Deceptions, Lies, and Butterflies

Melissa felt every second of every minute that passed in that hour. She had spent so much time apart from John that now every moment seemed like an eternity. She couldn’t help rejoicing in the events of the day. He not only had forgiven her, he loved her. He said he loved her with all of his being. She knew what it meant for him to be able to say that. She found herself grinning from ear to ear as he finally approached.

“Ready?" John asked when he was back by her side.

Melissa nodded her head in anticipation.

John then led her into the jungle. After they had walked for a bit, he told her to close her eyes. "No peeking," he said, taking her hand.

"But I'll trip," Melissa protested.

"Do you trust me?"

"Completely.”

"Then you won't trip." As they continued to make their way deeper into the woods, John guided Melissa alerting her whenever there was a root or vine she needed to step over. Before long they came to a stop. "Keep your eyes closed." He then led her a few more feet and released her hand. "Just a little longer."

Melissa could hear John moving about and was having a hard time not peeking. She covered her eyes to resist spoiling the surprise, a smile on her face as she waited anxiously.

"Okay, you can open them."

As Melissa glanced around her mouth fell open. John had taken her to what appeared to be a room made of bamboo shoots. They formed a circle with an open area just big enough for a blanket, which he had spread on the ground. John had arranged some torches for light and atmosphere. On the blanket lay a bowl of fruit and some containers of food.

John stood watching, as Melissa took it all in. While doing so, he kept one hand behind his back.

Tears shone in her eyes as Melissa looked at all John had done for her, for them. “It’s beautiful.” She started to walk toward him as she continued, “It’s perfect.”

Smiling, John was happy that Melissa was pleased. He closed the gap between them and pulled her to him, giving her a kiss. Stepping back slightly, he brought his other hand from behind his back. In it he held out a hairclip with a sequined butterfly on it.

“John, where… how…?”

"After we first crashed, I collected all the hairclips and gave them to the women," John explained. "Claire was generous enough to give this one back so that I could give it to you. The butterfly," he said, "was from...." He looked up, sadness on his face. It had belonged to a young girl named Emma. One he assumed had not made it through the crash. However, he did not want to bring down the mood by revealing the sad news. "I found it on a child’s outfit and took it because it reminded me of you. I glued it to the clip because I thought you'd like it."

“I love it.” Melissa reached up and gently put the clip in her hair, not wanting to hurt it in any way. “I love you.” With those words she drew John back to her and kissed him tenderly. “More than I’ll ever be able to say or do, I love you.”

"I love you, too," John replied, brushing a wisp of hair behind Melissa’s ear. He then led her over to the blanket and sat down, handing her a piece of fruit.

“Mmmm, this is delicious.” Melissa said, after taking a bite of the passion fruit. She then held it out to John, offering him a bite.

John leaned in and bit into the fruit, while Melissa still held it in her hand. Smiling at her, he reached over and wiped some juice that had dripped on her chin.

Melissa couldn’t resist capturing his fingers and tasting the sweet juice there.

The feel of Melissa's mouth on his fingers sent a chill up John's spine. He tilted her head up and took her mouth with his. Tasting the fruit on her lips reminded him of the time they had spent in Sydney. A time he once wanted to forget forever, now he wanted to remember for eternity. John then sat back and picked up one of the containers. "How about some chocolate with the fruit?" he asked.

“John, this is all too much. I don’t deserve any of this.” Melissa’s eyes shone bright with tears. “Yes, I would love some chocolate.” She laughed and leaned in for another kiss.

Kissing her, John then pulled back. He remembered all too well how Melissa was always saying she did not deserve the affection she had received in Sydney. "Make me a promise," he said, brushing her cheek with his hand.

“Anything.”

"Don't ever say you don't deserve any of this," John insisted. He stroked Melissa’s other cheek. "You deserve the world. You are my world," he added, leaning in for another kiss.

Melissa couldn’t reply. She never expected for anyone to love her like this, and she certainly never expected it from John after everything they had been through. She simply nodded and touched the butterfly necklace that she hadn’t taken off since the day John had put it on her. She remembered how they had made love that night. He had given her another butterfly today. If they made love this time, it would be completely different. She returned his kiss with a passion she hadn’t felt until now.

John moaned as Melissa kissed him. He kissed her a few more moments, before sitting back. "Do you promise?" he asked, titling her head so they made eye contact. The fire reflected in her eyes and he wanted to kiss her again, but he wanted to hear her promise first.

“I promise.” Melissa said the words, but she knew in her heart it would be a long time before she felt deserving of his love. The light in John’s eyes made her repeat the words, this time with more emotion, “I promise.” She kissed him and murmured, “I promise.”

John couldn't help laughing lightly as Melissa repeated the words. He had never felt happier then at this very moment. Returning her kiss, he said, "I believe you and the more you say it, the more you’ll believe it." He then opened the container of chocolate and dipped his finger in, before dabbing some on her nose. He gave her a teasing smile, before picking up another piece of fruit and his knife. Cutting off a slice, he dipped it in the chocolate and pretended he was going to give it to her. However, he quickly popped it into his own mouth, before she could take it.

“Hey! No fair!” Melissa lightly slapped at his chest. She made a grab for the chocolate and proceeded to give John a taste of his own medicine by putting a streak of chocolate on his cheek.

Laughing, John grabbed Melissa’s hand, but it had been too late. He pulled her toward him and licked the chocolate from her nose. She returned the favor by removing the chocolate from his cheek with her mouth. Catching her mouth with his own, John kissed her deeply. He could now taste the chocolate on her lips. Pulling back once more, he reached behind him and picked up a large jar of cherries. He opened the lid and poured a few of the fruit into the chocolate, before turning back to Melissa. Extracting a cherry from the chocolate, he held it just before her lips. She leaned forward, closing her eyes and opening her mouth slightly, inviting him to feed her. John placed the cherry in her mouth. Feeling her lips on his fingers once more, he closed his own eyes savoring the sensation. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Melissa gazing up at him. He gave her a quick kiss, before removing another cherry. This time he put it to his own lips and nibbled it seductively.

