“Oh.” Caitlyn forced herself to the here and now. “I can't think of anything we can do all dressed up like this on a Friday morning.”
This was ridiculous. This was their wedding day. They were all dressed up and had nothing to do. Where were all the festivities, the people, the dancing, the music, the food?
“We could always get something to eat,” Caitlyn suggested.
“How did I know you were going to say that?” Slade smirked.
“And maybe we can go for a walk along the beach after.”
“Yes, that's perfect,” Slade said. “Sounds romantic after all. Good for our story. Let's skip the fast food and go somewhere nice. Somehow I don't think a quick burger is appropriate for this occasion.”
“I certainly hope not,” Caitlyn agreed. “It's not every day that I get married.” Then, she turned to him, “Do you feel different at all?”
“What do you mean?”
“Different. Officially, we're married.”
Slade was quiet for a moment as he thought about it. “No, not really. It doesn't mean anything, it's essentially just paperwork.”
“I noticed,” Caitlyn said sarcastically. Then she said, “I know this isn't real or anything, but even so, I thought that the official act of getting married would make me feel different somehow. Do you know what I mean?”
“I suppose so,” Slade said. “But, it's probably better this way. If it doesn't feel like anything to you, it will be easier to play it off. Also, it will be easier when it comes time to end it. Just some more paperwork.”
Caitlyn cringed, but tried to cover it with a smile, then worried her twisted facial expressions might be making her appear to be a lunatic. Sure she didn't yet feel married, but she didn't have to be reminded that her marriage would soon be over, especially on her wedding day. A defiant part of her refused to agree. “Or maybe it hasn't settled in yet.”
Slade shrugged.
At their leisurely brunch, Slade ordered some sake. “We need a toast.”
“To making this marriage thing work,” Caitlyn said only half-referring to convincing others. The other half referring to truly making it work.
“Sounds good to me,” Slade said, clinking her cup.
They drank their sake, Caitlyn forcing the burning liquid down her throat. She only had it once before and it was much too strong for her. She was thankful they only ordered a glass, not a bottle.
****
After brunch, they meandered down to the beach. Caitlyn took off her strappy sandals and Slade took off his shoes and socks as they traipsed along the ocean, the sand filtering between their toes. They didn't say much as the radiant Okinawan sun warmed their bodies and they listened to the waves of the Pacific crash against the shore.
Caitlyn suggested, “We can swing by our apartment.”
“We could,” Slade said. “But there's nothing there. No furniture to sit on yet. What would we do?”
“Good point,” Caitlyn said. They continued strolling in a comfortable silence until she added, “I have my bikini in my bag. Do you have swim trunks?”
“Yeah. You want to go swimming?”
“Why not?” She spread her arms wide. “Another beautiful sunny day in Okinawa. We have the day off. And the water here is so warm and clear. You should experience how freezing the water gets in Portland, Maine.”
“Maybe one day you’ll invite me.”
Caitlyn gazed out into the ocean. Envisioning Slade back in her home town in the States was something she fantasized about, but they'd never spoken about their friendship continuing back in the U.S., once they were out of the Marines.
“Only if you take me to Austin,” she countered. “I've never been to Texas. It's hard for me to picture.”
“Deal.” Slade extended his hand and Caitlyn shook it.
“I'm going to change in the car,” she said. “You have towels, right?”
His challenging gaze answered before he did. “What do you think?”
“Of course. Slade Masters is always prepared.”
****
Caitlyn came back wrapped in an oversized gray beach towel and Slade couldn't help but stare at her, anticipating her removing the towel. He'd long since memorized the curves of her body from previous beach visits. He remembered one incident in particular he wished to avoid today. He had been swimming to the shore and she'd reached up to untie the strings of her top before laying on her stomach. He had to linger in the water waiting for his erection to go down.
“Your turn.” She threw the car keys to him and he caught it. “I'll be in the water.”
