Chapter 31: The Research

Azalea Johnson's POV

I can't believe that I was on the field site on the East Coast. I was looking forward to getting more information about the chemistry of the water that can affect wildlife in the future and how we can prevent anything worst from happening.

"Are you ready, darling?" Alex asked me as he went inside the room when we have packed all our stuff to get some samples from the site. It will be a month's field trip and I tried to make the most of it.

"Yeah, just let me get my scuba gear and I meet at the dock," I said as I went to search around the tent that we have been living for one week now. I cannot believe it. All my life, I have been dreaming about this.

"Lea?" Alex called after me. I rolled my eyes before I scoffed at him. He would never leave my side even though he knew that I was capable to find the dock. It was right in front of our tent!

"Okay, okay, I'm coming. jeez," I said as I went out of the tent and I brought my eyewear to the dock. Alex was wearing khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt that had undershirt that he wore together. The breeze was nice and I was trying to not ogle at my husband. He smirked.

"I thought you wanted to see the ocean during our break?" He asked me as he snaked his arms around my waist, walking toward the boat that we have rented out, I mean Alex rented out because he did not want me to be burdened.

"well, as you can see, we were on a mission here and we cannot afford any luxury that we can have," I said as I looked at him. His eyes were hidden beneath the sunglasses that he wore right now.

"right. Well, off you go," he said as he went to help me inside the boat. It was a small boat that fit only two people. I went inside before Alex untied the rope and we were off to get some peaceful time together, without the colleagues of our work in progress.

"so, did you find anything on the samples that we have?" He asked me as he rowed the boat to the sea. I was smiling at his ability to do just anything. But he might be using his power and he was holding the oars as a pretense. I went to look at the water, the oars moved.

"well, I cannot be sure yet but I have to get the samples back to my lab to know what exactly that I will be dealing with later," I said as I was looking at the surrounding. It was nice and warm. It was at the beginning of the evening that we have some time together.

we had breakfast together today. It was our rest day as we like to call it. sometimes, we don't even see each other as he will be conducting his experiment and talked to his colleagues which I was furious to see that Maya was also here and I was talking to my colleagues and my experiment to get it done.

I was so lost in thoughts that I don't hear about what Alex was talking at the moment or the fact that he was rowing us to the cave that was secluded from anyone else. He turned to me and smirked.

"Did you packed what I asked you to?" He asked me. I smiled. Even we were out in the field, he did find a way to make me feel appreciated and happy.

"you know I do, you were there, remember?" I said before I took off my shirt and my legging, leaving me in my bikini. Alex smirked before I looked at him as he took off his shirt and his khaki as he was wearing a trunk underneath.

"well, let's go," he said as he jumped into the ocean. I laughed before he emerged from the water and splashed some water at me.

"hey! Watch it," I said as I was laughing at him. He smirked.

"what? Scared of some water, darling?" He asked me as he swam around the boat. I don't know if the boat was safely tied up but I think Alex got it covered.

"are you sure you have secured the boat?" I asked one last time before I decided to jump in the water.

"yes, my love. Now, come join me," Alex said before I went to jump into the ocean.

"Cannonball!" I shouted and I jumped into the water. Water splashed all over the place before I swam back to the surface. I was breathing and gasped before I saw Alex was coming at me.

"well, happy birthday, my love," he said as he pulled me into his arms. I snaked my arms around his neck before I smiled sweetly at him.

"what do you have for me then, MacWatters?" I asked him before he smirked.

"This," he said before he crashed his mouth onto mine. I smiled in that kiss before I went to pull him closer and it was the best day of my life.

Alexander MacWatters' POV

It was Lea's birthday. Too bad it was during our field trip to get some samples and other people around us that we cannot celebrate it to the fullest. But I did try to make it the best one that I can. So, I booked a reservation for two at the famous restaurant here.

I was dressing in khaki and a button-down shirt like when you were supposed to wear when it was summer, hot and nice. I was waiting for Lea who was taking so much longer than I was that I was going through my phone and emails.

"I'm ready," her sweet voice came into the room as she just emerged from the bathroom. I went to book a hotel that we will be staying for one night just for this occasion. I have done some research, it was close to the field site and the restaurant.

when Lea emerged from the bathroom, I gulped as my heart beat faster. She looked so beautiful in that yellow sundress that my mum had provided for her. Her new wardrobe was proudly sponsored by my mum and her mum but she rarely used any of them. It was a glorious sight.

"My love," I said as I stood up and I went to stand in front of her. She looked at me with those big blue eyes as I know that I can sense emotions in them; happy, lust and love. The last one was important.

"well, it never hurt to dress up once in a while," she said before I urged us to leave. I put my left hand on her petite lower back as we walked out of the room.

We were at the front of the hostess that was asking for my name to locate the reservation.

"table for two under MacWatters," I said as I was pulling my wife on her waist. She was looking around elegantly as she just wanted to take the surrounding.

"yes, please follow me," the hostess said as she showed us to our table. We followed her before I pulled the chair out for my wife. She thanked me before I took my seat. then, a waiter came to our table.

"I will be serving you tonight, here's the menu and we can start on the drinks," he said as he looked at me and Lea. I was thinking Chardonnay but I wanted Lea to pick out for tonight.

"What are we having, darling?" I asked her as she was looking at the menu.

"Hmm," she said as she twisted her mouth. God, help me go through tonight.

"we will have white wine please," she said as she looked at the waiter. He nodded before he went to the kitchen. We were looking at the menu as I was trying to control my bloody urge to take her here and now.

"what do you want to eat?" I asked her as I was scanning the menu. I already know what I wanted. I just wanted her to tell her first.

"well, everything looks delicious but I think I will have Crabwich. It knows it's not as fancy as the restaurant but it was the famous order here, right?" She asked me as she eyed me. I smirked at her. She knew everything.

"well, we can't have both of that. I will pick something else then. I will take the Spaghetti Bolognese. It was nice too," I said before I signal the waiter and he came to take our order before serving our wine. We ate and chatted the night away. It was nothing better than this.

"well, what do you plan to end the night with?" I asked Lea as I was sipping on my wine. She was playing with the edge of her glass before she looked at me seductively.

"I have a few suggestions," she said huskily before I signal the waiter for the check. She smirked before I paid for our meal and headed out for our hotel. This could never get any better.