The red cap directed the taxi driver to the Horizons Estates located on the wooded grounds of an 18th century plantation. Not a traditional hotel; it consisted of a main house with nine rooms, fourteen private cottages and its crowning glory, the favorite of honeymooners, a single house located at the top of the cliff, affectionately referred to as Heaven's Above. The location offered a spectacular view of Coral Beach below as well as the clear blue waters of the bay.
This was the other half of the gift that Waverly had booked for the Kuryakins.
After checking in at the main house, they walked up the steps hidden by the lush trees and flowers until they reached their home for the next seven days. A fair sized stucco style house painted a bright peach pastel color, such as was favored by Bermudians, stood beside it was a private built in pool, with several comfortable lounge chairs at its edge. Surrounding the property and house were bright hibiscus of every color, birds of paradise, snapdragons, bright red and yellow lilies, with tall hot pink bougainvillea trees flowering everywhere.
The shutters to the house were wide open, letting the ocean air though, sending the delicate white curtains wafting in the gentle breeze.
Elliott gasped at the sight of it. " Oh God Illuysha isn't it perfect?"
"I have to admit, it is nicer than I thought it would be, and the temperature with the breeze is most comfortable," he smiled at her.
They walked inside, depositing their suitcases on the floor. On a table in the main foyer was a welcome basket filled with fruits and other delicacies.
The first thing they did was locate the bedroom and finding a king-sized bed there, they both looked at each other, pulling their clothes off quickly, climbing into it, letting their hands and lips roam all over the other's body.
"Happy honeymoon at last Madame Kuryakina," he whispered as he nibbled on her throat.
At that moment Elliott began to giggle, wiggling out of his grasp and making him chase her across the bed. He laughing as well at her playfulness while they tossed and wrestled until she straddled him, lowering herself onto him with a moan of pleasure. It had been a while since they felt so carefree, and it showed in their marathon session. They were young, passionate lovers again.
Elliott finally emerged from the bedroom, somewhat dazed from their energetic frolics, even Illya was tired and had dozed off.
She unpacked the luggage, and not waking him; she hung the last of the clothing in the closet, until she realized her stomach was complaining of its hunger to her.
The clock on the wall told her it was only half-ten in the morning, though after being together in bed making glorious love with Illya, it felt as if half the day had already gone by.
The cabbie had told them there was a restaurant called the Four Ways Inn within walking distance, and she peeked at her sleeping Russian's face in total relaxation...a look that she rarely saw. She decided to wake him, giving enough time to shower and dress, then they would head out for food as noon approached.
The house had a full kitchen, so perhaps later they could head in to town to pick up some supplies allowing them to snuggle in for some meals if they chose to do so.
"Illuysha lyubov' moy, wake up," she whispered, not touching him.
His eyes opened instantly, then blinked a few times as he wiped the sleep from them with the heels of his hands.
"Annushka I am extremely hungry" he said pulling her into his arms in a deep kiss, exploring her with his tongue.
"Come on ye randy Russian, though I'm sorely tempted; we've time enough for that."
He grinned at her, hopping up from the bed." I am actually hungry for food as well."
"I figured as much." She laughed softly," me too. I unpacked the suitcases, let's shower, get dressed then head ta that restaurant the driver told us about.
"Mmmm good plan, I especially like the showering together part."
"Ye really are in honeymoon mode aren't ye?"
They went into the bathroom, enjoying the luxury of the oversized tiled shower with multiple high powered spigots as they bathed and made love again. Illya continued in his friskiness until Elliott finally protested.
"Enough already, Jay-sus boy-o pace yerself. It's not even noon on our first day! We do have another six and half days ahead of us. Good God, I never thought I'd see the day ye'd put off eating a meal?"
"You are intoxicating my love, do you know that? You make my appetite voracious for just you!" he laughed.
"That sounded terribly Napoleon! I haven't seen ye this happy in a long time... ye are happy aren't ye?'
"Very." he let out a enormous sigh as he helped towel the two of them dry but their bliss was disturbed by a loud knock at the front door.
Illya wrapped a towel around his waist, then grabbing his Walther from the top of the bathroom sink, he headed towards the door. Elliott having put on her diaphanous white robe was right behind him with her weapon drawn as well.
"Who is it?" he asked as he stood to the side of the doorway.
"My name is Anita Minors," she said with a slightly clipped British accent. "Alexander Waverly sent me Mr. Kuryakin."
"I am sorry you are mistaken, there is no one here by that name. My name is Manning."
"Yes I know, that's your cover name Elias Manning and your wife's cover is Elise. I'm Section IV Intelligence from the Caribbean office, my husband was a section two agent, Nathan Saunders...he retired to marry me. Well I digress, as he was before your time. I understand you were the test case for the new marriage clause in company policy. There's a lot of happy field agents out there because of you two."
A gold U.N.C.L.E. ID card appeared from beneath the door, and Illya picked it up examining it carefully, before he finally lowered his gun and opened up.
A dark-skinned woman stood there, dressed in a brightly colored floral dress, the skirt blowing in the breeze. Her hair was tightly curled, in a short Afro style, and yet her features looked different.