Then she threw off the towel and Slade inhaled sharply, hoping she didn't catch the sound. She sauntered to the water and he froze as he scanned her body from her soft sun-kissed hair and over her Okinawan tanned skin. She had flesh covering her bones, the way he liked it—not like some skinny woman with pointy bones that would prod into him. Even so, she was toned from their morning runs and defined from PT pushups. Her waist tapered in and then her body flared back out with her generous hips he found so sensual. His eyes lingered on her cheeks, the tanned sides visible on the sides of her blue and yellow floral bikini.
Technically, your wife, he thought proudly.
She turned back and caught him gawking. “What are you doing, Slade? Stop staring at my big butt!” she cajoled.
Speechless, Slade ambled to the car to get changed.
****
Caitlyn met him as he approached the water. The sun caught on the delicate skin of her scar. Her lower right leg bore a deep pink gash, a remnant from a car accident when she was 15. It jolted her so much she never learned how to drive. That was fine, he didn’t mind driving them around. She had teased him saying he was a control freak and wouldn’t give up the wheel even if she had her license.
She hated the scar—thought it was hideous. But he considered it a part of her as well as a visible reminder of how he wanted to protect her. He quickly moved up to her face so as not to make her self-conscious.
“How about a race?” he proposed.
He beat her to the water without much effort.
“No fair,” she said. “You’ve competed in triathlons.”
“One day, you'll do one with me.”
“Never!” she exclaimed, her jade eyes widening.
“Oh, I'll convince you,” he said and swam under water to her, reaching for her legs.
She splashed the water as she tried to push him away, but it was too late. He gripped her thighs, stood up in the water, and threw her into the air. She shrieked before she went under.
“Oh! I hate you, Slade!” she exclaimed when she broke the surface.
He laughed and swam over to join her. “No, you don't.” He wrapped his arms around her so she was mere inches from his face. “You just married me.”
“A technicality,” she quipped. She tried to appear affronted, but he saw the corner of her lips twitch.
The arousal that shot through him minutes before when seeing her in a bikini was now dwarfed by the sensations shooting through him as he held her wet, nearly naked body. He marveled at how the sunlight gleamed off her hair, which had darkened to a shade of honey brown by the water and made her pale eyes appear even brighter. Her lips teased him, they were so achingly close. He should be able to pull her closer and kiss them. He should, but she'd probably sock him across the face if he tried.
“I'm going to lie out and dry off in the sun,” she said and wiggled out of his grasp to swim to shore.
Once again, he realized his erection would give him away. “I'm going to swim a couple more laps first.”
Slade lay in agony beside her on a beach towel. Although they'd come to the beach together a half-dozen times before now where he suppressed his desire for her, he found it impossible to control his heightened senses today. The closeness of her in that tiny bikini was too much.
What was going on? He had managed to control his desire up until now. Why was he so distracted today?
&n
bsp; After what seemed like hours, Slade checked his watch and said, “Ready to check in to the hotel?”
“Sure” Caitlyn said. “For the night? It's still kind of early.”
“No. We'll check in, rinse off, and go out for dinner.”
“Ooh, I like the way you think, Mr. Masters.”
“I bet you do, Mrs. Masters.”
She giggled. “I'm not changing my name. Too much trouble for a sham marriage.”
“Fine. But we're still Mr. and Mrs. Masters to the world.”
As they stood up and picked up their belongings, Caitlyn slapped him playfully on his butt.
“I can live with that.”
****
While Caitlyn took a shower in the hotel, Slade paced the room, exhaling from time to time. Picturing her naked body lathering up with that body wash that made her smell so sweet behind the closed door tormented his psyche in ways he couldn't control.
This was a bad idea, man. Look at you. You're a wreck. How are you going to pull this off? It's bound to implode.
Stay cool. You've controlled your feelings for this long now.
When she walked out of the bathroom in nothing but a fluffy white hotel towel, he almost lost his stoic reserve.
