How Long Is Forever?

by Erin M. Leaf

  “Yes, we are.” Charlie laughed. “So, which one do you want to do first?” He shifted his weight, lying down next to her on the bed. He lifted one of her curls and began to twist it around his finger.

  Eva rolled her eyes at the twinkle in his. He already knew what she wanted, the wretch. “I want to get married first, of course. Duh.”

  “Why am I not surprised.” He walked his fingers up her arm, eyes crinkling in the corners with his grin. “You have to take it easy for the next week, though the week after should be good.”

  Next week? What does that have to do with— Oh. Whoa. Wait a second. She tilted her head as her heart gave a happy thump against her ribcage. “You want to elope? In a week?” The idea thrilled her. She’d always dreaded the idea that she’d have to get married without her parents there to see her, and eloping sort of bypassed the entire huge planned wedding thing.

  “Technically, in two weeks, if that’s what you want,” Charlie told her, kissing the crook of her elbow.

  “Yes. Definitely.” Eva took his hand and threaded her fingers through his. “I want to. I want to go to Acadia.”

  Charlie sat up, clearly surprised. “You want to go to Maine? Not Hawaii or Vegas? We can go anywhere you want, sweetheart.”

  She shook her head. “Nope. I want to get married on top of a mountain.” And, too, she knew how much Charlie liked the outdoors. He’d love it. This way they’d both get their dream wedding.

  Charlie laughed. “That sounds amazing.”

  “It sure does,” she murmured, looking at her ring again. I’m never taking it off, she thought, tilting it so that it caught the light. Again.

  “We’ll give you some time to rest, and then, if the doctor says it’s okay, we can fly up to Maine,” Charlie said, grabbing his phone. “I’ll drag RJ with us, and you can ask your friend Kyra, so we have witnesses.” He tapped a few icons on his cell, bringing up a calendar.

  “Wait, fly? You can fly there?” Eva knew the closest airport to the national park was several hours away. How would flying help them?

  He shrugged, as if the logistical nightmare was nothing. “You can fly there if you know the right people. Private charters aren’t that difficult to arrange. They land in Bar Harbor. I just checked.” He set the phone back down. “I’ll text RJ tomorrow.”

  “Won’t that be expensive?” Eva had to ask. She knew Charlie wasn’t poor, but a private plane seemed, well, insane. How can he be so blasé about the expense of something like that? I sure can’t!

  Charlie looked at her for a moment, and then he grinned. “You have no idea how much money I have, do you?”

  Eva frowned. “I know you like your work, and you’re really successful, but building tiny houses doesn’t seem like the kind of business that would let you book a private plane on a whim.” She couldn’t even imagine having that kind of money. She’d never been truly poor, but she knew what it was like to have tight finances. The year after her stepfather died had been particularly rough. “You don’t have to do something that’s going to mess up your savings, Charlie. I’m perfectly happy driving up there.” And, too, she couldn’t afford to do something crazy and extravagant. She had another life to look after, now. She put a hand on her stomach.

  “There is no way I’m going to subject you to a ten-hour car trip when you’re feeling so crappy. You know that New England traffic is a nightmare.” Charlie shook his head, still smiling. “As for the money—it’s not an issue. I was a partner in a technology investment company. Many of the businesses we invested in went public. I made a lot of money.” His smile went crooked. “A lot of money. I’m rather wealthy, Eva.”

  Huh. He must have done all that while I was still a child, she thought, perplexed. All her teen and adult memories were of him building things with his hands. Eva chewed on her bottom lip. “Just how much do you mean by a lot of money?” she asked tentatively, almost afraid of the answer.

  Charlie inhaled slowly, then let it out again. His expression told her he wasn’t sure how she would react. “Eva, I’m worth at least five-hundred million,” he said quietly.

  Five-hundred million? Eva thought, shocked. Charlie nodded as she stared at him. The tips of her fingers tingled. I can’t even comprehend that number. He has enough money to buy a freaking island! “I can’t even—” she began, and then broke off. She had no idea what to say.

