Chapter 34

Steve

I wake up early on the day we’re leaving for Belize too excited to sleep any longer. This trip is going to be monumental for Eliza and me.

Her condo at The Butterfly is finally complete now, and she’s moved in. We’ve spent most every night together at one place or the other in the two months since the Grey Cup, but I’m looking forward to being alone with Eliza, all on our own and without any football-related agenda.

I get out of bed and head to the kitchen to make coffee and boil water for Eliza’s tea. As I wait, I glance at the suitcases sitting by the door. They’re packed and ready, filled with everything we need for our week-long vacation. We’ve been planning this trip for weeks, and I have been secretly planning my proposal for just as long.

I want Eliza to be rested and ready for the long day of travel ahead of us, so I sip my coffee and try to relax as I wait for her to wake.

This is a shorter trip than I wanted, but with football done for now, I’m back to spending one hundred percent of my time working at my orthopedic practice and doing surgery at Mercy Hospital. My patients have waited for me, and things are busy.

“Good morning,” Eliza says, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind. “How long have you been up?”

“I didn’t sleep well last night. I kept dreaming we were going to miss the rideshare.”

“Did I snore and keep you up?” she asks.

She did snore, but I don’t care. She’s even beautiful when she snores. “Nope. I’m just ready for some sunny, warm weather.”

“Me too.” She stretches, exposing her midriff, and suddenly, I’m not worried about the rideshare at all. I’d like to take her right back upstairs.

She looks over at the clock. “Can you believe that by dinner time we’ll be on the beach in Belize?”

I pull her close. “I wouldn’t care if we were going to see the polar bears in the Artic Circle.”

Her eyes light up. “We totally need to do that. I’ve seen these monster vans that drive around on stilt things, and the polar bears can look you in the eye.”

“That does sound fun, maybe we’ll do that next.”

She nods. “The car arrives in forty-five minutes. I’ll be ready.”

I doctor her tea the way she likes it and send her on her way. When I hear the shower running, I pull out the engagement ring I bought her. It’s a four-carat oval solitaire with a platinum eternity band. The wedding band will match. It’s elegant, just like she is. I tuck it into the bag that won’t be out of my sight.

The rideshare arrives on time, and Eliza is almost giddy. She’s been looking forward to this trip as much as I have. The ride across town is as expected, and we get our bags checked and we’re through security without a hitch. Once we’ve boarded the plane, I breathe a little easier, though as we take off, my nerves begin to build. I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.

While we wait for them to close the doors, I look at my phone. It’s littered with text messages from the guys.

Davis: Have a great time on your much needed vacation.

Michael: Where are you staying? Nadine and I were thinking of coming down.

Jack: Normally, I’d tell you not to do what you’re planning, but Eliza is perfect for you, and you’re perfect for her. Let us know when you do it.

Davis: Yes! And we’ll plan a celebration at your house when you get back.

Michael: Sounds fun. And if she says no, we’ll be there to hold your hand.

Michael: This is Nadine. She’s not going to decline. Good luck, and I’m going for a walk and leaving Michael with the twins. Ignore all posts from him for the next three hours.

Michael: She’s going on a three-hour walk? What did I do?

I smile. I love my friends. They’re generous to a fault and support me in every way.

“What are the guys up to today?” Eliza asks.

I quickly close the message program. “Sounds like Nadine is leaving the twins with Michael for a few hours.”

Eliza laughs. “She’s a sneaky one, that’s for sure. ”

We snuggle up and the flight is long, but we have plenty of distractions to keep us occupied. We watch movies, listen to music, and play plenty of cribbage. Eliza kills me every time.

When we finally arrive in Belize, the heat and humidity slap us in the face as soon as the door to the plane opens. This is the most temperate time to visit, but it’s still a lot different from the cool rain and gray skies at home.

We collect our bags and make our way to the car that will take us to our resort. Along the way, we pass palm trees and vibrant flowers, and we can smell the salt water of the Pacific. The driver talks the entire way, telling us all about the places he can take us and the things we can do. We nod along. That might work later in the week, but initially, I want nothing more than to relax with Eliza by the pool or in our bed.

The resort is even more beautiful than I had imagined. We’re greeted with cold rum punch and smiling faces, and we’re shown quickly to our room. It’s spacious and modern, with a balcony that overlooks the ocean. Eliza is thrilled, and I know this is going to be a week we will never forget.

Over the next few days, we explore Belize. We go snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters, hike through the jungle, and visit ancient ruins. We eat delicious food and drink tropical cocktails, and we laugh and talk like we always do.

But the whole time, I’m carrying a secret. I keep the ring with me at all times, tucked away in my pocket. Every moment feels like it’s the right moment, and yet none of them do. I don’t want to rush or force it, so I wait, not so patiently, for the perfect time.

And then, on the fourth day of our trip, it arrives. We’re sitting on the beach, watching the sunset. The sky is a riot of oranges and pinks, and the ocean is calm and peaceful. Eliza leans her head on my shoulder, and I can feel her warmth and love.

I take a deep breath and reach into my pocket. Eliza looks up at me, curious as I take her hand. “Eliza, I love you more than anything in this world. You’re my best friend, my partner, and my soulmate. I never thought marriage would be in my future until I met you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

Tears fill her eyes, and she gasps. “Yes,” she says, her voice choked with emotion. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

I slip the ring onto her finger, and we hug each other tightly. “It’s perfect,” she murmurs in my shoulder. “Just like you.”

