She chuckles into my chest.
“I’m great. This was all so great.”
Liar.
“It was hard for me, too. Kind of like déja’ vu.”
Thinking back on how hard the news of Abel’s death was for Abbi makes me feel even shittier about how I handled it all. Abel was her Vaughn. They were meant for each other. They had that soulmate stuff. Now part of her is gone.Forever missing. I’m not worried about her safety. Abel took care of that. She can fight or shoot her way out of anything. It’s her heart that has me concerned. If she didn’t have my nephew...I don’t even want to think about that.Her son saved her.
“Yeah. Well, I love you and I am so happy for you. I want you to go live a little. Let go and just be in love. You can pick all this heartache back up when you get home. Yeah?”
“Yeah. Sure. I can do that.”
The airport was hectic, and the flights were borderline caustic, but we’re here. We’ve made it, and it’s beautiful. The weather is perfect, and the vacation rental we’re staying in is incredible. Quiet and secluded. Harrismith isn’t the typical beach getaway, and we like that. It’s unique with a homey feel.
Vaughn and I didn’t get much sleep last night on our first night as the Washingtons which is to be expected. Factor in the overzealous TSA agent with a metal detecting wand she seemed itchy to wield as a weapon, and the too warm, too long plane rides it took to get here and we’re both wiped out.
The driver takes our bags offering to carry them inside, so I scoop Vaughn into my arms bridal style and carry her to our bed. The driver is already walking back to the car as I come back out to tip him.
“Hey there. Sorry, man. Had to get the wife laid down. Here you go. Thanks for everything.”
His smile is broad.Matter of fact so is he. This is a big man.
“Yes. No problem. Thank you sir.”
“Do you know uh, how we might reach you again if we need a ride around here? Or who else we might call?”
“Yes. Yes, sir. That is me. I can take you anywhere you like to go.”
He pulls a business card out of his wallet and hands it to me.
“I can take you to beautiful places close by. Get you food. Whatever you need. Just call.”
“Hey, yeah. Thanks, Winston. That sounds great. Really appreciate it.”
Winston, the tallest Bajan I’ve seen so far, hops in his car and leaves down the private drive.
Back inside our room, Vaughn is in the exact same position I left her in, and she’s snoring softly.Sexiest snore I’ve ever heard.It calls to me. It wants me to lie down by it. I’ll never tell her no.
Chapter 35
Elijah
We wake in the early morning hours...well, I wake. My wife is lying half atop me, and I’m clinging to her as though she’s a life raft. This is our norm since the first night we spent together. I swear, I really wasn’t a cuddler before her. Even in a half sentient state of being, my body knows it needs hers.
My left hand is already squeezing one soft globe of her ass. I helped her strip her travel clothes off sometime in the middle of the night, so she’s nude now. As am I. Kneading the warm flesh beneath my hand, I lightly run the other hand up the smooth skin of her back. Goosebumps prickle all over her body with the movement. She’s starting to squirm a bit, and I know it’s only moments before my wife is fully awake.My wife. Those words. I love to think them. I love to say them.I love even more to hear someone else refer to her as ‘your wife’ or ‘Mrs. Washington’, which has been the case most often since we wed.
My hand reaches the nape of her neck, continuing on until my fingers are entwined in her hair. Pulling her hair so that her half open eyes are gazing into mine, I place a kiss on her brow.
“Good morning, Mrs. Washington.”
“Good morning, husband.”
That one got me right in the dick. A power bolt to the nutsack, if you will, and this woman knows it. Every time she’s used the word on me so far, I’ve had her twisted up in a pleasing new position, and this time will be no exception.
Our rental has a pool in the back. The moment I saw it, I knew what we would be doing with our mornings. My wife and I have enjoyed many a pool shags pre-nuptials, so it’s time we break in her new name with a nice cool dip, sans swimsuits.
She’s slung over my should in 0.026 seconds and we’re on our way to the pool. Vaughn lets out a “Whoop” when I pull her from the bed but doesn’t ask any questions as I carry her out back. She’s learned to let me lead.
