The Island

The Island.

Wrapped in the golden beams of the warming sun Lee sat on the deserted
beach. She thought over her time on this island, and all it had brought
her. Lee found herself on this tropical island not knowing what she was
doing here. She had no place to stay and there were no hotels. She
slept on the beach for the first three nights, like a castaway, she
washed in the sea and ate coconuts.

She remembered the moment she first saw Andreas. He was strolling
across the beach, heading for the weekly dance where he played the
saxophone. Dressed in a black shirt, partially unbuttoned and his dark
tight trousers she watched him glide across the sand. He passed right
by her without even noticing her, coming closer from the distance he
grew in to the perfect sized man, then slowly fading away as he
continued walking to the far end of the beach until he was just a blur.
His golden tan made him sparkle in the dull light of the setting sun.
His posture was tall and slender, his perfectly formed body, with his
bulging bisceps he looked as if he had had a hard life of manual
labour. He was stunning. As he walked passed Lee's heart fluttered in a
way that she only ever knew when she was at the height of ecstasy,
never had a man walking pass made her tremble and shiver on a warm
night. As he walked, people followed along the beach. Lee was
intrigued, never had she seen another person on the island in all the
time she had been here, she thought there were no others, and now
suddenly a god like creature was leading his followers along the beach.
Lee got up slowly, quite nervous at first she started to follow the
crowd, she tried to blend in but soon found herself walking alone
behind the group. As they all entered the open building Lee could see
it was a stage, there the band on the far corner, they started to play
a mellow tune which was so smooth it was almost haunting. Left outside,
Lee peered in the window. The group of people suddenly started to pair
off, as if the music was commanding them to do so. Slowly, two by two,
they went up on to the stage. They looked like they were dancing, but a
slow, close, romantic, movement. Suddenly to every couple in the room
there was no one else, they had forgotten all others and seemed to be
engrossed in each others company. Small movements, a stroking hand, a
soft lingering kiss on the neck, a fallen hand on the small of the
others back made Lee feel very sensual, she wanted to be part of it.
She glanced over again at the saxophone player, his long golden fingers
glided across the holes, his hold was gentle but firm. Lee felt a cool
breeze over the back of her neck, causing goose bumps to run wild over
her body, chasing up and down her spine, she couldn't take her eyes off
this man, he was magnificent. Suddenly the man looked straight at her,
directly into her huge pondering brown eyes, they held each others gaze
for what seemed like an eternity. The longer fringe of his otherwise
short straight hair moodily hung over his eyes, letting only
smouldering glimpses of the deep brown colour escapee from them. He
parted his lips, brilliant white dazzled her as he exposed his teeth.
The man smiled at her but Lee was taken aback, unsure of what to do,
and lost in her desire for him she ducked. Lee was still crouching on
the floor beneath the wooden window when the bare feet appeared in
front of her. That was their first night together.
Without saying a word Andreas took Lee's soft hand, he gently rested
his lips on it, planting a small kiss before taking her inside the
hall. Andreas' hands hugged Lee's waist. His rippling perfectly toned
muscles were outlined by the golden glow of the setting sun. He pulled
her even closer to him, she could smell the musty smell of a days sweat
combined with his almost feminine aftershave, which smelt like a sweet
lotion, rubbed all over his body. She stroked her hands down his back
as they hugged; his shirt was so tight it almost felt like a second
skin. Lee could feel every muscle, every bit of smooth skin, every
twitch in his back as she playfully tickled him. Andreas pulled her
even closer so that her breasts were squeezed into his chest. Every
part of their bodies were touching except their feet which were making
small movements in time to the music.
The raised platform on which they danced opened up on to the beach
before them to allow the night sea breeze to roll of the sea and tease
them with cool bursts of air, occasionally beating off the humidity of
the night. Soft gentle music bounced around them. Slow controlled notes
from a flute were almost haunting, but with the cello and clarinet
accompanying it the music was soothing and peaceful. The stage was soon
occupied by a dozen starry eyed lovers lost in the beauty of their
surroundings and the arms of their partners.
Soon the dancing was over for the night. Andreas and Lee were walking
hand in hand across the beach back to his sea apartment. Just as Lee
noticed the warmth of the still warm sand trickling through her bare
toes Andreas grabbed her from behind. Sweeping up her feet he cradled
her in his arms. So powerful yet he held her so gently as if she were a
precious and as delicate as a crystal. Suddenly Andreas started running
down the beach. Lee couldn't control her giggles as she bounced about
in his arms, splashing through the shallow waters of the sea, Andreas
lowered Lee down, so close to the water that the tip of her hair as she
held her head back darkened under the blue liquid. Finally as she
wriggled in his arms Andreas laid her down on the beach. They sat in
silence for a while, gazing to the brilliant white stars shining above
them as the warm tide splashed against their feet.

