My Wonderful Obsession - Part 51 free porn video

My Wonderful Obsession Part 51: Fairy Tales DO Come True September 14, 2002. The date is even more significant for me than the October day three years earlier, when I took an irreversible step and changed my body permanently from male to female. That date marked a major turning point in my life, but not in as many noteworthy ways as this day - the day I married the love of my life, Mark. It was the day I became the wife of an amazing man, the step-mother of two beautiful little children, and the daughter-in-law of a wonderful couple. From then on I'd be a missus, no longer a miss, and I'd be (hopefully) off the market as a single woman for the rest of my days. And as brief and exciting as my time in the dating pool had been, that last part felt almost liberating! So with huge excitement and anticipation, and not a little dread owing to the dicey weather forecast, I was up and showering at seven that morning, which didn't take as long as usual because my hair was to be washed at Turning Heads as part of my huge beauty appointment at eight. Karen had two other girls working with her to deal with the hair and makeup for all the girls and women in the wedding - nine altogether, including my bridesmaids, the two Moms, Megan and little Emma. Everything went according to plan at the salon, and we were all done more or less on time. Well, Kath couldn't resist making snide comments about the hairstyle and makeup job she received, even if it WAS a bit over the top. 'Too bad for you,' I thought with a smile. It was MY day and my way! Big hugs from Karen and a "See you at the church!" and we were off for the next act of my big production. We got back home at ten, with an hour to finish getting into bride mode. I know what you're thinking - did she manage to lose enough around her waist? To improve my chances, all I'd put into myself that morning was half a glass of water, and before dressing I stripped completely and stepped onto the scale in my bathroom. Crap - still a pound short of my goal. 'Hmm,' I thought - 'shouldn't have had that water!' Just then Mom stepped through the door and stopped dead in her tracks. I saw her stunned expression in the mirror as she took in my nude body. I imagined what must have been going through her mind - like, what used to be her son was standing there, face made up beautifully, hair pinned up in a romantic style and decorated with a dozen pretty little sewn-in daisies, nails painted in a glossy pink ... and sporting an unmistakably female body with prominent breasts, narrow waist, protruding butt and rounded hips - and only the tiniest tuft of hair in the spot his penis used to occupy. "Oh honey, I'm so sorry - I didn't know you were ..." I couldn't help giggling out loud. "Mom, give it a rest - I'm sure you know what girls look like without clothes on." "Yes, I do, but ..." She shook her head slowly. That proved I was right. "Well I was just weighing myself. I'm a hundred and thirty-one. One more stupid pound ..." Mom looked pleased though. "Your waist looks smaller, honey" she said, still scanning me head to toe. "I'm sure it'll fit." "Long as I still fit the dress up here," I said, cupping my hands under my breasts. "Do you think they've shrunk?" "Hmm ... I can't really tell," she smiled, "but I don't spend much time looking at you when you're undressed. Well anyway, we'd better get started. You don't want to keep your man waiting at the altar!" Panties were the first item of clothing. I'd picked out three different ones, all white and all really pretty and lacy, but one was a very feminine and VERY sexy item of lingerie I'd received at my shower. It was all see-through lace, with the most exquisite scalloping along the edges. What made it super-risque was a slit in the crotch, which was all but invisible. Natalie had advised wearing something easy to pull aside so peeing would be easier, but I wanted Mark to have the nicest possible present to unwrap that night. So guess what I chose! I figured I'd get help when I took a bathroom break. Mom just shook her head in amazement as I gently pulled those panties on, tugging and smoothing the delicate-looking fabric around my ass and hips with my hands. She didn't know anything about Mark's sexual preferences, but she joked that any man who saw me wearing that wouldn't be able to control himself. "Mom, like I'm totally counting on that!" I joked right back. She laughed and shook her head again. Next came the crinolines. This was my 'borrowed' item - from Natalie, who said she was counting on not needing them anymore! Mom arranged them on the carpet and I stepped into the opening and pulled them up to just below my waist. Mom fastened them at the back and used her hands to smooth out all the pleats and separate the layers till they made a perfect A-shape. Now for the moment of truth. I knelt on the floor and held my arms in the air to protect my hair and makeup while Mom stood on a chair and carefully and with some difficulty positioned the heavy skirt over them and let it slip down. Then I held it in place by the open bodice and stood back up so she could begin to fasten all the tiny buttons into their loops at my back. That seemed to take forever, there were so many of them. As she worked her way up, I carefully settled my breasts into their cups, tugging on the dress and wiggling my upper body until they seemed to be where they needed to be, with (thankfully) no room to spare. The whole time my heart was beating like a drum. I don't remember ever being so excited - and I was nowhere near the church yet! The dress fit! But only just - the bodice was so snug, and so figure- hugging, it felt kind of like I was wearing a plaster cast. But such a beautiful one! The lace overlay on the skirt and the bodice detailing were exquisite, but what I loved most was the accentuated curve from my hips up and into my waist, and out again to my bust. A real hourglass figure, and it was all mine! And for the piece de resistance, my breasts displayed the most perfectly gorgeous cleavage I could ever have wished for. Was Mark in for a treat! While I was admiring myself in the mirror Mom snapped pictures, then finished getting herself ready. ***** Phil and Natalie provided chauffeur service to the church, and before I knew it we were at the entrance and the organist was playing the wedding march. It was all happening so fast! I was almost in a daze as my brother walked me down the aisle, with more than a hundred pairs of eyes on me and camera flashes going off everywhere. Tiny piles of flower petals paved the way, deposited here and there by the little girl who would soon be my daughter, Emma. And at the altar stood my groom looking more handsome than ever in a fabulous tuxedo with real tails. A huge grin broke on his face as our eyes met. Next to Mark, soon to be joined by Phil, was Ben and Jordan (their friend from high school), all sporting matching tuxes, and on the other side stood Kath, Julia, Annalise and Natalie, in their VERY tasteful bridesmaid dresses. It was all so overwhelming! The remarks and formalities seemed to rush by in a flash, and all of a sudden I heard the minister saying, "Mark Spencer McCowan, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" He replied I DO! Then he took a white gold wedding band from Ethan and slid it onto my waiting finger, and made his vows. The minister turned to me - this was it! "Alexandra Renee Johnson (yes, I'd legally added the extra 'e' to my middle name), do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Tears filled my eyes as I looked into Mark's and said "I do." Next I took a yellow gold ring from Ethan and placed it on Mark's finger, and followed suit with my vows. And then the minister proclaimed us husband and wife! And we had our 'first' kiss, signed the register, and then I heard the magic words: "Ladies and gentlemen, it's my honor to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Mark McCowan!" And