Married by Monday (The Weekday Brides #2)(45)
Author: Catherine Bybee

“Slush fund?” Somehow Eliza didn’t think he was talking about a simple savings account. Or a 401K. “My slush fund is in a coffee can back home. It would take a hell of a lot of coffee cans to come up with a private jet.”

They hit a couple more bumps before the jet sailed through the air.

“Life happens once. I have money. I might as well use it.”

What does that mean?

Eliza glanced down at the rock he’d put on her finger. It was Kardashian huge, to the point where she wondered if it was real. After listening to Carter, she knew better than to ask. She needed to thank him for it at some point, but now didn’t seem right.

The aircraft started its descent, and her ears popped with the change of pressure.

Eliza released a sigh when they made it to the ground. Not that she was overly anxious that they would crash, but the flight rattled her nerves.

Rain pelted them as they left the plane. The airport was flooded and the car that was supposed to be waiting for them had been delayed.

It was still light outside, which somehow made everything a little better, but still, the flight had been long, and they were now two hours behind their schedule. Not that they had a schedule, but for them, it had been a long day and a plush bed in a five star resort sounded divine.

“Apparently a road washed out, but the locals think it will be fixed within the hour.”

“I thought Hawaii was always sunny. Like California.” The humidity licked her skin, and she knew her assumption was just that.

“It rains a lot here this time of year. It doesn’t last long though.”

It didn’t. But the locals had a hard time getting the road passable, and it was nearly two more hours before they made it to the hotel.

With a flower lei around her neck, Eliza passed through the lobby in a daze. The wicker decor and open-air foyer would simply have to wait to be appreciated. Right now, a hot shower and a bed was all she wanted.

In their room a fruit, cheese, and wine basket met them. It was from Carter’s parents.

“I like your parents.”

“They like you to. Why don’t you take the first shower,” Carter suggested.

It was well after midnight on their body clocks when Eliza slid into the hot pulsating water. What a day. She thought back on several moments when she envisioned her parent’s faces, their smiles. They might not have been there in body, but she’d felt them in spirit.

Even though it was late, she dressed in the lingerie meant for this night. Hopefully, Carter would shower quickly or stand the risk of her falling asleep on him.

Eliza scrubbed her face clean but went ahead and put on a little lip gloss. She nibbled her fingernail before realizing what she was doing. “It’s Carter, Lisa, get a grip. No need for nerves,” she whispered to herself. After running a final brush through her hair, she smiled at her reflection before stepping from the bathroom.

“The shower is all…” Her words died on her lips.

Carter had removed his coat, tie, and shoes and had laid on the bed to wait for her. His features softened in slumber and the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest brought a wave of pleasure over her. He was sound asleep.

Without waking him, she took a blanket from the closet and draped it over him. She removed her silk robe and slid between the cool sheets and cooed.

He didn’t so much a stir.

Eliza turned onto her side and watched him sleep.

****

Sunlight filtered in behind her closed eyelids and pushed the cobwebs from her brain.

Something tickled her nose and she moved her head to scratch it. The musky scent mixed with that of soap met her nose.

Carter.

Before she opened her eyes, Eliza realized two things. First, she was intimately wrapped around her husband who at some point in the night managed to slip out of his clothes and into the sheets with her. The second was that her husband wasn’t asleep.

The sound of his heart beating in his chest met her ear, which was cradled in the crook of his arm. One of her legs was draped over his as if it had the right to be there.

His fingers gently stroking her back and thigh.

How had she managed to get so tangled? Cuddling wasn’t her thing. Normally.

With Carter, there didn’t seem to be a normal.

With as little notice as she could muster, she started to move away.

Carter wouldn’t have it. His hand on her thigh pressed firm and kept her in place.

Eliza opened her eyes and viewed his naked chest for the first time. Well, she’d seen him by the pool at Sam’s, but this was entirely different. After taking a brief moment to admire the sculpted way his chest looked from her angle she closed her eyes and sighed.

This was something she could get used to.

She picked up her cheek.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he told her with laughter in his voice. “I worked up the nerve to touch you here…” He tightened his grip on her thigh to indicate what he meant. “…about twenty minutes ago, and I’ve wanted to travel higher ever since. Only, I didn’t want to wake you.”

His words brought warmth over her skin. She envisioned his internal debate while she slept. Funny, she didn’t think of him as an insecure person. But apparently, when it came to seducing her, there was a hit of doubt. “I’m not the one who fell asleep last night.”

He groaned and clicked his tongue. As he spoke, he made good on his threat and inched his way up her thigh with a slow ascent. “Guilty. I’m sorry about that.”

“We were both exhausted.”

She spread her palm over his chest. Her new ring sparkled off the sunlight streaming in from the window.

“I woke around three and climbed in with you. I hope you don’t mind.”

His fingers danced over the curve of her hip, maneuvered under the silk of her panties, and she shivered with anticipation of more. “I don’t mind.”

Carter shifted to his side, and Eliza gazed into his eyes. “Good morning,” he whispered.

He captured her lips in the softest of kisses. A slow gentle exploration. She could still taste the mint of his breath, which left her feeling guilty for not having the same fresh taste to offer him.

The slow pace he set with his kiss proved he didn’t mind. He probed her mouth open with little nips until his tongue played with hers. Eliza didn’t realize she was rigid beneath him until all her muscles relaxed. Carter pressed her into the soft cotton sheets and ran his free hand up her waist, pushing aside her nightgown.

He kissed like a man who should be paid to do so. He didn’t leave anything untouched and only moved away when he needed to breathe. When he did, she ran her fingers over his chest. When did he find the time to work out? Or was the definition of muscles from his gene pool? She’d thought about touching him more than she’d admit. Thinking about it and enjoying the feel of his warm skin were nowhere near the same.