First Class Voyage

13.

DAY 11 – SAN JUAN

Katy awoke with her cheek resting on Mark’s chest, their legs entwined, and the sunshine streaming through the glass door. It was still early, as Mark usually woke before her and he was still in a deep sleep.

Carefully, she slid from the bed and tiptoed to the bathroom, quietly closing the door behind her. A dream had awoken her; a dream of their honeymoon. It was warm and peaceful and they were on a beach with the most amazing clear water at their feet. She was happy and calm.

With a smile on her face, her eyes had opened and she was instantly disappointed it had not been real. It was time. She was ready. When they returned home, she would tell Mark she would marry him, and the sooner the better.

She crept back to bed and slid back under the covers. She didn’t go back to sleep. She cuddled with the man of her dreams.

*****

“She’s dating a strange man she met on a ship! How can I not be worried?” sighed Janie.

Matt pulled her closer to his side and kissed her forehead. He was trying not to downplay his wife’s concerns but he also knew that Patty was a grown woman who was able to make her own decisions. Her judgment could be trusted.

“Have you ever known your mom to take unwarranted risks? To make silly, impetuous decisions?”

Janie shook her head. No, her mother was sane. But this was also very out of the norm for her too.

“She has been alone for a very long time.”

“I know,” agreed Janie. “But this just isn’t like her.”

“How do you know?” asked Matt. “You have not lived in the same city for four years. She may be dating regularly. And you can’t blame her for that if she was.”

“The voice of reason,” she frowned. “You’re probably right.”

Janie thought back to her childhood. She could not ever remember her mother going on a date. Not since the day her father had died suddenly of a heart attack. Janie was thirteen, and she and her two younger sisters had been the only focus of her mother’s life since.

Janie understood loss. When her first husband had died of cancer five years ago, she was inconsolable. She couldn’t imagine having to put on a brave face every morning and care for three young children. She had realized just how strong and marvelous her mother really was. And her father had died over thirty years ago. Janie had a hard time remembering his face without the aid of a photograph. No, she couldn’t fault Patty for wanting companionship.

“I suppose it’s harmless enough,” she conceded.

Matt just grinned at his wife.

*****

“I love your skin,” Mark growled as he nibbled on Katy’s shoulders.

After a room service breakfast, they were ready to venture onto the beautiful island of San Juan. Mark had been there many, many times over the years, but this was Katy’s first visit to the tropical paradise. She wore a white cotton dress with spaghetti straps. Her bronze skin was too much of a temptation for Mark.

“Come on,” she giggled. “We need to go.”

“Fine,” Mark chuckled. “Let’s go.”

They made their way off the boat and strolled down the dock hand in hand. Mark was going to show her his San Juan; everything he loved to see when he had been there before. He wanted to share it with her. He wanted to share everything with her.

*****

Maureen sat on her balcony watching the passengers disembark. She didn’t have anything specific planned for the day so she was in no hurry.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “There’s Mark and Katy.” She waved frantically but they didn’t look up to see her.

“I do love that girl,” she sighed.

Peter chuckled. “Don’t sound so happy about it.”

“Oh Peter! What if she never marries Mark? What if in twenty years they’re still engaged?”

“Well you won’t need to worry about that because you’ll be dead.”

“Peter!” she exclaimed. “That’s a terrible thing to say.”

“You think you’re going to live forever?”

Maureen frowned. “Fine! I want to see them married before I die.”

Peter walked to his wife and kissed her. “I’m taking Andrew and Rory golfing again.”

“Of course you are,” she smirked.

“They will get married, Maureen. I know it. You’ll have another daughter…officially.”

Peter hoisted his clubs onto his shoulder and Maureen was left by herself with her thoughts.

She did consider Katy her daughter. She loved her no less than if she had born her herself. And she knew that Katy was completely in love with her son. She couldn’t have asked for any woman to love him more. She knew it wasn’t possible. So, what if she didn’t live to see them married? As long as they were happy would it be so bad?

*****

Mark and Katy wandered the streets of San Juan, entranced by the sights and smells of the old city. They walked several blocks and arrived at Castillo San Cristobal, a Spanish fort that began being built in the seventeenth century. Katy had never been a real history buff, but with Mark as her personal tour guide, she soon became fascinated with the place. He knew so much about it.

“Originally, it was much larger than this, but they knocked down a considerable amount when the city became too big and they needed more roads and space.”