my new husband and I marched arm-in-arm back up the aisle to the sound of cheering and clapping. I remember thinking 'Wow - did that really just happen or is this some crazy dream?' One glance at Mark's beaming face confirmed that it was true - I was a married woman!!! ***** Then it was off to the reception hall. We snuggled and kissed in the back seat, and I told him I was worried he might be a no-show, or change his mind at the altar. He laughed and said he worried the same thing about me! A light rain shower began shortly after leaving the church, which made me think 'Oh crap!' but it cleared just as we arrived. My new husband helped me out of the car, and Natalie said "Hold on, honey," as she gathered up all my skirts to keep them from dragging on the damp ground. The photographer led the way along a wide path to a spot near the river, and for the next hour snapped off tons of pictures in the bright sunshine. Next on the schedule was a receiving line on the way into the reception hall. I have to say right here that Mark's mom, I mean my new mother-in- law, was just amazing that entire day. She made sure all the little details were looked after, like making sure everything was in place at the church and the reception venue. And getting everyone where they needed to be, like in the proper order for the receiving line. That's where I met Mark's grandparents for the first time. And reconnected with so many people who'd been so important in my life, like for instance Bob and Sharon Stevens, my voice teacher Mrs. White, drama teacher Mr. Nelson, Chelsea, Angie, and Sheila from Milestones, and of course Drs. Cooper and Westerman. Not to mention the Taylors, the Thomases, Edward and Erica McMillan, and Karen from Turning Heads. There were so many others I was introduced to - friends and relatives of the McCowans, mostly. Attendees from the bride's side were sorely lacking, probably just as well since they'd all have known me as a boy if there were many in the first place. But the two ladies who were Mom's long-time employees were both there, and we hugged as if we were related. I'm sure they were blown away by how Mom's little boy looked on his wedding day! The reception? Well, it was just fabulous. I can say that because yours truly was totally the center of attention! For a girl who has always been appearance-obsessed, this was without question the best day of my life. Like I said, it was all so overwhelming - I can barely remember a tenth of the compliments. But I did hear a lot of variations on 'You look positively radiant!' and 'Such a beautiful bride!' and 'Your dress is stunning, honey - just like you,' and 'Did you do your own makeup?' and 'I just love your hair - those flowers are so pretty!' And of course 'Congratulations - you two are made for each other.' Sharon Stevens was positively beaming - "I always knew you and Mark were meant to be together," she gushed as we hugged. I told her I couldn't be more happy that she was proven right at last. She was SO incredibly perceptive! I just had to let God do his work in his own time, and Mark and I would be back together - for good. I guess I was awestruck that all those people would take time from their busy lives to come and support Mark and me. Some from far away, like Texas. My grandmother! That was the biggest surprise - I barely recognized her, it'd been so long. We hugged like the long-lost relatives we were. Grandpa wasn't up to the trip, she said, but she told me she'd missed so much of her grandkids' lives and she wasn't going to miss my wedding. Now all I could think was, 'I was Alexander last time you saw me,' but she put me at ease by relating how she and Mom and talked recently. About ME. So I assumed she got the standard out-of-control- hormones story. And then she said, "Oh honey, God obviously meant you to be a girl all along. Y'all are so pretty!" Ben, as Mark's best man, got to do emcee duties, and he was so perfect. He just slipped naturally back into his theatrical persona and handled the whole affair like a pro. And he was SO funny, poking fun at the two of us - several times I giggled and laughed so hard that my eye makeup was in serious jeopardy! The dinner was amazing too, though I don't have any recollection of what I ate. All I remember was having to get up over and over again to kiss Mark, every time someone started clinking their glass with their fork. Then there were the toasts, and the speeches. Some very nice, heartfelt words were directed towards me by my new in-laws, which didn't do my makeup any favors either. And I had a prepared speech too, a tribute to Pam. I noticed her mom dabbing her eyes while I spoke, and that did it for me too. I could barely finish. Then Ben invited anyone with an amusing story to tell about me or Mark to come to the microphone. Unfortunately, there was no shortage of takers, especially on my side. When Julia came up I was terrified that she'd be unable to resist saying something incriminating, and when she began with the story of how I came to her rescue with Justin, I thought for sure she'd spill some beans. But she somehow managed to avoid being too specific, thank God! Finally, there was the cutting of the cake, and the removal of my garter, and the tossing of my bouquet (caught by Annalise!) ... and at some point I found myself in Mark's arms on the dance floor. Party time! The DJ was playing a whole mix of great dance tunes. Who knew you could do so many moves in a bid huge wedding dress? Such FUN! But when the DJ put on ABBA's 'Dancing Queen,' a whoop went up and every girl and woman was out on the floor - even my grandmother! Then all too soon it seemed, it was all winding down. First the older guests, then younger ones, came over and said their congrats and their thank-you's. Eventually it was just my immediate family and a few others who volunteered to help straighten up and carry stuff out. Mark and I tried to pitch in but our parents intervened, saying we both looked exhausted, and besides we should be on our way so we wouldn't sleep in and miss our flight. I said I should change first, but Mom shook her head. "I'll pick up your dress from the hotel tomorrow." As we hugged, she said softly, "You just have a wonderful time, dear. I'll be thinking about you every minute of every day." ***** Mark seemed completely exhausted during the taxi ride to our hotel - he barely said a word and his head was resting against mine most of the way. As for me, I suppose I should have been in even worse shape, but I was still riding a huge wave of excitement and besides, there was the anticipation of what was about to take place once we were all alone in our room! Luckily the hotel had a valet who took care of all our luggage, and the woman at the front desk was super-nice and efficient (well, she DID take her time checking out my dress and giving me tons of compliments), and Mark held my hand as we walked a little unsteadily to the elevator. Once inside he took me in his arms and kissed me very softly. To say I was excited would be a huge understatement! As he opened our door I started to enter, but he said "Oh no you don't!" and with that he swept me up in his arms and carried me over the threshold. Or maybe it was more like staggered - after all, with that dress I must have weighed more than a hundred and fifty pounds! He lowered me onto the bed and gave me a quick kiss, then went back to the door in time to meet the bellman who had our luggage on a trolley. Then, with the door closed and dead-bolted, he rejoined me on the bed, plopping his head on a pillow with his eyes closed. "You poor man!" I kidded him. "Today was a bit much for you, wasn't it?" "You mean it wasn't for you?" "Okay, maybe a bit. I must've been running on adrenaline all day. Maybe I haven't come down off the high yet." "My adrenaline ran out before we left the hall," he stated, raising himself up, reluctantly, onto an elbow. "I barely have enough energy to get these clothes off ..." "Tell