Thank you for all the reviews! I'm overwhelmed! This site has been up and down all week, so if I didn't respond, I didn't receive a notification, but I will try to go through every precious one.

Thank you to the women who have helped me so much with this story: Ipsita, Nic, VampyreGirl86 and SarcasticBimbo. Love you ladies!

Chapter 4

I'm the first to arrive outside their hotel the next morning. We didn't make arrangements for Edward to pick me up, but I am disappointed.

There was a battle going on while I tossed and turned last night. My decision not to kiss him seemed absurd when my head was flooding with memories of what I was missing. Those damn words he used in Montana keep challenging my long-held views on sexual morality, and I'm still not sure where I stand.

"No Edward?" Emmett asks as he comes out with Rose behind him.

"He's not with you?" I respond, watching him pull out his phone and text.

"No, he's staying over there." Rose surprises me, pointing to the other side of the road and up a little. It's impossible to tell what lies behind the high fences of thatch and sticks, especially when palms and other plants spill out to the edge of the road.

"He's on his way." Emmett drops his phone in his pocket and I look at today's t-shirt. It's a play on the PUMA brand, only this one says "PUMbA", with the Disney warthog in crisp silhouette. When he sees me grin, he deadpans, "Hakuna Matata."

"Don't encourage him, Bella," Rose advises with a smirk. "He'll sing all the way to Cancun and we'll be sorry."

"No worries," he responds and she tells him to shut up while hugging him to her side. "Here he is," Emmett announces and I turn around. Edward is coming up the road with that fluid walk that makes me sigh. His jaw is shadowed by his beard, and the t-shirt he's chosen is faded, understated—a small Mustang slogan with a horse.

"Sleep well did you?" he asks, staring at me.

"Fine, thank you, and you?"

"Not especially. It took me a while to get off."

Jesus. I look down at the ground, hoping no one witnesses my blush.

"Did you forget to spray again?" I look up and see what Emmett is asking—Edward's mosquito bites are worse.

"No," he answers, shaking his head. "...but they still bit me."

Rose holds his jaw so she can take a closer look. The poor man's neck is covered in red marks. "We gotta move you somewhere else."

"Rose…let's just forget about it and have a good day." The way his eyes hold mine makes me hope he's talking about our parting last night as much as the mosquito bites. When the tour van arrives, Emmett and Rose climb in, and Edward opens his arm for me to go first. I have to admit I do like his good manners.

"You must have the sweetest blood," I state with a hint of sarcasm.

He puts his arm across to block me from entering the van. "Why don't you sink your teeth in and see how sweet I can be?"

"I don't think friends bite each other, Edward."

"Friends don't have the kind of chemistry you and I had."

When I look in his eyes and sigh, he moves his arm out of the way, mumbling something as I get into the van, and I take my seat, annoyed I didn't hear him. He stares at me for a while after he sits down, then pulls out a straw cowboy hat I've seen them selling here. Inserting earbuds in his ears, he places his bag behind his head and tries to get comfortable. Then he positions the hat on his head and tilts it down over his face.

When it's obvious he's fallen asleep, I can't help wondering what sort of night he's had, enduring the piercing sound of insects attacking him. I doze off myself once Rose stops questioning our driver.

We pick up another couple, Riley and Bree, at a big hotel in Cancun before arriving at the marina. The sun is blasting as they brief us before boarding. Those who do not have biodegradable sunscreen can purchase some now, but it appears we're all good. Ours is not one of the big tours, and there are many of them here, even this late in the season. We only have six passengers on board, and there's plenty of room.

It's difficult to hear each other over the sound of the motor, so we mostly marvel at the great weather and ocean of glass. Riley and Bree hold hands, looking at each other often and smiling.

My eye lands on a camera in its underwater housing. I've used one before but not in the ocean. Walking up to Marcus, our driver, I ask if he'll be taking photos of us swimming with the sharks.

"Not today," he answers. "I'm on my own and I can't leave the boat."

"I'm a professional photographer. Is it okay if I take a look at the camera?"

"When we get out there, I'll show it to you."

He's not the friendliest tour guide, so I try my best to be nice to him, asking questions about what we should expect from the day.

We're speeding to a location in the middle of the ocean, an hour and a half from Isla Mujeres, where the whale sharks come to feed. At the peak of summer, we would expect to see forty sharks, but today, we'll be lucky to find fifteen or twenty. In a few weeks they will be gone, migrating from the area as the food supply dwindles.

