched on the digits. “Oh, I see. Very tight. God, love.”
She sucked in a breath between her teeth, canting her hips into my drives. “That’s not helping. I think you might need to use a different…tool.”
Her fingers circled me, dragging up and down my shaft. Fiery sensation curled along my spine and settled at the small of my back, my balls drawing up at the heaven of her grasp.
“Lucky for you, I have the perfect tool handy.”
“Very lucky,” she agreed, spreading her legs wider to welcome me closer.
And as I sank into her, drawing her closer and turning to brace her against the wall, I had to agree we were both very lucky indeed. We had the best life. Take everything away, as long as I had Emerson and our family, nothing else mattered. We had love, the greatest wealth of all.