Chp 31
The last sliver of the setting sun's fiery spherical body could be seen disappearing beneath the depths of the illuminated horizon. Its last struggling rays made the sky glow with effulgent pinks, reds, and oranges and a coral-colored arch rippled on the surface of the swelling ocean. The midnight blues and blacks of the approaching night sky mingled with the warmer more radiant hues while the glowing crescent moon creeped into the picture and made its presence known bright and clear. This magical scene combined with the gentle lapping of the waves and the sonorous whistling of the zephyrs proved to be quite the somnolent atmosphere for the two young honeymooners, swinging idly from the thick sturdy trunks of two lofty palm trees in a hammock entangled in each other's arms. Night unfurled its splendors, peace and quiet and a seductive darkness that seeped into the hearts and minds of the amorous pair.
"God, this is paradise," AJ sighed contentedly as he tenderly caressed Elena's back, feather lightly running the tips of his fingers up and down her spine.
"Mmhmm," she replied closing her eyes, finding comfort in the warmth of his embrace. Her head and hand rested on his chest and their legs intertwined. "Remind me to be nice to my sister from now on."
"I'm gonna have to give her a big thank you and a nice big wet sloppy kiss on the cheek. I really appreciate her letting us use her shore house for the week. It's nice and private over here. A hotel would've been too much of a hassle."
"Yeah, I would've had to let you go every time someone wanted an autograph or picture and that is something I wouldn't have liked."
"Me neither. Hey, what do you think about hooking her and Nick up? Wouldn't they make a cute couple?"
Elena chuckled. "I doubt we'll find the same success we found in Kevin and Staci. Did I forget to mention that Daniela thinks Nick is really annoying?"
"Hmm, you seemed to have left out that little minor detail. Oh well, sucks for Nicky."
"That's his problem, not ours. The only people we should be worrying about is us."
"Yeah, the three of us," he said softly, kissing the top her head and placing his hand on her naturally augmented abdomen. He could feel the baby moving in there. He or she was quite the active little one. "Wow, looks like this one's going to become a dancer."
Elena rolled her eyes. "Great. Like one performer in the family isn't enough. You know what I was thinking about? In like 20 years or so when you guys are too old to dance"
AJ shot her a wounded look. "Who said we're going to be too old?"
"You're going to be 46, hon. Kevin will be 52."
He groaned in dismay. "I'm dreading hitting 30! I think I'm going to have a nervous breakdown on the big 4-0."
"Hey now, watch it. Thirty is a great age. I wish I could go back."
"Thirty is going to be half my life. Things can only go downhill from there."
"Not true. I've never been as happy as I am right now. It feels like nothing could go wrong."
"I feel the same way."
Elena smiled. "Now what were we talking about before we went astray?"
"Uh oh, it's that old age creeping in. You see? You're starting to lose your memory already."
"No. You just made me forget what I was saying."
"You were calling me old."
Elena laughed and whipped her head up. "I was not calling you old! I was just saying that a very VERY long time from now, when you guys slow down a bit, it would be really cute if all our kids, I mean ours, Kevin's, Nick's, and Brian's, form their own group, BSB: The Next Generation."
"Well, that's only if we all have little boys and if people still want to hear a bunch of white kids harmonizing in the year 2024."
"Can you imagine? I bet life in 2024 will be just like your Larger Than Life video."
"That's what we thought about the new millennium and you know how that turned out. I was almost disappointed. But it's a shame we won't live to see the third millennium."
"Well, you never know."
"No way, I refuse to be cryogenically frozen. I will be satisfied with the life I had lived, no need for another one."
"I guess you're right. Only God should control who will be reborn."
"Yeah..." his voice trailed off and his eyes drifted closed. Elena lovingly observed his drowsy features. He looked so adorable and young. She had almost forgotten how young he still was. He carried himself with such maturity and wisdom beyond his 26 years. He was only two years older than Nick, but their personalities and views on life couldn't have been more diametrical. Nick was still very much a big kid whose motto was carpe diem, seize the day and enjoy every minute of your life. AJ still knew how to have fun and was quite the clown when he wanted to be, but he was generally more serious than Nick. Elena assumed it was because of all the dramatic experiences in his life. She felt somewhat protective of him. She knew that he wasn't a child and could probably handle anything and everything that was thrown at him now that he had become so much stronger, but she had watched him rise and fall too many times already. The scars on his wrists will always be there. They were faint and hardly noticeable, but those who were there would never forget. Elena still thought about it till this very day. It still brought tears to her eyes to think that if things went how AJ intended them to go, he wouldn't have been here. Elena would've been married to Nathan out of despair and fear of being alone. Although she knew that if she had married Nathan, she still would've been alone. She would've lived each long dreary day feeling empty, carrying out a pointless existence, mourning the loss of her angel.
