The night had been spent in John's room. The sex had been hungry, hard, the air filled with their moans and the heady smell of sweat and lust. But the morning was rushed, awkward. Marie had to run back to her room to shower and dress for her first seminar. Her schedule was full, her breaks few and far between. As she hopped into her yoga pants, struggling to pull them over her ass, she begged for his forgiveness. She was not rushing away from him, yes, she wanted to see him again, desperately, but no, she couldn't say when. Evenings, nights, soon, before he leaves, before she leaves, don't leave without saying goodbye...The door shut and John was left alone in his bed, stunned by the night, grinning like a fool. No, he was not leaving without seeing her again.
He spent the morning aimlessly wandering around the small resort, dipping his toes in the pool, sitting on the terrace that overlooked the jungle-covered hills and the distant sea. He caught himself looking for her, trying to figure out where she was, which conference room housed her.
He cursed himself for acting like a lovestruck teenager. He wasn't going to waste his vacation moping around a hotel. He grabbed a book and rented a moped. He left a message for Marie at the front desk. He could be found in the hammocks by the beach, if she had a break.
He read his book and munched on some local treats bought from the beach vendors. He had slept a bit, swinging gently in his hammock, the ocean breeze cool in the heat of the day. All and all it was a very successful day of vacationing.
The sun was low in the darkening sky when Marie appeared by his hammock.
"Hello," she said cheerfully, "I got the note you left at the front desk."
John smiled broadly. She was standing besides him, one hand on the hammock, dressed in a loose black dress with some exotic print in overlapping grays. John sat up in his hammock, his book on his lap.
"Well hello! Are you done with your day?" He asked hopefully.
"God no. We have break and Marissa was driving down here to grab some food. I thought I'd hitch a ride and come and say hi," she replied.
"That's too bad. So when are you done?"
"Late tonight. But.." she said, sitting on the edge of the hammock. She pushed one of his feet to the side so that she could slide into a seated position in the hammock, facing him. She crossed her legs, tenting her dress over her knees. "Tomorrow," she continued, "the girls are all going on a road trip to a ruin in the jungle. It's a guided tour, and anybody can join. Would you be interested in joining me on a nice cultural tour?"
John smiled. "Are you asking me out on a date?" He asked, teasing.
Marie actually blushed. "I'm asking you to join me on a trip," she replied, squirming but smiling.
John shifted, sliding his legs on either side of Marie's hips. He pulled her closer, shifting her legs so that they draped over his knees and around his waist. He circled his arms around her waist. The hammock slung low, sliding them closer to each other until they were nose to nose.
"I would love to join you on a nice cultural tour of local ruins," said John. "I think it would make a lovely first date. Very romantic of you to suggest it." He grinned.
Marie gave him a little punch on the shoulder.
"You're making fun of me," she said, mock angry.
"Never," he said, before leaning in for a kiss.
Marie half closed her eyes as his lips touched hers. A tiny moan escaped her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him tighter. Their tongues darted out, finding each other, swimming against each other as they kissed hungrily. John pulled Marie higher on his lap so that she was sitting on his hips, their bodies pressed together.
Marie finally broke the kiss, resting her head against his shoulder, the two of them gently swinging in the hammock.
"Marissa is going to be back any second. I just wanted to see you again for a bit. I hated leaving you this morning," she said, raising her face to his.
John brushed his nose against hers before leaving a gentle peck on her lips.
"I hated seeing you leave. It felt wrong to be apart."
"Are we behaving like teenagers?" She asked, smiling. "I'm not usually so mushy so quickly"
"I wasn't going to say anything, but.." He said, cheeky."But yes, we are behaving like teenagers, and no, that's not a bad thing. And,...no, this is not normal for me either. But...I also don't want to fight it."
"No," she said, kissing him briefly. "And now I have to go."
She started to shift away from him to throw her leg over his.
"Wait," he said quickly.
