Rule #17: Don’t hide an engagement ring box in something it can fall out of when handled because airport security might almost drop it in a trashcan.

 

After the incident with airport security, I’m considering chartering a boat and sailing home, so I don’t have to go through that shit again when our vacation is over. In all my years of travelling the world, I’ve never been pulled aside and searched like that by TSA. Not only was it humiliating but I hated having someone else touch me even if it was a clinical examination to make sure I wasn’t smuggling drugs or something within my body. Since we’ve mated, if it isn’t Vincetti or someone from our family, I can’t stand to be touched by other people in an intimate way. Handshakes are fine, but anything else is a no-go for me.

Since the search, I’ve felt nauseous, and I don’t see it dissipating until I’ve had a shower to wash the smell of the airport and the TSA agents from my skin. The boat ride isn’t helping matters either. Normally, I’m not one to get seasick but if we bounce across another big wave, it’ll happen, and I’ll likely embarrass myself. Thank the gods the island we’re heading to is within sight because that means this boat ride is almost over with. Now if I can refrain from losing my lunch until then things will be fine.

Katalo slows the boat and pulls up to a dock where he ties the boat to it and starts unloading our bags. Another man comes forward to pick them up and once Vincetti and I have exited the boat, the man carrying our bags leads us up the pathway to the resort. We aren’t staying in the main building. As nice as it is, I want us to have privacy and not be surrounded by a ton of people all the time, so I’ve secured us a private bungalow on the other side of the island where we’ll have a section of beach all to ourselves. We can still come to the resort itself for food and activities like spa treatments or booking excursions but for the most part we’ll be alone. Which is exactly what I want. No enemies, no business, no distractions, only the two of us spending some quality time together. I can’t wait.

The resort is a gorgeous six story white building full of windows and balconies surrounded by palm trees and other tropical foliage. The beach sand is the whitest sand I’ve ever seen and contrasts the clear teal colored water. Now that we’re on dry land, the nausea I was feeling has subsided. We enter the lobby and I admire how open and airy it is. The doors and windows are open letting the ocean breeze in. White flowy curtains are tied back so they aren’t blowing around. The décor is completely nautical with old ship wheels, ocean pictures, and things made from seashells decorating the walls and furniture.

Vincetti takes my hand in his as we approach the front desk to check in. His eyes are darting around the room taking in everything and the excitement on his face makes me feel warm inside. I chose our destination well. The lady behind the front desk greets us with a smile and says, “Hello gentlemen, welcome to Aquatica Island Resort. Do you have a reservation?”

“Yes, we do. It should be under the name Ever Dracovi.”

She types in the name on her computer and nods. “Here we are. It looks like you’ll be in bungalow fifteen.” She turns and grabs a set of keys and a folder with sea turtles and the number fifteen on the front. Passing both to me she says, “Inside the folder is everything you need from the bungalow’s alarm codes, to the food delivery menu, TV channel listings and brochures on all the amenities we offer. The keys are for the bungalow doors and the UTV assigned to the bungalow you’ll use to get around on the island. Someone will be by every morning to make sure it’s topped up on gas. I hope you enjoy your stay with us. If you’ll follow Roberto, he’ll take you to your bungalow.”

The man who carried our bags hands them off to Roberto who tilts his head toward a side door where an UTV that seats four and has a little bed on the back for luggage is parked. “This way gentlemen.”

Vincetti practically skips his way to the doors while dragging me along behind him. He’s obviously excited to see where we’ll be staying for the next two weeks and I’m looking forward to getting him alone. I still have to pay him back for leaving me wanting on the plane. Climbing on the UTV, I sit in the seat beside Vincetti while Roberto loads our bags in the back. Roberto climbs behind the wheel of the UTV and starts the engine. I put my arm around Vincetti and pull him close to my side as Roberto drives away from the main part of the resort.

