Our honeymoon

Our honeymoon

Freya

Three days... that was how long I had to wait before my husband finally agreed that we would go on our honeymoon. It felt like a lifetime because I wanted to get away immediately after the wedding. Victor insisted we wait just so I could catch my breath. You would think I did something besides looking pretty on our wedding day, but my darling husband wouldn’t let us leave unless I’ve had enough rest and fully recovered from the stress.

I knew he was right though, but that didn’t stop me from pouting dramatically every time he reminded me.

But it turned out well anyway, because I got to use the three days well. We didn’t have a specific plan for the honeymoon and were just going to freestyle it. But in three days, I was able to come up with a fantastic plan. Our honeymoon would be a month and we’d be visiting three countries, Marrakech in Morocco, Maui in Hawaii, and then end it in the land of love, Paris…

As we stepped off his jet and the warm, honeyed air of Marrakech wrapped around me like silk, I felt my whole body relax. The scent of orange blossoms and spices drifted in the wind, and the sun hit just the right way.

I reached for Victor’s hand instinctively, and he gave me a small, knowing smile.

“Worth the wait?” he asked while I smiled back.

“Way more than worth it,” I whispered.

The moment we got to the tarmac, I could see the effort he’d put into this. There was a red carpet rolled out for us, scattered with rose petals, and as we walked further, two women in traditional kaftans approached us with trays of mint tea, while a small band played soft music that made my heart float.

It was like stepping into a dream. No, not even a dream would feel like this. And this was real.

“We’re royalty for the next ten days. Welcome to Royal Mansour.” Victor leaned in close to my ear while I turned to him, grinning.

“Wait… the Royal Mansour? Isn’t that the one owned by the actual King of Morocco?” I quizzed while he smirked.

“Only the best for my queen.”

I laughed softly and shook my head, but inside, I was melting. For someone who had lived most of her life pretending not to want too much from love or a man, I couldn’t believe how safe it felt to let myself be fully spoiled and loved like this.

We were led through the palace-like entrance of the hotel and into what I could only describe as another world entirely. There were zellij mosaic tiles in every shade of blue and green, carved cedarwood screens casting beautiful shadows across the floor, courtyards blooming with jasmine, and the sound of fountains trickling somewhere in the distance. I don’t think I said a word the entire walk to our riad. I was too busy soaking in everything with my eyes wide and my heart fuller than I thought possible.

“So, here’s the best part.” Victor turned to me and said the moment the door to our private riad opened.

He walked ahead and held his arm out dramatically, like he was revealing a treasure, and I just couldn’t stop smiling,

“There’s a private rooftop pool,” he said. “A butler you’ll never see but somehow always know when you need something. And then a secret underground tunnels for the staff so we’re never disturbed. It’s just you and me for the next ten days, Wifey.”

I walked in slowly, unable to believe what I was seeing. The riad was a dream and everything just felt like straight out of a romance novel. I haven’t traveled much because I thought it wasn’t my thing but now I know I just needed true love to push out that part of me.

“Dear husband… you’re going to make it really hard for me to ever settle for normal life again.” I turned around and said to him while he grinned and pulled me in by the waist.

“Good thing you’ve never settled for one before. I don’t plan on giving you anything less either.” He chimed in and then pulled me in for a deep sweet kiss, which I gave all of me into.

We didn’t even fully unpack before we changed into robes and were led to the private spa suite for the Hammam ritual Victor had booked.

I didn’t know what to expect. I’d heard about it, but this was something else. Rose petals scattered across warm marble, golden oil warmed gently over the coals, and the most peaceful silence I’d ever experienced in a spa.

As they poured water over me in slow, gentle motions and massaged the oil into my skin, I felt like I was being reborn. Every layer of trauma and ache I hadn’t even known I was still holding in my body all started to fall away.

Victor reached for my hand somewhere in the middle of it all, and I looked at him.

His eyes were soft and filled with the same awe I was feeling.

“I keep looking at you, and I still can’t believe you’re here.” He whispered and I squeezed his fingers.

“Me too.” I really meant it, because a few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure I’d ever see another sunset, but here I was, bathed in gold light, kissed by Moroccan roses, wrapped in my husband’s love.

I’m living the life I dreamed about and I would never take any of it for granted.