A single tear rolled down her cheek as she thought about how bleak her future would've been without AJ in it. She quickly wiped it away before he saw it. 'Stop it, you fool,' she scolded herself. 'No more hurtful memories. They're all in the past. Just think about the present, the luck, the love, and the happiness you have right in front of you.' She walked her fingers up his chest and raised her mouth to his ear. "You awake?" she whispered smiling.
"No," he muttered not opening his eyes.
"You asleep?"
"No."
The grin on her face widened. "You want to get frisky?" she asked huskily.
One eye immediately snapped opened and looked at her. "Hmm?"
She maneuvered herself so that her body was lying on top of his. "Come on, baby, like the song says, let's get naked."
"Well, aren't we the little horny toad."
"Don't tell me it doesn't appeal to you."
"Oh it does, it's just that you know in your condition and all, is itsafe?"
She chuckled in response. "Yes, silly, it's safe. Let's get it on!"
"Whoa now, little doggie! Just calm yourself there for a second."
Elena straddled him and pouted. "Why are you keeping me from the loving you're so notorious for?"
AJ laughed and pulled her down against his body. "Where did you hear that?"
She kissed him on the lips and ran her fingers through his short dark spikes. "Not important," she purred. "Come on, AJ, don't be mean, pull down your pants and make me scream!"
His jaw dropped to the floor. "You've been visiting that Whodaman humor site, haven't you!"
"Does it matter?"
"No"
Elena groaned. "Let's go inside already! Stop making me squirm," she mewled giving him the sad puppy face.
"And what if I like making you squirm?" he teased.
"Unless it's me writhing in pleasure, that's not a very nice thing to do and I would have to make you pay."
"Oh yeah? And how do you plan to do that?"
She shrugged her shoulders and smirked evilly arching her eyebrow. "Simple. I'll just do this!" She then proceeded to tickle him viciously.
"AAAAHHHHHH!!! NO! STOP IT! STOP IT! I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE TICKLE ME!" he cried wriggling and thrashing about.
"Hehe, I know! You must pay the price, McLean!"
"I don't think so!" He rolled her onto her back and gently pinned her wrists down. "What do you have to say now, huh?"
She snickered and wrapped her legs around his hips. "I'd say I got you right where I want you," she replied, her voice resonating from deep within her throat. He let her wrists go so her arms could snake around his neck. He brought his head down to hers and captured her lips with his own, kissing her passionately. Elena giggled and totally indulged herself in his touch. The two were so engrossed in each other that they didn't even realize they had swung off the hammock until they found themselves with mouthfuls of salty sand.
"Ahh! I can't believe we just did that!" Elena guffawed rolling off AJ.
"I can! I think my tailbone landed on a sea shell, ow," he whined rubbing his tush.
"Ack, I got sand all over my ass!" she complained standing up and wiping the grit off her behind.
"I know a way we can fix that," AJ remarked suggestively. "Wanna go swimming?"
"That's a good idea! I'll just run inside and get my bathing suit." AJ grabbed her hand before she could go anywhere.
"You don't need a bathing suit."
"You mean you want me to go in with my clothes on?"
AJ grinned impishly and shook his head.
"AJ, what are you implying?" she asked him cautiously.
"You know how good water feels splashing against you when you're nekkid?"
"You mean you want us to"
AJ nodded his head with a triumphant smirk decorating his face. "You've never skinny dipped before?"
"No, have you?"
He rolled his eyes at her. "Look who you're talking to here! But I've only done it in pools. I've never tried it in the ocean. So what'd you say? You gonna do it with me or what?"
"But what if someone sees us?!"
"No one's gonna see us! It's nighttime! Besides, I rented out the entire beach for the week we're staying here. It's just us. Come on, live a little!"
Elena contemplated for a moment before letting out a surrendering sigh. "Ok fine. Jeez, the things I do for you!"
"Haha!" He pulled her towards the breaking surf and removed his shirt. "This is where shirts and pants must go."
"Oh gawd, I can't believe I'm doing this!" she laughed nervously as she took off her tank top and shorts, remaining only in a bra and underwear. He took her hand and guided her farther into the ocean until the water was waist high.
"And finally" He crouched down in the warm water and emerged with a pair of boxers in his hand which he then flung onto shore. "I really hope there aren't any crabs around here. One of those would not feel pleasant hanging off my---"
"AJ, I don't think I can do this," Elena whimpered. "I'm too fat to be doing this."
