~ 6 Months Later ~

He leaned against the door, smiling in satisfaction as it clicked securely in place. "Finally," he sighed, meeting the hazel eyes fixed on his, "We're here." He gently set her on her feet, his hands framing her face as he straightened. "Welcome back to Hawaii, Mrs. Hudson." His lips brushed each cheek before greedily settling on hers, their trip from the airport creating an insatiable craving he was ready to appease.

She found herself grinning into the kiss as he began to propel her backwards, his hands seeking and finding the cloth tie at the back of her neck.

"You aren't supposed to be smiling," he grumbled good-naturedly, lifting his head.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she giggled, trying her best to look contrite. "I wasn't aware I shouldn't have any fun on my honeymoon. You should have told me that before our flight left Washington."

He swelled with masculine pride, their activities in the air rushing back with vivid clarity. "I'm gonna owe Myles for the rest of my life, and then some." He studied her for a moment, his expression sobering. "Are you, umm, okay? Are you hurting...sore...tired?"

She blushed beguilingly, finding it hard to meet his eyes at his intimate concern. Stepping closer, she wound her arms tightly around his neck, fusing them together from shoulder to knee, enjoying the delicious shiver that coursed through her body at the contact. "I'd say I'm more than okay and surprisingly invigorated. I'm not in the least ready for bed," she announced innocently.

"Just what a bridegroom wants to hear from his bride," he joked, watching the expected color flair across her face. "But never fear," he relented, tweaking her nose, "I'm not ready for bed either."

"You're not, huh?" At the shake of his head, she smirked. "Then why are you walking me backwards toward the bedroom?"

"I'm not." His look was smug but the emotions swirling in his eyes were anything but. "I'm walking you backwards through the bedroom to the bathroom." At her look of confusion, he paused, doubt creeping in. "Ever since you agreed to be my wife, I've been looking forward to this moment. To coming back to this hotel, staying in this suite with you as your husband, and not your hearing dog, and finally finishing in that shower what you started 6 months, four days, six hours," he paused, glancing at his watch, "and thirteen minutes ago."

"What I started?" she questioned with feigned righteous indignation. "If memory serves me correct, it was you who practically dared me to be your 'hands' in the shower."

"This time you don't have to be my hands. Mine seem to be working perfectly. And I'm not daring you, I'm inviting you. Will you join me and fulfill one of the most potent fantasies I have ever had about you?"

She nodded mutely, profoundly affected by the vulnerability she had seen him fail to mask. To know that he was finding his bearings while trying to protect and cherish her emboldened her, giving her the confidence that she needed to agree. She linked her hand with his and allowed him to lead her into the familiar surroundings.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

He noticed his hand shaking as he reached out and adjusted the temperature of the water spraying from the multiple spouts in the shower. Hoping to hide his rush of nerves, he returned to his bride, standing in the middle of the room, wringing her hands. "I think you're a little over-dressed for the occasion," he murmured before lowering his head and kissing her shoulder.

"Me?" she squeaked. "I was fully dressed last time. It was you that was...that wasn't...that was nak...,"

"Naked?" he supplied, enchanted by her shyness. "I was naked on the plane too," he reminded her playfully. "And so were you."

She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. "If you're trying to get me in the mood, you're doing a lousy job. Just because you are more comfortable walking around in the buff doesn't mean that it's okay to teas...umph."

He stopped her flow of words with his lips, marveling in the way his body responded to the nearness of hers and how quickly he was in over his head when they touched. He slid his lips from hers in an effort to salvage the control he needed to make their interlude as enjoyable and unhurried as possible. His wandering exploration found the furiously beating pulse at the base of her neck and he lingered there, feeling it increase in rhythm. His own heartbeat thundered in his ears as her hands slid to his chest, her fingers making short work of the buttons they encountered.

She pushed at his shirt, warming to her task, enjoying the rippling of the firm muscular chest beneath her fingers. His skin shimmied under her light caress, making her confident in her quest. He offered no resistance when her fingers nimbly unbuckled his belt and moved to the closure at his waist. Dragging her nails lightly across his skin in her wake, she circled behind him, hooking her fingers between flesh and fabric and then squatting only long enough to allow him to step free of any remaining hindrance. She rose and he turned, his eyes in contrast with the seemingly relaxed smile hovering on his lips.

"Oh, look," he exclaimed after her attention finally focused on his lips. "I'm naked again."

