NEARLY THREE WEEKS had passed.Three

NEARLY THREE WEEKS had passed.
Three weeks had been filled with laughter, love, and endless adventures.
Ever since that day in the hospital when Lailah had read to me about wanting to stick her toes in the ocean, I’d known that making every dream and wish on that Someday List of hers come true would become my life mission.
Giving her so much beyond that was just icing on the cake.
We’d spent the last two years of our lives slowly ticking away at that list—from sitting in a parking lot as I’d tried to teach her to drive all the way down to taking a hayride and carving pumpkins. I never wanted her to miss out on life again.
But now, in these few precious weeks, where life had paused and nothing else mattered but the two of us and the new rings on our fingers, I wanted her to know just how extraordinary and big this world was.
We’d started in Iceland, climbing mountains, exploring ice caves, and yes, even swimming in the Blue Lagoon. We’d spent five magical days in the Arctic before packing up and flying south for something a bit warmer.
It was then when I’d introduced her to the secluded Seychelles Islands.
When we’d landed and I’d told her where we were, she’d looked at me, quirked an eyebrow, and said, “Where?”
I’d laughed, loving that I’d finally stumped her.
As her eyes had settled on the heavenly tropical views, she’d suddenly not cared where we were, and she’d just fallen in love. Located in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles were known for their nearly flawless, untouched beauty. It was exactly the type of place I’d envisioned for our second stop.
We’d spent seven days under the warm heat, lounging on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and enjoying the never-ending views from our private pool. We’d even had our own version of Christmas right there in the middle of nowhere, exchanging gifts, after we’d decorated a tiny palm tree and danced naked to holiday music in our cabana.
It was a hard place to leave. But I believed sheer curiosity had played its part in getting her on the plane that day as we’d said our farewells, and soon, we had been flying to our last destination—Santorini, Greece.
Steeped in history, this hillside city looked like something out of a storybook. Thick white houses made from clay dotted the landscape so perfectly that it was as if someone had come along and painted them there. Every building, it seemed, had sweeping views of the sea, and I just couldn’t get enough.
Kneeling against the stucco railing of our balcony, I continued to stare out, watching the sun slowly set beneath the water’s edge. I didn’t know how long I’d been there, admiring the distant islands and lingering clouds. Every tourist website and travel book had boasted about the beautiful Santorini summers. With clear skies and beautiful beaches, it was a vacationer’s paradise, but during the winter, things cooled down, and so did the weather.
To me, the idea of having a little slice of Greece nearly to ourselves sounded like perfection.
And so far, it had been.
“Watching the water again?” she said, seconds before her head gently rested against my shoulder.
“I just can’t seem to get enough of it. I think this is my favorite place,” I admitted as the pink sky turned purple.
“You’ve said that about all three,” she replied.
I felt her cheek tighten into a smile.
“Really?”
“Yep. Every time I’ve found you like this, staring out at the waves, you tell me how much you love the view and how it couldn’t get better than this.”
“Maybe I’m just really good at planning vacations.” I smirked.
“I think the water calms you. Is it any wonder you planned an entire honeymoon that revolved around it?”
I opened my mouth but stopped. Turning, I saw her smiling smugly.
“See?”
“Actually,” I retorted, “I did do that on purpose but for a completely different reason.”
“Oh, and what’s that?” she asked, playfully lifting her chin, as she wrapped her small arms around my waist.
“Because I wanted to see you put your toes in the water, again and again, in as many places as possible.”
Her eyes went wide. A look of pure adoration swept across her face as she breathed me in.
With a purposeful tug, she pulled me toward the bedroom, and I willingly followed.
“I thought you wanted to take a walk,” I reminded her.
“No.”
Her body swayed with a sure rhythm to her steps.
“Find a place to eat?” I added.
“Uh-uh,” she replied.
Her eyes turned back to mine as we entered the dark room, now filled with nothing but the last lingering rays of daytime.
“You sure?” I asked softly with absolutely no intention of going anywhere.
Stepping in close enough, I could feel her soft breath against my neck, and I let her presence engulf me.
“Yes.”
Her lips touched the bare skin of my collarbone as she slowly unbuttoned my shirt, exposing new bits and pieces of me to devour.
I watched her for hours, days, it seemed as she took her time worshiping every inch, kissing and licking a heated path along my flesh that filled me with desire until I was nearly drowning in it.
She’d stripped me bare, in every sense of the word, and now, I planned on returning the favor.
She was wearing a simple sweater and leggings, and I easily undressed her, taking my time with each piece of fabric like I was seeing her for the first time.
Each time felt just like that first time—exhilarating, new, wondrous.
