I don't know exactly who's idea it was to do this, but, it was a damn good one. The air out here is so clean it almost hurts to take a deep breath. The colors seemed to come alive the further we got away from the city. Now that we're here, everything seems like a Kodachrome photograph. So sharp, so distinctive, so overwhelming. The sky is a blue that I swear I have never seen before. I look at it and I can honestly believe that space is just the other side of some thin veil up there and not that far away.
We set up the tent in a clearing just off the water's edge and, we found out later, just above a small spring creek. The sound of it splashing and gurgling toward the lake was so relaxing that it became a part of my reality. I'm going to miss it when we leave. As we finished setting up the tent, I turned and was greeted with a two orb sunset. The one just above the trees and the one just below them on the water. I called you over, stood behind you, wrapped my arms around your waist, put my head on you shoulder and savored all of the beauty that was around me. As I watched the two suns move toward one another I took your scent in and pulled you a little closer. I believe I could have stayed that way forever, but you pointed out, "Going to need some light soon fire fighter, why don't you go grab some wood."
"Sure thing." I kissed your cheek and head out, stealing occasional looks through trees as the balls of light disappeared and the orange pink glow began to fade.
I made it back to camp with as much wood as I could carry and found the ring of stones you'd laid out for the fire bed. I dropped the wood and went to work building the fire. Since I can't be simple about this process it took me about ten minutes to realize that you weren't with me. Once I got it lit, and made sure that it would stay that way, I called your name. I heard your return from down by the water. I walked down and heard the creek for the first time.
I found you just above the water line with a blanket and supper laid out. We'd known that we wouldn't get here in time, or with the desire, to cook, so, per your usual good planning, we fixed supper at home and now it appeared we were ready to eat. Grilled chicken kabobs, roasted red potatoes and a salad. Yeah, we were roughing it. "You're too good to be real, you know that?" You looked up at me, smiled and said thanks. I sat beside you and just listened for a minute. There was a symphony playing around us and I was suddenly lost. The frogs, the toads, the creek and all the little bugs, each was doing it's own thing and yet it seemed that the night would not be complete if one was to suddenly stop. Nature's harmony never ceases to amaze me when I take the time to stop and let it.
We ate, talked, laughed and listened. At times we found ourselves whispering even though we were the only people around for miles. It almost felt like talking in church, you just know your supposed to be quiet despite your solitude and surroundings.
The light from the fire that I built had dimmed somewhat and was casting a warm and flittering glow over you and I stopped to stare. I've always thought that you were beautiful, but there is something about the light from a fire that takes that beauty and adds a hint of mystery to a face that I know so well. My heart warmed and the world disappeared. I leaned toward you, held you in my hands and kissed you. I felt your lips against mine as we came together. I held you there just savoring the contact. Then contact and warmth became movement and the stirs of passion. I was aware of my lips becoming wet with the movement of yours and the ease with which they moved across each other only served to heighten those sensations. I pulled back, my eyes still closed, and tried to absorb the moment. You still take my breath away. Even after just a simple kiss, I almost felt overwhelmed at the thought of you.
I laid back, and that's when I saw them for the first time. Stars. Everywhere you looked in the sky were stars. The constellations were there, as always, but this was not the view from our back yard. All the gaps were filled in, you could not find a spot above that was not occupied by at least one star. The planets stood out even though surrounded by the masses of white dots. Mars was even more red. Jupiter and Saturn, bright, vibrant and in no way mistakable for stars. "Have you seen this?" I asked like a child making a new discovery. You lay next to me, looked up and said, "I was wondering how long it was going to take you to see them. Why do you think I put us down here?" I turned and kissed you again, "Thanks." Your smiled told me that I was welcome and that you were more than pleased with my enjoyment of the view.
I put my hands under my head as my eyes moved slowly from horizon to horizon, trying to take it all in. I'm not usually at a loss for words, but this defied description. I lay there lost in the wonder above me and more in love with you for your thoughts of me and what it was that I would enjoy. That meant a lot to me. I felt you when you moved next to me and placed your head on my chest. I moved my arm and wrapped it around you, then I kissed the top of your head. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"For what?" You asked. "For this!" I said as I waved my hand across the sky. "Well, trust me, I didn't put them there, I just found them for you." I placed a finger under your chin, lifted your face to me and kissed you again. "I want to make love to you under these stars." I said. You looked into my eyes and replied, "I'd hoped you would."
I rolled and we met, side by side and facing each other. Our lips fell into a caress as my free hand stroked your cheek and hair. I removed the band that held your braid and tossed your hair in my fingers to release it. My hand was bathed in the warm silkiness as your locks fell free. I rolled toward you, moving you to your back. As you went down, I flipped your hair up with the hand that was under your head so that you were not laying on it and my mouth moved to your throat. I licked and kissed your neck, your jaw and up to your ear. Stopping there to play in it's folds and creases with my tongue. I sucked your lobe into my mouth, released it and then followed up the bone behind your ear with a series of kisses, sucks and licks.
We started on each others buttons simultaneously. You, while pulling my head into you and me while moving my mouth slowly round your neck. As the fabric gave you access you brought both hands to my chest and I directed my kisses between your breasts as your shirt did the same. I pulled your shirt up from the waist, pausing long enough to undo your bra as I passed it. You put your arms over your head long enough to allow your shirt it's freedom and then they came down, over my shoulders, pushing my shirt down as they went. I raised up over you, tossed it aside and sent your bra flying after it.
I paused to look at you. The fire light was still working it's magic as the cool night air worked a little magic of it's own. My skin came to life as a breeze blew in from the water. Even though it was against my back, the sensation was enough to bring my nipples to attention. The scar tissue on the one that I'd ripped as a child letting me know the moment that occurred. I bent to see if it had worked the same trick on you. I reached for your nipple with my tongue and found a wonderful taught nub awaiting my affections. I circled it slowly, looking into your eyes and then moved onto it, feeling it against my lips as I pulled it into my mouth. My lips surrounded it, sealed against your areola as I pulled you in and out of my mouth. I felt it as you stretched with the pulls and then came back as I released the tension. After a moment I held you there, my tongue lapping over your nipple. When I felt I had sufficiently warmed you, I released the seal and drew in a long slow breath. The small gasp that escaped your lips let me know that I had gotten the response that I had been wanting. I moved across you and lay next to you. I lifted your other breast to my mouth and slid my pursed lips over your other nipple. After a moment, I drew that in and held it as well.