you what, darling," I said softly and in my sexiest voice, "I'll be happy to help you with yours, but I do need your help with my dress ... I don't think you want to sleep with it." "Yeah, it's pretty damn nice, but I think I'd rather have what's in it." That made me giggle with pleasure. So he got to work on all the buttons as I sat on the edge of the bed with my back to him. That process seemed to take forever, but eventually the bodice slipped down from its own weight, exposing my bare breasts. Mark's hands immediately went around me and cupped them. The feeling was electric, and I gave a loud, involuntary moan. "Just thought you might need a massage here," he joked, still caressing them. "They're so big now ... how did you ever get them squished into that dress?" That earned him a slap on the hand. But it was nice to hear he thought my boobs were still big - I was sure they'd shrunk when those pounds came off. "It wasn't easy," I joked right back. "I could've used your help!" That made him chuckle. He kept caressing me, and then began kissing my bare shoulders, working up to my neck. I was in seventh heaven! "You're incredibly beautiful, you know," he whispered. "Oh, I don't want you to stop, it feels SO good," I purred. "But it's your turn - I mean, your clothes ..." I turned and began by undoing and removing his tie, then helped him out of his jacket. Both of us had already kicked off our shoes, so from there it was kind of a long, deliberate process of undressing, each of us pulling off items of clothing from the other and doing that with the max amount of kissing, caressing and complimenting. I think Mark really enjoyed being able to unclothe his bride a piece at a time - I mean, if you could have seen his enormous hard-on, you'd have to agree. And I loved undressing him! Eventually there were two completely naked people on that bed. Only one bedside lamp was on, which made it feel more romantic, but I found myself wishing for more light so we could see every detail of each other's bodies. His lean male body absolutely thrilled me to the core and made me burn with desire to have and experience all of it, as closely and intimately as humanly possible. And yes, I'll admit I felt absolutely no inhibitions being naked with him - in fact I was more proud of my female body than I'd ever felt before, to the point of yearning to display it, all of it, to my new husband. Mark had shared his innermost secrets with me - that his attraction for me was because I was a boy in girls' clothes and a girl's body, so I wanted him to fully appreciate and experience the boy-turned-girl he'd just married. But there was one last thing I needed to do. "I'm so sorry, darling," I said, after trying unsuccessfully to extract some of the bobby pins holding my up-do together, "but I think I need help letting my hair down. They must've put in a million of these silly things ..." I don't think he quite got why I couldn't just sleep with my hair all pinned up, but his fingers dutifully went to work. It must have taken something like twenty minutes to get them all out, or it seemed that long, and I still had to visit the bathroom to get myself ready. Mark crawled under the duvet to wait. But when I finally joined him, his deep breathing told me it had all taken too long. A million questions and feelings went through me as I lay there. Was I disappointed that he couldn't stay awake for me? Definitely. Surprised? Not very - the man was toast. Should I wake him and make him have sex with me? Hmm ... that's what's supposed to happen ... but we still had another three weeks ... and if we DID make love, would it be everything a bride could ask for and more on her wedding night? Not very likely. And besides, we DID have to be up at seven to check in at the airport by eight-thirty. So that's how our wonderful wedding night, the event I was preparing for and anticipating for so long, didn't really happen. In years to come, after hearing other women's experiences, I'd realize that ours wasn't much different than many, and some would have chosen what we did if they had the courage or the presence of mind, because you want it to be as wonderful as it can possibly be, and you only get one chance. So delaying it a bit wasn't such a bad thing, as you will see. ***** Boy, did my new husband do some big-time sucking up the next morning. I had to reassure him it was okay with me, that it was better to wait than for our first sex as a married couple to be a less-than-perfect experience. Oh, and I got to rub it in a little: "But now you REALLY owe me," I told him with a smile and a wink. At checkout we handed my wedding dress, now back in its protective bag, to the bellman for safekeeping till Mom got there later that day to retrieve it. Then it was off to the airport by taxi. Anyway, it was a long travel day, but it kind of flew by (sorry, really bad pun!). First stop was Dallas and a two-hour layover, then a change of planes for San Juan, Puerto Rico, and finally a bumpy ride on a small plane to the Caribbean island of Antigua. But if our trip wasn't exactly nonstop, our conversations were - all about us, the twins, and what life would look like for our family after we arrived back home. The main topic was whether the in-home caregiver should stay on so I could keep my job and my salary, which might be needed, or whether I should quit work and become a stay-at-home mom - my choice, Mark said. To tell the truth, I wasn't sure I felt brave enough to try the latter! I did try to get Mark to clue me in about our honeymoon plans, like where we were going and where we were staying, but all he'd say is it would be a surprise, and he'd decided not to make any firm plans beyond our travel and accommodation, so that we could just do whatever we felt like doing each day. I guess that made sense, sort of, but it felt a little weird not knowing. Good thing my mother-in-law confided about the island and the cruise, or I wouldn't have known what to pack! Descending the steps of the plane onto the tarmac at our destination, my first words to Mark were, "Wow, it's so hot and humid. I hope I brought enough light clothing." He laughed. "Honey pie, all you're gonna need is your swimsuit." I poked him in the ribs and gave him a dirty look. "As if I'm gonna wear a swimsuit out to dinner ..." He looked at me in surprise. "Who says we're going out to dinner? It's our honeymoon, remember? When we're not at the beach we'll be in bed!" That earned him another poke, but it made me giggle out loud. My husband was obviously as interested in making up for the previous night as I was. And it reminded me of my idea to plan lots of romantic occasions for us. In the small terminal building I perused a rack of brochures while Mark retrieved our bags from the belt. Most were for snorkeling or scuba- diving charters, but on one the word 'romantic' caught my eye. It was for couples' boat cruises to small islands and secluded beaches, with a picnic lunch provided. I quickly tucked it into my travel purse. "So where are we staying again?" I prodded as we hauled our luggage out to the curb. "Nice try - I never told you in the first place. You'll just have to wait and see." "Hmm. And what if I don't like it?" "Then we'll be sleeping on the beach. Everything else is booked solid." "You're so mean to me." He laughed. "Then it's a good thing you're so forgiving, honey pie." Where he came up with 'honey pie' I'll never know, but I kind of liked it. The taxi ride was maybe a half-hour long, and the sun had long since gone down by the time we turned off the twisty highway and bumped down a dirt road through what seemed like a jungle. Where in the world is this guy taking me, I thought. After a fork we came to a gate. The driver honked and a man appeared to open it, and we pulled up in front a large stucco building with what looked like a huge bamboo roof. The gate man appeared again and welcomed us, taking charge of our bags and directing us into the