Libby was already at my folk's place. By now, I expected she was probably asleep. I'd called three hours ago, to wish her sweet dreams. Tomorrow was our wedding day. I could still feel her in my arms as I'd kissed her goodbye…
"The dress was snug in the waist," she'd whispered. "I know it's still just a little too soon to test, but it seems like a good sign anyway."
We'd agreed to wait until we were on the island to take our first pregnancy test. I'd already gone out and bought more than a dozen. It seemed perfect, to confirm our baby's new life on a lovely tropical island. Plus, the longer we waited, the more accurate the result. And we'd be back from the honeymoon before her first OB visit.
"It's a great sign, Libby," I'd said smiling. Ever since we'd talked in the car, things had been easier between us. "Happy Wedding Day, tomorrow."
"Yes… Happy Wedding Day," she'd chuckled. "I'll be the one looking ironic in white."
The sky was dark and clear as I thought about everything Libby had brought into my life. She had a lightness, a spontaneity about her that felt like a refreshing breeze. She was warm and kind and beautiful. And even though we'd agreed not to complicate things with sex, my body still responded to her with a ferocity that left me aching with need. Shit, nobody ever said it was going to be easy, living with a woman I couldn't have…
I loved how she looked in the morning with her hair rumpled from her pillow. I loved how passionate she was about her art. She didn't know it yet, but I'd had the contents of her studio shipped to the island for our stay. I was aching now, remembering our hands, together on the clay. And everything else that night had led to…
I loved how her eyes glittered like jewels when she laughed. And how my parents had already fallen in love with her… She'd won them over, just by being herself. Lovely, pure, honest.
I locked my office and headed down the long corridor. I was long past time I should have been home, but without Libby waiting there, I hadn't been in any hurry.
My steps fell softly on the carpet as I passed office after office. Every one was closed and dark inside. I passed Spencer's door and reached for the elevator button. There was something familiar… something I knew, but couldn't place…
It wasn't until the elevator reached the parking garage that I made the connection. That scent… I'd caught the barest hint in the hallway…
It was imported from Paris. Unusual and expensive. Sans Coeur.
I should know…
It was Elaine's favorite.
22
Libby
It was Saturday. My wedding day…
I rubbed my eyes and turned over onto my stomach. I hadn't expected to sleep as well as I had. Down pillows and eighteen-hundred thread count sheets. Who knew?
A second after the knock, India opened the door and poked her head in. "Rise and shine, mother-to be." She had a breakfast tray in her hands.
"Shut up, and get that food over here. No spilling the beans prematurely."
She sat the tray down in front of me and for just a split second, I felt my stomach roll over. I took a sip of herbal tea and swallowed nervously.
"What…?" India leaned in for a closer look. "Is that a hint of green I'm seeing… like all around the gills?" She smiled a satisfied smile. "Screw the too early routine… You are, aren't you?"
I took a bite of toast, mostly to buy time.
"It worked, didn't it? And you and Jack are making me an aunty…" She took my hand with the toast in it. "I won't tell, I promise."
I swallowed hard. "It is still a few days too soon… But, I think so… yes…"
She whooped out loud and I clamped a hand over her mouth. "You can't say anything, India. You fucking promised me… And nothing's certain until I've taken the test." She watched me closely as I picked at my eggs and finally gave up.
"Test, my ass," she said, shrewdly. "That glow comes from only one of two things. Love, or a baby belly… And there's no hard rule it can't be both…"
I got out of bed, shoving the sheets back and leaving her to rescue the silver tray. "A minute ago, you said I looked green," I said irritably, "Make up your mind."
"Okay, okay… if you're going to be touchy…" She bit into a strip of my bacon. "But aren't you excited about it? You could have a perfect little baby growing inside you right now. And in a few more months, you'll even be showing." She drank my juice and wiped her lips. "And I want the blow-by-blow, Libby. The whole nine months. I want to know what it's like…"
She had a dreamy kind of expression. India was the kind of girl who always knew she'd have a big family of her own one day.
I smiled, gathering my robe before I headed into the bathroom. "If there's anything to tell, I will," I said indulgently. "And thanks. It's hard enough that Jack and I have to keep everything a secret from the rest of the family. I don't know what I'd do without you…"
She got up and came over to give my hand a squeeze. "You've got me, sweetie," she said. "And don't forget it." She gave me an odd look. "No doubts?"
"No… no doubts," I said with more confidence than I felt. "Jack Is a good man. He deserves to be happy…"
India opened her mouth, then closed it again.
"You're right," she said finally. "Everyone does…"
The next ten minutes I had in the shower were the last ones I had to myself. My stomach continued to churn, but it could so easily just be nerves. I was about to be married to a man I would be divorcing before the year was out. Not that it's all that unusual these days… It's just strange to be planning it before the actual I do's.
