Chapter 36

"Amanda, why would you say I saved everything I like for last?" Lee crossed his arms and stared at Amanda in the parking lot of the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Amanda looked around, pointed, and said, "Well, for starters, we are in the middle of a military Navy yard, and if memory serves me correct, THAT is the USS Constitution."

Lee smiled, "Yeah, isn't she great! I missed her the last time I was in Boston."

"And let me guess, we are going to take a walk-through history while we are here?" Amanda teased, her sarcastic tone quickly abating as she watched the twinkle of excitement appear in Lee's eyes. It reminded her of her own boys when they got excited over something.

Lee tried to hide his grin, his dimples deep as he looked around. Finally, he sighed happily and said, "It's Boston!" He looked at her, his hazel eyes sparkling, waiting for her to respond.

Amanda smiled back and laughed as she replied, "So, where do we start?"

Happily, Lee offered his arm and once linked with hers, said: "At the beginning, of course." They walked to the dock and Lee asked, "Did you know, the USS Constitution is the Navy's oldest commissioned ship still afloat? And it was launched back in 1797. She was built close by and her first duties were to provide protection for merchant ships." He rattled off the question excitedly, not waiting for an answer before he continued on with the next fact. "She saw action in the War of 1812 and during the American Civil War. She was finally decommissioned in 1881 and became a floating museum ship in 1907."

Amanda turned her head to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "You really know your stuff."

Lee chuckled, offered her his hand to step onto the gangplank to climb aboard the vessel. They were greeted by a gentleman, dressed in period clothes, "Welcome to Old Ironsides, folks. Can I show you around?"

Politely, Amanda and Lee followed their tour guide throughout the ship, Lee giddy with all the new historical facts he learned. When their tour ended, they thanked the guide and headed down the dock, stopping at each information sign, learning more about the history of the Charlestown Navy Yard. Lee couldn't hide his surprise when he read the yard had been in use from early 1800 through 1974. "I thought it was older than that," he admitted.

When they reached the end of the dock and walked back toward the parking area, Amanda asked, "So, where to now?"

"Now, we walk," Lee stated, taking her hand and pulling her gently to the street. He could see the apprehensive look on Amanda's face when he added, "Another historical stop. It's not far from here, I promise."

Amanda laughed lightly and replied, "I'm beginning to question some of your promises."

"Don't worry, I'll keep all of them," Lee stated with a dimpled grin.

"Promise?" Amanda teased.

"Cross my heart, hope to-" Lee recited the automatic response, but stopped when Amanda held up one hand and said, "I'll take your word for it." He tugged her across the street gently, looking both ways before stepping onto the busy roadway. Hand in hand they walked for ten minutes, a tall obelisk monument coming into view the closer they got.

"Now, where are we?" Amanda asked, looking around.

Lee smiled and pointed to the obelisk, and explained, "That is the Bunker Hill Monument, commemorating the Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775. Although the colonists technically lost that battle, the British had sustained so many casualties that it became a boost for the colonist for the remainder of the Revolutionary War."

"It's tall," Amanda commented as she looked upward, shading her eyes with her hands.

"Two hundred and twenty-one feet tall to be exact," Lee read off a brass plaque on the side of the building. "So, what do you say...ready to climb to the top?"

Amanda looked at Lee then skyward one last time and said, "The last one to the top is a rotten egg." She took off running, taking the winding stairs two at a time, Lee easily passing her twenty steps up.

When they both reached the top of the two hundred and ninety-four steps, they were out of breath but laughing. Lee rested against the smooth stone wall, breathless, and peered out of the small square window. "Wow, Amanda, check out this view!" he exclaimed. He stood and placed his hand around Amanda's waist as they leaned onto the stone sill.

"It's beautiful," Amanda whispered.

Lee glanced at her and replied, "It sure is." He kissed her cheek before spinning her into his arms and planting a kiss on her lips. "No rotten eggs here," he teased before nipping at her bottom lip with his teeth.

Amanda kissed him back, and whispered, "It's a long way back down to the bottom."

