Love Will Survive Read online

  Love Will Survive

  Book Twenty-Six of The Forever and Ever Series

  E. L. Todd

  Chapter One

  Slade

  “She’s my wife.” I held Trinity’s hand on the table as I looked at the waiter.

  He held up the notepad as he tried to take our order. “Oh, congratulations.” It didn’t seem like he really cared that much. “Did you want everything on that?”

  “She’s my old ball and chain.”

  He forced a smile. “Very nice, sir. How did you want the meat cooked?”

  “Why don’t you tell him, wife?” I turned to Trinity. “My lady knows what I like.”

  The waiter turned to her like he hoped she’d be able to take over for me.

  Trinity gave a slight smile. “He likes his meat medium well. And yes, he likes everything on it.”

  “Thank you.” It was the first time the waiter seemed sincere.

  “See?” I said. “My new bride knows everything about me.” I kissed the top of her hand then returned it to the table.

  “It’ll be right up.” He walked away quickly before I could say something else.

  I turned back to Trinity, admiring her perfect features and the way she had a slight red tint to her face. We’d been in the sun a lot, and no matter how much sunblock we lathered on ourselves we still got some color. Even when she didn’t wear make up and her hair was in a loose bun she looked like the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen. I couldn’t believe she was my wife.

  Wife.

  “What?” She noticed my stare.

  How did I put what I was feeling into words? There was nothing in the dictionary that could describe what I was trying to say. “I don’t know.” It was the most honest answer I can think of.

  “You don’t know?” One of her eyebrows was raised.

  “I can’t explain what I’m feeling…it’s just a mesh of emotions.”

  “Well, try.”

  “Hmm…okay.” I considered my words for a moment. “Intense happiness. Unbelievable joy. Disbelief. Awe. Affection. When I look at you across the table…you’re my wife. I just…I’m damn lucky.” That didn’t justify anything what was in my heart. But I tried.

  She leaned forward and gave me an affectionate smile. It was usually the look she gave me when she was charmed by something I said or did. I understood her reactions at an innate level.

  She was my wife, after all.

  “I understand,” she said. “Because I feel the same way.”

  I didn’t think I could fall more in love with her but I somehow did. I didn’t realize it was even possible. Now I understood why newlyweds were in their own world. I always thought they threw their life away but I was wrong. It had just begun.

  The waiter brought the food and made a hasty departure, like he thought I was going to drone on about being a married man. My burger and fries were in front of me but I wasn’t that hungry. I hadn’t had much of an appetite since we got married—at least for food.

  Trinity sprinkled a few drops of dressing on her salad then picked at it with her fork. Even though she was fit and toned she still ate like a rabbit. She never deviated from her diet, not even on her honeymoon. I would normally comment on it and start an argument but I kept my mouth shut. Before I spoke, I wondered how my words would affect Trinity. If it was a negative response, I kept the thought to myself.

  “How do you like your food?” I asked.

  “It’s good. Yours?”

  I hadn’t taken a bite. I picked up the burger and bit into it. “It’s tasty—but not as tasty as you are.” If I had it my way we would never leave the hotel room. The Bahamas was beautiful and the water was practically crystal blue. But looking into my wife’s eyes while I made love to her was more interesting to me.

  She looked down while she ate her food, and I noticed her wedding band that sat next to her engagement ring. The whole world knew she was mine and I liked that feeling. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

  When we finished, I paid the tab and left a tip. “So, are we going to combine our accounts when we get home?”

  “I already did.”

  “Sweet.” I grabbed her hand and walked with her, being aware of her at all times. Even when she was directly beside me, I watched her movements from the corner of my eye. Now she was my treasure and I couldn’t stop hoarding her. I felt responsible for her but that sensation took on a whole different meaning.

  I watched the ground before her feet just in case there was something she could trip on. I studied the people around us, making sure no one was making eyes at my wife. When Trinity spoke, I listened to every word she said, almost analyzing it. I did all these things at once, my mind working on a super sonar system. “When are you going to change your name?” We arrived at the room and I unlocked the door.

  I was already in the mood to make love again. I’d had sex with Trinity more times than I could count over the years. We did it in every position imaginable, we used toys, and we explored the unknown together. Despite all of that, I still wanted more. I’d never been a guy who preferred vanilla sex, but with her that was all I wanted. I enjoyed the slow lovemaking that was gentle and full of caresses. Listening to her breathe deeply as she felt me move inside her excited me. I loved feeling her mouth caress mine slowly, feeling her lips tremble with every thrust I made. And I loved looking into her eyes, seeing that look reflected back at me.

  Trinity took her heels off and tucked her hair behind her ear.

  I sat on the bed and watched her, waiting for a response. “When are you going to change your name?” I repeated. We never talked about it before but I assumed she would do it. Why wouldn’t she?

  She stood in front of me and slowly unzipped her dress. When it came loose, it fell to the floor. She stood in a black thong, her blonde hair reaching her breasts.

  She always made me rock-hard. When I looked at her I thought she was so damn sexy. Her endless curves and beautiful skin sent shivers down my spine. But there was a lot more to my attraction. It ran deep in my soul.