She flashed him a bright smile, "I see you're confused by my appearance, I'm descended from native American Indians of the Pequot tribe brought here and sold as slaves in the late 1650's. My people are from David's Island, but my mother, however, was West Indian."
"That was not really necessary to explain," Illya answered, gesturing for her to come inside.
"Hello, you must be Elliott, " Anita offered her hand to her.
"Hello yerself and ye say Waverly sent ye, what for? We're on our honeymoon, which I'm sure he's well aware of since he's the one that arrang..." Elliott stopped herself. "I hope it's not ta send us on an assignment?"
"Oh no! No assignment! Mr. Waverly asked my husband Nathan and I to keep an eye out for you while you were here; you are after all his prize project... my goodness, I just made you sound like a pair of lab rats, I apologize! My husband is Nathan Saunders, Section II retired, and a friend of Alexander Waverly's from the old days. Not sure if you heard of him as he was a few years before your time in New York."
"No I am afraid I am not familiar with the name," Illya apologized.
"That's not surprising, but I'm sure your partner Mr. Solo will remember him...and me."She sighed. Napoleon, shall we say 'got' around." I even dated him before I met Nate." She grinned at a memory she was not about to share with them.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?"Elliott quipped." Ye know Napoleon is married now, and has twins."
"So I was told." 'Nita grinned," His wife must be something special to have gotten that Tom cat to settle down."
"Yes she is." Illya added.
"Now just to let you know, I'll be around in the mornings to make you breakfast and have a lunch ready for you, but for dinner, you're on your own. I can take care of any laundry needs, and if you want a tour of the islands, we can help you there as well."
"I insist such attention is unnecessary, in spite of what Mr. Waverly has asked of you." Illya insisted.
"Okay, but just don't let the Old Man know. We can take you into Hamilton where you can rent scooters and tour around on your own...that's if you two plan to leave the bedroom that his?" She smiled again, seeing they had that look about them, the one only a person could have after having had some fantastic sex.
Illya showed no reaction to the statement, but Elliott blushed just a little.
"I'm sorry," 'Nita said, "I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"No worries, Anita," Elliott smiled," we are after all on our honeymoon." She dug her elbow playfully into her husband's side.
"You can call me 'Nita'," she said reaching outside the door, grabbing a paper sack of groceries laying on the ground beside her.
"So I imagine you're probably hungry after your morning exercise...why don't you go get dressed and I'll make you brunch. I've brought enough supplies here to last most of the week for breakfast and lunch."
"'Nita this really is not necessary, please." Illya tried to hide a shy smile.
"Yes it really is a bit much, U.N.C.L.E. doesn't provide personal service and security for any of its agents when they go on vacation," Elliott chided her." It's going to set a very unusual precedent isn't it?"
"You know what, that's not our worry ma'am, but since I'm here and ready, I'll just go ahead and fix brunch, think of it as a welcome to Bermuda, and then I'll leave you be. I'm not usually one to go against instructions from the big man himself, so getting your groceries and cooking today sort of keeps me in compliance. Now go get dressed, breakfast will be ready shortly."
In no time at all the delicious scent of omelettes, sausages, Bermuda onions and a traditional breakfast of codfish and potatoes wafted through the house. 'Nita seemed to know that Illya was not one for fish and had Canadian bacon ready for him. She had toasted breads and some of the fruit from the welcome basket diced and in a bowls served with clotted cream.
"Mmm smells delightful," Illya called, walking out dressed in a surprisingly colorful burgundy floral Hawaiian print shirt that Elliott had bought for him, a pair of khaki Bermuda shorts and sandals.
"Boy you are in some desperate need of some sun?"'Nita laughed, eyeing Illya's very white legs. "Sit enjoy." She grinned at him. Elliott arrived right behind him in a bright yellow sun dress, her red hair piled atop her head in loose ringlets.
She eyed Illya up and down then smiled, "Thank ye for wearing that lyubov moy, I know ye have an aversion to bright colors.
"I do not mind burgundy, though I am surprised you selected this color since you have an aversion to my burgundy jacket sports jacket and have tried to toss it out a few times."
"I hate that jacket, "Elliott giggled.
"I know," he said, planting a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you for selecting the clothing for me."
'Nita served their food along with some delicious flavored coffee then headed towards the door to leave.
"Are ye not joining us?" Elliott asked.
"Hey you're on your honeymoon...you'll be seeing as little of me as possible. Let me know if you need anything, channel F," she smiled, holding up a communicator. "And I mean anything, going out, having lunch, what ever. And don't touch a thing, I'll be back later to clean up!" She tried hedging to see if they'd give in.
"'Nita, we insist that won't be necessary. Thank you for the supplies, but really we can cook our own meals, it's something we were planning to do anyway. We can clean up after ourselves as well," Elliott protested. " We promise we won't tell the Old Man."
'Nita thought it over for a second. "If that's what you really want, I'll honor your wishes. I don't want to be intrusive."
"Not intrusive, very kind." Illya smiled, "We will take you up on the offer to go into town later, perhaps. It was a pleasure to meet you."
"Sounds good and likewise." Anita waved goodbye, and was out the door in an instant.