Someone Else's Ocean(98)

“You made me choose the song,” he whispered, “I think it’s fitting.”

“So fitting,” I whispered. “I can’t believe we just got married, crocky.”

“I can’t believe you wore those damned gold sandals,” he said, pulling me closer and rubbing his nose against mine.

“Of course you can. You sure you’re up for this? You ready to be a Home Depot dad again?”

“I’m up for whatever happens. I can’t believe you’re mine.”

“I can’t believe you’re building us a house.” We both turned to the framed skeleton sitting where our sand alley used to lay. The only thing finished was the expansive deck and that had only happened days ago as a request from a bride to a groom for her wedding day. The width of the house took up both lots that our houses used to dwell on. Ian planned to repurpose some of the wood from the old houses to add character. I think a part of him was just as sentimental that a cherished part of our childhood was gone, and it was his way of incorporating our past into our future. It had taken us close to a month to get back to the island and far longer to handle the desolation that surrounded us. The day we arrived in St. Thomas, Ian proposed to me in front of our wrecked houses amongst the scattered remains all over our beach. He wanted to turn one of our most miserable days into the happiest, and he managed it on bended knee with the question of forever and future promises pouring from his beautiful lips. We spent our days helping with the cleanup and our nights catching up. Our love paved the way through the endless wreckage that once was our paradise. We lived off love in the worst of conditions and nearly a year later, we were beginning to see some semblance of our dream. The day we broke ground on our new house, I started to plan our wedding.

I danced with my husband as Cyndi sang our love’s lullaby thinking about the past year and the ones ahead of us.

“This is everything I had hoped,” I said, feeling tearful. “Gah, I’m so emotional lately.”

Ian’s smile deepened. “You think maybe that’s a good sign?”

“No,” I said with a sigh. “Dr. Z said it will probably take a while with being on birth control so long and then there are my asshole ovaries.”

“Have faith, beauty,” he said. “We have time, plenty of time.”

“I know, I’m not worried about it. I just gained a teenager.”

“She’s just agreed to stay for the summer, and she keeps eyeing that kid who lives a few streets over,” he shook his head, “let the good times roll. Remember new wife of mine, no boys, those are the rules.”

“I have equal say now and you just made it so. I think it’s time for her to date.”

Ian winced as if I’d punched him. “Are you kidding me? No way.”

“She’s plenty old enough and she’s probably going to start with or without your consent. So, you might as well give her a little freedom.”

“Are you purposefully trying to give me a fucking heart attack on our wedding night?”

“Don’t die just yet. I need your sperm.”

He scoffed. “How romantic.”

“And I’m horny. We should go fuck while everyone is dancing.”

Ian’s eyes bulged. “Do you hear yourself right now?”

“What? Like your mouth isn’t ten times worse. Besides, it’s the hormones,” I whispered. “We can make all the sweet wedding night love later. Now come see to my needs, Pleasure Prince.”

I yanked at his hand as he laughed loudly behind me. “Oh, my God, woman, I love you so damned much.”

Behind his back, I signaled Ella the okay as she pulled her island crush toward the dance floor and mouthed. “Thank you.”

Giving her the thumbs up, I smiled inwardly as Ian stomped enthusiastically through the sand toward our half a house. Minutes later, my back against the wood frame, my dress was around my waist, Ian drove into me as I bit into his shoulder to stifle my moans.

“I could do this forever with you,” he whispered as he cradled me in his palms, holding me tightly to him.

“That’s kind of the point of the day,” I whispered against his neck, “we get to do this forever.”

He pulled back to gaze down at me, slowing his pace as he thrust in, the feel of him too much and not enough. There was nothing funny about the look in his eyes.

He stopped his movements and leaned down kissing me so tenderly, tears surfaced.

“My beautiful wife,” he dipped in. “I never thought I would be this happy.”

“Ian.”

“I love you so much, baby,” he said making me ache and filling it all at once. “So much.”

Connected on every level, he gently pushed in again filling me over and over as I clung to him, our labored breaths mingling as we sank into a slow rhythm until I came apart, my body shuddering as he kissed me again and again, his tongue tasting, taking, savoring as he slid it gently against mine.

His body tensed as I leaned in and whispered, “I love you.” He let go then, his frame shaking as he let out a long breath. He pulled back as we stared at each other in wonder, neither of us taking a single second for granted. It was a testament to what we had to look forward to, a collection of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months that would turn into years of the same love we both thrived on. His excitement matched mine as we shared our happiness with a smile and then sealed it with a kiss underneath the stars we unveiled for the other.