"Go on. Finish the story."

"Well, the pirate told Okalani to plant the tree. He told her as long as the tree was alive, so would their love be. He told her there would be a sign each time it rained, to remind her of his love."

"The rainbow?"

Jay nodded. "He came back every year asking her to join him, but she never would. And then one year he stopped coming. Eleu said she sent out ships to find him, but all they ever brought back were more young saplings, much like the cedar he'd brought her. She planted them all," she said, waving her hands around them to the trees. "And even though they never saw each other again, the tree continued to grow, and the rainbows still came after every rain." The shadows were darker now but Jay could still make out Drew's face, could still see the expression in her eyes. "I think it's a sweet story," she whispered.

Drew stared at her. "I'm in love with you, you know."

Yes. Jay knew that, didn't she? Couldn't she see it in Drew's eyes every time she looked at her? She wondered if hers revealed the same. "Yes." Just one simple word, yet she saw Drew's breath leave her.

The sounds around them—the splashing of the pool, the quiet conversations over dinner, the gentle rustle of the trees in the wind—disappeared as Drew reached for her, cupping her face, bringing her lips closer. Their kiss this time was soft, quiet ... missing the fire and explosion of their first out by the waterfall.

A tiny moan escaped as Jay's hands slipped around Drew's waist, pulling her near, sliding one hand under her shirt and against her flesh. She felt Drew tremble at her touch and her mouth opened, their kisses turning hungry as their bodies melded. She felt the hardness of the tree against her back as Drew held her there, and she moaned again, her body taking on a life of its own as it strained to get closer.

"Jay, we should stop," Drew said against her lips before moving her mouth lower, gently nibbling at the hollow of her throat.

"We shouldn't have started," Jay breathed, turning her head to expose more of her neck to Drew's lips, loving the feel as they moved against her skin. Her breath came faster as she lost herself in Drew's kisses. Yes, they should stop. But it was the furthest thing from her mind as her hand glided up Drew's side, brushing her fingertips across her ribs. She was so close. She could feel the swell of Drew's breast. So close.

"We've got to stop, Jay," Drew said again before finding Jay's mouth, kissing her hard. "Don't you dare touch me," she said.

Jay moaned, her tongue doing battle with Drew's as her legs parted, letting Drew nearer, feeling her thigh slip between her legs. Yes, they should stop. They were but a stone's throw from the garden. One of the other guests could walk upon them at any moment. None of that mattered. "No, it's too late to stop," Jay murmured, bringing Drew's mouth back to her own, pressing her hot center hard against Drew's thigh. She slipped both hands under Drew's shirt now, sliding them around her waist, her thumbs dangerously close to her breasts.

"God, you're killing me," Drew breathed as she grasped Jay's hips, pulling her intimately against her own. "I want you so much."

Jay lifted her head, trying to see Drew's eyes in the shadows. "I know I said we should wait. I know I said I didn't want to be like them, but I swear I'm going to die if I don't touch you." She didn't wait for Drew's response. She couldn't. Her hands moved, covering Drew's breast, loving the sounds that came from Drew's mouth, hating the fabric that stood in her way. Impatiently, she shoved the bikini top higher, finally feeling the warm, soft flesh of Drew's breasts, feeling her nipples harden and press into her palms. She closed her eyes, her head leaning back against the tree as her fingers teased the pebbled skin.

Jay-"

"Yes... yes, I'm in love with you too." The low, guttural sound Drew uttered made her squeeze Drew's breasts harder. "Touch me," she whispered. "Please... touch me."

"Jay?"

Jay left Drew's breast, finding her hand and shoving it between the waistband of her shorts and her skin. "Please... touch me," she whispered again, her hips already undulating, rocking slowly against Drew.

She felt Drew hesitate only for a second, then her hand moved, sliding across her hot flesh, slipping easily past the thin material of the bikini bottom she still wore. Her eyes slammed shut as her legs parted further, her mouth buried against Drew's neck, stifling her moan as she felt Drew's fingers brush against her, teasing her. Her hips rocked, urging Drew closer, begging for her touch.

Then Drew's fingers were there, moving through her wetness and slipping inside her in one motion. "God, you're so wet," she moaned. "Don't make me stop now, Jay."

Stop? No, it would have been easier to scale to the top of this tree than to make Drew stop. She bit down hard against Drew's neck, her hips moving forcefully against Drew's fingers, taking her inside, then letting her slip away, only to come back inside her again, harder and harder, faster and faster, until Jay felt her hips slamming against Drew. She was panting, unable to stop, and long past caring if someone could hear them. It had been too many years since she'd felt this primal hunger, too many years since she'd lost control.

And lose control she did as Drew's fingers slipped from within her, finding her swollen clit, stroking her, matching the rhythm of her hips. Her body exploded in an instant. There was no time to prepare, and it took all of her willpower not to scream out at the top of her lungs. But Drew's mouth was there, catching the sounds, holding her close to her body as her tremors subsided.

And it was then she finally came to her senses. She shook her head, trying to stifle the laughter that threatened to bubble out. But she couldn't. She buried her face against Drew, laughing quietly.

"Oh, my God." She laughed. "I can't believe we just did that."

"Neither can I."

Jay pulled back, her face still flushed. "It was fantastic. But do you think anyone heard us?" Drew laughed out loud and Jay quickly covered Drew's mouth with her hand. "Shhh. Quiet." Which brought more laughter as they finally pulled away from each other.

"There you are," Eleu said from the shadows. "I thought I heard your voices."

