11:48 a.m.
When the captain announced that the plane would begin it's descent, Kayla folded up her magazine and replaced it in her carryon bag. Steve was still napping beside her as she slipped her fingers through his and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. He was tired still and no wonder since his jam session lasted well on into the night. Her idea of a Jazz band for their reception was the best wedding gift she could have given him. Joining the band on several songs, he serenaded her over and over again, until Jack had to pull him down from the platform so Jo could dance with him.
They were all able to make it yesterday. Family members from all parts of the globe trotted down and helped them celebrate for the fourth time, their incredible marriage. The week before had been one whirlwind affair from morning to night with relatives arriving and parties given for them by old dear friends. A few times they came close to declining mostly out of sheer exhaustion. But in the end they were always there, ready and eager to receive another round of praise and thanks. Stephanie nearly missed the ceremony arriving midnight the night before. Steve picked her up himself at the airport, unwilling to wait for his baby girl to come home. Benjy came with her and stayed as her guest at the loft.
When Steve heard about that arrangement, he immediately took Benjy aside and spoke with him a few minutes before allowing him to enter the loft. Obviously pleased with the younger man's answer, he let them alone and finally came home. Though during the reception, he was none too pleased seeing Elliot at Stephanie's side for most of the day. Whenever he chanced to be near them, they appeared to be talking of racing and Benjy himself saw no reason to fear that his cousin would act ungentlemanly. Still, Steve kept a careful watch and motioned Bo to do the same. Kayla chuckled at him several times, but he remained steadfast to the notion, his baby girl needed his watchful eye.
After landing in Ft. Lauderdale, Steve hailed a cab and spoke in a hushed voice to the drive, telling him of their destination. Kayla tried smiling at the mystery of it all, but she was starting to wonder if their second honeymoon would be spent just laying out on the beach sunning themselves. Not that it wouldn't be enjoyable, but she was hoping for something with a little more kick to it. As they drove through the crowded streets, Steve kept a straight face, looking amused as they passed the long stretches of beach. He ogled a few sunbathers, getting him a jab to the ribs, but in all, he was keeping closemouthed about where they would be going.
At some point, the driver turned back to them and nodded as Steve pulled out a blindfold and covered Kayla's eyes.
"It's a surprise baby! So you won't know until we're there."
"That's not fair!" Kayla protested. Lifting at the edges, Steve pulled her hands away as the driver drove the last quarter mile.
When the car finally parked, Kayla listened intently as the sound of seagulls filled the air, and the smell of the salty water hit her nose. Yup!, she thought. It's a honeymoon at the beach. Steve helped her carefully out of the car as the driver unloaded their bags. Another voice appeared at their side as this person was arranging to bring their bags aboard. Kayla turned excited and yelled out for her husband.
"Steve? What did he mean by aboard? Are we going sailing?"
He placed his arms around her and gently walked her forward until they finally stopped and he started untying the knot. "Yeah, you could say we're sailing." He said in her ear.
When the blindfold came off, Kayla was greeted with the site of the largest cruise ship she had ever scene in her life. The ship, the Star Princess was docked, ready to set sail within the hour for their Northern European cruise ending in Stockholm. Passengers had been boarding for the past hour as well wishers lined the docks waving to friends and family. Steve pulled at her arm as he led them to the gangplank and they boarded the ship. Meeting the cruise director at the main hall, they checked in and were escorted by a porter to their suite. Before reaching the doors, Steve stopped and lifted her up his his arms, making certain he would be carrying one more time across the threshold.
The honeymoon suite was on the bow, port side of the ship and had it's own private balcony. A king size bed dominated the main sleeping quarters and a separate living room area with a dining table filled the other room. Their bags were brought in immediately as Steve thanked the crew and closed the doors behind them. The room was in shades of gold and cream and several vases of long stemmed yellow roses filled both rooms. Kayla reached for one at the nearest arrangement and lifted the flower to her nose, inhaling deeply. Steve came up behind and wrapped his arms around her. "Nice boat huh?" He asked.
"You never fail to amaze me. I thought our first honeymoon was incredible, but this... I can't believe you did this for me."
"Only for you Sweetness." Turning her around Steve took his wife in his arms and kissed her tenderly as her hands cupped his face to keep him from leaving her.
