JENNIE
Chicago O'Hare International Airport bustled around me, but I barely noticed. Waiting in line to pass through security, I must've looked like a lunatic reading my text messages with a huge smile plastered on my face. That was the power of Lisa Manoban, though. My wife could make me so sublimely happy in a crowd that my surroundings fell away.
Lisa's text messages came through every few seconds.
Lisa: About fifteen more minutes until you're back in my arms
Lisa: We landed ten minutes ago
Lisa: The fuck is the hold up
Lisa: I'm about to let myself off the plane
In the five years Lisa and I had been married, we'd visited almost every continent and had stayed in the finest hotels of Prague, Whistler, Shanghai. We'd roughed it on a three-day guided trek in Peru and camped at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But the one thing we hadn't ever done until now was spend two months apart. And we were both dying to put an end to that.
My phone rang, and as soon as I answered, Lisa said, "I'm finally off the goddamn plane. How far are you?"
I craned my neck to see around TSA. "I'm not through security yet."
"Christ. This has been the hardest two months of my life," she said. "Remind me why I took this assignment again."
"Because your team needed you there to oversee the planning stages," I said, shifting my carry-on to my other shoulder. "Your firm's first hotel in Asia is a major career achievement, and I'm so proud of you."
She grunted. "Then remind me why you couldn't come with me?"
"Not right now." A woman in uniform waved a finger at me. "It's almost my turn to put my stuff on the conveyor belt, and the TSA agent is giving me a dirty look. I don't think I'm supposed to be on the phone."
"Have you eaten?" Lisa asked.
"Not yet," I said and grabbed a bin to empty the pockets of my dandelion-yellow summer mini dress.
"Meet me at the McDonald's by our gate for McMuffins and coffee. Can't wait to kiss you, honeybee."
I ended the call with a wistful sigh. I had to be the sensible one in the relationship or Lisa would've turned down the biggest job of her career to stay close to me. She and her partners would be going back and forth to Dubai during the length of the project, but as the lead architect, Pierson/Greer had needed Lisa on-site in the beginning. Had I wanted to hop on a fifteen-hour flight to Dubai to visit her while she'd overseen her design of a new hotel in the Emirates? Yes. But I'd had my own commitment to uphold—a multi-city U.S. book tour to promote the release of my second novel.
After passing through security, I went to the McDonald's. Lisa hadn't arrived yet, so I used the restroom to freshen up. Lisa had worked it out that she'd fly in from Dubai to meet me at O'Hare so we could travel together to Los Cabos, Mexico.
Five years ago, my hyperactive best friend had gotten pregnant with Lisa's super-chill best friend. Though there was nothing simple about Rosé, she and Mingyu had forgone a large wedding event for a quiet, intimate one. And Rosé had never let us forget it. Ever since, she'd lamented that she hadn't gotten the destination wedding she'd always dreamed of, so now that their daughter was old enough, we were redoing it.
On my way out of the restroom, my phone rang.
"Where are you?" Lisa asked when I answered.
I dropped my bag on the ground and turned to look for her. "I'm here."
"At the McDonald's in terminal five?" he asked.
"Golden arches, crispy fries—" I glanced up at the Burger King sign and grimaced. "Oh, crap. I'm at Burger King."
"You're not far," she said. "Come to McDonald's by gate M12."
"All right," I said, hoisting my bag over my shoulder. "On my way."
As I ended the call, a flurry of blonde curls bounced toward me. "Jen!"
In fringed fuchsia heels and a flouncy cream-colored dress, rolling a Louis Vuitton suitcase, Rosé waved as she approached.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. "You're supposed to be in Mexico. I thought your flight left yesterday?"
"It was delayed due to high winds here," she said and frowned. "We had to go home and come back this morning, which is just going to make things more chaotic when we land."
I looked past her. "Where's Mingyu?"
"He took Emmalina to the bathroom," she said, linking her arm through mine. She rolled her luggage as we got in line at Burger King. "The airport is one of the only places I allow us greasy food, and Mingyu's dying for a milkshake. Want something?"
"Actually," I said, glancing at my phone as it chimed with another text from Lisa. "Lisa's waiting—"
"I'll order quick," she said, waving me off. "So who's taking care of Prince and Poppy?"
"Lisa's sister and nephew," I said. "Jihyo and Alex house-sat while Lisa was in Dubai and I was on the book tour, so I asked them to come back for a few days."
As another text came through, I went to check it, but a high-pitched squeal stopped me. Mingyu and their four-year-old daughter, Emmalina, walked toward us. Emmalina jumped up and down, pulling on her father's hand. "Aunt Jennie!"
Mingyu released her so she could run to meet me. With stick-straight, platinum blonde hair and electric-blue eyes, she was every inch Mingyu and Rosé's daughter. I set down my bag, picked her up, and squeezed her. "Are you excited to be a flower girl?"
She nodded hard. "I've been practicing. Did you bring Poppy?"
I laughed. "You know how big she is," I said of the ninety-pound German shepherd Lisa and I had adopted a year earlier to keep Prince company. Without fail, Emmalina always asked about Poppy, who she'd named after her favorite movie, Mary Poppins. "Poppy would need her own seat on the plane."
"Where've you been?" Rosé asked Mingyu as he reached us. "You guys went to the bathroom twenty minutes ago."
"Where have we been?" Mingyu repeated with a mischievous grin. He dropped a heavy looking duffel, slipped two boarding passes from his cargo pants, and showed them to Rosé.
She took one, furrowing her brows as she inspected it, then gasped. "An exit aisle?"
Mingyu nodded. "I told the flight attendant it was our wedding and that our previous flight had been pushed back and that we're traveling with a kid. She took pity on us."
Rosé threw her arms around Mingyu's neck. "Now we'll have more space."
As she littered kisses over his cheeks, I tried not to look sheepish about the fact that Lisa and I only ever flew first class and it made traveling a breeze. But my guilt quickly transformed to envy. Watching them canoodle, I just wanted to be back in Lisa's arms after too long apart.
My phone dinged with yet another text message. I readjusted Emmalina on my hip, but I couldn't reach into my pocket. "I should go check in at the gate," I said.
Rosé turned to me, her arms still around Mingyu's neck. "Let me guess. Lisa's getting grumpy?"
"You know it," I said.
"You guys have been married a few months longer than we have. Five years. And the woman's still obsessed with you," Rosé said. "How?"
I inclined my head with my eyebrows raised. "Lisa and I have been apart two whole months."
"It's because you don't have kids," she reasoned, ignoring me. "I'd kill for two months to myself." Rosé smacked a kiss on Mingyu's lips. "No offense, sweetie."
