Chapter 71

~ Octavia ~

I felt the sunlight rays shining through the room beneath my eyelids as I tossed to my side of the bed. A strange sensation told me I was being stared at.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to find Franklin gazing at me intensely, his own eyes wide open. It would have been creepy if it wasn’t Franklin’s face. Right now, it was just romantic and made me shy.

"Good morning, baby," he said in that deep voice that made my stomach flutter.

"Good morning," I replied groggily, rubbing my eyes.

"How was your night?" he asked, reaching out to stroke my arm.

It felt as though what had happened last night at the beach was a dream. But waking up to see Franklin lying beside me proved it wasn’t. Last night had been real — and the memory both thrilled and frightened me a little.

Would things between I and Franklin really change?

"It was... great," I said, hesitating. "And how was yours?" I asked.

"Mine was..." He paused, his hand stilling on my arm. "Perfect. Magical," he finished, staring deeply into my eyes.

"Really?" I clarified.

"Yes, really," he said. Then he leaned in and kissed me.

"Aren’t you scared of morning breath?" I teased.

"You’re my wife. Why would I be scared of your morning breath? In fact, I love it — all natural." He winked, then kissed me again. I kissed him back, and eventually we pulled apart.

"Are you ready to tell the world the truth about our marriage?" I asked, uncertainty creeping into my voice.

At first, I had desperately wanted him to announce the true nature of our marriage. That was before last night — before his confession of real feelings. Now that he was actually willing to reveal everything, fear gripped me. Doing so would mean stepping down from his position as executive chairman of his family’s legacy. And I felt like I was the cause.

Would his alliances forgive me? Would they hate me so much that they’d spit at me when I walked down the street?

It all made me really anxioius.

"Yes, I’m ready," he nodded.

"You know, you don’t have to do it," I said softly.

He cupped my cheek. "Weren’t you the one who kept insisting I tell the world the truth about our marriage?" He squinted playfully.

"I know I did, but it’s different this time. Back then I didn’t care—I was shattered. Now I care. I don’t want you to lose everything because of me. Look Franklin, you don’t owe anyone an explanation about the nature of our marriage. I just don’t want you to lose your family legacy—what your grandfather worked almost his entire life to build, so you don’t really have to do this"

"Hey, hey..." He hushed me gently. "Everything will be fine. My grandfather won’t lose the company. I’m just going to step down from my position. I’ll resign — that’s all. I would be able to win back the trust of the board members again and perhaps be re-elected."

"But still..."

"Shh, no buts" he interrupted. "I know what I’m doing, baby. You just have to trust me, okay?"

I sighed and nodded. "Okay."

"Good girl." He kissed me again. "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah, very hungry" I nodded.

"Okay... want to have breakfast in bed?" he suggested with a knowing smile.

"Yes baby, that would be a romantic gesture," I agreed.

He reached for the suite telephone beside the bed and called room service. After ordering, he announced that breakfast would be brought shortly. Then he turned back to me, staring so deeply that I felt hypnotized and couldn’t look away.

"Are you sure?" he suddenly asked.

"Sure about what?" I replied, confused.

"Your feelings for me... do you mean it?" His eyes searched mine, looking for any trace of a lie.

"Yes, I do. I love you, Franklin. I always have," I told him honestly. "I’ve been attracted to you, even before I said ’I do’, though you were very offensive, but it didn’t change the way I feel about you"

Relief washed over his face, followed by a smile. "I’m glad to hear that."

"I know this sounds selfish, Octavia, but I really want to be the only man in your life—the one you’ll love and cherish forever. No man but me."

"Yes, Franklin. That’s what I want. You’re the only man for me," I nodded.

With that, he kissed me again, claiming my lips as his. His tongue slipped inside, teasing mine, twirling around it. A moan escaped my throat. We devoured each other, and just as things were about to escalate further, a knock at the door interrupted us—room service with our breakfast.

When the attendant entered, the look on their face made it obvious we’d been "busy." Our breathing was still heavy and fast.

"I’ll put a ’Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door for you both," one of them said politely. I blushed furiously.

"Please do," Franklin replied, pulling some money from his wallet as a tip. They accepted it gratefully.

"Thank you," he said as they left. He locked the door behind them.

"Now I feel shy," I muttered, covering my cheeks.

"Why?" he asked, concerned, walking over to me.

"They know what we were about to do," I said, hiding my face like a teenage virgin.

"So? That’s their problem, not ours. And I don’t care if they know or not," he shrugged.

I blushed even harder.

"You know, you’re even cuter when you blush or look shy," he said.

I smiled sheepishly.

"I love it," he added.

Then, effortlessly, he scooped me up in a bridal carry.

"Oh my God, Franklin—you’ll drop me!" I gasped.

"Not in your lifetime, baby," he promised.

He gently laid me back on the bed. For a moment, we simply stared at each other.

"Have I told you how beautiful you are?" he said softly, brushing my dark locks away from my face.

I said nothing; I was completely captivated by his intense, sexy gaze.

"I see all of you now, Octavia. You’re really beautiful."

And with that, we kissed again—harder this time.

He reached to undress me just as I undressed him. In minutes, he was inside me. He was hard and ready; I was warm and wet, waiting for him.

"Don’t... dare... close... your... eyes," he commanded with every deep thrust. "I want to see all of you—your beauty, your vulnerability, your wit... everything, baby."

I bit my lower lip, struggling to keep my eyes open amid the overwhelming pleasure.

"Ugh! Franklin! Fuck!" I moaned loudly, not caring anymore if anyone outside the suite could hear.

"Yes, baby! That’s it! Good girl! Say my name again," he grunted.

He leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment in bliss. Then he turned me over—his cock still buried inside me—bent my back, and gained full access to admire my ass.

"Fuck, baby, your ass is sexy," he growled, giving it a soft spank that only made me hornier.

He continued thrusting, hands gripping my waist. I could hear his soft moans.

"Fuck," he mumbled. "I’m about to come."

"Then come for me—because I’m coming too," I moaned.

Together, we reached our peaks, climaxing in perfect sync. He pulled out, and we both collapsed onto the bed, panting, sweat glistening on our bodies.

"Instead of a business field trip, this is one damn honeymoon," Franklin said, still catching his breath.

"True. Well, we never did take our honeymoon, so this can count," I giggled.

He pulled me close. I inhaled his heavenly scent.

"I love you, Octavia," he said, his hand stroking my sweaty back.

Those words—so real. How many times had I heard them in my dreams, wishing they were true? Now they were.

He tilted my face toward him.

"I love you," he repeated.

"I love you too," I whispered.

We kissed again.

As we snuggled in the afterglow, his phone rang, yanking us back to reality.

"It’s Anthony," he announced, grabbing the phone from the dresser and untangling himself from me.

"Yes?" he answered, pacing the room completely naked, unembarrassed. He looked like a Greek god—sexy, confident, powerful.

I rose slowly, walked up behind him, and wrapped my arms around his waist in a hug. I kissed the back of his ear, then headed toward the bathroom, knowing he was watching my naked back as I walked away.

I stepped into the shower. The cool water hit my skin, and I felt utterly contented. I stood there, letting it cascade over me.

I gasped softly when I felt his body press against mine from behind.

"Enjoying the show without me?" he whispered in my ear.

"Be my guest—join the show," I smirked.

He kissed my wet hair, then my neck.

"Ever made love in the shower?" he murmured.

"No, but I’d love to experience it," I said, turning to face him.

He flashed that sexy smirk.

"Allow me, then, to give you an experience you’ll never forget."

We kissed under the falling water—cool, sexy, poetic, magical, erotic.

I never wanted the romance to end.