Meant To Be (45 page)

****

They’d been married for seven months, the happiest seven months of Daniel’s life. Except for the eight months prior to that when they were engaged. And the five years prior to that when she was his best friend. He still couldn’t believe it sometimes. That fate had allowed them to find one another, had brought them together and led them to such joy.

He moaned as her arms curled around him. He could never get over how warm she was, how soft and inviting. Her sweetness dissolved on his tongue, making him crave more. He braced one hand on the headboard to keep it from squeaking and waking the sleeping five-year-old in the next room.

He slipped between her legs, sighing as he brushed against her wetness. “Perhaps I should wear these glasses all the time.”

The vibration of her laughter trilled through him. “Perhaps you should.” She raised her hips beneath him and he sank into her. Her breath came in hot puffs against his neck. He inhaled the vanilla scent of her hair then kissed his way back to her lovely mouth.

Her ankles locked behind him and he felt her liquefying. He pulled back to look at her, eyes shut, lips parted, breath catching in her beautifully arched throat. He loved to watch her come.

“Daniel,” she gasped, pulsating around him. He’d never told her, but the sound of her calling his name was his favorite part. He slowed his pace, hoping to take her for round two. Marienne seemed to have other ideas, changing position, tilting her hips so he plunged even deeper. She quickened their rhythm, straining against him, her fingers clasping at his back and he was powerless against her. He pressed his lips together, trying not to groan too loudly, as he throbbed inside her.

Marienne snuggled alongside him. He stroked her arm, half asleep and wholly content.

“You like the glasses better now?” she whispered.

“Very much so.” He laughed. He’d forgotten he was still wearing them. “Though they’re a bit smudged.” He closed one eye, then the other, trying to see which lens was clearer.

“Here.” She took them off his face, opened her mouth and puffed her breath onto one lens.

“Well now I like them even better,” he said. “Though I’m a bit jealous.” He nuzzled her with his nose.

“Do you want these clean, or not?”

“Will it involve more of the puffing?”

“Yes.”

“Then by all means continue.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, feigning annoyance, then puffed again.

“Ooo, baby,” he said.

She shook her head as she polished the lenses with the edge of her tank top.

“A little to the left,” he said. That did it. She giggled.

“Here.” She placed them on his nose. “Better?”

“Much. But you’ve made me too tired to read.”

She swatted at him but he caught her arm, pulling her closer. “I love you,” he said, kissing her, wanting more of the sweetness.

****

Daniel yawned and stretched. He could hear water running then the sound of the bathroom door opening. Before he opened his eyes, he could see the sunlight streaming into the still darkened bedroom.

He felt Marienne sit down on the edge of the bed next to him and wondered why she was up so early. Neither of them were morning people, and it was Saturday. They usually let Ella be their alarm clock, and he had yet to hear her tapping at their door.

He reached his arm around Marienne’s waist, eyes still closed. He opened them to see her polishing his glasses again.

“Mmmmm.” He tightened his grip on her. “Good morning.” He kissed her leg.

“Good morning.” She leaned in and kissed him. “Do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“I need you to read something.”

He was still groggy, but he placed the glasses on his face.

“I need to know if you see one line or two.”

One line or two?
She handed him three plastic sticks. He blinked as he took them from her. Each stick had a clear plastic window displaying a series of lines. His mouth fell open. He looked up to find her staring at him, eyes shimmering. “Are you?” he wanted to hear her say it.

“Yes.” She nodded. Her eyes brimmed with tears.

He looked at the sticks then back at her as it sank in.

We’re having a baby.

A Note from the Editor

Hi there. My name is Lola, and I am the editor of
Meant to Be
. I love that we get to find out what happens next in
Holding On
. I’m the senior editor for the After Happily Ever line at Turquoise Morning Press, so finding out what happens next is how I roll. I’ve gotten permission from the publisher to give you a special code for a 25% discount on
Holding On
when it’s released in November 2012. This code for
Holding On
is good for the digital download when ordered through the Turquoise Morning Press website. All you have to do is send me your email address. When
Holding On
is released, I’ll send you an email with the discount code in it. Then you get to find out what happens next.

Here’s my email address: [email protected]

See you in November!

Lola del Sol,

Senior Editor, After Happily Ever

Turquoise Morning Press

ABOUT KAREN STIVALI

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another, so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details.

Meant To Be
is Karen’s first full length novel.

To learn more about Karen and her other writing projects you can visit her website
http://karenstivali.com

Look for future books from Karen Stivali

Holding On
, the sequel to
Meant to Be

If you enjoyed Karen Stivali’s
Meant To Be
,

you might also enjoy these authors

published by Turquoise Morning Press:

Margaret Ethridge, author of
Contentment

Suzanne Barrett, author of
An Irish Rogue

Maddie James, author of
Crazy for You

Lozi Hart, author of
Bluegrass Bountiful

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