Something Wonderful

by M. Clarke

  I had purposely taken my time getting here. I wanted Becca to see this amazing view and I knew by the look on her face that she was in awe. Her eyes were gleaming and her smile said it all.

  The white lights that dangled from poles along the dock, highlighted by the moon, gave it an elegant feel. The sound of the small, anchored boats rocking against the water was hypnotic and the music that emanated from one of the boats gave a soothing feel.

  Lightly shivering in my arms, I pulled Becca tighter. “You cold, firecracker?”

  Becca gave a hardy laugh. “I hope you don’t plan on calling me firecracker in front of other people.”

  “Why not? Unless you want me to call you love, babe, sweetheart, sunshine….”

  “Okay, stop,” she snorted. “You can call me firecracker when we’re alone. If you promise, I’ll show you what a real firecracker can do in and out of bed. But I rather you call me Becca.”

  She was talking all hot and flirty, so how could I resist that offer? “Agreed. Better hold on to that thought. Here we are.”

  Becca’s eyes were wide, looking stunned as she stood there taking in the beauty of this magnificent three-leveled yacht. How could she not be? I’m in awe every time I set my eyes on her and I’ve been on this boat a million times. “Welcome to the Ellen Knight, named after my mother. My dad had gifted this to her when our company took off.”

  “Wow. I don’t know what to say. Thank you,” Becca said softly, unable to peel her eyes off the yacht.

  “Let’s get on board.” Holding Becca’s hand, I led her inside. She was grinning from ear to ear and it got even bigger when she set her eyes on our private dining table, adorned with candlelight and flowers.

  “Good evening, Mr. Knight, Ms. Miller.”

  Becca looked stunned that Carlos, our personal chef, knew her name.

  “Good evening,” Becca replied.

  “Please watch your step. Mr. Knight, I’ll be back with the wine.” With that, Carlos disappeared.

  After I helped Becca settle into her chair, I sat across from her. The cool breeze gently tousled her hair. Being under a heat lamp, we were able to enjoy the view on deck, instead of having to eat inside. So many boats sailed that night. I had planned to do just that after dinner, so Becca and I could be truly alone. She had no idea what was coming.

  After Carlos poured the wine, he was out of sight. I lifted up my glass. “To our first Valentine’s Day together, and many more to come.”

  Becca clinked the glass. “To a new beginning.” After she took a sip and placed the glass down, she let out a soft sigh. “Thank you, Matthew. Everything about today is amazing. I’ve been on Valentine’s Day dates before, but this is something else. You’ve gone out of your way to make me feel special.”

  “Firecracker.” I lifted her chin to set my eyes on hers. “You are special to me in every way. You’re the only one that made me want to move forward, and I’m going to do everything I can to show you exactly what I mean.”

  Becca gave me a huge smile. “Thank you.” That was all she could say. I think I just put out the fire in my firecracker.

  Matthew made me blush big time with his words. I don’t know what I did to help him move on, but whatever it was, I’m sure glad it worked. Everything about tonight was fantastic. I would dream about this night for a very long time.

  After dinner, Matthew gave me a tour of this fabulous yacht. The furnishings were elegant, with leather seats and fine wood cabinets. The television was state of the art, and everything else was nothing but the best. His mom was sure spoiled, but it was also sweet of her to allow him to use it for tonight.

  “When you’re ready, you’ll have to meet my parents,” Matthew said out of the blue. “I mean when we’re both ready.”

  “Matthew, remember one day at a time. I don’t want you to get sick of me so quickly,” I joked.

  “Never,” he said, whisking me into his arms.

  When he let go, I jerked back. “We’re moving?” I started to panic. “Where are we going and who’s driving?”

  “Relax. Carlos not only cooks, but he is fully qualified to pilot this boat.”

  Matthew wrapped a blanket around us, planted a kiss on my forehead, and led us out. We were heading into complete darkness, but the light from the other boats was a reminder we weren’t alone. From afar, they looked like stars, floating on the wave of the ocean. At times, it felt as though we were aimlessly drifting through the universe without a destination. There were no words. It was magical.

