Caroline & The Blue Lagoon
Chapter 5
Rated 'R' for sexual content
By:
*****~*****
--Several weeks had passed and Richard was true to his word. He'd made her a blanket out of a deer pelt, and it was wonderfully soft and warm. He spared her the details of how he was able to do it, knowing she was uneasy about knowing the particulars.
It continued to get colder, so Richard lined the inside of the shelter with animal pelts in an attempt to keep out some of the chilled air. It did help, but it left Richard without a blanket, so he continued to share a bed with Caroline, using her large blanket to keep them both warm. Then he got an idea. He created something like a cement or mortar with mud, sand, and leaves, using the concoction with small rocks all around the shelter. Everywhere but the roof, which helped stabilize it and it helped keep most of the cold night air out.
"You never cease to amaze me." Caroline complimented, admiring his handy work.
"What?"
"How did you know to do this?"
"Do what? The mortar?"
"Yeah. How did you know what to do to make it?"
"Just used common sense… and a lot of trial and error…"
"Well, it's very impressive."
"Thank you." He accepted her acclaim humbly… "Next, I will build you a fireplace."
"A fireplace? Inside?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Same basic idea… stones and mortar."
"Wow. You can do that?"
"Well, I'm gonna try."
--And try he did. It took several days to gather enough rocks and actually build it, but he was able to do it. He made a fireplace, complete with chimney, and it added light and heat to the little shelter, making it far more comfortable. He even added a door to the little house, made out of bamboo, tied together with strips of leather made from the multiple pelts they now had. Sure, the door didn't swing open like a door in modern America would, but it sure helped keep the drafts out. Next he made a Mancala game board so they would have something fun to do. They played by the fire night after night, talking and enjoying each other's company.
"This is a fun game!" Caroline announced as they cleared the board to start a new game…
"That's because you're winning." Richard teased, smiling.
"That's not true! I still like it when I lose!" she stated with certainty… "Who woulda guessed something so simple could be so challenging!"
"This isn't the only simple yet challenging game in our lives…" Richard stated under his breath, but Caroline still heard him…
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"It wasn't nothing. You said something about Mancala not being the only challenging game…"
"If you knew what I said, why did you ask?"
"I wanted to be sure I heard you right. I wanted you to repeat it…"
"Mancala isn't the only simple but challenging game in our lives." He repeated, continuing to play his turn in the game.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Just forget it. I shouldn't have said anything…"
"But you did. Tell me what you meant."
"No."
"Please?"
"No. It's your turn…"
"In a minute. I want to talk about this first."
"There's nothing to talk about."
"I think there is…"
"You think too much."
"Oh, well, thank you."
"You're welcome. Look, Caroline, I already told you… it would be too complicated…"
"What would?"
"Us."
"Us?"
"Yeah, 'us'. You know, a relationship…"
"I would be willing to try and see…"
"But if something went wrong, you would be miserable. WE would be miserable."
"You assume too much. Most of the issues couples fight over doesn't exist on this island."
That comment intrigued Richard… "Such as?"
"Well, like… for example… we could never think the other was cheating… there's no one else here!"
"True."
"There are no issues with finances. Politics. Mother-in-laws."
"Yeah…"
He seemed to be as flexible on the subject as he would ever be, so Caroline took advantage of the window of opportunity… "Look, I understand your concerns… I really do… but I know what I'm feeling…"
"What are you feeling?"
"I'm extremely attracted to you. I have been ever since the ship." She admitted, shaking from nervousness. She'd gone this far… she was gonna go all the way… "I'm in love with you, Richard."
He closed his eyes, making it impossible for Caroline to read him. Was he angry? Did he feel the same? Did he pity her? She was desperate for him to say something, yet he sat silently, and her heart raced as she waited for a response.
"Richard? You're killing me here. Please, say something…"
"Are you sure?" he asked, his eyes opening, but his gaze remaining on the floor.
"Am I sure?"
"Yeah. Are you sure it's love?"
She couldn't help but chuckle, but she suppressed it enough to hide it from Richard… "Yeah, I'm sure. What kind of question is that?"
"An important question. What if it's just the situation? What if it's not love… but just…"
"Just?"
