What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 9) Page 13

  A few moments later, still breathing heavily, he reached past her and yanked on the slip knots, releasing her wrists from the restraints. Collapsing onto the bed beside her, he dragged her into his arms and rolled onto his back.

  Sated, drained of her previous turmoil, she lay sprawled across his chest. Beneath her ear, his heart beat a dance club rhythm. He speared his fingers into her hair and brought her head up. Meeting her halfway, he captured her mouth in a slow, languorous kiss. His tongue lazily stroked her lips. Without moving, he ended the kiss and stared into her eyes. “Thank you for giving me back this part of myself. I love you, Rickie.”

  She smiled, her heart full. She had her husband back. Both of them free at last from the veil of deception they’d wrapped their marriage in. Second only to the birth of their daughter, this day had been the best of her life. Jamie had given her more joy, more peace, more fulfillment than she’d ever thought possible. She tightened her arms around him, knowing the night would end. But praying that the feelings never would.

  Chapter Seven

  Hours after the most cathartic sex of his life, Jamie awoke to the insistent beeping of his watch. He threw out his hand and grabbed it off the nightstand. Three AM. That gave him just enough time to shower and pack up their gear before heading out.

  Rickie sighed in her sleep and plastered herself against his side. He grinned and ran his fingers over her smooth shoulder, remembering last night. His cock rose to full mast as he pictured her tied to the bed posts, knees splayed wide. He’d wanted to eat her so bad, but once he’d slipped his fingers into her hot pussy and she’d started grinding on his hand, every thought of control had fled. He’d had to be inside her then, had to take her hard and fast. The way they’d both needed.

  Exhausted from all the sexual activity, Rickie had been asleep in minutes. He on the other hand, had lain awake reliving every precious moment. Time and again, he’d returned to her expression when he’d said he loved her. For the first time in years, he’d seen acceptance in her big brown eyes. They’d won a battle today, in the war to save their marriage. With her smile, she’d shown her belief in him. And with her submission, she’d proven her trust. But she hadn’t yet surrendered… She would though. They were communicating better and finally starting to enjoy each other. And it was all thanks to Rickie, to her willingness to explore, to step away from her rules. To face her fears.

  A born organizer and negotiator, she’d always brought her arguments to the table, but because he’d thought it would make her happy, he’d always let her win. In that respect, he’d failed her, failed their family. Not anymore. Now they were both at the table. Both talking and sharing. Both willing to compromise. They’d only begun to scratch the surface of their problems, but building this trust between them was the key to solving them all.

  Yes, eventually he’d have her surrender. But not today. Today he had other plans. Speaking of which, he needed to move his butt or it would be too late. Quietly, he slipped away from Rickie’s warmth and into the frigid shower.

  When he returned to the room, a towel knotted at his waist, Rickie was still asleep. He turned on the bedside lamp and took in the sight of her. One he hadn’t seen in a long time. She seemed so innocent stretched out flat on her stomach with her face buried in the pillow. He eased the sheet back, baring her perfect ass. Seeing it, his palm itched. Should he? The round globes looked so succulent, so bitable. He resisted. Barely. Maybe just once… What the hell. Life was too short to keep second-guessing himself. Standing next to the bed, he landed one resounding smack on the cheek he’d spared yesterday.

  With a speed he hadn’t known her capable of, she twisted away from him, stopping on all fours to glare at him. Damn. She was so fucking hot with her sex-rumpled hair and piercing eyes. Good thing he didn’t want a true sub. She looked more like a Domme than anything else right now. A really pissed-off Domme. When he grinned, she frowned and lowered her eyes to the bulge beneath his towel. “Again?”

  She sounded so disgruntled, he threw his head back and burst into laughter. Pulling the sheet to her chest, she sat back and watched him, her eyes wary, her mouth pouting. “What’s so funny?” she asked after a while.

  He sobered and sat beside her, smoothing a wayward strand of her blonde hair. “Nothing. I’m just really happy.”

  Her pout turned into a smile and she hooked her arm around his nape. “Me too.”

  The moment too perfect to pass up, he pulled her against his chest and kissed her. Their tongues met in a gentle dance. No rush, no pressure. Just an unhurried exchange of emotion and affection.

