Jovon checked every inch of the yacht before leaving to pick up Annie.

She had been feeling under the weather since two days now, and although the doctor assured him that it was some bug, he couldn't help but worry. Of course, he'd heard her throwing up early in the morning, always shutting the toilet door behind her as not to disturb him, and he pretended not to know anything. She'd get better very soon, his sisters told him. But he couldn't help but feel that everyone including Annie was hiding something from him, since they seemed to be talking in whispers all the time.

Andy had prepared Annie's favourite meal and left him with instructions for heating it up. He'd had the housekeeping staff ensure that the dining room was set to Jovon's exact instructions. The bed was made up with the new Egyptian cotton sheets he'd ordered that would just match Annie's dark eyes.

He had her favorite white wine chilling in the fridge, her favourite songs queued up on his Bose stereo. In fact, everything was as perfect as he could make it. He adjusted one of the blooms in the vase of Midnight Blue Torenia before he climbed the stairs two at a time and vaulted from the boat to the dock. He could probably run all the way to her house and not get rid of the excess energy that was dogging him tonight.

Seldom was he nervous about anything, but he was about tonight. He had played the scenario in his head a million times during the last few days. He'd gone over every possible answer she could give him and had a contingency plan worked out for each one.

He forced himself to stand still and calm the nervous energy. This was the same as closing a big deal at the company. Except a big deal never affected him this way. He had a lot invested in the outcome of this evening. He'd done everything he could ensure he got the outcome he wanted.

Then why the hell was he so nervous?

He shook his head at his own stupidity and walked to his car. Once he had Annie on his father's boat out at the sea, everything would fall into place. He knew she wanted to be with him. She'd said as much three days ago when she sobbed in his arms. And he knew she needed some kind of stability, so his plan was absolutely perfect.

He drove to the family house and parked out front, waiting for a few minutes before getting out. He refused to give in to the urge to get to her sooner. He had to manage his emotional response to her and so far, tonight, he was doing a piss-poor job of it.

Jovon rang the doorbell instead of letting himself into his own house. The double door opened with a rush of cold air. He glanced at Annie, his words dying on his lips. She was breathtaking in her simple silk sundress. The halter top dipped down in front between her,suddenly, full breasts.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" She asked, looking like a femme fatale.

"Uh-huh," he said, but he couldn't get his brain to work. Her hair was pulled up on top of her head and a few tendrils fell around her face.

She had on some kind of dewy lip gloss that made him ache to lick her lips. To taste them. He skimmed his gaze higher and saw the amusement in her eyes. He knew he was a goner.

Giggle erupted somewhere behind her in the house, and he knew without a doubt that his sisters, mother and aunt were watching them,but he didn't care.

Jovon stepped forward, put his hand on the back of her head and tilted her head up to his. He leaned down and licked at her lips. They tasted sweet, but when he thrust his tongue into her mouth, he realized he liked the way she tasted more. Craved her on his tongue.

His body stirred. He thrust her away from him, turning his back to her before he did something crazy like make love to her on the front hall table.

"Jovon?"

"Annie. . . dammit, woman, I have plans for this evening."

"Ah, sorry?"

He shook his head and cleared his throat and turned around again. "Good evening. You look breathtaking tonight."

More giggles came from somewhere in the house. Then someone, probably Alix said, "He's tongue-tied. We did good on the makeup and dress thingy." Then she was shushed immediately.

"Thanks. You look very nice as well," she said. There was a lightness about her tonight that he'd never seen before and as soon as he recognized it, he was at ease. She wasn't on her guard around him.

"I hope this is okay," she said.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said.

"My clothes. You said it was going to be a special evening, plus you also said it was a surprise, so I thought I'd dress up."

"I like you dressed up." He said. The only thing he liked more was her naked. But her clothing tonight was perfect for what he had in mind. He was glad she'd picked up on the vibe he'd sent her. Glad to see that she, too, was ready for a special night.

When he met her that day on the highway he had no idea how important she'd become to his life. He was glad that he was the one who met her that night, because he couldn't imagine her in another's arms.

"I thought you would. Do we have time for a drink before we leave?"

"We're going out on the boat so we have all the time we'd like."

"So, do you want a drink?" She asked.

"I want this evening to be perfect for you, Annie."

"I think it'll be." She said. "Come on in."

It should be funny that she was inviting him into his own house, but he was too nervous to dwell on it. Which was why when she gave him his favourite drink, a Grey Goose Martini, and poured a glass of water for herself, he didn't comment about it.

"To the future." She said with a faint smile.

"To the future." He echoed, tapping their glasses together.

He watched her take a sip of her cool water and tip her head to the side to watch him. He knew there was no sure thing, but he felt very sure of Annie.

Very sure he'd made the right decision as far as tonight went.

The sun was setting as they left the marina behind. Annie relaxed against the padded bench at the back of the yacht while Jovon commandeered the boat. Her entire body was buzzing from the way he'd kissed her when he'd shown up at the door.

They'd talked on the way to the yacht club, but not about anything important. Just the day's events. And it was nice to be able to share that with someone. She'd never really had that before Jovon. It was so different with Jovon. She had given up cautioning herself about expecting too much from him. She was filled with the love she felt for him. It made her nerves tingle.

She wanted him. Needed him. Needed to be by his side.

Which was why she'd decided to tell him about the baby tonight when they got back home with the evidence of the pregnancy kit.