"Oh, God, just shoot me now," Jay told Drew, feeling her face turn yet another shade of red as she straightened her clothes.

"Whenever you are ready, I have dinner for you."

"Thanks, Eleu," Drew said. "We're starving."

"Yes. I'm sure you are. I trust your sunset walk was satisfactory then?"

"It was the best yet."

"Excellent. Come with me. The night is still young."

They followed her along the path back to the garden where the shadows disappeared. Jay glanced at Drew, trying to read her expression. But when Drew met her eyes, everything was there for Jay to see. She didn't try to hide. And Jay couldn't stop herself from moving closer, from slipping her hand inside Drew's arm, grasping her elbow as they walked. She just needed the contact.

But when they got to the garden, their normal table was empty. Jay raised a questioning eyebrow at Eleu.

"I thought perhaps you might enjoy dinner inside tonight," she said with a coy smile. "I took the liberty of arranging the table in Drew's cottage. I hope that's okay."

As their eyes met, Eleu's knowing look made Jay feel exposed. And embarrassed. But Eleu smiled slightly, her own eyes questioning.

Jay finally nodded. "I think that's an excellent idea." She turned to Drew. "Okay?"

"Yes, that's fine with me."   .

Eleu smiled at them both. "Wonderful. I picked out a special bottle of wine for you. If there is anything else you need for this evening, just let me know."

"Thank you, Eleu."

"My pleasure. Enjoy."

When she was gone, Drew smiled at Jay. "Why do I get the impression she knows far more than she should?"

Jay linked arms with Drew and led her out of the garden. "We had a chat this afternoon. She's very wise for someone her age."

"Wise, yes, but I think she enjoys playing matchmaker."

"I think you may be right."

And when Drew opened the door to her cottage, Jay's breath caught. Eleu had set a perfect table, with candles illuminating the white cloth. The windows were opened, the ocean breeze lifting the curtains, making the flames dance in the room. Through the door to the bedroom, a lamp was on, the comforter pulled back invitingly across the bed.

Jay turned to Drew. "Oh, God, we're in trouble."

"I think it's too late for that." Drew closed the door, closing out the world. She glanced to the table, then back to Jay. "I'm not really hungry right now."

Jay shook her head. "Me, either." She moved closer. There was no use trying to prolong the inevitable. Not after what had just happened at the tree. "Not for food, anyway."

And there was no rush this time as they moved into each other's arms, hands sliding under shirts, touching warm flesh, mouths meeting in a slow, tender kiss.

"I love kissing you," Jay said, moving against Drew's lips. "Kissing you, touching you."

Drew's mouth moved across her skin, her breath whispering into her ear. "I've dreamed of making love to you for so long. I can't believe how nervous I am."

"I'm guessing your dreams didn't include up against a tree with a potential audience within feet of us." Jay slid her hands up, cupping Drew's breasts again. "Don't be nervous. I just want it to be normal. I want to make love with you, sleep with you, wake up with you. And make love all over again." She moved her hands, feeling Drew's nipples hard against her palms. "And God, I want my mouth on you," she said as she found Drew's lips again.

She wasn't sure how—or when—they got to the bedroom, but she didn't hesitate as she pulled Drew's shirt over her head. The tiny red bikini top, she nearly ripped off, finally exposing Drew's breasts to her greedy eyes. She slowly raised her gaze, meeting Drew's. "I just now realized how many times I envisioned you naked." She smiled, embarrassed by her admission. "I'm afraid I didn't do you justice."

Drew reached out and took her hand, bringing it to her body. She pressed Jay's hand against her breast, a soft moan drifting through the room.

Jay moved closer, both hands covering Drew's breasts before dipping her head, her lips replacing fingers, her tongue swirling against a taut nipple. She was surprised at the softness, surprised at the tiny gasps coming from Drew at her touch. She lifted her head, her mouth moving slowly up Drew's body, loving the taste of her skin, her tongue slipping again into Drew's hot mouth. She lost herself in their kisses, their tongues moving wetly against the other, their hands roving idly against flesh.

Then Drew pulled away, her breathing labored, her eyes dark with desire. "Take this off," she gasped, tugging at Jay's shirt. But Jay's bikini top proved more elusive, and they were soon giggling as it became a twisted mess around her. "My God, does it have a lock or something?" Drew muttered. Jay raised her arms, letting Drew pull it over her head. "Oh, my," she breathed, staring at Jay. "Beautiful."

But Jay stopped her exploration, her hands going to Drew's waist, slipping inside her shorts and urging them down. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stand. She wanted to be naked, she wanted to be on the bed, and God, she wanted Drew's weight on top of her. "Hurry."

And Drew did, stripping them both naked in a matter of seconds, then guiding Jay to the bed. But it was Jay's weight which settled over Drew, Jay who pushed Drew's thighs apart with her knee, and Jay whose mouth claimed Drew's breast possessively. Never aggressive in bed, she wasn't sure what came over her, but her need to hold Drew—to kiss her, to touch her, to make love to her—was overwhelming.

She pulled her mouth from Drew's breast, "The words I want you don't seem to express everything I'm feeling right now." She dipped her head again, her tongue raking across a nipple, feeling it harden even more. "But God, I want you."

She felt Drew's thighs move under her, and she burrowed between her legs, her hips moving slowly, grinding against Drew. Drew grasped her waist, holding her close as she opened up for her. Jay could feel the slick wetness against her stomach, could feel the hardness of her own clit as she rocked against Drew. She wanted to be inside her, wanted to feel her wetness against her fingers, and so she slipped her hand between them, never losing the rhythm they'd set.