Prologue

When you meet her, the second things you notice about Melinda are her eyes.

They're piercing. The deepest blue, they seem to bore into you. Her eyes see through all pretense. They show her compassion and her wisdom. And her love.

I lost myself in those eyes. They radiated a soft, post-coital glow. We held each other as morning's early rays shone into our bedroom. It was quiet. Peaceful. The perfect Blue Ridge day.

She cradled me in her arms, our bodies pressed together. Her hands ran absently up and down my back. Her soft featherlight touch left a trail of goosebumps on my skin.

I glanced over at the clock and groaned inwardly. Time to go.

Leaning in, I kissed Melinda one more time.

"Down boy!" she giggled, rolling me off her. "We have to get up."

"That's what I'm doing," I replied with a sly smile, humping up against her.

"You've already had it once this morning." Melinda slipped out of my grasp. "Save some for the trip."

She went into the bathroom of our master suite, wiggling her backside at me teasingly. I followed her into the large stand-up shower that could easily accommodate all four of us; she already had the water running. It washed over us and cleansed away the previous night's exertions.

Reaching around, I cupped her round breasts and pressed against her ass. I rolled her erect nipples in my fingers.

"I love you," I whispered in her ear.

"You're only saying that because you want something."

"And?" I kissed Melinda on the back of the neck. In that one spot that makes her skin crawl.

"Mmmmm ... I love you, too."

She put her hands against the wall, leaned over and gave in to the inevitable.