Abby We’re nearing the end of the night, and although my feet are more sore than they’ve ever been and there’s a fine sheen of sweat on my skin, it’s a good sort of exhaustion that I’m feeling. I’m taking a moment to stand beside the line, sipping on some ice cold water to calm my nerves. It
Their mother chuckles. “Thank you again,” she says to me. With a nod and a final smile, I leave them to enjoy the rest of the party and head back to the kitchen. But as I walk away, I can’t deny the tears that have gathered in my eyes. I almost forgot how much I love children, and it fills m
Abby The night air is cool against my flushed cheeks as I sprint down the dimly lit street. My heart is pounding in my chest, and my feet carry me forward with a sense of urgency I don’t think I’ve ever felt before. It feels as if time itself is slipping away, and I need to catch it before i
Abby It’s well past two in the morning by the time I unlock the front door to my apartment. My feet are so sore that all I can think about is collapsing onto the couch, but I also smell like a kitchen and there’s a solid layer of sweat coating my entire body, so the shower comes first. I qui
And then, in one swift motion, I pull the belt loose and shrug the robe off of my shoulders. Karl’s eyes wander my naked body, a hungry look in his gaze that I haven’t seen in its full intensity in years. Without hesitation, he steps forward and touches my skin, my breasts, my hips. His touch se
Abby I wake up in the soft morning light, nestled in the warmth of Karl’s strong arms. It’s a comforting feeling, one that makes me want to nuzzle closer to him, seeking his closeness. But as the haze of sleep begins to lift, reality comes crashing down on me like a wave. I still remember wh
Our bodies are sandwiched together, and before I can stop him, he’s grabbing my wrist and pinning it to the wall, his other hand pulling my robe open and reaching down toward my panties. His fingers graze me there, and it sends a shiver down my spine. “You don’t need to pretend anymore,” he says
Abby After we shake on our new agreement, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. It feels as if a weight has been lifted off of my chest, and I can finally breathe a little easier; all thanks to a promise to keep things casual and take it slow for now. I look at Karl and smile, gr
Abby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “Abby, why don’t you sit down?” Karl looks up at me from where he’s sitting on the sofa, a look of concern on his face. He pats the spot next to him, but I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, continuing to pace back and forth in our living room. “I won’t sit down until I hear back about that
Abby As I chop, stir, melt, and saute, the others stand around me, watching intently. The pasta simmers on the stove, the air smelling like warm butter and spices. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But my focus isn’t on the rumbling in my belly, nor is it even on the lingering pain in my
As we continue searching, I keep thinking back on our last harrowing hunt for black truffles; those poachers nearly shot us. Even now, I can still remember the sound of the bullets whizzing past my head, and the thuds they made when they careened into trees. “We got really lucky,” I say. “If we ha