Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Seventy-one, Hands on Skin
Rating: NC-17 [violence, swearing, nudity, sexual situations]

Summary: The couple arrive at their honeymoon locale, but relationship complications arise.

Previous Chapter Against the Passion

Current Chapter Hands on Skin

Next Chapter Flushed Out

Hand slipped into his, Alyssa followed Chris from their ocean bungalow. The sun had been up for some time, breakfast already had on the deck. A massage in the underground treatment centre was planned and then a light lunch. After that, Chris hadn't mentioned anything to Alyssa and she wasn't pushing. Sometimes the best time is when there isn't anything going on at all.

She was still feel anxious about being a wife. She didn't know how to be a wife. Hell, she barely had the girlfriend thing figured out, had gotten comfortable being the fiancee. And now to be a wife? That was completely unfathomable.

Chris could feel tension building up in Alyssa and therefore came to a complete stop in the middle of the walkway. Without saying a word, he pulled her to him, kissing her mouth abruptly. She gasped at the sudden change but soon smiled into the kiss.

"Whatever you're worrying about, let it go," he muttered, his lips a scant inch from hers.

"But—"

He cut her off with another kiss, "Let it go."

"But, Chris—"

Another kiss, "Let it go."

"But—"

"Let it go."

Alyssa sighed, nodding slowly. With a smile and a quick kiss, he turned back towards their destination. They didn't speak again until they were headed down the dark stairs to the massage room. Alyssa was a little nervous about the enclosed area. She had never really been claustrophobic before, but going underwater for a massage? That seemed like a recipe for disaster. But who had ever heard of things going wrong during a massage?

"Good afternoon," the couple were greeted.

Alyssa's eyes went to the glass walls, focusing on the rainbow of fishes swimming around. She gasped as a manta ray fluttered pass the glass, not listening to their masseuse's directions. It wasn't until Chris moved away from her, dropping his kimono and sliopping onto one of the massage tables that she realized she was supposed to be doing the same thing. Without any adieu, her robe fluttered to the floor and she slid onto table.

Smiling over at her, Chris watched as a single sheet was draped over her waist. She returned the smile before letting her eyes drop close, a pair of hands on her skin. Focusing on that for a few moments, she began to forget they were deep down in a glass cavern surrounded by tropical fish.

"Lyssie, look," Chris uttered.

The very fact he called her by the nickname he hadn't used since... well since she lost her virginity, caused her eyes to open. Looking first to him, Alyssa followed his eyes. Swimming just pass the glass was more than just fish, but rather three dolphins. She gasped and then giggled.

"That's.... wow," she muttered.

He grinned at her, "Not so scary now, huh?"

"I don't think anything could be scary with as good as I feel right now."

He chuckled, "Feel like maybe trying another of the spa treatments on the menu?"

"Not today. We can do it tomorrow," she replied, eyes closing again.

"Whatever you wish, Princess."



"I think," Alyssa kissed Chris, before settling back down in the bathtub, "I like your hands touching me better."

"That's very good to hear," he teased, hands slidding over her body. "Because I rather prefer my hands touching you too."

"Question."

"All right," he replied a little warily.

"Were your past two honeymoons filled with nothing but sex?"

Chris laughed, "If you want to know if they were anything like this, the answer is no. With Susan I was in the rock star mentality. With Vicky, she was already pregnant. So they were both pretty different from ours. And shorter too."

"I remember yours and Vicky's," she nodded. "And how I had to convince you to not take her any place too remote since she was struggling with morning sickness."

"That's right," he agreed. "Of course had I listened to you in the first place, I probably wouldn't have married h—"

"And not had two beautiful children," she interrupted. "We should call them."

"Right now?" he frowned, not really wanting to get out of the tub with Alyssa .

"Yes," she stood abruptly.

Towelling off quickly, she went in search of either of their cell phones. With their worldwide travelling, they both had international cell phones. She was just hoping they would get reception out in the Indian Ocean.

Finding Chris's first, she flipped it open. Without a thought she hit the house phone's speed dial. Holding it to her ear as she sat naked on the bed, Alyssa waited for it to ring.

It rang thrice before it was answered.

"Hewwo?" a little girl voice said.

"Heya, baby. How's my girl?"

"MOMMY!" Toni exclaimed. "I fought you would nefer call!"

"Sorry, sweetie," she replied. "Daddy and I were on the plane for a long time. And after all that flying, I slept forever!"

"Is Daddy being good?"

"He's trying. But I think he might be needing a timeout," Alyssa replied, grinning.

"Ohhhhh. Nickie had one yesterday too."

"Oh? What did he do?"

"He frew my ice cream on the ground."

"Uh oh," she replied. "But otherwise he's doing all right?"

"Yeah. Has it been two weeks yet?"

"No. Not hardly," she frowned. "You're going to go and spend a week with your mother, remember?"

"But you're my mommy."

"I know that," Alyssa replied. "But you'll have fun with her too."

"Nuh uh."

"Want to talk to Daddy?"

"Nah. Not if he's been bad."

Alyssa laughed, "I'll tell him that."

"You come home soon?"

"Very soon," she replied.

"Good. Je t'aime, Mommy."

"Je t'aime aussi, Toni," she replied.

"Buh bye."

The dial tone was the next thing to caress Alyssa's eardrums. At least until Chris sat on the bed next to her and leaned over, kissing her earlobe.

"Kids are okay?"

Her eyes fluttered closed, "Nick had a timeout yesterday for knocking Toni's ice cream to the ground. But otherwise seem all right."

His hand slipped the cell phone out of her hand, depositing it unceremoniously on the bedside table before returning to kissing her ear. Smiling softly, Alyssa broke away from Chris, only to lay back on the bed. With a quick grin, Chris laid down next to her, turning on his side. His hand ran gently over her body, tracing down her skin between her breasts.

Her eyes glittered a cinnamon colour, watching his every movement. There was something very electrifying at watching Chris touch her, more so than the actual touching, or maybe in addition to it. His eyes flicked up from her body, catching her gaze. A cheshire smile stretched across his face.

"Have I told you how very lucky I am? How very beautiful you are?" he asked.

"Nope," she replied with a grin. "I think you should tell me. Over and over again."

"I can do that," Chris claimed before leaning down to kiss between her breasts.

"Get started then," Alyssa instructed, wiggling a little on the bed.

He chuckled, a dance of warm breath on her skin, "Can I just show you instead?"

"Nope. I want you to tell me," she declared.

"But Lyssie," Chris whined.

That caused her to sit up, breaking contact with him, "Why are you calling me that all of a sudden again?"

"What? Lyssie?"

"Yes."

He shrugged, "I dunno."

"You stopped calling me that after I lost my virginity to you," she pointed out.

"I did?"

"Yes."

"Huh," he replied, reaching for her again.

"It's weird."

"If you say so."

"I do."

"Do we have to talk about this now?" he asked.

Her eyes met his. For a moment she considered answering 'yes.' But a moment later she shook her head and laid back. Smiling his lips went back to her skin. Alyssa relaxed, eyes closing at his kisses, her heart starting to race...