"Something else. Cause we're here…"
"It's not."
"How do you know?"
She just smiled at him, forcing him to look up when she didn't respond. Their eyes locked and she leaned forward, touching her lips softly to his, waiting for a response. He closed his eyes at the sensation of her lips on his. With slow urgency he ran his hands through her hair and pulled her closer, kissing her, tasting her, reeling from the contact. He reached down and blindly moved the Mancala game aside, inching closer to her, touching her, exploring her body, savoring her mouth with his. He broke away from the kiss and held her tight to him…
"Should we be doing this?" he asked breathlessly…
"Yes. Definitely."
"But, what if--"
"No 'what-if's Richard." She interrupted… "This is right."
"I love you, Caroline."
"Then make love to me."
He shuddered at the sound of need in her voice, and he kissed her neck and shoulder as he tugged at the strings of her clothing. The feel of his rough yet gentle hands on her body was intoxicating, and all she could do was hold onto him for support as he caressed her tan skin. Soon their loincloth style clothing was off and tossed aside, their naked bodies lying on the deer pelt blanket.
"This will change everything…" he whispered, his hands cupping her face…
"I know, Richard."
"I'm just trying to think ahead… think of the consequences…"
"Now who's thinking too much?" she teased, bringing a slight smile to his serious face… "I want this, Richard. I want YOU."
He closed his eyes and sighed… "I want you too. I NEED you…"
"Then there's no problem." She assured him… "Make love to me. Please…"
She ached with need, so much so that she wasn't beneath begging him, but that didn't prove necessary.
His hands magically touched her in ways she'd only dreamed about, and she moaned as waves of pleasure rippled over her body. She could feel his need for her in his kiss, and she shifted her body so he could position himself over her. He entered her slowly, a soft groan escaping his lips as he moved rhythmically, his eyes shut tight. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, his expression silently asking her permission to reach the stars, completing their union. She smiled and touched his face gently, a loving gesture, giving him her consent. His face twisted in gratification and he shuddered, the sensations of their love flooding his senses. Caroline arched into him and he quickened the pace for her sake, fulfilling her needs completely. They collapsed from delirious exhaustion side by side, their legs intertwined, wanting and needing the closeness.
After he caught his breath, Richard gathered Caroline into his arms and kissed her lips softly…
"I meant what I said." He told her…
"What?"
"That I love you."
She kissed him sweetly, then smiled… "I meant what I said, too." She assured him… "I love you."
They fell asleep in each other's arms, her head resting comfortably on his chest, a feeling of bliss encompassing them.
*****~*****
--Richard was first to wake come morning, and he gently removed his arm from around her thin body, standing and searching for his clothes. After a moment, she grumbled softly at the knowledge that he was up, awake, and no longer at her side…
"Richard…" she whined, and he smiled, kneeling beside her…
"I would love nothing more than to lay here with you all day, but we have stuff we need to do. We should keep our routine…"
"I know, I know. I'm up…" she rubbed her eyes sleepily and he kissed her soft and quick as he dressed.
"Tonight. I promise…" he said, giving her hope of things to come, and she smiled an almost wicked smile…
"Ok."
--They went about their daily chores, gathering water and fruit, mending the shelter, and checking on the state of the pelts that were drying in the sun. Every day they tried to venture a little further, looking for whatever could help their survival or aid in their rescue. Finding nothing, he walked back with her to the shelter before he went out hunting. He usually went alone, since the whole process made her queasy. While he was hunting, Caroline was usually gathering firewood and mending their clothes. She was always nervous while he was gone, worried that he would get hurt or something, but that feeling was intensified now. She fought to keep her anxiety under control, she didn't want him to see how on edge she was. He would use it to prove his earlier point… that if they entered into a relationship, it would change things between them. He would argue that her excessive worrying would only be detrimental in the long run. She had to be strong. To show him that she could handle the emotional aspects of a relationship and still focus on survival. When he returned, she struggled to meet him calmly, outwardly appearing to be in control… but inwardly she was so relieved that he was back safe that she wanted to cry.
"You were worried, weren't you?" he asked as she held him tight.
"I always worry when you go out…" she tried to sound neutral, unaffected, but he could hear the distress in her voice.