“Your turn,” she gleamed a radiant smile.
“You're naked under there,” he said flatly, not meaning to reveal his thoughts.
“Duh,” she said. “I need to get dressed. That's why I said the shower is yours.”
When Slade stepped under the steaming flow in the shower, he thought she could have brought her clothes in to the bathroom with her. Was she deliberately trying to tease him? Or did she have a legitimate reason for not bringing her clothes into the bathroom with her? What did he know about women getting dressed and ready—nothing. And now he was thinking—or hoping—she was trying to turn him on? Time to check his ego.
His ulterior motive of marrying her to get closer was backfiring. Nothing had changed for her—she even admitted how she didn’t feel any different now that she was married—and that included not feeling any different about him. He, on the other hand, had turned as hormonal as a high school boy. Marrying her had increased all his desires—to protect her as fiercely as a loyal dog—and to be with her. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, first, in that tiny bikini, and then in the towel with nothing on. He reached down to stroke his raging erection. He should take care of himself before they went to dinner. He wouldn't want to be tempted to jump over the table and take her in the restaurant.
But no, he'd see her right after he stepped out of the shower. Would he be able to look her in the eyes knowing how he'd just fantasized about her?
That was a chance he had to take. He wouldn’t be able to focus on a conversation at dinner if he was fantasizing about her sexually. Besides it wouldn’t be the first time he had to take care of himself thinking about her.
****
Caitlyn wore a yellow sundress to dinner that showed off her tanned shoulders.
As he led her to a low table with a hibachi for them to cook their food on, Slade said, “You look nice.”
“Just nice?” She pouted. “I was hoping for dazzling at least.”
“Dazzling? What guy would call his dinner date dazzling?”
She cocked her head before she sat down on the pillows surrounding the low table. “Wife, remember?”
“Fine. You look dazzling. Happy?”
She beamed. “Absolutely. Especially since I’ve proven you wrong, see? One outfit that’s not blue.”
Throughout dinner, Caitlyn tried to keep a goofy smile off her face. How long had it been since she'd been on an actual date at a restaurant as nice as this? The dark setting with soft, flattering lamps and sconces, and cushions strewn about low tables lent a romantic element to the evening. Sure, it wasn't supposed to be romantic, but being here with Slade—being newly married to Slade—in this romantic setting did nothing to quell her delight.
“How are your classes?” she asked.
“Good. Tons of reading, tons of cases, but that’s normal for a law class.”
“Grrr. That’s why I’m not going yet.”
“You should. You could knock off some classes while you’re here. Get you closer to your degree.”
“No, thank you. Right now, I’m doing the Marine thing. After my four years, then I’ll worry about college. I’m in my early twenties, how do I even know I want to stick with law after working in it for four years?”
“And military law is so different from civilian. But you could at least knock off some of the electives they always have you do, no matter what degree you end up going for.”
She nodded as if she’d consider it. “What about you? Are you sure what you want to be when you grow up?”
“We’re not grown up yet?” he teased.
“Well, maybe you are, old man. You’ve got a couple of years on me.”
“You know I’m not going to be a lifer. Maybe I’ll go to law school in your neck of the woods. Boston has some good law schools.”
“Boston has some good schools period. They seem to be on every corner. But I’m from Maine, and Boston is in Massachusetts, my friend.”
“They’re this far apart,” he said as he spread his thumb and forefinger an inch. “Anyway, I’m looking at an environmental law class.”
Caitlyn squirmed in her seat with excitement. “That’s the perfect field for you! With your outdoor adventure streak. How you lecture me whenever I drink from bottled water or use a plastic bag.” She waved an arm as if giving him the go ahead. “By all means, go for it!”
Slade laughed. “I’m glad I have your approval, Mrs. Masters.”
****
Over dinner, they speared a variety of chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetables on skewers and cooked them over the low flame.