building. When I got out of the cab I was sure I could hear the sounds of the surf, and the air smelled so fragrant! It was kind of a jungle in the building too - huge potted plants everywhere, bamboo furniture, and that beautiful roof over everything. Very tropical! A large opening led into what looked like a bar - it had an enormous solid- wood top and some people were seated on stools and at tables. Old- fashioned crooner music was playing. A middle-aged lady appeared at the registration desk. "Mr. and Mrs. McCowan?" she asked with a broad smile. "Yes, that's us," replied Mark, turning to smile at me. I'll admit I loved the sound of that. "I'm Charlotte. Here's a little welcome treat for you." She handed us two pinkish drinks she described as their specialty, called 'beach buzz' I think - and wow, that WAS a treat after the long day we just had! She had her registration book open - no computer! "It's your honeymoon," she said excitedly. "Congratulations! How nice that you'll be spending it with us. Oh, and you're staying for two weeks - how wonderful!" "We're really looking forward to it," said Mark. I was still a bit apprehensive though - this place seemed way off the beaten track. Not exactly what I'd pictured. As if she could read my mind, Charlotte said, "I have a little surprise for you two. You booked one of our standard huts, but we have our honeymoon hut available and I'm going to upgrade you at no extra charge. I think you'll love it." We both looked at each other. Mark mouthed the word 'WOW' and I just shrugged. "Oh, are you sure you can do that?" I asked her. Although the word 'hut' had me wondering. "Of course I'm sure. I'm the owner!" she laughed. "You're very generous," Mark told her. "Thank you." "It's my pleasure," she replied with a broad smile. Charlotte had Mark sign for the room, I mean hut, and she asked us to follow her. We walked downhill through the trees along a wide, lighted flagstone path. Okay, so that felt romantic. The surf sound grew louder. Then the path forked and a short distance farther we came to a rounded wooden building with the same kind of bamboo roof, only this one was cone-shaped. It felt very secluded! Charlotte unlocked the door and switched on some lights, then stood aside, nodding at Mark. He looked at me and then his face did an 'aha' expression. A moment later I was in his arms, being carried over the threshold - again! "I thought for a second you were going to disappoint us!" laughed Charlotte, winking at me. "It WAS a long day for him," I laughed, not wanting to let on that my groom had already done the honors the night before. Mark set me down and we both took a moment to look around. Mark was right - WOW. The room was round, like the building, and there was a double set of sliding glass doors leading to a balcony. We had a king-size bed, and the d?cor was mostly white (my favorite) except for some bamboo furniture and the open-beam bamboo ceiling. The walls were white, as were the curtains and upholstery. The floor was beige stone tile and there were brightly colored throw rugs here and there. "Oh, it's absolutely perfect!" I gushed. "Very nice - thank you," added Mark, who looked quite impressed. Later he would tell me he'd seen pictures of the place online and wanted to book this hut, but felt we couldn't afford it. "I'm sorry we don't have TVs in our huts," said Charlotte apologetically. "We're trying to maintain a get-away-from-it-all feel here ..." No bedside clock radio either, I noted. "Oh, that's just fine with us," I assured her. All the better for Mark and I to spend our time being intimate, I thought. There was a knock at the door, and in came the man with our luggage. Charlotte introduced him as Lincoln. We said nice to meet you and shook hands with him. "Well, why don't you two freshen up and join us for cocktails in the bar?" Charlotte suggested. "Dinner's at eight - or when you hear Lincoln blow the conch shell, if you don't have a clock." Mark looked at me, I shrugged, and he replied "Sure, that sounds great. Thank you again for everything." "My pleasure," Charlotte repeated. When we were all alone I took the opportunity to give my new husband a hug and a kiss. "Thank YOU for everything," I said between smooches. "It's so perfect. Better than perfect." Mark checked his watch - it was just after seven. "Hmm, are you sure you want another drink? You just had one. Maybe we should unpack." That sounded sensible, kind of, even though I liked the idea of a pre- dinner cocktail, being legal age at long last. But we needed to get out of our sticky travel clothes and into something more appropriate for the climate. I'd stupidly worn pants instead of a dress or skirt and had been regretting it ever since we got to Dallas. So we unpacked some of our stuff, leaving cruise-specific items in our bags. We had a very pretty bathroom with lots of storage for things like makeup and toiletries, but when I considered giving my body a quick rinse I noticed something missing. "Mark, we don't have a shower!" I said, feeling a bit panicked. How could we do sex without one? Were we expected to take a dip in the ocean afterwards? He smiled and led me over to a small arched doorway beside the bathroom. I thought it was an extra door to the outside, like an emergency exit or something. "Let's take a look out here," he said, leading me out onto a small rounded wooden deck a few feet off the ground. There was a safety railing and a curtain with a curved rod. Then I noticed the shower head and valve handle on the wall. "An outdoor shower," I mused. "How romantic! Does this mean we can shower together, in the moonlight?" "Oh, you'd shower with me? I'm in!" "Well I'm going to try it out right now. You can join me if you want, but no funny business, okay? We don't want to miss dinner too." A minute later I was enjoying the sensation of lukewarm water running over my body and the feel of a light breeze. The hot, sticky feeling was gone! Mark joined me just as I was going to turn off the water, and I stayed a bit longer so I could add the feeling of a wet, naked male body pressed close to wet, nude female body. "This is going to be SO fun," I told him between kisses. "Especially if we don't bother with dinner," he said. Of course he was full-on hard when he said that. "Typical male," I scolded him. "You let your dick do all your thinking for you when it gets like this." "As if I have any choice in the matter," he laughed, "with you around!" Somehow we managed to get ourselves dressed and I had to make do with less than fifteen minutes to fix my makeup. We arrived at the bar just as people were getting up to go to the dining room, which according to a sign was up a curving flight of steps at the other end of the bar. So we just followed them. Charlotte was at the top of the steps and she greeted us, telling us we could dine alone or with another couple - our choice. Mark and I looked around before answering. All the tables seated four, and most of them were already full. It was an awkward moment - did we want to be different? I told Mark I was fine with whatever he chose. "We're okay to sit with another couple," he said to our hostess, and she nodded and led us over to a table where a middle-aged couple was already seated. I noticed they were both on one side, as though they expected to have company. The man stood up as we approached and waited for Mark to help me with my chair before sitting back down. Introductions were made as a waiter made the rounds with red and white wine; our table-mates were John and Mary from Virginia. Trying to be polite, we listened as they told us about themselves. They were both retired - he from the military and she from teaching, and they had three grown children and two grandchildren. This was their fourth stay, and they said they loved it here. Then they asked us some questions about ourselves, but before we could answer there was the sound of a spoon clinking on a glass, exactly as we'd heard so many times