These sharks are classified as vulnerable to endangered, and strict rules apply in the sanctuary we are visiting. When I ask what is threatening them, my heart leaps into my throat at his answer. "Fishing, obviously, but they don't survive collisions with boats…especially tankers."

With awful images in my head, I go back to my seat, meeting Edward's eyes and an expression I can't decipher. He leans over to hear something Emmett is saying and glances at me again, before looking out over the water.

We are one of dozens of boats when Marcus kills the engine, and there is nothing but ocean and horizon as he starts his spiel.

"You are about to meet the whale shark, the species known as 'Rhincodon typus.' Firstly, these are sharks, not whales, and they can grow to fifty feet in length. Their huge mouths contain thousands of small teeth, but they live on plankton, fish eggs and the tiniest of fish and squid, so they pose no danger to humans. At an average weight of 10 tons and a length of 30 feet, they are the biggest fish in the world."

"Goodness." Bree gasps and Riley pulls her close.

Marcus smiles at her. "It's okay. They are also the most docile—the gentle giants of the ocean. However, do not get close enough to touch them. They have a protective coating and you leave them vulnerable to bacterial attack by damaging it. In addition, they are still wild creatures, and their tails are extremely powerful.

"Only two are permitted to swim alongside at any one time and we'll say a maximum of ten minutes each turn. Please pay attention to where you are so we don't have to come and rescue you."

A fin rises out of the water, not far from the boat. "Can we go first?" Emmett asks, clicking together the fasteners of his life jacket. He and Rose sit at the back of the boat in their fins. I get some shots of them before they don their masks and snorkels, and more as they jump in. Looking around, what's happening on the surface of the ocean is pretty dull through the lens.

Changing out of my t-shirt into my long sleeved rash guard, I only need sunscreen on my face. Since the explosion of tourists, pollution of the ocean and the fresh water that runs through the cenotes has become a big problem. I figure the fewer chemicals I leave behind, the better. Wiping my hands on my towel carefully, I inquire about the underwater camera.

Marcus is impressed with my knowledge of its operation, but reluctant to let me take it into the water. I show him I know how to use the strap so it can't possibly sink, but he won't budge. I even get out the stash of business cards I keep in my camera bag to prove I'm a photographer.

Edward interrupts. "Do you normally sell photos you take of your…guests?"

"Yes, 1,000 pesos each."

"Well how about Bella takes two photos of me and I buy them from you." He pulls the cash from his wallet and holds it out. I stare at him, so grateful he's trying to make this happen for me, and notice he's wearing a long sleeved rash guard, just like mine.

Marcus hesitates and shakes his head. "I would have to remove the housing to give you the images and I'm not the one who puts it back together."

I've got him there. "You don't have to. I'll upload them to my phone and then we'll delete them. No one needs to know."

"You can do that?"

"Yes. It's quite easy with the app on the phone." I'm honestly shocked they have this expensive camera and don't use its wireless technology.

We're assaulted by a booming noise coming from the water. Emmett and Rose are near the boat and he's yelling through his snorkel before pulling it from his mouth. "Incredible, people. Incredible!"

"Hey, Em?" Edward calls out. "Would you pay a thousand pesos for a photo with the shark?"

"Hell, yeah! Have I got time to find another one?"

"One more!" Marcus calls back over his shoulder.

"Sweet," Emmett responds, holding a thumb up.

"Should we go next?" Bree asks. Our lovebirds look excited, already wearing their life jackets and holding their gear.

Marcus doesn't acknowledge them, still eyeing the cash. "Okay." he agrees, taking the money from Edward.

Edward winks at me and I smile, loving his victory. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," he responds and gets his own gear together.

Riley and Bree are already in the water when Emmett and Rose throw their fins on the deck and climb the ladder.

"Oh my God, that's a big-assed shark. From the back, you'd swear it was a great white."

Rose grins at us. "Look at you two surfer dudes."

"What?" Edward asks.

"You're matching."

He looks down at himself and then me. "We are…perfectly matched." His lingering stare makes me wonder what he's trying to say. We've only known each other for a few days, so I don't understand the comment.

It's not long before Bree drags herself up the ladder and slumps down on a seat. She rips off her mask and leans her head back.

"Everything okay?" Marcus asks.

"It's exhausting," she says, panting. "I can't keep up with those sharks. My legs are shaking."

"But you enjoyed it?"

She nods her head and smiles. "I just need a rest."