  Matthew reached under what looked like a secret compartment I hadn’t noticed before, and took out a walkie-talkie to speak into it. “Carlos, make sure to steer away from all the other vessels and then you can return to your cabin. Please do not disturb us unless it’s an emergency. If you do, fair warning, you may see me naked,” Matthew laughed.

  Matthew saying the word naked caught my attention. When I flashed my eyes at him, he winked at me. After he put the radio away, he pushed a button, and soft music filled the air around us. Leaning into each other, neither of us spoke as we stared at the magnificent view.

  “Ready for tomorrow’s trip?” Matthew asked.

  “I can’t believe I’m going to the London Fashion Show,” I said excitedly. “I’m so freakin’ excited I can hardly contain myself.”

  Matthew snuggled into me, chuckling. “I love it when you’re excited. It makes me happy to see you happy.”

  “You know what else makes me excited?” I asked in a flirty tone, running my hands across his hard chest, the chest that made me gasp for air just thinking about when he took off his sweater at the apartment.

  “I can take a guess.” Matthew bit his bottom lip. Seeing him flirt back made me lose it. “I bet I got you excited when I first took off my sweater.”

  He was right, but I wasn’t going to feed his ego. “You think so?” I glued my eyes to his. “I bet I got you excited when I dumped the plate of leftovers on your sweater.”

  Matthew’s eyes grew wide with humor, recalling the incident. “I bet you got excited when I told you to wash it off. And then your eyes rested directly on my crotch.”

  I don’t know why recalling our not so friendly, heated conversation turned me on, but I had nothing to say after that because he was damn right. Without any further hesitation, I sealed my lips on his for a quick kiss and backed away. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

  Matthew didn’t respond at first, taking his time staring at me with the look of longing. His look said, ‘I’m going to take you NOW’. Then he closed the gap between us, pressing his chest against my breasts, his hands not touching me. Pulling his face into the side of my neck, he whispered, “I want to make love to you under the stars.”

  When I nodded to confirm, Matthew slowly peeled off my clothes, layer by layer, as if I was the most precious gift. Tenderly, he continued to worship my body as he stripped off his own clothes. He took his time kissing every single inch while we cuddled under the blanket.

  Feeling like I was going to melt any minute as his hands, lips, and tongue explored me, I quivered, and could no longer stand on my own two feet. Suddenly, he spun me around. Instinctively, I gripped the handrail for support and parted my legs as I eagerly waited for him. With one hand on my breast, the other on my thigh, he entered me from behind.

  From the pleasurable sensation, I moaned as I exploded. Matthew gingerly rocking back and forth only increased my yearning and it started to build.

  “Matthew, you’re driving me crazy,” I panted.

  “Patience,” he said, savoring my neck. “We’ve got all night. You’re mine. I’m going to fuck you all night long.” With each spoken word, he slammed into me.

  Holy shit! His words drove me to the edge. I liked it rough and hard, including him talking dirty to me. Matthew knew what I wanted and he certainly delivered. I don’t know how long we were out there, but it seemed timeless under the dark sky. It was just the two of us, devouring each other.

  Out of breath, I rel
eased a heavy sigh when Matthew pulled out. Then he scooped me up, and headed into the cabin. After passing a few doors, we entered a bedroom that he hadn’t shown me on the tour and WOW! The surrounding candlelight, gave an enchanted feel and what was even more magical was the bed. It was covered with rose petals. I’ve always dreamt about something like this. Never could I imagine I would actually see it.

  “You’re amazing,” I said, embracing Matthew with all of me.

  “If I am, it’s all because of you.”

  There was nothing I could say after that. Matthew kissed me tenderly and led me onto the bed. No freakin’ way! We were having sex on a waterbed. We were riding with the waves and enjoying every second. We looked into each other’s eyes, but it felt more like we were reaching into each other’s souls. I found the connection I was longing for in that look, in that kiss, and in that smile as we made love. I would never forget tonight.

  “Come on sleepy head,” Max said, embracing me in his arms and gently placing a kiss on my forehead. “Up you go.”

