Paper Cranes (32 page)

As I looked around the room, it was clear Lee had spared no expense with booking this suite. The floors were a chilly marble as I padded my way to the massive claw tub in the open bathroom area. There were no doors to conceal your every move, except for the potty, which had a phone inside the stall.

“Who on earth would you need to call in here?” I laughed as I explored the room.

“POTUS is the only one worthy of a shitter phone in my eyes.”

“Touché. I’m going to call you every time I’m in there, just because I can,” I laughed.

Snooping around further, we noticed an incredible ten-person shower, or at least that’s what it felt like. There had to have been three or four showerheads involved, but who needs to get that clean? Lee and I sang a chord or two of my embarrassing Stop and Shop excursion in the closed confines. It felt good that we had personal jokes and memories to share, ones no one could take away because they were all ours and ours alone.

“Holy shit, Lee,” I yelled as I stepped out and onto the balcony.

“What?” He ran, meeting me with concern in his eyes.

“Look!” I pointed to the best feature of our room.

“Man! That is super badass. I didn’t know we got all that!” He exclaimed as we stared in awe of the personal hot tub. Not only was there a beautiful hot tub, but also the view was spectacular. We were high enough to see the secluded beach, and completely shielded from anyone else.

“You see that over there, I pointed to a cluster of palms.

“Yeah,” Lee sounded vague.

“I want to be right there tonight. Just you and me, laying in that hammock star-gazing.”

“I can certainly make that happen,” we smiled at one another.

We ordered room service, only for the very reason that I couldn’t possibly put forth the effort to get dolled up. I was perfectly content on cushioning up in the plush bedding, eating high priced chicken tenders, while guzzling more of their spectacular cucumber infused water. Lee also didn’t have a single problem feeding them to me either. I teased that I would bite his fingers every now and then, but never actually followed through with it.

“Ready for our walk?” Lee asked as he hopped off the bed. He slid on his flip-flops, offering his hand to me for assistance. Taking it, I grabbed a light sweater before we made out way out for the evening.

We made our way through the deserted palms, and crash-landed on one just on the outskirts of the cluster. I was surprised it was vacant to be honest considering it was a picturesque, clear night.

“Go on,” Lee tried to persuade me to get into the hammock first.

“You must be insane. I am definitely not getting into that thing first. I
will
bust my ass trying to get into it. You go first and I’ll ease myself on in.”

“Suit yourself,” Lee planted his ass on the swinging chords. Just as he thought he had a good grip, he went plunging to the ground.

I doubled over in a fit of laughter as I tried to cover my mouth to mute my cackles. Lee sat in a pile of sand, laughing hysterically himself, which made me feel better for losing it.

“See. What did I tell you?” I knelt down before Lee, clutching my stomach.

Just then, Lee pulled me down into the sand with him. Tickling me senseless, I wasn’t even worried at how sandy we were getting. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world.

Lee hushed my giggles with a passionate kiss, rendering me immediately speechless. Sitting up right, Lee dusted the sand from my hair, placing a sweet peck on my nose.

“Let’s try this again, shall we?”

He stood wobbly, grabbing the chords again. This time, Lee slowly lowered himself onto the hammock. He was finally situated enough to lower me down on top of him. The hammock swung ever so slightly as I wrestled around to get cozy.

Swaying from side to side, I snuggled under Lee’s arm, resting my head on his shoulder. Pointing to the sky, Lee began to identify the numerous constellations.

“Do you see those stars right there?” he asked, pointing to a cluster of stars.

“Yeah, kinda looks like a box with legs,” I laughed.

“Almost, that box has arms and a bow as well. That’s Orion.”

“I’m not sure how you see that, but I’ll take your word for it. I only know two – the big and little dipper.”

“At least you know those though,” he grinned into my hair. I could feel the bristles rub my head as he continued to talk. “In Greek mythology, Orion was a huntsman who was cast among the stars by Zeus.”

“Why would Zeus do that though?” I questioned.

“Well, his daughter happens to be Artemis – the goddess of wild animals, wilderness and the hunt. Like Orion, she is said to always carry a bow and arrow.”

“Seems like a father’s dream to have a guy interested in the same things as his daughter.”

“Oh, she loved him alright. So much that it’s said she “accidently” shot him with a bow and arrow while out on a hunting excursion. Some say she did it because he was trying to seduce her friend Opis, the goddess of fertility. Others believe that he was not trying to seduce

Opis but instead persuaded by her bother Apollo who killed him in retaliation for his sister… Either way, Zeus cast him away into the stars for his beloved daughter.”

“Wow, I never realized that. It’s sort of messed up to be honest. I guess it just goes to show that you need to confront people in person before accusing them of things.”

“Indeed. I suppose you can cross off another item – star-gazing,” he said, pulling me closer to him.

“Hmm,” I could barely get out as I felt Lee’s thumb slide under my cut off t-shirt, caressing my stomach.