We spend the rest of the evening on the beach, talking about our future together. Falling in love with Eliza was the easiest thing I’ve ever done, once I got over my hang-ups, I suppose. We watch the stars come out and listen to the sound of the waves licking against the shore.

“Let’s go upstairs and celebrate,” she whispers.

We meander back to our room, our fingers laced together.

“I never expected you to propose,” she tells me.

“I never thought I would marry until I met you. My parents are the worst example when it comes to love, but I want to be different.” I wave the key card over the lock, and it opens.

“We will be.” Eliza softly kisses me. “All that matters is that we’re together.”

I lead her to the bed, stripping off her sundress and peeling away her underwear before I lay her down and quickly lose my shorts and T-shirt.

“I get to look at this view for the rest of my life,” she says.

My cock is hard, and I stroke it as she watches. “It’s yours and only yours.”

Straddling her, I lean down and kiss her passionately, overwhelmed by a feeling of content, something I never knew was missing. I pull away. “Fuck, I love you so much!”

Eliza pulls me back to her, her hips looking for friction. “Then prove it, you stud.”

I chuckle. “Fine. I’ll show you how much I love you.”

I move down her body and my tongue swirls, my teeth nip, and my lips touch her skin everywhere. Her eyes, clouded with desire, watch me. “You’re so beautiful when you’re so ready.”

“I am ready,” she pants.

The view is possibly the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Her nude figure stretched out, desire filling her eyes. “Let’s start with a warm-up.” I lie beside her, my hand wandering slowly. I circle each of her nipples as I lave them, bringing them to diamond points.

“Fuck me,” she moans.

“You like this, don’t you?”

“Yessssss.”

My cock pushes into her hip, and it’s weeping. I part her legs, and she’s so wet. She shivers as I circle her bud. “That’s one,” she sighs.

“That was too small to count. I want the whole hotel to hear your climax.”

Eliza moans, and her breathing increases as she makes happy noises and moans while guiding my actions. “Oh, yeah. Right there… Faster!”

Her pussy contracts around my fingers, and Eliza grips my arm as she goes over the cliff. “You’re so beautiful when you come,” I murmur. “That’s your first orgasm of the night. Are you ready for more?”

Our lips connect, and our tongues interact playfully. “I never realized I could love you more than I already did,” she says.

“I know,” I tease. “My sexual prowess is legendary.”

“Yeah, that’s why.” Eliza rolls onto her stomach. “No, it’s knowing that it will be us together forever.”

I lean down and kiss her shoulder. “Yes, it will be, and maybe a few rugrats too.”

She smiles. “I’d like that.”

I pull her to her knees and line myself up to take her from behind. After her orgasm, she’s even tighter than usual.

She drops her head. “Give me a minute to adjust.”

I lean down and kiss her shoulder. “Take as long as you need.”

She pulls away and pushes back into me. “I’m ready.”

“Then let’s go,” I growl. I move my hips firmly, thrusting in and out, and quickly gain speed. I reach around and pull on her nipple, then start to strum her clit.

She groans my name as her channel grips my cock, which only pushes my own climax higher. After my release, I slump onto her soft body, and we collapse on the bed. For a blurry second, we exist in pure bliss, our sweaty bodies intertwined, panting breaths coming side by side.

“That was fucking amazing,” Eliza says.

“Hell yeah, it was.”

The rest of our vacation is even more special as we enjoy it as a newly engaged couple. We take long walks on the beach, holding hands and talking about our plans for the future. We eat romantic dinners and even have a couples massage.

As our trip ends, we both are sad to be leaving Belize. It’s been such an incredible adventure, and it’s hard to say goodbye to the beautiful scenery and friendly people. However, we’re also excited to get home.

We sleep the entire plane ride home, and when we walk out of the airport into the Vancouver afternoon, the cool air and rain immediately produce goose bumps.

Eliza pulls her coat tighter. “We can go hide in Belize, but it only makes winter seem drearier and wetter when we return.”

I wrap my arm around her, and we fire up our phones once we’ve settled in the car service. We haven’t checked email the entire time we were gone. I’m not worried about work, but my friends have been active. No surprise there.

“We need to go see my dad,” Eliza says after a moment.

“Today? Is everything okay?”

“Yes, I’m just excited to share our news. What do you think about having Dad, Laura, and the kids over with Mom and Antonio?”

“As long as you order in.”

She thinks a moment. “Maybe we include your parents and your sister too. We can tell them all at the same time.”

I kiss her forehead. “Sweetheart, I told your dad I was going to propose to you before the Grey Cup.”

She scoots away from me and stares. “You mean everyone knew except me?”

I try not to laugh. “Yes, but if you’d said no, they would have circled the wagons around you and not me.”

“What about your friends?” she challenges.

“Davis and Paisley knew, but they were under strict orders to keep it under wraps. But they told Michael, who told everyone. And I got Tanya’s buy-in on the ring.”

“I can’t believe so many people kept your secret.”

I smile, feeling proud of myself.

When the driver turns onto my street, I kiss Eliza on the neck. “Let’s go upstairs and fool around a little and get some sleep. I’m completely wasted.”

Eliza nods. “That sounds perfect.”

But when I open my front door, suddenly, it’s chaos. “Surprise!” rings in our ears from many voices.

Eliza holds onto her heart, and she nearly jumps into my arms.

“What are you doing here?” she marvels, looking around.

“Congratulations!” Tanya yells.

We’re surrounded by our friends and family. Today is positively perfect. I’ve found the one woman on this Earth who is yin to my yang, and I couldn’t be any happier .

I hope you enjoyed Doctor of Sports .