“You know your stuff,” Katy grinned.

“Oh, I love this place,” Mark beamed. “I come here whenever I can. Can you imagine what it was like in the 1700’s when this was a real military fort? Sitting high upon the ocean watching for enemy ships?”

They wandered through the buildings, reading the history, looking at pieces of history and taking some photos.

“For an old place, it’s holding up surprisingly well,” Katy said as her fingers traced the outline of a large stone in the wall.

“It was built to defend the city, fight the British and protect its people. It’s strong and made to last for a very long time.”

“You’re kind of like a fort, aren’t you?” Katy smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Am I?” He looked surprised.

“Well, you protect your family and defend your people.”

Mark looked into Katy’s eyes and saw a tinge of sadness. Would she ever be completely free of him? Of that bastard who kidnapped her and tied her to a bed?

“I will protect and defend you until the day I die,” he whispered and gently kissed her lips. “You never have to fear him, you know. He is in the past, history.”

“I know.” She attempted a smile. “You rescued me. I am forever in your debt.”

“No,” he said as he shook his head. “I am in yours. You rescued me,” he smiled.

“I think your rescue beats my rescue,” she laughed.

“Oh really?”

“Yes, really. So when you think of a way that I can repay you, all you have to do is ask.”

She kissed him and turned back to the canon they stood in front of and climbed on top.

“Take my picture,” she grinned.

*****

In all his years of sailing all over the globe, Paul had never been to San Juan. He was on a tour bus with his mom riding around the city, seeing the sights.

“You seem restless,” Maureen said to her son. “Is everything okay?”

Paul smiled at his mom and patted her hand.

“Yup,” he said. “Everything’s fine.”

“Good!” she said. “I worry about you when you’re gone. I don’t like to worry about you when you’re home too.”

Maureen’s attention was back on the buildings outside the bus. Paul closed his eyes, his mother’s words swirling through his head. He didn’t like her to worry. Sometimes it made him physically ill to think of her back at home worrying about him. But he would always have to put it from his mind because the mission came first. It always did and it always would.

*****

The next stop on Katy’s personal tour was Capilla del Cristo Chapel. It was a church built on an ancient wall that protected the old city. Unlike the fort, it was small, but beautiful. They were not allowed in, but an old man sat at the gate playing his accordion as tourists walked by. Most of them kept going.

Katy and Mark stood and listened to the music and when it stopped the old man told them the legend of the old church. In 1753, a young man was in a horse-race at the St. John's Day festival. He lost control of his horse and they plunged from the rocks high above the sea. The people prayed to Christ to spare the boy's life and miraculously he lived. To express his profound gratitude, the young man began building the chapel that very year.

They listened to the story and thanked the old man for his time.

“It’s a shame we can’t go in,” Katy sighed.

“You can see other churches,” Mark said. “The city is filled with them.”

“Yes, I know, but the story is so beautiful. It makes me want to see inside.”

He took her hand and led her back to the street and continued wandering through the maze of people and cars.

“Plus,” he added, “We are docked here for two days so tomorrow we could drive out of the city and explore.”

“I’ll go anywhere or nowhere, just as long as I’m with you.”

*****

Matt and Janie each pushed a stroller along the streets of San Juan.

“I wish we’d just brought the double stroller,” Janie muttered as she navigated her way through the throng of pedestrians.

“I asked!”

“I know. It was my idea. But I wanted to be able to take Ella out and leave the baby with Mom, so I figured two would be better.”

They stopped at a small café and settled in for lunch.

“What is it?” Janie asked after watching her husband for several minutes.

“Huh?”

“Your forehead is wrinkled. You obviously have something on your mind.”

“It’s Paul. He has a big decision to make and I can’t help him with it. Nobody can. He has to do it on his own.”

“Is it about the Navy?”

“Yeah. He really wants to get married but he won’t while he’s still a Seal.”

“I wouldn’t want to be married to a Seal,” Janie frowned. “That would be so hard. I’m glad you’re biggest threat is a paper cut,” she grinned. “Hopefully he can figure out wants he wants the most.”

*****

The ‘Museo de Arte e Historia San Juan’ was the next stop of Katy’s tour of the city.

“A couple of hundred years ago this used to be the main market place for the city,” Mark told Katy as they walked through the galleries housing local art. They toured the halls and appreciated all the color in the paintings and unique sculptures.