  Charlie lifted a shoulder, looking almost sheepish. “Give or take a few hundred million, that is. The market shifts my income up and down, depending on where I put my investments.”

  “I … what?” Eva put a hand to her throat, struggling to say something. “You’re rich?” Those words were somehow completely inadequate for what he’d just confessed.

  Charlie shook his head slowly, confusing her. “No, I’m not rich, but I will be, when you marry me. Material wealth isn’t what matters to me. Not anymore. Once you make enough to feed yourself and buy a few luxuries, making money becomes nothing more than a way of keeping score, and I hate living that way. It’s why I left the business. I’m not in this life to compete with a crowd of arrogant millionaires.” He gripped her hands. “You matter to me, Eva. This child matters.” He gestured to her belly.

  Eva felt tears well up again. “W-what?”

  “Eva, all the money in the world is meaningless when you have no one to share it with,” Charlie said quietly. “And I’m positive you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  Her breath caught. She did know. She’d lost her mother and her father. The past few years had been astonishingly difficult. “I’d give anything to have my mom and dad at our wedding.” Her voice caught as she spoke.

  “Oh, sweetheart.” Charlie pulled her into a hug. “Me too.” He stroked her hair. “I have to believe that they’re looking down on us, and happy for us. I fought my feelings for you for a long time, because I was worried I was taking advantage of your innocence.” Eva tried to protest, but he shook his head. “No, hear me out. It was hard for me to understand that it was my own fear that was holding me back.” He took a deep breath and leaned back. “Your mom and dad would be happy for us. I know it. In here.” He touched his chest with his fist.

  Eva touched her stomach. Somewhere inside her, a new life was growing. She was ready for a new family. “I want to name our baby after them, Charlie.”

  “Mary if it’s a girl, or Phil if it’s a boy,” Charlie said, smiling at her. “I’d like that, too.”

  Eva nodded, crying again. “I’m sorry I’m crying. Stupid pregnancy hormones.”

  “Oh, darling.” Charlie kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t apologize for having emotions.” He swept her up into his arms again. “Your heart is what I fell in love with. Never stifle it.” He leaned back. “I’m so thankful that our baby is going to have such an awesome mother. You’re everything I never even knew I wanted.”

  “Charlie, I love you.” Eva clutched at him, and he held her tightly, murmuring his love in her ear. She fell asleep in his arms. Safe. Happy.

  In love.

  Epilogue

  “Charlie, what on Earth?” Eva asked, arm outstretched to keep her balance. She blinked, not quite sure what was happening. They’d just arrived back at their hotel after a ridiculously romantic mountaintop marriage, and he’d surprised her by detouring her past the room where she thought they were staying. He’d tugged her down the hall of the swanky resort to another elevator. When they’d emerged at the top floor, he’d led her to a door at the end of the hall. When he’d opened it, she’d frozen: hundreds of flower petals formed a path from the door into a gorgeous suite with expansive views of the ocean. “Oh my God,” she said, almost hyperventilating. “What is this?”

  “What does it look like, darling wife?” Charlie asked, a smirk in his voice.

  Eva blinked. “It looks like a florist threw up in here.”

  He laughed, and then he swung her up into his arms. “It does, doesn’t it? I better save you from the petal vomit.”

  Eva shrieked
. “Charlie! Are you crazy?” She struggled, but he didn’t budge. The muscles in his arms bunched up hard and solid beneath her. “I’m too heavy for you. You’re going to screw up your back,” she said, just a tiny bit worried. Charlie was strong, sure, but she did not want him too injured to participate in what she hoped would be a fun ending to an already amazing day.

  Charlie just snorted. “You’re not even close to heavy, Eva. And this is our wedding day.” He strode into the suite, stirring up the rose petals as he walked. Their sweet scent brightened the air as he moved.

  Eva wanted to protest some more, but she also didn’t want him to drop her, so she held herself very still. Charlie pecked her noisily on the lips almost as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, the dratted man. She wrinkled her nose at him. He laughed, and then he nudged open a set of doors at the far end of the luxurious suite. The ocean crashed below them as he gently set her down on a cushioned chaise lounge. “Beautiful,” he said, looking at her. “You’re the perfect bride.”