After the spa, I felt so good, and my skin glowed so bright. I let the robe fall over my shoulders as I sank into the lounge chair as we got back to the room. I was slowly sipping the sweetest mint tea I’ve ever had while Victor sat across from me, shirt slightly unbuttoned, and eyes feasting wildly on me.

“You keep staring,” I said, half-teasing, half-blushing.

“Can you blame me?” He tilted his head while I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling like a fool.

Just as I was about to ask what he wanted to do next, he stood up and held out his hand.

“Come with me.”

“Another surprise?” I raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t say anything. He just gave me that quiet smirk and wiggled his fingers.

I slipped my hand into his and followed him through the winding hallways of the Mansour till we got to the private garden.

There was a long table under the open sky, candlelight all over it, and also a violinist standing to the side, playing something soft and slow.

Then looking to my side, I saw two women in flowing outfits swaying gently to the rhythm and it was so beautiful. I was so hooked.

“Baby…” I let out while he turned to me and smiled.

“You once said that you always wanted a dinner under the stars with the love of your life. I just decided to make it… a little extra.”

“A little?” I retorted, my voice stuck in my throat and I couldn’t even laugh.

“Baby, you call this a little extra? This isn’t just a dinner, it’s love, laid out like poetry. I never saw myself asking for this because I just assumed it was too much to want. But here you are, showing it beyond words how much I matter to you. Than…”

“I’m the only one allowed to thank you for doing life with me.” He cut in sharply as he pulled the chair out for me and helped me sit, then took his seat across the table.

The chef appeared briefly to greet us, and then the dishes began to arrive, one after another. The whole table was filled with different delicacies in no time, but I barely touched any of it.

I was just too overwhelmed and full of love. Victor saw this and then poured me a glass of non-alcoholic wine.

“To you, my darling wife,” he said as he lifted his glass while I blinked quickly, trying to keep it together. I smiled and raised my glass too.

“To my darling husband, who has shown me love in its purest form.” He blew me a kiss and just then, the violinist changed tempo. He started playing something slower, more tender, and Victor stood up again.

“Dance with me.”

“Here?” I laughed, already placing my napkin on the table.

“Where else?” he whispered, reaching for me.

I stood and melted into him as the music wrapped around us. His hand rested low on my back, warm and steady while mine curled around his shoulder. We swayed slowly, barely moving, just letting the moment hold us.

“I used to dream about this,” I whispered, my voice soft against his neck.

“Not the fancy dinner or the music… just this sweet feeling that I belong somewhere.”

“You belong with me,” he said quietly. “You always have.”

We continued dancing and whispering sweet nothing to each other till we finally took a break and went back to our seats. Victor pulled something out of his pocket then and placed it in front of me.

It was a tiny box and my eyes immediately lit up.

“Victor…”

“It’s not what you think,” he chuckled softly. “You’re already my wife.” We both laughed and I then opened the box slowly.

It was a gold anklet, hand-carved with tiny symbols etched into each link. A single, small sapphire in the center. I gasped as I lifted it gently and couldn’t stop admiring it.

“It’s from a Berber artisan, one of the oldest in the region. He doesn’t sell to just anyone but trust me to get the best for my wife.”

“I wanted to get you something that felt as rare as you, and made with the kind of care you deserve.” He added while I looked up at him, and I couldn’t help it.

The tears just came, tiny drops sliding down my cheeks one after another as I held the anklet in my hand and felt so overwhelmed again.

All the years I’d spent making myself small and settling for stupid men, swallowing bare minimum and and calling it love.

Victor found me when I thought I was never going to find love and thank God, I didn’t let my past pain steal him from me…

Victor reached across the table then and brushed his thumb against my cheek, wiping away my face.

“Hey baby, no more crying.” He murmured while I choked out a shaky laugh.

“Too late.” I muttered while he also smiled and kissed the corner of my mouth, then my cheek, then my nose.

“You’ll never have to wish for more again. I promise you that. I’ll spend every day of my life proving it to you.”

I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch, my chest swelling so full it hurt.

“Thank you, for not giving up on me.” I whispered.

“Never,” he said, without missing a beat. “I’d find you in every life. In every version of the world and I’d fall in love with you all over again every single time…”