We drive along the grassy road, trees swaying all around us in the wind as the car jostles back and forth over the unkempt driveway.
“Are you sure this is the place?” Ollie asks, his brow furrowed as his eyes scan the trees around us.
“Yep, this is it,” I say, my grin widening as I spot the tree I hugged when I left this place three years ago.
He nods, his focus on the road ahead of him.
And as we continue cautiously forward, the lodge comes into view on our right. A tall, wooden structure with big windows looking out over the valley just beyond the small driveway.
Ollie pulls up next to the only other car-our host, I’m assuming-and then turns to me, letting out a long breath.
“I can’t believe you did that drive on your own,” he says, putting the car in park.
I shrug. “It was also daylight when I did it. It honestly… kind of looks like a different place in the dark,” I say, laughing as I slip out of the car and dart around it to meet him on the driver’s side. He’s been focused on the road for the last three hours, and I can see the tension in his shoulders.
I take his face in my hands and kiss him, and a moment later, his arms are wrapped around my waist, tugging me closer. He presses me against the car, his tongue winding into mine as his hands creeps up the back of my shirt.
He sighs, breaking our kiss and brushing his lips across my cheek.
“Oh, the things I’m going to do to my new wife tonight,” he mutters.
His words send a little zip down my spine. Two days ago, we said our vows in the company of our closest friends and family.
And like Ollie told me I would, I wore wildflowers in my hair.
I spin my new ring around my finger absentmindedly as I press my lips to his jaw. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
He grins, a low laugh emanating from his throat as he reaches down and grabs my ass, squeezing me.
He kisses my cheek lightly and then grabs my hand, tugging me along behind him up the stairs to the deck that looks out over the Costa Rican jungle. Inside, I catch a glimpse of our host waiting at the kitchen counter.
The same one who greeted me last time I was here and asked where my companion was.
It feels good to be back here, doing it with the right person this time.
“I can’t wait for you to see this in the morning,” I say, as he grabs my hips and pulls me against him. He kisses my cheek, his arms winding tight around me as we listen to the sounds of the forest. Monkeys, whooping somewhere in the distance. The cawing of a tropical bird hidden within the trees. “All the flowers that come right up to the deck are so beautiful. And you can kind of see them now-those little lights in the distance are other lodges. But it’s far enough away that you can use the outdoor shower without feeling like anyone is going to see you.”
He hums into my neck, kissing me. “I like the sound of that. No clothes for you on our honeymoon.”
I laugh, curling into him. “Well, I have to wear clothes for hiking. And the sun is strong here, so we either need clothes or really good sunscreen.”
His breath runs hot over my neck. “Nope. I want to see Stephanie Long running through the jungle naked.”
I shrug. “Hey, if that’s what you want, here, hold my pants. I’ll make all your dreams come true.”
He laughs into my neck, hugging my tighter. “I love you,” he whispers into my ear, his lips brushing lightly over my skin.
I sigh into him. “I love you more,” I say.
He kisses me indulgently, his fingers digging into my skin and his tongue moving languidly against mine.
Even three years later, he kisses me like it’s both the very first time and our very last. Like he wants to savor every moment.
“Come on,” he mumbles against my lips. “Let’s get settled and I’ll give you a couple orgasms under the Costa Rican stars, hmm?”
I can’t help the grin that overtakes my face. “Okay,” I say, my voice a little squeakier than usual because my new husband just does something to me.
I follow him into the lodge, where our host gives us a polite grin.
“Oh, Stephanie,” she says, recognition falling across her face. “I thought your profile looked familiar. Welcome back.”
I can’t help but grin. “Thank you.”
“Well, you know the drill,” she says, passing over the keys to the lodge. “Emergency information and nearby restaurants and attractions are in here,” she says, passing along a booklet that Ollie accepts and flips through. “My number is on the front but it’s also in your reservation email if you need anything.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
“You have a wonderful time, and congratulations. You make a beautiful couple.”
Ollie wraps an arm around my shoulders and tugs me close, leaving a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you.”
I can’t help the heat that rises into my face.
He still makes me blush.
“I’ll leave you to it,” she says, gathering up her things and retreating out the door to her car.
And then Ollie turns to me, his hands falling to my hips as he leaves a kiss on my forehead.
“So, Wildflower,” he starts, and I beam up at him. “If you didn’t have any other plans, I was thinking I could take you to see some orchids tomorrow?”
I bite my lip, energy coursing through my body because I’ve been waiting years for this.
To be my planty self in a place I love with someone who is my whole world.
“That sounds amazing,” I say.
He smiles down at me, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, his hand lingering along my neck and drifting down my shoulder.
“So I guess that just leaves us to figure out something to do tonight,” he says, his eyes locked on mine.
I purse my lips. “Hmm. Whatever could we do…”
Before I can answer him, he bends and throws me over his shoulder.
“Where’s the bedroom in this damn place?” he asks, and I laugh as I direct him, slapping his ass and reaching around him to find the clasp of his pants with my fingers.
When we get to the bedroom, he throws me down on the bed, slipping easily between my legs and pressing an easy kiss to my cheek. My neck. My collarbone.
There’s nothing frantic or spastic about it. We still have those moments on occasion, but what we have now feels deeper than what we had yesterday. And what we had the day before that, and the week and month and year before that.
I always knew I wanted to grow with someone.
But I never thought I would find such a big, all-encompassing love from the very start.
And watch it grow everyday into something bigger than I ever could have imagined.
I’ve found my big love, and with every day I spend with him, that love only grows bigger.