“I love you, mom.” I close my eyes. Her ‘I love you’ back to me becomes lodged in my throat.
I hang up the phone and toss it on the lounge chair before I spin around, ready to start bitching about whatever the hell is taking her so long, but instead, my mouth hits the floor. She’s standing there, naked. Her nipples harden when I look at them. Her body glows. Her eyes turn dark, and that sweet spot between her legs has my cock hard.
“Is this my surprise? Because if you think for one second you're going swimming like that, you’ve lost your fucking mind.” I may have softened up a little bit after the hell we’ve been through, but there is no damn way she’s walking out with her sinful body showing like that. Hell, that’ll have every man’s head turning, doing a double take to get another look at her when we walk by them.
“I’m lying out naked. And no, this isn’t your surprise.” She moves in my direction. I stop her by blocking her with my body before she crosses over the threshold of the open breezeway that leads to the pool and the beach.
My itching fingers grip her ass, pulling her flush against my cock. Her brows quirk up.
“I’ll decide if you get to take another step out of here like that or not. Now, tell me what this big surprise is about.”
“I'm retiring from the Army when my term is up in two months.” I look down at her to search for any sign she feels regret over her decision. Her giant smile and playful attitude tell me she's relieved this is coming. I can't say I'm not fucking thrilled, because I am. I want nothing more than to have her by my side every single day and night.
“You sure this is what you want?” I have to give her the opportunity to change her mind here. This has been her entire life for years now. I know how hard this decision was for me.
“I'm positive. Kaleb, I’ll still be able to do what I’ve trained my whole career for, but now I’ll be able to do it all with you.” She moves her fingers over my ass and squeezes with both hands. “Plus, you need someone to save your gorgeous ass out there.” Her teasing only makes this much sweeter.
“How did I get so lucky?” My internal thoughts escape my mouth before I have the chance to hold them in. She smiles through her kiss when I pull her legs up around my waist. “Guess it was fate… Or some of that romantic crap people talk about.” Her laughter sends a jolt straight through me. I take a moment to think about where I am in my life. I'm in love with the woman of my dreams. This is exactly what I hoped I'd get with Jade. It's exactly what I prayed for in the desert, and it's what I've always wanted to feel before I met her. She's it for me. She has my heart, my mind, and my fucking soul.
“Jade Elliott, future Mrs. Maverick… You're not fucking leaving this room without some damn clothes on. You'll either cover yourself with some little piece of material you own, or I'll cover you with my body. You'll have sunburnt feet, because you'll have them wrapped around my ass while I fuck you all damn day.”
“You’re so damn bossy.” She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls her face close to mine. Nose to nose, she’s looking into my eyes.
“Are you just now figuring that out?”
“No, I vaguely remember thinking it the first time I met you.” She pulls another smile from me, and I start walking us back to the bedroom. This place is gorgeous, and I love the open feel of the beach right into the bedroom. It doesn’t help knowing that if anyone walks by, they’ll be able to hear us fucking. I don’t mind that one bit, but they won’t be able to see. Our villa is on stilts, sitting high enough that we have the privacy we came here to have.
“Come with me tomorrow.” I’ve been trying to decide how to do this. We’re not a normal couple. It’s only fitting that this be different as well.
“Where?” She looks into my eyes after I lay her on her back on the bed. I crawl over her body and prepare for this next chapter in my life. One I’m dying to get started on.
“I want a new tattoo.” She smiles, knowing I’ve been itching for a new one.
“What are you thinking about getting?” She kisses my lips as I lower myself playfully on her body.
“I’m thinking a ring or something. Maybe your name across my ass.” Her laugher fills the room, and I take this opportunity to kiss the crook of her neck, gliding my body in place on top of hers.
“I do own it.”
I sit up and look straight into her eyes again. Yes, she does own it. She owns me and my future. If she’s not involved in it, I want nothing to do with it.