They didn’t stay long and headed back out to the street. As they walked, Katy could see the beautiful white church directly in front of them.

“Is that where we are headed?” she asked, nodding at the church.

Mark smiled and gripped her hand a little tighter.

“I love this place,” he grinned. “The first few times I was here I walked by it not really realizing what it was, not paying any attention to it, and then one day I went in and I have come back every trip since then. I’ve attended Mass here several times and even counseled with the priest.”

“Really?” Katy was surprised.

“Yeah,” Mark shrugged. “I was dealing with a certain woman, who shall remain nameless,” he grinned.

“What?”

Mark chuckled. “I was desperately in love with a woman who wasn’t interested in me, or so I thought.”

Katy was speechless.

“I’d come on a weekend trip to try and clear my head, but I would end up spending the whole weekend talking about you…to whoever would listen.”

Katy stopped walking and turned to Mark. She placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him tenderly.

“I love you,” she smiled.

“I love you back.” Mark tugged her forward and they reverently entered the cathedral.

“It’s magnificent,” she whispered.

“Rebuilt in the sixteenth century. It is a marvel.”

Katy slowly walked up the aisle toward the front alter. There were a handful of people scattered in the pews praying so they made sure to be very quiet. Katy gazed up and around and was mesmerized by its beauty. They made their way to the bench at the very front and sat down, still hand in hand.

Mark took a few minutes and prayed silently, Katy watching him make the sign of the cross on his body. She had been to Mass now many, many times. Most Sundays, in fact, they spent at St Luke’s, the Lathem family parish, and then at the Lathems’ for the weekly family dinner. Katy was becoming well-versed in the Catholic Church. Not well enough to be baptized herself, but she respected Mark and his religious beliefs and convictions.

They had been there for several minutes, now whispering about the architecture, when a small door opened on their right side and a priest came walking out. He looked at them and smiled and then slowly, recognition was expressed, a bright smile forming.

“Mark?”

“Yes. Hello Father,” Mark said and stood to take the man’s hand in a friendly handshake.

“What a wonderful surprise. It is very good to see you.”

“Father Carlos, I would like you to meet someone very special. This is Katy, my fiancée. Katy, this is Father Carlos.”

The priest extended his hand and Katy shook it and smiled and said hello.

“Is this her?” the priest asked Mark.

“Yes,” Mark chuckled. “This is her.”

“And you are engaged, no?”

“Yes,” smiled Katy. “We are.”

“Well, congratulations. I have often thought of you Mark and wondered if you were able to convince her to love you back.”

Katy grinned and Mark blushed.

“And now you are getting married,” Father Carlos continued. “When is the big day?”

“Um, we haven’t set a date,” Mark fumbled to find an answer. It should have rolled off his tongue quickly as he’d had to answer that very same questions a million times. But now, standing in front of a priest, in a place he had come to seek solace and answers, he didn’t want to come up with excuses anymore.

Father Carlos could see in Mark’s eyes he was unsettled. But before he could comment, Mark turned to Katy and took her face gently in his hands.

“You said, just a couple of hours ago, that when I thought of a way for you to repay me, all I had to do is ask. I’ve thought of a way.”

Katy searched his eyes for a clue, but all she saw was love.

“Anything,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Marry me.”

“Yes,” she smiled.

“Now?” he pleaded.

“Now,” she smiled.

*****

Father Carlos sat behind his desk in his office with Mark and Katy in front of him.

“We never do this,” he shook his head as he spoke. “But I will make the exception for you, because God would see you married. And I am honored that you would be married here.”

He was on the phone making arrangements for their marriage to take place that evening. Mark had produced from his pocket all necessary documents needed for them to be married.

“You carry that stack around with you in your pocket?” Katy exclaimed.

“Yes!” Mark replied. “On the off chance, at some point, by the grace of God and some miracle, that you would agree to actually get married,” he winked.

They had attended all of the pre-marital counseling with their priest back in New York. They had all the paperwork necessary to marry in the Catholic Church. Katy had been blown away by the amount of work they had needed to complete.

“We do not take marriage lightly,” Father Todd had told them in their very first counseling session. “And we don’t want you to either.” And after many sessions with their priest, he had signed off on their marriage, completing all the documents that Mark had now handed over to Father Carlos. All they had needed to do three years ago was set the date and show up. Father Todd was still waiting.

