how she was doing. There was a determined look on her face, but occasionally her face was twisted as if she were in pain. Her feet must really be bothering her.
It was drawing close to evening and he had started to look for a place to stay for the night when the sounded of rushing water reached his ears.
“Is that a waterfall?” Ellen asked with enthusiasm.
“Sounds like one.” If luck was with them they might have a good safe place to sleep and an opportunity for a fire. Even a bath.
They made a turn in the path and the water disappeared over the edge of a cliff.
He called back. “Are you up for a little climbing?”
Ellen shrugged. “Do I have a choice?”
“Not really. But if all goes well it’ll be worth it.”
“Lead on, then.”
Over the next half an hour they made their way around and down to the pool of water at the bottom of the falls.
“It’s amazing,” Ellen said.
“It is. Honduras has incredible falls. I’d leave you here but I know you’d have none of that so come on and let’s see if we can find a room for the night.”
“Here?”
“Sure.” Chance led the way around the pool toward the falls. He made a few maneuvers across rocks until they had worked their way behind it. There was the small cave he was looking for. It was large enough for them to remain dry and still have a small fire.
Pulling his bag off, he dropped the clothes on top. Speaking loudly, he worked at being heard over the roar of the water. “Your hotel room for the evening.”
Ellen looked around. “It’s wonderful.”
“I need to look for something dry enough to burn before it gets too dark. Are you going to be okay here by yourself or do you want to come with me?”
“Aren’t you worried about the smoke being seen?”
He smiled and pointed to the falls. “It’ll blend in with the mist. We’re safe. Hopefully we can have dry clothes.”
She looked unsure a moment then straightened her shoulders. “No, I’ll be fine here.”
“I won’t be long. Why don’t you get that trash we have in our packs out to use as starter?”
It took Chance longer than he’d expected to find something in a tropical rain forest dry enough to burn. The entire time he was gone he worried about Ellen being frightened. He did manage to locate some dry leaves and small sticks. He and Ellen wouldn’t have a bonfire but it would be something to dry clothes by.
With arms full, he made his way back to the river. He started to take his first step on the rocks when he saw her. Ellen stood naked beneath the falls. Her arms were raised as she held her hair out to let the water reach each strand. He’d never seen anything more breathtakingly beautiful or more uninhibited.
He should leave. Let her know he was there. But he couldn’t.
Ellen turned, giving him a profile view of her delicious curves. His body hardened. Her breasts were high and her stomach flat. There was an arc to her behind that made his hands itch to hold her. He stood mesmerized by her splendor, unable to put a thought together beyond the acknowledgement of the desire building in him. Waiting and watching, he didn’t want to disturb her or break the spell.
Ellen did it for him. She stepped out of the water. The gold of the evening sun caressed her skin as she walked to a nearby rock and gathered her clothes. She pulled on her shirt and pants and ducked behind the falls.
Chance remained where he was until he had control of his breathing. By the time he’d made it back to their hiding place some of his libido had eased but at the sight of Ellen it climbed again. He had to regain some perspective. It didn’t help that Ellen’s underwear lay in a small pile nearby.
The tension was thick between them. She wouldn’t meet his gaze. Was she feeding off his emotion? Had she known that he’d been watching? It was as if the easiness between them over the last two days had disappeared and been replaced by the disquiet of heightened awareness of the weeks before. As alluring as Ellen had been as a water nymph minutes ago, he had to focus on them surviving. They needed to have a fire, eat and tend their feet. Those needs took precedence over his sexual cravings.
But those carnal needs pulled at him with each look he gave her.
He squatted and let the pile of brush fall from his arms. “Ellen, look in the side pocket of my bag and you’ll find a round silver tube. Would you hand it to me?”
She did as he asked and included the trash as well.
He placed the paper under the brush and opened the watertight container, removing two matches.
“I should’ve known you’d have something up your sleeve to start a fire with.”
“I keep them in case I have to go old school with sterilizing a needle. You just never know.”
“Like this time.”
He gave her a tight smile. “This was more than I planned for.” Striking one match against the other, he quickly placed them on the paper. He slowly added some of the material he’d gathered until they had a small fire. “Bring your clothes over here and spread them out to dry. I wish this was going to be large enough for you to get your pants dry after a wash but I don’t think they’ll dry by morning. At least our underwear and shirts will be cleaner.”
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
“Yes. I could eat.”
“That was sort of a dumb question.” Ellen picked up what little food they had and joined him beside the fire.
She gave him half of the food from the rag and ate the other. “That leaves us with one food bar.”
“Hopefully we’ll be in Saba by tomorrow night.”
“As much as I’ve enjoyed this walk through the jungle, I have to admit I’m looking forward to seeing the resort again.” She put the rag back in the backpack.
“Not New York? I would think after this you’d want to go home.”
“No. Most of all I’d just like a good shower.”
Chance looked at her. “I thought that’s what you were having a few minutes ago.” Even in the glow of the fire he could see her blush.
“You weren’t supposed to see me.”
He stood. “How was it?”
“Wonderful.”
“If you’ll keep the fire going I think I’ll give the falls a try as well.”
Ellen