“I love Okinawa,” Caitlyn oohed. “This is so much fun.”
“I know. I've never eaten at a place like this in the States.”
“It’s a good thing we’ll be living here for a few more years. So much more to explore.”
“All the more reason to be settled into an apartment, don’t you think?”
If all went as planned, Caitlyn thought darkly.
“What’s wrong? Your face dropped.”
“Nothing.” She brushed her anxious thoughts aside.
“No, tell me.”
She hesitated. “What if one of us is called away? Sent on another deployment? Maybe somewhere dangerous? You’re the closest friend I’ve had since I enlisted. I know Marines come and go and I’ve seen my share of faces in and out my life, but I can’t imagine you not being part of it. I’ve seen you every day for months.”
“That’s why this marriage is a good idea, Caitlin,” he said in a soothing tone. “The Marines are much more likely to keep a husband and wife together than two friends, who have no legal binding.”
She sipped her wine while she contemplated whether that was true
He took her hand. “I don’t want to lose you either. You’re my closest friend here as well.” His blue-gray eyes were full of warmth. “Not only here. Anywhere.”
They stayed late in the evening, sampling various wines and teas, turning Caitlyn’s worried mood into a more celebratory one until Slade rose to his feet and said, “I better get you back to the hotel before you start stumbling.”
“I do NOT stumble,” Caitlyn said indignantly. As she rose to her feet, her sandal got caught among the pillows and she fell back on top of them.
Slade chortled heartily before he answered. “Wow, you really nailed your point.” Then he lay back on the pillows next to her and they tried to stifle their laughter so they wouldn’t bother the other diners.
Before a violent fit of laughter welled up again, Slade said, “No, really, I have to get you back. Do you think you can walk or do you want me to call a taxi?”
“Walk,” Caitlyn mumbled. “It may be a challenge, but the fresh air will do me good.”
Slade took her h
and before leading them back into the tightly packed streets of Naha. They left the neon lights and vibrant crowd on Kokusai-dori to move onto a relatively quiet walkway where they slowed their pace.
“I'd suggest we go out for drinks, but you seem to have quite the buzz already.”
“I'm fine,” Caitlyn protested. “Let's go out and celebrate!”
“Okay,” Slade replied. “How about we see a band or go dancing. No karaoke, please.”
“Dancing. Let's go dancing!” Caitlyn exclaimed. “I know just the place.”
Slade’s eyes narrowed inquisitively. “Back from your clubbing days?”
Caitlyn smiled sweetly to acknowledge his statement. She tried not to cringe remembering her first days in Okinawa, when she partied until the early morning at the clubs. She had been only nineteen, for Pete's sake, and living on the other side of the world. She had to do something to get over the shock.
Then Slade had intervened. When he came by one Sunday morning to see if Caitlyn wanted to go hiking, she had declined. She had been too busy nursing herself with cold wet facecloths to ease the headache, a consequence of having a too much fun the night before.
“O'Neill, you're a mess. Don't you want to wake up on a Sunday morning for once without a hangover?”
“Leave me alone,” she had muttered.
Slade had grabbed her by the arms. “I'm serious. Don't you think you're taking a little too far?”
“What else is there to do on this island?” she had replied. “I'm all alone thousands of miles away from my family on a tiny island in the Pacific. I signed up to be stationed over here for three long years. It seemed like a better idea before I actually moved away from everyone.” She had put the facecloths back over her eyes and laid down.
“You're not alone. You have me,” Slade declared. “And you're going to throw away one of the best opportunities of your life. How many chances do you think you'll have to live in another culture, a tropical island no less, on the other side of the world?”
Caitlyn pulled the covers over her head. It was too early for a lecture. Slade pulled them off and she winced.
“The light.”
“Listen to me, Cait. Next weekend, forget about hanging out with all these bums. You're spending the whole weekend with me. I'll show you another side of Okinawa. By daylight.”
A Marine’s Proposal Page 6