Chris gazed at Cassandra as he saw her sitting gracefully in his car. Her radiant aura, her simplicity had always moved him to no end but today she resembled more of an enchantress with those attractive shoulders on display.

Chris moaned as his appreciative gaze shifted to her delectable ‘V’ of tantalizing flesh exposed firmly with her delicate movements.

She was magnificent.  

So very virtuous, almost angelic.

He smiled when he saw her reach out and entwine their fingers together, “You seem happy.”

He gave her a smile and squeezed her hand enclosed in his as he maneuvered the car towards the country side. "You're right, Cassandra. You're absolutely right." He sighed as he brought her hand close to his lips and kissed it," I'm happy."

“So, does the lovely girlfriend get all the credit Mr. Evans?” Rachel giggled.

Chris laughed, “Yes and not just ‘lovely’ my Cassandra but the most gorgeous, ravishing girl in the world gets to take all the credit.”

Rachel smiled back. "That’s me, eh! You know what, I am utterly content too. Thank you for being there. It all seems so surreal; in the sense we didn’t even know each other at all and look at us now. I bet you'd never thought you'd hear that from me, did you?" She teased.

A smirk settled on his lips. "Actually, I always knew that you'd get tired of resisting me and if the looks you used to give me in the café were any indication, I would say you were pretty ready to devour me, all the time."

A faint blush crept up on Rachel's face.

"I don't know what you’re talking about Chris," Rachel said.

Chris grinned innocently. "No, no, I'm pretty sure I know what I used to see."

"Chris, you don’t really know what you’re talking about, do you?" Rachel asked.

Chris grinned good-naturedly as he honked giving the car speeding behind them a passage.  

"Course I do," he said proudly, then lowered his voice to a whisper, "but I would love to hear you say those words aloud.”

"Ha-ha, very funny. Did I ever tell you that you're utterly hilarious?" Rachel retorted as she blushed a deep tomato red.

"No, but that's a good start. You can always tell me other things you find appealing about me."

A grin was fighting its way onto Rachel's face, "Flirt!”

Chris's pretended to be in shock, “That is me! And I can be anything you want me to be, my bunny.” He stopped his car as they reached their destination and climbing out of his car moved swiftly towards Rachel’s door before she could even try to open it.

He pulled the door open and without a word, picked her up in his arms as she squealed in shock but entangled her arms around his neck and snuggled closer to him.

Chris loved having her in his arms, she was so charming and having her near him brought this impulsive longing in him to be all the more close to her, to touch her stunning body, to just hold her.

She was perfect, her body especially those exposed shoulders were making him all giddy, he wanted to run his tongue across them; licking, sucking the marvelously tempting embalmed skin. She looked resplendent and sublime sitting in his lap the setting sun rays bouncing over her glorious body. Her body, so much smaller and more delicate than his, fit snugly against his own making everything in the world just ideal.

Chris leaned forward and watched enthralled as her eyes fluttered closed and she felt the slightest brush of his lips against hers, it send enjoyable shivers all throughout her body and she sighed at his touch.

He closed the distance between them again and they were kissing. His lips were so soft against hers and her hands roamed to the back of his neck entangling them firmly in his hair.

"You are so beautiful," he said. Rachel moved her face and gave him a splendid smile that made him leave all his senses for good.

Chris relished the moment when he lowered her down. Her glorious body sliding down his sensually. He set her back down on her feet, expecting her to let go. Instead was pleasantly surprised, when she left one arm wrapped lightly around his waist as she reached up and ruffled his hair.

……

He took hold of her tiny cold hand in his big warm one, she loved his gesture; it made her feel so very secure. His rugged, course hands gave her a feeling of being protected; she did not have to worry about anything, he would keep her safe. She could trust him.

Chris walked beside her down to the grassy banks of a little stream that flowed noisily giving the entire scenery a magical feeling; A serene, soft, rhythmic ambience.

He chose a cute little space under a huge banyan tree and after dropping a sweet kiss on her forehead rushed back to the car to get the mat.

Rachel loved the place. It was magical and so very romantic. She was a pure nature addict. Rachel was tempted to move towards the stream and dip her toes in the seemingly refreshing, cool water.

Before she could run towards the stream she saw him coming down the grassy slopes with a basket and a pink colored blanket in his hands.

“What’s all that?” She asked running towards him.

“Our snacks,” Chris replied, shooting her a laughing glance.

