Elizabeth eyed the kayak, then eyed the lake. It wasn't cold enough for the whole thing to have frozen over, but some chunks of ice could be seen lazily rolling in the light waves.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked Nathan dubiously. "Looks like hypothermia waiting to happen if we were to accidentally fall in."
Nathan laughed, pulling Elizabeth's coat tightly over her life jacket. "Yes, I'm sure. Hence the cold water wetsuits, just in case." He winked. "But you have my word that I will do everything in my power to keep this kayak from tipping." He helped her into her spot, handing her the paddles. Once she was settled, Nathan gave the kayak a powerful push into the water, vaulting neatly into his spot without getting his feet wet.
Elizabeth watched him with her mouth hanging open. "Where did you learn to do that so gracefully?"
He chuckled. "I did grow up on the islands, sweetheart. I've done a lot of kayaking in my life."
"Right," Elizabeth said, smiling to herself. "How could I forget?"
They paddled in silence for a while, enjoying the cold breeze on their faces and the gentle sound of water lapping against the kayak. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, which was a blue so brilliant Elizabeth thought it rivaled Nathan's eyes. In the middle of the lake, they stopped paddling without words, just taking in the beauty all around them. Elizabeth felt awed by the majesty that existed here.
"This is so peaceful," she murmured, not wanting to break the stillness.
Nathan's voice drifted over her. "It is," he said. "So much beauty."
As they dipped their paddles in the water once more and started moving, Elizabeth couldn't help taking several long, deep breaths of the cold mountain air. While she loved living in Hawaii, she had to admit that she missed winter. The crisp air, the beauty of the snow, cold weather. Lack of winter was the only downside to living in paradise.
By the time they reached shore again several hours later, Elizabeth felt more refreshed and rejuvenated than she had in a long time. Nathan jumped out first, then helped her out. "See, no mishaps," he said with his crooked smile as they pulled the kayak onto shore. He looped an arm around her as they made the short walk back to the cabin. "Why don't we make some hot cocoa and sit on the porch swing to enjoy it?"
Elizabeth sighed happily. "That sounds like heaven."
Nathan pulled the dry ingredients for the cocoa from the cupboards while Elizabeth got the milk and cream. They measured out what they needed and set it on a pot on the stove to get hot. Nathan whisked quickly, mixing everything together well. Elizabeth leaned over his shoulder, sniffing the air appreciatively. "Your hot chocolate recipe is the best," she said, her mouth watering in anticipation of the sweet drink.
Her husband smiled back at her, nuzzling her nose with his. "Thank you, my dear. I'm so glad." Right before the mixture boiled, he gave it a final stir and poured it carefully into two large mugs. Then he and Elizabeth carried their mugs to the porch swing, where they sat as clouds began to cover the previously blue sky. Nathan wrapped a large fleece blanket around both of them, and they sat together in the cold air, sipping their cocoa and marveling at the view around them.
Elizabeth looked up at Nathan. "I can't imagine a more perfect honeymoon, Nathan. I'm sorry that we'll be going back soon." Her smile turned impish. "I rather like having you with me 24/7."
He gave her a long, slow kiss. Elizabeth burrowed closer to him, reveling in his touch and his tenderness. He tasted like the chocolate he'd been drinking, and in that moment there was nowhere else she'd rather be than in his arms.
When he pulled away, Nathan put a hand on her face, looking deeply into her eyes. "I like it too," he said, his love for her reflected in his eyes. "I love that we don't have to say goodnight and leave each other anymore. I love that we can be together all the time. I love being with you, Elizabeth. I love you."
They indulged in another kiss that lasted longer than the first. Nathan pulled Elizabeth close to him, his lips moving over hers in a tender yet passionate caress. They broke apart slightly, and Nathan rested his forehead against Elizabeth's. Her eyes remained closed, delighting in the way her sweet husband made her feel. Protected. Safe. Cherished. Loved.
