Page 92 of Rude Boss 2

Chapter 19

Essex

The private jet landsat Nadi International Airport and I’d already connected with VIP Luxury Sedan Airport Transfer to arrange transportation by land and sea to Likuliku Lagoon Resort. Quintessa holds my hand in the backseat while we travel through paradise. The beauty of this place cannot be put into any kind of words. It’s phenomenal.

She says, “This is amazing, Essex.”

“If you think this is amazing, wait until you see where we’re staying.”

Her mouth falls open when she realizes we’re staying in an over-water bungalow. We take the boardwalk across turquoise waters until we arrive at our room. She runs to the bed and falls flat on her back. “Oh my gosh! This is paradise! Look at this place! Look at the windows that open to this amazing view. Oh, goodness. Do you see this?”

“I do,” I tell her.

“Let me guess…you’ve already been here before, huh?”

“No. I’ve always wanted to come here, but I told myself I wouldn’t come here unless you were with me.”

She walks over to me and throws her arms around my neck. I can feel happiness radiating through her.

After we explore the room, we have dinner at an onsite restaurant. Quintessa can hardly eat. She’s too busy taking pictures of her meal and everything else that interests her. She’s happy – all smiles – the way I always want her. The way I remember her years ago. I take a sip of wine and watch her, seeing images of her in my mind of when she was eighteen rocking ponytails and being studious – always helping me. She was always there. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be the man I am if it wasn’t for her.

Night falls. Lights on our private boardwalk lead the way to our room, but we don’t go inside right away. We lay side by side out on the deck and soak in the tropical air while staring up into the night sky. For a few minutes, we don’t say a word – we let nature take us to a place of bliss and wonder. I lie here and count my blessings. I’m fortunate to have a business that’s enough to sustain me and my new wife. I’m grateful for her, thankful that even though we didn’t make it back then, we took advantage of our second chance at happiness and we’re here, on our honeymoon. Life is good.

She looks at me and says, “You know I still can’t believe you’re Stewart.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s so crazy and you’re so different. Everything about you is—”

I turn my head to face her and say, “Different.”

“Yeah. Did you know you would be this man? That you would have it all one day?”

“Having it all has nothing to do with money for me, Tessie. It has everything to do with you.”

She holds my gaze as if searching for sincerity in my eyes. I know she finds it because I mean every word I say. She crawls over to me then straddles me and says, “I’m so glad you went out of your way to find me. I was lost without you.”

My body aches for her in this moment and she has no idea about the thoughts running through my mind, how I’ve visioned us right here grinding on this deck. Or maybe she does, especially since she shifted positions and is no longer cradled into my pelvis.

She says, “Uh oh. I think the electric eel has risen.”

“Yeah, you done did it now,” I say, rotating our positions so I’m hovering over her, nestled between her legs. We make a lot of noise on this otherwise quiet, peaceful night in paradise.

ON TUESDAY, I figured I’d treat her to a Fijian-style island wrap tropical massage to relax her mind and body for the rest of the week. The massage is so tranquil and soothing, she ends up falling asleep, or perhaps she was still tired from last night. Whatever the case, I tell the massage therapist to leave so I can have this private moment of watching her rest while appreciating her for the woman that she is – for everything she’s done for me.

We opt for an early dinner in order to take advantage of the sunset cruise. According to our waitress, it’s something we must do here since the sunsets are magnificent. And she’s right. While we sail around the island sipping sparkling wine and eating canapes, we have the pleasure of witnessing a glorious sunset – it’s a sight to make you believe in a higher power. And being here with Quintessa makes it all the more special. I couldn’t imagine sharing this with anyone else.

WEDNESDAY, WE find ourselves snorkeling, viewing the coral reefs and the amazing variety of tropical fish. Quintessa enjoyed it so much, we ended up venturing further away to explore undeveloped parts of the island. It’s truly a breathtaking experience.

THURSDAY MORNING – and I’m talking early – we go island hopping. There’re four couples on the boat. The captain makes jokes about how we all look tired, and we do. No one should be up like this at 5:30 a.m., but in order to get the full experience, that’s the time we leave.

On this little tour, we go past Mana Island, Castaway Island and Matamanoa Island. He shows us the islands of the Mamanucas. He says it’s where Cast Away, that Tom Hanks movie was filmed.

We head back to the resort for a late breakfast. I order a crab omelet with chili and papaya relish. Quintessa gets the eggs benedict with smoked salmon. When we’re done eating, we walk back to our private bungalow, holding hands and enjoying another day in paradise. Quintessa goes to the bathing pavilion, immersing in the huge soaker tub that sits directly at a window. I join her there and immerse myself inside of her until her moans become passionate screams that fly out the window like doves seeking shelter from the rain.

FRIDAY IS a chill day. We go to the restaurant for breakfast around eight then do some souvenir shopping since we’re flying out in the morning – something I’m not looking forward to, but I must get back to work at some point. Anyway, we make the day count. We give stand-up paddleboarding a try, and I only tried it because Quintessa wanted to. However, when we were out there on the water, I discovered it’s not so bad once you get the hang of it.

For dinner, we sit through a traditional dance performance and eat South Pacific barbecue. And then I take my new wife to the beach where we dance alone, our bodies swaying along with the breeze.

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