We travel across a path that’s been cut through the trees and circles the island. The shade from the trees makes the path a bit cooler than being on the beach in the open sunlight. Something I’m thankful for because I’ve been sweating my ass off since we stepped off the plane. Wearing a black t-shirt and black cargo shorts probably wasn’t my best idea. Roberto is driving slowly which gives us a chance to take in the sight of some of the wildlife on the island. In the trees to our left sit a group of scarlet macaws and they take flight at the sound of the UTV’s motor. It’s a beautiful sight and I look forward to checking out the resort’s hiking trails to see more of the native wildlife. This island is huge so there’s plenty of things to do. The next two weeks will be anything but boring.

As we continue on the trail, we pass a few families on golf carts and some couples walking. Seeing the families has me envisioning a future where Vincetti and I are the ones bringing our kids to a beautiful place like this. Vincetti turns to me and rests his head on my shoulder. “This place is gorgeous, Tesoro. I can’t wait to explore it with you.”

Kissing his forehead, I grin, “We’re going to have so much fun, moya dusha, you’ll never want to leave.”

He barks out a laugh and shakes his head. “I don’t know about that. I feel like if I lived in paradise year-round, I wouldn’t appreciate it as much as I do. Seeing this island for the first time filled me with excitement and joy but if I lived here, it wouldn’t be the same. Does that make sense?”

I nod. “It makes perfect sense. This island is like a shiny piece of handcrafted jewelry, the kind so pretty and wonderful you take good care of it and only wear it on special occasions, so it doesn’t lose its luster because once the luster is gone, it’s not the same.”

“See, you get me. If I’d been talking about this with anyone else, they wouldn’t understand.”

Winking at him, I tell him, “We’re mates. Understanding you when others don’t, comes with the territory.”

He laughs. “I suppose that’s true.”

When we break through the trees on the other side of the island, the sight of dolphins leaping out of the water offshore takes my breath away. The bungalows lining the beach are at least a mile apart if not two. Which is surprising. I knew we’d have our own private stretch of beach with the bungalow, but I thought it’d only be a small area because of how large the resort is. Apparently, this place doesn’t skimp when it comes to ensuring their guests have privacy. Even with heightened senses the bungalows are too far apart to see anyone on the beach clearly. Something that is perfect if Vincetti and I decide to go skinny dipping.

The sudden stopping of the UTV pulls my attention from the dolphins in the distance. Roberto says, “Here we are, bungalow fifteen.”

Bungalow fifteen is a small teal house with a white wraparound porch, concrete steps, a UTV parked to the right of it and an outdoor shower on the left. The house sits off the ground so water can pass underneath it and I think it’s adorable that the square columns holding the house up are painted a matching teal. The porch is decorated with hanging flowerpots in a riot of colors and there’s sprouting palm trees planted in the sand. Originally, I’d wanted to reserve one of the overwater bungalows you have to take a boat to, but they were all booked up. This is still a beautiful place and I’m looking forward to spending time here.

Vincetti and I take our bags from Roberto and climb the steps to the bungalow. The front porch is facing the ocean and has a swing I’m excited to use. It’s going to be the perfect spot to watch the sunrise if I wake up early enough to enjoy it. Using the key, I unlock the door then punch in the alarm code from the folder while Vincetti closes the door behind us. The inside of the bungalow is decorated similarly to the resort itself in a completely open layout. There are literally no walls separating any of the rooms except for the bathroom.

The floors are hardwood, and the furniture is made from driftwood with white cushions. Off to the left is a small kitchen and dining area. There’s a living room to the right with a television mounted to the wall surrounded by nautical décor. Straight ahead at the back of the house is a king size bed made up with white linens and has a white net canopy we can use to keep out mosquitos and other insects if we decide sleep with the windows open at night. The sight of the bed has my plans for a shower going right out the window as I imagine all the things Vincetti and I could get up to in it.

Dropping the bags I’m carrying, I stalk forward, grab Vincetti by the waist causing him to yelp in surprise, and run over to the bed where I toss him on it. Grinning down at him ferally, I start tugging at his clothes and say, “It’s payback time.”