*~*Chapter 29*~*
Once they were all settled in their hotel rooms in the Bahamas the next
day,they all went their separate ways to explore.
Howie and Kari walked along the beach hand~in~hand.He turned to her and
said,"I have something to ask you.And I want you to be totally honest."
She nodded."OK.What is it Howie?"
He took a deep breath."Kari,I've been doing lot of thinking lately.And
I've come to realize how important you are to me,and I want you to marry me."
He got down on one knee and pulled a box out of his pants pocket.Then he slid
the ring onto her finger and looked up at her."Will you be my wife?"
Kari was speechless;she didn't know what to say.Finally,she said,"Yes.And
this time I mean it."
He grinned at her."I promise this time we'll make it work," he said.He
stood up and wrapped her in his arms."I love you so much."
Tears began to fall down her cheeks as she pulled away and gazed up at
him."You make me so happy Howie," she whispered,and he leaned over and kissed
her.
She was quiet,and he lifted her chin with his finger."You OK?," he asked
her.
She nodded quickly as she wiped her cheeks."Yeah,I'm fine.I guess this
whole trip has me worn out already," she said,but he continued to gaze at her
with a look of concern.
"Are you sure that's all?," he asked.
She squeezed his hand."I'm sure," she answered."Now come on.We have alot
to explore."
~Chapter 30~
Nick and Blane in in their hotel room unpacking.A gentle breeze floated
through the open balcony door,and Nick walked over and wrapped his arms
around her.
"I can't believe how beautiful this place is," she breathed,as she tipped
her head back and they kissed.
He smiled."This place isn't the only thing that's beautiful," he
replied,and she giggled as she pushed away from him and walked over to the
dresser.
"I wanna hit the beach," she told him,as she pulled out her bikini.
He walked over to her."Let me help you change," he remarked,and pulled
her shirt over her head,then leaned over and began to kiss her neck.
She giggled again."Nick,stop.Come on," she threw at him,stepping out of
her shorts and undies and sliding on her bikini bottom.
He stood back watching her change,every inch of himself wanting to grab
her,throw her on the bed,and make wild love to her.But he held back,and when
she was done changing,she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
"Your turn now," she murmered,and hooked her fingers into the waistband
of his jeans and pulled them down.
It took every ounce of his being not to kiss her,because her face was so
close to his.He changed into his swimtrunks,and a few minutes later they
headed out to the beach.
~Chapter 31~
Kevin and Kelly joined Blane and Nick on the beach.Kelly walked over and
layed down next to her.Blane smiled at her.
"Welcome to paradise," Kelly breathed,as she adjusted her sunglasses.
Just then,the rest of the gang joined them and a small party broke
out.Brian brought his radio and turned it on,and the guys all gathered
together and talked.
Karen,Kari,and Erica all went over to Kelly and Blane and spread out
their towels.Karen seemed unusually chipper,and Erica grinned at her.
"I take it your talk with Brian went well last night," she remarked.
Karen nodded as she put on some suntan lotion."Yeah," she said.
Kari urged her to continue."Well?What happened?Don't keep us in suspense."
Karen grinned."We talked,I told him how I felt,we kissed,and then...,"
she said,but trailed off.
They all leaned closer."AND?," they all asked at the same time.
Karen laughed."We went back to his cabin and made such incredible love
that neither of us wanted it to end."
They all screamed at the same time.Kari bounced up and down on her
towel."So what was he like?," she asked.
Karen layed back on her towel and let out a blissful sigh."On a scale of
1~10,he was an 11," she told them."That's all I'm gonna say."
The girls all continued to hound her for details,and for the rest of the
day they hung out together on the beach.
~Chapter 32~
That night,everyone went to a luau on the beach.While there Amy ran into
Brian and they caught up on each other's lives.Before she left,she told Brian
to give Nick a message for her:to give her a call,they needed to talk,and
handed him a piece of paper.
Brian was confused.He went and found Nick,who was talking to a group of
small fans signing autographs.He pulled him aside.
"Maybe you would mind answering a question for me,Nick.I just ran into
Amy,and she wanted me to tell you to give her a call because she had
something she wanted to talk to you about." He watched as Nick began to grow
nervous."What's going on?"
Nick sighed.He then managed to explain what had almost happened between
him and Amy right before he and Blane got married.
Brian was shocked;he had never known Amy to be so forward with her
feelings.He had known her almost as long as Nick had.
Brian gave Nick a serious look."Please tell me nothing has ever happened
between you two.You're married now."
Nick shook his head."Of course not.When I ran into her on the ship,That
was the first time I'd seen her since that night.If Blane ever found
out,she'd never forgive me."
Blane sauntered up to them then and wrapped her arms around Nick's
waist."Did I hear my name?," she asked,kissing him on the cheek.
He shook his head."No.Let's go dance," he told her,and she and Nick
walked away and joined the crowd on the dance floor.
~chapter 33~
Brian and Karen had gotten their own hotel room,and after the luau,they
went back totally exhausted.
They got undressed,then crawled into bed.He pulled her close to him and
kissed the top of her head.
She smiled up at him."I'm so glad you asked me to come on this trip.I
really needed to get away," she said.
He ran his fingers through her hair and smiled at her."I'm glad you're
here Karen.I really enjoy being with you," he whispered,and kissed her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss.It grew more
intense,and soon he was reaching down to remove her nightshirt.She let him at
first,then suddenly stopped him.
"Brian,stop," she said,and pushed him off her.She sat up and wrapped her
arms around her legs.
He gently rubbed her back."What's wrong?," he asked.
She turned to look at him."I'm scared," she told him,as a tear fell down
her cheek.
He reached over and wiped it away."Talk to me Karen.Why are you scared?,"
he asked.
