Colin

I rolled over in bed as the boat groaned into Saint Kitts. Abby and I had slept through breakfast, recuperating from the dancing we did with Doris and Bernie the night before. The snorkeling with them had been a blast. We spent all of our time on the island bobbing with them in the water. We got to listen to stories of their fights and special memories all throughout their marriage, and I was hoping it would convince Abby of my idea. I was serious when I asked her if she wanted to get married. I was ready, now more than ever, to make her my wife. I didn’t want to waste another second trying to figure out whether or not this was going to happen. I was ready to prove to Abby that she was the most important thing to me.

Not my fans, not my business, not anything.

Just her.

Only her.

I rolled over just as Abby was opening her eyes. She looked angelic waking up in the mornings. Her moods were always sour until she could get caffeine in her system, but her eyes always sparkled with the intrigue of a new day. I kissed the tip of her nose and she smiled, gracing me with her innocent beauty as her tanned skin glistened in the sun that streamed through our windows.

“Morning, handsome,” she said.

“Morning, gorgeous. Have you thought anymore about my—proposal?” I asked.

“I see what you did there,” she said, grinning.

“I know you’re worried about our family not being here, but if you want we could do a vow renewal and the reception at home,” I said.

“I know, I know,” she said.

“I want you to have whatever you could ask for, Abby. But what I’ve learned about you is that you don’t like to ask for it. For whatever reason, you think you’re not entitled to ask for things that you want, which makes it harder to give you what you want. I’m left to cast about trying to figure it out, and I get it wrong more often than not.”

“I’m gonna need coffee for this conversation,” she said.

“Just look at me,” I said.

She turned her body towards mine and I reached out to smooth some of her hair behind her ear.

“I’m sure Bernie and Doris would love to be there to witness it. We could get you a beautiful flowing dress in one of the shops. We’ll get me a ring made right here on the island, dig our toes in the sand while we take our vows, and then party it up with our new friends on the ship tonight. Then, when we get home, we’ll do it up right. A dress. A beautiful church, or maybe another outside venue. We’ll invite everyone we would’ve invited to the wedding, then we’ll do a reception. We’ll dance, we’ll eat, we’ll drink, and then I’ll take you on a splendid honeymoon. Wherever you want to go.”

“I don’t know—my boss might not approve of me taking off that much time,” Abby said.

“I’ll talk to him myself, if that’s what it takes,” I said, winking.

“Could we fly Doris and Bernie out?” she asked. “You think they would come?”

“I’ll put them up in a wonderful hotel so they can enjoy themselves after the ceremony and reception,” I said.

I watched as she turned everything around in her head. The suspense was killing me. My stomach was rolling over on itself so badly I thought I was going to heave. But the moment her breathtaking smile crossed her face, I knew what I had to do next.

I had to get in touch with my lawyer so he could fax over a marriage license.

“Let’s do it,” Abby said. “Let’s get married today.”

I leapt from the bed and started placing phone calls. I called up Miss Prowler and told her she could do this as a way to make up for the idiotic paperwork she didn’t draft that well for Abby’s ex to sign. Within two hours, she was faxing it over to the ship, and it was laid in my hands by the captain himself.

“Congratulations, you two,” the captain said, after tapping on our door.

“Thank you. Do you happen to know of anyone who’s an officiant on this ship?” I asked.

“Well, as it turns out, I carry that credential myself,” he said. “I would consider it an honor to wed the two of you on this beautiful island.”

“Colin, I don’t think we’re going to need to get me a dress,” Abby said.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “Because I’m sure plenty of shops will—”

I turned around and saw Abby step out from around the corner. She was in this beautiful white sundress that held onto every curve of her body. It fluttered down just above her knees before her smooth legs broke away from the fabric, glistening with their smoothness. Her feet were clad in simple flip flops and her hair was loosely pinned up. She had on just the slightest bit of makeup. Enough to make her beautiful brown eyes pop and her lips seem delectable.

My heart was hammering in my throat as my eyes looked her up and down.

“I guess we’ll just need a ring for me, then,” I said.

