They spent the night in restless sleep and with periods of intense loving.
As the boom, boom, boom of the local mosque calling the faithful to prayers shattered Jennifer's nap she felt the warmth of Peter cuddling her back and the determination of his little one to go exploring again. Very aware of her nakedness, she was startled as she heard him chuckle.
"So trying to seduce me again, eh? We have no time for that. Come on - there's a water shortage in Singapore so we'll shower together, but don't get your hopes up, as we have to leave quickly. We have a very busy day ahead of us."
Grabbing her hand, he dragged her into the bathroom and under the shower with him. Ignoring her complaints at his bossiness, he soaped her back, lingering over her buttocks and legs then turned her around to begin on her front. Smiling, he watched her eyes close and heard her shy moans. Next, he gave close attention to her breasts and his mouth claimed her nipples.
Jennifer pulled his head closer to her as she drove Peter onwards. Spreading her legs wide, she felt those gentle hands climbing from her knees to her groin on the pretext of soaping and washing her. A protest burst from her lips as Peter slid down to kiss her sex and to probe her treasure cave with his tongue in search of her honey.
"Peter, you're insatiable. You just told me we're in a hurry and here we go again! Will you please stop?"
Jennifer tried in vain to sound annoyed as she continued, "What are you doing?"
Seeking to overcome her resistance, Peter looked up at her with a hangdog look on his face.
"Loving my dear, darling wife," he answered. "And I will never stop."
Laughing, she grabbed the face washer and rubbed it into his face.
Her laughter encouraged him. Giving his full attention to pleasuring her before rising to his feet, he turned her around, allowing his penis to rise between her legs before he bent her over to cling to the handrail. She felt that marvelous slide as he entered her, and the incredible feeling of his filling her as one hand gently tugged her nipples and the other dipped to play with her clit. Together they climbed the mountain and together they clung to each other as they leapt off the peak to explode in ecstasy.
After recovering and drying each other with the thick, white hotel towels, hand in hand, they returned to the bedroom and Jennifer, horrified, saw specks of her virgin blood on the sheets.
"Peter what will we do? Everyone will know!" she cried.
Peter laughed before giving her a hug and kissing her forehead. "We'll dress. Then we'll pack some clothes. My friends here will look after everything, as they know who I am. Look in the writing room where we took off all our clothes."
Jennifer was amazed. On the writing table was her sari, freshly washed and ironed, along with her undergarments and jewellery. Peter's suit was there, also cleaned and pressed. Even his shoes were polished.
A note said it all, "Mem, we prayed that The Little One would be a good lover for you and Lakshmi answered our prayers. May Ganesha protect your home and look after you and yours."
Discouraging Jennifer from dawdling or ordering breakfast, Peter quickly led her to the hotel entrance.
A Mini Cooper S, the same color and same fittings as hers in Australia, drew up. The driver handed the keys to Peter who passed them to Jennifer.
"You drive and I'll navigate," he said.
As it was too early for peak hour traffic, they were soon driving across the Causeway. Jennifer was thankful for Peter's quiet instructions and found she was soon enjoying threading her way through the motor bikes and bicycles.
The Johore Baru Customs gave her passport a cursory glance but Peter's passport caused a flurry.
Jennifer became a little frightened when two Malay police officers escorted Peter to the Police Stand where he engaged in a long conversation with the officers. She was relieved when an officer accompanied her smiling husband to their car.
The officer walked around to Jennifer's window.
"Selamat datang ke Malaysia, Puan O'Brien. Welcome to Malaysia," he said. Then with a smile he added, "Drive carefully and don't let Tuan behind the wheel."
"Let's go," Peter began. "They were interested in me as my passport showed many visits here and needed to know what we were doing. Everything became clear when I said we're on our honeymoon. Now away we go. Turn left at the next intersection and follow the road signs that say Kuala Lumpur. Get ready for a Malay breakfast or possibly Indian."
"Isn't the tollway a delight to drive on?" remarked Jennifer. "But I'm very wary of the motor bikes, especially those with three or more people on them." Jennifer was enjoying driving, as the highway, a multi-lane tollway, was better than she expected.
Seeing a group of attaps, huts built of bamboo and banana leaves, looming, Peter recommended slowing and leaving the main road. He pointed out where to park and together they walked into the area full of makan stalls.