Bree's early return means I have to face my problem. I've never snorkeled and I assumed our guide would give us simple instructions before we went in the water. Marcus won't let me take the camera if he suspects, so I watch everything Edward does and copy him.

We're already over the side when Riley returns. I said I wanted a few minutes to accustom myself to the weight of the camera, but I don't know if I'm supposed to bite down on the mouthpiece or why it feels like there is still water in the snorkel after I've blown it out.

Quietly, Edward speaks to me. "You haven't done this before, have you." I shake my head slowly, anxious he's noticed. "A quick puff of air is enough to clear the water. Keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth and you'll be fine."

"Thank you," I reply, appreciating his kindness.

The sensation is strange but worth it for access to this amazingly clear ocean. I've only ever experienced fuzzy and murky on the rare occasion I opened my eyes underwater. Now I cannot wait to see how the shots turn out.

When I see the first shark, I forget to breathe anyway. It looks like it's hardly moving, its huge mouth opening and closing as it comes toward us, surrounded by a swirling school of bright yellow fish. A man swims just above, dwarfed by the massive fish, using his arms and fins to propel himself through the water.

I don't have the use of my arms so I stay where I am as Edward swims up to it. The sun's rays in the water illuminate them both, creating a beautiful effect I have to capture. The shark comes close, quicker than I expected, and he's suddenly finning fast to catch up. Now I can admire its spots and the long ridges that run along its body. From the side, there's no mistaking it's a shark—only its mouth makes it unique.

It starts to rise and becomes vertical in the water. I yell through the snorkel at Edward, fearing it's some territorial move to warn him to stay away, when I see it gulping water on the surface—vast quantities of ocean pouring in like it could never fill up. The pictures I take show Edward transfixed by the sight just feet from his face. Even wearing a mask and snorkel, I can see he's grinning. I get a shot half under and half above the surface, which looks amazing.

When it lowers its head, Edward moves to the side and we follow for a couple of minutes. I know what happened to Bree—it is hard work keeping up, so I stop and rest, watching the huge tail move slowly through the water. Edward soon notices I'm not with him and turns back, pointing like crazy at something behind me.

I turn around to find a huge manta ray gliding toward us with hitchhiker fish holding on for the ride. Keeping completely still, we watch as it slowly passes and disappears into the blue. Then we look at each other in wonder, having witnessed something truly majestic.

A new shark appears, even bigger than the first, skimming the surface with its mouth open wide. Sadly, this one is missing half its dorsal fin, but at least it survived. Edward has no fear of the monstrous fish with his hand out, resisting the temptation to touch.

We let it go as people jump in ahead, and although this could not be more amazing, I feel for the poor sharks never getting any peace out here.

There's no rest for me when Emmett and Rosalie take Edward's place. They have both abandoned their life jackets, diving down and giving me a different perspective of them rising up under the shark. Edward's photos were more dramatic and surprising while these are serene. I hope they like them because I'm only getting one chance at this. They should be pleased with one of the two of them swimming together beside the massive shark.

Bree and Riley are completely different. He is strong in the water, while she holds back and watches. I encourage her to move closer, so I can get her in the frame.

When I'm happy I have enough shots to satisfy everyone, I swim back and leave them to it, finding Edward still in the water near the back of the boat. Reaching the ladder, he asks me to wait, then calls to Marcus to take the camera.

"You need to do this without the camera, at least once, Bella." I'm surprised how heavy it feels as I hand it up. "Give me your jacket so we can dive down."

It's freeing using my arms finally, and without the jacket I'm not fighting it's buoyancy. When I locate a shark, I don't even think before diving down, and Edward is right with me. Rising slowly, I study its pale underside, home to five sucker fish. The top of its head is covered with hundreds of random freckles while the body is marked with dots, more like co-ordinates. I'm so pleased Edward made me do this. I've had more time with the sharks than anyone, but I would have missed the real experience of swimming freely with these magnificent creatures.

Back on board, I'm happy to wait and check the photos while the others take their final turns with the sharks. Bree goes through them with me, delighted to see herself in some of the shots. I tell her to pay Marcus for one only and I'll email her the rest. She glances at Marcus, and smiles at me, mouthing, "Thank you."

We don't have phone service until we reach Isla Mujeres, and the sounds of incoming texts and notifications seem weird as we come in. My phone has been switched off for hours, conserving battery for the upload, and I'm in two minds about completing it first or going swimming with the others. The ocean floor is grassy here and it's so clear I can see fish.

