Thank you to everyone that has encouraged me to come back to this story. And a huge thanks to Gina for the great beta job she did.

Chapter 6

Joe was right-the hotel staff made getting married easy.

They could perform the ceremony the next evening. An on-site jewelry store made shopping for the rings easy and the manager recommended a wonderful nearby dress boutique for me.

Joe and I picked out a beautiful hand set that included a solitaire diamond princess cut. The store sized the ring while we waited. I went dress shopping and found a white satin dress that enhanced my bust and hit perfectly at my ankles. It was almost as if this dress was made for me. I couldn't wait for Joe to see me in it. It cost more than any one piece of clothing I had ever purchased before but it was worth it.

By the time I got back to the resort Joe had picked up the rings and the concierge had all the wedding papers ready for us to sign.

We went to dinner that night and Joe brought the diamond ring with him. "I want to do this right" he said and dropped to one knee. I actually had tears in my eyes as he took my hand and asked "Stephanie I have loved you for so long, I never thought I would find someone that I wanted to spend my life with but I realize that I have already done that. Will you marry me?"

"Yes Joe" I told him as the tears were rolling down my cheeks. Everyone in the restaurant cheered not knowing this was just formality as Joe put the ring on my finger and pulled me into a kiss.

We finished dinner that night talking about our future and staring into each others eyes. That night we made love, it was slow and passionate and it lasted all night.

Joe surprised me with a spa treatment before our ceremony. He went to the spa with me and had a massage himself but he declined the cucumber wrap and mud bath treatment. I also indulged in a facial, manicure and pedicure, and felt deliciously pampered before our big night.

The day was everything I could have ever wanted and at sunset that evening I walked down the beach into the arms of my future and became Mrs. Joseph Anthony Morelli. The beach was lined with candles and soft music played in the background. The hotel arranged for a local parish priest to perform the service. He spoke in Spanish but the I dos and the you may now kiss the bride was understood as well as him now pronouncing us husband and wife. We danced on the beach in each others arms for hours after the ceremony. The soft slow music played on as Joe pulled me closer and whispered into my ear" You look beautiful tonight, I am going to have fun taking that dress off you later".

As we lay in bed that might as a married couple for the first time I considered what was going to happen when we got back. "Oh my god Joe what are our mothers going to say?"

"I don't really care Cupcake" Joe chuckled "I'm sure they will be happy for us, they been waiting for this to happen"

"I know but they are going to be shocked and maybe a little hurt." I can only imagine Bella having a vision that the wedding was bogus or something since she was not there to witness it.

"We can have a reception in a week or so that way you can have cake" he beamed at me with his killer smile.

"Oh my I didn't even think about the cake Joe". What was wrong with me cake was always a top priority in my life. Joe just looked into my eyes and held my gaze. "We will get you cake I promise".

It was Thursday and Joe had booked us on a deep sea cruise for the day, he wanted to go diving I was happy just hanging on the boat but Joe convinced me to give it a try. It was a wonderful experience my instructor was great and Joe stayed with me and pointed out all the coral we even got to swim with a school of dolphins. I spent the rest of the afternoon on the boat soaking up the rays as Joe went on more of an experience dive. The group reemerged about an hour before sunset and Joe told me all about the wonders of under the sea. "There was a sunken ship down there, Cupcake. It looked really old there is probably treasure in it." I had to smile as Joe was speaking of pirate ships and sunken treasure his eyes were sparkling like a child's at Christmas.

"Ok don't laugh at me I know it was just an old boat with nothing more valuable than the family jewels but it's fun to have fantasies. You in a Pirate Wench dress is definitely one of mine"

Hmmm...those sparkling eyes turned sexy milk chocolate and the whole pirate fantasy was growing on me. "Aye Captain", I said with a smile of my own and a sexy wink.

We had dinner that night on the boat and by the time we got back to our room we were exhausted, but happy to have shared such an incredible day together.

Friday was spent on the beach. We were able to rent a cabaña and there was a sand castle contest that afternoon that we entered.

I had never built anything bigger than a couple of buckets when I was a kid and after Joe brought the guidelines back to the cabaña. I looked over them, thinking we were in over our heads. I bit into my bottom lip and as if he was reading my mind Joe said "We can so do this Cupcake, we will kick ass, I'm motivated to win, and did you read what the Grand Prize is?"

I flipped the rules over Grand Prize was a One week paid reservation at the resort for a future date. "We can do this", I agreed. I was now just as motivated. The guidelines stated the structure had to be made of 90 % of sand and it had to be at least 4ft tall at some point, flag height not included. I looked up from the rules sheet and asked "Where do we get the buckets and shovels?"

"That's my girl", Joe told me. "They will deliver them to us within the hour and we will start at eleven O'clock until than we can plan."

The structure could be anything and we decided on a wedding cake. The base would be the platter and Joe designed it to be 12" high and 36" wide. The first tier of the cake was to be 24" high and we were trying for 30" wide. The next two tiers would also be 24" high each but getting smaller in width. I was going out to pickup shells to decorate the cake and in the package the hotel had given us was a Bride/Groom figurine that would go in top of a cake. The bride was in a bikini and the groom in trunks. The officials announced the start of the competition and Joe and I went to work.

Five hours later we stepped back and looked at our cake. It was better than I could have imagined. I looked at my husband and wondered if there was something he couldn't do because as I looked at our Sand Cake I knew it was as good as it was because of him. With fifteen minutes left in the contest, I grabbed Joe by the hand and led him to the cabana. I wanted to show him my appreciation for his many talents.