Father Carlos’ secretary had reviewed all of the documents Mark had produced and all they needed was the appointment with the Demographic Registry and Father Carlos was organizing that personally. After speaking for several minutes with them, he hung up the phone and smiled.

“They will take care of you,” he said.

Mark and Katy thanked him several times.

“Do you need to use the phone to make sure your guests arrive on time?” he asked.

Katy looked at Mark and began to speak, hesitantly at first.

“Mark, I know that…your family is very close but…I was just thinking maybe…”

Mark turned back to Father Carlos. “Is it possible that there would be witnesses here at the church? I think that we want to have this be private, very private. There won’t be any guests.”

Katy gasped and, as Father Carlos replied that he could easily take care of that, she threw her arms around Mark’s neck and squealed.

“Thank you!” she smiled.

The secretary knocked on the office door and entered to tell Father Carlos that at 6:45pm that evening, they could close the doors of the cathedral for fifteen minutes in order to have a private, but short ceremony.

“That sounds perfect,” Mark replied. “Thank you so much.” He turned back to Katy. “You’re sure?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “Very sure.”

*****

The Lathem family, in small groups, began returning to the ship throughout the late afternoon. The younger men would probably be back on the boat much later in the evening. The cruise ship would be docked in San Juan overnight, giving the passengers an opportunity to experience the city at night. It was the last stop on the itinerary and after tomorrow’s day in port, the anchor would be raised and they would begin the two day trip home.

As Maureen removed her shoes and socks after a fun day with Paul sight-seeing, she leaned back on the sofa and sighed.

“This has been wonderful. I’m so glad we decided to do this.”

“So why so glum?” Peter asked, coming to sit next to his wife.

“I don’t want it to end,” she chuckled. “We have them all here under one roof, so to speak. I see them all every day. Why would I want that to end?”

“Vacations can’t last forever. That’s why they are called vacations.”

“I know,” she sighed again. “It’s just that this trip has been simply marvelous. I can’t imagine it being any better.”

*****

Mark and Katy exited the taxi back in front of the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. They had used the couple of hours after leaving Father Carlos to visit the Demographic Registry, as required by Puerto Rico, and to purchase a simple dress for Katy and an appropriate island wedding outfit for Mark. He was dressed in khaki trousers with a crisp white linen camp shirt with leather sandals made right there in San Juan.

Katy’s dress was strapless with a sweetheart neckline and an empire waist. It was very pale pink and made of chiffon. It came to just a few inches above her ankles and she wore strappy silver heels. Miraculously, she had fallen in love with it the second she walked into the small boutique tucked away in the city. She hadn’t wanted white, but she hadn’t thought she had wanted pink either, but when she saw it she knew it was the one. She had tried it on and had a tinge of regret that Janie wasn’t there to share it with. The sales clerk had told her she looked lovely and Katy was sure that Mark didn’t care what she wore.

Now, as the two of them stood outside the cathedral, she didn’t really care what she wore either. All she cared about was the groom and he was standing beside her, their hands joined, fingers entwined.

Mark’s other hand felt in his pocket for the two rings they had just purchased. There was a small cart on the corner a few blocks away from the church. An old woman was selling jewelry made from coral and shells that she collected on the beach. They had found, miraculously, two rings that didn’t match exactly, but complimented each other in their color. They were made of sea shell and Mark had purchased them both after trying them on. They now sat in the bottom of his pocket, waiting for the moment when he could officially slip it on Katy’s finger and make her his wife. Nothing would make him happier.

At 6:40pm, they walked into the cathedral and the kind secretary was waiting for them. She smiled and welcomed them.

“We never do this,” she said. “You must be a very special couple. But please don’t tell anyone. We wouldn’t want this getting out. There would be a run on the cathedral,” she winked.

Mark and Katy looked at each other and grinned.

“You are very special,” he mouthed to Katy. He thought perhaps, for the first time ever, she blushed.

The secretary followed the last worshipper out of the building and shut the door behind her after a placing a small ‘closed’ sign on the outside.

“Mass begins at 7:30pm so we have a very small window,” she explained.

As they began walking towards the front of the church, Father Carlos appeared with two gentlemen at his side.

“The witnesses,” Mark whispered.

The priest shook their hands as they approached him and he introduced them to the two men that would serve as witnesses. They were Father Carlos’ brothers and they were very happy to assist.

Mark expressed their appreciation and the service began. Father Carlos offered a short prayer.

