"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 40 - "Activities..."

Chapter 40 - "Activities..."

Clara's PoV

I woke to the sound of light breathing on my face the following morning and the way he was breathing - rough and heavy - told me that he was awake - but I didn't want to let on because I didn't want to ruin the moment.

'I know your awake Clara' he said no doubt rolling his eyes and wrapped his arms tightly around me again.

'I'll never get used to this relaxing thing. I can't remember the last time I woke up in your arms' I sighed contently. 'With the exception of the wedding night I suppose' I mumbled turning over to look him in the eye. 'Normally there's a child or three in our bed' I mumbled.

This was a true fact because Henry was a nightmare to get to sleep in the bed on his own.

Ever since we had introduced the "big boy bed" he has become more clingy than ever - generally climbing in next to John and when that didn't work because the door was locked - he would climb in with Avia or Evie or even Poppy one time.

He just screams the place down outside our bedroom door and we end with no choice but to let him in.

We guessed it was comforting to him because he doesn't share a room and doesn't like to be alone.

It doesn't become so much of an issue when Ollie is around because they sleep soundly together in the same room and so we had come to the conclusion that he doesn't like to be alone.

'Hmm. It is too silent though isn't it? Like where are the kids arguing and running around?' He joked.

'At home. In school. Safe and sound' I said rolling my eyes and briefly kissed him on the lips. All the shit that we have been through and gotten ourselves through - it's nice to just have a break for once.

'So... What do you want to do today?' He asked, running his long, nimbly fingers up my naked ribs and stopped just short of under my breasts.

'Hmm. I wonder' I laughed jokingly, moving my hands to explore his body just as much as he explored mine.

'We will have lost loads of weight by the time we get home if we keep this up. Nice strong steady thighs' he joked making me slap his chest.

He was probably right. The amount of sex we were having couldn't possibly be healthy but we liked it and if was working for us right now - of course it will be a shock to the system when we have to go back to sex once a week - twice if were lucky because we're just so exhausted.

But that was how the honeymoon meant to go on. We started how we were to go on for a whole 15 days. I got used to very quickly waking up and having sex, looking out at the view on the balcony for breakfast, showering and filling the day with some sort of activity, before going out for a really nice meal in the evening then collapsing back into the bed to have more sex, then we'd talk for ages about the future and fall sleep to the sound of the waves in each other's arms.

'What about hiking? We haven't done that yet and there's some really amazing mountains that we could hike?' He said excitedly jumping out of bed before I had even given him an answer.

I had to admit that hiking didn't sound like my kind of fun - but he doesn't really ever complain about the things that I want to do and I know that he hates shopping so much - so I have to at least give him this.

'Okay. Well go hiking' I agreed.

- - -

He spent most of his time these days distracting himself - distracting himself from all the other crap in his life - so he had taken to activities to keep himself occupied.

Even at home now he went out at the weekends and went biking. He normally takes Avia and sometimes he goes for a run or the gym. It was a stress reliever for himself I guess.

'Here we go. Hiking boots and a hiking backpack' the instructor said to us as he handed us all the things we were going to need for the hike.

'God I hate exercise' I whined.

'It'll be fine. I'll help you out' he chuckled at my hesitance. We were about 5 days in and I was already starting to feel homesick. We still have another 10 days.

Don't get me wrong - I love him but I really want to see my kids. I hated not having seen them and I liked the comfort of my own bed with all my friends around me.

I felt a bit like a lost sheep during the hiking I had to be honest - especially when John was walking with the hiking instructors and a couple of other people from our group and was so oblivious to the flirting of one of the women.

'Don't worry. She's my wife' a blonde man smirked.

'Huh?'

'I can see your little jealous face there... Not a hiker? Not one for exercise. Don't worry. This hike will have you whipped into shape' he smirked.

'Sorry. Who are you?'

'Tom. I'm a specialist here and so is she... My wife. We met at the top of this mountain ironically. Terribly beautiful. I proposed up here too. We wanted to get married up here as well but I couldn't quite envision all our wedding guests hiking up here in all their finery. Plus my grandmother is 86 in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank - realistically - wasn't going to happen' he joked.

'That's cute. We're newlyweds too I guess'

'Newlyweds. Nah. We've been married for 15 years. You guys look like you've know each other 5 minutes'

'Pft. Yeah right. If we've had 3 kids and a divorce in 5 minutes then the last 20 years of my life life getting to know the bow tie wearing idiot have been a waste'

'Ahh. Complicated. Come on sweet cheeks. Let's get you to the top of this hike. You can tell me all about the wedding on the way up' he laughed.

- - -

'I thought you'd given up' John said as I took my last climb and John took my hand pulling me up to the top.

'Nah. Wouldn't give up on this' I panted. 'Tom here has been telling me all about the sights at the top. Had to see if for myself' I breathed.

'Well it is amazing' he said in agreement. 'What do you want to do for dinner?'

'Are you kidding? I just walked up a Fucking mountain. Dinner is far down the list of my priorities. I'm talking a nap on that rock over there for the next 10 minutes for a start' I scoffed.

'Take your time sweet cheeks. We've got all day'