Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
After making sure she’s sound asleep, he ambles toward me and grabs me to sit on his lap. “Explain your comment just now.”
My hands reach for the stubble on his chin, his five o’clock shadow prickling my skin.
“Nope, you don’t get a pass just because your simple touch gets me hard.”
I chuckle and snuggle closer, loving his scent. “I mean, I saw myself yesterday. I know I look nothing like the day we met.”
“What do you mean, baby? You’re still the sexiest, most beautiful girl in the world.”
“Oh, I’m so far from being sexy. Can’t you see these inches on my waist?”
Malcolm pulls back and hooks a finger under my chin. “Baby, you just gave birth to Mandy. Your body housed this beautiful child. And I don’t know if I told you, but damn, you looked so hot with your stomach stretched taut while pregnant. You still do. And these inches you’re talking about? I love how I can now be a lot rougher with you in bed.”
“Malcolm…”
“No. You need to be kinder to yourself. You apparently don’t see the same thing I do because Jesus Christ, just looking at you has my body flaring with need.”
I busy myself with the loose thread on his shirt, twirling it around my finger and refusing to look at him.
“Maybe you need a reminder…or a punishment.”
My eyes swing to his, and his face darkens.
I know that look, and despite what I’m feeling about my body, my nerves hum with anticipation. Five minutes later, I’m muffling my moans with a pillow while my husband reminds me how hot he still finds me.
This is why I love him.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
MALCOLM
Marissa and I never left Paris to return to the U.S.
By the time the committee completed their official inquiry and awarded her the gold, we had both already fallen in love with the city and couldn’t picture living anywhere else.
Once the mess with the medals was sorted out, the endorsements and sponsorships came in droves. Marissa’s face was everywhere—from television commercials to game shows—and she even landed a walk-in role on a hit subscription channel series that made her even more famous. Then came the interviews and the coveted spot on the front of the cereal box. It was everything I’d ever wanted for her. She was at the top of the world for a second time.
She didn’t compete in the next summer games. We had other things going on at the time. Just months after our wedding, we found out that we were expecting our first child. I restarted my agency, now headquartered in France, and currently employ sixteen agents from all over the world.
Today, we’re in St. Tropez where we keep the little yacht we purchased. Marissa and the kids love to set out on the open water. Mandy, who’s four now, looks just like her mother. Michael, our three-year-old, is more like me. He has a quick temper and already towers over his older sister. The three of them, all dressed in white, are more than I could wish for. This family is all that matters to me in the world.
“Are we ready, Daddy?” Michael asks, taking me by the hand.
I hoist him up in the air. “Yes, now come and help me launch this mission, son.”
Marissa laughs. “Say, ‘Aye aye, Captain!’”
Michael salutes me and parrots his mother’s words.
We reach the open water and kill the engine so Michael and I can cast our fishing lines. Marissa sets out our lunch and hands me a glass of red wine.
“It’s a beautiful day,” she says, kissing my cheek.
I pull her close and gaze down at the cleavage spilling out of her bikini top. “You’re very beautiful, baby girl.”
I secure the poles and bring Michael over to the bench so he can eat his lunch. I sit beside him and pull his mother onto my lap. She lies back and closes her eyes, letting the wind blow across her hair and face.
“This is perfect,” she sighs.
“Every day since I met you has been that way.”
“Every day? Even the days when you got in fights and almost went to jail?”
“Even those. I met you and you brought me to life. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“And now?”
“Now? Now, I’m married to the most beautiful girl in the world who gave me two beautiful children. Every man who sees you must be so jealous of me.”
“I feel the same way about you. I had no idea what I was missing before you came along. You were the first man I ever loved and you’re going to be the last one, too.”
“That’s good because I’m not going anywhere. Hey, didn’t you say you wanted to talk about something today?”
“I did, and I do.”
“So tell me, sweetheart. What is it?”
“You know how you just said I gave you two beautiful children?”
“Yes, and I’m thankful to you for that every day.”