Capturing her gasp with my lips, I spread her arousal around her swollen nub and piston my hips just a bit faster.

Her body tightens around me, her breath hitches and those heels dig harder into my ass. It takes everything in me not to rut into her faster, but the wait is worth it. It’s always worth it with her.

Her silent scream is complete with her hand slapping against the wall, a strangled yes leaving her lips and her release feeling like heaven on my cock.

“My turn,” I warn, the words slipping against her lips as her eyes find mine and I fuck her against the wall like we don’t have a second to waste.

I take my wife like I did that night in the coat room of the wedding. I fuck her like I’m going to lose her if I don’t make damn sure she knows she’s mine.

She is today, she was back then, and she always will be.

When I find my own release, she comes again with me, and we’re lost in a heated kiss that’s not at all lust and all love. Every little piece of us finding its place where it’s supposed to be.

GRACE

How long has it been since I’ve held my husband’s hand? I wonder as we quietly leave our still napping baby boy, and gently shut the screen door so we don’t wake him.

Charlie’s thumb rubs soothing circles on my knuckles, the rough pads remind me how hard he works, but also how hard he loves.

“Love you sweetheart,” he whispers as the bright sun and chatter of the barbeque greet us and we part ways with a simple kiss that makes its way all the way down to my toes. I can still feel him and I love it. The second he’s gone though, back to where the men are grilling, stacks of burgers on a plate surrounded by condiments on the small table beside them, I wonder if it’s written on my face what we’ve done.

With a quick breath, I don’t look anyone in the eyes and I go straight for the punch. One sip and I can hear the laughter from Evie. Another and I make my way back to my seat with my sister in laws.

“Did he wake up?” Cheryl questions, the girls, now joined by Charlie’s mother, all stop talking and wait for an answer, their eyes expecting something right freaking now.

“Yeah,” I play it off even though my head shakes, subconsciously denying the lie. “The second I laid him down, he woke up, but we were able to get him back down in no time.”

Even though I catch a glimpse of the monitor on the table and Ali’s raised brow, I double down with, “He’s out like a light,” and my third sip of punch. It’s not so strong now and I wonder if someone added more of anything other than rum to dull it down.

None of the women push for more, but my two sister-in-laws both smile into their drinks as Ma continues, informing me that she’s giving the girls the recipe to her pasta salad.

“Well hello beautiful,” Charlie sneaks up behind me, his hands landing on my hips and a kiss landing on my cheek before I even see him.

I can’t help but smile. “Hello yourself,” I answer with a little more flirtation than I would if I was more conscious of the fact that all three women are staring. “You might need this if you were drinking the punch,” he passes me a bottle of water and I let out a shy laugh.

“You might be right.”

“I have one little surprise if you ladies,” he raises his voice to address his family, “don’t mind if I steal her away.”

“You just had her but okay,” Cheryl rolls her eyes and I try to keep mine from widening at you just had her. They don’t know, I tell myself with every step I take to the side of the property with Charlie, where the sunflowers are tall and blooming.

“Okay, now that I have you sweetened up,” he starts, and I smack his hand playfully. His rough chuckle vibrates up his chest and I land a quick kiss on his lips.

“What do you want, husband of mine?”

He sucks in a deep breath, his expression going serious and for a moment worry comes over me. Until he says:

“We didn’t have a Christmas so I decided a little July surprise… would be nice.”

“Oh yeah, it’s Christmas in July?” I question him, my brow knitting.

What’s my husband up to?

“I thoughtAli could come with us since she’s got time off… and kind of volunteered… maybe on a trip to wine country? She can watch Dean and we can have a second honeymoon.”

I can only blink several times, my heart going all soft.

“You won’t be away from Dean… although he will be in a different room,” he explains, the water bottle in his hand moving from his left to his right as he shifts on his feet in front of me. “I miss you all alone, flirting at the bar. I just thought…”