at our wedding. It was Charlotte. "Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention? I'd like to introduce our newest married couple, Mark and Sandra McCowan, from Cincinnati Ohio. Please stand, you two, and take a bow." Oh my God, I thought, do we have to? But Mark was already rising, and he nudged my elbow to get me up too. Everyone was clapping! "Now aren't they a lovely couple? This is the first night of their honeymoon ..." Now the clapping changed to 'ooooh' sounds. How embarrassing! "... and they're spending the next two weeks with us. We'll all want to give these two our best wishes. Especially for tonight!" Now everyone was laughing! I couldn't sit back down fast enough. But she wasn't done. "Now I'd like everyone to stand and raise a glass ... Mark and Sandra!" Everyone got up except me. "Mark and Sandra!" two dozen voices repeated and two dozen glasses clinked. Mark pulled me up off my chair. "Do they always do that here?" I groaned as everyone got seated again. "Always," John chuckled. "Every time we've been here." Then Mary, who was across from me, smiled at both of us and said, "I do agree with Charlotte - you ARE a lovely couple." Mark and I glanced at each other. "Thank you," we said in unison. And within minutes we were chatting like old friends - I mean Mary and I were chatting and Mark was talking with John. Kind of typical, I know, but I didn't mind. I knew by then that being a woman means you'll be conversing with other women about things that women find interesting and have common experience of, like friends and family, homes, clothes and that sort of thing, but also careers. She ended up talking a lot about what it's like to be a teacher and I told her about my experience working in a law office. And when she asked if and when we were planning to have a family, I told her we already did, and about the twins, and the circumstances that led to us getting married. Well okay, not ALL of them. "Oh my goodness, that's terrible," was Mary's reaction to Pam's death. "When did it happen?" Without even thinking I replied, "In March." Now women, especially mature ones, aren't what you'd call slow. I'm sure I saw Mary's lips say "six months." Even I would admit that's way too soon for a bereaved father to meet, date, get engaged and wed a replacement wife and mother! "Uh, we've known each other since high school," I quickly added. She just nodded, but I could almost imagine what was going through her mind - how young people nowadays are in such a big hurry. At least, I figured, she had to be happy that we tied the knot instead of shacking up! Other than that bit of awkwardness, it was a very pleasant meal with our new friends, with lots of laughs, and we both agreed afterwards that we didn't really need to be all on our own the whole time we were honeymooning. ***** After dinner we strolled back to our 'hut' (well, I kind of staggered back, clinging to Mark, having imbibed a little too much wine) and went out onto our balcony, which was more like a deck I suppose. It was huge, with two nice sun-loungers, a glass-topped table with two white wicker chairs, and a wicker loveseat. A quarter-moon was rising over the water, creating a shimmering reflection. We could barely make out the beach, but could see the white foam where waves were breaking on it only a hundred feet or so away and maybe twenty feet below us. A very romantic setting! Mark took me in his arms and began kissing me and running his fingers over my bare arms, shoulders and neck. "Mmm ... I think I'm liking this honeymoon stuff," I said between kisses. "Me too," said Mark. "We should have done this a long time ago." "Yeah. Why didn't we?" I don't know how long we were there kissing and caressing, but at some point it had progressed to serious fondling, and when a wind came up he led me back into the room, I mean hut, and soon we were horizontal on the bed with nothing on, and only the moonlight to see by. We'd left the doors wide open and the breeze made the sheer curtains sway and billow. Down below the surf crashed and swished. Mark seemed much more with-it than the guy I went to bed with the night before - he was all over me, feeling every inch of my skin with his hands and fingertips, and planting soft kisses on my lips and everywhere else. My legs got extra attention, especially my upper thighs, where the hormones I was still taking had given me softer, smoother and more feminine skin than I could ever have dreamed possible. Karen had done the rest - a masterful job of eliminating every last trace of hair right up to my pubic area and all around it. I'd asked for it, even though she cautioned it would be painful, because I was sure it would be a major treat for my husband-to-be. Judging by his reaction that night, my guess was spot-on. He seemed astonished and mesmerized by my body. But I was with his, too, even though it was familiar to me. By then I'd fully accepted myself as a woman, or gay fe-male, or whatever, as far as sex with a man is concerned, because his body genuinely turned me on. Much more so than when we dated years before, and I was in my just- pretending phase. Add to that the effect of the wine I'd consumed, and I was literally desperate for this guy to make love to me. Mark didn't seem quite so rushed, though. Like I said, he lingered over my thighs, kissing the skin there, and running his palms over my abdomen, letting his fingers wander ever-closer to the 'prize.' His face slowly worked its way in that direction too. Soon I could detect his warm breath on my vulva, and my legs parted a little more, involuntarily. Then he was kissing me - right there! One of his arms reached up and I felt a hand enclosing one of my breasts, softly kneading it. I moaned with delight and anticipation! Then I felt his other hand gently pushing my leg farther over, and a second later there was this absolutely indescribable rush, like millions of little tingles from my head to my toes, as Mark's wet tongue came into contact with my clit. My whole body shook! I couldn't believe it - had I orgasmed? It sure felt that way - but maybe not. It was so brief. I didn't have a chance to think about it, though, because now his tongue was exploring the inner folds of my labia, making circles and flicking over my clit on each pass. And he just kept going! I could feel my body temperature going up with each passing second. Then Mark's tongue began probing right into my vagina! I realized that my body had positioned itself to take full advantage of his efforts - my knees were bent and my crotch raised as much as possible. Both of his hands were now cupping my butt cheeks so he could support me in that position, and his entire mouth was on me so his tongue could penetrate as far as possible. It was darting in and out, and making circles back over my clit, and I was just going totally wild! "Dammit Mark, when are you gonna put it in me?" I heard myself yelling out loud. His mouth pulled away long enough to say, "Soon." "Soon? I can't wait!! Please come in me now?? PLEASE!!!" I guess he didn't need more of an invitation than that - he thrust his tongue deep into me one last time and a second later he was straddling my body, my legs still wide apart and knees up. I felt for and found his cock, which was every bit as hard as expected, and I literally pulled it down towards my crotch, which without his mouth felt chilly in the breeze from the open door. Mark obliged and let me guide him to my opening. He put his lips to mine and his tongue went straight into my mouth, making me that much more excited. When his tip came into contact I could immediately feel its warmth, and I let him push his way into me at his own speed, even though my body wanted all of him in there in an instant. And there was that amazing stretching sensation again. I fought off the temptation to recall the other times this had happened, and just tried to let the flow of Mark's wonderful lovemaking take me along for the ride. I moaned