The Lioness Read online

  Ty squeezed Rose’s waist. “As long as it’s not Kom Pong Som. I hear that’s the real party town.”

  “No, I don’t like Kom Pong Som. It’s a little too much. No, I was thinking of Kampot and the Kep area. Both are quiet, with enough to see and do to keep one busy if you want but if you just want to chill out you can.”

  Ty was thinking. That sounded like just what they needed. A quiet place by the seaside. He wanted quiet and peace. He hadn’t had enough of that in years. He was getting tired. Tired of living on the edge for years on end. He could chase the eternal good story forever but that would get in the way of a life, the life that he wanted. There was always going to be the story, the one every journalist was looking for to get recognition. He had gotten enough accolades, what he wanted now was a peaceful life, one with a home and children and the woman he loved. That woman was sitting right next to him.

  They were winding their way around Wat Phnom. “Want to take an elephant ride?”

  “Oh, I’ve always wanted to ride an elephant. I’ve ridden camels in Egypt. My parents and us kids went for a vacation one year. I’d love to go back, go to the Red Sea. They have some lovely resorts from what I’ve read. Yeah, let’s ride the elephant.”

  They signaled the driver to stop and after paying him they walked over to where they saw the elephant waiting, eating sugar cane and banana leaves. They spoke to the handler and paid him the fee. Rose walked up the stairs of the platform, with Ty at the rear. The elephant stayed real still until she had a leg over then he decided to move, which brought a cheer from the Khmer, who were standing by watching. Rose was quick and Ty had a hold of her so she managed to grab a hold. The handler got him back in time for Ty to grab a hold and get a leg up. “You looked real cute, spread eagle there.”

  Rose slapped him but cuddled back towards him. “You would think that’s cute. Just like the Khmer. They get a kick out of the strangest things.”

  “I wouldn’t have let you fall, you were safe.”

  She leaned back and felt Ty’s arms go around her. “I know. I’m never afraid around you. I’ve always felt safe, even in Afghanistan.”

  “That’s good. There were times when I wasn’t sure if we had made the right decision to go to one place or another. You know, going after certain stories. Like that War Lord. Even with the heavy guard and his promise that we would be safe, you wonder when you reach a deserted town for the most part and bullets are whizzing around you. Those were the times I questioned my sanity and wondered if I had done the right thing in bringing you into that place.”

  Rose remembered that time and a few others. Once they only got so far, when they were traveling down to Kandahar. A former Taliban commander who had switched sides came out and warned them that the likelihood of them reaching the southern city was twenty percent and the fact that they had a fifty thousand dollar bounty on the heads of each foreign correspondent captured made Ty’s decision that much easier. The commander had pulled Ty aside and after talking with him, Ty had come back with a Burka and a change of clothes for him. They still had a dangerous journey back, but the outfits might help disguise them.

  Rose hadn’t questioned the sound judgment of the costume change. She didn’t want to get captured and if it took putting on the filthy cover-up then she would do it.

  Noori hadn’t said a word the entire return trip but he had gotten down on his knees and kissed the ground in Kabul when they limped in much later after two breakdowns.

  Both Ty and she had thought what if they had broken down in the no-man’s territory where the Taliban were still in control. They wouldn’t be there at that moment. Probably would never see Kabul again, or anywhere else for that matter.

  Ty pulled Rose in closer and, using her scarf as a shield, he let his hand gently go under her tank. Her skin was so soft and the gentle rocking of the elephant made his head dizzy with the thoughts of what he was going to do with her when they got back to the hotel. What they could do on an elephant. He remembered one time when in Afghanistan after a particularly hard road trip when they were turned back by that former Taliban commander who had switched sides. When he had gotten Rose back, it was late and though Hasina had gotten up to feed them, she went back to bed soon after. She had made sure they had plenty of hot water for baths in their rooms. Ty had to use the common bath, but Rose’s bedroom had the one and only private bath. He never told her what he paid to make sure she got that.