With a sly grin he pushed the hem of her dress back, enough to reveal her panties. Black and cotton.
"Just checking," he said with a satisfied smile on his mug. "I like to know these things."
"Play your cards right and you won't have to peep to know the color of my panties," she said as she stood up. "You, " she said, smoothing her dress, " are a dirty old man."
"Yes," he agreed. "Well, I don't know about old.."
"I love the salt and pepper in your hair," she said, giving him a quick peck on the lips, "Yeah, you're old."
"Well shit. My old ass is staying in this hammock then. I'll just day dream about robbing the cradle."
"You already did," she said, sashaying away.
"Couple times last night, if I remember correctly," he said, mostly to himself, smiling broadly.
He watched Marie walk up the sandy embankment to a waiting car, watching the sway of her hips under the dress. Yep, he thought, it's going to be fun.
The bus was rumbling and swaying down the rough roads leading deeper into the jungle. The tourists inside were staring wide eyed at the vistas that opened up from time to time as the road cut through the hills, revealing the lush steep flanks of the Balinese mountains and, glimpsed between round peaks, the ocean.
A good two thirds of the tourists were part of the seminar that Marie worked for, an eclectic mix of middle aged women on their way to self discovery and business acumen. They talked excitedly about the visit to the ruins, the view and the occasional monkey that flashed through the trees.
Safely ensconced in the back of the bus, John and Marie huddled out of view, hands in each other's laps. Marie had snuggled close to hear as John talked about his past, what had brought him to Bali, alone. He had spoken of his recent divorce, his desire to restart his life on a surer, and happier footing. Marie in turn had described her life as a traveling teacher and coach, never fully settling down anywhere, either emotionally or physically. She was resigned to being single for the rest of her life, having never found a man willing to share her desire for freedom and travel.
There had been a lot of unspoken words and pregnant pauses during the ride, each unwilling to say the words they knew the other wanted to hear. It was too soon, too new. The bubble could burst at any moment, and then what good would those declarations have been anyway? Silence was better sometimes. So they held hand instead.
The bus finally rattled to a stop in what looked like the middle of the jungle. A single post marked the spot where a path led down to a small river. A trail, well used and neatly marked, lead the group of tourists towards the jungle covered ruins of an ancient Balinese temple.
John and Marie hung back, away from the main group, happy to walk nearly alone along the river. John was dressed in his usual shorts and shirt, though this time he had brought a hat and a small backpack filled with water and snacks. Marie had put on shorts and a tank top, getting teasing references to Lara Croft. Without the boobs, Marie had retorted sarcastically.
The old temple was half devoured by the jungle, the stone steps and terraces crumbling under the assault of vines as thick as a man's thigh. The walls were covered in statues of demons and mythical animals in a long stone ribbon that wrapped around the building.
Marie climbed up the stairs, hauling herself up and over loose blocks of stone that had fallen from a higher level. John followed close by, trying no to lose her in the chaos of stone and vegetation. They could hear the rest of the group, but very quickly they were cut off from view as they climbed over and through the ruined temple.
Marie stopped in front of a section of wall where the sculptures had been preserved particularly well. A single giant face covered the wall, a grinning demon whose hair curled across the wall, smaller demons and figures nestled within it. Each face was carefully carved, full of emotions, full of rage or fear.
"Wow," said John as he stopped at Marie's side.
"This is incredible.." whispered Marie, mostly to herself. "Pretty damn spooky."
"Yeah..but it's meant to protect," said John. "These are the protective spirits, so they have to be fierce to scare off the evil spirits."
"Fighting fire with fire.." Said Marie.
"Basically."
John moved closer to the wall, walking along it as he looked at the details of the carving. Marie joined him, resting her hand on the small of his back.
John turned to her, smiling at the touch. They suddenly found themselves very close, Marie's hand on his waist. John reached up to gently brush his hands across her temples, pulling her red hair back. He pulled her face closer, his lips brushing against hers.
