Page 132

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.”

He nods. “Ah, yes. The night when we didn’t even make it to our room.”

With a giggle, I answer, “We didn’t even make it to the nearest sofa, Jayson.”

Jayson pales. “We’ve done it many times since. I could have hurt you, or the baby.”

I shake my head. “I talked to Dr. Anderson when I found out. She let me know that it’s perfectly safe to have sex, even with my history. As much as I wanted to surprise you with the news on our wedding night, I wouldn’t have put our baby in danger.”

I look down as his eyes fill with tears for a moment.

“I know.” He turns to me again. “How long have you known, agape mou?”

“About four weeks.” I can’t help but feel a little sheepish. “It almost killed me to wait to tell you.” I wanted to wait until the wedding night, but I’d had another reason as well. Dr. Anderson assured me that once she saw the heartbeat, there was a less than five percent chance of miscarrying. The little heart had fluttered away at the ultrasound last week.

“You deserve a sound spanking for not telling me sooner,” he says with a growl.

I grin.

“Promises, promises.”

His expression turns serious. “I will keep every promise I make to you, Harper.”

With a solemn nod, I answer, “I know, Jayson. I trust you completely.” I have no hesitation at uttering the words. Jayson’s proven his love and trustworthiness in a thousand tiny ways, and a few major ones — like taking me with him when he went to Maia’s hotel to confront her. The scene had been ugly, but we haven’t heard a word from that woman since that night.

“S’agapo, Harper.” His voice is soft as the bubbles that surround us.

He loves me.

“Ke ego s’agapo, Jayson.” I turn in the water to face him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “Forever.”

His kiss is fierce, almost feral with passion.

His wet body is against mine, and I can feel his shaft growing against my leg. I want him inside me so badly. In some ways it’s the only time I feel complete when he takes me.