"I can't do this Mark," she said in a panic.
"If you don't do it, you'll have regrets. Close your eyes and the scary part will be over before you know it," he said to her and then added insult to energy, by smacking her on the butt.
Emily glared at Mark and then with a determined look gave the okay to the boat captain. He seemed to know he couldn't give her time to change her mind, because the next second he was speeding up and she started lifting in the air.
Her breath whooshed out of her at the sensation of flying. She was terrified at first but as she got to her full height and realized it wasn't that far, her fears started to fade away and she found she was enjoying the ocean breeze running through her hair.
It was unlike anything she'd ever experienced. She started laughing at the sheer joy of flying through the air above the beautiful Pacific Ocean. She wouldn't admit any of that to Mark, though. He was far too cocky as it was.
Mark could see the laughter on Emily's face. He asked the captain to keep her out there a while longer. He knew once she tried it she'd think it was great. The first step in any new adventure was always the hardest.
When the Captain began to pull Emily back in Mark saw the disappointment cross her features. She made it safely to the boat and Mark asked if she enjoyed herself. She tried to play it cool and then gave up and threw her arms around him, thanking him for talking her into it.
"You can wipe that smug look off your face," she said as she playfully slapped him on the arm.
"I wasn't saying anything," Mark defended himself.
"You didn't have too, your face says it all."
"Sorry about that," he said but still was unable to wipe the smile away. Emily gave up on her mock anger because she was having far too much fun to even pretend to be upset.
"Do you want to do it again?"
"Can I?" she asked excitedly.
"How about we go together?"
"That sounds great," she answered. The crew hooked them both up and soon they were in the air. Mark was holding onto her hand and the experience was even greater being high up in the sky with him.
"Look over there," Mark said to her. Emily turned her head and then gasped as she saw a school of dolphins leaping from the water. They were beautiful as they rose into the air and seemed to hop across the water. They were talking to each other and looked like a group of kids playing.
When the crew brought them back down, Emily was once again disappointed. She found she had a new favorite activity and didn't want it to end.
"Can we do that again tomorrow?" she asked him.
"Next time you don't want to do an activity, I want you to remember this moment and maybe you won't fight me so hard," he said with laughter.
"Fine, I will remember and not be such a pain."
The next adventure he took her on was snorkeling. She was getting so many new experiences and wanted to do every one of them forever.
Emily grabbed Mark's arm as she gazed down into the water. She pointed below her and Mark watched as a turtle glided by. He pulled her into another location and pointed out the schools of colorful fish swimming by.
It was an exciting experience and by the time they came out of the water, they were both water logged and wrinkled up. They had lunch under an umbrella and rehydrated.
As they sat at the table, some musicians came up, playing music and serenading them. Emily thought it was wonderful and searched her purse to give them a tip. "Thank you," she told them.
"No, thank you pretty senorita."
Another vendor stopped by with a basket of roses and Mark bought every last one for her. She blushed as the other patrons all clapped at the romantic gesture.
"You're far too beautiful to have only one color rose."
"You're far too romantic to be real," she replied. She leaned across the small table and kissed him softly. "Thank you, Mark."
"Ready to head to the room?" he asked hopefully.
"I'm very ready but you've promised me romance and I want to go dancing."
"You are very right. Let's enjoy the pool for a while and then I will take you to a salsa club," he said, with a wiggle of his eyebrows. They laid out by the pool, soaking up the last few rays of sunshine, before the brilliant colors overtook the skies as the sun set.
They went to the room, where he once again tried to talk her into staying in but she was determined to go dancing in the romantic city. He took her to a smoky club and as she looked around, she was grateful it was dark, because the way people were dancing made her blush once more.
"Let's dance," he whispered huskily into her ear. Emily followed him out onto the floor and fell into his arms.
He began a game of seduction and she was a willing participant. His hands rubbed along her back and up her sides, brushing against her br**sts. His mouth trailed down her throat and then back up to her lips, so he could tangle their tongues together.