Liam starts with the riding gear. With clear demonstration he teaches me how and where to put the girth, the bridle, and the saddle, which are more like the interiors of a car.

"It's important making sure each is well fastened," Liam says as I do it on my own. "Yes, like that! You're a good student, Ms. Jones."

"Really?" I'm ecstatic.

Liam smiles. "Yes, absolutely. Now, you can mount the horse, but make sure—"

"To use the left side," I finish for him, and we both laugh. I love this. "Okay, let me do it on my own."

"Okay. Be careful." Liam steps aside, crossing his arms on the chest as he watches me attentively.

Taking a deep sigh, I rub my palms together and near the horse. I smile excitedly as my gaze meets Liam's. He smiles back. I slowly put my foot on the stirrup and swiftly rise up on the straddle. My smile gets bigger at the feeling of being on the top, all by herself.

"Well done," Liam remarks, and I'm too busy with the horse.

"This is amazing!" I scream gleefully, trying to firm my balance somehow. Liam chuckles delightfully. "What next?" I ask, but to my surprise Liam strides closer as though he wants to join me. "What are you doing? I thought—"

"I can't let you do it on your own without mastering all the basics," Liam says. "The reins are like your steering wheel. You command the horse using these and a little pressure of your leg against her body. To commence, you gently pull them backward, like this." Seated behind me, he pulls the reins and the horse starts moving.

"Woah!" I gasp, eyes gleaming.

Liam smiles fondly. "If you want to turn right, you pull the right rein while pressing on your left leg," he instructs, and I watch with amazement as he does it. "The opposite applies for the left turn. Gently, Kira—don't forget that," he insists.

A short joyride follows while laughing from time to time. I can't stop bugging him to let me ride on my own, however, and he keeps teasing my flawed ability to control the horse. Jeez, I'm just a student here. Can't he tell?

"How can you know that I've understood my lesson if you don't let me try, Liam," I scold him.

"Okay, I'll let you do it," he gives in, his laughter amused.

Riding a horse has been one of my little dreams so I can't wait to eventually live it. I hold the reins and follow every instruction I've been given. The horse keeps moving gently, and my body hovers per her moves. Woah! I love it.

"So how do we stop?" I ask Liam.

"Pull back, just as we started," Liam replies. I do as I'm told, and gently the horse takes a halt.

"Wow!" I'm awed.

"Good, girl. Now I'm positive you can do it." Just like that, Liam jumps off, leaving me by myself. "Be careful," he warns.

"I am. How grouchy." I chuckle softly, finding my ride lighter upon Liam's absence. I start over with a big smile and in a minute the horse begins walking once again. "There, beauty, you're the good girl. What's her name again?" I glance at Liam, who's tentatively watching me.

"She's still nameless. You can name her yourself," Liam replies.

"Oh! Let's see," I say thoughtfully. "How about Summer? We met in summer, right?" I grin at Liam while enjoying the breeze slapping my face soothingly.

I feel in heaven right now.

"Yeah, baby, whatever you want." Liam shrugs.

"Or maybe . . . Autumn. We're surrounded by autumn right now. Tell me, big girl, which name do you like, huh? Autumn or Summer?" I lean over toward the horse's head, smiling joyously.

"So cute," Liam mutters to himself, watching his future wife giggling with the horse. "Asylum mental, my love."

"Shut up, Liam." I laugh heartily. He loves using my own words against me. "Can I trot?" I tease him.

"No, Kira! No trotting!" Liam snaps, his face alarmed. I laugh heartily. "We'll learn that next time, this is enough for today." He sighs and I ride around for a while, adjusting to speed and other small details.

Using Liam's shoulders for balance, I swiftly drop my feet on the ground. My incorrigible lips land onto his as I hold his neck possessively. I want to feel him given how happy I am. Forgetting everything, we begin kissing passionately, nature our witness.

"Did you have fun?" Liam asks breathlessly, holding my face near.

"So much fun. You're such a great teacher, Mr. Darcy," I whisper gently, catching my breath.

"And I've got the smartest student," Liam says in the same tone and pulls my face for another kiss. Oh my! "I'm so happy you're with me again, Kira." He hugs me tight, breathing into my hair.

"And I'm not going anywhere, Liam. You won't make me stay away from you again. Never again." I bury my face onto his wide chest, my favorite place, drinking in his beautiful scent that always intoxicates me.

With the country breeze singing through our ears, we stay glued for a long while, taciturn, listening to our own heartbeats and nature surrounding us.

"I wonder if you're also a great swimmer," I suddenly mutter while taking off my shoes, a moment later. I throw them aside, Liam's gaze stalking my every move. "Are you, Mr. Darcy?" Gently, I tuck the hoodie over my head, and then unzip my jeans softly.

"You're indeed looking for trouble, Kira." Liam walks towards me, eyes blazing with a shifted gleam.

Yes! My subconscious cheers alongside my sex goddess.

"No, I'm not." I run towards the river, giggling like a little one. "If you want me, come get me," I yell placidly, my feet onto the cool water running smoothly.

"You're such a traitor." Liam smiles, stopping right near the river.

My body relaxes the minute I bury myself into the river. Ah, what a good feeling. The water feels great against my skin. I hold my breath and dive for a while, shutting off the world outside the water, and then I shore my head up, all soaked, my curls sticking to my caramel skin.

