Chapter 5 The Lake

It was late afternoon when Ismail and Aminat returned from the hike. He unpacked the car and set up a tent in a remote location far from the parking lot. Overnight parking and camping were not allowed, but Ismail knew of a spot hidden behind a cove of rocks where nobody would look.

He returned from moving his car and found Aminat sitting on a sand dune. The sun was slowly making its descent. She looked like a goddess with her hair highlighted around her glowing face. She waved with both arms and beckoned him to her side.

His heart warmed at how much she'd changed-no longer pushing him away or acting like she suspected him. Showing he cared about her as a person meant she'd come to see him as a friend.

He raised his camera and shouted over the roaring surf. "Can I take pictures of you?"

"Sure. Should I go in the water?"

Ismail rolled his head back and laughed. "The water's freezing cold. This isn't abroad."

"I wore a bikini for nothing?" She untied her hair and let it fly in the wind.

Aminat had a bikini under her clothes? That thought sent his blood pulsing downwards and his brain whirling. How was he going to keep his composure?

He snapped a couple of pictures of her. "You don't have to go into the water to model it for me."

Pushing the sunglasses over her head, she approached in a slow, slinky model's walk. His imagination stripped her naked, and he wanted to pull her onto the sand. He needed a distraction.

"Look, sun's going down." He turned the camera toward the cascade of colors. Orange, purple, crimson, and blue. The tides rushed over the rocks, creating lacy sprays of mist.

Aminat calmly peeled the camera from his hands and slipped it into the front pocket of her hoodie. "Enough pictures. Get in the position."

"Position? Right here?" He let his arms drop to his sides, jaw dropping at her suggestiveness-or was it his dirty mind?

"For sunset watching. We can't stare at the sun and damage our eyes." She nudged him down to a flat rocky ledge and climbed into his lap. "Much better. Me in your arms, not the camera."

"You're staring at me, not the sunset."

She stroked his jaw. "Don't worry. I can see the colors out the side of my eye, like a painted background, but I want to be ready, right when the sun dips into the sea."

Ismail shifted his weight, hoping she wouldn't notice how much she affected him. Her lips hovered near his, and the scent of her perfume invited him to close the gap. This wasn't fair, the way she teased. He peeked at the horizon.

The slanted rays reflected off the wispy clouds, and the sky glowed bright orange over the murky grey and blue ocean. The golden cone of the sun, the salty sea scent, the relentless crash of the surf over the rocks, and the soft, satiny woman in his arms caught his heartbeat and stole his breath.

The sun winked into the ocean, and Aminat's lips crested over his. He opened his mouth and closed his eyes, allowing billows of warmth to drown him in the essence of Aminat Shehu.

Aminat held Ismail' face gently and kissed him, alternating between his upper and lower lips. His stubble rubbed against her, stimulating her tongue to explore. He was not aggressive and not jockeying for dominance. She pressed in, unable to get enough of him.

He massaged her shoulders and the back of her neck. He had to be feeling something-the passionate way he held her, his hand appreciative, yet never venturing to more sensitive zones. She broke off the kiss before he had a chance to disengage first.

He inhaled through his nostrils. "I love the sea breeze. Cleared my nose."

Nice way to avoid the obvious. She tapped his upper arm, making a motion of depressing a syringe. "You're not going to give me any credit?"

"Umm ... of course, you deserve all the credit." His eyes claimed her attention. Deep and lustrous.

A purple glow emanated from the dark water, and the evening breeze chilled her. She couldn't figure out what Ismail wanted. He said friends, but that kiss said more. She rubbed her arms and hugged herself. "What happens now?"

"We eat." He looked at his backpack and moved to stand. "I bought sandwiches and veggies from the store. No open fires allowed."

She reluctantly eased off his lap. "Too bad. I can imagine a big bonfire and us snuggling under a blanket."

Was she laying it on too thick? He seemed to be ignoring her suggestions.

Ismail took the food out of his pack. "Bonfires aren't all that healthy. Once I was on the Barbeach seaside sitting around a bonfire, and the next thing I knew, I was in the emergency room."

"You must have been allergic to the wood they threw in."

"Possibly. My throat was swollen, and I had hives all over. I was on steroids the rest of the week. Stayed in the cabin and missed the fun."

