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“On our way down, I noticed the waterfall. It looks like a beach, or a sandy area at the bottom.”

“I know the one you speak of. It’s lovely and only a short walk from here. It has a deep pool. Follow the path to your left. Make sure when you come up on the waterfall, you follow the dirt trail behind it. Most people watch the water and then jump in, especially on a hot day like today.” The employee talked animatedly.

“You can walk behind the waterfall?” Nell asked.

“Yes. Behind it. There’s an opening caused by erosion. If you want, you can remain dry and not go in the water. Once you’re behind it, follow the trail down and you’ll come to the beach.”

“Would you like to go?” Nell asked Maklr.“Why not? It’s good to see you looking forward to something.” He smiled.

They held hands walking down the trail. “It’s lower than the other one.”

“This must be the path.” Maklr ducked behind the waterfall, crouching as he walked so his horns did not scrape the stone. The resort placed a bench in the curvature of the mountain’s wall for visitors and guests to sit and watch the water.Nell and Maklr sat together, staring at the curtain of water falling in front of them. “You look like something’s on your mind,” Maklr said.

“I want to do something crazy.”

“Crazier than zip lining?” Maklr teased.

“Something the old Nell would do.”

Maklr remained silent waiting for Nell to talk. Instead, Nell untied her shoes, stuffed her socks in the toes of the shoes, and tossed them onto the sandy area below.

“This. Now this is crazy.” She grinned, held her hair back and laughed as she ran and jumped off the ledge through the cascading water into the pool below.

“Nell!” Panic filled Maklr’s voice. “What the fuck?” He stared at the surface of the water, willing her to come up for air.

“Come on in,” she called from the pool. “The water’s great.”

“Stars, female! You’re going to be the death of me,” Maklr called back.

Nell laughed, treading water. “Are you coming or not?”

“If you can’t beat her, join her,” Maklr muttered. He threw his boots near where Nell’s shoes landed. “I’m coming,” he called. And he jumped.

He landed with a splash, bubbles rising from the depths. “Satisfied now?” he asked when he surfaced.

Nell’s hair stuck to her face. “Yes,” she said, laughing. She wiped water droplets from her eyelashes.

“Nell,” Maklr murmured, pulling her closer. “What got into you?”

Nell wrapped her arms around Maklr’s neck. “This,” she said. Then, her lips covered his. She tugged at his hair and licked his lip. “Maklr,” she moaned.

A few powerful kicks later, Maklr’s feet touched the sandy bottom of the pool. “We’re getting out,” he said. Nell wrapped her legs around Maklr’s waist, and peppered kisses on his neck. “Nell,” he groaned.

He carried her onto the beach and lowered her to the warm sand below. Their clothes dripped water, dampening the sand. “We didn’t think this through. Sand gets everywhere.”

Nell shrugged. “Oh well.”

Maklr held her close against his chest and dropped to the ground. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her, his tongue darting into her mouth. Nell’s hands roamed his chest, exploring Maklr’s rock hard muscles through the soaked white shirt he wore. She straddled his legs and began to unbutton his shirt. His violet hand covered hers, resting above his heart. “Kisses for now,” he said. “Everything else can wait.”

“If you insist,” she said.

Maklr cupped her cheek. “Oh, I do.” He pressed his lips against hers. This time, his tongue teased the seam of her lips. When she parted them, he slid his tongue inside her mouth over hers. The kiss seemed to last forever as they explored each other. Nell gently pushed on Maklr’s shoulders, and he lay back on the sand. She leaned over him, her breasts pushing against his chest.

The sun dipped behind a cloud. Nell shivered at the cooling air.

“Did you hear that?” Maklr asked, breaking the kiss.

Nell rested her head against his chest. “Your heartbeat.”