As Rosé stepped up to the food counter to order, Mingyu shrugged in his navy Henley. "I'm still obsessed with her," he said to me.
As was I with my wife, and my impatience to throw my arms around her was growing unbearable. I put Emmalina on her feet and pulled my phone from my pocket.
Lisa's texts continued to pile up.
Lisa: Where are you?
Lisa: Jennie.
Lisa: I'm looking at Find My Friends. Your dot isn't moving
Me: Ran into RM. She's getting burgers.
As Rosé waited for her food, she filled me in on the most up-to-date wedding details. Besides working full-time as a newly minted partner at her entertainment PR firm, and being a mom, she'd also planned her own wedding. Held at a luxury resort in San José del Cabo, she'd condensed all the festivities into one weekend to keep it affordable for her and Mingyu, and for their guests.
"I'm worried now that I've lost a day," she said, rubbing the inside corners of her eyes without disturbing her makeup. "We hired a private chef for tonight's rehearsal dinner, so I'll have to go straight to the dining room to make sure everything's in order. Then check out the wedding site and make sure they have everything they need, then quickly get ready."
"Sé," I said, "with you, there's no such thing as quickly getting ready."
"Especially not with a four-year-old attached to my hip, but I have to make it work," she said with a shrug. "I've never even seen the venue in person."
"You're getting married on the beach."
"I know, but do you know how many decisions I had to make about that alone? Then, we're moving into one of the ballrooms. I told the event coordinator I wanted the tables set up in a U-Shape, but when he responded to my e-mail, he said T-Shape. Banquet style would be better than a 'T'. Was it a typo, or will everything go to complete shit—"
"Let me handle it," I said, taking a deep breath and coaxing her to do the same. "I'll make sure the event coordinator knows you want U-Shape, whatever that means, and see if he needs any last-minute decisions from you. I'll also check in with the wait staff about dinner both nights."
"Really?" she asked. "Are you sure?"
"Yep." I had no plans for my weekend but be a good matron of honor and fuck my wife senseless. "Just let me know if anything else comes up."
She grasped my hand. "Thank you, Jen. I'm stressed, but I really just want to have a great time. This'll be my last hurrah for a while."
I cocked my head. "What do you mean?"
She glanced over to where Mingyu and Emmalina stood at the soda fountain machine. "When we get back from Mexico, I'm going off birth control."
My heart skipped with excitement. Rosé had confided that she and Mingyu one day wanted to try for another kid, but she hadn't taken any steps toward that. "You're ready to get pregnant again?" I asked.
A wide smile overtook her face. "I don't want to put too much time between Emmalina and a sibling."
"Congratulations," I said, hugging her, then drawing back. Emmalina had been a light in all our lives. "I'm thrilled, but Lisa will be over the moon. She loves being her honorary aunt."
"I can't believe how great she's been with her," Rosé said, shaking her head in awe. "Seriously. It means so much to us."
Finally, after another bathroom break, we headed toward our gate. As we approached, I searched the terminal for Lisa, but she wasn't there. As I got out my boarding pass to double-check the gate number, my phone rang.
"Jennie, I'm at Burger King," Lisa said. "Where the hell are you?"
I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh. "I'm at the gate. I told you I was on my way."
"Oh, for Christ's sake, it's a two-minute walk that took you fifteen," she said, her footsteps echoing on the line. "I was worried you'd fallen in the toilet."
I arched my eyebrow and turned in a circle to see if I could spot her. "And you came to rescue me?"
"Always. Don't move," she said with a sigh. "I'll be right there."
In a dark navy suit, the same dark-cognac-colored brogues she'd had for years, and an open-collared white dress shirt, Lisa appeared like a beautiful six-foot-four mirage—a glorious oasis after months without a drop of water. Her eyebrows hovered lower than usual, but I knew her irritation would vanish with one kiss.
As she laid eyes on me, her expression eased, but her shoulders remained tense. She'd lamented our physical distance since the moment she'd landed in Dubai months ago. Now, I knew she was dying to hold me. I was about to run to meet her, but Emmalina zoomed by me.
Though she and I were close, anytime Aunt Lisa was around, she'd barely leave her side.
"There's my girl," Lisa said, scooping her into her arms even though her eyes fixed on me. "I've been all over this damn airport looking for you guys."
I gave her a sympathetic smile as Emmalina asked her why she'd been gone so long, then proceeded to list all her flower girl duties.
"I'm going to put you down for a second, Emma," Lisa said. "So I can—"
"Emmalina," Rosé corrected her.
Lisa glared at Rosé, and I had to look at the ground to keep from bursting into laughter. Lisa was a hypocrite. Although she'd never once called me by Jen or any other iteration of Jennie, Lisa got irritated that Rosé wouldn't let anyone shorten her daughter's name. According to Rosé, Emmalina Ayers was the name of a movie star, and she intended to see that future through to the red carpet.
"Right. Emmalina." Lisa passed her to Mingyu and came toward me.
Mingyu covered Emmalina's eyes. "Remember there's a child present, mate," he warned moments before Lisa stooped to hug my waist and lift me so we were face to face.
Lisa's hand slid up into my hair as our lips met. "Mmm," she said into my mouth. "It's been too long. Phone sex doesn't cut it."
"If you'd let me send you nudes—"
"Not a risk I'm willing to take again. I still have the one you sent me in the dressing room years ago, but that'll have to get me by. Hacking is a real thing." Serious again, she lowered me to my feet and placed her knuckle under my chin. "How are you?"
"I'd say tired since I've been up since four, but I know you've been traveling for days. You must be exhausted."
"I'll manage. I slept on the plane." Her thumb brushed the corner of my mouth. "This was the only way I could get us on the same flight."
"I'm glad you did," I said. "I can't wait to have six peaceful hours with nothing to do but ogle you."
"Same," she said. "How's everything at the house?"
"Good." I placed my hands on her chest, and she covered the backs of them. "It was hard to be away from the dogs, only to come home and leave again, but fortunately, they love your sister." I grinned. "Alex is keeping them plenty exercised. I can't believe he's about to graduate high school."
"Me neither," Lisa said, turning to Emmalina as she latched onto her pantleg.
"Are we going to surf in Mexico, Aunt Lisa?" she asked, her eyes twinkling up at her.
Lisa ruffled her hair. "If you packed your wetsuit, then I'll see you in the water."
"She sure did," Mingyu said. "Thanks for finding a smaller break so she could tag along."
Lisa slapped Mingyu on the back. "Supposed to be a fun trip, not a surf retreat. I got her an instructor who'll put her in the white water while we hit the line-up."
