Given (Give &Take) by Kelli Maine

after we were in the cart and on our way down the path. “Anything could happen and nobody would be here to help.”
    “I’m an old man,” he said, patting her leg. “When it’smy time, it’s my time. Besides, I rather like being here by myself. It’s peaceful.”
    I knew what he meant. I could breathe deeper on Turtle Tear. There was no stress. All the anxiety was gone. Well, at least when I wasn’t faced with family problems, like lately with Nadia.
    A sprinkle of rain wet my arm, sending a cool chill up my back. I knew I shouldn’t be worrying about Nadia. I had no control over the situation, and worrying over something you have no control over is a waste. I needed to get my mind off my daughter. Glancing at Rachael’s left hand, I knew exactly what to focus my attention on. “Mr. Simcoe, did you notice anything new about Rachael’s left hand?”
    Rachael’s head snapped toward me, a huge grin on her lips.
    “Look at that,” Mr. Simcoe said, pulling the golf cart up to the hotel’s patio. He took Rachael’s hand and admired her ring. “A lovely ring for a lovely woman. Congratulations, dear.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, then held a hand out to me. “Congratulations. You’ve got quite the life to look forward to, son.”
    My eyes traveled over Rachael’s face, the soft curve of her jaw, the delicate line of her cheek, her sweet nose and the mouth that she could drive me insane with. Her eyes were my favorite of her features. Soulful and expressive, dark and passionate. Rachael’s eyes spoke to me without her uttering a single word. “I do have an amazing life ahead of me,” I said, brushing a finger across Rachael’s cheek.
    She took my hand and held it. “Please don’t tell Maddie,” she said, putting a pleading hand on Mr. Simcoe’s shoulder. “I want to be the one to tell her.”
    “And MJ,” I added. “Hopefully, they’ll be here next weekend.”
    “I believe that’s their plan,” Mr. Simcoe said. “And don’t worry. I’d never share your news.”
    The sky split with lightning and rain began to fall in buckets. The three of us darted for the shelter of the patio and hurried inside through the door to the lounge.

    “I love being home,” Rachael whispered.
    We lay in bed, her back to my chest, legs a tangle under the sheets, watching lightning flash and rain sheet across the sky through the window. I held her breast in my hand, her silky warm skin and rhythmic rise and fall of her chest lulling me into an almost-sleep state. But I wouldn’t let myself sleep until she did. Although she’d been exhausted on the way home, she was filled with excitement now.
    “Me, too,” I whispered back, nuzzling my nose into her hair.
    “I think maybe an outdoor reception at the Weston Plantation under big tents. I want a band, like an old-fashioned band to play instead of a DJ. Or maybe a band and then later at night a DJ. What do you think?”
    “It sounds perfect.” I moved her hair aside and kissed the soft spot under her ear.
    She turned and looked back at me. “I don’t want you to agree with everything I want just because I want it. It’s your wedding, too.”
    I pressed a finger to her beautiful, pouty lips. “My only requirement is that you’re standing at the end of the aisle. If you make that happen, I’m a happy man for life.” I squeezed her lips into fish lips. “As long as you say ‘I do.’ ”
    She laughed as I kissed her puckered lips. “I’ll be there. That’s a given.”
    “You better be.” I tickled her side and she squirmed, pressing her bottom against me. I grabbed her hips and grinded into her. She turned to catch my eyes, groaned, and licked her lips. “Oh, that’s it,” I said. “You and that luscious ass have done it now.”
    She laughed as I rose to my knees between her legs, pushing her short nightie up over her breasts. “There’s something about making love in a storm…” she said, reaching inside my boxers and pulling my cock