I did not remember much after that, yet all our times were becoming seared into my DNA, as searing as the sun over pristine Fiji beaches.
Some mornings I slept late.
These mornings, Mariano would go for a run on the beach. These were the mornings when he would tell me not to leave ourburenaked. The men were closer, keeping an eye on theburewhen he was not close enough to do so. Sometimes I would get out of bed to watch him run. He seemed to have a trail he would follow. Perhaps a trail the wild island horses ran on.
The trail always led home.
To me.
He would pass in front of ourburenumerous times, his eyes always cutting toward our place.
The mornings when I could not sleep after he left our bed, I would dress in a teal-colored silk robe, put my hair up, and take a cool, fruity drink—a healthy smoothie that made me feel refreshed and energized—out on the lanai, waiting for him to come home.
He would come back to me dripping sweat, embers burning beneath his tan skin.
Our eyes would meet.
We would both take a breath—relief and wanting all mixed into one.
Then…
He would come for me, picking me up, wrapping his arms around me, his face pressed to my stomach, and kiss me there. Over and over. Once inside, he would set me down, I would let down my hair, and he would come for me again. This time, taking me back to bed.
Other times, we explored the island.
There was more of it, I was sure, but it seemed as if Mariano was finding things he felt was safe for me to do while pregnant.
We swam with dolphins and spent plenty of time on the fauna and flora of the island. We found the boobies, truly extraordinary birds with their sharp blue beaks, cigar-shaped bodies, and almost…goofy looking blue webbed feet. This is why the Spanish wordbobofit them. They were a bit…awkward on land.
I was obsessed with the fiddler crabs and laughed every time Mariano would curl one bicep when I would point one out.
Apparently this was the male fiddler crab’s claim to fame with the female fiddlers. Anywhere in the world, it seemed, females reacted to the strongest males of the species.
“You got that fucking right,” Mariano had said to me, tightening his bicep again.
I did not ever remember laughing so hard.
He was such a…male.
This included being protective of me. Even when we went snorkeling, he told me we had to stay close to shore. Every so often, he would bring me up, holding me close in the water. He did not say so, but I could tell he was anxious about me overdoing it. All that we did, we seemed to do with the strength and determination of languid breezes.
“We don’t have to have a packed schedule, Annie,” he reminded me. “We’re here together. We move together.”
“We go where the wind blows us.” I smiled.
He pulled me close and kissed me in answer.
It was truly bliss. Especially the days we spent out in the water in front of ourbure. Mariano had taken me to see the other homes on the island, but I found our place to be…ours. This included the private beach.
Mariano smiled at me when I dressed in my new suit. It was the one I had picked out on the shopping trip. Scarlett had given me a knowing look and smiled at me. The color of the strapless one-piece was…the same color as my husband’s eyes. I had purchased the same one in leopard print as well. Magpie had been right. The animal print enhanced the color of my hair, skin, and even my hazel eyes. She said they were cat-shaped…then shemeowed at me.
“I fucking like that one,” he said.
I laughed, setting my cool palms against his warm chest. “You say that about them all!”
“Yeah, but the ones that’ll get me killed, I only fucking like when it’s us. I refuse to leave you.”
“You prefer me naked as well.” I kissed the spot over his heart.