"Right on," Mingyu said, taking Emmalina's hand and tugging her away.
Lisa pecked me on the mouth and lowered her voice so only I could hear. "And what did you pack, young lady?"
"I found a special delivery at the house from a secret admirer," I said, picturing the elaborate red bustier and panty set in my suitcase. "I can't wait to try it on for her."
Lisa wet her bottom lip. "Approximately seven hours until we're finally alone in our suite. I feel like I've been waiting a lifetime to be back inside you, so I hope you're ready for the utter destruction coming your way."
I laughed but shivered at a promise I knew she'd deliver. "Sorry, but it'll be more like eight-ish hours. I promised Rosé I'd handle some wedding stuff as soon as we land so she can check in with her family and guests."
Lisa heaved a sigh. "Of course."
"We might be able to squeeze in a quickie after that, but I'll need time to get ready for the rehearsal dinner at six-thirty. Then, Rosé wants the girls to go to the hotel bar for drinks—"
"That could go all night," Lisa said. "Are you trying to tell me I might not be able to fuck you for another,"—she checked her watch—"twelve to fourteen hours?"
"Well, we could always do it on the plane . . ." I said and giggled at her scowl.
Lisa and I had been on countless flights, and on every one, I'd tried to induct us into the mile-high club. And I always got some version of the response she'd given me the first time I'd suggested it.
"I'm not taking my wife in a disgusting airplane bathroom," I said along with her. I laughed, but she didn't find it funny.
On the plane, Lisa stowed our carry-ons overhead, and we settled into our first-class seats, her by the window and me in the aisle. A flight attendant stopped at our row. "Welcome, Ms. and Mrs. Manoban. I'm Elaine. Can I get you a drink before takeoff?"
Lisa and I looked at each other. "It's ten a.m. Are we drinking?" I asked her.
"Definitely." She nodded once at Elaine. "Champagne and orange juice for my wife," she said, "and I'll take a whiskey, neat."
As the remaining passengers boarded, Lisa and I sipped our drinks. In suede fringed heels, Rosé treated the aisle like a catwalk, flipping her blonde locks over one shoulder before stopping abruptly at our row. "You guys get pre-takeoff drinks?" she asked, incredulous.
Emmalina tugged her dress. "Mommy, keep walking."
"Here, have mine," I said and wrapped my napkin around the champagne glass to sneak it to Rosé.
"Thank you." Rosé held it up. "Cheers to what's possibly my last weekend of true freedom."
"You're holding up the plane, my love," Mingyu said, hauling all of their carry-ons.
Lisa snickered as they continued. "She treats him like a pack mule."
"Lisa, you always carry my bags, no matter how hard I protest," I pointed out and turned to watch them cram into three seats with Emmalina in the middle. "Maybe we should trade and let Sé and Mingyu sit up here," I said. "It is their weekend."
"Nah. I haven't flown coach since I was a kid, and I intend to keep it that way," Lisa said, slipping on her reading glasses. "Did you bring the Tribune?"
I handed her today's paper and settled in as we took off. By now, a flight with my wife shouldn't have been anything special. But in her custom suit, adjusting her glasses as she focused on the Business section, it reminded me of our first plane ride together. We'd been on our way home from Dallas, where Lisa had met my father for the first time. At her encouragement, I'd gotten out my laptop to give creative writing another try since I'd taken a class in college. Since my mother had always been the writer in our family, I'd never thought I could make a career of it. If not for Lisa, I wasn't sure I ever would've tried. Now, my second women's fiction novel had just released to positive reviews.
Lisa had been cheering me on ever since. We still argued, debated, and got under each other's skin, but that would never stop. After my first marriage, where I'd kept my ex at a safe emotional distance, I appreciated that sparks would always fly in some form between Lisa and me.
And then, there was our sex life. She had the sex drive of a teenager. And some days, mine ran even more rampant.
Two months apart had been pure torture, and Lisa wasn't the only one eager to get back to it. She'd never been desperate enough to do it on an airplane, but I knew my wife, and she had a breaking point.
Once we'd reached cruising altitude, the stewardess returned to replenish our drinks, and I asked her for a blanket.
Lisa glanced over at me. "Cold?"
"A little," I answered—a tiny, white lie.
She folded the newspaper, wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and pulled me to her side for a kiss. "I'm better than any blanket, baby."
"Mmm." I urged her mouth open and ran my tongue along her. "It isn't fair. I don't want to wait any longer."
"The other night, on the phone, I told you to touch yourself."
I nodded and slid off her glasses to put them in the seatback pocket. "I did, but you wouldn't let me come."
"And I know you wouldn't disobey me, would you, my good girl? You'll be rewarded soon."
I searched her chocolate-brown eyes, warm as honey. "Reward me now."
"Aren't you two sweet?" Elaine said, holding out the blanket. "You must be newlyweds."
As I unfolded the blanket, Lisa shook her head. "We've been married five beautiful years."
She touched her chest. "Color me shocked. The couples I see traveling together are either in the honeymoon phase or seconds from tearing each other's heads off. You're lucky."
As she returned to the front of the plane, I covered both our laps with the blanket. "Yes, we are," I said to Lisa and slipped my hand underneath to run it along her thigh.
"What are you up to?" she asked.
"I want to play." I touched her belt buckle. "You're frustrated. So am I."
She stopped my hand and lowered her voice. "You know there's no chance in hell we're getting frisky here."
Of course I knew that. Though I'd gotten Lisa to loosen up about public sex over the years, she still needed to be ninety-nine percent confident we wouldn't be seen. She was too private to fondle me while we had company, but I had hope that I could convince her to move things to the bathroom. I kissed her again. "I love you," I said.
With one arm still wrapped around my shoulders, she put her other hand to my cheek. "I love you."
"Come on," I said, feeling her through her pants. "Let's go in the lavatory. I missed you so much."
She released a small groan into my mouth. "You're not playing fair."
"It'll be sexy," I promised her.
"There's nothing sexy about a lavatory," she said, "and besides, people will definitely know what we're doing."
"So what?" I asked. "Passengers do it all the time. The flight staff expects it."
"I doubt that."
I curved my hand around her as she hardened under my palm. "You're a top customer—they won't bother us. And you heard what Elaine said. She thinks we're sweet. She was practically giving us the green light."
With a furrowed brow, Lisa looked toward the front of the plane. "It's risky."
"That's the point." I slipped my hand lower to her balls, knowing that would drive her crazy. "When was the last time we did something like this?"
"Pretty recently." Her Adam's apple bobbed as she swallowed. "New Year's Eve party."