  Eva blushed. She’d found a lovely pink sundress that had been surprisingly easy to hike in to wear to her mountaintop wedding. Her friend Kyra had surprised her at the end of the hike with a short veil that fastened into her hair with a jeweled comb. The weather had been perfect. A group of other hikers had cheered when they said their vows. All in all, it had been a perfect wedding. RJ had stood with Charlie, and the minister had been a local pastor who’d been delighted to perform the ceremony. Apparently, he was an avid outdoorsman, and had loved the idea of bringing his two favorite things together: ministry and hiking.

  “You’re too sweet, Charlie,” Eva said, smoothing her hands down her dress. The material was silky and light and weirdly comfortable. She felt like a princess. The material even hugged her curves in just the right way to flatter her best features and disguise her worst. She felt beautiful today.

  “No, you’re too sweet. I guess I’ll just have to eat you up,” Charlie said, sliding to his knees.

  “Oh God.” Eva blushed as he slid his hands up her thighs. Even after all they’d done together, whenever he went down on her, she still felt vaguely embarrassed.

  “You know the rules, honey,” he murmured, thumbs slipping beneath her panties to stroke her labia. “No shame in this. Unless you’re saying no?” He tilted his head at her.

  Oh, he’s teasing me, damn him. Eva swallowed. “I’m not saying no.” She would never say no to him.

  “Good.” He leaned in and inhaled. “Mmm. You smell so fucking good.”

  Eva flushed even hotter. “I’m all sweaty from hiking. I should wash.”

  “Don’t you dare.” Charlie sat back and grinned at her. “You smell delicious. I bet you taste even better.” He hooked his fingers under her panties and slid them down, taking off her shoes as he went. “So. Gorgeous.” He kissed the inside of her knees. “I love your thighs.” He cupped her, then slid his hands up to her ass. “I love that you have the perfect handful for me to savor.” He gripped her ass and yanked her down the mattress.

  Eva squeaked, but he was already between her legs, nosing along her slit.

  “Perfect,” he murmured, kissing her. His tongue darted out and teased her clit. “And so ready for me.” He settled in and focused all of his attention on her bud. “Look how wet you are already.”

  Eva writhed. Sometimes he teased her until she wanted to scream, and sometimes he got right down to it, like he was right now. Charlie always knew what he was doing. “Oh, God,” Eva panted, right at the edge of coming, even though he’d barely gotten started. What was it about him?

  “You want to come, don’t you, baby?” he said, stroking her open with his fingers. He slid one into her pussy, pushing up against her G-spot. “Mm, yeah,” he murmured, kissing her clit again.

  Eva arched her back. Pleasure sparked down her spine as his tongue magicked her into a climax. She almost didn’t know what was happening when he brought her over, but then he kept going, even after she began to come down from the pleasure. “Sensitive,” she gasped. “Wait a sec.”

  “Nope.” Charlie chuckled. “You’re going to give me another one.”

  Is he serious? Eva shook her head, legs trembling. “I don’t think I can so soon, Charlie.”

  He licked her anyway, circling her bud with his tongue. “You can. You will.” He sucked her clit into his mouth, then bit down.

  Eva cried out as her entire body tingled. It almost hurt, and then he did something with his fingers that had her pushing back at him, suddenly needing more.

  “I’ve got you,” he murmured, sliding his fingers up to her clit. He teased her until she wanted to scream, and then he abruptly stopped.

  “No, don’t stop,” Eva protested, but then he was back, naked this time. “Dammit, Charlie,” she said, gripping the comforter. He loomed over her, six foot four inches of pure male muscle, and she groaned softly. She wanted to run her fingers all over him, and then she wanted to dig in and never let go.

  “Off with that pretty dress,” he said, sliding it up and over her head. He paused, eyes glittering as he took in her lacy bra. “That’s a hell of a sight.”

