Page 71 of Lost In Kakadu

“Abi. From now on I’m Abi.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

The plane creaked as the sun’s rays dried up the morning dew and Abi woke to the sound of Mackenzie’s rhythmic breathing. She rolled onto her side to face him. He hadn’t shaved for days and the scar on his chin was now barely visible through his dark beard. His ritual was to shave once a week and she was always pleasantly surprised in his changed appearance each time he strolled up from the lagoon cleanly shaven.

Careful not to wake him, she crawled out of her bed and stepped out of the cabin.

The morning sun gilded the dew on the leaves high in the trees and small birds skipped across branches in the canopy as she walked barefoot along the marked track. She’d grown to love her morning swim and surprised herself by running toward the tumbling water, giggling as she ran, savouring her freedom.

Her timing was perfect to see the sun crest as a golden glow above the distant trees just as she arrived at the ridge. Digging her toes into the damp leaves, she raced down the cliff and was panting when she reached the bottom.

She skipped onto the rock pontoon and sat cross-legged on the rock wall that formed the waterfall. A beautiful dance of orange, yellow and white hues shimmered in the stream below her as the sun flashed its morningbrilliance.

The heat of the sun penetrated her skin and, closing her eyes, she breathed in the crisp air. For the longest time she listened to the therapeutic sound of water tumbling into the valley below.

She bent over the cool water to scoop a handful to splash her face, but its silvery surface caught her reflection, and she recoiled in shock. It had been at least four months since her last hair appointment and the damage was showing. Her chic hair style had grown out. Her fringe fell below her eyes and a dark line split the part in her hair like a racing stripe.

But she was pleasantly surprised to see how thin her face had become. Something else was different too. It took her a while to work out what it was—an absence of makeup. Up until a couple of weeks ago she wouldn’t have been caught without it regardless of what activities were planned for the day.

Even in the middle of Kakadu, the first thing she’d done every morning was apply her makeup. Initially, when it ran out, she’d consciously avoided getting too close to Mackenzie.

But now it didn’t bother her one bit. She smiled. It was unexpected freedom that she would never have found if it wasn’t for the crash.

Spencer would have disowned her.

Her weight loss had been dramatic too and she now fitted into the diminutive travel reporter’s more practical clothing. She took off her shirt and ran her hands beneath her breasts, feeling her ribs. The roll of fat that usually sat there was gone.

Before the trip, she’d hated what she saw in the mirror. Her eyes were too close together, her lips insipid pink and her freckles just dark blemishes on her milky pale skin. But now there was a natural glow to her skin and her cheeks and lips were a delicate rose colour.

Staring at her reflection again, she thought she didn’t look so bad.

“Hello, Abi.”

The sound of Mackenzie humming made her jump. Without any rational thought, she snatched up her shirt and tugged it on as she raced to the other side of the stream and hid behind a large tree. She peered around in time to see him arrive at the bottom of the path and when he looked around, she assumed he was looking for her.

I should play a trick on him.

“Abi?” he called.

Her heart thundered as she remained hidden. Mackenzie walked to the rock platform and removed a backpack from his shoulder. He wore nothing but a small pair of blue shorts. His body was lithe and athletic with sculpted muscular arms and broad square shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. He was hot, and she was heating up just watching him.

Abi was like a schoolgirl spying into the boy’s locker room. She gasped when he stepped out of his shorts and stood naked with his back to her. With his arms above his head, he stretched from side to side and his bottom cheeks bulged and relaxed with each movement.

She couldn’t take her eyes off his white buttocks.

He bent over and she quickly looked away, covering her mouth to resist giggling. She looked back just in time to watch him do a beautiful swan dive off the rocks into the lagoon below.

Taking the opportunity, she quickly moved to another tree so she could see the entire lagoon from the base of the waterfall to the boulders that formed the far edge.

Mackenzie stretched out and backstroked toward the waterfall. He settled under the tumbling water, letting it bounce off his head and shoulders. Diving back in, he swam a few laps across the pool then glided underwater to the large boulder at the opposite end.

He climbed out in one swift athletic movement, and she held her breath as he lay back on the boulder. The golden sun glistened off his body and the purity of the scene was magical; she felt exhilarated and alive.

After several minutes, Mackenzie got to his feet and faced her, allowing her a full view of him naked.

An exquisite sensation that she’d never felt before stirred within her.

Mackenzie’s confidence with his body excited her and with a pounding heart she released the breath she’d been holding and tried to remember the last time she’d seen Spencer naked but couldn’t.

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