  Trinity sauntered toward me then straddled my hips as she moved onto my lap.

  My hands found her hips and I gripped them tightly, loving the feel of her soft skin. I wanted to take her thong off because I knew the tattoo was underneath the fabric—the tattoo of my name. “I asked you a question, Mrs. Sisco.” Even that turned me on. It was such a girly thing to be hot over but it didn’t dull the feeling in my heart. I liked knowing she was mine. I wanted people to call her by my name, recognizing the fact she was my other half.

  She pulled my shirt off then ran her hands up my chest and to my shoulders. “I want you…husband.”

  My hand moved down her back and slipped inside her thong. I moved all the way until my hand was under her ass. Then my fingers found her clitoris and I started to massage it.

  Her nipples noticeably hardened.

  It was hard to focus on our conversation when a supermodel was sitting in my lap. “Trinity, when are you going to change your name? And don’t change the subject.” She was hiding something from me. She dodged the question enough times to make that obvious.

  “Let’s talk about this later,” she said as she unbuttoned my jeans. “I want you inside me now.”

  As tempting as that sounded I remained in focus. “Trinity, what’s the deal?”

  “I’m trying to make love to my husband and you keep sabotaging it. That’s the deal.” She got my fly down and pulled the jeans down slightly, letting my cock out.

  I was still hard but I was no longer aroused. “Are you not changing your name?” We never talked about it but I assumed it was implied. Married people had the same last name.

  She sighed in defeat when she realized she wouldn’t get out of this conversation. “My clothing line is tied to my last name.”

  “So?” What difference did that make? “It’s not called Preston Clothes.” And that would be a terrible name if it were.

  “And it’s a powerful name. It’s good for my business.”

  Was she being serious right now? “You care more about your business than having my last name?” I was stung—hard.

  “It’s not like that,” she argued. “It’s just—”

  “You’re my wife and you will have my last name.” I wouldn’t budge on this. “What are people supposed to call us? Mr. Sisco and Mrs. Preston? That sounds ridiculous.”

  “People can call us Mr. and Mrs. Sisco. We don’t have to tell them otherwise.”

  “No,” I argued. “I want you to change it. I want your mail to be addressed to you that way.”

  “Slade, just calm down.”

  I took a second to bite back my anger. We were on our honeymoon and I didn’t want to ruin that. But it was so hard to remain calm over something I was so passionate about. “It’s really important to me, Trinity.”

  “But it’s such a pain to change it…”

  “Then I’ll do it for you. Problem solved.”

  “If I keep my last name it doesn’t change the level of our commitment.”

  “It does to me.” I stared her down, telling her I wouldn’t back down.

  She looked into my eyes, her hair over one shoulder. “Do we have to talk about this now?”

  “No,” I answered. “But we’re going to keep talking about it until you change your last name. You’ve been warned.”

  Trinity’s shoulders sagged under the weight of my words. “I guess we’ll deal with that when we have to.”

  I pulled her underwear over then slowly slid her onto
my cock. She was wet despite our earlier fight, and she slowly stretched for me as I entered. I loved the feel of her tightness. It always felt right.

  When I was completely inside her, I gripped her thighs then moved her up and down. She was so light that it was easy to do. She kept her arms wrapped around my neck and moaned with me as she felt me stretch her over and over.

  Our fight was forgotten as we became lost in each other. My heart synced to hers and all I could feel was my wife. I leaned forward and kissed the skin of her chest then moved to the hollow of her throat. I loved everything about her, even her smell. One hand moved into her hair and I gripped her so she couldn’t pull away. Then we continued to move together, our bodies so tangled up no one could tell us apart.

  ***

  When I awoke, Trinity was wrapped into my side, her face resting on my chest. Her hair was scattered everywhere, the strands lightly touching my skin. I didn’t stir her but I watched her. Her lips were slightly parted while she breathed. I could see her two front teeth. I smiled slightly while I watched her, loving the fact I would wake up to this every morning.

  My phone vibrated on my nightstand. It only happened once so I knew it was a text message. Fortunately, it didn’t wake up Trinity so I grabbed it and looked at the screen.

  It was Cayson. Still alive?

  Alive and well.

  Just wanted to check. Having a good honeymoon?

  Haven’t left the room much.

  I figured. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

  I will if you don’t bother me again.

  Hey, everyone asked me to check.

  I put the phone down and returned to staring at Trinity.

  Her eyes fluttered open and she focused on my face. “Morning.” Her voice was dreamy, like she just came from a far away place.

  “Morning, Wife.”

  She smiled slightly. “You’ll never grow tired of calling me that, will you?”

  “Nope.”

  She sat up, exposing her bare back to me. Her hair trailed down the center of her shoulder blades.

  I loved her back. It was slender and curvy. I leaned forward and kissed the area between her shoulders, pressing a wet kiss on the skin. “Sleep well?”

  “I always sleep well with you.”

  “Because I exhaust you before bed.” I had a smug grin on my face.

