Romeo On and Off the Court
Chapter 38 – Traveling
A violation that occurs when a player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball.
Bella
Bora Bora. Edward and I had been to Florida several times, but never anywhere so beautiful. Not the Florida didn't have its charm. I didn't even want to consider how much our honeymoon cost, not that we couldn't afford it ten times over... seven days in paradise.
When Edward carried me into the villa, the smell of flowers assailed me. It was a pleasant smell – floral, creamy, fruity and indolic. It didn't take me long to discover the source of the scent. A vase of large, pinwheel-shaped blooms in creamy white was sitting table on the private terrace.
Setting me on my feet, Edward kissed me. His kiss contained a hint of things to come, things we didn't have time for right now. We needed to wait until our luggage was delivered.
I explored the villa suite while Edward leaned against the wall and watched. The one bedroom housed a king-size bed with white bedding. A heart was in the center of the bed made with red tropical flowers. The view from the window was breathtaking. The bathroom had a tub in the center. I could see myself enjoying a bath and the view – at the same time. Edward was definitely raising the bar on all future vacations. I chuckled, turning back and heading out the open door to the terrace where the table with the flowers and two lounge chairs were. A plunge pool was on the other terrace with a shaded bed and something that looked like trampoline. Looking to the right and left, water on either side of us. Bathing suits would be a must, though midnight skinny dipping wasn't out of the question. Mount Otemanu towered over the water in the distance.
I leaned against the railing and looked down. The water was so clear I could see the fish swimming below the surface. Two arms wrapped around me, as Edward's nose skimmed my neck.
"Our luggage has been delivered. Let's freshen up and explore the resort. I didn't plan anything for today, so we can see what there is to do," Edward whispered in my ear. It seemed he didn't want to break the tranquility the lagoon offered.
"I'd like that. What do you have planned?" I asked, turning in his arms.
"I only booked us to go scuba diving along the coral reef," he kissed me. "We can go on a cultural walk and learn about the culture." Another kiss. "I packed snorkeling gear if we want to explore the lagoon around the villa. And anything else you want to do, my darling wife."
"Good answer," I said before he kissed me again.
If he kept kissing me, we weren't going to leave.
As if reading my thoughts, he released me, and we headed to the bedroom. Much to my dismay, Edward drew the sliding door over the window and lowered the slats. He winked at me.
"Only I get to see you in nothing."
I laughed as I opened a suitcase with a purple ribbon wrapped around the handle. A choice of beachwear greeted me. Edward had definitely planned well. He had included bikinis, full pieces, and tankinis as well as skirts and wraps. Shorts and tank tops were found, too. Sandals and tennis were in a plastic bag. With a look over my shoulder, I found my garment bag hanging in the closet. I shook my head and drew out a one piece, one shoulder, purple swim suit and a pair of white shorts.
A half hour later, we walked hand-in-hand down, or was it up, the boardwalk toward the beach. We could have called for a golf cart, but I wanted to walk. As we reached the end of the boardwalk, Edward's phone rang.
He looked confused as he answered. "A couple's massage? We didn't book one." He smiled and glanced over at me. "What time do we need to be there?" Ending the call, he slipped the phone back in his pocket. "My parents found out from Angela where I was taking you. They booked the massage for us."
"Who else knows?" I asked, wondering what other surprises we had in store.
He shrugged. "Does it matter now? I didn't want you to get wind of where beforehand. I had to tell Angela to get her to pack for you, not that I didn't help."
I leaned toward him and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I'm glad I didn't know until we were in the air to LAX. I would have suggested somewhere closer to home."
Edward chuckled. "I know. The look on your face when we checked in and as you explored the suite, told me my keeping it from you was the best thing to do. We both needed a getaway to relax before practice starts for me and grad school for you."
The palm trees swayed in the breeze. Bora Bora was the perfect place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. "And this is the perfect place to do it. So, when's the massage."
"In two hours. We need to be at the spa fifteen minutes early." He looked at his watch. "Hungry?"
"I could eat. Maybe something light, a salad."
He squeezed my hand. "Let's go ask the concierge where we can get a quick bit."
~~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~~
The sun was low in the sky back the time we got back to the suite. The massage was definitely something we both needed. A bottle of champagne was waiting for us when we entered the room. It was sitting in a gold bucket with the resort's logo stamped on the front. Condensation dimpled the outside of the bucket. Two flutes set next to it. A folded card was in front of it all.
Looking forward to getting to know the both of you during the upcoming season. Congratulations on your marriage. Coach Garrison
"Wow!" I exclaimed. "I didn't expect your new coach to send us anything."
Edward shook his head. "Care for a glass?"
"Yes, I can sip on it while watching the sunset."
