Dipping his head, he pulls me close, as tightly as he can, and kisses me deeply. The hem of my shortie nightgown is already slid up, and I lift it to my waist as I throw a leg over his hip and start grinding slowly over his cock. He groans as I move faster, moaning softly in his ear, until finally I can’t wait any longer.
I reach down, tug my panties to the side, and draw him into my wetness. He gives a few thrusts, making me gasp, and then I shift, rolling on top of him, spreading my knees wide so he fills me to the hilt. Leaning forward, I drop my lips onto his, our bodies pressed chest to chest.
“Say it,” he demands, pulling back to watch me ride him.
“I love you.”
I’m out of breath already, my hands going for his shoulders, his biceps, his chest, his abs—anything I can hold on to while I toss and sway over him, desperate to get myself off.
“Again,” he says, grabbing my hips to steady me, grinding me even faster against him.
“Fuck.” I can barely keep my eyes open from the building pleasure. “Iloveyou.”
“Again.”
“I love you, I love you, I love you,” I moan out.
“Don’t stop.”
So I don’t…until our breathing runs together and he’s spilling inside me and I’m clenching around him, hot tears in my eyes, giving myself up completely as I’m swept up in his love.
17
Frankie
There’sa valley that overlooks the Abbott vines that has never lost its magic for me.
It’s Monday and the winery is closed, giving Charlie and me the perfect opportunity for a late morning horseback ride. So we saddled up Ytse and one of the mellow winery horses and now we’re on a slow, ambling ride up to the little valley inset above the property. The stark blue skies and winter sunshine are a much-needed peaceful break from the craziness of our lives. I try to pretend I don’t notice Donovan following us from a distance in one of the vineyard’s UTVs, which is basically a tricked-out golf cart that can tackle rugged terrain.
My father had considered planting vines here years ago, since there are a couple of acres of decent soil, but the surrounding hills keeps the area from getting enough sun to produce well. Which was a blessing in disguise, because it meant this land could remain a wild meadow, dotted with a few scrubby oak trees. It’s one of my favorite places on the entire property—and one I’ve come to many times when I needed to be alone.
“How did baby like their first horseback ride?” Charlie asks as she dismounts.
I smile. “Aww, I hadn’t thought of that. Baby’s first ride. I’d say baby is a natural.”
We take in the view and stretch our legs for a bit, giving the horses a chance to rest.
The normally vibrant green of the land is now muted shades of winter brown, but the view is still stunning. Even Charlie comments on how still beautiful it is here.
Settling ourselves down on a smooth boulder under some trees, we dig into the small bag of snacks Alain packed for us before we left—pistachios, red grapes, pretzel snaps, and cheese cubes. We brought water bottles too, but mine is filled with tea.
“I’m still pissed Dante announced your pregnancy at dinner like that,” Charlie remarks. “He obviously doesn’t know the rules.”
“Pff. Not to mention,” I add, “why tell a room full of strangers? It’s private. I would have at least liked to be able to discuss it with him beforehand. I would’ve tried to talk him out of it.”
Charlie flashes a wry smile. “Which is probablyexactlywhy he didn’t tell you his plan.”
I nod. “Yeah. It’s too early to be making announcements. If anything were to happen…”
“Don’t even say it,” Charlie interrupts. “But yeah…that’s why people usually wait until after the first trimester is over. If not longer.”
She looks out at the view, going quiet. I don’t need to ask what she’s thinking about. She and Clayton have been trying to have a baby for years. My sister has miscarried twice, both times in the second trimester, and knows all too well what it feels like to share the happy news, only to be heartbroken later. I’ve actually been meaning to talk to her alone about my own news, I just haven’t had the chance until now.
“Charlie, are you…feeling okay about me having a baby? I mean…before you do?”
I bite my lip, half dreading her answer. It’s not like we ever discussed there being some kind of pecking order with regard to Abbott babies, but I can’t dispel the nagging guilt I feel every time I catch Charlie gazing wistfully at my belly. My big sister always talked about having kids—way before I ever, ever considered the possibility for myself.
She doesn’t answer for a moment, and I’m starting to feel anxious for bringing it up at all when she finally says, “It hurt…at first. I was happy for you, but it hurt. I had a few bad days, honestly, just feeling like…it wasn’t fair.”