  The breeze slapped my face, forcing my hair to cover my eyes. It was early in the morning and the sun hadn’t broken through the clouds yet. “You didn’t tell me we were going on a private plane.”

  Max brushed my hair out of the way. “This isn’t just any plane, babe. This is my parents’ private jet. I’m borrowing it for our London trip.”

  “What other toys do you have that you’re not telling me about?”

  Max gave me a sexy grin and twitched his brow. “Wait ‘til we get home. I have other toys I’d like to share with you.” Then he smacked my behind, nudging me up the stairs to the plane.

  “Ouch,” I giggled, and turned when I heard my name.

  “Jenna!” Becky was speed walking while Matthew lagged behind, holding their luggage.

  “Good morning, Max,” Becky greeted with a hug, and then squeezed through to get to me. “Jenna!” She was so loud. I thought she had lost her mind. “I want to congratulate the both of you.” Becky had tears in her eyes as she hugged me tightly. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Matthew must have told her. When she released me, I couldn’t help but tear up as I looked at her beautiful, content face. I hadn’t seen that look in a long time. Becky looked over her shoulder to spot Matthew, and then turned to Max. “Congratulations! You’ve just made the best decision of your life.”

  Max chuckled lightly. “That would be the second best decision. The first one would be that I never gave up on us. Now ladies, if you don’t get yourselves onto the plane, it will take off without us and we’ll be more than fashionably late to the London Fashion Show.”

  “Yes, sir,” Becky nodded, tugging me right along with her. I knew the reason. She wanted to see my ring, but as we climbed aboard, the beauty of the décor overrode that thought. From the finest technology to the comfortable, spacious leather seats, and all the amenities anyone could ever hope for, it was like a five star mini flying hotel.

  After we had our fill of the interior design, Becky pulled me towards the bathroom, while Max and Matthew were up front, getting drinks and breakfast trays ready for us.

  “Let me see, let me see” Becky squealed, holding my left hand. “Oh my!” she gasped, dropping her jaw. “That is one huge, beautiful, rock. It’s blinding my eyes,” she snorted. Her gaze shifted to my eyes sincerely as she held both of my hands. “I don’t know where to begin, my friend. I’m so happy for you. You deserve all the happiness, but this confirms that someday soon, you won’t be my roommate anymore. I’m going to miss you. I feel like you’re leaving me already.” She wiped the tears that flowed down her cheeks. “These are happy and sad tears. I can’t wait to share this with Nicole and Kate.”

  “Oh…Becky,” I sniffed as my lips quivered, and tears streamed down my face as well. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be a long engagement. Not only are you my best friend, but you’ve been like a sister to me from the moment you took me in. You made me laugh, you made me feel good about myself when I was lost, and you definitely picked me back up when I was down. You’ve helped me through rough times more than you’ll ever know. I’ll never leave you. How can I leave the one person who has meant the most in my life? You’re my sister forever, Becky. Don’t ever forget that!”

  Becky snatched me so fast I sucked in air. Hugging me tightly, I thought she was going to crush me. “I feel the same,” she bawled.

  “Then be my maid of honor,” I said.

  Becky pulled back, opening her eyes as wide as she could. “Hell, yes!” she shouted. “I better be the one.” Then her excitement settled. “It will be my honor. I humbly accept,” she said, as she made a feeble attempt at a curtsey. We both busted out laughing, causing the tears to flow even more.

  “Everything okay back there?” Max asked. “We need to take off.”

  Wiping away the evidence that we had been crying, Becky and I headed to our seats. Later, when we had the chance to talk again, we could exchange the details of our Valentine’s dates. I knew she was dying to know the details of how Max proposed. I couldn’t wait to tell her.

  We stayed at one of the most exclusive hotels in London. Certainly, no other one could compare with the views and luxury of The Lanesborough. The four of us shared a suite that was about 4,000 square feet. There were four bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen, and a dining room.

  The floor-to-ceiling windows gave sweeping views of Wellington Arch and Green Park. Not only did we have our own 24-hour butler service, but a complimentary chauffeured Rolls Royce Phantom, too.

