She was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when the back door opened suddenly and Lucas breezed in. “Hi,” he called. 
“Hi baby,” she said and looked at him analytically. “You’ve been to the bush, so early?” 
He grinned and pulled out an antelope from his rucksack. “Yeah, you were sleeping and I didn’t want to disturb you.”
She stared at the animal admiringly. “What’s that and where did you get it from?”
“An antelope. I bought it from a hunter from the neighboring village,” he said kicking off his mud-covered walking boot.
“I see.”
He peered into the pot. “What are you cooking?” 
“Water,” she laughed.
“Water?” he asked and raised his brow. “So what can I help you do?”
“Nothing. I can manage. Thanks all the same.”
“I want to help. Can I do the dishes?”
“I’ve already done that. Actually, the first thing you do before you start cooking.”
“Okay, maybe I can help you set the table?”
“Well, if you insist, maybe you can help me cut up the meat in pieces.”
“That’s better. So where is the knife?”
“I should be asking you.”
He looked around the kitchen. “Okay, I remember.” he leaned across her so he could reach the cupboard and their bodies touched, she drew back instinctively.
“Sorry,” she apologized, he ignored her.
After cutting the meat, he leaned across her to pick up the bowl and their bodies touched again. She shuddered and the glass she was holding slipped out of her hand and fell to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces. “I’m sorry,” she muttered again.
“Sorry for what?” he snapped. “I wish you could cut out the ‘I am sorry’ crap, it irritates me.”
“Sorry,” she said again and bent down to pick up the pieces.
“Will you leave that?”
“But…but I need to clean up the mess.”
“There’s no need for that. That’s what the maids are paid for.”
“I…I …” she stammered.
“Come here,” he pulled her into his arms. “Why is it that you can’t get used to me, eh, answer me?” he asked, looking into her quivering eyes.
“Let …let go of me,” she cried as she tried to wriggle out of his arms, but he held her tight.
When breakfast was over, they sat on the open terrace and sipped wine.
“So what are we going to do today?”
“Nothing, we just sit here and watch the bees pollinate the flowers,” he laughed. 
She looked at him from the corners of her eyes. She could see a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “I feel hot. I’ll like to take a dip in the pool,” she said and stood up.
“Me too. Go change into a bikini. I’ll meet you here in 5 minutes.”
A few minutes later, she emerged, wearing only a bikini and a big towel hanging down her neck. The tight-fitting bikini wrapped around her fragile body like a second skin, accentuating her fine curves. She felt him watching her and she blushed. There was this hungry look in his eyes. She could almost feel him raping her with his eyes. “I’m…I’m ready,” she announced nervously.
He had changed into a red and black lumberjack boxers and a white singlet that revealed his rippling muscles. He was carrying a big towel in one hand and a small kit bag on the other.
“Me too,” he returned. “By the way, you look good in that.” 
She blushed. “Thanks,” she replied and followed him into the garden and down the path that led to the pool. 
They passed a cluster of trees and flowers, their fragrance once again, saturated the mid-morning air. Once again, she admired the beautiful landscaping design.
“I …I thought the pool is over there?” she asked as she admired the thick hedge of bougainvillea on either side of the walkway.
“Yeah, it is. In fact, there are about two Olympic size swimming pools in the compound. But you don’t need that, do you? You need something special and natural for a change or don’t you think so?”
“I …I don’t understand.”
“There’s a naturally flowing river at the foot of that hill,” he pointed towards the south at a hill nearby.
“I see,” she returned uninterestedly. I hope it is not one of those dirty, algae infested, brownish rivers, she thought but she kept her reservations to herself as she followed him sheepishly.
She was however pleasantly surprised when they got to the river and she discovered it was crystal clear, clean and healthy with beaches on either side of its banks.
“Here we are,” he announced gaily as he stood on the banks and admired the slow, flowing water.
“This is beautiful,” she admitted as she took a cursory look around the riverside. “The water is clean. Where is the source? I …mean, is it okay for drinking?” 
In an answer to her question, he stooped down and using his cupped hands, he scooped up some water and threw it into his mouth. 
She looked at him in awe.
“And for the source, it comes from the rocks, underground and just about everywhere. Tastes good, try it,” he encouraged he as he dived into the cold water and swam across the river in swift, powerful strokes. He was a good swimmer too, she noticed. “Come on in,” he ordered. “Don’t stand there looking at me.”
She peered cautiously into the water. “Is …is it deep?” 
“It’s fairly deep, although it is generally uneven. But just avoid the edges. Over there is deep but all around here is shallow.”
Reluctantly, she waded into the water. The water was cold and refreshing and revived her immediately. Soon, she felt her initial airs and reservations disappearing. They swam up and down the water for a while, explored the surrounding bushes and took a walk in the lonely beach, holding hands and talking about everything from the stock market to sports and just about anything that there is to talk about. 
Lucas was intelligent, talented and versatile. He was also fun to be with and seems to know virtually everything under the sun. She still considers herself lucky to have found him, to share his charms and magic. She was feeling completely at ease with him and life in general. She never knew that such peace, such contentment, and such love existed. She wished time would just stand still as they explored the riverside, watched crabs go in and out of their holes, seabirds hover over the surface of the water and fishes bask in the river banks. She felt a beat of pure bliss.
“It’s peaceful here,” she said, a strange inflection in her voice. 
He shot her a quick glance. “Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
“You know we could stay here forever if that’s what you want,” he told her, squeezing her hand.
“Oh, really?”
“Listen, baby,” he said, turning to face her. “Ever since I set my eyes on you, I knew you were the girl for me and I promise I will love you all the days of my life. I want you to know that you are the best thing that can ever happen to me. You bring me joy.”
“I love you, too.”
He pulled her into his arms as his lips found hers. “I love you, my angel,” he whispered into her ears while his hands roamed all over her body. Her body shook with emotion as he explored her mouth with his tongue. She closed her eyes and wrapped her hands tightly around his neck to keep him there. She was in seventh heaven, she felt herself move over water and butterflies in her stomach. Then, something snapped in her subconscious mind, and she broke off immediately.
“What …what is it?” he asked, puzzled.
“I don’t know,” she fenced and walked away.
He ran after her and caught up with her. “You know, you puzzle me sometimes.”
“How?”
“What is the meaning of this?”
“The meaning of what?” she asked innocently. “I don’t understand what you are talking about.”
“Oh, please, don’t feed me that.”
“Look, Lucas, I’m sorry to lead you on, but…but I am not that kind of girl,” she told him, spreading her towel on the white sand.
He looked at her for a long time, wondering if he will ever understand her. “Well,” he said, “there’s no need for that, mine will do.” 
She frowned. “No need for what?”
“For the towel,” he said and took the towel from her. In its place, he spread the big, family towel he has brought with him.
She looked at him but said nothing. She knew his game plan and she was determined to beat him to it. Shrugging, she lay on her side, close to the edge of the towel and as far away from him as possible. She lay still, not moving an inch and acutely aware of his astuteness and her own vulnerability.