They had barely gotten home when the rain came down in full force. “You wash up and meet me in the sitting room in ten minutes, is that okay by you?” “Yes, sir,” she saluted, standing at attention and saluting in the Army fashion, before racing upstairs to her room.
Meanwhile, the rain was increasing in ferocity and gathering momentum with every passing minute, falling down on the roof like orange or mango fruits. The wind rocked the trees this way and that as the birds and insects, disturbed, scurried away to safety. Heavy thunderclaps echoed brutally through the silent tranquility of the lonely countryside and snow white lightning split the dark night.
Once in her room, Mira stepped out of her clothes and jumped into the bath. She let her entire body luxuriate in the soapy water. She wasn’t in a hurry so she lazed around for some time. As she was sponging herself, a praying mantis, probably driven in by the rain, flew into the bath and started hovering overhead. She thought it was going to attack her and she let out an uncontrollable scream which pierced through the silent house.
Lucas was in the bath too with soap fusillades all over his body when he heard her scream. He paused and listened as she screamed again. He he grabbed his towel and wrapping it loosely around his waist hurriedly, ran over to her room and threw the door open, but no one was there. The scream came again from the direction of the bathroom. He ran into the room and threw the bathroom door open. He found her crouching in the bathtub. “What is it?” he asked as he stepped into the bathroom. He could see no danger. 
The praying mantis hovered overhead again. She screamed and ran to him. “Help!” “What is it?” he asked, still puzzled. She pointed at the praying mantis. “Can’t you see that?”  “That?” he asked casually. “Yes,” she was still clinging to him. He laughed. “It’s only a praying Mantis. It must have been driven in by the rain.” She glared at him. “Why are you laughing? It is not funny, you know? It could be dangerous.” “I don’t think so,” he said as he picked up the vacuum cleaner and killed the insect. “Thanks,” she sad as she heaved a sigh of relief.  “Next time, remember not to leave the window open,” he said as he untied his towel and stepped into the bathtub casually.   She stared at him unbelievably as she suddenly became conscious of her nakedness. “What …what are you doing?” she asked, covering her private parts with her hands. He gave her a wry smile. “I’m finishing my bath, of course. Do you have any problem with that?” “I …I … but…you can’t do that here?” “Why, if I may ask? It’s only a bath. I won’t eat you. After all, a moment ago, you were not afraid of me, why are you now?” he said turning on the shower. “I’m not afraid. It’s just that… that …well forget it.” “That what? Say it. That I may seduce you?” “No, not that,” she forced a nervous smile.  He handed her the sponge. “Scrub my back, will you?” he commanded.  She took the sponge from him reluctantly, hoping he would not play any funny game like he did in the afternoon. In spite of herself, she did a good job on him and when it was over, she became apprehensive. She wished he would not ask to sponge her in turn, but he didn’t. She also expected him to make a grab at her any minute, but he didn’t. As usual, whenever their bodies touch, she’ll freeze up. “I’ll dry you,” he said and without waiting for her answer, he took the towel from her and started drying her. “No, I don’t want you to,” she protested. But he wasn’t the type to take no for an answer. Instead, he brought his mouth down and covered her with kisses. She melted into his arms. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. “Look, you can’t do this. I’m wet. You are soiling the whole place,” she protested and kicked furiously. He dropped her in the middle of the room. “Look at the mess you are making.” “Let it be,” he said as they latched onto each other again. “Can’t you see you are driving me wild?” She felt butterflies all over her body and a complete loss of senses as she snuggled up closer to him, letting her tongue explore his mouth. His strong, sensitive fingers were at the same time tracing all the sensory nerve endings in her body. And before she could realize it, he lifted her up and dumped her gently on the bed. But the minute her back touched the bed, her defensive system, which seemed temporarily shut off, sprang to life and all the crazy emotions disappeared immediately. Her body became cold and unresponsive.  He pulled back. “What is it again?” “I’m sorry. But …but we have to stop now.” “But why, Mira, why? You know I love you. Why do you always shut me off?” “I love you too, but this is not the right time. Let us wait a while.” “Why wait, why not now?” “Because …because we’ve got a long way to go and I don’t want to spoil it with premature intimacy.”  He looked at her steadily for a long time. “Well, if that’s how you want to play it,” he said, strengthening up. “It’s okay by me. Goodnight, Mira,” he turned and started walking towards the door. When he got to the door, he paused and looked back.  She swallowed hard. She was completely fazed. She thought she had him figured out but he was fast proving otherwise. He was so provokingly charming, irresistible and unpredictable. She could still feel the mad burning sensation his kisses had provoked in her, feel his lips probing everywhere, feel the mild bruises. She put her tongue out to feel the bruises his kisses had inflicted on her lips.  “I wish you wouldn’t do that again,” he said from the doorway. “What?” He closed the door again and came back into the room. She watched him as he walked across the room to the bed. When he got close enough to her, he bent down slowly, and sticking his tongue out, touched her lips softly with it. “This,” he said. “Goodnight, Mira.” Without looking back, he walked out of the room.
For hours after she had gone to bed, she lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Lucas’s got her going. She didn’t know she will ever find a man that could so completely sweep her off feet like he did. He was an enigma and the very personification of charms and charisma. He was also clean through and through and everything she could ever want in a man and even more. Her whole body, soul, and spirit yearned for him like a deer yearns for water. She wanted him to go on kissing her and even make love to her, but she daren’t let that happen, not until they were legally married. Her mother taught her that sex inside marriage was it, but sometimes the urge to give in or to compromise her standards seems even morally justifiable-why not since you are going to marry him and he is going to marry you.’ But then she will remember her mother’s voice saying. ‘Men adore, admire and respect virgins. It is your power and your only instrument of protest. Don’t let any man take it away from you. It is the only gift you owe your husband.’ And she will hold back. She was still nursing these thoughts when she fell into a quiet, peaceful sleep.