“Because of the uniqueness of this situation, and the time constraints, we will dispense with the readings,” he smiled.

Mark and Katy promised to be faithful and kind. They promised to be truthful and considerate. And they declared to Father Carlos, the witnesses and to God that they did all of it of their own free will.

Then they recited their vows, Mark going first.

“I, Marcus Peter Lathem, take you, Kathryn Estelle Miles, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”

“I, Kathryn Estelle Miles, take you, Marcus Peter Lathem, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”

“You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings. What God has joined, men must not divide,” Said Father Carlos. “Now you can exchange rings. Do you have rings?”

“Yes we do,” nodded Mark and pulled the rings from his pocket and placed them on the bible in Father Carlos’ hand.

“Lord, bless and consecrate Mark and Katy in their love for each other. May these rings be a symbol of true faith in each other, and always remind them of their love. Through Christ our Lord.”

Mark picked up a ring and slid it onto Katy’s finger. “Katy, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

It was Katy’s turn so she took the ring from the open book and held Mark’s hand in hers and gently slid the ring over his knuckle and down his finger. A tear fell from her cheek and landed on his hand.

“Mark, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Father Carlos nodded and smiled. “You may exchange a kiss.”

Mark gently pulled Katy to him and kissed her sweetly.

“I love you,” he whispered as he let her go.

“You are now husband and wife,” the priest proclaimed. “Let me leave you with a blessing.”

Father Carlos blessed them with happiness and with love and understanding. And then he hugged them both and wished them joy in all things.

And it was done. They were married. Finally.

*****

As dinner was served, Janie looked around their table and noticed several family members were missing. She wasn’t surprised. Adam and Tyler were with Derek and Ben in the city. Andrew and Rory had decided to have dinner in San Juan too.

“I thought Mark and Katy were coming back,” Maureen said, almost reading Janie’s exact thoughts.

“Me too,” Matt said. “They must have found a great restaurant.”

“Well, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking today and I wanted to talk to Katy. I guess it will have to wait,” Maureen sighed.

“Anything important?” Janie fished.

“Well?” Maureen thought for a moment. “Yes. Yes it is important. I wanted to tell her that it doesn’t matter when she and Mark get married. I am done interfering and hoping. When she is ready I know she’ll marry my son, but in the meantime? Well, I will just enjoy my family. All of you.”

Janie dropped her fork. Matt’s jaw plummeted open. David’s eyes almost popped from his head and Peter choked on his mouthful of water.

“Well I think that’s very sweet,” Patty smiled. “I’m sure she would really like to hear that.”

*****

There was a car waiting outside the church. Mark opened the door and they slid into the backseat and off they went.

“Where are we going?” Katy asked.

Mark just smiled and told her to wait and see.

“When did you do all this?” she asked.

“While you were buying your dress,” he said as he ran his fingers over the smooth fabric covering her legs.

“Oh,” she smiled.

They drove for about an hour, away from the bright lights of downtown. They drove east along the coast, the sun beginning to set behind them. The driver pulled onto a gravel road and drove towards the ocean and when he couldn’t drive anymore he stopped.

Mark opened the door and he and Katy climbed from the backseat. The driver retrieved their small shopping bag containing the clothes they wore off the ship that morning and handed them to Mark.

“I will return for you tomorrow at noon,” he said and got back in the car and drove away, leaving the newlyweds in front a small house that literally sat on the beach.

“This is beautiful,” Katy whispered.

The shades of blue in the sky had turned to oranges and pinks as the sun slowly set. A heavy-set Latino woman opened the front door and greeted them warmly.

“Welcome,” she smiled. “Everything is ready for you. If you need anything, anything at all, I am in that house down there.” She pointed about one hundred yards away to the small house painted a bright shade of green.

“Thank you very much,” Mark said as he shook her hand.

“You are most welcome,” she said and strolled towards her house.

“How?” Katy asked.

“Angela works miracles,” he grinned. “As soon as Matt actually retires like he keeps threatening to, I’m snatching her. If there was a Nobel Prize for secretaries, she would win every year.”

“It’s so quiet here,” Katy said as they began walking to the front door. All they could hear were the waves of the ocean lapping up on the sand.