He took her hand in his and spread the pink blanket under the tree. They took off their footwear and sat on the blanket enjoying their togetherness and the feeling of tranquility the place exuded.

Sitting down across from her on the blanket, he leaned his back against a tree and studied her in an impassive silence.

She was a one of a kind girl, a beauty in the truest sense and with a personality that men dreamt of having in their girl. And, a body, a damn naughty body that would keep a man up all night long, he concluded feeling the jittery shaking of his nerves seeing her so very close and so breath-taking .

Rachel said, “It’s so divine,” pausing to watch the fading sunlight dance on the water surface.

He replied in affirmative and watched as she looked at him and gave him a full bright smile.

He sent one back at her, but it faltered as he glanced up at the sky, “It seems like nature just washes away all the worry, and bad things, you know?" His voice seemed very careful. He was waiting for her to judge him. "It's like nothing can touch you. It makes you feel free."

Rachel looked up as well, watching the light, fluffy clouds, as if they could tell her something."You know," she moved her gaze back to watch Chris. "You're right. I love the way the leaves sway almost lazily and the way they fall from those trees- composed- without a care in the world. I love to bask in the sweetness of the nature and question them about my doubts, fears, insecurity. “And you know what?” she looked at Chris straight in the eye.

Chris was surprised and beyond impressed by her thoughts. Her thoughts captured him, captivated him, she was astonishing just like her thoughts.

Unique and so very wonderful.

He was now curious, what all ‘gems’ did she have hidden in that little brain of hers, “What?” he prodded her.

“I love the way they answer me; not saying anything out loud but within myself,” she said as she flopped down on her back and rested her head on her arm staring up at the fluffy clouds drifting high up , glittering the blue sky like little diamonds.

He smiled awed by her deep, profound thoughts, she was perfect, he mused but didn't meet her eyes as he stretched out beside her and propped up on his elbow facing her gorgeous face.

Her beauty was enhanced manifold as he gazed at her unabashedly.

“Cassandra,” he whispered, as his lips slowly descended to hers.

The huskiness of his voice coupled with his seductive glint in his eyes was already making Rachel’s heart hammer.

Longing to put hers arms around his broad shoulder; she brought him down to her and snuggled in closer to him.

He smiled, his smiling lips almost touching hers.

He's amazing. The thought surprised her with its suddenness, but she didn't shy away from it. She realized that she loved being here in his arms. And that wasn't scary, but it sent a pit in the bottom of her stomach. Not an empty one, one that felt warm and bubbly.

Filled with desire and pure want.

"You amaze me." She whispered. Chris' head whipped forward, eyes wide at her. Her hand slapped over her mouth. Rachel went to pull away from him, but he held fast.

"Where did that come from?" His voice sounded incredulous and so very happy.

Rachel was glad that she was the only one who knew what she had meant to say. Yes, he did amaze her, but that was not exactly what she had been thinking.

“You’re amazing and you know it,” Rachel whispered, hiding her face in his chest as shyness consumed her entire being.

Chris leaned a bit back so he could see those blue eyes that almost undid him everything he started at them, “You know if there is something amazing here, that is you, my Cassandra.”

Her startled giggle was abruptly smothered by his lips. Her response to his kiss was so warm and eager that Chris felt as if his heart was melting.

Pulling his lips from hers, he gazed down at her lovely face, feeling humbled by her gentleness and warmth, “Have I told you, you’re an angel.”

Throughout all of this he had been maintaining eye contact with her, but now his eyes fluttered closed. Blindly, he reached out a hand and cupped the back of her neck, drawing her closer to him. Sensing what he wanted, she leaned in, turning her head at the last moment to kiss the corner of his mouth, then his jaw, then the spot right below his ear. He groaned.

She kissed the corner of his mouth again, feeling his tongue swipe out and try to catch her lips, in vain. And all the while her fingers danced up and down his back.

His hand removed itself from her neck, skated experimentally down her side. She laughed softly and kissed his forehead. His lips moved on their own towards her alluring exposed shoulders.

He kissed the middle of her throat. He felt a hitch in her breathing as his larger, rougher fingers stroked her arms. One of her hands tangled in his hair, the other made a small fist against his back, and he felt himself being pulled closer to her soft, delicious body.

He continued the trail; licking her shoulders tracing varied patterns. He stopped to look at her with eyes glazed with lust and almost let himself get carried away looking at the way her eyes twinkled and her breath came in shorts.