I headed out to the outdoor bed as Edward opened the champagne. It wasn't long after I had settled, he handed me a flute and cuddled up next to me. Our gazes watched as the sun was surrounded by shades of orange and pink reminiscent of a perfectly ripened peach. The sky consisted of a variety of shades, blends of red, orange and yellow. The waters below replicated this effect. Breathtakingly beautiful was the only way to describe this magnificent sight. The contrast between the dark waters and the luminous sky was like the meeting of two worlds, the known and the unknown. I wish I had my phone to snap a picture. A sigh left me as I rested my head on Edward's bare shoulder, utterly happy.
Edward took my empty flute from me and set it on the deck next to the bed along with his. We came together for a kiss. This kiss was anything but tame, it was wanting. The lapping of the water against the stilts was sweet music as Edward helped me out of my shorts and bathing suit. No words were needed as he made sweet love to me in the open air.
~~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~~
The sun bloomed on the horizon, golden petals stretching ever outwards into the rich blue sky. It was the brilliant flower of the sky that warmed our days. It was the invitation to a new day. A sheet barely covered me, and Edward's arm was draped over my stomach. It took me a moment to realize we were still outside and naked as the day we were born. A blush rose to my cheeks as I slipped from the bed and gathered the sheet around me.
A smile touched my lips as I gazed at Edward before walking into the ensuite bath to retrieve a robe. Returning to the terrace, I covered Edward's behind. His hand shot up, catching my wrist. He pulled me back down next to him, kissing me as he opened the robe.
"Edward," I exclaimed. "We're outside and the sun's up."
He smiled wolfishly at me. "And?"
My jaw dropped. "What about no one else seeing me in the buff but you."
His eyes twinkled. "Last night?" he asked, caressing my naked hip.
"It was dark, and we had no lights on."
Edward leaned forward and nipped at my lips as he closed the robe. "Then we best move inside so I can make love to you again, my darling wife."
Edward
Scuba diving was like visiting a museum where the art was alive. I craved seeing the warm, colorful coral reefs. There was nothing more invigorating than the sight of multitudes of tropical fish crowding together in schools of thousands. Having Bella swimming next to me with a tank on her back made the experience more memorable. When I suggested taking scuba lessons months ago, Bella jumped at the opportunity, that's when the idea of coming to Bora Bora entered my mind.
Looking over my shoulder, I saw Bella near a sea turtle. I spun lifting the underwater camera and snapped a couple of pictures. I swam over after passing the camera over to another diver. The sea turtle remained in the area and was joined by a school of angelfish.
Checking my gauge, I drew my eyes down. Our time was about up. I got Bella's attention and balled my fist before raising my thumb and jerked it up, gesturing it was time to go topside. Spinning, I found the divemaster and repeated the gesture, letting him know we were ascending. He returned my gesture with the okay sign.
Bella and I were helped back into the boat and off with our tanks. We weren't the first to return to the surface. By my count, there were about six divers and the divemaster still below.
Bella and I exchanged cameras once we were under the awning. She had gotten some great shots and some candid shots of me exploring the reef.
"This is a good picture of the both of us," Bella said, showing me the picture. It was of us with the sea turtle and school of angelfish.
"We'll need to print it out," I suggested.
Bella nodded before suggested we also print out a candid of each of us.
~~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~~
While we were away from the resort, we checked out some of the local shops.
In one, Bella picked up perfume and sprayed it in the air, sniffing it. I took the bottle and her wrist, spritzing the perfume on it.
"It smells like the white flowers," she said in awe after smelling the scent on her. She lifted her wrist up to me.
A grin formed. It was better than the flowers on her. I put the sample bottle back down and picked up a packaged one along with lotion in the tiare scent.
While Bella went into a clothing store, I explored the jewelry store. The Tahitian pearls were beautiful. They appeared black to me, but upon closer inspection, saw they were dark colors. Some seemed to be blue, purple, green, brown, or silver but not pure black. One strand reminded me of a peacock, dark green gray to blue gray, with rose to purple overtones. It would look remarkable on Bella's fair skin.
I waved a salesclerk over and pointed out the strand. The pearls had circles running around them, making them more beautiful.
In broken English, the clerk asked if I wanted them. I nodded and moved with him to the register. He placed them in a soft-cloth pouch along with a card, which he explained was the care instructions.
My plan was to surprise with the pearls tonight before we left for Polynesian dinner show.
~~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~~
Rolling onto my side, I lifted up and rested my head on my hand, watching Bella sleep. I still couldn't believe we were married. The past week was surreal – in some ways, it was like old times but then it was nothing like us living together. We seemed closer, seemed to trust each other more.
Deciding not to wake her, I slipped from the bed. My feet hit the plush are rug. I wanted a rug like this. It was our last day in Bora Bora. We had an early morning flight for Tahiti. Our flight back to LA was at nine in the evening. So, we would have about ten hours to explore Tahiti.
