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He knew his eyes must’ve lit up as soon as she said that because she let out a small laugh.
Without answering her, he pulled her further up into his arms and stood. Sneaking out of the party wouldn’t be hard, mostly due to the fact that everyone was pretty drunk by now. The bride and groom had disappeared some time ago, presumably to consummate their new mating.
As was tradition.
Kozien nodded to a few partiers as they passed by, dodging more than once at getting roped into some kind of drinking game that involved a rope and bending over until you fell over. He patted Gianna’s hip, heading up to the main road from the beach in record time.
“You’re really going to carry me all the way up to our house?”
He grinned and adjusted her so he could look at her. “Would you like us to make a quick pit stop in the meantime?”
She let out another laugh. “I wouldn’t mind sneaking off into a bush somewhere, but I’m afraid our friends in the village wouldn’t like seeing our naked bodies dancing around each other too much.”
“They’re spoilsports then.”
She batted at his shoulder. “How about you race me to the top, and if you catch me, you get to tie me up and have your way with me?”
His mouth practically fell open. “I’ll take that as a yes, Gianna.”
He nodded quickly, setting her down gently onto her feet.
She brushed the stray grains of sand off of her dress and adjusted her sandals—a valiant effort if he wasn’t so sure she was going to be losing this. She got into a running position and faced the stairs leading up to their condo.
“Okay. Ready? Three… two… one… go!”
She raced up the steps, taking them two at a time with an impressive amount of speed. He smiled, giving her a head start because he was going to catch up to her in no time with his long strides.
Once she was a comfortable distance ahead of him, Kozien took the stairs up three at a time. It took him only around a minute and a half to catch up to her and scoop her up into his arms.
“Cheater!” She laughed, her breath punching out of her while sweat beaded at her forehead.
“Yes, me giving you a head start was certainly cheating.”
He peppered her face with kisses, finally clearing the last few steps and barely having any wind knocked out of him for the effort. He grinned to himself and hip-checked their door open, bringing her across the threshold of their condo.
“I win.”
Gianna moved in his arms, turning to cup his face before kissing him. “Take me to bed, Kozien.”
“As you wish, my love.”
Epilogue
Afewmonthslater…
Shoving her hangers back in her closet, Gianna was starting to get upset at the lack of outfits she had left to wear.
Normally she wasn’t so picky about her wardrobe, coming to favor lounging in sweats over wanting to throw on something complicated as her go-to, but tonight Kozien was taking her out to dinner.
She’d been wanting to dress up for the dinner since he mentioned it. A night on the terrace overlooking the beach sounded divine after being cooped up so long inside of their home, but going through her things, she was slowly coming to the realization that nothing was going to fit.
She put a hand over her round, swollen belly, feeling a small kick against it.
“I know. I know.” She spoke softly. “I’m not trying to stress, but your dad definitely picked something fancy so I need to dress up.”
She curved her hand down toward her pelvis, feeling the side of her stomach bulge slightly when her daughter moved.
“You’re just as active as your dad.”
