Eva kissed him back, showering his cheek, and jawline with light teasing pecks. He groaned at the torture and placed her on the kitchen counter, his lips claiming hers hungrily. With feather-light movements, he caught her neck as if it were fragile, angling her head to dominate the kiss. A moan of intense pleasure escaped her mouth and all the pent-up frustration of weeks seemed to fade away. Her fingers delved into his hair, earning a throaty groan from him. His lips tugged at her lower lip, plunging his tongue in when she surrendered. His kiss was hungry but tender, his tongue exploring, demanding and promising her more.
She kissed him back wildly, unable to control her hormones. The pregnancy had made her a little more desperate than her normal self. Alexander pulled away reluctantly, leaving her mouth and resting his forehead on hers for a moment. “That was just the teaser! We can’t keep our baby hungry, right? Let’s feed it first,” he whispered, planting a kiss on her neck and helping her down.
Eva couldn’t wipe the smile from her face as she helped him carry the food to the living room. “We’ll have to get some furniture, but that can wait. After lunch, I want you to pack up enough to last us a week. We’re escaping to a tranquil place to spend some time with each other. Just you and me!” Eva sat down on the rug with her eyes wide with surprise.
“When are we leaving? I haven’t applied for leave at work,” she said with horror.
“Right now. You are on leave till Monday, aren’t you? Just call in sick for a few days.” Alexander helped himself to the delicious food while Eva looked worried.
“What if I lose my job, Alexander?”
“You won’t. Just relax for a while. They know you weren’t keeping well,” he said, feeding her lovingly.
“Where are we going?”
“Road trip to Mystic, Connecticut. It’s a secluded place, so carry all your medicines and necessities.” Eva’s face lit up excitedly, remembering their last road trip together.
“I love going on a road trip with you,” she gasped, helping herself to the food hungrily. “But why did you have to spend so much when we need to save?”
“Relax baby! Mike gave me a good discount since the rental property belongs to his uncle. We will save, don’t worry. I had a word with Ashton and we both are planning to start a restaurant venture here.”
“Wow! That’s excellent news. I’m sure you’ll do great!” she gasped excitedly. After lunch, they packed up and left for their honeymoon. Alexander disclosed little about their destination apart from it being a secluded place in Mystic, and Eva’s curiosity increased as they neared the place. A few hours ago, before Alexander’s re-entry into her life, she could never imagine going on a road trip in her condition. However, now she felt rejuvenated and chuckled at remembering their teasing about Alexander’s magic pill.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Nothing. I just remembered what Kendall said about you. She called you my hunky magic pill, since I’m feeling much better after seeing you.” They both chuckled at the weird description.
“Talking of Kendall. Do you know Mike’s interested in her?” Eva rolled her eyes.
“Stale news Mr. Van Every. Tell me something new.”
“Gabriella has asked Jax out, and he has agreed.” Eva’s eyes popped out with surprise and she laughed in disbelief.
“No way! Are you serious?” she gasped.
“Yes. Mike told me. The school kids these days are so outspoken. I will have to control our child. So, are you expecting a baby girl or a little guy?”
“I don’t know yet. My ultrasound to determine the baby’s gender will be after the first trimester when the baby’s genitals are visible.” Alexander absorbed the information with interest.
“I will accompany you on your next doctor’s visit. When is it?” Eva smiled at his eagerness. He had already transformed himself into the role of a perfect dad and husband.
“Next month. I’ll tell you.”
Alexander drove over to Orient Point on Long Island and soon they were aboard a high-speed sea jet ferry to take them across the Long Island Sound all the way to New London, Connecticut.
“I thought we were going on a road trip?” asked a clueless Eva, as Alexander parked his car on the ferry and helped her out.
“The road trip will take longer because of the heavy traffic. It’s not advisable in your condition. I don’t want to exhaust you on our wedding night. This will take an hour so, let’s sit back and enjoy the view.” They sat down to enjoy the ice cream and the beautiful view of the blue expanse of the Long Island Sound. Alexander looked more relaxed than she’d ever seen him before. She wanted to know so many things but hesitated to ask him. What if he took offense?