a little and he pulled back a little, and I said no, keep coming in, and he pushed some more and stretched me some more, and then I could tell from the pressure on my crotch that he was all the way inside me. Or was he? He didn't seem too long or too big, and there was no uncomfortable feeling. Grabbing his hips and pulling hard towards me, I made sure every fraction of an inch of his penis was inside. I was ecstatic! My hips were moving before I realized it, and his began to do the same, and it kind of felt like all the times I'd masturbated while imagining this same man making love to me, just like he was making love to me for real right now. And just like then, I started getting SO excited and even more aroused than I already was, and I signaled Mark to go faster. My breath kept pace and I could feel myself getting hotter and sweatier. Then Mark's arms went down and his hands slid under my butt cheeks, lifting me slightly and pulling me open just a bit more, and it was like everything went right off the charts! For him too! "FASTER! HARDER!" I ordered, and he did, and suddenly I felt myself arrive at the top of the mountain and begin falling off the cliff on the other side. I screamed! It was SO intense! I barely noticed that Mark had slowed right down. "Don't stop - PLEASE!" I pleaded. He didn't answer - he seemed completely out of breath, and a lot of his weight was now on me. We were both soaked with sweat and breathing so heavily! Finally his thrusts slowed to a stop. "I'm ... sorry. Can't do ... it anymore ..." He struggled to get even those words out. But his hands were still clutching my butt and he was still buried deep inside me. It felt so incredibly right! I threw my arms around him and pulled him directly on top of me. "Oh, you poor man," I kidded. "Did I wear you out? Well suck it up ... remember, you're repaying a debt." "So, uh, did you, uh, just receive a payment?" He was still out of breath! "Oh yeah ... a really big one! But you have a lot more payments to make. I'm thinking you might never pay me off ..." "Lemme guess - but you want me to keep making the payments anyway?" "You're such a smart guy, Mr. McCowan." "You strike a pretty hard bargain yourself, Mrs. McCowan." "Mmm ... I think I could get used to that name." "You'd better - you're gonna have it for a long time. A lifetime." "I'm counting on that." "Me too, darling." Mark's perfectly-proportioned cock still in me, we rolled onto our sides. My arms pulled him tightly against me, my boobs squished flat against his chest, and I just purred. ***** The next morning - no surprise - we slept in. The balcony doors were still open, so I think it was the sun on my face that first woke me. I was snuggled up against Mark with his arm around me. The events of the night before were so fresh in my mind, and I couldn't have been a happier girl. Our first intercourse just completely blew my mind, it was so intense. Mark's penis and my vagina felt like they were made for each other. And, I thought, we didn't use a condom - so in a way, this was my first real, natural sex with a man. I didn't even have a chance to apply any lube in my vagina, which might explain why I felt a bit sore, but when we were right into it I never even noticed. Maybe all those wet kisses and tongue probes did the job for me! Of course we missed breakfast, but there was a coffee-maker in our hut so we were able to enjoy a special moment sitting together in our bathrobes on the loveseat on our deck, his arm around me, sipping java and admiring the scene in front of us. All was revealed in the bright sunshine! And the beach beckoned - the sand had a pinkish hue and the sea was pure turquoise. It looked SO inviting! But Mark and I were having a serious heart-to-heart about our love life. I told Mark I felt like our relationship had just gone to another entire level, even higher than when we became husband and wife. He seemed to agree. "I know what you mean. In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined you and I doing what we did last night. I never thought I could do what I did." "Hey, I was going to ask you about that. Where did you learn all those moves? Like with your mouth and your tongue and everything?" He laughed and shrugged. "I dunno - you probably won't believe me, but it just kind of ... came naturally." "You're kidding me." "No I'm not - honest." "Like, you never did any of that with Pam?" "Not even close. But how about you? You seemed to know what you were doing." I was afraid he might bring that up, and I decided it was as good a time as any to put it where it belonged. "No Hon, I had no clue I could ever come like that. Rob and I did fool around a bit, but, um, how can I say this nicely? We weren't a very good fit? It wasn't the best experience for me, let me put it that way." "I guess I could say the same in a lot of ways about Pam. Maybe those two should've got together." I chuckled a bit. "Yeah, like we said before, we both did some dumb things. But we're married now - at long last ... and those people are in our past. And you know what, darling?" "What?" "You are the most perfect fit I could ever imagine. In every possible way." Mark pulled me closer and gave me a nice long kiss. "It felt perfect to me too," he said. "I think I'm going to enjoy this honeymoon." I snuggled up closer. 'Not as much as I will,' I thought with a smile. ***** Eventually the call of the beach proved too much to resist. It was getting towards mid-day and we were both hungry, but Mark said he thought there was a small bar near the beach that served food. So I found my hair pick and brush and spent a few minutes untangling my long mop, then dug for my floral-patterned bikini and slipped it on while Mark was in the bathroom. I was just tying the bra strings when he emerged, without his robe on, and he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes and mouth open wide. "Do you like it?" I asked innocently, twirling my body to let him get the full effect. "Like it? You look stunning in that thing." A glance below his waist told me he wasn't just saying that. "Thanks. I guess I don't look much like a boy anymore ..." "Not that you ever did. But now you look like you should be in the Sports Illustrated calendar! Look at those curves!" I giggled in delight, shaking my head at the same time. "That's your job - and you better put something on before I decide to rip this thing off and climb back into bed with you." "Hmm - is that a threat or a promise?" "Whatever you prefer, darling." I'm sure that made him think. But I also knew this about Mark: when he needs sex, he wants it right that instant, and the same goes for food. So I guess he needed food more than sex at that moment! "Can I get a rain check?" he asked, and I nodded. Then he pulled on his swim trunks, and we grabbed sunglasses and sunblock and made our way down the path. Mark was right - there was a bar, and we each ordered their specialty: conch burgers. It was a bit early for a 'real' drink, so we settled for the 'real thing' - Coke, that is. Let me tell you about the beach: it was insanely wonderful and utterly fantastic! Other than the time Mom and I had strolled the beach in California on my sixteenth birthday, I'd never been to a place like this. With the hot sand, the deeply-hued water and warm tropical breeze, it felt like I'd been transported to some kind of fantasyland. And the sun felt SO amazing on my skin. After splashing each other in the water for a while we put sunblock on each other and settled into beach chairs for some serious R&R. "Thanks for marrying me," I said. "Uh, you're very welcome. Why?" "So you could bring me here." ***** It would take another few chapters to relate all the wonderful things that happened during our stay at that little beach resort, so I won't begin to bore you with the details. Let's just say it was the most uniquely wonderful and satisfying experience a girl could wish for. And it was a total dream come true for someone