Chapter Seventy-Eight
John smiled as he leaned back on the sand, resting his hand on Claire's hip as he lifted his face to the warm ocean breeze. "This is perfect." He sighed, closing his eyes as he listened to the waves crashing on the beach.
Claire chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder as she listened to his breath. "It's nice that we're alone."
John turned his face to her, taking her hand in his. "Let's go for a swim." He stood, pulling her toward the ocean his long legs eating up the sand as he ran.
Claire shook her head, quickly adjusting her bikini top before they hit the waves. "I thought you didn't like water." She laughed, slamming into his chest as he turned and a wave slammed into his back.
"I don't." He pressed his lips to hers, breaking the kiss when a big wave washed over his head. "AH!" He screamed as they tipped over into the water. The salt stung his cuts and scrapes, as he held his breath. He risked opening his eyes, smiling when he saw Claire's red hair fanned out around her head. He swam toward her, wrapping his hands around her hips and pressing his lips to hers as she wrapped her arms around his chest. He planted his feet on the sand below them, pushing their heads above the surface as his lungs started to ache for air. "Wow…" He breathed, pushing his hand through Claire's soaked hair.
She giggled, tugging at his wet locks that were nearly black from the water. "You need a haircut."
He shook his head like a dog, flinging water around them. "It's not that bad." He chuckled, feeling her wrap her legs around his hips since the water would take most of her weight for him.
She smiled, tracing little circles on the back of his neck above his tank top that he'd worn to hide the wrappings around his chest. "You look like my brother's collie."
He kissed her neck, feeling her adjust as another wave hit them. "You like dogs though."
She nodded, feeling his feet lift off of the ground with the next wave. "I like dogs, but I don't like shaggy ones." She rubbed her fingers over his jaw, feeling the stubble there. "Speaking of which, you need a little manscaping done on the beard." She pulled on the few longer hairs, laughing at the look he gave her.
"I thought you liked it."
She smirked, jumping as his hands squeezed her butt a little. "Let go of my ass!"
He snorted a laugh, moving his hands to her upper thighs. "That ass is mine." He smiled, letting her rest her forehead on his. "At least it will be when we get married."
She pushed her fingers into his hair, kissing his nose. "Speaking of which, how many people were you thinking we should invite?"
He shrugged, rubbing his thumbs along a couple stretchmarks on her legs. "How many do you want there?"
She paused for a moment. "Well, there's Caleb, the club, my parents, my grandparent, my cousins, my aunts and uncles…" She looked down at John, suddenly thinking about the fact that he didn't have any family besides hers. "I mean, we don't have to invite everyone, it's just that my family would really love to be there, and-"
John cut her off. "I want your whole family there." He smirked, kissing her collarbone. "I want everyone there on your day." He met her eyes, noticing how they reflected the sunset. "After all, the wedding is for the bride and the honeymoon is for the groom."
She rolled her eyes, jumping as a piece of seaweed brushed against her foot. "That reminds me, where are we gonna go?"
John tilted his head, furrowing his brow. "Go? I thought we'd go stay in a hotel for a couple nights."
Claire shook her head, playing with his earring. "No, stupid. We should go to Italy."
He leaned into her touch, feeling her nails scratch his scalp behind his ear. "Whatever you want, Sweets. As long as I get lots of bedroom time, I'll be happy."
"Don't worry. You'll get lots of love."
"And spaghetti."
She laughed, pulling on his ear. "It's Italy, Baby. You'll get lots of pasta."
He smiled, pulling her closer to his hips. "Alfredo?"
She nodded, kissing his nose. "And Pizza."
"And meatballs."
"Raviolis!"
"Lasagna!"
They laughed, thinking of all the things they could do once they were married. "We should get home, it's gonna be dark soon." John smiled, letting Claire stand on her own as they walked toward the beach. "Tiramisu." He listed another food they could eat.
"Cannoli's!" She countered, pulling her flip flops on and picking up her towel. "What're you doing?" She asked, as John took the towel from her.
He wrapped it around her, drying her off with gentle hands. "Keeping you warm." He smiled, trying to stop his shivers as the cold started to get to his thin body.
She turned to face him, picking up his towel from the sand and trying to rub some warmth into his body. "If you'd put more fat on you wouldn't get cold so easy."
He shivered more, his teeth chattering as she rubbed over his skin. "I'm f-f-fine."
Claire shook her head, wrapping his towel around him and hurrying toward the house. "Let's get you warmed up."
He shivered again, huddling closer to her for warmth. "I th-th-think that's a g-g-good i-idea."