Mr. Big Daddy (Mr. Big 3)

"Whatever Milady desires. Alfredo, whatever. Carbonara."

"Carbonara sounds fantastic."

We kissed again and then both of us got ready for a night on the town. We were leaving for Bora Bora on Monday, and would return on December 28, 2020. Then, we would start a brand-new year and new decade together.

It was going to be fantastic.

Once we were both dressed, I called the restaurant and booked a table by the window -- the same table we sat at when we first went. Then, I called down to our security detail and asked for someone to drive us into town. In a few moments, the guard on duty pulled the SUV around front.

"The coach awaits, Milady," I said, holding out my hand to her at the front door.

She took my hand, a smile on her face. "My stoma

ch is growling. I am so glad my morning sickness is finally over. I have a few pounds to pack on in the next two weeks."

"Yes, you do," I said and squeezed her buttocks from behind. "I noticed that you were looking not quite as fleshed out as I'm used to. You've lost a few pounds..."

"I have," she said. "I don't have to even think about what I eat for the next while."

We went to the SUV and got in the back seat, our driver waiting for us with the door open. After buckling in, we held hands and watched the scenery as we drove in the growing darkness to Manhattan. I was filled with so much happiness at the return to normalcy with Alexa. She seemed really relieved to get her paper out of the way and the morning sickness gone. I knew we were going to have a wonderful honeymoon.

Our meal was as expected -- perfect. Alexa ate Spaghetti Carbonara instead of meatballs for she was still a bit off from tomatoes, despite not feeling nauseated any longer. We spent longer than we usually did, lingering over Tiramisu and decaf coffee, holding hands across the candle-lit table, sitting beside the window and watching the pedestrian traffic flow by as a light rain fell.

"I'm glad we came here," she said and smiled. "It feels good to be able to go out to the city and have dinner again, like we used to. I feel like it's been a year since I felt normal."

"Time passes too quickly as it is," I said and squeezed her hand. "We shouldn't wish it to pass any faster."

"I know, but when you feel as sick and tired as I did, it seems to pass at a glacial pace. I am going to enjoy every minute of my remaining pregnancy."

"Good. So am I."

We took the limo back to Westhampton, arriving home close to midnight, and while I might have considered trying to tempt Alexa to make love to top off the evening -- our first real date since she got morning sickness -- I didn't. I wanted her to be the one to make the first move and signal to me that she was ready to resume our love life.

We stood side by side at the sinks in our bathroom and brushed our teeth, me in my boxer briefs and she in her little black nightgown. When we were both finished, she leaned up and kissed me quickly and then went to the bed, climbing in and pulling the covers over her. I figured that if she had wanted sex, she would have taken my hand and led me there, giving me some indication of her desires, but she didn't. I climbed in beside her and switched off the light, then spooned against her, her back turned to me.

"Good night, my love," I said and kissed her shoulder.

"Good night," she replied. "I love you, Luke."

"I love you, Alexa." I slipped my hand over her belly. "And I love little Brenna or Leif. Or Brenna and Leif."

She laughed. "Let's just hope it's one or the other and leave it at that. I'm still a bit too tired to imagine twins."

I smiled in the darkness and let myself drift, glad that I had her and whatever baby she was carrying inside her body.

That was good enough for me and in all honesty, I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Chapter Seventeen

Alexa

My stomach was butterflies and in a good way, because the limo was on its way to the airport, and we were on our way to Bora Bora. It was still dark out for our flight left very early and so we were up at five in the morning. We'd finished packing our bags and were dressed and ready to go, waiting impatiently for the limo to arrive. When Luke's cell dinged to indicate our driver was outside the beach house, I almost squealed in delight.

"We're really going," I said and threw my arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss.

He laughed and pulled me against his body. "We are. Let go of me so I can take our bags outside."

"Okay," I said and kissed him again. He let go of me and then grabbed our two bags, wheeling them out the front doors to the driveway where the stretch limo waited, the driver coming to meet Luke at the stairs to help take the bags to the trunk.