I don't know what I think of Marcus as a tour guide. He's been lazy and sloppy in making us follow the rules, not even interested when most of us abandoned our life jackets. He should never have allowed me to use the camera, but I am appreciative, so I uphold my side of the bargain and show him the upload process. Lucky for me, the service here is surprisingly fast and it's not long before we've wiped the camera of evidence and he shows his relief. No one needs to know he's made an extra two-hundred dollars cash today.

As soon as I hear Edward call out "Turtles," I rush to get my gear on and enter a completely different world than this morning's deep ocean. The blue is gone, replaced by a shallow sea full of brightly-colored fish. The others are up ahead, floating and watching three turtles chomping away at seaweed. Looking around, I can't remember the last time I felt so free and happy.

Our tour includes a traditional Mexican lunch and Marcus calls ahead, giving us directions to a café. They welcome us, somehow knowing who we are, and place a jar of juice with a straw in front of each of us. It looks strangely rustic but the juice is cold and fresh and delicious. Rose says this feels like Tulum did when she last visited and proceeds to tell us about her spring break vacation to Cancun. They only came to Tulum on a day trip and she always said she wanted to come back and stay longer.

After the jars of juice, I'm not surprised by the presentation of the food. I am, however, blown away by how tasty everything is. I could live on the chicken fajitas, accompanied by bowls of sauces, limes, guacamole and a salad of tomatoes and onions. The shrimp with its spicy sauce, beans and rice is delicious, and the platter of fresh fruit finishes the meal off beautifully. I'm not the only one raving over the food either. I guess we're all hungry after the morning of exercise because we eat every bit, happy to leave a tip of 1,000 pesos between us. They hand us a foil-wrapped package for Marcus when we go.

Edward takes my hand when we cross the street and doesn't let go until we're back at the boat. I line everyone up to get a group shot on the jetty, and when Marcus offers to take one with me included, it's already focused, so I agree and go to stand next to Edward. I must be in vacation mode because it's very uncharacteristic of me to willingly pose for a photo.

It's three o'clock when we say goodbye to Marcus at the marina in Cancun. When Emmett offers him cash, he waves it away. It seems everyone is satisfied by the wonderful day.

As we wait for our transport, I get Bree's email address and she hugs me, thanking me for my help in the water. Riley is likewise thankful and shakes my hand. We all call out to them when they leave the van and get comfortable for the trip back to Tulum. When Emmett starts singing, I remember what Rose said. He's tone deaf but it suits him, and I almost join in. My three companions have really grown on me today.

Edward calls his hotel as we come, into Tulum. "Are you moving?" Rose asks.

"Not until tomorrow," he answers. "I now have a net, apparently."

She looks away, glaring. "This is making me so mad. Let me talk to them."

"No. Just leave it Rose."

With a frown, she sighs, giving up. "Okay. Where are we going tonight? Gitano's?"

"No. Tomorrow night, babe. Aren't you tired?" Emmett asks.

"Mateo's then. I want those fish tacos." She puts her arms around him and looks lovingly into his eyes. "We can still make the sunset lounge if we go right away."

Emmett looks at us and we both shrug. It sounds like a good idea to me. The driver is happy to drop us at the restaurant and I see Emmett hand him some money as we get out.

"Hang on a second." I take my mosquito spray from my bag and offer it to Edward.

"Repel plant based lemon eucalyptus. You brought this from home?" When I nod, he says. "Maybe that's my problem. I got mine here."

Rose reads it when it's her turn to spray. "It only lasts for six hours. It's your room that's the problem, Edward."

"Then I'll set an alarm and spray myself again. Okay? Happy now, Rose?"

"Sorry," she says as if she knows she's going overboard.

Emmett lightens the situation. "I'm buyin' folks. Who's drinkin'?"

"I am." I announce, and follow him. "Something with Kahlúa I think."

"Kahlúa and vodka. Yeah, I might join you."

"Me three," Rose calls out, walking with her arm through Edward's.

The sunset lounge at Mateo's is the top level of a timber tower, higher than the palm trees of Tulum. There's no drink service up here but the guy playing sax is really good. It's about as informal as you can get and I love that we don't have to feel underdressed, still in our clothes from today. I make sure I take photos of them looking relaxed and tinted by the red of the sun. It's been such a magical day.

Edward is downstairs, getting another round of drinks, when Rose leans into Emmett. He surrounds her with his arm and kisses her hair. The colors are already deepening in the sky over the jungle before them and I take the shot with a lump in my throat, knowing they'll love the romance in the picture. When she looks up at him, inviting him to kiss her, I take another to capture their intimacy.

