Consequences

approached their temporary dwelling.
    It was the most luxurious straw hut Claire had ever seen. Situated on a cliff above the water, they had stunning views of the ocean. First they entered a gracious living room with a cathedral thatched ceiling, woven bamboo covered walls, and polished mahogany floors. Each room of their bure contained ceiling fans as well as the possibility of air conditioning. Claire couldn’t fathom why anyone would possibly want air conditioning. There were huge bi-folding doors that opened the entire frontage to private decks overlooking the water or tropical vegetation. Each deck contained lounge furniture for relaxation. The front deck even had a private infinity pool. As they stood in the living room and looked, it appeared to extend into the lagoon and beyond into the ocean below. The staff took their luggage to the large master bedroom with a four-poster king-sized bed. Looking around, Claire found a luxuriously designed bathroom that opened to a private outdoor lava rock shower and generous soaking tub designed for two. Thankfully, surrounding the outdoor shower and tub was a lush private tropical garden.
    After the tour of their temporary home, their hostess, Naiade, asked if they were ready to dine. Claire was famished. Tony informed Naiade they would be pleased to dine on the deck.
    The only thing missing from their bure was technology, which was just fine with Claire. She was accustomed to the lack of connectivity. Tony, however, was relieved once he learned he had access to the Internet with his laptop. He explained that he needed to stay in contact with Tim, Brent, and others from his businesses. He reminded Claire that she only needed to stay in contact with him. Grinning, he promised to help.
    She pressed herself against his body and kissed his neck. “I think I can handle it.”
    Tony whispered in her ear, “Be careful, Mrs. Rawlings, we may miss our meal.”
    Claire smiled. “I believe we have plenty of time for that. Right now, I am hungry!”
    Apparently, they could make suggestions to their chefs at any time. Tony and Claire decided that for the next ten days seafood would be the entrée of choice. They both enjoyed trying native dishes. Naiade told them about some activity options. They had unlimited access to a boat with a private captain and could enjoy a ride to watch marine life, island hop, or snorkel. A living barrier reef was nearby. They could also kayak or hike into the jungle.
    The dining deck had an amazing view of the ocean, with a wonderful sea breeze. The chefs prepared yellow fin tuna, fresh fruit, organic vegetables, and freshly baked bread. It all smelled and tasted scrumptious.
    It was early afternoon locally when they finished their meal and Claire was exhausted. She’d just traveled over eighteen hours, lost an entire day crossing an imaginary line, and gotten married. It was enough to tire anyone. Tony recommended they relax in the outdoor soaking tub which opened to the endless blue sky. Over the next ten days they would discover it was even more enticing under the stars and moon. Tony may have suggested the tub as a place to relax but Claire anticipated he had other plans. The tepid tub water, gentle sea breeze, sound of the waves lapping the beach, and romantic atmosphere combined to help increase Claire’s energy level. Tony understood that they’d been traveling a long time, but to him it wasn’t tiring, it was confining. He wanted to release some of that penned up energy. Appreciating the amorous setting, Claire knew she would’ve been disappointed with anything less.
    Tony didn’t disappoint. Soaking in the warm water he sat behind her as she rested against his chest. He began by massaging her shoulders, relieving the tension of the trip. As his hands moved, Claire could feel the energy she’d thought gone begin to build inside of her. His lips found the nape of her neck and ignited goose bumps upon her arms and legs. Between kisses he whispered, “Thank you for being my wife. I love you.”
    He held her in his arms and caressed her skin. She in turn stroked his arms. Looking down she saw her rings sparkling under the water. When his hands discovered her breasts, they throbbed in anticipation, causing her nipples to become hard and needy. His hands moved to her stomach and below causing Claire’s energy to return with a vengeance. She couldn’t control herself and turned to face him. Their mouths heatedly nibbled at one another’s