"You are not fat." He swam over to her and surrounded her with his arms. "You are so beautiful. Just relax. Trust me," he soothed her bringing his hands up her back to unclasp her bra.
"I do," she breathed reveling in the incredible sensation she felt whenever he touched her. He released her hair from the confinement of her ponytail and let her mocha-colored locks flow gracefully over her shoulders. He slowly pulled the thin delicate straps over her shoulders and down her arms while placing tender little kisses down her neck and hugging her body tightly. He loved the feel of her skin against his. He then slowly and sensually slid his hands down her back until they settled on the elastic band of her panties. Still kissing her, he pulled them down her legs and off of her letting the ocean's currents take them away. They lowered themselves deeper into the water where their two bodies and souls melded together to become one.
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Elena's eyes fluttered opened and she stared up at the ceiling. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She turned her head and looked at the man lying beside her. A quiet giggle escaped her throat. He was all sprawled out on his stomach with his arm and leg hanging off the edge of the bed. The sheets were all tangled up around them.
'Well, how am I going to get out of this without waking sleeping beauty?' she asked herself amused by the situation. She cautiously unwrapped the sheets from around her legs and swung one foot off the bed and onto the floor. She slowly pulled herself up to a sitting position and winced at the squeaking the mattress was making. She rubbed her tummy as it growled.
"Don't worry, baby, I'll get us the yummy hot fudge smothered frozen yogurt we're craving," she cooed softly as she tip-toed out of the room.
AJ groaned and lazily rolled over to his other side. He stretched out his arm with the intention of enveloping it around his wife. 'Wife.' The thought made him smile. He was surprised to find that side of the bed empty and opened one eye. "Hmm?" Obviously, Elena wasn't there. Confused, he sat up and sleepily took in his surroundings. The early day's sunrays shone right in his face and made him squint. 'Where'd she go?' Throwing on some clothes, he went in search of Elena.
Elena slipped into her sandals and headed out the front door. She had only gotten half way down the brick walkway when she heard AJ calling her. He leaped down the stairs and jogged up to her.
"Where you going so early in the morning?" he inquired giving her a good morning kiss on the cheek.
"Umm, just down the block to the Dairy Queen across the street," she answered simpering sheepishly. "I woke up with a craving for frozen yogurt."
"You should've told me. I'll get it for you."
"I didn't want to wake you. You looked so cute sleeping butt naked," she remarked smirking.
"I'm even cuter active and butt naked, ain't that right?" he grinned snaking his arms around her waist.
"Sorry, honey, but right now all I really want is ice cream," she said as she removed his arms from her waist and started walking away. He gently grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"You are staying right here. I'll get it for you."
"No really, you don't have to. I need the exercise."
AJ rolled his eyes. "As if. Don't argue with me, I am going to pamper you and spoil you rotten."
"Well," she smiled sweetly. "If you insist."
"I do. I'll be back in a few minutes. What do you want?"
"Vanilla dripping with hot gooey fudgy goodness and encrusted with nuts, sprinkles, and M&M's."
"Ok."
"Oh and a hint of caramel sauce and whipped cream with a cherry on top."
"Ok." He only had taken one step forward when she stopped him again.
"Can you make that two cherries?" she asked meekly.
"Of course, why the hell not. Is that all?"
"Yeah."
"You sure now? Because I'm not going back if you forgot to tell me something," he warned teasingly shaking his finger at her.
"I'm sure," she said in the cutest voice she could produce.
"Alrighty then. I'll be right back."
Elena stared after him as he made his way down the block and sighed. How did she ever manage to get so lucky? Things were finally falling into place. They were both finally honestly and truthfully happy, living out the fairy tale life they had always dreamed of. She had turned around and was about to go back into the house when something made her stop. She twirled around and looked at AJ who was at the corner waiting for the light to change. The traffic light finally turned red and he proceeded to cross the street. Suddenly, Elena saw a black Mustang visibly going much faster than the speed limit permitted. Her eyes switched from the Mustang to AJ then back to the Mustang calculating whether or not he would have enough time to get across safely. No, it was too close, it was going too fast. Her stomach churned and her breath caught in her throat as the reality dawned on her that if she didn't do something that very second, the car was going to hit him.
"AJ, LOOK OUT!!!"
AJ snapped his head back at the direction of her frantic cry. He saw her eyes widen and she screamed. That was when he saw the black car zooming towards him like a speed demon from Hell. With cat-like reflexes, he yelled and jumped back, barely avoiding a potentially tragic accident. A sharp pain shot through his head and back as his head slammed against the curb. All of a sudden, everything turned black.
Chp 32
Chp 30