  Besides the excitement of the hotel, the shopping and dining there was a dream come true for both Becky and I. Though we didn’t have a lot of time to shop around, she and I pitched in together to buy souvenirs for Nicole and Kate. It was a lot colder than in California, but Max had already warned us to bring thick coats.

  The London Fashion Show was beyond what I imagined it to be. Max looked relaxed, compared to our last show. Perhaps I had made him nervous back then. Thankfully, he sent others he trusted to represent Knight Magazine so we could relax and enjoy the show. As for Becky, being that it was her first time in London and at a show, she was elated, and could hardly contain her excitement.

  It was a short trip, but so amazing, we would never forget it. Having Matthew and Becky with us was an added bonus.

  “Did you tell your parents about the engagement?” Becky asked from the kitchen.

  “I did. They’re really excited about it, but they knew Max was going to propose. He had asked their permission behind my back.”

  “Max is such a gentleman.”

  “Yes, he is,” I agreed, recalling the night he proposed: the candles that were placed to spell out “Marry Me”, the romantic dinner, the sunset, the way he sang to me, and…Oh God, the whipped cream he ate off my body.

  “What are you doing?” Becky asked, looking over my shoulder, glancing at the calendar that displayed on my phone. I had forgotten I was looking at it before my thoughts shifted to Max.

  “I can’t remember my last period. I mean…I spotted, but it was very light. I think it was the stress of lawsuit and all.”

  The sofa cushion shifted when Becky plopped next to me. “You’re being safe, right?”

  It never changes; any mention of sex made my face flush. “Yes, Max always uses a condom.” I paused. “Well, except for a couple of times. Like on the stairs and….”

  “Stairs?” Becky’s eyes grew wide. “You wild thing, you.”

  I covered my eyes with my hands.

  “Nothing to be embarrassed about, Jenna. If Max only had sex with you on the bed, I would think he was boring. This is just more proof he’s smoking hot. Where else?” she snorted.

  Squinting my eyes and biting my bottom lip, I said, “On the kitchen counter.”

  “Wow, Jenna,” Becky said excitedly. “I never knew. Okay, you can stop there. I don’t even want to know anymore. I could bet next you’re going to say in his office, and that would b
e insane. But it’s his company after all.”

  When I gave her my innocent smile, she shook her head like she was scolding me playfully. “You dirty girl. I can’t believe what Max has turned you into.”

  “I know,” I giggled, then stopped laughing. “Seriously, I had been keeping track so I can go on the pill. I have an appointment this Friday.” I counted the days in my head, trying to figure out when I started to spot.

  Suddenly Becky rushed into her room, and then came out with a small box.

  “What is that?” I asked.

  “Come here,” she gestured, and handed the box to me. “It’s a pregnancy test.”

  “I’m not pregnant. There is no way that I am.” My voice was definite, with only a little hint of uncertainty. “Max never came inside me and I know there is a small chance he could’ve leaked, but I know when I ovulate.”

  “It doesn’t matter. A small chance is still a chance. Just take the test. At least then you won’t have to worry.”

  “I’m not worried. And why do you have this?”

  “Oh.” Becky’s cheeks turned pink. “I had a little scare a while back. I was late, I was on and off the pill. Probably not a good idea.”

  “Oh. Well, thanks.” It was all I could say as I walked away, closing the door of the bathroom behind me. After reading the instructions, I took one packet out, peeled the seal, and placed it under me as I peed on it.

  How much was enough? I had no idea. I drenched it, placed the cap over it, and set it on the sink. At that moment, a cold chill froze me in place. The thought of being pregnant never occurred to me. We were safe except…but I was sure I wasn’t ovulating.

  Oh God! What if I was? We’re not ready. I’m not ready. I knew Max didn’t want kids now. The thought of having his children…our children…exhilarated me, but what if I have a difficult time getting pregnant like my mom had? What if I can’t even have children? As all these thoughts rushed through my mind, I didn’t know if being pregnant was going to be good news or bad news.