She snuggled into his side as his arm wrapped around her. Pressed against his side with the blanket wrapped around them, she didn't feel the cold. In fact, she was more comfortable than ever before.
"Look, Elizabeth," Nathan whispered, nodding to the view surrounding them.
Elizabeth looked, and her breath caught. "Oh! It's snowing again!" Large flakes were falling from the clouds, slowly turning the ground white. She rested her head on Nathan's shoulder with a contented sigh. "I love snow."
Nathan gently rocked them back and forth on the swing, his smile gentle. "So do I. I haven't seen much of it in my life, so this is a special treat." Nuzzling her cheek, he smiled. "But then, so are so many things about this honeymoon. Foremost of which has been spending all my time with my wonderful wife."
She giggled lightly, looking up at him. "My favorite part has been spending time with you, my love." She nestled her head against his shoulder. As she looked out over the lake, enjoying the rippling of the water as the snow danced over it, she asked, "What has been your favorite activity so far?"
Though she couldn't see his face from where her head was resting, she knew Nathan wore a thoughtful expression. "That hike through the snowy forest was pretty special," he said. "And our ski day was a lot of fun. As far as activities go, I'd say it's a toss up between those two. What about you?"
She smiled. "I also enjoyed that hike. I think it was my favorite." She traced circles on his stomach with her fingers, reflecting on their trip. "But honestly? I loved being here at the cabin, playing games and cooking together and just being together."
He hugged her closer to his side. "That was the best part," he agreed. Pressing a kiss to her head, he continued. "And the best part from here on out is that we get to spend the rest of our lives together, learning more about each other and falling more in love every day."
Elizabeth slivered slightly, but it had nothing to do with the cold. "I can't wait," she said softly. "You're the best thing to have ever happened to me, Nathan Grant."
"And you me," he said, leaning his head against hers. They sat like that for over an hour, simply resting in each other's arms and taking in the snowy vista that stretched before them. Their honeymoon had been the stuff fairy tales were made of.
In two days, they would go back to reality. But until then, Elizabeth intended to enjoy every second of her uninterrupted time with her husband.
Nathan smiled as he woke, once again holding Elizabeth in his arms. This was never going to get old. He studied her face as she slept, wondering how he had been so fortunate as to fall in love with such an amazing woman. Even more amazingly, she fell for him too. He would be eternally grateful that they had been brought together and were now sharing their lives together. Come what may, he knew they could weather all the ups and down as long as they had each other.
He carefully slid out of bed, making sure not to wake his sweet wife. He wanted to surprise her this morning. Padding out to the living room, he smiled as he opened the curtains. It was snowing heavily, the perfect weather for a day in. Gathering some wood from the back porch, he carried it in and set about making a roaring fire. Once that was done he plugged in the Christmas tree and went to the kitchen to make some coffee. Humming softly, he finished preparing the coffee and then went to work on breakfast. Thirty minutes later, the food was about ready. As if on cue, Elizabeth walked into the kitchen, yawning. She smiled at Nathan, and his heart leapt at how utterly adorable she looked when she was sleepy. He met her in an embrace and gave her a long kiss, unable to get enough of her. By the time he pulled back, Elizabeth was wide awake and breathless.
"Goodness!" she exclaimed with a light chuckle. "I think that might be better than coffee for waking me up!"
"Speaking of coffee…" Nathan started, but Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him with a shake of her head.
"Not yet," she said, pulling his head down for another kiss. They took their time with the kiss, each giving to the other their love through actions. Nathan felt like he was lost in her, and he was perfectly happy with that. When they slowly broke apart, Nathan kissed the tip of her nose while she giggled, resting her head on his chest.
"How is it possible to be this happy?" she asked, awe evident in her tone. "How is it possible to love another person so completely?"
Nathan rested his head on hers, smiling. "I don't know, sweetheart, but I'm so glad it's possible. I'm so glad we get to experience this love with each other." Elizabeth looked up at him, and their lips met once more in a heated kiss. Finally, Nathan broke away, taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart. "As much as I'd love to stand here and kiss you all day," he said with a wink, "you must be hungry." He sat her at the breakfast table, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Wait right here."
