Long Overdue Time Away

Sanches's was nearing its final phase of reconstruction. The brewery was operational and Eddie was in hog heaven brewing on a new 30 bbl. system, catching up with production and breaking in new help. The brewery is quite a sight behind the all glass building front. The copper top stainless steel tanks will attract attention. The tap room / restaurant was in the hands of the finish crew and and new kitchen was nearly complete. The all new menu was in development with our new chef.

We were committed to have the grand re opening the first week of June and being the end of April that would be easy to make.

"Are you sure you are ok?" I asked Karen. She was obviously preoccupied with the wedding a week away, but I sensed it was more than that. We were at lunch at what was becoming one of our favorite places in town.

"It's...it's just that there are things you don't know about me. I have a past. I know, more surprises, right? I just don't want things to come up that are going to be a problem later."

"The same is true about both of us Karen, I know what I'm getting, and I like it...a lot. You already know that you will never know some things about my past, where I have been and what I have done"...

"But I know you, I mean I see your heart. Regardless of all that you are a good man."

"And you, you are a bad girl." I wiggled my eyebrows at her smiling. I felt like I needed to lighten the mood just a little, but Karen despite cracking a wry smile that faded as soon as it appeared continued.

"That's kind of what's bothering me...I..."

"It's ok. I didn't expect I was marrying a virgin. You don't need to tell me of all your sexual proclivities before we met." It's ok.

"No... I know, it's not that. Some of this is going to be close enough to be visible. There were times when I have had recreational sex with both men and women.

Beth and Brad are included in that. They are still my friends, and I would like our friendship to continue. If it's not too much for you. I mean how are you going to deal with being at dinner with them and knowing I've had sex with both of them.

If it's a problem we don't have to see them, but they are my friends."

I interrupted Karen I could tell this was bothering her. "It's not a problem. I kind of filled in the gaps after the engagement party, you indicated you used to party with them and given the context, well I assumed that was the case. Its not going to be a problem, really."

"I want you to know, I am committed to you, only you! I'm lucky to have you. I really didn't think I would ever love again. Then along came you. What I have done was recreation, not love."

"Whew! I was worried for a minute, that you might get cold feet."

Karen reached for my hand and held it. "No way! You're stuck with me."

We finished up lunch and walked to the marina. The new boat was in its slip and the dealer was supposed to be back from a sea trial making sure everything was on point before taking us out tomorrow for our final sign off. We were planning on a couple of weeks on it after the wedding for our honeymoon. We wanted to explore the Sound, maybe revisit some of Karens childhood memories. Do some fishing, relaxing. We knew we were going to be busy when we got back with Sanches's opening.

"Looks like you're finished?" The tech was putting his tools on the dock from the boat.

There was another man older than the tech. He reached out his hand and introduced himself. "Hi I'm Greg. I'll be your interim captain. I'll be back in the morning to explain all the systems on her and teach you the in's and out's. We just got back from the test run, you're in good shape. Motors are broke in electronics are good. In fact, great! This thing is outfitted really nice. Redundant everything. Like I said nice! There was a guy here earlier dropping off some new rods and reels, freshly spooled up with spectra. Nice stuff. We'll see you tomorrow on the test drive." They grabbed all their gear and walked towards the parking lot.

"This boat is big! Did we get too caught up in this and get more than we can handle?" Karen looked a little worried.

"I don't think so. It's perfect! At 56' it is comfortable and seaworthy." I was looking at the cabin admiring the appointments. Wow! I cant believe it. This thing is really, really nice!" And besides Greg will be with us until we get comfortable.

"I think it's going to be fun." Karen did have a sparkle in her eyes when she said it.

Wrapping her arms around me she kissed me. "I'm going to be your wife!" She kissed me again." And I cant wait to spend my honeymoon on this boat with you."

"I love you!" She squeezed me tighter when I said it. And said it in return rubbing my back. She patted my butt as she let me go.

"I think we are coming down the home stretch getting ready. After our test tomorrow I have the store delivering groceries. We will be ready to embark on our voyage after the wedding Saturday. I was grinning ear to ear.

