Temptation

The First

Summer. The sun ought to be scorching, but he took no notice. The jungle smelled rich and loamy, purely alive. Birds sang overhead, tropical cacophony, a melody that was alien but beautiful all the same. Annie's laugh rang back to him as he chased her through narrow boar-paths and through knotted stands of bamboo and banyan trees. Ben was fast, but she was even smaller than he - lithe and as quick amidst the crowding green, but she had pressed the advantage and fled first. For a little while, they had broken through into a field, clipping across a corner of it before disappearing again into the deep places. Perhaps the cameras had caught this for a moment, some observer there to see two youths running across the island like chasing their bright destinies. Perhaps only the island saw. They did not care. They were young, and life stretched before them, bright intertwined ribbons of hope and chance, songs yet to be sung.

He caught up at last, falling into her as he grabbed out at her arm. She laughed again and caught him before they both tumbled into a small stream that burbled along rounded stones. Instead they fell together into soft moss, laughing, her hair cascading over his face and nearly causing him to sneeze.

She kissed him, full on the lips, and he drank it like wine, feeling joy burst within him. It would have been more than enough enough, that gift, but her hands traced his jaw and his throat and down. He caught the wandering hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing it, suddenly afraid, hungry.

Annie smiled down at him and pulled his face up to hers, kissing the corner of his mouth, then his neck, pressing her mouth against it. He could feel the soft pressure of her teeth veiled behind the young lips, whispering his name. It caused a thrill inside him, yet he was still terrified, lost in the jungle with her and no longer in control of the game. He hadn't been in control at all, he realized, and his eyes flew open. He looked up at Annie, his blue eyes clear and frightened, caught frozen by her loosened shirt and the soft, musky smell of her.

"Don't fight me," she whispered to him, her hands soft and soothing. "Do you want to fight me?"

He thought he answered no, please, not ever, no, but later could never remember if he had actually spoken. He pressed against her, she still above him, and then there was new flesh and smoky ripeness. The taste of her numbed his lips to all other sensation.

She took him first, he all but at her mercy. It was not for long, too inexperienced, too eager, too hungry, but still fine and terrible and greater than them. And then they lay for a little while, together, not speaking, still kissing, still tasting each other. Then time was come again and he took her. This was better, and when she cried out, there was no fear but only the return of the wild joy of the chase.

When dark came, they slipped homeward, fearing nothing on the island and trusting and understanding only each other. Their hands intertwined as they walked together, slipping apart at last to stealth into their homes under the cover of a moonless velvet night.

Summer was new. There would yet be more days as fine as this one had been. But only this first day would be so perfect and fresh.

* * * *

Now Ben was older. The blueness of his eyes yet undimmed, though they could not pierce his surroundings. It was dark where he lay, no moon, no stars, and he felt cold. Where was Annie? His hand reached forth, searching, finding nothing warm. He couldn't find her. He called out – surely she had to be close. He couldn't have lost her! Where was she? Where was he?

"Sshh," came her soft voice, now an adult's. A gentle voice, and full of fondness. "Don't worry. I'm close." A hand caressed his face, her fingers cool in the dark. He could still see nothing, but felt comforted. Felt safe. He always had, with her. "I'm not lost, Ben. Sometimes I worry that you are."

"I'm not lost," he croaked. "I just got a little scared, that's all."

"It's all right to be scared. Just don't lose your way."

"Will you still be there at the end?"

"Do you want me to be?"

"Very much." His voice sounded naked and lonely to his ears.

"Then I'll have to try. And you'll have to try. Can you?"

"I... I don't know." He couldn't remember what he was answering, what the question encompassed. He couldn't remember anything, except that first perfect day, the two of them laying on the moss.

"You need to, or you'll die."

"I'm not scared." He was, and she gave him one of her delighted laughs.

"I'm here, Ben, and you can't lie to me. Now hush. It'll be better soon."

He laid his head back on cold stone and fell into something that was not quite sleep, and held no rest for him. Yet despite this, he dreamed. A soft smile played on his lips. He could still feel Annie's touch.