  Not wanting the kiss to turn into more, he released her lips and rested his forehead against hers, his hands cradling her face. “Now, get dressed. We’ve got a big day ahead.”

  She glanced at the radio-alarm on the nightstand and her brow furrowed in confusion. “It’s the middle of the night.”

  He chuckled and pushed her toward the bathroom. “You’ll enjoy this. Go.”

  When she was out of his reach, she turned back to him, her hands on her waist, glorious in her nakedness. “What exactly is this?”

  “We’re going to see the sunrise.”

  Her eyes grew round as clamshells. “You’re not thinking of hiking up the Haiku Hidden Stairs are you? Because you know how I feel about that.”

  Jamie shook his head. Rickie kept herself in shape, but she was more a walk along the beach girl than a mountain hike girl. “I promised no extreme sports, and I’m a man of my word.”

  After a moment, she opened the dresser and got out a pair of short pants and a t-shirt. She yawned and threw a longing glance at the bed. Shit. The last thing he wanted to do today was force her to do anything. “If you’d rather go back to sleep, we can see the sunrise another day.” When he could spank that cute butt into following his orders. “I just thought it would be fun.”

  She crossed over to him and smiled. “I can sleep some other time.”

  He kissed the bridge of her nose. “The place we’re going is an hour away, so you can rest some more in the car. We’ll have breakfast there.”

  After a quick peck on his mouth, she sauntered into the bathroom, swaying her hips in a most inviting manner. Did the woman have no idea what she did to him, all naked and pink like that?

  When the shower turned on, he flopped onto his back on the bed and grinned. He was going to throw Rickie for another loop today. As much fun as yesterday had been, he wanted to show her—prove to her—that he was still Jamie, only better. He had no desire to control her outside their bedroom activities. And even then, not every sexual encounter had to be a scene. Spontaneity turned him on just as much as it did any other red-blooded man.

  Most of all, he wanted her to know how much he valued her thoughts and opinions. He’d missed talking to her, whether it was shooting the shit after a difficult shift, or late-night philosophical discussions. Strong and independent, she was so much more to him than a sub: she was his wife, his partner. The love of his life.

  Unlike many Doms, he was a sucker for romance. And this new twist in their relationship wouldn’t keep him from sharing romantic moments with her. Starting with the world’s most beautiful sunrise.

  An hour and a half later, Jamie turned off Kalanianaole Highway into the almost empty parking lot of Makapu’u Lookout. He shut off the engine and in the glow of the interior light, Rickie’s sleep-heavy lids lifted and she smiled drowsily.

  “Good morning,” he said, brushing his lips against hers.

  “Are we there?”

  “Yep.” He checked his watch. They had enough time to hike up to the lighthouse before the sun rose. “Let’s go.” After securing the roof and doors of the Mustang, he shouldered the backpack full of water and supplies, then switched on his flashlight and took Rickie’s hand. “Ready?”

  “Since I have no idea where we are or where we’re going, all I can say is: ‘Lay on, MacDuff, and damned be him who first cries “Hold! Enough!”’” She bent into a curtsey and wit
h a wide sweep of her arm, indicated the general direction where lights bobbed up the mountain.

  Joy bubbling in his chest, he gathered her into his arms and spun her in a circle. He loved seeing her this way, so carefree, without her day planner and rigid schedule in hand. Maybe she was finally learning she didn’t have to control everything to be safe. Setting her on her feet, he kissed her soundly. “Christ, I’ve missed you, Rickie.”

  “I’ve missed you too, Jamie.” She kissed him lightly and laced her fingers through his. “Let’s go see this sunrise you’ve been telling me about.”

  Hand in hand, he guided her through the darkness to a paved walkway where only a few other early morning enthusiasts were slowly making their way up the mountain. Not even two miles long, the trail led to the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse at the southern edge of the ridge.

  The sun was just beginning to breach the horizon when they reached the end of the trail. Standing on the edge of the ridge, they seemed to hang over the vast Pacific Ocean. A narrow band of golden light was sandwiched between mile upon mile of jet-black water and dark puffy clouds. As the sun rose, the ocean and the sky above the clouds turned a steely gray while the band of light grew, revealing the sun, a golden ball of fire bathed in a riot of pinks, oranges, and yellows. Other people who’d gathered along the ridge beside them cheered its arrival.