like me, who loves romance in all its forms and wants so badly to experience the kind of life real women get to live. Even though I know very few women have some of the advantages I did, like a committed, loving husband for example. Okay, so my looks didn't do me any harm either! When I think back on that part of our honeymoon, as I do almost every day, some things stand out more than others. Sure, there was the non-stop sex, to the point where my poor vagina was feeling a bit worse for wear, but sex is almost a daily aspect of our marriage. And then, like now, I didn't always orgasm let alone come WITH him, but is it much different for most women? One thing I loved, and the thing I miss most in my everyday life, was just being free to be the girl I always wanted to be - like, being able to play that role to the hilt wearing my prettiest, skimpiest, most revealing clothes, and putting to good use all the feminine mannerisms I'd learned from Erica and Annalise. To be able to turn heads whenever I entered the bar or dining room, or on the beach. And get treated so nicely by all the gentlemen staying there! Even by some of their ladies! That was huge! You can't imagine how deeply satisfying those experiences were for me. Of course, everything depended on having that handsome new husband of mine, always close by my side. Another thing was getting to know so many wonderful and interesting people over dinner. You see, it was customary to dine with a different couple each evening, or at breakfast (when we managed to get up that early). We heard some super-nice compliments, not just on what I wore, but things like "Mark, how did you ever talk a girl like this girl into marrying you?" and "Sandra, your husband is such a gentleman!" and "You're so down to earth for such a beautiful young lady." But I do have to tell you all about our little romantic 'island getaway.' Remember the brochure from the airport? Well, Sandra McCowan can create her own surprises too. One day, on the pretext of going back to our hut for a bathroom break, I left Mark at the beach and instead went to the main building, where Charlotte took care of the booking for me. On the appointed day I got him up earlier than normal, and after breakfast a van came for us. "What's this all about?" he asked suspiciously, and I simply told him "We're going somewhere nice." The van dropped us off at a small marina, where an outboard motorboat was waiting. Shortly afterwards we were zipping across open water, my long hair waving in the wind, and when we rounded a headland the driver pointed straight ahead. I could barely make out a spec of land in the distance. Mark looked at me strangely, so I just gripped his hand. The spec grew as we got closer, and a few minutes later the boat was pulling into a small cove, just shy of the beach. We were directed to hop over the side into the warm, shallow water and our driver handed us our beach bag and a large wicker basket. "Have a nice time!" the driver called as he backed slowly out of the cove. "Be back in 'bout four or five hours." "Take your time - we're not going anywhere!" Mark shot back as we sloshed our way onto dry land. A couple minutes later the boat had disappeared into the distance, lost in the backdrop of the green hills of Antigua. "Well this is certainly different," he commented wryly. I must admit, it felt a lot weirder than I expected. It was like we were marooned - on a tiny deserted island! "Is this, uh ... okay with you?" I asked cautiously. "You mean if the guy forgets about us and we're stranded here for a few years? I suppose I could survive," he shrugged, "long as you don't mind me dining on you ..." That earned him a much-deserved poke in the ribs. Mark suggested we stroll around a bit to check out our new home - just in case the guy DID forget. After stowing our stuff in some bushes, we set out to see if we could walk around the island, which from the boat didn't seem bigger than an acre or two. Sure enough, it was sandy beach all around, and in less than ten minutes we were back where we started. However, the side opposite the cove was breezier and had bigger waves. But we saw no man- made structures and no signs of life, only a lot of scraggly shrubs and a few stunted palms poking out of the sand. "Doesn't look like we'll drown when the tide comes in," Mark joked. "But it sure seems deserted." "Well they did guarantee we'd be all alone here." Mark had this 'aha' look on his face. "So it's clothing optional?" He was already pulling off his trunks. I'd already removed my cover-up before our stroll, so it was just my itsy-bitsy bikini before I was in the buff too. Then he unexpectedly grabbed my hand and dragged me screaming into the water. We splashed and chased each other for a while, having just a blast and totally enjoying the feeling of unfettered freedom. How amazing that was! The warm salty water felt like an attentive lover, caressing my skin all over. I couldn't help but notice how Mark's eyes never left my nude body, like he was seeing it for the first time (oh, and that's not all I noticed about him!). Soon he had me up in his arms, and we kissed while he paraded me around in chest-deep water. Then he let me slide down a little and - oh my God - there was a very firm something tickling my back! "Hey - what happened to YOU?" I said between kisses. "YOU happened - and don't act so surprised." "Oh you poor dear - does that mean you need to come in for little visit?" I didn't wait for an answer before spreading my legs and straddling him as he stood there. Mark cooperated, feeling for my opening, and surprisingly he popped right in without much trouble, thanks to the slippery salt water. Now as you can imagine, for me this was such a fun position for sex, and kind of over-the-top erotic and sensual, but maybe not so convenient for the one that had to put out all the effort. Mark tried his best to thrust in and out but all he did was make big waves that splashed over our faces, and then we toppled right over backwards and came up spitting and laughing and giggling. "More please," I said, mounting him again, but I think he'd had enough of my idea, 'cause he walked us back to the water's edge, plopping down on his back with his cock still inside me. Then he pulled me close, took one of my boobs in his mouth, and got down to business. He came in like ten seconds! "Hey, you cheater!" I kidded him. "You were supposed to wait for me!" "Not a chance," he gasped. "Maybe later ..." "I'm gonna hold you to that," I promised. How convenient it is! Sex in the ocean, I mean. Clean-up's all taken care of for you! Anyway, we splashed around a bit more, then Mark said we'd better put sunblock on if we expected to survive the lack of shade for the next few hours. So we slathered each other all over, especially the places that never see the sun, like our butts and my boobs. I'd borrowed a Frisbee from the resort, so we played catch for a while, and whenever we got too hot we took a quick dip. And we even went on another hike around the island, this time unclothed just for the novelty of it. The breeze had picked up a lot on the other side, and the feel of the wind on my bare body was just exquisite! I was beginning to get accustomed to being outside in the nude - and loving every second! Eventually we got hungry, or should I say Mark said he was famished, so we dug into the picnic basket. There were two decent-sized chicken wraps, veggies with dipping sauce, a couple of bananas, a large bag of 'Island- style' potato chips, and two bottles of water. There were also napkins, a red-and-white checked tablecloth ... AND a bottle of red wine with two plastic wine glasses! Mark immediately began devouring one of the wraps, before I even had the tablecloth laid out. I just shook my head. Men! I'd been skipping lunch since that first day, so all I really felt I should eat was some veggies - without the dip. And maybe a few of those chips. But we had to have wine - after all, it's