Moving Forward - 57. Chapter 57 (14.1)

All too soon, it seemed, the last night of the cruise arrived.

Despite all the fun they’d had, Marshall wasn’t sorry to going back home to Burnham, and their lives there. To their own bed. Their own business. And to Roy, the best friend they had.

The Wandering Star would dock in Galveston the next day, then they’d have the drive back to Burnham, where they’d part company with Denver and Dustin. At least they’d reached an understanding between them, and Dustin had been nothing but on his best behavior for the reminder of the cruise. It had been quite an eventful trip, in many ways.

Marshall and Lee were dressing for their final dinner, the same fancy clothes they’d worn at the captain’s table. They’d arranged to meet Denver and Dustin and Roger and Kenny, and afterwards go drinking and dancing. Live it up on this final night. They probably weren’t the only ones with that idea.

Marshall stole a glance at Lee, watching as his long fingers knotted the maroon tie into place. He smoothed it down and looked up to catch Marshall watching him. The corner of his mouth quirked up in amusement.

“Like what you see?” he asked.

“You know it,” Marshall said, not the least embarrassed at having been caught looking.

Lee turned toward Marshall, his gaze raking over him as if inspecting him. “You look damn nice,” he said.

“We’re a handsome couple.” Marshall grinned.

“You got that right.”

Marshall leaned up and kissed Lee’s cheek tenderly.

“What’s that for?” Lee asked.

“For this trip. For having the time of my life. And because I love you more than anything in the world.”

“I’d do anything for you,” Lee said, “and you know I feel the same way.” He pulled Marshall closer and their lips met, softly at first, then lingering a little longer until they stepped back to take a breath.

“Tonight’s our last chance to do it on a cruise ship,” Lee teased. “At least on this trip. There’ll be others.”

That thought pleased Marshall very much. “Don’t think I don’t have something in mind,” he bantered back. “I have plans for that sexy ass of yours. Big plans.”

“Is that so? Someone seems rather sure of himself, don’t they?”

“Yes, someone sure does.” Marshall stepped closer to Lee, bridging the gap between them once more. His hands wound around him, coming to rest at the base of Lee’s spine. “You objecting?”

“Did I say I was?”

“Good, glad to hear it,” Marshall said. “Maybe order up some drinks when we get back tonight? Out on the deck?”

“I like the way you think,” Lee approved.

“I thought we’d make this last night one to remember,” Marshall said. “I want to get a few more pictures too. I’m going to make a digital scrapbook and file them all away.”

“Digital scrapbook? Don’t they make photo albums any more?”

Marshall laughed. “It’s the twenty-first century. Hell no.” He noticed Lee’s eyes were dancing with amusement. He hadn’t been serious, of course. “We can print them out, if we want to, you know, but digital is a lot less clutter.”

“You sure do know a lot.” Lee slid his arms around Marshall’s wait, and they stood, gazing into each other’s eyes.

“I had the best teacher in the world,” Marshall replied just before they kissed again.

When the knock on the door came, they drew apart with reluctance. “To be continued later,” Marshall promised as he headed for the door, opening it to admit Roger and Kenny.

“We’re not too early, are we?” Roger asked, standing in the doorway, looking back and forth between Marshall and Lee. “We can come back in a few minutes.”

“Naw, we’re ready,” Lee said. “Denver and Dustin should be there already, holding the table. Denver texted a few minutes ago.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Roger agreed, reaching for Kenny’s hand. They waited in the hall for Marshall and Lee as Lee looked around the cabin then closed and locked the door. The two couples walked hand-in-hand to the elevator and rode it up to the deck where the restaurant was.