I soaped and rinsed quickly, but my hands lingered over my belly. It was funny, really… but with every day that passed I felt more and more attached to the tiny little life inside me. I could imagine her, with Jack's warm brown eyes and my dark curls… And I'd been having dreams at night. Of putting her into his arms for the first time… the look on his face. And Jack… putting her to my breast to suckle…
And then I'll walk away, I reminded myself sternly. It was so easy to let my imaginings run away with me. More and more often, I found I had to remind myself that our agreement would only be completely fulfilled when I packed my bags and returned to my own life… Images of Jack flashed through my mind…
Jack in the water, holding me in his arms…
Jack's face as he read to me by the fire…
Jack hands exploring my sculpture… then exploring me…
I shut off the water and toweled off harder than I needed to. It was that damn kiss on the stairs that had fanned the flames again. I wiped the steam off the mirror and saw my flushed cheeks and wild curls reflected back. I looked exactly the way I felt. Aroused and needy. Excited, and yet terrified. Confused, but rushing forward anyway…
But there was no more time to think. And no point in looking back.
There was a hairdresser waiting for me downstairs. And a wedding dress to squeeze into. The wedding wasn't going to wait any more than the baby I was carrying would. There was no time for the riot of emotions inside me to fall into place.
I tied the belt of my robe and stared at my own reflection.
"Mrs. Liberty Mason," I whispered.
Everyone was dressed and ready. India was sparkling in her silver gown. Jack's mother and father were fussing with boutonnieres for all his brothers. We'd gathered in the solarium. Everyone except for Ben. And Jack.
A string quartet was playing outside as the last few guests were being seated. Long liquid notes blew in on the cool breeze. Fletcher had opened the French doors and everyone was beginning to line up…
"You look perfect," India's voice was soft in my ear. "I never saw a more beautiful bride." She gave me a wink. "Courage," she whispered, as Fletcher came to offer his arm.
She handed me my bouquet. I took it, the tremor in my fingers setting the tender freesia blooms quivering. They were in white and gold, mixed with pink hydrangeas and tied with white satin ribbon. The scent rose up and I felt my stomach tighten.
"The only bri
de I ever saw who rivalled my Vivian," Fletcher said, taking my hand and placing it with comforting firmness on his arm. He kissed my cheek and I felt myself flushing. The rest of the wedding party was slowly working their way down the aisle. It was only the two of us left, and all of a sudden everything was happening too quickly.
"Fletcher… Dad… I… this isn't…" I stammered hopelessly, my nails grasping at his arm. For a moment I felt dizzy. It's the baby, I thought.
Fletcher laughed softly, patiently and patted my back kindly while I leaned on him. I could see so much of Jack in his face.
"Everything's going to be just fine," he said soothingly. "Deep, slow breaths, sweetheart. Take your time."
I looked out to where Jack's family and friends were waiting. It wasn't too big, still private… but I knew each and every person there was important. To Jack… to his family… I looked to the enormous rose covered arch where he stood with Ben at his side.
As if he could feel my eyes, he turned to me. The man who was about to marry me. The man who'd fathered the baby I was carrying… He was looking at me like I was the only woman in the world. And for a moment, just one little moment, I told myself… I would let myself believe… What harm could it do?
"It's time now." I heard Fletcher's voice in my ear. I turned from Jack's gaze to look up into his handsome, lined face. "Are you ready to make my son the happiest man in the world?"
23
Jack
It had been less than a day since I'd seen her last. And as I caught my first glance of her on Dad's arm, I knew it had been entirely too long.
The music played, the guests turned to watch her, Ben shifted at my side. But the whole world seemed to narrow until there was nothing left but her, and her brilliant green eyes. I couldn't look away. I held her gaze as she came closer and closer. When Dad put her hand in mine, I turned to look down at her… to take her all in.
Her hair was longer than the first day we'd met. It curled in dark, soft swirls that licked at her shoulders. Woven in were tiny white flowers as small as pearls. Mom's diamond earrings sparkled from her ears. I took both her hands in mine and held them tight. She smiled up at me, but I could see her nervousness… her concerns…
Without waiting for the reverend's cue, I leaned down and kissed her. Laughter and murmurs of approval filled the air around us, breaking the tension and making her beautiful face glow with pleasure.
I would kiss her again, minutes later, long and hard until we both broke apart, flushed and excited. But that was only after we'd promised to love, honor and cherish one another… And after I'd slipped the ring onto her finger.
I had had it custom made, just for her. Surrounded by tiny pearls, all set into gold, it was a huge oval emerald that perfectly matched the color of her lovely eyes.
"More sparkling cider?" I asked, as she settled into a big cream leather seat. She rolled her eyes and I laughed.
"Nobody told me the hardest part of being pregnant was not being able to drink."
India had been terrific, always at Libby's side with a glass of cider instead of champagne during the reception dinner. It was still going on now, and likely wouldn't end until close to morning. My folks throw a hell of a party.
But I'd stolen away my bride early with the excuse that our plane was waiting. The truth was, I was more than ready to have Libby all to myself. The flight had been perfectly smooth and we'd made excellent time. The yacht had been waiting on the only nearby island with a landing strip and the crew had transferred us and our luggage in record time. We'd be on the island before nightfall.
"You shouldn't have done this, you know…" She used her thumb to roll her ring from side to side. The facets caught the soft evening light and flashed. But the color within the stone seemed to glow with a life of its own. "A plain band would have done, like we agreed."