I bit my lip remembering how she'd fucked me fast and hard in the coat closet of a private rooftop event while our friends had counted down to midnight. "And wasn't it fun?" I asked. "Nobody knew."
"That was different," she said. "They couldn't hear us over the countdown, and with all the commotion, they didn't even notice we were gone. Plus, that closet wasn't full of germs."
"So we'll keep our clothes on. Pull down your zipper, cover my mouth, and do it fast. It'll be hot."
"Goddamn," she said through gritted teeth. "When you talk like that, I could burst through my zipper."
"I can feel that." I smiled. "Please, baby. All day yesterday you were sending me risqué texts while reminding me to save my orgasm for you. I feel like I'm going to explode."
"Yeah?" she asked, pinching my chin between her thumb and forefinger. "If I do this, you'll be quick?"
"After five years, you know you can make me come as fast as you want," I said.
Her breathing sped—that was good. I was getting to her. "Fine," she said. "But we're in and out in five minutes."
"I'll go in first," I whispered and unbuckled my seatbelt and walked toward the bathroom. Elaine's back was to me as she readied the drink cart, so I snuck into the nearest stall. Inside, I checked my hair and makeup, then hiked up my dress around my hips and got myself started. I was wet by the time a soft knock came at the door.
"My wife is sick," Lisa said from outside the bathroom. "I just need to check on her."
I slid open the door. "Good cover," I whispered.
"Fuck me," she said, ducking inside. "There's no way the stewardess bought that."
I unzipped her pants, forgoing her belt. "She won't care as long as we're quick. Now, fuck me."
"How?" she asked.
The small space was barely big enough for me, let alone her. With my tall, broad-shouldered wife crammed into the bathroom, she already had my ass pinned to the sink.
I lifted my leg and hooked it around her hip. She took my chin in one hand and planted a hard kiss on my mouth as her other hand dove into my panties. "Christ, Jennie, you're already soaking. I'm going to have to pull down my pants or you'll leave a wet spot on my crotch."
"There's no time," I said and gasped as she slid a finger inside me. "No time for foreplay, either."
"Do not tell me how to make you come," she warned, and with the sternness in her tone, I knew things were about to get serious. One hand moved into my hair and made a fist against my scalp as she circled her other thumb over my clit. "I'm so fucking hard," she said. "I've waited months to—"
With a loud bang on the door, Lisa jumped back and knocked her head on the wall as I teetered, and nearly fell into her.
"Hello?" Elaine called. "Please open the door or I will, Ms. and Mrs. Manoban."
"Fuck," she hissed, her face reddening as she hurried to zip up her slacks. "She just called us out."
"One second," I said, pulling down my dress.
"Two people aren't allowed in one stall," she said. "If you're sick, I've got a barf bag."
Ugh. My libido took a nosedive with the word barf, but poor Lisa had an erection the size of a jetliner.
"I'm coming in," she said.
"What the hell?" Lisa quickly ran a hand through my hair to fix it. "How—"
"She probably has a key." I whipped opened the door.
Elaine took one look at my face and pursed her lips. "Please return to your seats at once. We don't allow this kind of behavior."
With her hands on my shoulders, Lisa grumbled and kept me in front of her as we walked back to our seats to stares from other passengers.
As soon as we'd buckled up, I turned to her, trying to be sincere, even though I knew she'd eventually find it as funny as I did. "I'm sorry."
She dropped her head in her hands and said under her breath, "We still have over four hours left of this flight, and I have a painful boner."
"I know, but—"
A giggle interrupted me as tiny footsteps rushed down the aisle. Emmalina jumped over me, reaching for Lisa. "Aunt Lisa, the—"
I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her onto my lap as Lisa froze in shock. "Aunt Lisa's not feeling well," I said, trying not to laugh. "Let's not climb on her."
Rosé appeared at my side as other first-class passengers started to look over. "Sorry," she said, placing her palm on her daughter's head. "She knows you guys are on the plane and won't sit still."
"I want to be up here with you," Emmalina said.
"Who doesn't?" Rosé joked. "It's so swanky in this part of the plane. And serene."
And Rosé had been going non-stop for a while. She'd continued to work after having Emmalina, and had even been made a partner at her PR firm. In terms of childcare, it helped that Mingyu had a flexible freelancing schedule as a photographer, but he still often left for weeks at a time on assignment. Though comfortable, they still lived in Mingyu's artist loft in the city and had to be somewhat careful with finances. Rosé had planned the wedding on her own with the resort to save money.
I glanced over at Lisa, who took one look at my face and shook her head. "Jennie, no."
I turned back to Rosé. "It's your big weekend. Why don't we switch seats with you and Mingyu? You can get some alone time." I tickled Emmalina's sides, and her laughter pealed through the cabin. "We'll hang out with this little monster."
"You'd sit in coach?" Rosé's eyes widened. She didn't give Lisa a chance to protest before she hurried off, calling, "Mingyu, get our things!"
I met Lisa's grumpy glare. "Oh, it won't kill you to be humbled a bit," I teased and lowered my voice. "Plus, everyone up here knows we just got busted trying to you-know-what. This way, you won't have to face them or Elaine again."
Lisa's expression cleared. "You make an excellent point."
As it turned out, even an exit row wasn't enough space for Lisa's long legs. After spending the remaining four hours in the air constantly trying to get comfortable, with Emmalina chattering in the middle seat between us, I suspected Lisa was looking forward to our alone time even more.
But when we arrived to find that the airline had lost Rosé's garment bag with her wedding dress, she threw a hysterical fit the entire car ride to the hotel that didn't help Lisa's mood.
"We'll find you a new dress," Mingyu assured her in the backseat as Lisa drove our rental car.
"I spent thousands on mine, and it fits me perfectly," Rosé said, clearly offended by the suggestion. "And I'm sorry, but I already had one shitty wedding where I was ten pounds overweight—"
"Your wedding wasn't shitty, and you were pregnant," I said, turning in the front seat just in time to catch Mingyu's frown. "It was a lovely day—it just wasn't the spectacle you wanted, which is why we're rectifying that now. You're going to look gorgeous no matter what you wear."
"My rehearsal dinner outfit was in there, too," she said as if she hadn't heard a word, then broke down with a fresh set of tears. "This is complete shit."
Emmalina hugged her waist. "Stop saying shit, Mommy."
That finally got a smile from Lisa, but she quickly returned to brooding.
At the hotel, Lisa unloaded our bags from the trunk as Mingyu and Emmalina went to check in.