  Eva bit her lip, hands automatically going to her belly to hide her roundness, but he pushed her away.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” he said, cupping her abdomen. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Eva. Don’t hide from me.” He slid his warm hands up and took off her bra. Her breasts, tender from pregnancy hormones, bounced free, bigger than ever. “Oh, Jesus,” Charlie murmured, fingers going to her nipples. “So damn juicy.” He leaned in and suckled one, then the other, until Eva was jerking beneath him, trying to get him to fuck her.

  “Please,” she said, hips wriggling. He felt huge and strong and hot as hell. He was the only man she’d ever known strong enough to handle her.

  “You want something?” he asked, eyes twinkling past his arousal.

  Eva scowled. “You know I do.”

  Charlie leaned down and kissed her. “Hang on to something, honey.”

  Eva licked her lips. He tasted like her, and if that wasn’t a hell of a turn-on, she didn’t know what was. She reached up and pressed her hands into his shoulders. “Please, Charlie. I need you so bad.”

  His smile slid away. “Oh, I’m going to fuck you, Eva. No worries,” he said, lifting her up so that her hips were no longer at the edge of the bed. “You’re going to feel me in your throat.”

  Eva’s breath hitched when he grabbed himself, stroking a few times. His cock stood out from his body, hard and wet at the tip. She wondered if she’d ever get tired of him, but then she shook her head. It’ll never happen.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  Eva nodded, trying to get him to come into her. She dug her heels into his ass, and he smirked, then put the tip of his erection at the entrance to her cunny. “So fucking hot,” he muttered.

  Eva moaned. He wasn’t sliding in. Instead, he used his cock to tease her clit, rubbing over the swollen bud until she thought she’d lose her mind. When his fingers slid back to her ass, then dipped into her forbidden hole, she groaned. How could he make something like that feel so good?

  “Oh, yeah. Someday I’m going to fuck you in here, and you’re going to go insane with how good it feels,” he murmured, sliding his finger in and out.

  Eva couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move. She needed more.

  He seemed to sense it. “Yeah, you look so fucking beautiful like that,” he said, rubbing her clit at the same time as he finger-fucked her ass. Just as she was about to crest, he stopped and pushed his cock inside, almost too big to fit. “Oh, fuck,” he said, shaking.

  Eva writhed as pleasure slammed into her. He’d brought her to the edge and left her hanging, and now his body ground into her clit in just the right way to send her flying. “God!” She threw back her head as he began to fuck her. Every grunt, every hard thrust sent her higher and higher, as though her orgasm was a living thing pressing through her body. She held onto to him with all of her strength, and
not only did he not seem to care, he didn’t even seem to notice.

  “Oh, fuck, Eva,” he said, thrusting faster. He put his hands on her shoulders to keep her in place. “Yeah, God. Fuck.” He hung his head down on her shoulder, and Eva orgasmed again as he slammed into her, hard and huge. His cock dragged along her sensitive pussy, still swollen with the orgasms he’d already given her.

  “Charlie, oh my God, what—” she tried to say, but then he surged into her hard, and she felt his shaft pulse inside her body. She shuddered as, astonishingly, one last climax swept through her. It went on and on, and then just when she thought she’d die if it didn’t end, Charlie collapsed on top of her, wringing the last shreds of pleasure out of her body. She clung to him with arms and legs wrapped around his strength. She never wanted to let go.

  If I wasn’t already pregnant, that would definitely have done it, she thought several long minutes later, and then she giggled aloud.

  Charlie smiled against her neck, then peeled himself off her and slid to the side. “What’s so funny?” he asked, kissing her shoulder.

  “I think you may have just gotten me pregnant again,” she said, still laughing.

  Charlie snorted, eyes twinkling. “You’re lucky I like big families, then.” He leaned up, smiling at her. His hair stuck out in all directions.

  Eva twined her hands through the strands, smoothing them down. “You’re my husband,” she said, still marveling over that fact. She never thought they’d get here. She’d resigned herself to a lifetime without him.

  “And you’re my wife. Forever and ever,” Charlie murmured, kissing her softly. “Darling Eva.”