I took her hand, admiring it. "That's what I went into the store for, Libby." I smiled at her. "But I knew this one was yours when I saw it. It wasn't terribly expensive." There was no point in telling her the truth. I was afraid, if I did, she'd refuse to keep it after we went our separate ways… I looked out the window. "Look, that's it… there."
We watched, sitting close together as the outline of the island grew nearer. Some colors were starting to fade with the light. The blue water was darkening and pinpoints of light were starting to show near the main house. But the colors in the sky had just begun. Pinks and oranges. A flame of brilliant crimson…
We watched the sunset bloom, then fade from the boat deck, as the crew unloaded. Staff from the house took care of the rest. They were efficient, discreet. Exactly what I was paying them for. By the time Libby and I disembarked and the yacht disappeared, we might as well have been the only two people left on earth.
I'd arranged for dinner to be ready on the beach when we arrived. And it was. After all the formality of the wedding and the reception after, I'd known exactly what Libby would want. We'd changed out of our wedding clothes on the plane, into comfortable cotton beachwear. And our wedding supper on the sand was a picnic basket waiting on a big plaid blanket. I lit a few candles and watched my wife relax for the first time all day.
"How did you know?" she asked, digging into chicken sandwiches and a tropical fruit salad. I shrugged, pleased. "This is just so perfect, Jack. All of it. The island, this dinner… being alone with no one to keep pretending for…"
"I want you to be happy, sweetheart. As happy and relaxed as you can possibly be. It's good for you… good for the baby." I put my hand on her little belly and she looked up at me.
I'd been doing my damnedest all day to stay focused on the business at hand. A wedding for appearances, the welfare of the surrogate I'd hired to carry my baby. But seeing Libby in her white gown, coming down the aisle had been real. Very fucking real. And she was right here beside me in the sand, warm and soft and beautiful. My ring was on her finger and my son was in her belly. I'd already had more than a taste of her… enough to know I wanted so much more. And this was our wedding night, after all…
I used my fingers to wipe the breadcrumbs from her mouth. At first, it was nothing more than a reflex. It was so natural to do… But when I saw her tongue peek out… just to moisten her full bottom lip…
My body was already so fucking ready. And the hell of it was, it wasn't the only part of me that wanted her. I'd been working so hard to ignore it, but the fucking truth was that she'd gotten under my skin. I wanted to respect her feelings, that this was just business, albeit between partners with an obvious sexual attraction. As much as I wanted her, I couldn't risk everything blowing up in my face by taking advantage...
"Jack…," she started hesitantly. "I'm not a child… I know the baby is the only reason we're here right now…" She caught her bottom lip in her teeth, like she was unsure about going on.
"I signed the contract. And nothing's changed. I'm going through with our agreement… no matter what… just as we planned. I never go back on my promises, Jack. I want you to know that…"
She stood up, her bare feet on the white sand. I looked up the length of her body. The soft curve of her hips… the fullness of her breasts. I ached to reach out and touch her…
"It's just the baby, I'm sure. The hormones and all… But we started something we never finished, Jack. And what could it hurt, after all?" she said softly, reaching up to the buttons of her shirt.
"This is our wedding night…"
24
Libby
It was reckless, crazy and I just didn't care anymore. "I want you, Jack. And I think you…"
It was all I got out before he was on his feet, hard muscled arms around me. He kissed me until I was weak and breathless. Then he caught my face between his hands. "I want you so fucking much, sweetheart. But I don't want to hurt you." His breathing was as ragged as mine. Suddenly the thin cotton fabric between us was almost more than I could bear.
"You won't," I panted, my hands against his hard, sculpted chest. "Not me, not her… I'm either pr
egnant or I'm not. We'll know in a few days. But tonight won't change that either way…"
"Holding you again was all I've been able to think about…," he rasped out. ‘There were times I didn't even care…"
His mouth was on mine, his hands on my flesh. In a second, he'd stripped off his clothes and mine. Then I was in his arms, the water lapping up his legs, splashing my bare ass. He carried me into the warm, dark water until we were half submerged. The water licked at my breasts and barely covered the head of his rock-hard cock. The stars were the only light, and reflected off the surface of the water. I could feel him more than I could see him. He reached down and lifted me, curving my thighs around his waist.
‘I want you to have control," he said, the words coming hard through clenched teeth. "So I'm not too deep. Not too much for you…"
I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning my heavy breasts on his chest. I reached below the water and took him in my hands. "You are too much," I panted. "And I want you so fucking deep."
"God, sweetheart…"
He thrust and my body swallowed him. I wrapped my legs tight, pushing my pussy down his shaft, taking as much of him as I could have. He was long and thick, but I was greedy. "God, yes," I was so slick inside and the seawater made me nearly weightless. He held my ass, letting me move on him… letting me take my fill. Giving me everything he had…
"Fuck, baby… you're so fucking tight, so fucking perfect." He had one hand under my ass and the other was around my breast. He licked and finally sucked my nipple. In seconds, I was so close… the orgasm threatening to spill over. "So fucking delicious inside… I knew it…"
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