  He had brought his thermoses of hot bath water in and had taken and given Rose a bath.

  He remembered the sensation of bathing her in the candlelight, shaking with the discovery, actually it was a renewal of his feelings that were growing at an alarming rate that he needed to tell Rose, tell her his feelings. His growing love for her.

  He had gotten down on his knees bathing her from head to toe, telling her not to move a muscle. It had become increasingly harder when he had gotten off track and had ended up licking her. How could he not when she stood in front of him, he on his knees. Her knees had buckled and he had scooped her up, soap bubbles and all, and had made love to her on her bed.

  He leaned to the front the elephant’s gentle, slow gate that could rock a person to sleep or awaken feelings that were slowly burning, liked a banked fire. He kissed her face and hair, trailing down to her collarbone. “Remember the time I bathed you by candlelight and with all your glory and soap bubbles I made love to you on the bed?”

  Rose leaned back, if that were possible. “How could I forget? It was after our one and only aborted trip. I realized then that you meant the world to me.”

  “Let’s go back and do that again, get all soapy and then make love. Then tomorrow we’re going to head for the coast. I want to take one of the nights and bring you out in the ocean and make love to you there, bathe with you in the sea, under the stars.”

  “I’m glad I have you, you’re so romantic.”

  “I’ll always be with you, Rose. Now let’s get back, spend the rest of the afternoon naked.”

  Chapter 8

  Ty drove at a slower pace than most of the traffic on the road. Cars whizzed by, taxis honked their horns at them and then passed. He didn’t care one bit. He had nowhere to be. He was with Rose, they had a week down on the coast. His departure date was nine days from now. He was going to enjoy every bit of his time with Rose. Then he’d go back to Baghdad, close up things, tie up loose ends and when Rose arrived he’d get her out of the country as fast as he could. He didn’t want her there any longer than necessary. He tried to talk her out of coming, but she was stubborn. He admired that quality in her but it was also very maddening when he loved her so much. There it was, it was easier to say that to himself. He needed to say it to her. Tell her all his feelings. He still skirted them and it was wrong.

  He kept his eyes on the road but let one hand go to her lap. She stretched in her sleep and snuggled into his arm. She was very cuddly. She loved to touch and be touched. He had found that out early in their relationship and it was hard for her when they had been in Afghanistan to keep her hands to herself when people were around, especially since they weren’t married. So they always waited until Noori left and his aunt Hasina went to bed. Then he would go back to her room and spend the night, holding her, making love. Those almost four months had been the best he had ever spent in his life. He finally had found his best friend, his soul mate.

  He swerved to avoid a cow that was bent on coming across the road the same time he was crossing his spot. Then he had to avoid some kids who were playing. Typical third world where you shared the road with all manner of traffic and such. He slowed down in the straight stretch out of town and looked down at Rose. She stretched and yawned.

  “Hey baby, waking up?”

  Rose stretched and looked up at Ty. “Mm, guess I nodded off. Where we at?”

  “Well we just went through the first big town after crossing the Provincial border.”

  “Oh, that’s Choukk. We’re forty-five minutes to an hour from Kampot.
We can check in and have a nice relaxing lunch, then I can bring you swimming up the river if you want.”

  “Yeah, after we’ve unpacked and relaxed for a few minutes. I have a few things on my mind and swimming isn’t one of them.” Ty looked over at Rose and smiled, then let his hand trace her thigh. Letting his finger walk all over her thigh till it got to between her legs. “I need to explore, baby….”

  Rose felt the heat rise and it wasn’t from the sun. She felt a great need to crawl over onto his lap and grab a hold of him and kiss away, let her hands explore him, all of him. “We’ll see who gets to the other first. It should be interesting.”

