My Once Handsome Husband

Delaney and Vincent walked together hand in hand to the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful and Delaney held on tight to Vincent. He chuckled and kissed her forehead before leading her away.

The cliff sloped downwards and they came to a set of steps that had been carved in the stone long ago. The stairs zigzagged downward until at last, they reached the sandy beach below. Delaney looked up at the cliffs high above them. It was so steep the view of the house was blocked.

Walking along with her husband she experienced the strange feeling of sand between her toes. It was warm and smooth but scratchy at the same time. The waves were rushing forward across the sand as they tried to reach the cliffs.

Vincent put their things down on the sand in the shade of the rocky cliff wall. Delaney slid off her robe and looked at her husband with excitement.

"Are you ready?" Vincent asked with a warm smile for his wife.

"I can't wait!" she nearly squealed, "Take off your shirt."

Vincent swallowed and glanced over to where Ian stood leaning against the rock.

"He's a pirate love," Delaney whispered with a grin, "I'm sure he's seen worse than your scars."

Vincent didn't look convinced. He hesitated but after a moment slowly untucked his shirt from his waistband. He glanced down at Ian once more before pulling his shirt up over his head and off. 

Delaney was standing facing them both so she was able to see Ian's reaction to her husband. He stiffened for a moment and looked taken aback. Before Vincent could see this though he had already returned to his blank-faced self. She couldn't help but smile at the young pirate.

Vincent looked uneasy and continued to glance down at Ian but the other man remained motionless staring out at the sea. Delaney looked at her lean, muscular husband with his webs of scars. They only made him all the more appealing to her now. She remembered talking to Ms. Bird about how scars were a sign of strength and now she saw that reflected in Vincent.

Reaching out and taking his hand, Delaney smiled lovingly at her handsome husband. She tugged him towards the water with her and after a few steps he grinned and hurried forward as well.

Delaney nearly ran until she felt the cool water hit her feet. She slowed down but Vincent didn't and he pulled her on with him. They ran until the water was deep enough it made them stumble. Vincent tripped first, falling forward and plunging into the ocean. Delaney fell right after and closed her eyes tight before she hit the water.

The water was cool and the waves pushed and pulled her. The roar of the water was like muffled thunder in her ears. She felt Vincent's warm hands find her and pull her up again back out of the water. Delaney coughed, tasting the salty water in her mouth.

Vincent laughed and wiped the water from her eyes. She blinked a couple of times before looking up at him with a big grin.

"What do you think love?" Vincent chuckled as he looked down at his wife's happy face.

"I love it!" she leaped up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply. Vincent wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up, holding her so he could better kiss her. When they stopped to catch their breath, Delaney ran her hands through his hair, sweeping it back from his face.

Staring into his green eyes, she realized how completely happy she was here with him. There was no place in the world she would rather be. She kissed the tip of his nose and he smiled.

"I love you husband," she said just loudly enough he could hear her over the waves.

"I love you wife," he eased out into the deeper water with her, carrying her in his arms.

They enjoyed their morning in the water exploring and simply loving the cool temperature. Vincent insisted they at least start on her learning how to swim. He worked with her, teaching her how to move her arms and legs.

Ian watched from the shore for a while but eventually, he went into the water and Delaney watched as he swam far out. Vincent stood watching too with his arms wrapped around her.

"Do you think I'll ever be able to swim like that?"

"My love, until now I thought only fish could swim like that. It must be that pirate blood."

While Ian was in the water, Delaney hurried back to shore, pulling Vincent along with her. She grabbed their towels and gave him a flirtatious smile. He grinned, watching her with curiosity as she turned and headed towards an outcrop of rocks. It only took Vincent a moment before he followed her.

Delaney spread their towels out behind the rocks and, after being sure Ian couldn't see them, pulled off all her clothes, laying them on the rocks to dry in the sun. Vincent chuckled and pulled off his, doing the same. As soon as they were both bare, he dropped down onto the towels and pulled her down with him.

They came together in the warm summer sunlight on the sandy beach. Once they were finished they collapsed on the towels curled up together and let the sound of the waves lull them to sleep.

When they woke up sometime later, Delaney's normally pale skin was rosy pink from the sun. She dressed slowly, too much movement making it sting. She looked down at her husband who was still sleeping and saw he was slightly red but also a bit more tan.

Easing herself down again, she kissed him and gently stirred him awake. Vincent looked up at her rosy face and chuckled

"I'm afraid the sun has burnt your fair skin love."

"I know," she sighed, "I want to go back to the house now and get in bed with nothing on. Everywhere this dress is touching feels like it's being rubbed raw."

Vincent gave her a sympathetic look before hurrying to dress. He picked up their towels and they headed back up the beach towards the steps. They came upon Ian sprawled out on a towel asleep. He wasn't red at all, just a darker golden brown.

Delaney frowned and mumbled about it not being fair. Vincent chuckled and gently shook the other man awake. Together the three of them headed back up the cliffside stairs.

At home, Ms. Bird came and helped Delaney out of her dress and was wise enough not to suggest she get into a nightgown. Delaney dropped onto their bed on her stomach which seemed to be the lesser burned side. Ms. Bird brought up a mixture from the kitchen that she spread across Delaney's burns to soothe them.

Not feeling the best from her burns, Delaney slept most of the rest of the day. Ms. Bird came every so often to wipe off the dried mixture and add a fresh layer to her skin. Vincent visited her to check in on her and give her kisses but he used the day to go over the books for this estate.

By the time the bell rang to signal their dinner was ready, she was starting to feel better. She put on a robe and sat at the table with Vincent so they could eat. He smiled and chuckled at her rosy skin. He also apologized, saying he'd never thought she could get a sunburn.

That night they went to bed sleeping away from one another so Vincent's already very warm skin wouldn't press against her burns and make them hurt worse.

Feeling better the next morning, Delaney thought she would give her skin one more day to heal before she ventured out to the ocean again. While Vincent worked in his office, Delaney drug Ian around the house with her, exploring. The man didn't seem interested but he did as she requested. After exploring the seaside house, Delaney moved it up to her second favorite place besides Edgewood.

While recovering from her burns Delaney discovered again that she wasn't pregnant. Her heart ached. Walking to her bookshelf, Delaney pulled out a few books to reveal where she had hidden the potion from Sophia's witch. She took it in her hands and considered it for a moment. She ended up putting it back, not willing to chance Vincent discovering and being angry.

Since they were sleeping apart anyway because of the burns, Delaney decided not to tell Vincent that she wasn't pregnant. He would realize it on his own after too much time went by anyway and she didn't want to argue with him that they could make it happen.

Vincent had sent word back to Miles that they had made it to the ocean so they expected their friends to arrive any day. Before they did though Delaney wanted to make the most of her time alone with her husband.

Once her burns had turned to tan skin with freckles, Delaney returned to the ocean with Vincent where they spent their days swimming and exploring the beach, making love in the shade now instead of out in the sun. She didn't burn again but her skin did turn more tan as she spent more time in the sun. Her hair also lightened a few shades on top.

"What a wild thing you are," Vincent chuckled one day as he studied his sunkissed, windswept wife Where she sat on a large rock staring out at the ocean.

Delaney smiled at him with his tan skin and windswept hair, "You look rather wild too my Lord."