Stepping inside it was like walking into paradise. The floors were tiled in red clay squares. The walls were painted a clean white and there were two large ceiling fans moving the air. It was really one large space; a small kitchen off to the right and a dining table with four chairs and a door that opened on the far left which appeared to be a bathroom. There was a sofa and chair and a flat screen television and in the middle of the room was a half wall that doubled as a headboard for a king-sized bed on the other size that was filled with pillows of every color of the ocean. And then the rear wall of the house that opened to the beach wasn’t a wall at all but massive accordion-style glass doors that were wide open making the room feel as though they were already outside. There was a patio off the rear of the house with a grass hut style roof overhead and a table and chairs and a barbecue. In the middle of the table were a metal bucket filled with ice and a bottle of champagne and two crystal flutes standing next to it.

“Welcome to your wedding night Mrs. Lathem,” he grinned.

*****

Janie sat on the edge of the bed after trying Katy and Mark’s room for the third or fourth time.

“It’s late. Should I be worried?”

“No.”

“But why haven’t they come back to the ship? Maybe I should try his cell phone.”

Matt chuckled. “No. Mark’s a big boy and he can take care of them both. They are probably dancing the night away learning how to salsa, or rumba, or whatever. Now put down the phone and attend to your wifely duties.”

Janie’s eyebrows rose high. “Duties?” she asked.

“Your wifely…benefits?”

“That’s better,” she giggled as she removed her nightgown and crawled into bed.

*****

With the sand squishing between her toes, Katy stood on the beach and filled her senses with the ocean. Ever since her childhood, water had become a magically calming influence over her soul. She smelled the salt water and felt the grains of sand beneath her feet and the light ocean spray on her face. She watched the small waves breaking on the shore and she listened to the gulls above her high in the sky. Closing her eyes, Katy wrapped her arms around her body and filled her entire being with the magic of the water.

Mark stood in the doorway and watched his wife. My wife. I like the sound of that, he thought.

From the moment he had seen Katy for the first time many years ago, restrained and terrified, he had known that she would become a part of his life. But back then, he hadn’t had the slightest idea that she would become his entire life.

He stood behind her and engulfed her with his arms. He softly kissed her shoulder.

“This is so perfect,” she smiled. “I couldn’t have dreamt anything more perfect.”

“I’m very pleased you like it. Now, come to bed with me.”

Katy took her husband’s hand as he led her through the large opening and into the bedroom. The pillows that covered the white duvet were every shade of blue and aqua and pale greens. They looked like the sea. She removed them from the bed and carefully stacked them in the corner.

Mark’s fingers slowly slid up her arms sending shivers down her spine. She closed her eyes and let her sense of touch take over. Mark caressed her shoulders, her neck and her back that showed above her dress. Slowly, he pulled the zipper down till it stopped and the dress fell from her body to the cool tiles on the floor.

He kissed her shoulders and he pushed aside her hair and kissed her neck. He stepped away and removed his shirt and trousers and returned to his place against her back. Their skin brushed and they both felt the jolt of electricity that shot between them, igniting the spark that filled them with passion and desire.

Marks hands cupped her breasts and the warmth she felt went through her skin and straight to her heart. Why had she held out for so long? How could she have wanted to avoid this overwhelming sense of belonging and rightness?

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I know you do,” he smiled. “I love you too.”

She twisted in his arms, and found his lips, their bodies desperately needing the other. Yet the kiss was soft, sweet, a promise of love and fidelity.

Katy pulled away and placed her hand on his cheek.

“Thank you for waiting for me.”

Mark smiled and kissed the tip of her nose.

“You are worth waiting for,” he whispered.

The spark that had flickered ignited into a fire burning with need. Their hands were all over each other, their lips following behind. Katy hooked her thumbs in Mark’s briefs and shoved them down to his ankles and ordered him to remove them. Likewise, Mark slid her lace panties down her thighs but his fingers were gentle and he dropped to his knees to remove them from her feet. Slowly rising, Mark kissed his way up; up her legs, over her hips, across her flat tummy, over her round breasts and up her breast bone to her neck.

“I could do this all night,” he breathed into her neck as he tasted her.

“I couldn’t,” she panted. “I want you. I need you.”

In one swift move, Mark picked her up behind her knees and laid her on the bed, now sprawled in front of him, her eyes filled with longing.

Katy opened her arms, an invitation he accepted without hesitation. He climbed on top of her and her legs parted, ready for him to fill her.

“Forever,” he whispered as he slid inside her.

“Forever,” she agreed as she eagerly accepted him.

Their bodies joined together in perfect rhythm. Their hearts were joined forever.