Seven Days

Chapter Thirty-One

December 31st

Friday, 11:58PM

The breeze blew warm across the water, rippling the surface into small waves and where the water met the sand, the sand gleamed pale pink. Syd had never seen pink sand before, and no matter how many times she watched the water wash over it and turn it pink, she found it beautiful. For the first time since laying eyes on Tori in a smoke-filled warehouse, Syd felt completely at peace.

Finally.

Of course, it was too dark to really see the sand turning pink, but she didn't care. It was a gorgeous night, with a thousand stars sparkling overhead like small, perfectly cut diamonds. A light breeze ruffled through the skirt of her gauzy white sundress and the wet sand was cool beneath her bare feet, her sandals back up where the dry sand began.

Frerin came up behind her, easing his arms about her waist. "Where are you?"

"I'm right here," she told him, leaning back against his chest. "It's not Aruba, but it's perfect just the same."

"You ever been here before?"

"Bermuda? No."

"Me, neither. I think it's perfect, too."

She turned toward him, draping her arms about his neck. "We did it."

"How pissed do you think everyone will be when we tell them?"

"Who cares?"

He smiled as he bent to kiss her, and as their lips met, she tightened her arms about him, threading her fingers up into his wavy dark hair as his tongue slipped between her lips to caress hers. Somehow, she didn't think she'd ever get tired of his kisses. Of the feel of his hands curving over her ass to give it a teasing knead. Of the way those hands tightened on her to pull her flush against him, where he already rose against her.

They'd arrived in Bermuda the previous day, and that morning, in a quiet civil ceremony, she and Frerin got married, and as far as Syd was concerned, it was the most perfect wedding ever and she didn't care if they ever went back home.

He drew back, his eyes glittering in the moonlight. "We should head back. It's almost midnight. I planned to have you naked a minute after the ball drops in New York."

"Now that sounds like the perfect way to ring in the new year."

"I thought so." He smiled as he lifted her easily and she wrapped her legs about his waist. "I love you, Syd."

"I love you, too, Frerin."

He kissed once more, deep and slow and as he drew back, fireworks burst across the sky in a brilliant display of gold, pink, and green. "Happy New Year, Mrs. Durin."

"I love how that sounds," she murmured, linking her fingers at the back of his neck. "So, why don't we go back to our room and celebrate the new year, your birthday, and our wedding night the way they should be celebrated?"

"You read my mind, honey. I think I'm going to like being married to you."

He set her down then and as their fingers linked and she gazed up at him, she remembered the first time he ever spoke to her, the first time he ever kissed her, and the first time they were together. In the span of seven days, she found everything she ever dreamed she would and as Frerin tugged her into his arms once more, everything was just as it should be.

The End