ESTELLE
My hand slid to the tattoo on his abs. His muscles contracted against my touch. I was sure there was a meaning behind every ink in his body.
“I thought ink looked cool on my skin. Most of them have no meaning except for the date. That was when we lost my brothers Wade and Gunner.”
“Do you always have to read my mind? I thought you were not Jedi.”
Amused, he looked down at me. We were both naked, just a sheet covering his good. “So you were thinking why I got tats?”
“Does it hurt?”
“It fucking hurt. Though they will give you topical anesthesia, try Irezumi or Batok.”
“Why do people enjoy pain?”
“Sometimes people endure physical pain to numb the pain inside. The one untreatable by pain medication.”
“I wanna get a tattoo.”
“Why?” He was quick to ask me.
“Just a small tattoo like a script.”
“No tattoo while you’re still pregnant.”
“Oh, I forgot.” I hid my smile.
“Come here, baby.”
I crawled to him, and he wrapped me in his arms.
“I won’t stop you from doing what you want as long as it won’t harm you. It doesn’t mean you’re married and can’t do anything anymore. Our marriage doesn’t and won’t stop you from reaching your goals. In fact, I am here, your partner, to support you, lift you up when you fall, push you, and guide you to where you want to go. Nothing’s changed. You just have a constant annoying, sometimes controlling companion, a man to go home to, and you can’t go out on a date with another man. You’re off-limits, sorry, not sorry.”
I cupped his face and kissed him. His lips parted, and our tongues touched, letting a moan slip from me. My hand explored his chest, down his abs.
While exploring himself, he lay on his back as a silent invitation. I straddled his hips and wrapped my hand around his length, positioning myself and rubbing his bulbous head into my wet entrance. Inch by inch, I sat slowly until he was all in.
I let out a shocked breath as I felt his thick cock inside me, stretching me.
My pulse galloped.
“Are you okay?” His voice was shaky. His face was red as he gripped my hips. He remained unmoving, and so did I as I tried to adjust to his girth.
“Yeah.” I put my palm on his chest and slowly lifted my ass up and down. Linden’s grip tightened, holding me in place. This time, he was the one punching his hips upward without mercy, slamming deep inside me.
Every time he went deep, his root nudged my clit, and I ground as I sought more, bringing me higher. I moaned, my fingers dug into his chest, and my head fell back as I got lost in the bliss.
“Touch your tits, baby. Roll those nipples for me.”
I did as he asked, rewarding me with a groan of satisfaction. My breasts became heavy during my pregnancy, but it didn’t stop me from getting lost in my pleasure. I sucked a huge breath. It stung at first, but then it turned to something more— it started with pain and ended in pleasure.
I could be a good girl in bed as long as I got orgasms in return. When his jam turned deeper, faster, and harder, I trembled.
My mouth parted.
My inner muscles contracted.
When he pressed his thumb against my clit, I flew higher, screaming his name.
***
I woke up to the soft kisses on my back. I tried to stretch my body, but I was sore everywhere. I was fully-fucked, and well-fed, and my needs were met. What else could I ask for?
When he began rubbing my shoulder, I moaned. The next thing I knew, he massaged me, and his hand felt like a touch of heaven.
“I can arrange a spa and massage for you.”
“No. Just do it.” I moaned again when he did with a little pressure against my lower back.
“If you keep that up, you will end up with a dick in your mouth.” I knew he wasn’t kidding, but I wouldn’t stop him.
“Such a dirty mouth. On my legs too.”
“Do you have massage oil?”
“No. You wore me out.” I turned and lay on my back.
He chuckled. “Now, who’s complaining when most of the time you teased me with that hand.”
“Does pregnancy make a woman horny?”
“I should look that up.” His hand went to my tummy. “Are you okay there, bud?”
I couldn’t help but giggle. “Maybe your bud is a sweetie.”
“My love will be the same. Hungry?”
“No, I’m fine.” I held his hand. “When are we gonna go back?”
“Miss your work already?”
“No. If only I could have a long month vacation, I would, but I get a maternity leave anyway.”