She raised one eyebrow, "I am looking," she informed him lazily before leaning forward, dodging his lips, and kissing her way to his ear, like he enjoyed doing to her. "And I'll let you in on a secret," she whispered, unaware of the husky quality her voice had adopted. "I looked last time...Now it's your turn."

His head jerked up in surprise, his eyes avidly seeking hers, trying to read her expression. What he saw there made his knees weak and his body hum with barely controlled excitement. She was a dichotomy; her endearing blush was firmly tinting her cheeks and her bottom lip looked to soon be gnawed in two if he didn't save it soon. But her eyes, locked on his, oozed feminine confidence.

She shifted her hands to her waist, watching the way his eyes followed her every movement. She loved him even more for the momentary hesitation she had seen on his face after she had shocked him with her words. That he was anticipating her actions was more than obvious, but knowing that he was concerned for her comfort and level of intimacy made what she had declared even easier. He loved her. He desired her. He wanted her...and she was going to show him she felt the same.

Taking a steadying breath, which made his eyes momentarily flicker to hers, she pushed and wiggled, and felt her panties slide down her legs and drop to her ankles. She had to continue to bite her lip, this time to keep from smiling at the look that crossed her husband's face as he fixated on the scrap of fabric that had suddenly appeared. Stepping aside, she left her shoes and underwear behind and reached behind her back to undo her strapless bra, easily pulling it out and dropping it on the growing pile. She reached behind her and knew he heard her unzip her dress, because he swallowed thickly, his eyes desperately seeking hers. She hesitated as her hands lifted to the final tie that held her dress in place, her gaze locked on his. Giving one final tug, she stood still as the dress floated to her feet, leaving her bare before her husband.

He reacted quickly, not giving her time to succumb to the shyness he saw creeping over her. Stepping forward, he took her face as tenderly as he could in his current state, and fused their lips together.

Her gasp of surprise was absorbed by Jack's searing kiss, his tongue foraging past her parted lips, making her wonder if she could remain upright. She needn't have worried because his body melded to hers, becoming her support as he urged her into the shower and under the warm spray with him.

Hoping to prolong their passionate interlude, he reached for a handful of the fragrant shower gel and began to work it into a foam on her body, being careful that each nook, valley, and curve was equally lavished with his attention. He was infinitely aware of each breath that shuddered through her, for it echoed his.

She could take no more; his ministrations driving her to the brink. Slipping from his grasp, she deftly grabbed a bar of soap and began her own journey of her husband's body, taking her time and indulging each and every whim she had along the way. When she finally made her way up his neck, he was waiting, his lips hungrily possessing hers, his hands reclaiming their hold on her body.

He backed them up between the strategically placed shower heads and sat on the generous bench, pulling her down and astride him. His lips left hers and followed a stream of water down the elegant slope of her neck and beyond, enjoying the combination of liquid and satiny, smooth skin. His hands moved along her curves, building her enjoyment until she was writhing against him, desperate to get closer. And then he shifted, bringing them to a shattering conclusion that left them both gasping for breath.

XXXXXXXXX

She felt the downy softness of the mattress as her husband gently deposited her. She gazed up into his handsome face, overwhelmed by the love that surged through her. Blinking furiously at the tears, she grinned to distract him. "Would you look at that!"

"What?" he asked, his features wrinkling into a puzzled frown.

"I'm naked!" she exclaimed with a laugh, enjoying his comical leer. "Do you suppose they make a t-shirt for what we just experienced?"

His face turned ruddy as he worked his mouth to come up with an answer. "I don't know, why?"

"Well," she drawled mischievously, "Thanks to Myles loaning us his family's plane I can now proudly wear the accompanying 'Mile High Club' t-shirt."

"Hey! I think I had something to do with that," he groused, unable to resist leaning over and capturing her lips for a thorough kiss. "I have a better idea," he suggested once he caught his breath.

"What?"

"You wear no shirt and stay the way you are!" He laughed when she rolled her eyes. "Okay," he surrendered, "You can wear a shirt that says 'My man is a stud!'"

Her giggles joined his as they snuggled on the soft bed, the events of their special day finally catching up to them. Blinking back the moisture that once again threatened, she whispered, "Did I remember to thank you?"

"For what?"

"For making this the most perfect day, and night," she added with a blush, "A bride could ask for?"

He didn't know what to say, so he kissed her once again. "It's been perfect for me too. I can't wait for tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day..."

"I think I know of the shirt that I need," she confessed, blowing her bangs from her eyes. " 'My man talks too much!' Will you just shut up and kiss me, Stud?"

Grinning obediently, he did just that.

Fade Out…