“Where are we going?” she asks, her big blue eyes looking up at me expectantly.

“You’ll see soon.” She sticks her bottom lip out in a pout and I laugh and lean down to nibble and kiss her lips. “You taste good,” I whisper.

“I had a Hershey bar before we left,” she whispers back.

I chuckle as the elevator opens and lead her to the Mercedes. I’d really like to take the bike this weekend, but we have too much stuff to bring with us.

After stowing our things, we’re soon on the freeway heading south out of Seattle. Julianne runs her fingertips up and down my thigh, sending shivers through me and making my cock twitch. I catch her hand and kiss her fingertips, and then rest our hands in my lap. She smiles sassily. “Later,” I murmur.

“Okay, spill it. Where are we going?”

“To the beach house.”

“Oh good! We haven’t been in a while.” She beams at me and I smile back.

“I know, we’ve been too busy building the business. We deserve this weekend away.” I kiss her hand again and she leans over to kiss me.

“Yes, we do.”

***

“Hey, baby, we’re here.” I brush the back of my hand down Jules’ soft cheek, waking her from her nap. She fell asleep thirty minutes into the car ride here and I just let her sleep. She looks like an angel when she sleeps, and we’ve worked many sixty to eighty hour weeks lately, exhausting both of us.

“We’re here?” she asks sleepily and sits up to stretch, pushing her breasts out against that sexy dress and my cock immediately stirs to life.

I didn’t realize until I pulled in the driveway how nervous I am about tonight. Telling her that I have a surprise for her was the understatement of the year. This could be one of the most important nights of our lives, and I just pray to God I don’t fuck it up.

Jules grabs her handbag and I pull the large suitcase containing both of our clothes for the weekend out of the backseat and join her on the porch, unlock the door, and follow her inside.

The rental company I use to care for the house in our absence has been here like I requested, and I take a quick look around. There is a fire burning in the fireplace, the logs not burned too far down, telling me they were here recently.

Perfect.

The dining room table is set for dinner, and there are chafing dishes on the counter with our dinner being kept warm.

Jules drops her bag on the couch and turns to look at me, her pretty eyes wide and her mouth dropped.

“What is this?” she asks.

“I knew we wouldn’t want to cook.” I shrug, pretending that it’s no big deal.

“More of your minions?” she asks, making me laugh.

“Yes, my minions.”

I leave the suitcase at the foot of the stairs, planning to carry it up later, and flip on the sound system, satisfied as John Legend starts to croon out of the speakers.

Jules has walked over to the fireplace, looking at the flames, her arms folded over her chest. The light is bouncing off her beautiful blonde hair and pale skin, and I can’t resist her. I wrap my arms around her from behind and bury my nose in her neck, breathing her in.

“You are so sexy, Julianne.”

“Hmm,” she murmurs. “You’re not so bad yourself, ace.”

I smile at her silly nickname for me, then kiss her soft neck. “Come on, let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

We pile our plates full of delicious-smelling pasta and white sauce, salad and bread and I open a bottle of her favorite champagne.

“Wow, you went all out.”

“Wait till you see what’s for dessert,” I respond.

“Chocolate cheesecake?” she asks with a grin.

“You guessed it,” I respond. You so did not guess it, baby.

Goddamn it I’m nervous. I’m thankful that my hands are steady as I pour the pink champagne into flutes and we sit at the table to eat.

“To you,” I hold my glass in the air and she follows suit. “The most beautiful woman in the world.”

“I’ll drink to that,” she winks and sips her champagne and I can’t help but chuckle at her.

When our food is consumed, Jules jumps up and kisses me square on the mouth, and before I can grab onto her and pull her on my lap, she pulls back, flashes me that sexy grin, and says, “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

She leaves out the front door with her keys in hand, and then returns less than thirty seconds later with a large black box in her arms.

“What the hell is that?” I ask.

“Your birthday present,” she responds with a grin.

“Baby, you didn’t have to give me anything.”

Just please don’t say no. That’s the only gift I need.

“Uh, duh. Nate, it’s your birthday. Of course I got you a gift.” She clears our dinner plates and sets the box on the table before me. “Open it.”

I pull the lid off and peel back the silver tissue paper to find one framed photo resting on a photo album.

I pull the frame out and stare in awe at the photo. Jesus Christ, it’s her. It’s Julianne, but she’s not wearing any clothes. She laying on a bed, on her belly, and she’s smiling at me the way she does when she knows that I’m hot for her.

Fuck, I’m hot for her right now.

“Say something, ace.”

I look up into her uncertain eyes and grin. “You’re so damned beautiful.”