Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Seventy-three, Sand Ass
Rating: NC-17 [violence, swearing, nudity, sexual situations]

Summary: Cruising the sea on a small ship, leads to plenty of interesting experiences.

Previous Chapter Flushed Out

Current Chapter Sand Ass

Next Chapter Playing with Euphoria

Standing on the dock, Chris shook his head. He couldn't believe that Alyssa had managed to get him to tell her where they were going. He should have been smarter, known her better. The only break at that particular turn of events was the very fact that she now bounced happily next to him, looking for their ship to sail in.

After checking out of Huvafen Fushi, the couple had returned to the capitol of the Maldives. Alyssa got some shoppingin, buying a few sarongs as well as a few trinkets to take back to the kids. Holding off on buying too much, knowing they wouldn't have as much room shortly, she managed to only hand one shopping bag to Chris as they returned to the marina.

"So we're going to be on this ship for how long?" she asked, standing on her tip toes to watch the ships make their way into the bay.

"Four days," Chris replied.

"And what about the remainder of our honeymoon?"

He shook his head, "The rest will be at another resort. That's all I'm telling you."

"Meanie," she retorted, scrunching her nose at him.

"Oh, yes I know," he nodded. "Look, here it comes."

"Wooo! Our ship has come in."

He laughed, "That it has."



Poking Chris in the side, Alyssa giggled. His eyes fluttered open, struggling to focus on her as he woke up. For a brief moment he forgot where they were, couldn't figure out why the bed was moving. But a moment later, she kissed him and slid off the bed. Kneeling on the couch near the window, Alyssa pressed her face to the window. The view was amazing, watching the sun rise over the watery horizon.

They had the largest suite on the Explorer. Alyssa was very aware that they were at the front of the ship, seeing practically whatever the captain was. Because of that, she could already tell they were headed away from the islands, surely for a morning dive.

"DIVING!" she exclaimed, jumping off the couch. "We get to swim with the fish again, Chris!"

Chris chuckled, "I think I may have created a monster with encouraging you to try it out."

"Hurry, hurry, hurry. First dive of the day is at 7. And it's almost that time," she pulled him out of the bed before hurrying to clothe herself. "And the marine biologist guy on board said something about sunrise dives being out of this world. I'm not missing it!"

"Baby, we have three more mornings on board."

"And I plan to dive on all of them," she proclaimed, quickly braiding her hair from her face.

Shaking his head, he followed her out of their cabin, barely able to keep up. They joined two other couples in the dive cabin. Alyssa chatted excitedly with the marine biologist, wanting to know exactly what they should be looking for. Chris merely grinned at his wife's behaviour, ever so glad they finished the entire certification course at the first resort so that she could enjoy all the diving options on the ship.

An hour later, he helped her out of her gear. Once more Alyssa was chittering excitedly about the dive.

"Baby, did they put helium in your tank?" he teased, before she bounced down the hall towards the dining room for breakfast.

"No. Why?"

"Nevermind," he grinned.

"Next time we're taking a camera. So we have pictures to show the kids."

"As you wish."

"Oh! So Joe said he would take me to this little cove at the island we're stopping at this afternoon. He says some of the best snorkelling is there," she stated.

A flash of jealousy darkened his eyes, "Who's Joe?"

"The marine biologist, silly."

Not that made it any better, "Well I'm sure we'll enjoy his expertise this afternoon."

"Oh but I never said anything about you," she stated, plopping down in a chair. "Too many people might disrupt the wildlife."

Chris's eyes narrowed at her words as he slid into a chair across from her, "Somehow that doesn't seem to be the best way to spend your honeymoon."

"You might think differently later," Alyssa replied.

"What makes you think that?"

"Because I'm only going snorkeling after you pass out from making love on untouched sand."



Tackling into the virgin sand, Alyssa giggled, turning over when Chris pushed up enough to allow her that movement. His lips touched hers briefly. Sliding to her side, he propped his head up with his hand, his other hand brushing the sand off of her exposed skin. Alyssa's eyes closed at his gentle touch, focusing her attention on the tingle spurred by his touch and the warmth from the afternoon sun.

"You didn't really mean what you said at breakfast about that marine biologist, did you?" he asked softly.

She smiled crookedly, "No, love, not really. There is a snorkelling adventure in one of the coves around here, but I didn't sign up for it. I'd rather explore this island with you."

A relieved smile touched his lips, "Good. I didn't want to have to beat someone up on our honeymoon."

Alyssa opened one eye, "Good. I would hate to be marooned on an island because you clocked the marine biologist."

His hand drifted down over her breast, "Remind me again how it is that I managed to catch you."

"You opened your eyes," she replied, closing her one open eye. "And finally realized who has been at your side for years."

"Which I still find amazing, you know. A girl I met in a deli turned into my best friend and then my wife. Who would have thought a sandwich would change my life?"

"It didn't."

"Sure it did," he argued. "It's what lead us to meet."

"I would hardly give a turkey sandwich credit for us getting together," Alyssa countered.