"I would have stayed in the cabin with you." And had all the fun. She wouldn't have wanted to miss anything with this fascinating man. After dinner, he popped out a bag of marshmallows, and they pretended to roast them until the fog rolled in.

When it was time to go to sleep, Ismail set up the two-man tent and let Aminat crawl in first. The sleeping bag was unrolled and unzipped with a pillow at the head. She tucked herself in. The soft sand held the lingering warmth of the day, but the fog had definitely dampened the surroundings outside.

"You decent in there?" Ismail called, shining a flashlight at her.

She shot her flashlight back at him. "What if I wasn't?"

"Aw, shucks, I was hoping to find you in the bikini." He crept into the tent and sat on the tarp next to her.

"Where's your sleeping bag?"

A wide grin cracked his face. "You're in it."

"Guess you're out of luck."

"Then I'll freeze. I always sleep naked." He clutched his arms and shivered exaggeratedly.

"Too bad, so sad." Aminat tucked herself farther into the bag. The thought of him getting into the bag with her made every nerve sing with excitement.

He started to pull his shirt off. "Close your eyes. Wouldn't want to offend you, but it's my tent."

"If you're offering a free show, go right ahead."

He flicked off the flashlights. "No show, missy."

Aw, shucks! He was such a prude. Most guys would flaunt their assets. Darkness enveloped her, so dense she could almost touch it. A warm, make that hot, body moved not two feet from her. His breathing was shallow with sounds of disrobing. A delightful thrill skittered over her. He was so close. The air fluttered with the motion of another blanket, and his bulk was at her side, but not touching.

Aminat held her breath and waited. Nothing. He exhaled, as if making himself comfortable or saying his prayers. How could he ignore her after that hot kiss? Maybe he was the right type of man, the one she'd been waiting for.

She touched him. "Good night, Ismail."

"Mmm ... good night." His voice was muffled and raspy.

"I had a wonderful time." She felt safe and respected. "Do you come here a lot?"

"Sometimes, to get away. It's quiet here, lonely. All you hear is the surf, and the sky's so dark."

"Hard to believe seven million people live right over the hills. Do you like being alone?"

"I like having you with me."

"I like being with you, too." She feathered her fingers over his shoulders.

He caught her hand. "Better stop that or I won't be able to control myself."

"I affect you?" She pressed against him and nudged his forehead with hers.

"You make it very difficult not to." His minty breath fanned her face, his voice deep and husky.

"Why are we only friends?" She shouldn't push and risk breaking her vow.

"I'm attracted to you, but I can't handle the drama that comes with being more. I have to focus on my goals."

The wind moaned, and the surf crashed. Aminat couldn't find any words. He'd been honest. And she should be satisfied with his friendship and the special place she had, coming to this private hideaway with him and sharing his love of nature. A part of her heart ripped, but the other part pulsed and swelled. In many ways, he was too good for her, kind and pure, sweet and undemanding. He was right. Life with her was a sad and oftentimes traumatic rollercoaster. Her track record was rubbish. She refused to think about her failed relationships going all the way back to Tobi. She squeezed her eyes. Her first one had devastated her, ruined her, and left her a worthless shell- Tobi who thought law school was more important than the tiny life she was carrying.

A hand brushed her cheek. "What are you thinking?"

"That you probably think I'm an ashawo, pushing myself on you."

"No, no, no. You're not like that at all. I respect you."

"Most men don't." A lump rose in her throat. "They always looked at what they could get out of me, and when they're tired of me, they toss me aside."

"They're stupid. You deserve someone who cares about you no matter what happens."

"You mean that?"

"Yes, someone who loves you whether you're sad, glad, or have a bad hair day."

How did he know? Maybe that's what he wanted. To be accepted unconditionally.

She sighed. "I always figured if I gave more than I took in a relationship, they'd love me more. But I end up feeling used."

"Working with special children, you see them as worth loving because they are them, not what they can do for you and when they love you, they do so because of you."

"That's why you're different. I wish we could be more than friends."

"Me too." He snuggled up to her and rolled her, sleeping bag and all, into his arms. "Get some sleep."

The rhythmic pounding of the surf echoed her wishful heartbeat, wild and lonely as the Kuka tree.