She smiled and took my hand as the captain escorted us off the ship. I could tell Abby was searching for Bernie and Doris, her head on a swivel as we disembarked. I held onto her tightly as the captain walked with us into a couple of jewelry stores so I could try on rings and find one that suited the occasion.

But Abby’s laughter ripped me from my thoughts.

“Doris! Bernie! Over here!”

I smiled as Abby went running from the jewelry store and wrapped her arms around Doris.

“New friends?” the captain asked.

“Inspiring friends.” I paid for the ring that was on my finger so I could go out and talk with our friends. I slid it off my hand and handed it to the captain as we approached them on the sidewalk. Doris and Bernie were all smiles as they turned to me, and Bernie offered me his hand for a shake.

“I hear you’re about to make an honest woman out of Abby,” he said.

“That’s the plan,” I said.

“Do you guys have anyone to witness the wedding?” Doris asked.

“I think that’s what Abby is probably wanting to ask you,” I said, grinning broadly.

“Would you guys come? Please?” Abby asked. “Doris, we could get you some flowers from the shop to hold.”

“None of that is necessary, sweetheart,” Doris said. “All that matters is the love the two of you obviously have for each other.”

“Where are you guys gonna tie the knot?” Bernie asked.

“We were thinking about a small beachside wedding. The captain is going to officiate, all we would need is to hop a ride somewhere,” I said.

“I’m actually familiar with the island. If you want to follow me, there’s a wonderful space about a mile west of here,” the captain said.

“Lead the way,” I said.

The four of us walked with the captain as Abby handed her ring off to Bernie. The three of them were talking to themselves as we walked away from the hustle and bustle of the island. Bernie kept shooting me grins and looks every once in a while, and every time I caught his eye I felt my cheeks burn.

Then, he pulled away from the women to come walk by my side.

“She’ll keep you on your knees,” he said.

“What?” I asked, wondering where this conversation was going.

“Once you give your heart to a woman, that’s it. She’ll make you weak for the rest of your life. And somehow, it will make you the strongest you’ve ever felt.”

“I didn’t actually think how I was feeling could be put into words until you said that, Bernie.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve been married fifty years and I only recently got it right myself,” he said.

The captain led us through a small patch of brush before we were dumped out onto a secluded beach. The crystal waters were reflecting rainbows painted by the sun and the sand was like powder beneath our feet. I heard Abby gasp at its quiet beauty as the ocean went on for miles. The luscious green trees cut us off from the rest of the world as perfect seashells lined the shore.

It was perfect. Everything about this was perfect.

The captain gave my ring to Doris as the four of us situated ourselves in the sand. The crystal waves were licking against our feet as the captain stood proud and tall. The wind was blowing Abby’s mahogany brown locks around her face as her dress kicked up to her thighs. My hands were shaking as I held hers, and tried to convince myself that this was really happening.

I was marrying the very woman I had convinced myself didn’t exist for me.

“As we gather here on this secluded island beach, we are reminded of the beauty and innocence of how love begins. Fresh and new, such love is unmuddled by the turmoil of life. These two who stand here before me have decided to embrace one another. They have decided to cling to each other and walk through life facing the oncoming storms together, no longer trying to do it alone.”

The captain’s words hit home for me, and I felt tears rush to my eyes as I looked at Abby’s smiling face.

“Do the two of you have your own vows?” the captain asked.

“I’d like to say something, yes,” I said.

I turned around and got Abby’s ring from Bernie before I took her left hand within mine.

“For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer. Whenever you are sick or whenever you’re happy—I can promise you one thing. There will never be a time when someone else will be more important to me than you. There will never be a time when my company is more important to me than you. I thought that after I’d built my empire, there wouldn’t be any more room for someone to share my life with. I thought that my company would be my first and only love. But then I met you, Abby, and I realized that I’d always had a spot reserved for you. A spot I tried to fill with my company, to make me feel less alone in the world. You not only uncovered that revealing truth, but you stepped right into that spot, that hole. And no matter what, I will always be working to make sure that you know you come first.”

I slid her ring on her finger before I brought her hand to my lips. I saw a tear streaming down her cheek as Doris handed her my ring, then she took my hand in hers and cleared her throat.

“For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer. Whenever you’re sick or whenever you’re happy—I can promise you one thing.”

