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The motor shutting off told me we’d arrived, and a glance out the window showed palm trees and blue skies. We’d remained in bed for the rest of the boat ride.
If we wanted, we could stay on the boat. But I was eager to show Vanna the island. It had always been special to our family. And since she was now a part of it, I wanted her to see it. I also wanted to dispel the heaviness that had settled around us at my discovery of her scars.
Liam and Jude had never felt the same way about this place as I did. To me, it had always seemed magical. A connection to our ancestors who were buried here.
As I trailed my hand along Vanna’s arm and over her velvety skin, a smile spread over my face. I never thought I’d enjoy being married, but now I couldn’t imagine my life without her.
And I didn’t resent the feeling. Instead of weakening me like I’d thought, she gave me strength.
I’d assumed my life was over when Liam not only handed the business to me but also saddled me with a wife. But I believed everything happened for a reason. And my reason for being was currently giving me a smile that lit up her entire face, making me want to take her again.
The arm she’d draped across my belly tightened. “Hello, husband.”
She kissed my ribs, then rolled to the side. Before she could get up, I pinned her underneath me. Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks flushed pink. Her smiles no longer looked forced. She gave them freely and often. And I couldn’t get enough of seeing them.
Unable to help myself, I kissed her. What started as a light brush of my lips against hers soon turned into more. When I dragged myself away, her lips were swollen, her eyes half lidded. Placing one last kiss on the corner of her mouth, I rolled off her, taking her with me. “Hello, wife. You ready to see where we’ll spend the next week?”
I sat up, and she ended up on my lap, her arms around my shoulders. “I can’t wait.”
Chuckling, I stood up, then set her on her feet in front of me. I loved taking care of her. And as long as she didn’t tell me off, I’d continue doing it. “Let’s take a quick shower, and then we can explore the island.”
The quick shower turned into much more, and we both emerged clean and satisfied over an hour later. Vanna skipped down the dock, her long legs looking irresistible in the tight shorts she was wearing, her feet bare.
All I wanted to do was throw her over my shoulder and carry her to the family villa. But I knew how much she was looking forward to exploring. And once we were in our rooms it would be a while before we left again.
“What do you want to see first?”
She raised her hands, then turned in a circle. We’d made it to the beach, and instead of answering, Vanna raced toward the water. As soon as her feet hit the waves, she stopped, letting out a tinkling laugh. Her childlike enthusiasm for everything was contagious, her boundless energy infectious.
She looked like a goddess with her head thrown back. Joining her in the water, I captured her around her waist and lifted her, making her laugh even louder. “The water doesn’t even feel cold.”
Chuckling, I put her back on her feet. “Water will feel warm anywhere if you’re from Chicago.”
She took my hand, leading me farther down the beach. The island wasn’t large, and we could round it on foot in about two hours. There were no cars, but we could take one of the many golf carts to get around.
Putting my arm around her, I drew her to my side. “What do you want to do first?”
“Is it too far to walk to our villa?”
“Not at all. The ride in the golf cart is only five minutes.”
The island only had a handful of villas, and they were all far enough apart to afford complete privacy.
A few white clouds peppered the deep blue sky, the late-afternoon sun warming us as we strolled along the beach.
I didn’t think I’d ever strolled anywhere, let alone at the beach. I never had the urge to do so. But it seemed none of my previous rules applied with Vanna.
I’d always hated the beach. Turned out I just hadn’t been doing it right. Or I should say I hadn’t been doing it with the right person.
We stopped at a bar that was little more than a small shed on the sand, Vanna ordering nearly every item on the menu and a cocktail that came in a pineapple.
We sat at a tiny table facing the ocean, our chairs pushed close together as we sipped our drinks. The beer I’d ordered wasn’t one I’d ever heard of before, but it was cold and the only thing that didn’t have an umbrella in it.
Vanna held up her drink, having to use both hands to lift it. “I love it here. Thank you so much for bringing me.”
I tugged her onto my lap as soon as she set her drink back on the table. “You don’t have to thank me. I should never have taken this long to take you on a honeymoon. I hope you forgive me for how I treated you.”
Her head dropped, breaking our connection, and the arm she’d thrown around my neck tightened. “I love you more than anything. Don’t ever forget how much, no matter what happens.”