When we reemerged our cake had already been marked as judged. I felt my cheeks redden as I realized that while Joe and I were in the Cabaña, there was a judge right outside. "Let's go check out the competition Cupcake" Joe said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me down the beach.

As we strolled down the beach hand in hand we saw some wonderful structures. Some were traditional castles other were fun structures like ours. I may be biased but I thought we built the best, but I would be able to understand if the judges went another way.

We walked all the way to the beach bar we found the first night, the night I had proposed and we stopped to grab something to eat.

Looking over the menu it had standard bar food: quick and easy and very recognizable to American tourists. I ordered the chicken quesadilla and Joe got a couple of steak tacos. We were finishing our beers when we heard them announce the contest winners.

"Okay I'm nervous" I told Joe.

"4th place winners will receive dinner at The Bay. The voucher goers to contest number 53. 3rd place dinner at Casa Nola goes to contestant number 7. 2nd place is a $250 dollars certificate from Cozumel Dunes Jewelry and goes to contestant number 32." "That's us" I jumped up and hugged Joe.

"Yes Cupcake looks like you are going to get more jewelry from this trip", Joe answered with a huge grin on his face.

I was squalling so much that we missed who won. It wasn't us so it didn't matter.

Joe paid the tab and we finished our walk down the beach and collected our voucher. We found out that the 7 foot Mayan pyramid structure won. I remembered it from one of the ones I was worried about. They told us the store was still open but I wanted a shower so we decided to spend our last day in paradise shopping. We had not bought gifts for anyone back home and no souvenirs for us to remember our trip. Although I don't think either one of us would ever forget it.

The first stop Saturday morning was the jewelry shop. I didn't wear much jewelry but we decided on a charm bracelet that we could add to over the years. For the first charm we added a Sandcastle and the second was a wedding cake. We had enough money left over on the certificate that we found Joe one of those Shell necklaces that look really hot on guys. I couldn't see him wearing it once we got back home but he looked hot. He also got a thick gold chain that he said he would wear.

Next we hit the town, deciding to have dinner that night at Casa Nola. While making the reservations, I realized I didn't pack anything nice enough for this restaurant so we went shopping for something to wear. Joe picked out a blue dress for me that he said reminded him of the little black number I had bought years ago to wear to a wedding but chickened out. I found three inch FMP shoes that were made for the dress. Joe had slacks back in the room but we found a shirt for him that matched my dress.

After leaving the dress shop we found a street vendor selling toys that were perfect for our nieces and nephews. We got two beautiful vases for our moms. I got a sombrero for Grandma Mazure and Joe got Bella some very nice lace. For my father I found a Cozumel coffee cup. My father has a mug from everywhere he has ever been and many gifts from the few people that know about his collection. "I learned something on this trip" Joe told me "I would have never guessed that about him."

"It's a well keep secret but since you're officially family now I guess it's alright," and bent in to give him a kiss.

Joe pulled me back a few minutes later looked me in the eyes and asked with cop face on "Are you still happy about our marriage?"

I was stunned "Joe", I said pulling him back into the street "I love you, marrying you was the best day of my life and I know I will never regret it ever."

Joe's cop face was gone and his eyes were turning milk chocolate again." Good" he told me and pulled me into a kiss that probably was not appropriate for the street.

We got back to our room and got ready for dinner that night. When Joe saw me in the dress his eyes got warmer and he rubbed his hands up and down the barely there sides. "I really like this dress. How hungry are you?" he whispered in my ear. The heat from his voice and the way he looked in his shell necklace and that blue shirt almost won but as if on cue my stomach spoke up and answered for me. Smiling, Joe sighed. "Later then, Cupcake, let's go feed the beast."

Casa Nola was a Spanish seafood restaurant and the dish I had selected that evening gave me new pleasure in eating. I closed my eyes and let out a soft moan. Joe leaned across the table" Cupcake I need you to control yourself."

"Why" I asked a little confused

"Watching you eat has always been a sexual experience I will never grow tired of. Combine that with the way you look tonight and my over all love for you and I'm going to explode in my pants right in the restaurant."

"Oh I'll try to behave."

"That's all I can ask" and I was rewarded with one of his killer smiles. I couldn't stop a few more moans before dinner was finished. The restaurant was famous for the dessert and as good as the dinner was the dessert was better.

We took a cab back to our room that night and sitting in the back Joe and I got lost in each other. The passion we were feeling by the time we were back in the room was off the chart. Joe closed the door and never losing contact with my lips pushed me up against the glass wall overlooking the ocean. We were high enough off the ground no one could see us. Joe ripped his pants off himself and let them fall to the ground. I jerked his shirt open needing to feel his skin. Joe pushed me up against the glass and grabbed my ass. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist and he entered me. It was hard and fast and within minutes I was ready to explode. I felt Joe growing inside me pulling out and pushing back in deeper each time sending me over the edge. I screamed out his name "JOE!" We climaxed together, and Joe rested his head against the glass, still holding me while we both tried to catch our breath.

"Sorry Cupcake I couldn't wait any longer." Joe apologized while placing soft kisses on my cheek.

Grabbing his face in my hands, I looked straight in his eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry about. That was incredible." He pushed me back up against the glass with a kiss, and then moved us to the bed where he proceeded to remove my dress and bra. We spooned together, not needing words to say how we felt. Between the touches and kisses the night was complete.

We would be leaving in the morning and neither one of us wanted the night to end.