"You know there'll never be anyone but you," she says clearly.

"I know, and I'm so sorry," he responds with a sigh as he leans on her head.

I step back and turn away, embarrassed by what I just witnessed.

Was their marriage actually crumbling? Are they here trying to salvage it?

"Here you go." Edward places a tray with four glasses on the table.

"Thank you." I smile at him.

"My pleasure." I do like the way he says that.

He's looks gorgeous right now and I can't help pushing his hair back, thinking of all the nice things he's done for me today, and seeing the red on his forehead. "You're sunburned. How are you doing with the mosquitoes?"

"So far, so good." His lips curl up into a smile and he says, "Thanks for the spray."

Now it's my turn to say it. "My pleasure." I cannot deny I'm glad Edward came to Tulum. He's kind, surprising close to his brother, and real with his sister-in-law, who obviously cares about him.

Tearing my eyes from his lips and the beard that's starting to get to me, I pick up two glasses and join Rose and Emmett to catch the last of the sunset. When Edward rubs my back, I'm ready to ask him to stop, knowing I'm vulnerable and starved of this kind of affection, but he takes his hand away quickly and leans against the railing. Even though this vacation is turning into a wonderful surprise, it will be over in a week and then everything will change. I wish it was otherwise, that I could pursue the attraction I'm feeling, but my head tells me it's not possible.

At the end of the meal, Rose lets out a huge sigh and sits back. "Way too much food."

"I knew you wouldn't finish it," Emmett comments, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, I think I might need to lie down. Day of leisure tomorrow?"

We both nod and Emmett leaves cash on the table. "Come on, baby. I'll take you back."

When they go, we finish our wine in silence, glancing around at the other patrons. Then Edward turns to me. "Are you still offering that treatment for the bites?" I look at him sideways, wondering what he's proposing.

"The aloe vera?"

His smile is soft. "Yeah, I could sure use somethin'. It gets worse at night." I feel like he's being honest. It's hell when you're trying to sleep. "Will you show me how it's done?"

After a couple of seconds where our eyes connect, he responds.

"If you're too tired…"

"No, I'm not that tired." I swallow, wary of him again. "Only if you can behave yourself, Cullen."

"I guess I can try," he says, smiling. "Should I... go back and shower first?"

He should shower, then apply the gel and repellant immediately after, so his mosquito ridden room is the last place he should go. "No, that will leave you unprotected. How about you grab a change of clothes and come to my room?"

"I'll walk you down first and go back for the clothes."

I stifle the, "No you won't," before we start to butt heads again. The sad truth is I've forgotten how to appreciate a man volunteering to look after me. Maybe I told Jake too many times I was fine and he stopped offering. It's just another one of those things I didn't realize I was missing.

"My momma would take a stick to me if she knew I let a woman walk the streets on her own."

"A stick?" I ask, incredulously.

"Yes, ma'am," he answers, as honest as can be.

Sometimes, I look at Edward and cannot fathom how he is still single. Right now, he's totally adorable in an old-fashioned way. "Okay," I agree, getting cash from my bag.

He holds up his hand. "Emmett left enough to pay for all of us. It's cheap."

I narrow my eyes as we stand, but I'm smiling.

We get a cab that drops us near my hotel. He takes me all the way to my door and then leaves. I enter my room, seeing someone has been in and spread the net around the bed for sleeping. They've been generous with the netting, so there is no way a mosquito could get in there. It's another example of this hotel taking the right kind of care. I've hardly noticed I don't have a fridge or hair dryer. I have power for the ceiling fan and lights, and I'm self-sufficient for the rest—something I'll have to deal with in the morning.

Checking the camera battery and phone are actually charging, I make sure everything looks tidy. Slightly nervous, I sniff my black tank and soft gray shorts, deciding they're fine to wear again.

When he knocks, I'm salt-free and shampooed, running a comb through my wet hair.

"I like how quiet it is here, Bella. There's no roar of air-conditioning."

"Yeah, it's peaceful. Come on in."

With a whistle he says, "Smells good," looking around like he's never been inside before.

Opening the bathroom door, I hand him a towel. "You have to use their products in the bathroom. The shower's not bad."

"Thanks." He takes his backpack with him and closes the door.

I locate the aloe vera and search for the Benadryl capsules. Finding the familiar box, I remember there was always one in our bathroom cabinet back home, our go-to medicine for all sorts of ailments. I continue to use it the way I was raised because I've had enough mosquito bites and stings over the years to know that it works.