Kicking off her high-heeled sandals, she walked across the deck to him. The breeze tugged lightly at her her and a few more strands escaped her clip. She felt them curling over her bare shoulders. Finally she reached him and wrapped her arms around his back, resting her head between his shoulder blades.

He turned in her arms, lowering his head to hers. She lifted her face, meeting him halfway. The kiss was everything she wanted, yet left her wanting more.

She framed his face with her hands as he moved his mouth over hers, skimming his tongue along the seam of her lips and then pushing inside. He tasted wild and untamed, like the sea surrounding them. He groaned and angled his head for a deeper penetration of her mouth.

He pulled her body more tightly against his. She felt the weight of her breasts against his chest and his big hand's wrapped around her waist. She stroked his face with her hands. He lifted her more fully into him.

His kiss left room for nothing but thoughts of Jovon. His hands slid down her back ,pushing her closer. He nibbled on her mouth and she felt like she was completely at his mercy.

Exactly where she wanted to be. She dug her fingers into his shoulders as she leaned up, brushing against his chest.

She glanced down and saw her nipples pressing against the thin bodice of her dress; they were very sensitive now and she attributed that fact to her pregnancy. Jovon skimmed his thumbs over her breasts before he slid his hands beneath the fabric.

"Sweetheart, you're playing hell with my plans."

"Should I go sit back down?"

"Oh, hell, no." He said caressing her back and spine.

She had feeling she was going to remember this night for the rest of her life.

Jovon dropped anchor when they were in the middle of nowhere. They were out of shipping lanes and away from other boats. The moon had risen and the sky stretched on forever, enveloping them both in the night.

His body still thrummed from making love to Annie, and he wanted her again. He wanted to take her down to his bed and have her again and again until she forgot every name except his.

But first he wanted to ask her to stay with him.

She'd gone down to the master bedroom a few minutes earlier to touch up her makeup. He hoped she reapplied that slick lip gloss. He was looking forward to kissing it off again.

Jovon went into the galley and readied their meal, then took out the presents he'd purchased for her, setting them in the different areas where he needed them.

He took a deep breath. He was a little nervous about her reaction no matter how he'd planned for it. He wanted her to be in his life for a long time. This was what he needed. What they both needed.

He opened the bottle of wine and left it to breathe and then checked the drawer where he'd left the paperwork he'd need later if she agreed to his proposition.

"What's that?"

He shut the drawer and turned to look at her. She'd taken her hair down and hung it in waves over her shoulders. She had reapplied her lip gloss and dress was refastened. In the centre if the V-neck he noticed a mark he'd left there.

He took a box off the counter. "This is for you."

She glanced at the drawer but took the gift and let the other matter drop. He poured her a glass if wine, then leaned one hip against the counter and just watched her.

"You're making me nervous."

He shrugged, taking a sip of his wine. "I like looking at you."

"I like having you look at me." She said, a hint of shyness in her voice.

"How can you be shy with me after all we've done together?" He asked, coming over to stand next her.

"I don't know. It's different when we're together. I forget about everything else."

"Good. Now open your present so we have dinner."

She opened it. He heard the gasp of surprise in her voice and he was pleased. He took the necklaces from the box. On the end of the chains dangled a pendant in shape of a half heart. What was really beautiful about it though, was the initials displayed inside the transparent diamond heart.

"Hold your hair up," he said.

She lifted her hair and he fastened the necklace. Keeping his hands on her neck, he leaned down and kissed her. He wanted to find a way to tell her everything that was inside him even though he knew he couldn't.

"Let me help you with yours." She told him when they pulled away. He let her put the chain with her initials around his neck. "It's beautiful."

"That way you'll remember me each time I am not with you." He kissed her again and lifted his head slowly; he took her arm, escorting her back to the dining area. He picked up the the gift-wrapped box by her seat.

"Open this one while I'm getting our dinner."

"Jovon, you spoil me."

"It's about time that someone did." He said. He ached for her past and childhood. He wanted to make sure that she had a safe cocoon for the rest of her life. That she never again had to face financial insecurity or worry about being left alone.

That's why his plan would work for both of them. It was a safe way for them to be together and not have to worry about the unexpected things that life sometimes threw at them.

He dished up their food, and brought the plated over to the table. She'd opened the second present, a bracelet that matched the necklace the necklace he had just given her. The heart shape holding the middle of the bracelet had one of the pictures Chessie took, the one where she stared up at him with love shining in her eyes, in it.

She fastened it around her wrist and glanced up at him. There was so much hope in her eyes that it was almost painful to glimpse it.

He knew he had to do this right. He couldn't screw this up for her. Her trust was a precious gift and he didn't want to abuse it.

"Thank you for the bracelet, Jovon. I wish I had something to give you."

"You already did."

"Sex?"

"No, Annie. So much more than that. A wise man once said that 'The only true gift is a portion of yourself'. You've given me the gift that I can never reciprocate. Staying with me even when I treated you like shit. Accepting my flaws and weaknesses. Welcoming me into your life and into your bed."

Tears glittered in her eyes and he thought, yes this was right. For once he was doing something he needed to do. He wasn't betting on charm to get him through, but speaking straight from his gut.

"That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me."

"It's only the truth."

The conversation ranged over many topics as they ate, and soon Jovon was clearing the dishes away. He brought out a fruit-and-cheese tray, his mom's suggestion, and a small box nestled on it.

He handed her the box after he seated himself.

"I have something I want to ask you, Annie. But first please open this last present."