“What else can we check off that list while we’re here?” he twisted my body so we were spooning one another in the hammock.

Lee delicately moved the hair from my neck as he rested his large hand flat on my stomach. Laying hungry kisses on my neck, his palm inched its way up my shirt sliding underneath my bra and cupping my breast.

“Oh fuck,” I moaned.

“Public sex was on that list. I’m pretty positive it was,” he tried to encourage me.

“I’m not sure it was, but I’m definitely willing to make the exception,” I grinned, biting my lower lip at the feeling.

Removing his hand only for a second, I could hear him lower his zipper. I had never been so happy that both of us had been tested weeks ago. I was on the pill and we were now able to have sex without worry or condoms.

Lee snaked his left arm under mine, now running it under my shirt just like the other one had formerly. With his right, he glided his hand up my loose skirt, across my hip, and grazing the top of my panties.

“Just let me do all the work, Dove,” he said, slipping his hand underneath the silky threads

It took every effort not to push my ass into his hardness, but I trusted Lee, allowing him to do all the work. He stroked me precisely, taking his time not to make any huge movements or draw attention.

Lee ever so subtlety slipped his fingers deep within me as the hammock began to rock slowly. With every swing of the craft, Lee’s fingers delved deeper within until it was nearly too much to withstand.

Removing his fingers, he eased his way into me. I let a soft groan escape my lips as soon as his full length was inside of me. Every time the hammock swung forward, the deeper Lee sank into me. To any onlookers, we were just a couple falling asleep under the stars.

“I’m going to go painfully slow, Dove, but that’s only so we don’t draw too much attention. Believe me when I say, it will be just as torturous for me. I won’t be as quiet later though.”

Taking his hand from my hip, I placed it back on my throbbing core.

“I need you, Lee. Don’t let go, don’t ever let go,” I pleaded, not only for the release, but also for eternity.

Now, had I said that in that very minute, Lee may have freaked out. Shit, any man would freak out at the word eternity. Eternity was the equivalent to,
pardon me while I stalk you, your social media accounts and plaster our pictures in wedding magazines
. It was a truly freak-tastic word, like freak-tastic was any better. But, God did this feel incredible.

“I’m never letting go. Never.”

Withholding my screams, I spiraled into an exquisite climax. I cupped Lee’s hand, gripping it tightly to subside the tremors that threatened to rock us off the hammock. There was something so mind-blowing about being unbelievably connected to someone. The after effects of the orgasm instantaneously sent a flood of feelings coursing through me. The moment, the words, the thoughts hit me all at once, as a single tear fell from my eye.

Lee pulled himself out of me, not even hitting his own pinnacle. He sensed my apprehension from my tense manner, and instead situated my panties and skirt, drawing me into his large chest. He didn’t need to say a word and neither did I. We knew things between us were more than just friends hooking up anymore; we were something much, much more.

It was in that very moment, I knew I could never go a single day without Lee again. I was falling, hell, I fell, jumped, leaped and tripped head first into his heart and soul. To say I loved him wouldn’t do my feelings justice. I was so in love with him, it physical hurt my chest. You know, that kind of love that makes you feel obsessed with that one person, where all of your thoughts revolve around them, no matter what.

The kind of love where you wake up in the morning thinking of them, and fall asleep at night dreaming of them. Where, if they aren’t near for more than five minutes, you want to combust. Their very presence ignites a fire so strong in your belly that even hell itself couldn’t handle the blaze. That was how I felt about Lee. He was it for me. If I were to die tomorrow, at least I knew I gave my entire heart to a man who truly deserved it. A man who would be by my side through thick and thin, for good times and bad.

Our love was bigger than diamond rings or picket fences. The real test was to have someone there who was willing to be there for all the horrible things past, present and future. Lee could have discarded me the minute he found out I had ALS, but he didn’t. I’m still not sure why he didn’t, but at this point, I don’t care. It takes a remarkable human being to look into your future, see the hurt and devastation yet to come and instead of running, lifts you up and carries you into battle. That’s love.

“You’re all I need, nothing more, nothing less,” I whispered to him as he held tightly. Embracing me so securely I could barely breath. A grip that proved his protection was beyond anything I could ever comprehend or express to anyone but Lee. He didn’t give me false words of promise like,
it’s going to be okay
or
we’re going to get through this
. He knew better than that.

Instead, Lee never spoke a word, but I could feel a faint droplet run down my neck as he pressed his cheek to mine.

L
ast night, I had one of the best nights of my life. How ironic that not a single profound word was said, but simply felt? Touches replaced words, kisses replaced by tears.

For the first time in weeks or even months, I sleep like a baby. Perhaps I was so exhausted because of the countless times Lee and I had made love, or the cloud-like bed, but it felt amazing. A full night’s sleep without nightmares was a wonderful, wonderful thing.