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The rehearsal and following dinner went off with out a hitch as expected. We planned the wedding to be small, a few close friends. Karen had Nancy as her maid of honor and Chris would be my best man. We were all at the house enjoying each other's company having drinks and desert out on the patio with a fire in the pit. Ron and Nancy were an item these days and were both going be staying after the wedding along with a few others to keep after the dogs and watch the house. Karen was sitting on my lap soaking in the heat from the fire. This never gets old for me I love her company, her soft affection. Soon everyone turned in and we were by our selves. The light from the fire seemed to envelop us in its warm glow. We were getting carried away, it started with just some light strokes and kisses but we soon were like a couple kids making out and groping. We both knew we would be putting on quit a show if we didn't move to the bedroom.

Walking through the kitchen on the way to our room we almost ran into Beth who was returning to her room from the kitchen with a glass of water. She was in a long jersey type shirt, bra less and her large breasts swayed as she walked. She was all smiles, noticing my hard bulge in my shorts and Karen leading me by the hand. Neither of us skipped a beat and she said "good night" with a giggle. Getting to our room it seemed running into Beth had only fueled Karen's fire, as soon as we were in the door our clothes couldn't come off soon enough. Karen pushed me back onto the bed and knelt between my legs and started to stroke and kiss my cock. Her warm mouth felt as good as it ever had. The combination of her hand sliding up and down the shaft and her lips working over my swollen head had me in ecstasy. She was moaning and I knew she was fingering her pussy.

She knows me well and knew at this pace I wouldn't last. Karen pulled away from my cock and I knew that she wanted me in her and I slid back onto the bed as she climbed on top of me she laid on me with her full weight pressing her breasts on to me and kissed me deep slow and long. I could taste my pre cum on her lips and I liked it. Her vagina lips were being parted by my now raging hard cock and she was slowly sliding up and down with out me penetrating her. I loved having her on me like this, her body on mine, kissing me like this and now without using her hand she slid onto my member as she rose up with her hands on my chest. I could see in the dim light her eyes were closed and her mouth was opening as she started to moan. Her moans got louder as her pace picked up.

She would come all the way up almost pulling completely off of me and slam down hard, over and over. I knew I wasn't going to last and wanted to have her cum first so I started to rub her clit with my thumb and she went to grinding it between us . She started to violently and loudly cum, just as her second wave was coming on, my cock started to spasm into her. I shot several long hard ropes into her before she collapsed onto my chest. She lay on me catching her breath and kissed me smiling. I had been oblivious to it but now I could hear a couple of our house guests in the other room having a romp of their own. Karen and I looked at each other and at the same time said "Beth". It struck us funny and we couldn't help but laugh.

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"Boy, it smells good in here, what is that? Beth was shuffling into the kitchen wearing the same outfit she had on last night but with slippers on her feet.

"Biscuits and gravy, country potatoes, bacon, eggs. Today's a big day, I need you all well fed." I laughed.

"I feel bad, you shouldn't be cooking for us, it's your wedding day! I should be doing that." Beth came around the other side of the island. "What can I do to help?"

"Really I don't mind, I enjoy cooking. But help is good too, there are biscuits in the oven, if you want to you can check to see if they are done."

Beth grabbed a towel and used it as a hot pan holder and pulled them out and set them on the counter and lined a basket with another towel and placed to biscuits in and covered them to keep warm.

"Were you going to cut up that melon? I can do that."

"That would be great." Beth could see I was going to be occupied for a few minutes with the gravy. It was hard not to notice her nice body as Beth moved around the kitchen.

I did my best to accept the help and not focus on her. I don't think she was purposely being provocative, she was just being Beth.

"Mmmm, my favorite breakfast". Karen met me in the middle of the kitchen with a peck on the lips. I turned around and poured her a cup of coffee from the stainless steel pot. She greeted it with a smile and a thank you as she sat down on a stool. Cooking isn't Karens thing, she doesn't enjoy it. I do, and am happy to take on those duties. I love having the time to. It seemed until recently much of my life had been spent in a hurry that didn't always afford me with the time to. This was fun for us, we like having people around. The rest of our guests filed in one by one and soon we were all eating and laughing enjoying each other's company.

