Save Me, Daddy

“How did Maia get all the paperwork she brought to the house on Trini Island?”

Jayson pauses, tilting his head as he considers the question. “She either paid someone to steal the forms, she stole them from the office herself, or she convinced my idiot assistant to give them to her.” He grimaces. “I would assume it was the idiot assistant.”

I giggle. “What will you do to him?”

“I should fire him, but I’m feeling generous.” He pushes open my shirt to tackle my bra. “I will demote the idiot to a valet in the parking garage.”

I put my hand over his to stop his fumbling. “Let me help.” To my surprise, Jayson takes my left hand, examining it closely. “Is something wrong?”

“Marry me.”

With a giggle, I answer, “You’ve had more to drink that I thought. We are married, love.”

Jayson waves a hand. “I mean in a real ceremony, with our friends and family.” He kisses the back of my hand. “I want to mark the change in our relationship. I want you to be my wife completely.”

I tug my hand away gently, cupping his cheek. “I’d love to marry you.” Shifting to press my lips to his before dropping my hands to his lap, I tug at his belt. “That is, as long as you give me a preview of the wedding night.”

Jayson changes position to allow me better access. “For you, Harper mou, I would do anything.”

Epilogue

The day of the wedding is bright and surprisingly warm,

without a hint of cloud in the sky. Being late October, I wonder if it’s wise to hold the ceremony outdoors, but Jayson insists I have the wedding I always envisioned. There’s an indoor backup plan, but it turns out to be unnecessary.

We exchange vows as crowds of guests watch. If anyone thinks it strange that we’re renewing our vows after only three years, they don’t say so.

When Jayson kisses me, it’s profoundly different than any of the other kisses we’ve shared. I’ve been married to him for three years, but now, and finally, I truly feel like his wife.

As we line up to greet the guests, I glance at the new wedding set on my finger. The other one was exquisite and expensive, but Jayson confessed his assistant—not the idiot one— selected the set of rings before our hasty marriage. This set, much more to my liking, was chosen by my husband personally.

Feeling warm inside, I do my best to get through the rest of the afternoon. I’m thankful for our friends, and thrilled to have a real wedding, but I’m also feeling impatient to have Jayson alone.

Sure, I’m looking forward to the “wedding night”, but I also have another reason for being impatient.

It’s several hours later before we can slip away from the reception at the hotel and go up to the honeymoon suite. I squeal with surprise when he sweeps me into his arms to carry me over the threshold—a tradition he didn’t bother with the first time.

With Jayson’s assistance, I shed the heavy and complicated wedding gown, and he removes his tux. I watch each step as the jacket falls off his shoulders, he unties his tie, he undoes the cufflinks and the buttons of his crisp shirt, and undoes his belt with great interest.

The Jacuzzi-for-two in the huge marble bathroom beckons, and we sink into it. As he adjusts the controls, I say, “Don’t turn up the temperature too high, love.”

Jayson grins. “Why? Because we’ll make our own heat?”

I smile. “No doubt, but that isn’t the reason.”

He leans back, tucking his arms around me and pulling me down onto his lap. The light hair on his chest tickles my back. “And what’s your reason?” Jayson caresses my breast, lightly tracing my nipple as he asks.

I wince slightly. “I read it wasn’t safe… for the baby.”

His hand freezes, and he seems to have stopped breathing.

“Baby?”

I nod, turning my neck so I can see his face. “I’m pregnant.”

He cups my stomach. “How far along?”

“About ten weeks.” I lay my hand over his. “I think we might have conceived the night you proposed.”