Chapter 87: Take me to the Ocean

Once the train came to their destination in the mid-afternoon, Elizabeth and Nathan got off with their luggage in tow. They signaled for a taxi, and once settled inside, Nathan gave the address of the place where they would be staying over the next week.

When they arrived, they stepped out of the vehicle to find themselves standing in front of a quaint beach cottage right next to a pathway from the shore itself.

"Oh Nathan, this is beautiful! How ever did you find this place?" Elizabeth asked as she snuggled in close to her husband.

Nathan put the suitcases down, kissed Elizabeth's head, chuckled, and responded, "I communicated to your father what I wanted to do for you, and he had a connection that owned this place and used it for their personal vacation home. When I phoned them to explain that I was William Thatcher's son-in-law to be and that this would be my wedding gift to you for our honeymoon, the owner was more than willing to share his home with us."

"That is amazing! We will have to send them a nice thank-you note afterwards." Elizabeth said as she surveyed the exterior of the cozy little cottage.

"Nathan, can we go down to the beach now? It just looks so inviting! I haven't been to the beach in years! Thank you for this idea, my love!" Elizabeth said as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

He turned them both so that they were facing one another and said in return, "You are very welcome, Mrs. Grant! Anything to please my bride."

He leaned in and softly but passionately kissed her lips. Lost in the moment of their embrace, the two molded into one another.

When the two finally broke apart to take a breath, Nathan whispered into her ear, "Are you sure you want to go down to the beach at this very moment? You know we are here all week."

Elizabeth caught her breath as shivers went through her body. She stepped back from Nathan and, without a word, anxiously nodded, grabbed his hand, and headed towards the beach.

As much as she wanted Nathan, it had been a long train ride, and the beach was calling her name as loudly as the waves crashing to the shore.

Once they walked down the pathway and onto the cool sand, Elizabeth sat down and started unlacing her shoes. When she got those off, she went to roll off her stockings but was interrupted as Nathan sat down next to her.

"Here, let me help you." Nathan said as he draped Elizabeth's legs over his own. Then he carefully found the beginning of her first stocking right below her knee and slowly started rolling it down her calf, caressing the limb as he did. Nathan did the same with the other stocking as his piercing blue eyes, full of passion, locked on her own. Between the combination of taking the stocking off at a slow speed and the intense, passionate gaze, Elizabeth's whole body was tingling from the inside out.

When Elizabeth's feet were finally free from both her shoes and stockings, Nathan reached over, allowing his fingertips to softly graze her jawline, and then captured her lips with his own with a kiss that communicated all that his eyes had done just minutes before.

After several moments lost in the waves of passion, she pulled away. Elizabeth laid her head in the crook of Nathan's neck as she steadied her breathing. Finally, she leaned into his ear and, in a husky voice, said, "Nathan Grant, you are intoxicating more than you know. I am not sure what is pulling me more at this moment, the taste of you or the waves of the ocean."

Nathan's face broke into a huge playful grin as his eyes twinkled, and he responded, "Hmm, let's find out."

He scooted in closer, placing his hand behind her neck, and pulled Elizabeth into another kiss, brushing his lips against hers at first softly and then, as their kiss deepened, with more urgency. As they stayed wrapped in one another's embrace in this intimate dance of their kiss, all else seemed to stand still around them.

When they finally pulled apart this time, Nathan turned Elizabeth's torso so that she was facing the ocean with her back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her as she rested her own on top of his. Their breathing became steady and became one, rising and falling in the same pattern.

After a few moments of silence, as they both gazed out onto the ocean, Nathan whispered, "So, what's the verdict, Mrs. Grant? Which has the strongest pull on you?"

Elizabeth shook her head, blushed, and softly giggled. She then replied, "Well, the ocean is quite beautiful. So, I'd have to say that. But don't worry, my love, you are a close second choice."

"Hey! I object!" Nathan declared with a hearty chuckle.

Elizabeth giggled again as she grabbed his hand, bringing it to her lips and kissing it, and then said, "Shhhh. Just sit back and enjoy this for a little bit."

Then she rested her head on his chest as well, closing her eyes and simply listening to the crashing waves and the squawk of the seagulls. Elizabeth inhaled, and her nostrils were filled with the salty air. The cool spring wind blew her hair across her face, and before she could brush it aside, Nathan reached over and gently did it for her.

They stayed like that on the beach until the sun began to set. They admired the colors that seemed to be watercolored in the sky above them. Before darkness surrounded them, Nathan got up and held out his hand to Elizabeth.

"Are you ready to go back to the cottage now, Mrs. Grant?" Nathan asked with a big grin.

Elizabeth eagerly nodded her head and took hold of Nathan's hand. Once she was up, she weaved her arm into Nathan's, and the two walked back up the pathway to the cottage.

When they got to the door, Nathan unlocked it with the key, and then, as he did on their wedding night, he picked her up in one fell swoop, carrying her over the threshold.

Once inside, he held her in his arms. She caressed the back of his hair and neck as they stayed that way, eyes locked on one another. Then Elizabeth pulled Nathan to her and kissed him. The hand he had on her back slowly rubbed Elizabeth's back and played with the locks of her hair. Elizabeth's hands were now both massaging his head as she also gently tugged his chestnut locks as their kiss became deeper.

Taking a break and allowing themselves a moment to breathe, Elizabeth placed her forehead on Nathan's. After a moment, he gave her a quick kiss, set her down, and closed the door that they had left open. He grabbed her hand and led her to the kitchen.

"Come with me. I don't know about you, but I'm famished. As much as tonight's dessert is extremely tempting, I think it'd be a good idea if we got a quick bite first." Nathan said with a wide grin and a sparkle in his eyes as he winked at her.

Still caught up in the moment of their kiss, Elizabeth touched her fingers to her lips and, lost in a passionate daze, simply nodded.

Together, they made a quick meal and had a picnic in their living room. There, they enjoyed one another's company for the rest of the evening.