  **********

  Ty turned after locking the door and Rose was right there, in his arms. She wrapped her one leg around his and was wrapping her arms around his neck. Then, before he knew it, they were moving to the bed. Hands moving, exploring, touching. The urgent need to feel each other. They were pulling at each other’s clothes. She was kissing him, he was kissing her back. He felt an urgent need to get her naked, beneath him. It was the first time in their relationship where he didn’t want to wear a condom. He wanted just them. Her, him, naked, no boundaries, nothing separating them.

  He lifted her and laid her out on the bed, kissing her, working her shorts down. Trailing kisses down her belly till he got to her thighs. “I want to eat you, Rose, make you cum.”

  She was arching under him as he pulled her shorts the rest of the way down, then her panties came off. Then he went back to her tank and got that off quickly and then her bra. She lay there beautiful. All naked, all for him, him only. He lay down next to her and kissed her, letting his lips slide over hers. She caught his tongue and sucked him in. Drawing him in and out, like he was making love to her. His head swam, he wanted more, more of her. He broke the kiss.

  “You bring me so close, Rose.” He moaned into her neck as he kissed, sucking on her skin just above her collar bone. He moved down her chest to her breast. He got up on his knees and caught her breast up. “You’re so beautiful, Rose, so, so beautiful.” He bent, taking her nipple in his mouth, sucking hard, making her moan and buck.

  Letting his hand travel, he caught her fanny squeezing, drawing her in. “I want all of you, no separation, nothing between us Rose. Can we make love without a condom? Would you mind that?” He saw her sweet smile.

  She caught his face in her hands, cradling him and kissed him hard.

  “Take me now Ty, now, never mind anything else now.” She took his hand taking hold of one finger, dipping him into her. “Just like your finger, nothing between us, now, hard, you and me.”

  “God Rose, you take my breath away. I love you, I love you so much!”

  Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him down. She was so happy with the way their relationship was going. She couldn’t believe it. He loved her.

  She arched up to him. She loved him, loved him with all her heart. “Love me extra then, right now, make love to me.”

  Ty rolled to his back and shucked off his shorts and boxers. Then, getting on his knees, he came over her. “I love you Rose, now and forever. You’re to be mine forever.”

  He came down and parted her thighs with his knee. She helped him by pulling him in till he filled her and they both sighed and then moaned. She took his face in her hands and, looking into his eyes, she smiled. “I’m so glad you love me, now show me.” She kissed him then as he let his lips travel down to her chin and throat. She purred as he moved in her, stroking her. They moved as one, harder and harder till he felt her get tighter, then she arched and he felt her nails bite into his back and she moaned his name. She looked up into his face, smiling. “Now Ty, I’m gonna cum, really cum.”

  He could feel her as she tightened and gave away to the feeling. He watched as he moved in her, harder, faster till he thought he wouldn’t be able to think any more, his thoughts scattered. Then he leaned his head down on her chest and with one last thrust he let her have him, all of him.

  **********

  “You know, Rose, you have enough energy for a couple people. I never figured you for a little dynamo when I first met you but you only get more so as we go along. We swam and biked back and you still don’t seem tired.”

  “Well, do you know what it’s like to have the freedom to do things like swimming, biking or just holding hands like we are now? It’s liberating, energizing to say the least. I’ll crash, no mistake about it, tonight, but at least I’ll be with you.”

  They walked along the riverside as the sun was going down. It was fitting, the first time they had met was when the sun was setting, but not a sunset like this. The sun was setting over Bokor Mountain. The sun, which looked like a fiery ball, made the river look like it was all aflame. They found a bench, one of the few, and sat down. He was holding a volume of Hafez and holding her hand. They still loved to read to one another. He had started that up again as soon as they got back together. He planned on sending her daily pieces when he was back in Iraq just so she could read one when he was away and still feel like he was with her.