He placed two mugs on the table, then went back for the food. He could hear Elizabeth taking a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the coffee. Her gasp was audible as she took a sip. "Nathan! You made a peppermint white mocha!"
He smiled as he placed their food on the table. "The store was out of raspberry syrup, but I thought peppermint would be a good substitute since it is the Christmas season."
Elizabeth's mouth was hanging open, and she looked impossibly adorable. "I can't believe you made a homemade mocha! Where did you find the recipe?"
He chuckled. "I might have talked to Faith recently."
Elizabeth took another sip, giving a satisfied sigh. "This is delicious, Nathan. Don't tell Faith, but I might like this better than hers." She smiled at him, her eyes going soft. "Probably because you made it for me."
Nathan reached for her hand, pressing it to his lips. "Anything for you, sweetheart."
Elizabeth squeezed his hand, then looked at the food on the table. Her mouth dropped once again. "Okay, the bacon and eggs don't surprise me, but...are those scones?" she asked, her eyes huge. She reached out, taking one to put on her plate. "And they're warm...did you make them?"
Feeling inexplicably shy, Nathan gave a little nod. "You spend so much time baking for others, I thought it might be nice for someone to bake for you for a change."
Elizabeth blinked, clearly fighting tears. "That's so sweet," she whispered. "Thank you, Nathan." She took a bite, then closed her eyes. "These are delicious," she said. Her smile appeared again. "And they're cranberry orange. I love cranberry orange scones." Her eyes welled with tears, and she got up to settle herself on Nathan's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a kiss that took his breath away. His arms closed around her, momentarily lost in the passion she was showering on him and that he was returning in equal measure. When they broke apart, she rested her forehead against his. "No one's ever baked for me before," she said softly. "And you did an amazing job. The scones are incredible, the coffee is incredible." She smiled, giving him another quick kiss. "You are incredible, Nathan. Thank you for this gift."
"You're welcome," he whispered, unable to resist one more kiss. She cupped his cheek in her hand briefly before going back to her chair. Nathan scooped some eggs and bacon to her plate, then to his. He took a scone of his own, and they began eating, with lots of laughter and light conversation.
When their meal was over, Nathan poured a second cup of coffee for both of them, and they retreated to the living room where the fire was still going. Nathan stoked it a bit to get it roaring, and then they sat together on the sofa, basking in the warmth of the fire and watching the snow falling outside.
"I don't think there's anything better than watching snow fall while sitting by a fire," Elizabeth said. "As much as I love Kauai, I miss this."
Nathan nodded. "There is something magical about it." He grinned at her. "Though I suspect that has something to do with being here with you."
She smiled, and as they sat there drinking their coffee, Nathan reflected on how blessed they had been to find one another. Out of billions of people in the world, somehow they had found each other. The thought boggled his mind, and he thanked God for the umpteenth time that He had brought Elizabeth into Nathan's life.
Elizabeth looked up at him, her blue eyes swimming with love and tenderness. Nathan couldn't help it; he framed her face in his hands and started kissing her, mixing passion with tenderness. Elizabeth had told him that she loved being kissed that way, and he was happy to comply. As their kisses grew deeper, he had a fleeting thought that he could stay like this forever, in this mountain cabin in Colorado with Elizabeth, forgetting the rest of the world. But the reality was they were going home again tomorrow.
He sighed slightly against her lips. The honeymoon was almost over and they would be returning to real life again. Though he didn't want to leave, Nathan was looking forward to being back home and figuring out how their daily lives as a married couple would play out.
But there would be time enough to adjust to day to day life in the days ahead. For now, he just wanted to be present to Elizabeth and to feel the powerful love that pulsed between them. Their kisses were setting a fire to his stomach, and Nathan pushed the thoughts away and focused all his attention on his wife.
