The beginning of everything else

Epilogue - The Beginning of Everything Else

We fly to Bora Bora the day after the wedding, thankful that we had managed to change our plans with relatively short notice, and I'm sure the upgrade my parents got us to first class will be hugely appreciated as we settle into the grueling eleven-hour flight. The wedding had been perfect, with everything going according to plan and no real drama. It was the celebration that we had hoped for and the right combination of special without the need for too much planning stress. 

I had of course understood the significance of what we had been doing, but I also knew that this didn't change how committed I was to making this relationship the last and only one that I would ever have. It's odd that society makes such a deal of the kind of firsts that I was for Elle, but so much less so for the kind of firsts - and onlies - that Elle was for me. She's the only person I have ever referred to as my girlfriend. Sure I've dated, or been on dates, but girlfriend is a term exclusively for Elle - when you've loved someone like that, what's the point of trying to find a poor replacement. She's my only love, the only person who had made me feel like I can achieve anything and everything, the only woman to make me feel like I'm the best version of myself that I can be. She knows me to my core, which isn't something that I can say about anyone else, and she will always be the only person that I would ever contemplate forever with.

When we were announced as Husband and Wife I was already kissing her, and being less formal there was no entrance to the reception announcing the 'new Mr and Mrs Flynn'. So today at the airport has been both a wonderful and surreal experience hearing her being referred to as my wife and with that change of last name. Given our story and how we got here, I can't help but feel like yesterday was the epilogue to a long and sometimes painful winding journey, the happy ending that meant that despite the heartache we found our way back to where we belong.

The main resort of the hotel is on the island, with the bungalows in the shape of a Y jutting out into the ocean. The inside is very modern and dominated by a massive bed. Outside we have a good-sized deck space with loungers, a table, and some chairs, and below that there is a smaller lower deck that is a great springboard for getting in and out of the brilliant turquoise sea where according to the brochure we'll see local fruit sellers paddle over every morning. After arriving we had unpacked and then taken a walk around the resort to see where everything was, settling for relaxing on the beach for the rest of the afternoon.

Walking back to my lounger having just taken a dip to cool off, I can see Elle stealthily watching me from behind her shades. To the casual observer she looks like she is reading a book but I know her and am rewarded with a tiny amused quirk of her lip as I flex my muscles to test if I'm right about her ogling. Not that I would ever mind, she can stare as much as she likes, she can do it slyly from behind her sunglasses or blatantly for the world to see that I have just as much effect on her as she has on me.

"You have a fan club", Elle tells me as I walk back and sit on the lounger next to hers.

"You?" I grin at her, "What can I say, I'm a very lucky man"

"Always, but that's not what I meant", Elle pushes as I towel myself down and then climb onto her lounger, hovering over her, and kissing her neck.

"Let 'em, they can see the ring, and they can see this", I mumble against her neck, lowering myself to nestle between her thighs and groaning as I feel her fingers trail from my shoulders down my back, and then squeeze my ass.

Over the next 14 days, we have our itinerary planned out to maximize both rest and play. During our days we will alternate between time spent at the hotel, lounging either at our bungalow or in the main resort, and time spent out on the island doing various activities whether that be exploring the wonders of nature or a more human-made pursuit. Our nights though will be the part of the trip where we celebrate our marriage, dining in the hotel's various restaurants, followed by a show or some dancing, and then making love into the night. 

We spent one day at the Lagoonarium, an enclosed part of the main lagoon where we see Lemon Sharks, Moray Eels, Manta Ray, and Puffer Fish, then another day at the Turtle Centre and Leopard Ray Trench. We climb Mount Pahia, and take out Quad Bikes as well as visiting Alain Despert, an artist on the island to buy some mementos for the house.

My favorite days however are the ones spent on our deck at the bungalow, where I can enjoy the ever-shrinking bikinis thoughtfully modeled by my very lovely wife. We enjoy a lazy haze of relaxing on our loungers, reading our books and drinking cocktails, then swimming in the ocean when we need to cool down. Only feet away from our plush bedroom, I'm surprised that either of us still have fully working legs, but when it comes to Elle I'll never say that enough is enough. I don't think there is a surface left in that place that hasn't seen at least a little bit of action, and that includes a little moonlit lounger romance and one particular swim that probably made a few Sea Turtles blush.

We land back in LA on Saturday afternoon, and so we have around 36hrs left before we have to return back to the normality of everyday life. Mom and Dad have agreed to keep the dogs until Sunday evening, and Lee and Rachel did a quick grocery shop for us so that we won't have to leave the house. I'd also asked Rach to do one additional favor for me to set up the house for our return. Ordinarily, I might have asked my best man and brother but given his usual distaste when I admit exactly how much I like Elle, the sister-in-law route seems like a much more sensible approach.

Leaving the luggage in the trunk, I rush around the car to open the door for her, holding her hand to help her out. I can see by her amused smile that she has probably guessed what is coming next, but this is a bit of tradition that I think definitely deserves our attention. As soon as the key is turned, I lean down and scoop her up bridal style as she giggles wrapping her hands around my neck and pulling my face in towards hers. It is only when we are beeped by a passing car that I realize that we have been standing on our doorstep making out for a few minutes with her still balanced in my arms.

I make my way across the threshold into the house and put her down just inside the hallway onto the path of rose petals set out on the floor. 

"Someone's feeling confident about his chances", she remarks, but she gives herself away, following them without hesitation straight upstairs.

"Well I'm unclear on this whole consummating the marriage thing" I laugh as she grabs my hand to pull me along, not that I need any encouragement, but I've always loved when she is incredibly demonstrative about what she wants, "It's only been in hotels so far, and I wouldn't want us to jinx it or anything, so I guess I'll have to perform my husbandly duties again"

"How much do you love that word?" she asks, as she makes quick work of my clothes and I very quickly find myself completely naked.

"More than anything", I assure her as I lift her dress, and it's the last thing I say for a while.

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This is serenity encapsulated, laying here in a post-orgasmic satisfied haze. Noah is beside me as I rest my head on his chest and trace my fingers lightly across his abs. The balcony doors are open, and the winter sun is low in the sky as a light breeze blows our curtains slightly into the room.

If I think back just over a year, my life was so incredibly different, I was six years into a deep heartbreak that never seemed to change or lessen. Then in the blink of an eye everything changed. We forgave each other our mistakes and started actually communicating. Now I am laying here in the arms of the only man I could ever love like this. I've been out there, I tried, but this right here is everything - he is love, and joy, and comfort. He is where home is, where my mind, body, and soul are at peace, and he will always be the only man who can make my heart race and yet also feel so safe.

As I think of our journey so far, and everything yet to come, I can't help think that this is the end of the story of how we came to be, and the beginning of everything else.