My heart still fluttered and faltered at the mere sight of her naked skin. My chest would constrict whenever I felt our bodies join, and a lump in my throat, heavy with emotions, would form as she called my name over and over, knowing I’d be the only man to ever hear her cries of passion.
Arching her back, I gently lowered her to the bed—kissing her shoulders, stomach, and hips—as I ventured down her lean long body. She squirmed in anticipation, aware the instant my mouth hovered around her upper thighs what my intention was.
“Please,” she begged, her voice breathy and low.
“Take control,” I urged, loving how fierce she’d been on our wedding night.
“With words?” she asked, sounding a little doubtful.
Bedroom talk always made Lailah a bit squeamish.
“Words work. Hell, you could direct my damn head if you want. It’s your rodeo. I just want to see the powerful woman I married. But after this, I’m taking control again,” I warned with a cocky grin.
Her indecisiveness turned more and more decisive as the idea developed in her mind. Finally, her expression grew determined as her eyes narrowed in on me like I was her prey for the evening. Her tongue darted out, sweeping across her lips, and sure enough, my cock responded, hardening in length, as I watched.
My palms twitched, and my mouth ached to do something, anything, as I waited for her instructions. I needed to touch her. Every second was agony until her hand finally reached out, grasping my hair to guide me forward.
Knowing the idea of giving instructions probably made her nervous and uncomfortable, I decided to go easy on her. Plus, the idea of holding out any longer was out of the question.
With both hands wrapped around her thighs, I spread her wider as she pulled me closer. With her body opened like a fucking Christmas present, I didn’t hold back, knowing exactly how she liked it.
Her cries tore through the silence of the bedroom, spurring my frantic motions further. As her moans grew deeper, my tongue moved faster, harder, sucking and lapping her sweet taste, until she was nearly writhing off the bed. She detonated beneath me, coming apart in pieces, while I felt each quake and tremor of her orgasm against my mouth.
Raw need consumed me as I dragged out each endless spasm to its fatal end, extending her pleasure for as long as possible. I wanted to take her, staking my claim and consuming her, but my need to protect her always outweighed everything else. Rising from the bed, I reached for the nightstand but felt her hand steady me.
“Just one night, please.”
My eyebrows furrowed as I stared down at her in the growing moonlight.
“Let me just feel you, feel us, for one night.”
My head shook back and forth, giving my answer, before the word even left my lips. “No, Lailah. I can’t.” I hated denying her anything.
She sat up as she folded her arms across her chest.
Reaching down, I clasped her chin in my palm, tilting her head upward. “I love you, more than anything in this world, Lailah, and as you can see, I would give you anything to make you happy . . . but not this. Please don’t ask this of me.”
Her eyes rounded as understanding replaced doubt, and finally, she nodded.
Reaching toward the drawer, I pulled out a condom and tore off the wrapper without breaking eye contact. “Let me keep you safe.”
Pushing her back on the bed, I knew, no matter what, I’d always keep her safe no matter what life threw at us.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

HAMPIR tiga minggu telah berlalu.Tiga minggu telah diisi dengan tawa, cinta dan petualangan tanpa akhir.Sejak hari itu di rumah sakit ketika Lailah telah membaca kepadaku tentang keinginan untuk tetap jari kakinya di laut, aku tahu yang membuat setiap mimpi dan keinginan pada bahwa suatu hari nanti daftar miliknya menjadi kenyataan menjadi misi hidup saya.Memberinya begitu banyak di luar itu hanya icing pada kue.Kami telah menghabiskan dua tahun terakhir kehidupan kita perlahan-lahan berdetak di daftar itu — dari duduk di tempat parkir sebagai saya telah mencoba untuk mengajarinya untuk berkendara sepanjang jalan ke mengambil hayride dan ukiran labu. Saya tidak ingin dia untuk melewatkan hidup lagi.Tapi sekarang, dalam beberapa minggu yang berharga, mana kehidupan telah berhenti dan tidak ada yang lain penting tapi dua dari kita, dan cincin-cincin baru pada jari-jari kita, aku