"You can take my rehearsal dinner outfit," I said to Rosé. "I know you wanted to wear white, but I brought that flowy, silk, camel-colored Stella McCartney jumpsuit you love."
She folded a tissue in half and placed it under her wet, mascara-heavy lashes to expertly dry them. "Are you sure?" she asked. "Do you have a backup outfit?"
"Of course," I said. "I don't know what we'll do about the wedding dress, but at least that'll cover tonight."
Lisa snuck a glance at Rosé's eyes, now red and puffy, as she rolled Emmalina's Disney-themed suitcase toward her. "Do they have shops in the hotel?" she asked.
"Yes." Rosé sniffled. "But not wedding dresses, and what they do have will be hideous and overpriced."
"What choice do you have?" Lisa asked. "If you find something, put it on our bill. Just don't tell Mingyu, or he won't accept it."
"Thank you." Rosé clasped her hands over her heart and lifted her gaze to Lisa. "That means a lot. By the way, I made friends with Elaine, the stewardess in first class, and she told me what you guys did. You're sick."
I laughed, then rose onto the balls of my feet to peck Lisa on the cheek for her generosity, and because her face was turning red.
She shook her head and took our bags up to the room.
After spending extra time at customer service dealing with the airline's luggage snafu, I had to go directly to the concierge to make sure all the guests had made it. Next, I spoke to the private chef and restaurant staff to ensure they were prepared for tonight's rehearsal dinner, and the actual ceremony the following night.
Once I'd taken as much off Rosé's plate as possible, I headed up to our suite. The rehearsal dinner started in an hour and fifteen minutes, and I still needed to transform from plane wench to dutiful matron of honor. But I could sense that each minute Lisa and I spent together without physical intimacy was wearing on each of us. I figured if I could pass off damp hair as "beach waves," that would save time I could use to fool around with Lisa in the shower.
I slipped my keycard into the slot, entered the suite, and started stripping down in the foyer. "Get naked and meet me in the shower STAT, you sexy piece of ass," I called, walking into the bedroom. "We have twenty minutes max to screw—"
I slapped my hand over my mouth when I found Lisa on the hotel room phone. "It's Rosé," she said to me. "And she's convinced you're a nympho."
"She would be, too, after eight weeks, six days, and twelve hours without sex!"
She grinned at me. "The airline found her garment bag."
"Oh, thank God," I said, walking in to sit my naked ass on the bed. "Are they bringing it?"
"They can't until later tonight."
I grimaced. If I knew Rosé, she was already in the hair-and-makeup portion of getting ready for the rehearsal dinner, and it would make her night if she could wear the ivory lace dress she'd bought just for tonight. Plus, it would relieve stress from everyone once she had her wedding dress in hand.
I went to Lisa, and her eyes scanned down my naked torso to my bare feet, then back up to my breasts.
"Honey?" I said.
She blinked and reached for me. "Yeah."
I snuggled up to her fine Italian wool suit and looked up at her. "Maybe you could run back to the airport and grab her stuff?"
She covered the speaker. "That's a forty-minute drive each way. I'll barely make it."
"I'm giving you an excuse to drive fast." Lisa loved fast cars, and for her birthday, I'd gifted her a day at a racetrack. Now, she went a few times a year. "I know you can make the trip in an hour. We'll wait for you."
"I'm not the damn groom."
"You're the best woman. And the damn groom has his hands full. Imagine trying to plan a wedding, squeeze it into a single weekend, then pull it off with Emmalina underfoot?"
Lisa searched my eyes. I knew what she was thinking, because my mind was on the same track. This meant no sex until late, post-drinks, whenever Rosé decided to call it a night. I pouted. "Please?"
She caught my bottom lip between her teeth and tugged before giving me a quick peck. "How can I resist that?" She took her hand off the receiver and spoke into it. "I'll run to the airport now and grab your dresses, Rosé. Happy to."
She squealed on the other end of the line right before Lisa hung up.
"I just want an uninterrupted weekend with you," she said with an exaggerated exhale. "Is that so much to ask?"
"Considering we're all here this weekend for a wedding in which you and I are both in the bridal party . . . yes, it's asking a lot."
"I'd take an hour, then," she said.
I tilted my head and teased, "What would you do with one hour?"
"First I'd eat your pussy—just to warm you up." She nodded past me, toward the other side of the suite. "Then, we'd move outside. You haven't even seen this place. It has a terrace with whirlpool. I'll fuck you so hard out there, the whole beach'll know about it. After that, a cold beer on the balcony to look out over the water while you tell me all about your book tour."
Heaven. Lisa hadn't been lying when she'd told me she did vacation right. She spared no detail, no expense. "You and I spoke every night we were apart, usually via video," I pointed out. "There's nothing you don't already know about the tour."
"Yeah." She squinted out toward the water. "But it's not the same. I miss just being in your presence, talking with you like this."
My heart swelled with love. Good intentions usually sat at the heart of Lisa's moodiness. "And I miss having your mouth between my legs."
She snorted. "You and me both. I'm a hungry human."
"You're going to be a dead human if you don't get Rosé's dress here on time."
She half-rolled her eyes and released me. "Right."
"Sorry, baby." I grinned. "But I really appreciate everything you're doing, and I promise to show you how much as soon as we're alone tonight."
Once Lisa left for the airport, I finished getting ready and went to Rosé's room. Lisa returned with her dresses a few minutes after the rehearsal was supposed to start, so I helped her change quickly. From that point on, Lisa and I each got busy with our respective wedding party duties as well as helping out with Emmalina. After the rehearsal dinner, the ladies—Rosé, her friends, the women in her family, and myself—went to the bar for drinks while Mingyu took Emmalina upstairs. The groomsmen, Lisa included, had scheduled an early morning surf session while we planned to sleep off our hangovers.
Because I knew Lisa had a six a.m. shuttle to catch with the rest of the surfers, I decided not to wake her when I returned to our room after midnight despite being drunk and aroused.
I stripped off my dress, changed into Lisa's t-shirt and boxers, and fell into bed without bothering to remove my makeup or brush my teeth. The room spun slightly as I closed my eyes.
After a few moments, Lisa rolled over. "You're home."
I lifted my head. "You're awake."
"You're drunk."
"Tequila." I bit my lip and snuggled up next to her. "Since you're awake, we can have the wild drunk sex."
"It's only wild when we're both sloppy drunk."
I frowned as I tried to focus on her face. "You don't want to do it?"
She ran a hand through my hair. "I'm afraid if I wanted it any more, I'd come off as desperate."
"Good," I murmured. I laid my head on her chest and closed my eyes with her ministrations. My smile turned into a yawn. "So get on top and put it in me, cowboy."