“You can ask me about everything you want to know.” Eva blinked and smiled, wondering how he could read her effortlessly.
“Why didn’t you contact me when I called you so many times? Where did you disappear?” she asked, holding his gaze.
“I didn’t disappear. I was busy stalking you, protecting you.” Eva frowned, taken aback by his reply.
“From whom?”
“Beatrix paid some criminals to stalk you and murder you if you kept any contact with me. I hadn’t taken her seriously, but when she tampered with my phone, I knew she wasn’t bluffing. It was being tapped to check if I contacted you. Maybe that was her last attempt to force me to marry her. It didn’t work, and she tried to malign my reputation by accusing me of theft at Rotterdams. I went through shit, Eva. I gathered proof of my innocence and then presented it before the board members before this fake scandal leaked out.”
“Oh, my God! Is she stupid? Couldn’t she realize these stunts would only widen the distance between you both? I remember the cars that trailed me wherever I went. That was the reason I moved into Maxwell’s parents’ house. Are the stalkers still after me?” Eva looked around as a tremor went down her body at the thought.
“No, I called the cops and had them arrested right in front of the Park View Hotel.” Eva gaped at him in disbelief. So while everyone was enjoying the party, Alexander was fighting a battle outside, all for her!
“The stalkers opened their mouths and admitted to Beatrix’s involvement in all this. The cops threatened her, and she learned her lesson. I called Maxwell many times, requesting him to cancel the wedding, but he was adamant. That was when I realized that the only way would be to barge in with my battalion.”
Eva chuckled, feeling relieved after learning the reality. She was unnecessarily worried about it. If only she had waited for him instead of panicking. Things wouldn’t be so complicated. “I’m sorry. I should have waited for you, but I panicked when I learned about the pregnancy. Maxwell’s family rushed to get us married, and I hardly found time to think this over, but I’m glad that it’s all over now. I’m glad that Beatrix is out of your life for good,” she said, leaning against his shoulder.
“Yes, I’m relieved to have her off my as* finally! She’s marrying her accomplice, Gregory Cromwell, who is the Director of Finance at Rotterdams. He’s a shrewd guy and I wouldn’t be surprised if he swindles her.”
“She chose this life. She shouldn’t have married such a cunning guy who’s after her money.”
“I agree. Their wedding is tomorrow, and we’ll be far away from all the melodrama.”
“Yes, I love the surprise, but where is this secluded place?” She was bursting with curiosity while he was being so secretive about it.
“It overlooks Long Pond. That’s all I’m going to tell you,” he said with a chuckle.
“Wow! I’ve never been to Connecticut,” she gasped with delight. Alexander smiled at her enthusiasm and caught her hand in his as they watched the beauty all around.
“I had to get away from here for a few days!” he admitted softly. Eva understood, since she, too, felt the same.
“Yes, I know the feeling!”
“Let’s switch off our mobile phones for a few days. I don’t want anyone disturbing us,” said Alexander. They took out their phones and eagerly switched them off. It was time to bond with one another for the next few days, and they looked forward to it.
“How does it feel to be married to me?” he asked, pulling her closer.
“Like a dream come true!”
They reached New London, and it took them almost fifteen minutes to reach the little village of Mystic. It was late afternoon and Alexander showed her the expansive, shimmering Mystic River as they drove along its shore.
“That’s the Mystic River Bascule Bridge. Isn’t it magnificent?” asked Alexander. Eva gaped at the bascule bridge, having never seen something like that before.
“Yes. Will we get time to explore?”
“Of course we will. Let’s get some food before we head to the cabin. I want you to relax tonight,” he said, parking his car and escorting her to a quaint little restaurant nearby. Eva’s heart skipped a beat at realizing what he said. She eagerly waited for their wedding night!