"It was a turkey sandwich?"

"On wheat with tomato, lettuce, american cheese, pickles, and horseradish," she recounted.

"You remember what I ordered?"

"Chris, you ordered the same thing everytime you came into the deli. Matt liked roast beef. Ben was a chicken man. And Kim usually went with ham," she replied.

He stared at her for a moment, "I can't believe you remember that."

"I wasn't always drunk when I was around you," she teased.

Chris shook his head, "What else do you remember?"

"Coke. You've always been a Coke drinker, going back and forth between Diet and Regular," she answered. "Depending on if you're touring or not."

"Huh?"

"When you're touring or about to, you'll switch to regular. I don't really know why. And when the tour is winding down, you start drinking Diet Coke again," she explained. "I always thought it weird, but maybe that's me."

He shook his head again, "You amaze me. Remembering details like that."

"You wanna know what you were wearing the day you walked into the deli and changed my life?"

"Sure."

"Worn out black jeans. White wife-beater. Blue and green plaid shirt. And your hair was all messy," she recounted. "And in case you were wondering, I was wearing a god awful red polo shirt and black pants, my waist-long hair pulled back from my face in a messy ponytail."

He chuckled, "Any other little details I need to know?

"The first time you made me cry, other than the whole drunken sex incident because that doesn't count, was on my eighteenth birthday," she stated.

"What!? Why!?"

"Because you promised me a hell of a good party and ended up being out of town for something for Euphoria Morning. And you never even called me," she replied.

"Have I made it up to you yet?" he asked.

Alyssa shook her head, pouting slightly, "I'm still so very wounded by that, Chris."

For a long silence he stared at her, "You're kidding."

"Of course I am! If I was really hung up on you making me cry years ago for missing my birthday, do you think we would be laying on an island married?" she retorted.

"Hard to say. I don't really get how you women's minds work."

She rolled her eyes, "Oh whatever. Just shut up and kiss me."

With a smirk he leaned over and did just as she requested, deciding in the back of his mind that he was going to insure her birthday in a few weeks was the best birthday she had ever had before. No matter what.



Grumbling Alyssa turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around herself. Heading over to the couch where Chris lounged, she sat in his lap. He ran his fingers through her wet hair, more or less combing it for her, his eyes on her frown.

"What's a matter, baby?" he asked softly.

"While beach sex is great, we're not doing that again," she declared, wiggling on him to stretch out on the couch.

"Why's that?" he questioned, mirth lighting his eyes.

"Because it wasn't easy getting rid of all the sand," she declared. "And sand in your ass is not that comfortable."

Before he could stifle it, Chris burst out laughing. Luckily Alyssa didn't seem upset at his laughter, only wiggling slightly on the couch. His arms wrapped around her, hands stroking her back gently.

"Or next time I'll be on bottom," he suggested.

"No. I won't subject you to sand ass," Alyssa replied. "We'll just keep to hammock and bed and couch and table and shower and other such places for sex. At least as long as we're on this honeymoon. Things could change when we leave paradise."

"You mean less sex?" he pouted.

"Probably."

"But why!?"

"Chris, when we leave here, we have three kids to take care of and a tour to take off on. Sex will naturally decrease," she explained.

"Only if we let it."

"Somehow I don't think either of us will have the energy for marathon sex in the future," she argued.

"Dammit. I want an annullment," he teased.

Which he received a slap to his bare chest for, "Bastard."

"No. I happen to know who both of my parents are. And all of my siblings. No bastard here," Chris replied.

"Oh fine. Whatever. No sex for you tonight."

"WHAT!? But I've been such a good husband!"

"Didn't you just request an annullment?" her face pivoted up to look into his eyes.

"No. You must have me confused with someone else," he replied seriously.

"Whatever, Chris," Alyssa replied. "We gonna go updeck for cocktails and stargazing?"

"You planning on getting dressed then?" he countered.

She glanced down at her towel, which was eskew due to the wiggling on top of Chris, "Nah. I think we both prefer me naked."

"Yes, but I generally prefer sex to follow nakedness," he claimed, still maintaining a straight face.

"And I prefer chocolate with my strawberries, but we don't always get everything we prefer."

"That's what it takes to get sex? Chocolate with your strawberries? Shit, Alyssa, had I know you were that easy I would have just given you a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries instead of an engagement ring," a smile broke his serious countenance.

"Yep. That's all it takes: chocolate-covered strawberries. I bet they have some up with the cocktails."

Chris sat up, forcing Alyssa to do the same since she was laying on top of him, before he stood, "Then get your dress on and let's go. Whatever it takes to get it on!"

Instead she dropped the towel on the floor and rolled back onto the couch. Her eyes looked up at him, daring him to force her to stand, to dress. Instead Chris knelt next to the couch and leaned down to kiss her mouth softly. Eyes fluttering close she smiled as she felt his lips touch her eyelids.

She muttered no further protests as his hand roamed down over her skin...