Her chest vibrated with a chuckle. "All right, honeybee. Get ready for the ride of a lifetime."
The next time I opened my eyes, light streamed into the room. I sat up in an empty bed, still dressed in Lisa's boxers—and the t-shirt I was pretty sure she'd packed for surfing today. Whoops.
I showered, changed, and packed a few things for getting ready in Rosé's bridal suite. But first, I met her and her mom for brunch. We'd almost finished eating when Lisa, Mingyu, Rosé's brother, and the other groomsmen returned from surfing, Emmalina in tow.
She ran over to Rosé. "I surfed all morning," she exclaimed.
"I hope Daddy put lots of sunscreen on you," Rosé said, fixing her daughter's salty, straw-like hair.
"Skincare is paramount. Don't you think I know that by now?" Mingyu asked on his way to the table.
"I've taught you well," Rosé said as she stood.
Mingyu engulfed her in a hug and smiled. "Happy wedding day, my blushing bride."
"Thank you for taking Emmalina," she said. "It's nice to spend time with my mom."
"Of course." He winked at his daughter. "Her instructor said she was a rock star out there today."
Lisa's hands landed on my shoulders, and she leaned into my ear. "How're you feeling this morning, tequila?"
I turned my head to her as she massaged me. "A little silly for falling asleep on you."
"I knew you'd pass out. Drunk sex only works when we're both there."
"Like tonight?"
"Having had my hopes dashed over and over this weekend, I won't hold my breath." She kissed my temple. "Fortunately, I'm happy just to have you back in my arms. But one request—save your stubborn, bad-tempered wife a dance at the wedding?"
"All my dances are yours," I said with a smile.
In Rosé's bridal suite, we took turns getting our hair and makeup done by local stylists. I'd been allowed to choose my own dress, so long as it was black and sleeveless to match the other bridesmaids. I'd found a gown-length, halter-neck style that showed off my shoulders. My hair had been swept back to display diamond earrings that dripped from my earlobes—a first anniversary gift from Lisa. And underneath it all, my new, red, lacy lingerie reminded me of Lisa—and her plans for me—with my every movement.
Rosé sparkled in a fitted bodice that pushed up her cleavage, and half-up, half-down curled hair topped by a glittering tiara only she could pull off. She held Emmalina's hand as we made our way to the beach for the ceremony.
"Yesterday was rough, but it all came together," I said to her. "How are you feeling?"
"Really good." She smiled softly. "Mingyu could see that I was stressing, so he sat me down last night. Said no matter what, today would be the fourth best day of his life."
"Fourth?" I asked, trying to think up what the first three could be. "I'm assuming your first wedding and Emmalina's birth are one and two."
"The night you introduced us is in his top three," she said. "Mingyu's happy to go through all this for me, but the first wedding was more his style. He's partial to our quieter moments."
"He's so good to you."
"Yeah, but then he asked if I'd walk down the aisle au naturel today—no elaborate hair or makeup—and I nearly divorced him on the spot."
"I appreciate that he loves you the way you are," I said, "but what the hell is he thinking?"
"My response was a little less PG." She laughed. "But I promised to let my hair down on the dancefloor."
As we approached, I fluffed the train of her bridal gown, excited to watch Mingyu's face light up when he saw her.
In front of the resort, overlooking the Sea of Cortez, wicker-fabric chairs flanked both sides of a walkway sturdy enough for high heels. It ended with a trellis strung with colorful flowers and leafy garland. A mix of mini palm trees and lanterns had been arranged throughout, and gauzy white fabric wafted with each breeze. I hadn't seen Lisa since brunch, but she appeared on the sand moments before it was time for the bridal party to head down the aisle in pairs. With the sea at her back, and in a jet-black tuxedo to match her inky hair, Lisa still took my breath away, even after all these years—just like when I'd first met her gaze.
Her crow's feet deepened around her eyes as she held out her elbow for me. "You're the most beautiful woman here, Mrs. Manoban."
I linked my arm with her and nudged her side as we waited for our turn in the procession. "Don't let Rosé hear you say that."
"Please. She knows I think you're the most beautiful woman in any room."
I couldn't help my smile as she escorted me toward the trellis where the officiant stood.
We parted to stand on separate sides, and Emmalina quickly followed us, twirling and tossing pink and white rose petals all over the place. At the end of the aisle, she dropped her basket, hugged my legs, and burrowed into my dress, suddenly shy.
Rosé floated down the aisle on her dad's arm. Mingyu clenched his jaw, clearly stemming back tears as his eyes, blue as the sea, fixed on his bride. When she reached him, he kissed the back of one of her hands, and she held out the other for Emmalina, who ran to her mother's side and stayed there throughout the vows.
Spirits soared as we applauded the union, then moved to a terrace for cocktails while the twice-married couple and their little girl posed for pictures.
Later, Emmalina sat with Lisa and me while Rosé and Mingyu worked the room. Lisa patiently unfolded a napkin over her party dress, cut up her chicken nuggets, then went in search of apple juice because she wouldn't drink anything else.
I watched all this with a sense of calm. Yet, every year or so, at my urging, Lisa and I revisited the topic of having children. I wanted to make sure she was still on board with the life we'd chosen. And if she wasn't? I didn't know what we'd do, only that we'd find a way to make our marriage work regardless. It'd taken me a while to feel secure in what we had, but now I knew—nothing in the world could come between us.
While Lisa had her hands full with Emmalina, I mingled with Rosé's family and even accepted a dance with Jonathan, Rosé's brother and one of my oldest friends.
"Lisa's glaring at me once again," Jonathan said as we slow-danced.
I laughed. I didn't need to look to know Lisa was doing a poor job of hiding her jealousy. "I have no doubt."
"Where's Jisoo this weekend?" Jonathan asked.
"Sé didn't tell you?" I asked. "Apparently, she's, like, eight months pregnant."
"Ah. Yeah. Good call to stay home," he said. "This is her third, right?"
I nodded. "That's what I've heard."
"You two still don't speak?"
It'd been ages since my last e-mail exchange with Jisoo, my college best friend and roommate. Now and then, Lisa and I saw her and her husband, Bohyun, at events, especially considering she and Rosé remained friends. But we'd never progressed beyond formalities. At this point, I doubted we ever would. "She has a different life now," I said. Rosé filled me in and had even told me—news she got from Jisoo—that Taehyung had remarried. "We've all changed," I said. "And that's okay."
Jonathan looked over my shoulder, and nodded. I turned my head to where Lisa spun Emmalina on the dancefloor.
