Wonders of the world

Cycling tour

"That woman is driving me mad," she told him as they got off their bikes to wait for another traveller whose tyre had burst, "why is she on a cycling tour if she can't cycle... She didn't even bring suncream,"

He rolled his eyes at her as they watched the woman fall off her bike again. She caught his eye and she burst out laughing before shaking her head.

"Not all of us can be as graceful as you," he laughed, snapping a picture of her as she got onto the bike.

"Throw me that," she smiled, catching it and holding it above her head as she took a picture of the two of them.

He watched her as she sat on the floor and helped the local family made rugs. He shook his head and wondered if there was anything this woman couldn't do. He smiled and took a few photographs of her when she wasn't looking, and he found himself becoming increasingly fond of this woman.

He couldn't help but laugh as he watched her stop in front of the herd of cows. "Stop laughing at me," she uttered, "how am I going to get through here now?"

"Just cycle passed them," the guide explained and Connie shivered,

"Hey," Jacob smiled, "you caught that snake the other day, you can handle some cows." He placed his bike down and walked over to her, holding out his hand,

She sighed, before getting off her bike, taking his hand and walking through the cows.

"Good job," he nodded waiting for her to get back on her bike.

"Shut up," she grumbled and he couldn't help but laugh.

She watched as they sat down for lunch. One of the other travellers was all over Jacob and Connie couldn't help but smile.

"Isn't he your boyfriend?" Jenny, another traveller on the ride with them asked,

Connie shook her head, "no... I'm off men for a while," she smiled,

"How did you meet?"

"Playing volleyball in Koh Lanta in Thailand... We stayed in Thailand for a few days, and then came here together,"

"You look good together," Jenny smiled, "it must be nice to travel with someone you have no ties too..."

Connie nodded, "it is."

They cycled over the bamboo bridge and Connie jumped off her bike as she watched his tyres slip before he fell off his bike, his arm slipping through the bamboo of the bridge. She helped him up gently before she persuaded him to sit down once they'd reached the other side. "I'm fine," he laughed, causing her to do the same.

"You're almost as bad as that woman," she uttered against his ear and he laughed loudly, making her laugh again.

"Hey, I've made it past lunch without falling off... I can't be that bad,"

He winced as he moved his arm and she ran her fingers over his skin gently,

"All jokes aside, you have a huge cut on your shoulder... Let me clean it,"

He looked at his arm, "it's fine,"

She raised an eyebrow and watched as he looked at his wound.

"Okay, on second thoughts that is big,"

She found a small first aid kit in her rucksack and cleaned up his cut, placing a couple of steristrips over the top of it before covering with with a dressing.

"All done," she smiled, kissing his cheek, "slow down."

He watched her dancing with another traveller she had met in Bangkok, he was drunk and every time he hand a drink he felt himself becoming protective over her. He wasn't really sure why, she was more than capable of looking after herself.

"I need to head to bed, I have a flight to catch tomorrow," she smiled,

"You sure I can't tempt you to come to bed with me?"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm off men remember..."

Jacob watched as the man cupped her face in his hands and kissed her mouth. He watched how she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. He pulled her so she sat on his lap and Jacob rolled his eyes, allowing the girl he'd met whilst cycling buy him a drink.

"Hey you," Connie smiled 30 minutes later, "are you coming to bed?"

He nodded, "if I can find my key,"

He couldn't find his key and she shook her head, throwing him a flannel, "wash your face before you get into my bed, you stink of beer... Actually make sure you use that mouth wash too,"

He came out of the bathroom to see her sitting crossed legged beneath the covers.

"How do you do that?" He grumbled, "look so well put together even after all that wine,"

"Med school," she smiled,

"Hey..." He smiled, catching her hand and squeezing it, "you're really beautiful."

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek gently, "thank you, you drunk man, now let's go to sleep."