ingin ia tahu betapa luar biasa dan besar dunia ini adalah.Kami sudah mulai di Islandia, pendakian gunung, menjelajahi gua-gua es, dan ya, bahkan berenang di Blue Lagoon. Kami telah menghabiskan lima hari magis di Arktik sebelum berkemas dan terbang Selatan untuk sesuatu yang sedikit lebih hangat.Itu kemudian ketika saya telah diperkenalkan ke kepulauan Seychelles terpencil.Ketika kita mendarat dan saya telah mengatakan kepadanya mana kita berada, dia melihat saya, quirked alis, dan berkata, "Mana?"Saya telah tertawa, mencintai bahwa saya akhirnya telah bingung padanya.Sebagai matanya telah menetap pada pemandangan tropis surgawi, dia telah tiba-tiba tidak peduli mana kita, dan dia hanya telah jatuh cinta. Terletak di Samudera Hindia, Seychelles dikenal untuk mereka hampir sempurna, tak tersentuh keindahan. Ini adalah persis jenis tempat saya telah dibayangkan untuk berhenti kedua kami.Kami telah menghabiskan tujuh hari di bawah panas hangat, bersantai di pantai, berenang di laut dan menikmati pemandangan tidak pernah berakhir dari kolam pribadi kami. Kami bahkan memiliki versi kita sendiri Natal di sana di antah berantah, bertukar hadiah, setelah kami telah dihiasi pohon kecil dan menari-nari telanjang holiday musik di cabana kami.Itu tempat yang sulit untuk meninggalkan. Tetapi saya percaya di keingintahuan semata-mata telah memainkan bagiannya dalam mendapatkan dia di pesawat hari itu seperti yang kita telah mengatakan perpisahan kami, dan segera, kami telah terbang ke tujuan terakhir — Santorini, Yunani.Penuh sejarah, kota Bukit ini tampak seperti sesuatu dari buku cerita. Rumah-rumah putih tebal yang terbuat dari tanah liat dihiasi lanskap begitu sempurna bahwa itu seolah-olah seseorang telah datang dan dicat mereka ada. Setiap bangunan, tampaknya, memiliki pemandangan laut, dan aku hanya tidak bisa mendapatkan cukup.Berlutut terhadap pagar semen dari balkon kita, aku terus menatap ke luar, menyaksikan matahari terbenam perlahan-lahan di bawah tepi air. Aku tidak tahu berapa lama telah ada, mengagumi Kepulauan yang jauh dan berlama-lama awan. Setiap buku website dan perjalanan wisata telah membual tentang musim panas Santorini yang indah. Dengan langit cerah dan pantai yang indah, itu adalah surga pelayanan, tetapi selama musim dingin, hal didinginkan, dan begitu pula cuaca.Bagi saya, gagasan memiliki sepotong kecil Yunani hampir kepada diri kita sendiri terdengar seperti kesempurnaan.Dan sejauh ini, telah."Menonton air lagi?" katanya, detik sebelum kepalanya lembut beristirahat terhadap bahu saya."Aku hanya tidak bisa mendapatkan cukup dari itu. Saya rasa ini adalah tempat favorit saya,"Aku mengakui sebagai langit merah muda yang berubah warna menjadi ungu."Anda telah mengatakan bahwa tentang semua tiga," jawabnya.Aku merasa nya pipi mengencangkan ke senyum."Benarkah?""Yap. Setiap kali saya telah menemukan Anda seperti ini, menatap ombak, Anda memberitahu saya berapa banyak Anda mencintai tampilan dan bagaimana itu tidak bisa lebih baik daripada ini.""Mungkin aku hanya benar-benar baik pada perencanaan liburan." Saya smirked."Saya pikir air menenangkan Anda. Is it any wonder Anda merencanakan madu seluruh yang berkisar itu?"Aku membuka mulut tetapi berhenti. Memutar, aku melihat Dia tersenyum puas."Lihat?""Sebenarnya," saya menukas, "saya lakukan yang sengaja tetapi untuk alasan yang sama sekali berbeda.""Oh, dan apa itu?" Dia bertanya, Main-Main mengangkat dagunya, seperti dia membungkus lengannya kecil di sekitar pinggang."Karena aku ingin melihat Anda meletakkan jari-jari kaki di dalam air, lagi dan lagi, di banyak tempat mungkin."Matanya pergi lebar. Pandangan murni pemujaan yang menyapu seluruh wajahnya sebagai dia menghembuskan saya.Dengan tujuan tug, dia menarikku ke arah kamar tidur, dan aku rela mengikuti."Saya pikir Anda ingin berjalan-jalan," saya mengingatkan padanya."Tidak."Tubuhnya bergoyang dengan irama yakin untuk langkah-langkah."Menemukan tempat makan?" Saya menambahkan."Uh-uh," Dia menjawab.Matanya berbalik kembali ke saya ketika kami memasuki kamar gelap, sekarang penuh dengan apa-apa kecuali sinar berlama-lama terakhir dari siang hari."Anda yakin?" Aku bertanya lembut dengan benar-benar tidak berniat pergi di mana saja.Melangkah di cukup dekat, aku bisa merasakan nafas nya lembut terhadap leher saya, dan saya membiarkan kehadirannya menelan