  He looked out over the river and took her hand to his lips, kissing the tops of her knuckles down to her fingertips. He felt her eyes on him but he had to get himself together. He didn’t want to think about their time ending and him going back to the fray. He wouldn’t think about it. They had basically six days left. That didn’t include the one day that they would have to travel back to get him to the airport for a late flight to Bangkok. He had finally made the arrangements so they would know exactly how long they would have together.

  He squeezed her hand and didn’t care if she knew there was a tear or two. He was going to be up front, show all to her, give her all like she said. They needed this time for bonding again. He wouldn’t think about them being apart. It would only be the start of their life. He would go back, get his job done. Then when she arrived he would get her out of there fast. He didn’t want her there but she was so determined so what could he do?

  He looked down at his book, tears blurring his vision. “Mind if I read to you?”

  Rose looked over at him. “I want everything. Reading happens to be one of those things. I love to listen to your voice. The first time I heard your voice it almost hypnotized me, it was so smooth. You could be a very sexy telephone salesman.”

  “The only one I want to hear my voice is you, my sweet Rose, only you. I seem to melt down when I read to you. You do things for me Rose, that make me a better man. I was nothing till I met you.”

  She cuddled down into his arm and took hold of his hand. They sat like that for a minute and watched as the sun slipped down below the horizon, both lost in each other’s thoughts, each thinking about things they didn’t want to voice right at that moment.

  Ty opened up the volume of Hafez, the version by Ladinsky, and scanned the page he had stopped at. Then he came to the part that he wanted to read to her. It was short but it said a lot.

  My dear,

  Venus just leaned down and asked me

  To tell you a secret, to confess

  She’s just a mirror who has been stealing

  Your light and music for centuries.

  He looked over at Rose and saw her smile.

  “That was the sweetest one you’ve read to me. I feel like when you read to me that it’s meant really for me, not for anyone else.”

  “For now, that piece is for you. Some day someone will find that and read it to the one they love.” He looked at her and smiled and took up her hand again, kissing it. “I have more to read but not now. Do you want to go get a bite to eat then turn in for the night?”

  Rose squeezed his hand. “That sounds fine. I’m starved. I worked up an appetite for some reason.”

  Chapter 9

  They had been told the road to Bokor would be rough but Ty had never expected this. He was glad they had opted for the dirt bike. They never would have made it even with the Land Cruiser. They passed by boulders as long as the dirt bike and about up to Rose’s waist.
She had sat on one as he took her picture. There were four like that in the middle of the road. They had been told they had come down with the last rainy season. The park ranger had told them they were wise to bring a bike. Those who brought vehicles had to leave them there where the boulders were or try to get around, which wasn’t advisable.

  They were almost to the top where they would find the turn off to the Waterfall. Rose had been here once before but she said she hadn’t had to go around boulders like were around them now. Even the smaller ones were a bit daunting.

  “There it is, see the turn off to the water fall. We’ll have to leave the dirt bike at a spot in the field, then hike in the rest of the way.”

  Is there anyone there to watch the bikes? I saw a couple ahead of us?”

  “Yeah, I think I remember someone posted there. It will be worth it, though. We can have our lunch there and relax for a while.”

  They stopped at the junction and Rose climbed off and stretched. “Boy, my butt is sore, I’m gonna need a massage tonight, that’s for sure.”

  Ty got off and walked over to Rose. He dipped his head down and took a quick kiss. “Anything, you can have anything.” He took off his gloves and reaching up stroked her face. “You’ll need to wash your face, you’re a bit dusty.”

  Rose laughed. “I can only imagine. Well at least I don’t feel like I’m a dirt ball all the time, like back in Afghanistan.”

  Ty looked at Rose. Even dirty she was pretty. Her hair seemed to be on fire right now, her eyes sparking with excitement. “But you’re a pretty dirt ball.”

  “That makes me feel so much better, Ty. From anyone else I’d slug them, but from you, well....”She stood up on her tippy toes and kissed him, tasting the remnants of his last coffee. “Did anyone ever tell you you’re cute even when you’re dirty?”