"'Makan' is 'food' in Malay," explained Peter, "and sit on your left hand. The teapot - well what you think is a silver teapot - is full of water. Take it in your left hand and drip the water over your right then shake your hand dry." Patiently he explained the traditions of Malay eating demonstrating as he spoke.
"Dua te au, dua nasi lemak, dua sop ayam."
Jennifer was surprised how easily the words rolled off his lips.
"Satu merterbak."
The meal arrived. Huge portions of rice, a black tea - sweetened - a broth with chicken pieces beside the bowl and on another plate what seemed to be an omelette. Peter explained that it was a type of bread, roti canai, filled with minced meat, curry with eggs and onion. He commenced eating.
Watching Peter carefully, Jennifer followed his lead and noted that the Malay men were studying her intently. It was obvious they were curious about Peter but were too polite to ask any questions. Nevertheless, she felt uncomfortable.
With the meal ended, Peter bellowed and men rushed with accounts which he didn't deign to read scattering Ringgit on the table before standing. Taking her arm, he escorted her back to the car after they had washed their hands at the communal sink.
"That was a Halal, Moslem Food, Makan Stall. I'm sorry the stares of the Malay men embarassed you."
Changing the topic he added, "Look for the Melaka turnoff and take that. It will be on the left."
Toll payments were small, tollbooths came and went and it was barely 9.20 when armed guards halted them at the entrance to an army camp.
A heated conversation in Malay ensued until an officer came to the car and, satisfied with Peter's credentials, saluted before waving them through.
Guided by Peter, Jennifer drove to the Parade Ground. She didn't understand the officer's Malay command. "Fall out the guard," as they drove off. The Officer was preparing for Peter's departure.
Seeing Jennifer's uneasiness caused by the military surroundings, Peter explained that this had been the Ghurkha's camp when he served with them, but it now belonged to the Malaysian Army.
At the Parade Ground, Peter stood beside the car and Jennifer made no sound as she held his hand. He was living with the ghosts of his past and he could hear the drums, the pipes and the brass band of his regiment on that fateful day when he took the Regimental Salute. His eyes clouded with memories but he was holding himself ramrod straight and she knew his thoughts were there, reliving his history.
Finally, with a deep sigh, he came back to the present and smiled at his wife as he sat her in the passenger's seat.
"My turn to drive," he remarked.
As they returned to the main gateway, Jennifer saw two lines of soldiers standing to attention on either side of the gate. The same officer, who welcomed them when they arrived, asked Peter to inspect the guard.
Jennifer leaned back in her seat asking herself what more was there to discover about this man. She thought she had learned all there was to know about him but she was finding more and more day-by-day and she liked what she was uncovering. He was hers and she was happy.
Past rubber plantations, past palm oil plantations and into the outskirts of KL they drove.
Jennifer was tiring and was glad Peter had taken over the driving so she could just sit back to enjoy the scenery and Peter's running commentary.
The only movement she made was when his hand slipped to her knee and began wandering. With a slap, she reminded him that he had to behave while he was driving. However, her giggle told him his attention was most welcome and it held a smiling promise for later, when they arrived at their hotel.
Peter drove to the entrance of the Regent Hotel and handed the keys to the doorman.
"Please park the car and arrange to have the bags taken to our suite," he directed as he grasped Jennifer's hand and led her across the lobby to where two sari-clad young women were waiting. Jennifer recognized them from the wedding - they were Peter's two Tamil sisters.
"Two o'clock you said, and two o'clock it is, Peter," said one, looking at her watch.
Her sister joined in. "Poor Jennifer! I'll bet you have led her a merry dance, Peter. You have no consideration!" and his two Tamil sisters began to berate him for his lack of attention to the needs of his wife.
"Come on Jennifer, let's eat. I'll bet all he's eaten is that chili dish of his. How he doesn't burn his tongue we'll never know, but does it make him hot stuff?"
Jennifer tried to answer but couldn't get a word in edgeways.
Ignoring her blush, the sisters showed by their impish grins and tinkling laughter that there was no intention of offending.
The two young women, one on each side of Jennifer and clinging to her arms, marched off leaving Peter to trail behind. Chattering gaily, the women were oblivious to his presence.
Even at the meal table, they ignored him until he ordered chilies and fresh limes and sodas - no sugar.
"Peter, you've not changed! You know there are foods available that don't need chilies." His sisters knew him well.