  Jamie placed Rickie in front of him and wrapped his arms around her waist as they watched, lost in the wonder. “It’s so beautiful,” Rickie said, her voice barely a whisper. “At times like this, I wish I were an artist.”

  He glanced down at his wife’s face, resplendent in the sun’s first rays, and agreed wholeheartedly. His arms tightened around her and he laid his cheek on her head, enjoying the feel of her in her arms. Right here, right now, she was his.

  Another cheer rose from the crowd when someone spotted a huge white bird soaring in the early morning light. They watched as it spiraled down to one of the islands below. Jamie used the opportunity to share with her some of what he’d learned when researching this spot. He pointed out the islands of Moloka’i and Lana’i across the Kaiwi Channel. A few minutes, later, she indicated a mass rising out of the sea. “What’s that one? It looks odd.”

  “That’s Manana, also known as Rabbit Island.”

  She cocked her head, as though studying it from a different angle would help. “Well, I suppose it resembles a rabbit head.” She turned in his arms and hugged him hard. “I’m so glad we got to see the sunrise together. I’ll never forget this, Jamie.”

  Neither would he. The sun reflected in the water, creating a rose lane, like a red carpet laid out for a queen, ending right at Rickie’s feet. If this wasn’t a sign, he didn’t know what was. On impulse, he dropped to one knee in front of her. Five years ago, his proposal had been far less than romantic. But maybe he could make up for that now.

  Taking her hand, he kissed her wrist and looked up into her astonished eyes. “Rickie, I know our marriage has had more ups and downs than it should have. You were right to want a divorce. I wasn’t behaving like the man you’d married. But I’ve grown up since then, and right here, right now, I pledge myself to you. I promise to love you above all others, to honor your needs and desires above my own, and to cherish our life together, every single day. I’ll be honest with you at all times and in all things. You’re an angel for giving me this second chance to make you happy.”

  As he spoke, tears welled in her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. She knelt with him and clutched their joined hands against her heart. “Jamie, no. I wasn’t right. I shut you off, shut you out. How could you know what I wanted when I didn’t even know it myself?” Her voice broke. Blinking away her tears, she turned toward the ocean and inhaled deeply. Her lips curved up and when she faced him again, joy danced in her brown gaze.

  “I pledge to be the wife you deserve. To love you above all others and to honor your needs and… desires.”

  At her salacious grin, his belly tightened. “Minx,” he said on a groan.

  “I promise to cherish our time together and to stop worrying about things that might never be.” New tears trailed down her face as she continued to smile. His heart ached, knowing exactly how difficult that last promise had been for her to make. She was still terrified of something happening to him because of his job. And her fears were real. He risked his life every day.

  Hauling her against his chest, he buried his face in her soft hair. “I can’t ask for anything more,” he whispered.

  Slowly, he became aware of clapping and whistling. He helped Rickie to her feet, grinning at the crowd that had formed a half-circle around them. His wife’s cheeks were as pink as the sky. She squeezed his hand. “Say something!”

  Laughing, he beamed at her and very loudly told the group, “She said ‘yes.’”

  She swatted his arm and glared at him playfully. A man in the group called out, “You sure about this, dude? She looks like a handful.”

  Jamie tucked Rickie under his arm and palmed one luscious ass cheek. “That she is, my man.” A handful and so much more.

  As Jamie led her back down the paved pathway to the car, Erica’s mind was still reeling from the miraculous sunrise, and Jamie’s very unexpected reaffirmation of their wedding vows. After yesterday, seeing him so confident in Dom-mode, she’d never in a million years have expected him to go down on one knee and proclaim his love for her like that. He was such a multi-faceted diamond. One she still barely knew after five years of marriage. From today, she’d make it her mission to change that. She had so much to learn about him, and she hoped that their newfound intimacy would help keep the lines of communication open.

