Allure

15- Ryon

When we enter the woods the sight is breath taking, it’s cooler here, and smells of faintly of pinecones, the sunlight forces its way through the thick cover of the and dances along with the wind.  For the most part there’s a small path guiding our way, a few fallen branches create small obstacles for us. Apart from the damp ground and puddles making us slip, the hike it’s self was easy going at first.  Richard makes it a point to capture many pictures of me and I’m certain he’s trying to fill the camera. After about 20 minutes I get tired, and the sun beats down on an open part of the path causing me to sweat.

“ Come sit” he smiles.  He escorts my to a severed branch, kicks it once. Wait’s and kicks it once more, before letting me sit down. 

“Drink.” He pulls a water bottle from his backpack and hands it to me, helping me take my own backpack off. A Welcome cool breeze rushes to the sweat that sits where the backpack once resided.

“Hate me yet?” he smiles as he drinks his own bottle of water.

It’s only now that I’ve had a chance to sit that I realize that I truly am tired. And that we’ve been traveling mostly upward.

“I’m excruciatingly close.” I retort and drink another much needed gulp of water.  I pull off the hat that’s been pleasantly shading my face and pull my hair back in a ponytail. 

Richard pulls a map from his pocket and all of his attention is poured into it. I take my first picture of the day.  And it is almost as perfect as the actual sight.

The sight at the top was extremely beautiful. We were standing at the top of a waterfall. The path got harder and harder the closer we got but once we were there it was worth it. We took turns snapping pictures of each other and trying to get the perfect picture of us together.

“Right down there.” He points to the bottom. That’s where we’re going.

The path down there was quick easy and relatively clear compared to the rest of the hike, around a couple of trees and over a small bridge.  And we were there.

The bottom of the waterfall was a lot more rewarding than the top. I never thought I’d get excited over water, but I was and I was happy I was like a kid in a candy store at this moment. I pull off my boots and roll up my jeans and step into the water. It’s warmer than I expected and comforting. I lost myself  in the waterfall for a moment until I feel Richards hands wrap around my waist.

“Still on the verge of hating me?” He whispers.

I smile and shake my head. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“My pleasure.”

          Richard unloads a buffet of fruits and small items onto a large blanket and invites me to sit.  There’s a large rock behind us that we lean on and watch the waterfall on. We don’t say much, but to me it felt like everything. I’ve never heard the sounds of nature so sincerely before and it was something I’d definitely do again.

          I find myself by the edge again. Admiring the warm water and the roaring of the waterfall.

          “Here.” Richard hands me a pair of shorts. And he himself  has changed into shorts and a tank.  Before I can ask any questions he disappears into the water.

          Absolutely not.

I fold my arms across my chest and wait for him to resurface.  And when he does he’s got that boyish look in his eyes again but I fight the urge to jump in after him.

“You’ve got to come in, ryon.” He yells to me.

“Not a chance.” I yell back but there’s no denying the temptation in my smile.

“You’re going to make me swim alone?” I can hear a false sense of sadness in his voice. And it makes me smile.

“You are correct.”

“Please.” He smiles and it breaks me. 

I run to change into his shorts and I’m in the water after him.

“Thank you for coming in.” He smiles, as my legs are wrapped around his waist, he kisses me and the kiss is different somehow.

He pulls the camera from behind him and tries to snap more pictures, I burry my face in his neck. “No more pictures.”

“But you’re so, so beautiful.” He says as he brushes back my wet hair with his hands.

I don’t respond with words. Instead I kiss his neck. Something I’ve never done but felt quite natural his breath hitches but I ignore it. I close my eyes wrapped around him and listen to the waterfall, I know he’s taking more pictures and I feel his large arms flex around me as he move to different angles.

Finally I look up at the camera as he takes one of us. I kiss his cheek and feel them  rise as he grins heavily there’s a flash. 

“I’m never deleting this.” He says as he tosses the camera back behind him. 

“Good.”  I let myself fall back into the water, release him from my legs and swim away.  The water feels amazing, and I am glad I joined him.