Page 151 of A Better Place

“Love you. So damn much.”

“Forever,” she agrees.

“Everything. You. Are. Everything,” I tell her, my voice stuttering as I reach close to tipping over the edge.

“James!” she cries out, our words sending her over the edge, and I quickly follow, her name on my lips as we crash together, like the waves on the shore.

I collapse, my body resting on top of her but leaning to the side so I don’t crush her.

“It’s always… whoa,” she says and giggles then kisses my face, my chest, my shoulders, every inch of skin she can.

I laugh, feeling lighthearted at the touch of her lips on my skin, and somehow full of energy, despite our early morning workout.

“Hmm, as much as I love your lips on my body, I think we should maybe take a moment and see what this island has to offer us. I promised you snorkeling in the Caribbean, and dammit I’m gonna give it to you.”

“I suppose…” she says, her mouth never leaving my skin.

“Insatiable,” I mumble, loving the attention I’m receiving so not making a move to get out of bed.

“Mm-hmm.”

She lifts her head and looks down at me, her skin flush and glowing with happiness. “You do realize we have a lifetime to get these items checked off my bucket list.”

“That’s the sexiest thing you’ve ever said to me. Except for ‘I do,’ of course. And ‘yes.’ Hearing you say ‘Yes’ was pretty awesome. And ‘oh Cap…!’” I start with a gasp in my voice, mimicking hers.

“James! You’re such…”

“What? What am I, Mrs. Cole?”

“Annoying?”

“Wrong.”

She huffs and rolls her eyes. “Ugh.”

“Speechless, I see. I like that. Want me to do more to make you speechless?”

“Mmm” is her only response.

One hour later, we finally drag ourselves out of bed, and I struggle to keep my hands to myself as I gaze at my wife in her coral bikini, her yoga-toned body beckoning me to never let her out in the open, to keep her to myself. But the crystal-clear teal waters of the Caribbean need our attention.

When we said “I do” just one month after she agreed to marrying me, both of us eager to make it happen, I couldn’t wait to get her alone. She was able to take vacation from school, and we boarded a plane for Barbados. But not before we celebrated with our friends and family. And yes, we released floating lanterns. The look of awe on her face as we watched them drift into the air and away from us is something I will never forget.

I wanted her alone, and alone I’ve had her. So alone that we have barely left our room since arriving three days ago.

“Are you trying to make me embarrass myself on the beach?” I growl in her ear, my hand wrapping around her waist and bringing her in close to me.

She smiles, biting her bottom lip. “What did I tell you about this lip?” Using my thumb, I release her lip from her teeth, her tongue darting out to graze the tip.

“Not. Helping.”

“Hmm, it was your idea to come here. I said I would be okay with going to the cabin Tess and Barrett went to, hiding out there for a week.”

“Yes. That’s exactly what I want to do. Go to a cabin where my sister and brother-in-law did nothing but screw for an entire week. Sounds like a grand old time,” I tease.

She bursts out laughing before playfully shoving me away, her slender legs moving her quickly across the white sand toward the bright blue ocean waters, her blond hair, a slight curl from the sea air, stretches out behind her, her tinkling laughter cutting through the sound of the waves and reaching my ears.

I watch as she runs to the water and spins around, lifting her hand to call me to her. She cups her hands around her mouth. “Oh Captain!” she shouts, her smile so bright it’s blinding. And I know. Forever all she’ll need to do is smile my way, and I’ll follow her.

Contentment doesn’t even begin to cover what I feel. Only happiness fills my heart. For years, I gave my heart only to Lily. I kept myself closed off, not allowing anyone in. But what I didn’t know was that I was just in a holding pattern, waiting for Carly. Waiting for us both to be in… A Better Place.

The End

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