Derek chuckled silently. "Tabitha, I just want to massage your waist a bit."
"Massage what? If you keep this up, the sky'll be light. Go to sleep!" she demanded.
Was this man made of iron?
Derek buried his head in her neck, feigning wronged. "Tabitha, I'm too happy to sleep. I'm scared it's a dream. If it is, when I wake up, you'll be gone—just like in the countless dreams I've had over the past three years. So real, yet you vanished at dawn."
"Are you a fool? Can't tell reality from a dream?" she retorted.
"If a kiss from you could clear my confusion, then I'd know for sure. You never kiss me in my dreams," he said.
"Will you sleep after a kiss?" she asked.
Derek nodded earnestly. "Mm, I will."
She planted a quick peck on his cheek. "There. Now, close your eyes and sleep."
"Tabitha, that kiss lacked sincerity. I won't be able to sleep. I'll lie awake in the late hours, reflecting on whether I didn't do something right, whether I failed to please you, whether I didn't satisfy you..." he mumbled.
Tabitha covered his mouth with her hand.
Her palm rested on his chest; his skin was always hot.
After a passionate French kiss, a silver thread of saliva connected their lips. "Will you sleep now?" she asked.
Derek nuzzled her leg. "Now I'm even less sleepy," he teased.
"Drake, you jerk!" she exclaimed.
"Honey, I love hearing your voice. Be a little softer..." he coaxed.
"Jerk, roll off me!" she demanded.
"Baby, call me Derek," he said.
Derek finally had a good night's sleep. After the late-night antics, he didn't wake up until the afternoon.
When he did, they were still tightly embraced.
Tabitha opened her eyes groggily, her body aching. This scoundrel used to claim "nothing beyond three times."
Back then, no matter how strong his desires were, he held back, even limiting himself to a set number of times a month.
Only now did Tabitha realize how strong Derek's willpower had been in the past. Giving in to desire had left her bedridden.
After all the heated moments, they were both sticky and uncomfortable.
"The sky's clear... mmm..."
Before she could finish her sentence, he captured all her words in a long, passionate kiss.
When he finally released her, he said, "Good morning, Tabitha."
The satisfied man looked refreshed, as if he had aged backward by several years.
"The sky's clear. I want to clean myself," she said.
She could tolerate sweat, but his scent was everywhere.
"I know the way. Let me carry you there," he offered.
Derek got up, put on his pants, and slipped his large shirt over Tabitha's head.
Within a hundred miles, there were no people, only animals—a situation that oddly made them feel more at ease.
"I can walk myself. Put me down," she said.
"But I want to carry you," he replied.
After a night of storms, the vegetation was renewed.
Sunlight filtered through the dense forest, casting dappled light on them. Tabitha, with her arms around his neck, felt a sense of unreality.
After marriage, she stayed at home every day.
He never revealed his identity, never took her to events, and even when he occasionally took her out, it was to secluded places.
They watched movies in emptiescreened halls, and he never appeared in public with her or showed such intimacy.
It wasn't that he didn't love her back then; his love was simply shackled, too afraid to show itself.
Now, Derek had broken free.
Rules and restraint? Never heard of that.
He carried Tabitha to a clear river. "Don't worry. I've scouted this river. No crocodiles. Mostly wildlife comes here to drink."
As her toes touched the water, she winced.
"Ouch, it's cold."
"You'll get used to it soon," he said.
Plants and flowers thrived by the water's edge, attracting butterflies.
Amid the ripples, Derek stood behind her.
Sunlight danced on the clear water, and on Derek's chest were obvious tooth marks and some suggestive scratches.
She used to be restrained, rarely leaving marks on him.
Last night, they had been too wild.
"Tabitha, your hands shouldn't get wet. Let me wash you," he said.
Derek had brought soap nuts from the village. The cold water made her fair skin goosebump instantly.
"Bear with it," he said.
He rubbed the soap nuts evenly over her body, slowly circling and working up bubbles.
Tabitha's voice was hoarse. "You're doing this on purpose!"
"My conscience is clear. I have no ulterior motives," he replied.
His hands lingered on her sensitive spots, his nails lightly scraping.
"Mm..." Tabitha's heart trembled.
"Need a hand?" he asked.
The water rippled intensely before gradually calming.
A flower from a branch drifted onto the water's surface. Derek picked it up and tucked it into Tabitha's hair.
Tabitha glanced at him playfully, then skillfully tied her hair up with the flower.
"Once we're refreshed, we'll head out. Let's make the most of today's good weather and cover more ground. It'll take at least seven days to get out of this forest," Tabitha reminded.
"Got it," Derek agreed.