She sighed."I guess I'm afraid that you'll hurt me like David did,and I
don't want that," she remarked.
He pulled her into his arms."I would never lay a hand on you Karen.I care
for you." He pulled away and gazed at her."I think I may even be falling in
love with you."
She was quiet.Finally,she said," Oh Brian.I can't say that I love you
yet.It's too soon."
He nodded."I understand.And I promise not to pressure you into anything
you're not ready for.I don't want to scare you away.You mean too much to me."
She layed back down and he pulled her back into his arms.
"How was I ever so lucky to meet you?," she asked,as she snuggled into
the crook of his arm.
"I guess I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," he
answered.
She kissed him before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
~Chapter 34~
A week and a half later,they returned from their vacation,excited about
being back home but also sad at the same time that it was over.It had been a
great vacation for all of them.
Karen and Brian had grown closer over the past two weeks,and looked
forward to spending alot more time together.
Kari and Howie were already planning their wedding.Kari knew for a fact
that she was ready this time,and couldn't wait to spend the rest of her life
with him.She had some news to tell him but was waiting for the right time to
tell him....
Kelly and Kevin's relationship was as strong as ever.They enjoyed
themselves immensly while on the cruise,even though they spent 85% of their
time in their cabin.He made her so happy words couldn't begin to describe how
she felt.
Blane and Nick's marriage was at it's best.Their love for each other was
so strong that they fely they could face anything that was thrown at them.The
yhad spent countless days strolling down the beach hand~in~hand and sharing
stolen kisses in the surf.
Erica and AJ were the happiest of all,for they were once again reunited
with Taylor.The minute they laid eyes on her,they smothered her with kisses
and hugs,and Erica cried happily.It was the best day of her life.
And that night when they had returned from Denise's and put Taylor to
bed,she and Aj made love.The way he made her feel was incredible.The way he
touched her drove her wild with desire,and every part of her ached for
him.Their life together was wonderful.
~Chapter 35~
Blane stepped into the shower and closed the door.She hummed to herself
as she lathered up her hair.The cruise had been so much fun.She'd hated to
see it end.She and Nick had had so much fun~both with themselves and the
others.
She was so intent on reminiscing about the trip that she didn't hear the
shower door slide open or Nick step in,until she turned around and came
face~to~face with him.She screamed,then laughed.
"Nick,what are you doing?," she asked him.
He leaned over and kissed her."I thought I'd join you," he said,his eyes
sparkling.
She smiled at him."Oh really?," she tossed at him,as he reached for a bar
of soap and gently began to rub it up and down her back.
"Yeah.I had nothing better to do,so I thought I'd come check you out," he
remarked,and she turned around and gently swatted him on the backside.
He laughed.
She gave him a fake look of reprimand."You checked me out enough on the
cruise.Don't you think you've had enough?"
He shook his head as he stepped closer to her.The hot water poured over
them."I'll never have enough of you Blane," he murmered,and leaned over and
began to kiss her neck,as he slowly backed her up against the shower wall.
She threaded her fingers though his wet hair and returned his kisses.A
moan escaped her lips as she felt him between her legs,begging for
her.Without hesitation,he entered her and she gasped,a gasp of total bliss.
"Nick,you've made love to me so many times over the past two weeks.Now
it's my turn to pleasure you," she murmered,running her hands up and down his
wet,muscular chest.
He grinned at her as he stroked her breasts."OK,baby girl.I want nothing
more than for you to make love to me.You drive me crazy," he
whispered,bending over and kissing her again.
She moaned again,and a few minutes later they were in bed,with her
straddling him.She gave him a sly smile.
He gazed at her."What?," he asked,imaptient for her to begin her
lovemaking to him.His body wanted,no NEEDED,to feel her touch.
She shook her head,then leaned down and began a trail of kisses,starting
at his mouth and working her way down.She ran her tongue across his tummy,and
a low moan of approval escaped his lips.
She felt him enter her once again,and she began to slowly move herself
against him.Feeling him inside her was something she longed for,something she
begged for.
He moved his hands up and placed them on her hips,as she slowly continued
to move on top of him,grinding him deeper inside of her.
They cried out each other's names in passion,and he exploded inside of
her.He then flipped her so she was underneath him,and she wrapped her legs
around him as he began to thrust in and out of her,so methodically she begged
for more.
She moved her hips in rhythm to his,and finally,exhausted,they fell into
each other's arms,their bodies dripping with sweat.
~Chapter 36~
Kari and Howie were wrapped in each other's arms on the couch,watching a
sappy love story.He thought it was kinda dumb,and was surprised when he heard
her sniffing.
"Why are you crying?It's not that sad," he remarked,which only made her
cry more.
He sat up and looked over at her."Kari,what's wrong?I know it has to be
more than this movie that's making you cry like this," he replied.
She blew her nose and wiped the tears from her cheeks."I"m sorry.I don't
know why I'm acting like this," she told him,even though she knew the exact
reason why.
He looked at her as if to say he didn't believe her.He squeezed her
hand."Come on baby.Talk to me," he coaxed her.
She took a deep breath."I'm pregnant," she finally blurted out.
His mouth fell open;he was shocked at first,then a huge smile crept
across his face.
"You are?," was all he was able to get out.
She nodded."Yeah.I found out while we were on the cruise.It must have
happened right before we left.Oh Howie.I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.I
wasn''t sure how you'd react," she replied.
He kissed her.I'm happy.Why shouldn't I be?We're getting married,and now
we're having a baby.How much happier could I possibly be?" He leaned over and
kissed her agin,and when they pulled apart,she smiled at him.
"We're going to have such a great life together," she breathed.
He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her on the cheek."I agree," he
said,and he pulled her down in top of him again and they held each other and
talked.
37-41
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