It's one of many habits I've kept from my childhood in Forks, like brushing my teeth after every shower, something I can hear Edward doing right now. I wonder what he looks like with a white towel wrapped around his hips. Maybe he's naked in there…

"What do you want me to put on?" he sings out and my stomach contracts. He is naked. Then the door opens enough to see his bare chest and cheeky grin. With his hair slicked back, he's become the Armani model, risen from the ocean. "Do you want to do it in the bathroom?"

I feel my cheeks heat at the innuendo. "I…I assumed we'd go inside the net."

He closes the door and then comes out, wearing a pair of gray shorts, not unlike mine. "On the bed? You sure?"

"Don't get the wrong idea, Cullen."

He lowers his bag to the floor, letting out a long sigh and says, "Okay, Bella, the bed it is."

"Take these first," I hand him two Benadryl capsules, pouring half a glass of water from a bottle.

"What am I taking?"

"Antihistamine. It helps with swelling and the itchiness. Trust me, they work."

He swallows them down without further question and I open up the side of the net. Clambering in, he sits cross-legged, leaning back on his hands to study the canopy, closing his eyes when I turn on the fan.

"This is wonderful. The room itself is quite basic, but in here, it's five star."

Annoyed, I defend the hotel I chose. "It's not that basic, Edward. I have everything I need."

"There's no power outlet in the bathroom and no television. Do you have a fridge?"

I shake my head. "For your information, I like the simplicity, and I can watch television at home. Do you want me to do your back or not?"

"I do," he answers, sitting up straighter as I kneel behind him. Applying the gel with a cotton ball, I soon realize I'll be here all night, trying to treat the bites individually, so I squeeze out a larger quantity and spread it like lotion. His neck seems to have been their main target zone.

"Oh, that feels great." As his head sags forward, I find I'm enjoying this more than I should.

"Okay, Edward, turn around to face me."

He yawns as he spins around. "Sorry," he says, making us both laugh. It has been a big day and I'm looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the chest before me brings back images I should not be revisiting, certainly not while he's here. My breasts are at the same level as his face and he's blatantly staring at them, so I sit back on my heels.

He must have been lying on his back when the mosquitoes attacked because his front is much worse. Squeezing gel onto a cotton ball, I start dabbing at the bites near his ear, assuring him this will help. The cotton ball catches on his stubble and I have to switch to use the tip of my finger. He watches my face and every movement I make, saying nothing when I squeeze the gel directly onto his neck.

I hesitate, tentative to massage an area I know stimulates him. I remember his groans when I sucked on his neck as I rode him. My nipples react when I think of them rubbing against his chest, his fingers finding them and…

As I spread gel down over his shoulders, his skin breaks out in goosebumps. "Are you cold? Should I turn the fan off?"

"I'm not cold." He takes the gel from me and uses it on his arms and over his chest, handing it back when he's finished. "I'm aroused." Instantly, I flinch, ready to defend myself. "I'm not going to do anything about it, so calm down." Allowing my eyes to fall, I see the erection. "As I said, Bella, I'm a master of restraint."

My heart pounds and I know this is my fault, but I'm not going to apologize for trying to help him. Screwing the lid on the tube, I leave him inside to…do whatever men do with an unwanted erection. It's embarrassing to accept I let this happen, but I'm glad it happened with a man who has the decency not to laugh at my naiveté.

"Is it okay if I lie back and enjoy this?"

"Of course it is." He's been through hell for two nights. "Just stay on your back so you dry." I'll wait five minutes before I get him to spray repellent. Checking my phone, it's charged enough to show him the photos. "Do you want to see your pictures with the whale shark?"

"Yes, ma'am!" he sings out excitedly. For the next ten minutes, he smiles, scrolling through the images, zooming in and out. He describes his awe when the shark was gulping water right in front of him, and how insignificant he felt swimming alongside. I am surprised by how well some of them turned out, and I can't wait to see them on my giant monitor back home.

Handing the phone back, he folds his arms behind his neck and looks up, sighing. "What a great day." I hum my agreement, relaxed and enjoying the fact that I got to share it with them. Before I know it, I'm falling asleep and the phone drops from my hand. I open my eyes to tell him it's time for the repellant but he's out cold, a whisper of a smile lingering on his handsome face.

I don't have the heart to wake him, watching him for the minute or so it takes me to give in to sleep.

Thanks for reading xo