the romantic thing to do, right? And hey, if you spilled some on yourself, which both of us did, no big deal! Well you know what wine does to me, especially on a near-empty stomach. We were barely finished eating and I literally threw myself at Mark, smothering his face with wet kisses and fondling his penis till it was back at full attention. "I want you SO BAD," I breathed in his ear, and to his credit he dug in my bag for my KY, then put a generous dollop on two fingers and inserted them into you-know-where. "NO!" I almost shouted. "The other part! I want it NOW!" And I pulled him down on top of me, spreading my legs and grabbing his cock to direct him in. "Are you serious?" he laughed as he complied. "I didn't know I was marrying such a sex maniac." "Well you did and I'm not gonna let you get away. Now do your thing!" He did his 'thing' all right - and I had the most powerful orgasm yet. I still get a little thrill when I think about it. I just clung to him and kept him as deep inside me as I could, trying to prolong that special moment. And we kissed and kissed and kissed ... We were still coupled together when Mark looked up and spotted white spray in the distance. "Uh-oh - looks like our taxi's on the way. We'd better get organized." I glanced to make sure he wasn't just trying to make me let go, but no, he wasn't fooling. The boat was closing fast! I hurried into the water to rinse off the sand and scrambled to locate the pieces of my bikini and cover-up. I hoped the driver wasn't treated to TOO much detail, but Mark just laughed and said he was probably used to it! ***** Leaving our little love nest on Antigua was quite bittersweet for this beach-loving girl. Our two-week stay still ranks as the most romantic experience of my entire life, and I was a pretty gloomy girl as we drove to the airport. In the years to come I'd urge Mark to take me back there, and we did return once, for a week, but it could never match the authentic honeymoon experience. Maybe if we renewed our vows ... The sweet part, though, was what came next. By mid-afternoon we were back in San Juan, checking in at the cruise ship port. When I saw that we were on a Princess ship, Mark gave me a little squeeze and joked, "Perfect for a girl like you!" I chose to take that as a compliment, and replied, "Don't they call it the Love Boat? I'd say you got your work cut out for you!" He just laughed and said, "My favorite kinda work!" Now, neither of us had been on a cruise before, so everything was a learning experience. The first of these was when we entered our cabin. I was thrilled that Mark had splurged on a balcony room. One of the girls at work had told me she wasn't crazy about the cruise she'd taken with her boyfriend - he'd booked an inside cabin, and she said she felt so claustrophobic that it took all the fun out of having sex for her. Not that it bothered him, she grumbled. Speaking of sex, when I spotted the twin beds my heart sank. I wasn't ready for our honeymoon to be over! Mark looked perplexed. But a minute later our room steward came in, and he asked us if we wanted our bed made up as a king. We answered in unison, "Yes please!" The next half-hour was spent unpacking, and then we got called over the PA for a safety drill, and finally it was time to set sail. We scurried topside and found a vacant spot along the railing to watch the huge ship cast off and make its way out to the open sea, past the old town and El Morro, the imposing Spanish fortress. The late afternoon sun had turned its stone walls a bright gold and we got a nice man to take our picture with the fort as a backdrop. Back at our cabin, I sat on the balcony reading the ship's Day One newsletter. I already knew from check-in that we had the late dining time, and that we were sharing a table with other people, but I needed to know which nights were 'formal' nights. Mark's mom had tipped me off about this in advance, and said I should take two really nice outfits. She thought cocktail dresses would suit me well, and they would be comfortable to dance in if we did that after dinner. So I'd brought three! She also recommended I book a hair appointment well in advance if I wanted a romantic up-do on one of those nights. And that's exactly what I did, figuring, after two weeks of semi-casual dressing at the beach resort, this was my chance to go all out so my new husband could have a wife worth showing off! ***** Now our cruise was SO special and SO wonderful that I could go on and on for ages telling you all that took place, but again I'll spare you the torture and just relate a few highlights. On our first night we met our six table-mates, who were a family of four with two teenage sons and another honeymooning couple. The family only showed up that night and one other, explaining that their boys preferred the buffet where they could dine on their own schedule in bathing suits and tee-shirts. Whatever, I thought, have a nice time. Not me! But I hit it off immediately with the other bride, a very pretty blonde girl named Alicia. We were almost exactly the same age and both from the Midwest, and I have to say she was just the nicest person and SO easy to talk with. We ended up moving chairs so we could sit next to each other, and we chatted and giggled just like we'd been girlfriends since childhood. The boys talked about guy stuff like jobs and cars and sports. On the second evening we noticed the guys looking at us, smiling and whispering. "What are you two talking about?" I demanded. Jamie grinned and said, "Oh, we just agreed you two remind us of Betty and Veronica." Mark just sat there with a silly grin on his face. Alicia didn't miss a beat. "Which of us is which?" she asked in all innocence. The guys erupted in laughter. I put on my best frown, directed squarely at Jamie. "Oh, so you think I'm a meanie, do you?" "I dunno - are you?" "Ah, she's not all that bad once you get to know her," Mark joked. "Just don't get on her wrong side ..." That earned him a dirty look too, and I even surprised myself by sticking my tongue out at him. Of course, from that moment on, I tried my best to bug Jamie and act mean, and Alicia put on her best bubbly airhead blonde act. And wouldn't you know it, from that moment on they called us Betty and Veronica. They must have made a pact or something, 'cause my husband only used that name for the rest of the cruise, even in private! Mark and I got into a bit of a routine on sea days - sleeping in late, having breakfast on our balcony, going for a run or walk on the promenade deck, then catching the rays topside on a lounge chair while reading books. As the sun was setting we'd be back in our cabin getting ready for dinner. Then it was off to a stage show, a romantic stroll on the top deck, and finally back to our cabin for some serious you-know-what. Such a tough life when you're on your honeymoon! Well, now you know why we slept in. I'd have to say, by that point in our relationship, sex for Mark and I was becoming second-nature. We both knew where each other's buttons were and how to push them, and even if he did call me Veronica during sex I was still able to come most of the time. I'm sure having wine every evening with dinner didn't hurt! Then there was the first formal night. I'd had my hair put up in a very romantic style, and the hairdresser even pinned on a big white tropical flower. I chose my most form-fitting and revealing white cocktail dress for the occasion, the off-the shoulder one, which necessitated a strapless push-up bra. Mark had a very suave-looking rented tuxedo. Of course he was ready long before me, and I told him how awesome he looked. I helped straighten his bow tie and got a little kiss, then went back to applying makeup. "Sorry," I sighed as I started putting on eyeliner. "I'm going as fast as I can." "Take your time, sweetie. The result is always worth the effort." "So you're saying I don't look any good without makeup?" "Ah, I never said that. I'm not THAT dumb