“It’s much better with extra chocolate, you know.” Melissa dipped her finger in the chocolate then offered it to him, smiling a rather wicked little smile.

"The more the better," John said, taking Melissa's finger in his mouth. He licked the chocolate from her, before popping the cherry into his mouth. After he had swallowed the fruit, John took her hand and removed any remaining chocolate. He then brought her to him and kissed her, as he laid her back on the ground.

“John…” Melissa reached up to him, tracing the faint scar that ran across his eye. “Make love to me.”

Those words brought a smile to John's face. He felt like his heart would burst with the love he felt for Melissa. And for her to ask him to make love to her had to be the sweetest thing he had ever heard. He had waited so long to hear those words.

As Melissa traced her fingers across his scar, John noticed for the first time that she too had a scar on her right jaw. She also had a scar that went across her left collarbone. The way they lined up made it appear that the same object had caused them. He had always considered his scar the mark of the island and it appeared that she had one, as well. Tracing his finger along her scar he thought about how it was physical proof of all they had been through to be together. He had always believed, but no more than at that moment, that everything happened for a reason.
Kissing Melissa’s lips, John then moved to the scar, tracing it with kisses from its tip on her jaw to where it ended on her collarbone. He then tugged on the bottom of Melissa's tank top and pulled it over her head. To his surprise and delight he found she was no longer wearing the bra she had worn in Sydney.

Seeing the look in John’s eyes, Melissa blushed and said, “Less laundry to do.” With another smile, John took one breast in his hand, causing her embarrassment to soon be forgotten. His hand caressed first one breast and then the other. Melissa moaned an encouragement before pulling John’s t-shirt off. She wanted the feel of his skin on hers.

John groaned as she ran her hands over his now bare chest. Lowering himself on top of Melissa he reveled in the feel of flesh upon flesh. He then proceeded to kiss her. Starting at her mouth, working his way down her chin, until he had reached her breasts. He teased one nipple and then the other with his tongue.

The fire that built within Melissa was burning out of control. She had waited too long to be with John again. Reaching down, she found the waistband of his cargo pants and tugged on it, desperately needing to feel him inside her. Knowing that this time John would experience so much more than before made Melissa want him even more.

Feeling Melissa pull on his pants, John knew he was ready for her. Something he had not experienced for much too long. He would never forget the first time the two of them made love. How wonderful it had been. In spite of his disability, it had been an experience like no other. He knew that this time it would be even better. He sat up long enough to release himself from the restraint of his pants, as well as his boxers and shoes. He then removed the rest of Melissa's clothing. Smiling down at her, John took in the site before him. "You are so beautiful," he said breathlessly. He could feel his heart quicken at the thought of becoming one with her once more.

Melissa remembered the last time John had told her she was beautiful. Then she had felt the ugliness of the lie she was leading him to believe. This time, however, she truly felt beautiful. She pulled him to her, delighting in the sensation as he entered her. She loved the feeling of his weight on her, the feel of his body, his scent, everything about him. She knew it was something he hadn’t had for a long time, and she wanted it to last forever.

A low groan emitted from John's throat, as Melissa’s warmth sheathed him. Slowly he thrust himself deeper feeling utter bliss as he moved inside her. Rocking his hips, his breathing became quicker. He also wanted this moment to last and took his time before bringing them both to the point of no return. As he felt himself reaching the ultimate height of ecstasy, he uttered, "I… love you…. Melissa."

Melissa’s tears were tears of joy. She placed her hand on John’s cheek, reveling in the moment. Never had she thought it could be this good, this right. She had been willing to be with him no matter what, despite his paralysis; now, knowing that he was able to feel everything, made it that much sweeter. Smiling at him she replied, “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired hearing of those words.”

John was now on his back, holding Melissa in his arms, as she lay across his chest. "And I'll never get tired of saying them," he replied. Reaching up to caress her cheek, he said, "Melissa," and placed a kiss on her lips. "I love you." He gazed at her with adoring eyes. "Thank you for making me complete again."

“Can we stay here forever, just the two of us?” Melissa traced an invisible intricate design on John’s chest. She silently wondered if this was how everyone felt when they were in love. Now she understood all the sappy stuff in romance novels and why in real life it didn’t feel quite so sappy.

"As long as you are with me," John quietly replied. "We can stay here forever." He never wanted to leave that place; yet, he would walk to the ends of the earth to be with Melissa.

“I love you so much. It’s like my whole life before was in black and white; now with you it’s this marvelous Technicolor. I didn’t know love could be this perfect.” Melissa’s words brought yet another smile to John's face, as he stroked her hair. Not quite ready to head back to camp she began trailing kisses down his chest.

As she kissed him, John could feel himself growing hard once more.

Melissa continued her southward journey, taking him in her mouth, wanting John’s first experience after so long to be one he’d never forget.

Moaning, as she fondled him with her mouth, John thrust his hips forward. The moist, warmth of Melissa’s mouth was almost more than he could bear. "Oh…Melissa!" he grunted, grabbing the ground beside him, as he closed his eyes and threw his head back.

Melissa inwardly smiled as she brought him to climax. Being with John for the rest of her life was something she could definitely do. It was pure bliss.

As the two lay side by side, once again, John kissed Melissa’s cheek. "Thank you," he whispered. He knew it might have seemed odd to thank her, as if she had done a favor. But he knew she did it because she not only loved him, but also because she wanted him to always feel complete. "I love you," he repeated. He then closed his eyes and soon drifted off to sleep.