Lee woke to the blazing light of the sun intruding through the blinds.
She rolled over to be faced with a headless pillow and an empty bed. As
she got up she pulled around her, a dark blue cotton robe. It was huge,
but all she could find in this strange apartment. She tied it loosely
showing her naked skin underneath and walked outside trying not to trip
as the robe dangled under her feet.
Out on the balcony Andreas was painting.
"I call this sunrise in my heart. I sell it at the market today. Make
us lots of money." The fuse of colours blended magnificently. The
colours on the canvass skilfully showed the sunrise on the
horizon.
"You are an artist?"
"Yes, I do the painting" Andreas broken English turned Lee on, his
strong Spanish accent was always there as his tongue stumbled with
these English sounds. "and where do you come from my darling?, you just
appear like an Angel. Sent to me from the God?"
Lee did not answer as she pulled herself a glass of freshly squeezed
orange juice and sat on the wall with her back to him looking over at
the sea.
Lost in her thoughts Lee did not notice Andreas creep up behind her.
She did not notice his hands in her unbrushed hair, fingering every
little strand. She was only pulled back into reality when she felt his
hands on her thigh. Stroking her gently his hands moved up and down her
smooth white leg. Carefully reaching to her inner thigh he reached as
far as he could until her leg stopped and her naked body began.
Removing one hand he gently undid her robe. His free hand glided over
her straight body, fingering her belly button, feeling the outline of
her ribs before finally reaching her perfectly formed breast. Andreas
teased her nipple and fondled her breast all the time stroking his
other hand between and along her leg.
"I want to get out of here today" he whispered in her ear. "I want to
have fun."

Latter that afternoon the couple were once again on their beloved
beach. They called it theirs, as it was where Lee had first saw
Andreas. He laughed when she told him the story of him coming from
nowhere, suddenly there were people. He called her silly when she told
him she thought she was the only one on the island, he laughed because
they were the only people, the others come from neighbouring islands
once a week for music and the market where they all brought and sold
for their weekly shopping. Andreas could not control his laughter at
the thought of other people living on the island. Lee had not asked
Andreas any questions, she didn't want to know, but she knew now that
he was not a normal sort of man, he had never lived in a populated
country, with crowds of people. She wondered how he managed to get
here, she felt bemused, but decided to leave the questions. Lee first
came to the island to escape the pressures of England and a failing
career she had wanted to get away from the crowds and questions, so
this suited her just fine for now.
Back on the warm beach they had been riding horse from the stables.
After galloping through the green shrubbery and along sandy beaches in
the heat of the sun they found shade under the palm trees, where the
horses drank water while they rested. They sat on the beach for a
while. Andreas played with Lee's hair, twiddling the short strands that
were almost bleached blonde by the sun. Lee rested her head in Andreas'
lap. She looked at her arms, her once light skin had been turned golden
brown while she had been away from the cool British weather. She got up
and sat on Andreas' lap, facing him. His dark tanned skin had never
felt the cold weather. It glowed out from beneath his dark shirt, she
looked down, his white cotton trousers hung loosely but she could
imagine underneath them, completely tanned, there simply were no "white
bits" Lee reached forward to unbutton his shirt. Slowly button by
button. She gazed into his deep brown eyes. Andreas was sitting
upright, the open shirt slipped off his round shoulders to reveal his
torso. Lee leaned even further forward to kiss him. Even his soft brown
lips tasted warm as she touched them with her own.
Before either of them had time to realise what was happening they were
naked on the beach making love. Lee was sinking into the grips of the
sand as Andreas lay his weight on top of her. He was such a
contradiction. His perfectly formed body covered hers, but he couldn't
hold back his boyish instincts as he nibbled her ear, then out lining
her whole body features with his tongue. He was so different from
anything she had ever known. Finally, Andreas entered her, moving slow
and tenderly at first, he awakened her sexuality, soon they were moving
in time and every thrust got faster and harder. Lee pulled at his brown
hair as the pleasure got too much for her. She wanted to scream out,
but to break the tranquil silence on the deserted beach would be a
crime. Her long fingernails scrapped across his muscled back, he almost
cried out in agony as she drew blood, causing his sexual high to climax
he tensed his body.
Looking down on the beautiful woman before him Andreas knew this was
the woman he had been waiting for, he couldn't let her go. As she lay
on the beach sand glistened in her golden hair like jewels. Hints of
her natural honey brown hair hid beneath the lighter strands,
occasionally peeping out to add diversity.
Andreas got up to cool himself in the sea, washing off the remaining
sweat of passion. While Lee rapped herself in her marine blue bikini,
covered by a plain sarong. When he came back they bathed in the sun for
a while. Without saying a word Andreas suddenly got up. He reached for
his trousers, pulling out a clenched fist. Lee watched suspiciously as
he came over and knelt before her. Still in silence he held out his
fist towards her face and very slowly opened it.