"Ah!" I wipe my face, catching a soft breath. "Are you scared of water?" I ask Liam, who's still watching me.

"I've never been a fan," Liam replies.

"Well, you can start being one now," I reply and continue swimming further. The river isn't too wide, but it's a little deeper as I go further.

Well, I'm more into Ocean than the river, but nothing can stop me from enjoying the free water from the Almighty.

I go deeper, finding tranquility at the bottom of the river. I love meditating in the water, so I free my body and mind.

"Kira!" I hear a voice from a distance, but I'm too absentminded to pay a deserving attention.

I can see my mom's face, and my dad's, too. Memories from childhood flashback like a wildfire, the accident included. I get lost into the abyss, and my desire to see them again multiplies. I miss them terribly, and I'd do anything to hug them again.

"Kira!" That faint voice calls again, but my body doesn't respond.

The fire outrage in the car, back when I was just seven, comes back to life. I can see clearly the day my parents were snatched away from me, and I can also see how the little boy helped me out of it—how he saved me.

"Kira!" The voice calls again, and the little boy's blue eyes flash me awake.

Liam! I suffocate in the water and try hard to swim again. What the hell!

I pop out breathlessly, choking. Liam swims speedily and catches me deftly into his arms. He's tense, angry, afraid, and I try to be okay so as not to scare him even more.

Well, I am fine.

"What were you thinking, Kira?" Liam snaps, terror apparent in his eyes as his chest rises and falls.

"I was—" I cough. "I'm sorry, Liam. I didn't . . ." I fail to go on.

"Oh fuck. Let's get you out of here." He hauls me out of the river with his own hands. I'm a bit tense to even see how he does it until I'm lying on the grass, soaked. "Are you okay?" he asks worriedly.

"I am. I'm so sorry if I scared you, Liam. I swear it wasn't intentional," I utter beseechingly.

"I know." Liam wraps his arms around my body. "I'll go nuts if anything bad happens to you," he whispers, shutting his eyes full of unexpected emotions.

"I'm sorry, Liam. I'm here, safe and sound." I hug him back and lay beside him.

The sun grazes my skin gently, cooling me off my aftershock and cold. This has never happened before and I don't know why it happened now. I wished to dream of my parents, but not like this. I hug Liam tighter.

"What happened, Kira?" he asks gently, and I realize he's still in his clothes, only his shoes are off.

He must've been terrified to even jump into the water for the guy who hates swimming.

"I don't know. I was doing my usual meditation when I suddenly recalled the night of the accident. It came back to me and I lost my sense of reality," I answer honestly.

"Oh God." Liam sighs heavily, and I think he's trying to recover, too. "Please don't do that again, Kira. Promise me."

"I promise," I whisper.

We stay silent, my one leg across Liam's hips as we're still glued together. I try my best to forget what happened earlier and focus on my upcoming wedding. I gaze up at Liam with a smile, and he stares warily at me.

"What?" he quizzes.

"Where do you want us to go for our honeymoon? The girls have been pestering me about it and I guess I'll have to have your opinion."

Liam shifts a bit, an amused scowl on his face. "Do you realize I want to take you anywhere you want to go for our honeymoon, Ms. Jones? I don't care where we go, as long as you're there with me."

What was I expecting? I mentally facepalm myself, and my subconscious shrugs at me.

"Don't you have any place in mind?" I ask, hoping to hear at least one of his dream honeymoon destinations.

But I guess men don't pay much attention to these little meaningful details, do they? Now I wonder.

"Not really," Liam replies, sincerity lacing his voice. I sigh heavily. "Hey, are you disappointed in me? I seriously don't know, Kira. Maybe we can go to Europe? Or Hawaii? I don't know, anywhere you want, my love. So just tell me what your dream destination is and I'll be glad to share it with you."

"Okay, sir. Be ready because I'm not going to be easy on you," I warn, and I mean every word. He lets me choose? Well, I'll definitely choose the place no matter how far it is.

"I am, baby. Anywhere you want." Liam kisses my forehead, his smile alight. "But . . . I prefer somewhere warm, please. I bet it's going to be cold for us to be in a freezing country."

I burst into laughter. "See? We're making some progress, Mr. Darcy." I find the strength to sit up, crossing my legs Indian style. Liam does the same, his eyes bored lovingly into mine. "So, somewhere warm, you say?" I mutter.

"Yeah, somewhere warm. But I won't meddle into your choice from this point, Kira. My task in this decision making is done," he informs me.

"What?" I give him a sharp glare, deep inside grateful that he's given me a hint. I truly want both of us to enjoy our wedding and whatever that follows. "Okay, fine. I'll take it from here." I decide it's best I do it.

"That's why I love you. Team play." Liam murmurs proudly. I roll my eyes at him. "Come, let's get you home and rest." He tries to get up and I pull him back.

"I want to stay a little longer," I plead.

"Doing what?" Liam challenges, lascivious gleam in his smart eyes.

"Something we wouldn't want anyone to find out," I reply seductively, shifting my body onto his lap. He inhales sharply, giving no objection.

"You drive me nuts, woman!" Liam snaps and his hands hold me tightly, and I know what's about to happen won't be an ordinary treat.