“Come on,” I said. “Kai’s probably out in the pool with Jasper.”
After grabbing some drinks, we headed out to the backyard. Where, as I’d guessed, we found Kai and Jasper splashing around, playing in the water. Rosie was curled up on a nearby lounge chair, snoozing beneath an umbrella.
“Zara!” Kai shouted, climbing out of the pool.
Rosie lifted her head, and then she ran over, sniffing at my ankles until I picked her up for a cuddle.
Jasper turned, and when he spotted me, he lit up. He climbed the stairs to greet us, and Zara cleared her throat, averting her gaze as if she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. Hell, I didn’t blame her. The man was hot.
His skin was bronzed from the sun, and he looked relaxed and happy. Water sluiced down the planes of his chest before disappearing into his swim trunks. I wanted to lick him.
Kai ran up to Zara, arms outstretched. Before I could even tell him to stop, Jasper called out, “Wait a second.”
But Zara laughed, saying, “It’s fine.”
Kai wrapped his arms around Zara. She laughed, not caring that he was soaking wet. “I missed you too.”
I rolled my eyes, laughing. And then my smile softened as Jasper leaned in to kiss my temple. “Hey, love.”
“Hi. Having fun?”
“Always. Though…” He lowered his voice. While Kai and Zara were still catching up, he rasped in my ear, “We didn’t get to finish what we started earlier.”
“You mean the two times before that weren’t enough?” I teased.
“With you, it’s never enough.”
“Later,” I mouthed as we followed Kai and Zara into the house.
Some of the heat dialed down in his eyes, going from scorching to a simmer. It was still there, just…not as all-consuming.
Jasper and Kai showered off, and then we all headed back out to the patio where our new chef, Melanie, had set the table for dinner.
“This is delicious,” Zara said, swirling some more pasta onto her fork. “And it’s gluten free?”
“I know, right? Melanie is a wizard with gluten-free food, especially pasta.”
When Jasper had initially suggested hiring a private chef, I’d been opposed. I wanted homemade meals and family time together. But I’d quickly realized I didn’t have time to cook every night. Between our commute, school, the demands of my new position, it was too much. Now, we were eating healthy, delicious food that met Kai’s dietary needs. And we enjoyed our meals as a family, and that was what was most important.
That night, as I fell asleep in Jasper’s arms, I couldn’t think of a time I’d been happier. I had a fulfilling job. A loving partner. And Kai was thriving. My birthday might be tomorrow, but I didn’t need to blow out a candle to know that my every wish had already been granted.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
When Halle stirred, I pulled her even closer into my arms. “Happy birthday, love.” I pressed my lips to her neck. The bare skin of her shoulder. Lower still.
“Mm,” she hummed. She was still half asleep, but I sensed that her body was waking up.
I ran my hand up her stomach, over her breasts. Teasing her nipples as she started to writhe against me. Her ass was pressed against my hard-on, and I groaned.
“Again?” she teased.
Last night, we’d made love after Kai had gone to bed. Then again in the middle of the night. And now. I couldn’t get enough of her, of my beautiful fiancée.
I took her hand in mine and held it up so I could see the ring on her finger. It was perfect, and it suited Halle.
“We’ll have to be quick. Kai could come in at any minute,” she whispered, reaching behind her to pull my mouth to hers for a kiss.
“I can do fast.” I shifted, making sure she was lying on her back as I slid beneath the sheets. “But I’d rather take my time with you.”