saya."Ya."Bibirnya menyentuh kulit terbuka tulang selangka saya seperti yang ia perlahan-lahan membuka kancing bajuku, mengekspos baru bit dan pieces saya untuk melahap.Saya melihatnya selama jam, hari, tampak ketika dia mengambil waktunya menyembah setiap inci, mencium dan menjilat jalan berpemanas sepanjang dagingku yang dipenuhi dengan keinginan sampai aku hampir tenggelam di dalamnya.Dia telah dilucuti aku telanjang, dalam setiap arti kata, dan sekarang, aku merencanakan mengembalikan bantuan.Ia mengenakan sweter sederhana dan legging, dan mudah pakaian dia, mengambil waktu saya dengan setiap potongan kain seperti aku melihatnya untuk pertama kalinya.Setiap kali merasa persis seperti itu pertama kalinya — menggembirakan, baru, menakjubkan.Hati saya masih terbang dan goyah di hanya dengan melihat kulitnya telanjang. Dada saya akan mengerut setiap kali aku merasa kami bergabung dengan tubuh, dan benjolan di tenggorokan saya, berat dengan emosi, akan membentuk seperti dia memanggil namaku berulang-ulang, mengetahui aku akan menjadi satu-satunya pria pernah mendengar teriakan gairah.Melengkungkan kembali, aku dengan lembut menurunkan dirinya ke tempat tidur — mencium dia bahu, perut dan pinggul — seperti aku memberanikan diri ke bawah tubuhnya panjang ramping. Dia menggeliat di antisipasi, menyadari instan mulutku melayang di sekitar paha atas apa maksud saya."Please," Dia memohon, suaranya mendesah dan rendah."Mengambil kendali," saya mendesak, mencintai betapa dahsyatnya ia telah malam pernikahan kami."Dengan kata-kata?" Dia bertanya, terdengar sedikit ragu-ragu.Kamar tidur bicara selalu membuat Lailah sedikit mual."Kata-kata bekerja. Neraka, Anda bisa langsung kepala sialan saya jika Anda ingin. Ini adalah Anda rodeo. Saya hanya ingin melihat wanita yang kuat yang menikah. Tapi setelah ini, saya mengambil kontrol lagi,"saya memperingatkan dengan senyum sombong.Ketidakpastiannya berubah semakin menentukan sebagai gagasan yang dikembangkan dalam pikirannya. Akhirnya, ekspresinya tumbuh ditentukan sebagai matanya mempersempit di saya seperti aku mangsa nya untuk malam. Lidahnya yang dituju, menyapu bibirnya, dan tentu saja, ayam jantan saya menjawab, pengerasan panjang, ketika saya melihat.My palms twitched, and my mouth ached to do something, anything, as I waited for her instructions. I needed to touch her. Every second was agony until her hand finally reached out, grasping my hair to guide me forward.Knowing the idea of giving instructions probably made her nervous and uncomfortable, I decided to go easy on her. Plus, the idea of holding out any longer was out of the question.With both hands wrapped around her thighs, I spread her wider as she pulled me closer. With her body opened like a fucking Christmas present, I didn’t hold back, knowing exactly how she liked it.Her cries tore through the silence of the bedroom, spurring my frantic motions further. As her moans grew deeper, my tongue moved faster, harder, sucking and lapping her sweet taste, until she was nearly writhing off the bed. She detonated beneath me, coming apart in pieces, while I felt each quake and tremor of her orgasm against my mouth.Raw need consumed me as I dragged out each endless spasm to its fatal end, extending her pleasure for as long as possible. I wanted to take her, staking my claim and consuming her, but my need to protect her always outweighed everything else. Rising from the bed, I reached for the nightstand but felt her hand steady me.“Just one night, please.”My eyebrows furrowed as I stared down at her in the growing moonlight.“Let me just feel you, feel us, for one night.”My head shook back and forth, giving my answer, before the word even left my lips. “No, Lailah. I can’t.” I hated denying her anything.She sat up as she folded her arms across her chest.Reaching down, I clasped her chin in my palm, tilting her head upward. “I love you, more than anything in this world, Lailah, and as you can see, I would give you anything to make you happy . . . but not this. Please don’t ask this of me.”Her eyes rounded as understanding replaced doubt, and finally, she nodded.Reaching toward the drawer, I pulled out a condom and tore off the wrapper without breaking eye contact. “Let me keep you safe.”Pushing her back on the bed, I knew, no matter what, I’d always keep her safe no matter what life threw at us.