Karens friends seemed to be a little more accustomed to the ladies apparent lack of modesty as they all came in wearing long shirts with low neck lines or skimpy loose shorts and none of them had a bra on. Karen wasn't very modest either she was in her usual dress for this time of morning. I was getting used to it, this wasn't the first time Karens friends stayed here, and it wasn't unusual to see one of them wrapped in a towel coming out of the bathroom. It didn't bother Karen that I was seeing her friends like this, she is very secure in our relationship and knows I am committed to only her. And I can tell you my friends didn't mind at all.

Steve and Melinda shooed us out of the kitchen to clean up. it went something like, "get out, this is your day. It's bad enough you made breakfast. You're not going to clean up too."

We got ready for the ceremony. Karen wanted this to be somewhat casual no tuxedos, no matching dresses. We only were having Nancy and Chris stand with us during the ceremony. No stress for anyone. We both had done large weddings the first time we were married and thats not what Karen wanted. Simple, comfortable.

Karen looked beautiful in a spring dress, painted fingernails and toes that matched in heels. She looks beautiful in what ever she has on. But this was special. It was her day and she looked radiant and happy. Karen always has a way of putting others at ease, her business savvy had taught her to take stressful situations in stride. There isn't much she hasn't seen or had to deal with.

Even the incident in the airport, she was able to keep it in its own context and deal with it. She is very strong, and confident and channels it through a classy, graceful happy lady. And all of that makes her even more beautiful.

Our small ceremony was very meaningful . Performed by a very good friend of mine that is a Navy Chaplin. We know each other well. Tom had helped me through my divorce and is a good friend. We have history together and that made this special for both of us.

Karen couldn't help but be a little melancholy. "My dad would be so happy. He would love you. I feel bad he isn't here. He spent those years being so patient with my first marriage and my rebellion . He would love that I married such a good man. One that loves me like you do. He always wanted that for me."

"He would be proud of the woman you are. Beautiful inside and out. I'm sure I would have liked him." I wiped her tears with my handkerchief. "He would want us to celebrate."

We joined the others. These guys from San Diego knew how to have a good time, we all had shared in the loss of too many, and weddings were just the opposite of that. Its like we were gaining and not loosing. It always was a cause for celebration. We embraced each other.

It was much like our engagement party, the guys wanted to dance with Karen and she loved it. I danced with most of the ladies. A good time for everyone. As things wound down the few that were staying in town were convinced by us to come to the house for sort of an after party party. We were going to have lots of time to be by our selves. This evening it felt good to be with friends.

Chris pulled me aside for a minute. "Hey Cuz, I hate the timing of this, but I only learned it yesterday. That problem you had at the airport, there might be more to it than previously thought. I put some feelers out, there are some things about our shooter that indicate he may have had some involvement with a terrorist organization. There was an affiliation with a mosque on the watch list. Unofficially these guys are bad dudes. Officially they're being monitored. Chatter says this might be the new thing, kidnap a high profile target, get the media coverage and kill them. You need to be careful.

"Ok, I'm going to need to delay our departure tomorrow. We have hired an interim captain that, with this news, I don't know enough about. I can put Al on it.

"Give me a name. I'll ask some questions."

"We're going to need Al on the boat. Karen brought it up and I dismissed it. I guess we still need security. I think Karen didn't want to offend me so she dropped it."

"Listen Cuz, about Al, you know I have a lot of respect there. But how old is he getting to be?"

"Sixty six, and he wants to retire. He's been subtle about it, but he is making noises like he is ready. Really it's Karen, she thinks the world of him. They have a long history. She trusts him. And for good reason. He has been flawless. He doesn't want to leave her not knowing she is in good hands." He has been less visible since the airport, but we are going to need someone."

"I need to be on the boat Jim." I knew Chris as well as I knew anyone, he was serious."

"Chris, I cant expect you to..."

"Listen, I don't have any interest in crashing your honeymoon, but if you are going to spend it on that boat...you need someone."