Page 68 of Zane

"Let's go eat." He waded back to shore with her still wrapped around him and spread the towels before opening the basket.

"Oh, my goodness!" Her eyes popped wide open as she surveyed what was there. Golden-brown drumsticks, cold jumbo shrimp, slices of yellow mango, cheeses, huge chunks of watermelon, a tall flask of lemonade, and, of course, a bottle of champagne.

"Hope you have a big appetite." He popped the cork on the champagne and poured it into two flutes. Handing her one, he touched his glass to hers. "To us."

"To us," she repeated solemnly.

They made pigs of themselves and had to lie down because they were so full. Darkness was descending even though the air was still mildly sultry. A strong breeze was coming off the sea and had dried their skin.

Rolling over onto his stomach, Zane gazed at his wife and felt the familiar tug of love and passion deep inside.

"What're you doing?" Her eyes popped wide when he tugged the string of her bikini, exposing her breasts. "Zane, we're out in the open," she protested.

"We're isolated." He inched forward and sat up so that he was cupping her breasts. "And I've been dreaming of making love with my wife since I left the reception."

"We made love on the plane," she reminded him.

"It does not count." He was already torturing her by playing with her nipples.

"But-"

"Hush." Bending, he seized her lips and kissed her so thoroughly, it had her head spinning. Shifting, he covered her body with his.

"Zane," she whispered, her hands going around his neck. "I love you."

Emotions stormed through him and left him weak. Ending the kiss, he trailed his lips over her cheek and down her throat, where the pulse was beating like a maddened thing.

By the time he got to her nipples, she was writhing, her reluctance and fear of making love out in the open disappearing. Heat swamped her; desire was like a tornado moving rapidly through her body.

A gasp escaped her, and she had to anchor herself by gripping the edges of the towel when his mouth toyed with her intimate core. Stars dotted the now velvety sky. Somewhere nearby, birds were calling, and the sound of the waves crashing intermingled with the moans and cries as the orgasm exploded through her body, leaving her weak and spent. But he was not through with her yet, not by a long shot. Scooting upward, he peeled off his cargo shorts and covered her body, driving into her until she could feel every inch of him.

"Don't close your eyes," he ordered harshly. "I want to see the look in them when I bring you over again."

"I can't." Her hands were clenched on his chest, her body still vibrating.

"You can and you will." To make certain of it, he started moving slowly, in and out, gliding out until the tip of him was at her entrance and then plunging in until her body arched from the strength of it. She cried out again, his name on her lips as the climax slammed into her, taking everything and leaving her weak and trembling. It was only then that he let go and allowed himself the release that was begging to break free.

Rolling to the side, he brought her with him until she was sprawled on top of him. Using the extra towel, he covered them both, arms wrapped around her.

And then in silence, they watched the pretty sky with the scattering of stars and a full moon that bathed everything silver.

*****

They explored Negril, chatting with the locals, and were charmed by the accent and the words they were not able to understand. And he bought her gifts, little things like bamboo earrings in the island colors of black, green, and gold, and kaftans with the same blend of colors. They walked the streets and ate sugar cane from vendors. He made her proud by handing out money to the homeless on the streets and to the children scattered around.

And they would go back to their little slice of heaven, where he would spend the time making love to her until she was delirious with pleasure.

He surprised her by having the pilot take them into Kingston to visit the Bob Marley Museum, where he bought her T-shirts with the emblems of the famous reggae artist emblazoned on the front, in every color there was. Each time she exclaimed over a souvenir, he included it in the package. He also charmed the attendants and sales reps by trying to speak patois, the local dialect.

"You sound ridiculous," she told him with a laugh.

"You know that's not true, mon." He grinned at her as he mimicked the locals.

"You're an idiot."

Turning her into his arms, he kissed her long and lingeringly, causing the people in the store to cheer.

They visited Emancipation Walk, with the sun beating down on their heads. He had bought her a straw hat, which he jammed on her head when she complained of the heat.