“I will meet someone tomorrow. Then I will take you to the mainland for shopping.”
“May I know who?”
When he suddenly looked away, my stomach churned with dread as I sat on the bed. “Baby, I thought you had already stopped pursuing a ghost.”
“That’s why I didn’t mention—”
“So, this is not just a honeymoon after all, huh? Again with the secrecy when it almost tore us apart. Great, Gabriel.” I huffed out.
“Baby.” He tried to hold my hand, but I pulled back. I dragged myself out of bed, grabbed my robe, and walked out of the room.
I knew he was following me, but I didn’t give a crap. Barefooted, I sprinted out of the house. I ended up walking on the beach. It was beautiful. The sun was about to set, but it was all faded to black as I thought my husband wouldn’t stop looking for a man who wouldn’t want to be found.
“Baby, please?”
“You, dickhead. I married you and came here with you because I cared for you and wanted to spend some time with you alone, but I was so stupid to believe that what you’ve been doing was for me.”
“Everything I did was for you. What I’m doing and will do will always be for us. I swear, Estelle.”
“Don’t swear. Why did you marry me when you’re not ready to let go? When you still have unfinished business?” I spat out, glaring at him.
“I’m doing this for us. You have to trust me. I want closure. I want to make sure I don’t have to look over my shoulder all the time. I want our family safe.”
“Bullshit.”
“How can I convince you that this is for our own good?”
“Tell me everything, Gabriel. You told me you don’t keep secrets from me. No more secrets, please.”
“Then we must sit down because this will be a long night.”
As a wife, I should be more considerate. I should be patient and a listener. I gave him a chance to explain what the hell was going on. We sat for an hour with my tea and a whiskey for him. I listened as he explained it to me from beginning to end until to the fact Moses told him about it.
I rose from the couch. “I need some air.”
He let me go. I went to the veranda, but my stomach was still knotted. I was afraid for my husband, friends, everyone, and child, and there was no guarantee of our safe future. At the same time, I was afraid of what was going to happen tomorrow as he would meet Jasper on the other island. I knew I just came into his life, and I didn’t know how deep his relationship with Jasper was until he was willing to risk his life for him.
I married a loyal man, trustworthy, a brave with integrity. I understood why he didn’t want to give up his friend, and I couldn’t let him choose between his family and Jasper because he was a family too.
I felt strong arms wrapping around me. “You have to be okay with me going to meet Jasper. I don’t wanna go knowing you’re mad at me.”
“I’m not mad. I’m terrified that maybe he didn’t come alone, and they will hurt you or Jasper.”
“It won’t come to that.”
I faced him. “You don’t know these people, including Hanslo, and Moses told you that they are worse than Siciliano. What if this is a trap? What if they won’t allow you to leave and kidnap you instead?”
“They won’t harm me.”
“That’s not enough, Gabriel.”
“I know, baby, but I promise you that I will come back to you.”
“Alive, I hope.” I looked up when my tear rolled down my face.
“Please, don’t cry.” He wiped my cheek.
“Why did I marry someone like you whose work is dangerous?”
“Because I’m awesome?” He kissed me on the lips, on my forehead, my nose.
“Stop. Stop. Don’t do that.” I pushed him on his chest.
“Do what?” He looked upset.
“You’re not kissing me like you’re going to a war.”
“I just want to kiss you.”
I wrapped my arms around his body instead and listened to his heartbeat. “You take care and try not to be a hero, okay?”
“I promise, baby.”
“You will come back to me once it’s done.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And I don’t wanna raise our baby alone, jackass.”
“We will raise our kid together, Estelle. That’s a promise.”
“Okay then.” I pulled away.
I knew he had something else to say when he kissed my hand where I wore his ring. “Tomorrow, before I go, you and Quinn will fly to Paris.”
“Why?” My eyes widened, tears rolling down my cheeks. No matter how I tried not to cry, I couldn’t hold my emotions anymore. “I will wait for you here until you come back.”
“No, baby.”
“Gabriel!”