She slid my ring onto my finger before she looked straight into my eyes.

“I am done running,” she said.

Scooping her into my arms, I crashed my lips against hers. Her hands clasped my shirt, pulling me closer to her as Doris and Bernie clapped. The captain was chuckling at us as my tongue swiped across her lips, begging to taste her sweetness as the breeze from the ocean kicked up. It swirled around us, pushing us closer into each other’s embrace as my arms cloaked her back.

“I love you,” she said, into my lips.

“I love you, too,” I said, breathlessly.

“By the power vested in me by the State of California and the cruise line itself, I now pronounce you husband and wife. I’d tell you to kiss to the bride and all that, but it looks like you guys have that down,” the captain said.

I brought Abby against my body as Doris and Bernie cheered. Our bodies swayed in the breeze as we dug our toes into the sand. I buried my nose into the crook of her neck and took in the smell of her body.

Abby Thompson was now my wife, and the realization left me at a loss for words.

The captain pulled a pen from his pocket and we all signed the marriage certificate. Bernie and Doris signed as witnesses and I watched as Abby changed her name and officially became ‘Abby Thompson Murphy.’ A sense of pride unlike anything I’d ever felt trickled around my body from head to toe as the world faded around me. I wrapped her in my arms again as I held the marriage certificate, clinging to it just like I clung to her. I swept her off her feet and carried her off the beach, our lips giving in to the strong attraction.

We bid Doris and Bernie goodbye before I swept her off her feet again. They were going to explore more of the island, and I was taking my newly-wedded wife back to our room. I carried her up the bridge back to the ship as the captain followed us, and there was a crowd of people gathered on board. They turned and began clamoring toward us, but the captain intervened, as he stood in front of us and held out his hands.

“These two beautiful people have just declared their love for one another. Give them some space and allow them to enjoy their time together.”

“Did they get married!?” someone shouted.

“She’s wearing a white dress, you think that’s what they did?”

“Colin!? Are you and Abby married!?”

The crowd began to grow restless and I was ready to whisk Abby away. I was ready to push her through the crowd while the captain held them off so I could get her back to the room. But instead of feeling her cling to me, I felt her slip from my hands. Then, I watched her square her shoulders and step up beside the captain.

“We did get married, yes,” Abby said with a smile. “It was a beautiful, private ceremony. Full of love, light and sand.”

Everyone erupted into cheers and clapping as Abby stood her ground.

“Did you guys have your own vows?”

“Who witnessed the ceremony?”

“What kind of kisser is Colin!?”

Abby giggled as she looked back at me, her eyes full of life and her body relaxed for the first time in days.

“We did have our own vows, a wonderful couple we’ve come to regard as friends here on the ship witnessed the ceremony, and he is a fabulous kisser,” she said.

With every question they threw her way, she had a response. She was quick, light on her feet, and handled the crowd really well. People wanted us to pose for pictures, so she slipped her arm around me, and lean her body into mine as people snapped photos of us. Instead of running in fear like she had before, she was cradled next to me as I held her close. I looked down at her in awe as her eyes looked up towards mine. I bent down to kiss her lips as everyone struck up their cheers again.

When the crowd was done and the questions had been fielded, Abby and I walked freely down towards the elevator. The captain escorted us back to our room and promised to get our marriage certificate faxed to my lawyer immediately, saying he would bring it back once he was done.

“Just slip it under the door,” I said. “We’ll get it when we get up.”

“Are the two of you going to make it for dinner? Or should I have the chef fix you something special?” he asked.

“That won’t be necessary,” Abby said. “We’ll find something when we’re ready.”

The captain bid us farewell as she closed the door behind us, then her sights were set on me. A darkness drifted over her gaze, erasing the innocence she had donned on the beach. She stepped towards me, her hands peeling the spaghetti straps off her shoulders before her dress piled to the floor. She was now wearing only a delicate, lacy yellow number that barely covered her up. My cock immediately began to grow against my pants.

“Well, Mrs. Murphy. That’s quite an outfit you had hiding underneath that dress,” I said.

Her hands fisted my shirt and brought my lips dangerously close to her own.

“I figured you would enjoy it,” she said.