bChapter /bb108 /b

    bOlivia /b

    He led me down a path I hadn’t noticed before, winding through lush vegetation until we bwas /ba sleek ck helicopter.

    b“/bYou’re kidding me.”

    Alexander grinned. “Nope. Best way to see the ind.”

    “I’ve never been in a helicopter before.”

    emerged in a small clearing. There, bsitting /bbon /banding pad

    “First time for everything.” He guided me toward the aircraft where a pilot was waiting. “Morning, Jackson.i” /i

    “Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter.” The pilot nodded politely.

    Alexander helped me into the passenger seat and handed me a headset. “Put this on so we can talk. The rotors get loud.”

    Once we were strapped in, the pilot started the engine. The rotors began to spin, slowly at first, then faster until they became a blur above us. My stomach lurched as we lifted off the ground.

    “Holy shit!” I gripped Alexander’s hand tightly.

    His voice came through the headset, amused. “Rx. Jackson’s the best pilot in the Caribbean.”

    As we rose higher, my initial fear gave way to awe. The ind spread out beneath us, a paradise of lush green jewel surrounded by turquoise waters.

    “It’s incredible,” I breathed, pressing my face to

    the window.

    “Look over there.” Alexander pointed to the eastern side of the ind. “That’s the reef we snorkeled at.”

    From this height, I could see the full extent of the coral formations, spreading like intricatece work through the clear water.

    “And there’s our private cove.” He indicated a small crescent of white sand, secluded by rocky outcroppings.

    “Where you nearly gave me sand burns on my ass,” I reminded him through the headset.

    Alexanderughed. “Worth it.”

    The helicopter banked, giving us a view of the densely forested interior of the ind. Mountains rose from the center, their peaks catching the morning sunlight.

    “That’s where we’re headed,” Alexander said, pointing to the highest peak.

    “We’rending up there?”

    “There’s a small teau near the top. Perfect spot.”

    As we approached the mountain, I could see a tiny/clearing amid the lush vegetation. Jackson maneuvered the helicopter with precision, setting us down gently.

    “We’ll be back in three hoursb, /bsir,” the pilot said as Alexander helped me out.

    “Thanks, Jackson.”

    The helicopter lifted off, leaving us alone on the mountaintop. The view was breathtaking, a 360–degree panorama bof /bbthe /bind and the surrounding ocean stretching to the horizon.

    b21.25 /bbWed/bb, /bb20 /bbAug /b

    b“/bNow I understand why you said to bring a jacket,” bI /bsaid, pulling it from my bag as the wind whipped my hair.

    Alexander was opening apartment built into the rock face, from which he withdrew arge basket and a nket.

    “A pic? Seriously?” Iughed. “How cliché.”

    “Sometimes clichés exist for a reason.” He spread the nket on a t section of rock and began unpacking the basket. “Champagne?”

    “At ten in the morning?”

    “We’re on our honeymoon. Normal rules don’t apply.”

    I couldn’t argue with that logic. Taking the ss he offered, I settled onto the nket.

    “To us,” Alexander clinked his ss against mine, and I sipped, feeling the bubbles dance on my tongue.

    He unpacked the rest of the basket: fresh fruit, cheese, cured meatsb, /bbcrusty /bbread, and chocte–covered strawberries.

    “Miguel outdid himself,” I said, sampling a slice of manche

    “I might have given him specific instructions.” Alexander popped a grape into his mouth. “The chocte strawberries are for dessert.”

    “And what exactly do you have nned for dessert?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

    “Patience, Mrs. Carter.” His voice lowered suggestively. “Good thingse to those who wait.”

    After we finished eating, Alexander pulled me to my feet. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

    He led me to the edge of the teau, where a narrow path descended slightly to a natural rock formation that jutted out over the mountainside.

    “It’s called Lover’s Leap,” he exined as we carefully made our way down.

    “That’s not ominous at all.”

    “Not that kind of leap.” Heughed. “Legend says if you stand here with your true love, the gods will bless your union.”

    I stepped onto the rock outcropping, momentarily dizzy at the sheer drop below. Alexander’s arm went around my waist, steadying me.

    “Careful,” he murmured. “I’d hate to lose my wife so soon.”

    The wind wrapped around us, and for a moment, it felt like we were suspended in midair, part of the sky itself.

    “It’s like flying,” I whispered.

    Alexander’s arms tightened around me from behind, his chest warm against my back. “Better than flying.”

    I shifted in his embrace, tilting my head back to gaze up deeply into his piercing eyes.

    “Thank you for bringing me here,” I said, standing on tiptoe to kiss him.

    What started as a gentle press of lips quickly deepened. Alexander’s hand came up to cup my face, his tongue seeking entrance. I parted bmy /bblips/bb, /bbmeeting /bhis exploration with my own. The wind whipped around us, but all I felt was heat where our bodies connected.

    “Fuck, Liv,” he murmured against my mouth. “You taste so good.”

    His hands slid down to my bwaist/b, pulling me flush against him. I could feel his arousal pressing against my stomachb, /balready bhard/b.

    “Someone’s excited,” I teasedb, /bpulling back slightly to look at him.

    21:25 bWed/bb, /b20 bAug /b

    “bCan /byou me me?” His eyes were dark with desire. “My beautiful wife, on top of a mountain, looking at me like bshe /bbwants /bto devour me

    bI /bughedb, /bthe sound carried away by the wind. “Maybe I do.”

    Alexander’s hands slid lower, gripping my nket, setting me down gently.

    s and lifting me so I had to wrap my legs around his waist. He carried me back bup /bbthe /bbpath /bto bour /bbpic /b

    “What about the helicopter?” I asked, ncing at my watch. “Won’t Jackson be back soon?”

    “Not for hours,” Alexander assured me, reaching for the basket. “We have plenty of time.”

    He pulled out the container of chocte–covered strawberries, opening it with a flourish. “Dessert?”

    I plucked one from the container, and the chocte was still firm despite the heat. I took a bite, the sweet juices running down my chin. Before bI /bbcould /bwipe it away, Alexander leaned forward, his tongue darting out bto /bcatch the drop.

    “Delicious,” he murmured, his lips brushing my jaw.

    I took another bite, deliberately letting the juice drip. Alexander watched, his eyes following the trail down my neck to the hollow of my throat.

    “Messy eater,” he observed, voice husky.

    “Maybe I need help cleaning up.”

    His eyebrow arched. “Is that so?”

    I nodded, taking another strawberry and biting into it. This time, I let the juice drip onto my corbone, trailing down toward the neckline of my tank top.