"Now it's my turn to be jealous," I joked. "You should go dance with your niece, Jon. Do that thing where she stands on your feet."
He smiled. "Good call."
After a quick hug, he crossed the space to tap Lisa on the shoulder and cut in.
My wife stepped back, put her hands in her pockets, and settled her gaze on me. After a crackling moment, which often happened when our gazes met across crowded spaces, she prowled in my direction. "I was just about to head to the bar and order myself a whiskey," she said, taking me in her arms. "Until a heavenly creature amongst the masses caught my eye."
I let her spin and dip me. Bent backward over her arm, I licked my lips. "Heavenly creatures don't kiss the way we do."
She pressed her mouth to mine for a quick, charged, juicy kiss, then righted my body. "You'd think Rosé's brother would know by now to keep his paws to himself," Lisa grumbled as we danced.
I laughed lightly. "I honestly think he likes getting under your skin."
Emmalina giggled uncontrollably as Jonathan exaggeratedly danced with her standing on his dress shoes.
"It's funny how much she resembles Mingyu and Rosé," Lisa said. "Not just physically, but personality-wise, too."
"She's definitely going to be a handful, just like Rosé." I wondered if Lisa was considering her own lineage in that moment. She didn't have a child to carry on her name, but at least Jihyo's son, Alex, had kept the Manoban name.
After a few moments of silence, I snuggled closer to her. "Lisa?"
Her chest vibrated with her response. "I know what you're going to ask me."
With my cheek on her chest, I looked up. "You do?"
"I know you, Jennie." Keeping my hand interlocked with her, she brushed her thumb along my cheekbone. "I've never been happier, and I want for nothing."
"I know." I smiled a little. "But I have an appointment coming up to replace my IUD, and I just turned a year older again. I just like to make sure, you know . . . before it's too late."
"It's never too late, is it?" she asked. "If we change our minds and pregnancy isn't an option, we can always adopt or foster. But my mind hasn't changed—I want to be with you above all else. And I know you've never second-guessed your decision."
I shook my head. "I love our life the way it is. Prince and Poppy are my babies. Plus, I feel incredibly connected to the children in our lives."
"I never thought I could feel so maternal toward someone else's kid," she said, squeezing my hand. "Alex is family, and since he doesn't have a father figure, we fill those roles for each other. Being able to work on college apps with him this past year, and to send him to the school of his choice because of the college fund I set up when he was born . . . it feels really fucking good."
"You've made a huge difference in his life," I said. "And I know he thinks the world of you. As does Emmalina."
Lisa spun us around. "I don't think I'd feel more like an aunt to Emma if we were related by blood."
I knew what she meant because surprisingly—I shared that sentiment. Even though I'd never pictured myself as a mother, I got a great deal out of my relationships with both kids and saw myself as someone they could come to for anything. "Then I think you'll be thrilled to hear that Rosé and Mingyu are trying for a second."
Lisa's eyes lit up. "No shit."
"Yes shit." I winked. "Honey, you're going to be an aunt. Again."
"Can't wait. But you know what's also nice about spending time with a kid who isn't yours?" she asked and nodded across the room. Emmalina had enlisted one of her cousins, and now they were both stomping on Jonathan's feet. "You can return them at the end of the night. And get some much-needed privacy."
I laughed a little, but my insides coiled at the thought of finally being alone with Lisa. I glanced around. Rosé and Mingyu danced, looking at each other as if the rest of the world didn't exist. Emmalina didn't need us. Nobody cared where we were in that moment.
"They'll be cutting the cake in about a half hour," I said. "Then, the party will really get going. I think this is our window."
"Our window . . .?" Lisa's brows shot up as realization crossed her face. "Don't tease me, Jennie."
"I'm not." I put my arms around her neck and pulled her lips to mine. "Just think. In less than five minutes, you could be inside me."
She nearly growled into my mouth. "If you're kidding, call me off now. Before it's too late."
"I'm not kidding."
Lisa pulled me off the dancefloor by my hand. We hurried through the tables before anyone noticed us and were across the lobby within seconds. She grabbed the room key out of her jacket pocket as I struggled to keep up with her long strides. After a moment, she turned back and lifted me into her arms.
I laughed as we boarded the elevator. "Are you going to carry me over the threshold like a new bride?"
"If that's what it takes."
We rode up to our floor, and Lisa walked off the elevator with me in her arms. She set me on my feet to get the door open. As soon as we stepped inside, I dropped my clutch, and Lisa backed me up against a wall. She took my chin, tilting my head back to keep my eyes on her.
"Don't forget, we have to go back downstairs after this," I told her. "Don't rip any clothing, and don't mess up my hair."
"Ah." She gathered up my dress to my waist and reached underneath. My lace thong shredded with a rip. "Tell me what to do again," she dared me.
My gentleman, in her perfect tuxedo, had the eyes of an impatient, horny caveman. My breathing hitched knowing this time, nothing would stop her from getting what she wanted. "I'm serious about my hair."
She chuckled deep and soft, but then her expression hardened. "Legs," she said. "Spread them."
With my back pinned against the wall, I widened my stance.
Lisa took my wrists and pinned them over my head. She pecked my cheek, the corner of my mouth, then sucked a spot on my neck that sent ribbons of pleasure down my stomach. She had to stoop to keep going, and her roughened palms slid down the sensitive inner skin of my wrists, forearms, biceps. I quivered as her hands moved down my sides. Through the fabric of my dress, she took one of my nipples between her teeth, then kissed my stomach. Once on her knees, she dipped her head under my dress. Letting it fall around her, she sank her mouth onto my bare pussy.
"Oh, God." I sucked in a breath as she flattened her tongue on my clit, then thrust two fingers inside me. My limbs tautened, trembling from months of waiting for this. "Keep doing that, and I'll come already."
"Good," she said against me.
Lisa sucked, thrust, and rubbed until the beginning waves of my orgasm roiled through me. With nothing to hold on to, my knees buckled. I yanked up my dress and grasped her hair, a familiar home for my hands. Touching my wife while she gorged on me, nearly suffocating herself, connected me to her.
When my climax was seconds away, I begged for more. "Fuck me, Lisa," I said.
"Not yet," she said.
I writhed against the wall as she coaxed my orgasm to its crest. She moaned when I pulled her silky strands as I came, and my limbs went limp.
Lisa unbuckled my strappy stilettos and slipped them off, then put me over her shoulder and carried me into the suite. "You want to know one of my favorite things in the world?" she asked and tossed me onto the mattress.
I splayed out for her, barely able to form a sentence in my post-orgasmic haze. "Having me for dessert?"