His lips sought the little space between her neck and the shoulder and he glazed his tongue lightly on her skin, enjoying her sweet taste, he knew he was going to get addicted to it. He bit her skin as she gasped and before her protests could start, started sucking her neck.

 She tightened the hold she had in his hair as she arched her neck giving him more leeway, “A-are you giving me a love bite?”

Chris didn’t answer but continued on his delightful chore. She giggled and pushed his head up, he smiled as his eyes met hers and he winked at her as his hands travelled lightly towards her waist, skimming her curves, holding her by her sides.

"That's not fair," she gasped.

"Why, you're not ticklish, are you?" he asked with a devilish glint in his eye as he threw himself on her and started tickling her.

"That-" she laughed, struggling to keep her breathing even as he showed no signs of stopping, "is not fair".

…………..

After having the snacks, feeding each other with their hands with a lot of lip action involved; they now sat on the grassy bank with their feet dangling in the water.

Rachel sighed as she savored the astounding feeling of freshness as the cool water gushed by her feet, tickling, cajoling, and teasing them.

“What are you looking at?” Chris asked Rachel as he sat there watching her furrow her eyebrows in concentration.

“A car.” When he looked bewildered she lifted her arm and pointed at the big boulders situated throughout the river side,” Right there, look at that big rock, it resembles a car, what do you see when you look at it?”

“A fat rock.”

Rachel simply rolled her eyes at him, “What else do you see now?

“Three fat rocks and a thin one,” he smiled at her.

“Don’t you have any imagination?” she glared at him.

Goaded by her challenge he squinted and finally discerned a shape he recognized. Over there near a little bridge was a rock shaped exactly like- breasts.

No sooner had he recognized it, Rachel excitedly asked, “What do you see?”

“I am still thinking,” Looking at her pouted lips, he hastily said, “A robot.” And then almost in awe he added,” I see a robot.” He had actually been able to imagine a robot out of a rock. Wow. This was new and entertaining.

They spent the next hour studying the various rock formations and amusing each other by their exquisite finds. Rachel looked at him, she wanted him to kiss her senseless and right now.

He suddenly turned and kissed her cheek as he threw a pebble in the river.

She then decided to tell him her truth, “Chris, I- I have to say something to you.”

He looked at her and took hold of her hand in his, “Anytime, my bunny.”

“It’s about me,” Rachel looked down and tucked her hair beneath her ear as nervousness engulfed her.

Chris put a finger on her chin and raised her face towards him, “No. Don’t, I don’t want to hear anything. Your past, anything else doesn’t matter to me. What matters is this time, this present time. You here with me.”

“B-But, Chris. It’s important,” Chris didn’t allow her to speak as once again he captured her lips in an enticing long kiss.

After an hour of harmless flirting and fun as darkness started to set in, Chris looked at Rachel, “Come, let's walk back to the car, we will have an ice- cream before I drop you back with a heavy heart."

Rachel stood up, it was all too dark. Chris bent down and picked up their now empty basket and he cautiously put his arm around her shoulders and seemed to relax a little when Rachel snuggled in closer to him.

 She put an arm on his waist, feeling more secure.  A sense of insecurity was feeding off her; she looked up anxiously at Chris. He was so confident, walking through the almost pitch black forest-area. The wind was ruffling his hair a little and she could make out his beautiful eyes perfectly.

Suddenly, she saw two men standing pretty close to a nearby tree with a girl on their feet; crying and begging them to let her go. Rachel shifted closer to Chris as her eyes met with those of the men. They seemed so empty and cold.

Chris had noticed them, he looked at Rachel, and he tightened his grip on her shoulders, "Its okay. Why don't you go and wait in the car?" He dangled his car keys in front of her.

She shook her head, “No. I won’t leave you all alone.” She whispered, she was scared but she wasn’t going to leave Chris there all alone.

He turned towards her, ”Alright, go and stand near that light and wait for me and whatever happens do not turn back,” he looked over at the men, turned kissed her head gave her a small push towards the light.

She nodded and walked in the direction of the light.

She watched him move towards the men, his muscles glinting in the light; her heart throbbed for the girl lying on the ground. She shuddered at the thought that erupted in her mind and wiped a tear that dropped down her eyes, what if they weren’t passing her, her fate would have been worse than death.

Rachel felt a bit selfish as she looked at the scene and found herself terribly worried for Chris. She knew he was strong, those muscles were a dead giveaway but there were two men against one. She rummaged through her pockets to come up with her phone but found the battery dead.  She stood still, her breath caught in her throat, as she watched Chris reach the men.