Lee couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the shinny stone in his
huge hands. She knew what it was, right away, a diamond ring, the
biggest, shiniest pure stone she had ever seen, and then he said it, he
was already on his knees.
"Lee, I told you I cant live without you, this is the only way I know
how to make you stay, I want you to live with me forever, my precious
darling, please take this ring and say you'll be my wife."
At first the emotion was all too much to take. She couldn't stop her
body from shaking as tears of happiness streamed down her face. Already
she was imagining the dress, and how they would prepare the beach with
balloons and ribbons and a huge feast laid out on tables, and this man.
How much she loved this man, her heart was melting just looking at him,
she couldn't believe how happy she was, but then she remembered why he
was asking her this. Her happy emotion turned to anger as she realised
he didn't love her at all if he could do this to her. Her tears of joy
became tears of sadness, as she knew what her decision would now be.
Her arms, ready to rap themselves around him tenderly were now ready to
reach out and slap him. Her voice, once ready to scream and shout her
joyous news was now choked in her throat, unable to reach her mouth to
be formed into words.
"This is all because you want me to stay on the island forever? What if
I can't do that?"
"Lee?"
"I come from a place where there a lots and lots of people, where
everyday I meet someone new, where I perform on a stage in front of
people and tell them stories, its called acting. What if I can't give
all that up for you?" Already Lee could see the pain in his eyes.
"Lee, don't leave me here alone, stay here with me in this paradise, I
will look after you."
"Andreas, I love you so much, and I love this island, but I don't know
what I have to do. I have to follow my heart, and its telling me to go,
though I don't want to, its tearing me apart."
" I see. I am selfish for loving you, no? I can't help that. I can't
live without you. I don't want you to go, but you are right, if that's
really what you wanted to do, I should have known my place."
Andreas stood up he put the ring back in his pocket before pulling on
his trousers. Mounting the horse he galloped off along the beach until
he was no more than a dot on the horizon.
Lee was still sitting, she watched him go, then looked at the horizon.
This really was sunrise in her heart, this was where her heart belonged
now, wasn't it? Finally as dusk began to form and the other couples
were gathering on the beach to make their way to the stage for the
music and dancing Lee got up and started to make her way home. All
afternoon she had been thinking about what had happened. She realised
her home and own family were important to her, but she also knew she
loved Andreas. She had made a decision, and knew what she had to do.
She walked with no particular speed, unable to decide whether Andreas
would want to hear anything she had to say now or not.

Finally she was approaching the apartment. It looked so romantic with a
single candle burning just inside the window, lightening it out of the
darkness of the rest of the space. On the balcony the rocking chair
that she had sat in the first night was empty, the wall that she sat on
and watched Andreas paint from was dark, the morning table where they
ate breakfast was wiped clear, yet still the balcony was her special
place. Lee walked up the path, the errie silence of the island had
always worried her. She approached the front door and called out to
him, but there was no answer. She walked inside to be faced with the
single burning candle on a wooden table. The rest of the room was
empty, everything was gone. There was a piece of paper underneath the
candle, scribbled roughly
"My Darling Lee,
I love you too much to hurt you.
Remember that I will always love you
Andreas."

What had she done? The only man who had ever loved her, and she drove
him away. Tears formed once again, She put the note down on the table.
Besides the candle was a single red rose a sign of his love to her, as
he had said after the first time they had made love. On the other side
of the table was a nude portrait that Andreas had done of Lee, taken
from his memory while she slept during the night no doubt. It was
perfect, he had made her look beautiful, even the bits she hated about
her body she loved when she saw then the way Andreas saw them. She
picked up the note again, the bottom line read: Now your decision is
made for you.
He was right, her decision had been made all along. She heard a
creaking floorboard behind her, expecting it to be just the creaking of
an old house on the waterfront she turned slowly, not paying much
attention, but as she looked at the floor, expecting it to be bare, she
saw the feet. Her heart leaped into her mouth as she scanned the figure
standing before her. The flickering candle cast shadows over his
perfect face, but it was still him. Lee ran over, as she did he scooped
her in his arms again. Lee started crying as she realised everything
would be alright now.
"I thought I had lost you" She whispered delicately into his ear,
trying not to show her raw emotion.
"How could you loose me on a deserted island like this?"
Andreas carefully placed Lee back on her feet before slipping the ring
onto her finger. He took her hand once again as they went out to the
balcony and looked out at their island. Forcefully Andreas grabbed Lee,
passionately he kissed her. The kiss lasted forever, neither one
wanting to let go of the other they stood on the balcony all night with
the wind blowing in their hair and the warmth of each other to keep
them awake.