For several minutes he gave her kisses as she returned each one eagerly. The sound of the ships horn halted their movements as they walked to the balcony and viewed the ship's departure from the docks. Kayla spotted a small bag of streamers left for them on the chair and handed a few to her husband as they joined the hundred of other passengers in tossing them in the air. Further and further away they moved until the docks disappeared from their view and the ship began it's turn and moved further out to sea.
"Happy, Baby?" Steve asked her as she went into the bedrom and smiled down at the large silk covered bed. He followed close behind and stood beside her, his eye following the same path as hers.
"Very happy, Mr. Johnson!" She told him as she placed another kiss on his lips.
"You know there's a lot to do on this ship, a dozen restaurants, casino, dancing every night, four pools and saunas. It's one big floating city they say."
"Really, and what about indoor activities. What do they say about those." She started tugging at his jacket and pushing them off his shoulders, when he looked down at her and gave her a quick kiss as his jacket fell to the floor.
"Well those... are left to the discretion of the guests. It's up to each individual to decide how he or she wants to spend his or her time... indoors." When he started unbuttoning Kayla blouse, she ran her hands over his chest, stopping over the dagger that peeked out from beneath his opened shirt.
"So how long is this trip to Europe. You never said." She asked him, as he bent down and kissed her again when she pulled at his shirt.
"Didn't I?" He asked between kisses.
"No."
"It's twenty-seven days... and nights."
"Hmmmm? What ever will we do to pass the time away?" Steve's shirt joined his jacket on the floor as Kayla kissed the tattoo that was no longer hiding.
"Can't think of anything, Baby?" Her skirt followed the others as well and she kicked off her shoes as his head bent down and captured her lips in a deep kiss.
She kissed him back then trailed her lips across his cheek, stopping at his ear as she whispered to him. "Maybe one or two things."
"Anything I would like?"
She smiled wickedly at him as she slowly nodded her head. Pausing a moment for another quick kiss, he then lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. They sank together, their arms intertwined around each other. Steve rolled to his side, keeping Kayla cradled in his arms as his lips found her again and again. He nipped at her shoulder and along across the top of her breast as she placed kisses on his head.
The rest of their clothes were thrown off the side making yet another pile and Steve pulled the bed cover off so they could snuggle underneath. As his hands reached for her again, he couldn't stop himself from running his hands all over her soft skin. Each gentle stroke only inflammed Kayla further as she writhed and moved beneath him. He placed a trail of kissed, starting from her neck down between the valley of her breasts and stopping at her stomach. For a moment, he paused, then slowly lowering his head, gently kissed her tummy sending a spark that raged and burst inside his wife. She pulled him up and kissed him deeply as he moved over her and slowly joined himself.
The slow rocking movements mirrored the waves that struck against the side of the ship as Kayla was urged close to fulfillment. Steve felt the sweat on his brow and held himself steady over her as he kissed her again. When his hand took hold of hers, she stretched it upward as the other held steady at her side. She looked at him with passion filled eyes, as he whispered words of love to her. Their bodies met again and again, until his arm began to shake and he surged inside her, bringing an end to the joining. Collapsing and out of breath, Steve left her and lay himself down at Kayla side. Her own breath came in quick short gasps as the cool sea breeze entered the room and filled the air with the scent of the salty sea.
For several minutes, they lay quietly, side by side, arms intwined and heads nestled together. Steve lowered his hand and gently caressed the slight rise on her tummy as Kayla looked back at him and smiled. He ran his hand over the small swell a few times before lifting it back up to cup her face and he gave her another kiss.
.
"Your hair's messy again." She told him as Marcus ran his fingers through the blond locks.
"I know." He told her. "It happens every time daddy rubs mommy's tummy."
"You know Tara said her hair was messy for months. But you'll be able to push your dad's hand away in another couple of months."
"It's okay, I don't mind really." Marcus told her. "Anyway, my dad promised to teach me how to play his harp."
"You sure? He may forget you know." The girl answered him.
"He won't! He promised me and my dad always keeps his promises." Marcus pulled the harmonica from his pocket and polished it again as the curls on his head moved once more leaving his hair in ruins.
The small girl just shook her head at him as he finger combed his hair back in place again.
.
Her eyes felt tired and Steve gave her a kiss on the nose as she turned on her side. Spooned together on the bed, Steve let his hand rest over her waist, occassionally rubbing at her stomach every couple of minutes. She tried to turn her head back at him, but he only kissed her cheek again and whispered in her ear to rest.
"Just sleep, Sweetness. We have the rest of the trip to explore the ship. Just rest, baby." He told her as he rubbed her tummy again.