One corner of her mouth quirked. "Besides that." She grabbed the undersides of my knees and slid me to the edge of the bed so my dress rode up around my waist. "I love when I'm eating you out, and you hold my head. Grab my hair. Dig your fingers into my scalp as if you can't take it another moment."
"I can't take it," I said.
"And yet you always do." She slid two fingertips over my sensitive clit, and I jerked. My phone chimed from my purse in the entryway, and Lisa groaned. "How much time do we have?"
"Minutes," I said.
"Minutes," she repeated and snorted. "And I've waited months. I want to savor you. Give it to you rough, then take my time putting my lips on every inch of your skin. I want to fuck your mouth and watch you swallow me."
"I know, baby." I dug my heels into the backs of her thighs and pulled her to me. "We can do all of that and more when we get back, but right now, I need you to give me what we've both been waiting for."
She fell over me, propping herself up with outstretched arms on both sides of my head. "And what's that?"
"Fuck me like you haven't seen me in months and you only have a few minutes to get off."
She set her jaw in sexy determination. Keeping herself over me with one arm, she used her other hand to open her fly. Without lowering her pants, she pulled out her remarkable cock. I lifted my hips and watched as she lined herself up against me. "Hey," she said, calling my eyes to her. "Love you, Jennie."
"Love you, Lisa."
With one hard thrust, she sank herself in to the hilt. I gasped, my eyes falling shut to savor the feeling of being filled by Lisa. I would never not love that first, naked plunge, but tonight, it was especially good.
Lisa drew back, drove into me again, and didn't stop. I opened my eyes knowing she'd demand it of me if I didn't. I grabbed the nape of her neck as she fucked me mercilessly. She urged my knees up around her neck, leaned on my thighs, and drove into me so fast that her balls slapped my ass.
"Since we're in a hurry, and I've been on edge for longer than I care to admit, I'm not going to wait," she said.
"Don't wait," I said on a breath. "I get so turned on when you fill me up."
She leaned on me with more pressure, angling to hit a spot that always got me to a second orgasm. "That's it, Jennie," she said as I whimpered. "I want your legs shaking the rest of the night."
"Come with me," I begged.
She released my legs, leaned in, and caught my mouth for a punishing kiss. Her thrusts somehow deepened, growing shorter and harder. "I'm there," she said, pulling back. "God. Fuck."
I held her gaze and let go as a shorter, more intense orgasm washed over me. Lisa fisted the bedsheets and shuddered, watching my face as she erupted, filling me with her heat.
She collapsed onto me, sweat slickening her cheek against mine. I gave her a few moments to catch her breath, then pushed her onto her back. "All right, big guy," I said as my phone dinged again. "Rosé's probably on to us."
I stood from the bed and righted my dress. Lisa sat up, grasped my waist, and pulled me back to her. She buried her head in my stomach. "Don't put on new underwear," she said. "I want to know I could bend you over anywhere, at any point tonight."
"Those were the panties you just bought me," I said. "You go through lingerie like it grows on trees."
She grinned up at me. "Why do you think I work so hard for my money?"
I bent to kiss her on the lips. She tried to keep me there, but I said, "Come on. We better go."
As Lisa fixed her tuxedo, I put my shoes back on and checked my phone. As I'd suspected, Rosé wanted to know where we were.
Lisa and I returned downstairs just in time to watch Rosé throw her bouquet into the crowd, then as she and Mingyu cut the cake. The lights dimmed, and the DJ amped up the group, calling everyone to the dancefloor. I eventually lost Lisa to Mingyu's dad and his friend, who wanted to learn more about Lisa's side business flipping houses.
I felt bad that I'd rushed Lisa out of the suite when she'd just wanted more time alone. I snuck out to ask the concierge where I could get a bottle of wine, and he directed me to the sommelier at the hotel's fine dining restaurant. After peppering the resident wine expert with a few questions—and with a huge tip—I managed to secure a bottle, wine opener, and two glasses. While walking through the hotel pool area, I grabbed a couple beach towels and made my way down to the dark beach.
I texted Lisa to meet me, unfurled the beach towels, and sat. After removing my shoes, I uncorked the wine. Bass from the party thumped behind me, while waves crashed against the shore.
Eventually, Lisa walked up. "It's not every day I find a pretty girl alone on the beach with an extra glass of wine," she said.
"Sit," I said and poured us each a drink.
She removed her shoes, took the place beside me, and buried her bare feet in the sand. "What's the occasion?"
I shook my head and handed her her wine. "Do I need one?"
We clinked glasses and each took a sip. "This is good," she said, examining the tannins on the inside of the glass. "What is it?"
I gave Lisa my drink, threw a knee over her, and settled onto her lap so we were face to face. "It's opulent," I said, taking back my wine. "Ripe dark plums and sweet spices."
"That's some sexy wine," she said.
"You're telling me." With the sommelier's help, I'd picked a wine that reminded me of Lisa, the way she'd called me out for hiding behind chardonnay the night we'd met. "Black cherry, with hints of chocolate and earth notes."
She arched an eyebrow. "Plus, it has a silky mouthfeel," she added.
"The silkiest." I smiled. "Complex, like us."
She smoothed a few loose strands of my hair from my face. "If this kind of love was simple, everyone would have it, Jennie. But very few do."
I kissed her softly, relishing the chance to just feel her without rushing or being pulled in another direction. When we separated, I sighed happily. "I thought of a reason to toast."
"Tell me," she said.
I sipped my wine and held up the glass. "I'm celebrating coming home."
"You've been home," she said. "I'm the one who was away."
I shook my head. "No matter where we are in the world, we're home when we're together."
"And we're not when we're apart, so let's not do that again." We made a cheers to that and drank more wine. "It's a good time for us to plan a trip," she said. "My project is finished. You have a break until you start the next book. We could ride a train through Europe. Island hop in Hawaii. Or, we haven't been to Australia yet." She shrugged. "But you know what I'd really like to do?"
I tilted my head. "What's that, gorgeous?"
"I want to lie in my bed on a Sunday morning with you while Prince and Poppy slobber all over us."
I grinned. "I'd like that, too. With those dogs, the bed will never be empty," I said and covered my heart. "But wherever you go, you take a little piece of me with you. So I'm happy just to feel complete again."
"You took the words out of my mouth, baby," Lisa said.
Years since I'd met Lisa, and our love grew stronger with each passing day. And we still had a lifetime ahead of us. A lifetime to grow our unconventional family, to explore the world beyond and the ones within ourselves, and to learn the other in new ways each day—me about my persistent gentleman, and her about her stubborn honeybee.