"We're not in a hurry," Lee replied, covering her lips again. He kissed her hungrily before moving along her cheekbone to the sensitive area by her ear. "Let's say, we take this back to the hotel before dinner and the show tonight," he suggested softly.

"Hmmm," Amanda sighed as she melted into his arms. His kisses were setting her libido on fire and she wanted more. When she began to run her fingers into the fine hair on the base of his neck, now damp from their chase up the steps, Lee purred against her neck. They were engrossed in each other when they heard talking echoing up from below. With a sigh, they separated slowly before a small group of tourists joined them in the cramped space. "We should probably get going," Amanda muttered, reaching for Lee's hand. Slowly, they made their way back down out into the sunlight.

"One more stop before the hotel, I promise. I've just always wanted to see this museum," Lee stated. looking at the stone building nearby.

"Last stop? You're sure?" Amanda asked.

Lee smiled once more, "Last stop. Then back to the hotel, some you and me time before dinner, and to end our evening, the performance."

Amanda pressed up onto her toes, teased his lips and said, "I hope that's not the end of our evening."

"Well, well, well, Mrs. Stetson, what has gotten into you?" Lee chuckled. He offered her his arm once more and they walked to the museum entrance.

"I'll tell you later," she replied cryptically as they entered the dimly lit building. She smiled each time Lee's eyes brightened at a new display and laughed when he began spouting historical facts about the Revolutionary War. "You may be the boys' newest history tutor," she announced after Lee spent almost ten minutes discussing one battle in particular with the local historian working the museum. They bade him goodbye after Lee declared he had taken too much of his time, but would happily return for another conversation.

"So, back to the hotel?" Lee asked when they returned to the rental car.

"No more surprises?" Amanda teased after buckling her seatbelt.

Lee winked and replied, "Maybe one or two before dinner."

Amanda laughed wholeheartedly and teased back once more, "I'll be looking forward to it."

They arrived back at the hotel in record time, their playful banter continuing the entire way. Amanda had barely closed the door to their room before Lee had her pressed up against it, his lips seeking hers for a passionate reminder of her earlier promise. Words quickly became incoherent and passions flared while they teased, stroked and pushed each other higher until they were in each other's arms, naked and breathless.

"Amanda," Lee panted, "We should go on historical tours more often if this is the response I get."

Amanda pulled Lee close and whispered, "You should stop talking. We're wasting time."

Lee growled low again as he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. An hour later, he was holding her again, gently stroking her bare arm with his fingertips. "We go home tomorrow."

"Back to our family, back to work," Amanda added.

"Our family yes, work, not yet. One more week for that," Lee reminded her. He glanced at the clock and said, "We should shower. Our dinner reservations are at the Cantina Italiana for six thirty and the show begins at nine. We don't want to be late."

"After you, but don't use all the hot water," Amanda groaned.

Lee pulled her fingers to his lips and suggested, "Or, we could shower together and save water."

Amanda shook her head, "Nice try, Stetson, but you know as well as I do, we won't leave here on time." Lee laughed, climbed off the bed and showered quickly, Amanda following suit.

The remaining hours of the evening were spent enjoying delicious authentic Italian cuisine, red wine and tiramisu for dessert before they were immersed in the rich sounds of classical music intertwined with excerpts of original pieces written by the students. They left the theater pleasantly surprised at the quality of the musicians as well as the impressive professionalism in the performances they watched.

Back at the hotel, they celebrated the last evening of their honeymoon with champagne, toasting the wonderful week they shared and to their future. They made love tenderly, each kiss, each touch, drawing out pleasure until they crested together. The morning came much too early for either of them, their flight was scheduled to take off at ten o'clock. Lee checked out while Amanda had the valet retrieve their car. They drove the short fifteen-minute drive to the airport, stopping to pay the tolls on their way.

Lee pulled up to the Departure drop-off, stacked their luggage onto a cart before heading over to the rental car drop off point while Amanda waited. Just over an hour later, they were sitting in the terminal preparing to board their flight back to DC. When their flight was called, Lee stood, slipped his hand into Amanda's and declared, "Let's go home, Mrs. Stetson."

To be continued in Take a Deep Breath