  “Or because I need to feel your heartbeat in order to sleep.” Her voice came out quiet.

  My grin dropped in light of the sweet words. I pulled her back against my chest then buried my face in her hair. I never wanted to leave this room. We were in paradise, but Trinity was the only thing I cared about.

  “Are you going to hit the beach today?” she asked.

  “I’d rather hit the sheets.”

  A slight laugh escaped her lips. “We can only do that so much…”

  “I can do it forever. You know that.”

  “Well, you’re going to break my diaphragm, Slade.”

  “It’s not my fault you’re so tight.” I pulled her back to me and had her lay down.

  “How about you go to the beach and I go shopping?”

  I stared at her in confusion. Did I hear her right? “Sorry?”

  “You can go surfing and I can go shopping in town.”

  Again, I was drawing a blank. “Uh, why would we separate?” Was she annoyed with me?

  “Well, I want to go shopping and I know you hate shopping. I need to get souvenirs for everyone.”

  She was right. I did hate shopping. “What are you talking about? I love shopping. Of course I want to go.”

  She gave me a suspicious look. “Since when?”

  “Since forever.” My voice was high-pitched.

  Trinity wasn’t buying it. “Go surfing.” She got out of bed then opened her suitcase.

  “No, I’m not leaving you.” She thought I was going to let her walk around by herself in a different country?

  “Slade, we’ve been together for a week straight. We can be apart for a few hours.”

  “That’s not the issue,” I said. “It’s not safe for you to walk around alone.”

  She pulled a dress on. “I grew up in NYC. Slade, I’ll be fine.”

  “No.” I stood up and pulled on a shirt. “I’ll come with you.”

  “Totally unnecessary.”

  There were a lot of bad people in the world and I didn’t want to scare her with the information I knew. So I kept it to myself. “I’d rather be shopping with you than surfing alone.” I put my jeans on. “I don’t want you to go anywhere by yourself for the rest of this trip. Do you understand me?”

  She turned her heated gaze on me. “Excuse me? Just because we’re married you can’t boss me around.”

  “I’m not bossing you around. Just do as I say.”

  She threw her arms down. “You just did it again.”

  Why was she being so difficult? I didn’t want to fight. “I just want to make sure you’re safe. It’s my job. You can deal with it.”

  “I can take care of myself.” She put her hair into a loose bun then hooked earrings into her lobes.

  I stuffed my phone into my pocket. “You know this port has been cited as a sex trafficking location?” I watched her face for a reaction. “They look for beautiful white women like you and snatch them. They know you’re an ignorant tourist. Girls like that never see their friends and family again and die in a cell somewhere.”

  She turned to me with a concerned expression in her eyes. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but I knew my words moved her in some way.

  “Things are different now. You’re my wife. You’re the single most important thing in the world. I will take care of you at any cost. So instead of trying to make it difficult and make it seem like I’m some annoying control freak you will let me come with you.” I put my shoes on then headed to the door. “You ready?”

  Surprisingly, Trinity didn’t argue with me. She didn’t call me a control freak or accuse me of bossing her around. She grabbed her purse and joined me without saying a word.

  “Then let’s go.”

  ***

  My hand rested on her lower back as we walked past the shops. People walked by, holding bags and talking in different languages and dialects. We clearly weren’t the only tourists around.

  “I want to get Skye a bracelet or something…” She stopped in front of a jewelry store with cheap beaded necklaces and hand-made trinkets.

  “We don’t have to get them anything,” I said. “We’re on our honeymoon.”

  “But I feel bad,” she said. “They did so much for our wedding.”

  “Um…last time I checked I threw the bridal shower.” And it was awesome.

  She gave me an amused smile. “And I’ll never forget that, hubby.”

  “Hubby?”

  She turned to me. “What?”

  “I’ve never heard that before.”

  “It’s short for husband,” she explained.

  “Oh! I like that.”

  She chuckled. “Okay. I’ll call you that.” She walked into the store and started to browse.

  I was close on her tail, keeping her in my sight. We were in another country so I was protective of her for obvious reasons, but there was something different about our relationship. I was constantly aware of her needs and wants. I anticipated her moves before she made them. As much as I hated to admit it…I kind of reminded myself of Sean.

  Gross.

  Trinity stopped and looked at a counter of bracelets.

  I turned and noticed a set of squirt guns. I was tempted in filling them up and spraying Trinity when we were on the beach. There was even one that looked like it was made of snakeskin.

  “Where are you from?” A man in a French accent asked.

  “New York City,” Trinity answered.

  When I heard my wife’s voice I immediately turned around and marched to her, pissed off some asshole was talking to her the second I left her alone.

  “What brings you here?” He wore shorts and a plain t-shirt. He looked a few years older than her.

  “Honeymoon.” She extended her left hand to show him the ring.

  Before he could look at it I moved in front of Trinity and pushed him back savagely. “Get away from my wife.”

  “Slade!” Trinity turned her fiery gaze on me.

  The guy stumbled back and raised his hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

  “Walk out before I murder you.” I was dead serious.