Chapter 8

The eight hour flight seemed interminable.  Stephanie knew the destination would be worth it, but she was more than ready to get off the plane.   She unbuckled her seatbelt and paced the aisle to the bathroom and back.  After spending her time working outdoors with Habitat, it was a struggle to be cooped up in this metal tube with wings.  The slight layover in Hawaii had helped a little, but she really could use some fresh air, and a walk that included sand under her feet.  She stopped by her seat.  

Richie closed his notebook, slipped the pen into the spiral binding and reclined his seat.  “What’s wrong?”

She sat back down, “I can't get comfortable and I'm ready to be anywhere” she gestured around them with her hand, “that’s not here.”

He raised the armrest between them and patted his shoulder, “come on, put your head right here.”

She gave him half a smile and reclined her seat.  “I don’t need a nap.”

He waited for her to get comfortable then handed her a set of headphones.  “So, let’s watch a movie.”  Maybe that would help her settle down.  

She put the headphones on and snuggled into her man and dozed off to Mark Wahlberg and and his antics with his come-to-life teddy bear Ted.

After a short stop at Tahiti’s Fa’a’ā International Airport, Stephanie groaned quietly but held her tongue when they boarded a smaller plane for the short hop to Bora Bora’s Motu Mute Airport.  Richie took her hand, “‘we’re almost there Sweetheart.”  

She settled into her seat, snapping on her seatbelt.  “I hope so.  I’m more than ready to be done with airplanes.”  Glancing out across the water it was hard to complain with the view of turquoise water and mountain vista.  

After deplaning on Bora Bora, and making their way through customs, they were greeted by a representative from the Four Seasons Resort.   

“Bon Jour” he placed a fragrant flower lei around Stephanie’s neck.  “Bienvenue.”  Welcome.

“Bon Jour” Stephanie smiled “merci beaucoup.”  She thanked the man and she and Richie followed him to retrieve their bags and head out to the boat that would take them to the main island of Bora Bora.

Stephanie goggled at what they were calling a boat.  The “boat” was actually a luxurious Andreyale yacht complete with air conditioning, leather seats, cool towels to refresh themselves with and ice cold Evian bottled water.  She turned to look at Richie, “all this” she waved her hand around, “wasn’t necessary you know.”  She would have been fine with a simple tender boat and an every-day hotel room with a beach view. This was a little over the top for her.

He shrugged her off and opened a bottle of water.  “I know, but again, Sweetheart, it’s our honeymoon, it should be a bit more special than any other trip or vacation.  Let me spoil you for the week, would ya?”  He cast his gaze out the window.  She rarely let him do anything for her.  She was always telling him not to spend his money on her.  It was as close to a real blow up that they had ever come to about co-mingling their respective and sizeable assets, but she was his wife now damn it and if he wanted to spend a bit more lavishly for their honeymoon, he fucking well would.

Blowing out a breath, Stephanie grabbed a bottle of water for herself and took Richie’s hand.  “Come and sit outside with me?”  If she was going to be in the tropics, she wasn’t going to spend it inside in air conditioning.

They sat outside, letting the warm, tropical breeze blow the stale, airplane air off of them.  Stephanie couldn’t wait to get to their resort and take a dip in the pool or a shower to rid herself of the travel ick that clung to her.  “I’m sorry.  I’m being a cranky bitch and I didn’t mean to piss you off.”

He squeezed her hand, “I’m not mad, but could you please just let me do this for you, without any of that ‘I don’t need it’ bullshit you’re always spouting at me.  I, no, we have the money and I want to spend it on you.”

Even after all this time, she was still worried that he would think she was taking advantage if she let him pay for things.  It was ridiculous and after this, she had to find a way to let it go.  They were married now and what was his was hers and vice versa.  “Okay.”  She kissed his cheek.  “Okay, Rich, you’re right.  And thank you for doing this for us.  It’s going to be amazing.”  She looked around at the resort as the yacht slowed and drifted to the dock.  “It’s so beautiful here.  I may not want to leave next week.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into him.  “Thank you.  And you know, we can always come back if you like it here that much.”

“I’m going to hold you to that” she said as they stepped from the yacht.

They made their way into the open air lobby and were greeted with passion fruit smoothies as they checked in.  Stephanie wandered while Richie took care of registering them.  She inhaled deeply, the scent of the ocean combined with the tropical flowers went a long way to alleviate the travel crankiness that she was carrying around like a backpack.  She turned to head back in, she wanted a shower, a dip in that stunningly blue water, an adult beverage, not necessarily in that order.  She sidled up to Richie and took his hand, “we all set?”

He squeezed her hand, “come on, let’s go.  Our bungalow awaits.”

The  boat stopped in front of the overwater bungalow at the furthest point from the beach.  

Holy Jesus.  

She had seen pictures of the huts with thatched roofs on stilts over crystal clear water, but she had never dreamed she’d ever have the opportunity to stay in one.  She grinned at Richie as he helped her from the boat and onto the steps that led up to their home for the next 10 days.   “I can’t believe this.”  She took her bag and climbed the rest of the way and stopped on the deck.   The view of Mt. Otemanu was incredible.  

Richie came up behind her and handed her the keys, “go ahead Sweetheart, open the door.”

She took the keys and opened the sliding door.  Before she could take a step, Richie swept her up into his arms and crossed over the threshold.  “Richie!”  She laughed as he strolled through to the bedroom and dropped her unceremoniously onto the bed.   She levered up on her elbows as he crawled up next to her.  He reached around and pulled her over on top of him.  “That was mean” she tried to sound mad but it was impossible when confronted with his dimples.  

“Got you where I wanted you though” he chuckled as she shifted and straddled his hips.

She pushed at her hair and rocked against his burgeoning erection.  “Really?”

He pulled her down to him, his lips taking hers in a kiss that was as sultry as the tropical breeze that billowed the sheer curtains around the bed.  “I’ve been waiting all day to be alone with you Sweetheart” he murmured as his mouth moved from her lips to her jaw, her neck.   His hands slid under her shirt, long, agile fingers made quick quick work of the clasp of her bra.  Sitting up, he cradled her bottom in his lap and dragged her shirt and bra up and off.  

Burying a hand in her hair, he gently tugged her head back.  A gentle scrape of his teeth against her delicate skin had her shuddering.  Leaning forward he laid her back on the bed.  His hips between hers he ground against her even as his fingers made quick work of the button and zipper of her jeans.  When she was naked, he looked down on her, “you are so beautiful” he whispered as his lips touched her skin.  He touched, he sipped, he tasted every exquisite inch of her.  

When she was nearly incoherent with need he stripped off his pants and moved back over her, “darlin’.”  When she didn’t respond he tried again, “darlin’, look at me.”  He found her hands, twined their fingers together, “come on darlin’.”  He teased her hot, wet center with the tip of his cock.   Her hips rose to take him but still she didn’t open her eyes.  “Look at me” he urged.

Her eyes fluttered open, the green/brown orbs nearly black with want.  “Please” she begged even as she lifted her hips again.  

He shifted his hips and slid fully inside her.  He felt the tightening of her muscles and she went taught as a bow string as her orgasm consumed her.  The effort not to just let go was herculean.  He hung on and even as she started to come down, he pushed her, pushed them up once more.