"Well, try not to. I'm always careful…"
She nodded, then turned away so he couldn't see the tears falling down her cheeks. He knew she was crying, but gave her the space she needed to regain control. He would've held her tight and wiped away her tears, but he knew she was trying to be strong, so he backed off and let her deal in her own way…
"I'm gonna start the fire…" he stated softly, and she nodded, her back still turned. "You alright?"
"Mmm-hmm…"
He put his arm around her waist and kissed her shoulder… "Ok. I'll be outside if you need me…"
--He went outside to 'the pit' as he called it… the fire pit he built so long ago when they first set up camp. After he built the inside fireplace, they only used the outside 'fire pit' to cook on and keep scavengers away. He started the fire easily, becoming efficient at it after time, then transferred one of the kindling sticks to the inside fireplace, getting a fire started in there as well.
"You gonna be up for a game of Mancala after dinner?" he asked, watching her demeanor…
"Sure."
"Caroline?" he addressed her quietly… "Was last night a mistake?"
Her head shot up and the expression on her face was a mixture of horror and despondency… "What?"
He shook his head and approached her… "It wasn't a mistake for me…" he assured her… "I'm trying to figure out what you're thinking. What you're feeling…"
She broke down in his arms and started sobbing… "I want to be strong… but I was just so worried today…"
He held her tight, consoling her… "Ssshhh… it's alright…"
"I was scared that something would happen to you. That I'd never see you again…"
"I know. I know."
"I'm so sorry…"
"For what?"
"For being weak."
"Caroline, you are not weak. You're the strongest person I have ever known…"
"I don't feel strong. I feel like an idiot."
"For caring?"
"For crying! I mean, why now? You've gone out alone a million times!"
"Because our relationship has changed. I told you things would change."
"You did. But I didn't think it would turn me into a blubbering idiot."
"You're not a blubbering idiot. You're in love…" He wiped the tears from her face and gave her a sweet comforting smile… "And so am I."
She smiled in return and looked down shyly… "Why don't I cook now…"
"Good idea. I'm starving."
*****~*****
--After dinner they set up the Mancala game, settling in for the night by bringing in extra firewood and shutting the shelter door. They chatted, making small talk as they played the board game, like they usually did…
"You know what's coming?" Caroline asked rhetorically…
"Dawn's early light?" Richard quipped…
"Well, yeah, but besides that."
"What?"
"Thanksgiving and Christmas."
"Ok…"
"Ok? That's it?"
He shrugged… "What else did you want?"
"Well, I don't know. But, shouldn't we do something?"
"Do something?"
"Yeah."
"Like what?"
"I don't know, something festive."
"Why?"
"Cause it's the holidays! That's what people do during the holidays!"
"What people?"
"All people!"
"Not all people…"
"Wait, are you telling me you never did anything for the holidays?"
"No."
"Not even when you were a kid?"
"No."
"Your Mom and Dad didn't do anything--?"
"No." he interrupted… "Your turn." He pointed at the game…
"You didn't have, like a special dinner, or presents, or anything?"
"No, Caroline, I didn't. Mom was always drunk, Dad was usually gone. My Thanksgiving dinner was a frozen meal I cooked for myself, and I never got any presents for Christmas or Hanukah."
"Hanukah? You're Jewish?"
"Dad was. Is, but not practicing. Mom was a drunk. Practicing."
"Wow. I'm so sorry…"
"It's ok. Go. It's your turn…"
She started to take her turn, but stopped… "Do you have any happy memories from your childhood?"
"Not really."
"I just… can't believe how different our childhood's were. Holidays at our house were huge events… with family and friends. Lots of food, decorations, presents. Of course, Mom would always overdo it and get all stressed, but then she would repress it. Then she'd drink a little too much eggnog and take a 3 hour nap in the middle of all the festivities…"
"Sounds fun. So, are you gonna take your turn BEFORE dawn's early light or what?"
"Sorry…" She started to play her turn, but her mind wasn't in it… "We should still do something…"
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Something…"
"Is it important to you?"
"Yeah. It is…"
"Then we'll do something."
"Really?"
"Really. I don't know what it's going to be. But we'll do something."
"Thank you, Richard."
"You're welcome."