  A short way down the path, Jamie veered to the side and stopped at a large plaque that indicated where whales could be seen in the wintertime. “Too bad we’ll miss that,” she said.

  “Yeah, but we can see whales pretty much any time at home.” He set the backpack on the ground and yanked out a bottle of water, drinking deeply before handing it to her.

  Grateful Jamie had thought to bring water, she took a long sip, letting the water hydrate her throat. It was barely past sunrise and already their clothes were sticking to their bodies. “God, that feels good.”

  He plopped a baseball cap on her head and grinned. Seeing him so happy, her belly warmed. She couldn’t wait to find out what else he had planned for their day. Handing her a bottle of sunscreen, he took the water back. “Before we head out, put this on.”

  “Head out where?” she asked as she applied the lotion.

  “We’re taking that trail.” He pointed to a small foot-beaten path behind the plaque.

  She ventured forward a few steps to investigate the trail, squinting to see the twists and turns. “Where does it go?”

  “Down the mountain to the coast.”

  She glanced at her running shoes. Not the best footwear for hiking. “Is it steep?”

  “You’ll be fine.” He held out his hand and she took it. When she gripped him a little tighter than necessary, he didn’t even grimace.

  Within moments, the trail went from packed-dirt to exposed rock. She kept Jamie’s hand firmly clutched in hers, stepping where he indicated. A strange mixture of embarrassment and relief made her belly flip when she noticed how he used his body as a bulwark in case she slipped.

  “Easy,” he said when her feet skidded on some loose stones.

  By the time they reached the coastline, her insides were quaking. She relaxed her death grip on Jamie’s fingers and had to laugh as she held up her shaking hands for him to see. “You’d think I’d just gone down Mount Everest.”

  Humor shining in his eyes, Jamie cupped her face and gave her a loud smacking kiss on the mouth. “You did great.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on. You’re going to love this.”

  Jamie’s eyes sparkled like those of a small boy exploring a pile of toy cars. His eagerness was contagious. Thrilled to see him so happy, she followed. They stopped in front of a series of tide pools framed by
glistening rock ledges. The depths glowed a gorgeous cerulean blue, while the shallows reflected the moss below, giving them an emerald sheen.

  A large wave rolled in, crashing against the rocks, adding its white foam to the array of colors. The spray from the waves showered over them, cool and invigorating. She squealed with delight. “I wish I had my camera. Chloe would love photos of this.”

  With a wink, Jamie set the backpack on the ground and reached into one of the many pockets. He yanked out what appeared to be a waterproof camera. “Will this do?”

  “My, my. Aren’t you the Boy Scout,” she teased. When his gaze locked on hers, the desire burning in his eyes made her breath hitch. He shouldered the backpack and raised a brow. “I’m always prepared. For anything. Are you?”

  Oh boy! What else did he have in that backpack? “Did you want to…” Her voice faltered and she trailed off. What was wrong with her? Why was it so hard for her to say that little word? It was only three letters for heaven’s sake. She filled her lungs with ocean air and tried again. “Did you want to have sex here? Because”—she pointed to the people playing in the tide pools around them—“we aren’t exactly alone.” Her voice had lowered to a whisper when she’d said the word, but at least she’d managed to spit it out.

  Jamie stepped in close, towering over her. His eyes reflected his amusement. “Oh, we’re going to have”—he lowered his voice to a whisper, imitating her—“sex. But not here.”

  Her stomach grumbled loudly and her cheeks flushed. He laughed and heads turned at the joyous sound. “But not until I’ve fed your hungry belly. I wouldn’t be much of a husband if I didn’t keep you well-fed as well as well-fucked, now would I?”

  “You’re so bad, Jamie Caldwell,” she said, loving his playfulness.

  Pointing to a boulder a few yards away, he said, “Let’s have our breakfast there.” He waited while she removed her shoes, then with a hand on her butt, he boosted her up onto a flat spot. She scrambled a bit, but managed to settle in without falling on her face. Jamie on the other hand, easily hefted himself onto the sun-warmed rock despite the weight of the backpack. He set the pack on his lap and opened it. Even though she could barely stand the suspense, she waited without saying a word. Jamie was enjoying teasing her, and she didn’t want to ruin it for him.