Author's Notes: So... we are at the final chapter. I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who followed this story, loved it and left me beautiful comments. Thank you, thank you, thank you! It was a wonderful experience and I am so glad that I was able to translate the whole story into English and introduce you to Eveline and Arenis and their crew. I loved writing this story from the first page to the last, I had so much fun! ❤️

(Warning: This chapter is NSFW!)

On the trunk and branches of the mangroves, numerous birds chirped. Advancing through the dense tropical forest was not at all easy, yet in the long run we found a path, traced by the frequent passage of people. Since the beginning of my stay in Nassau I had spotted many species of animals; parrots, hummingbirds, iguanas, curly-tailed lizards, turtles and boa constrictors. These were animals I had never seen before and I watched them, fascinated, as they moved nimbly through the seemingly uninhabitable forests. We reached a lake; Arenis told me it was called Cunningham. Soft white clouds reflected on the greenish water, as still as a pond.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "I had no idea there was such a beautiful place on this island."

We strolled along the shore. The lake, bathed in that stillness, seemed almost fake. It was a sultry Sunday. The humidity was heavy. It had not exactly been a good idea to set out in that heat, but I was glad I had been able to explore more of New Providence. I tried to fix every little detail in my mind; the scent of wildflowers, earth and wetness, the sun's rays filtering through tree branches, an insect that darted past us and landed on some plants.

"What is that?" I asked, pointing my index finger at a tree trunk. It had been marked with an X in red paint.

"It's a manchineel," replied Arenis.

"What is it?"

"A very poisonous tree. You die if you eat its fruit and its sap causes powerful skin reactions. Even standing under the tree during rain is a bad idea. Raindrops that come into contact with the leaves cause blisters on the skin."

"My goodness..."

"More or less all the manchineels on the island are marked with a red X, so no one comes close."

"How about we stop for a while? It's so hot..." I whined.

Arenis smiled, after which she hastily began to slip off her shoes.

"What are you doing?" I lifted my head, staring at her with a confused expression.

She, without answering me, dived. Her head disappeared under water and after a few moments she remerged a few metres away. She turned towards me and waved.

"Come on, what are you waiting for? It's fresh!" she exclaimed.

We spent the day there, lazing around. We swam to the middle of the lake, then competed to see who could reach the shore first. Late in the morning we dozed under the shade of a tree until my stomach began to rumble with hunger. Arenis laughed and scoured the place, eventually plucking some round green fruits from the branches of a tree.

"They are guavas," she explained. "Taste them."

We did not talk about unpleasant things, no; that day was dedicated to the little things, the joys and the most beautiful places we had seen. Arenis spoke of pristine waters, paradisiacal beaches and thirty-metre-high waterfalls.

"Oh, you have seen so many beautiful places. "

I chewed the fruit in my hand with gusto, resting my elbows on my knees. The juice of the guava dripped onto the corners of my mouth. Arenis then no longer looked me in the eye; she was staring insistently at my lips. I couldn't help but bite my lower lip, nervous. Sometimes, when she looked at me like that, it felt like my heart was going to explode, my mind was in the throes of the deepest of confusions.

"But what can I tell you about? About Kent? About Hyde Park?" I asked, bitterly.

She bowed her head slightly to the side, like a curious puppy. "There must be a place you remember fondly."

I frowned and reflected. Arenis was patient, never rushing me. She threw a stone into the lake and waited, quietly, for my reply.

"Hmm. Maybe... Don't tease me, but it's a small greenhouse. My mother had it built in the garden of our summer house in Hampshire. I used to play hide-and-seek in it with my brothers. It was full of weird and exotic flowers and so fragrant... My mother loved that place, she said it was full of beauty and that every now and then we should surround ourselves with it to remind ourselves how beautiful the world is."

"Your mother is a very wise person."

"I know." I brought a hand to my mouth and yawned.

"You are tired. We should go back."

"No. It is so beautiful here, I would like to stay here a little longer."

"The sun is going down."

"Please! Just a few more minutes."

Arenis, observing my pleading expression, relented. "All right, then."

Smiling, I sank a hand into the fresh earth and, with my fingers, began to draw shapes.

"Tell me," I spoke. "How long have you reserved feelings for me?"

"For quite a while, I must admit," Arenis chuckled. "I was doing my best not to let you notice. "

"Why?"

"Guilt, perhaps? Besides, I didn't think you would ever reciprocate."

"But I can't understand..." I said, sincere. "Why do you like me?"

"For many things. Sometimes I think I know exactly why I like you, other times I think that what I feel cannot be quantified in words. It is not a rational matter that can be explained. There are no precise reasons why I like you. I like you, because I like you. But more than anything else, perhaps, I like the way you think, the way you listen. I like how you always manage to surprise me in everything you do. I like your understanding, your compassion."

Her words were like a cascade of harmonious sounds, which caused me shivers of emotion. Her hair moved like tender leaves in the wind.

"Will you come with me, Eveline?" she suddenly asked.

I parted my lips. "What?"

"The Black Star is almost ready to set sail, but if you wish to remain in Nassau you are free to do so. So I ask you - will you come with me?"

My lips stretched into a smile. "As long as you will have me."

Suddenly Arenis' mouth was on mine, delicate, soft. Her kisses were intoxicating and each time my heart swelled with emotion. I put my hands on her shoulders and drew her to me, breaking the kiss. I just wanted to be close to her; as close as possible. And we stayed like that for a long time, embraced. I ran my fingers down her back and my breath caught. I had longed to hold her like that. I could feel the warmth of her body and her quickened breath blowing on my neck.

I couldn't help myself and kissed her again. I sank my lips into the curve of her neck, savouring her slightly salty-tasting skin. Arenis quivered and moved beneath me with an eager impatience. A new tension built up inside me, taking my breath away. I left a trail of kisses down her neck to the sensitive area under her ear and jaw.

Then I explored with my fingers. My gestures were delicate, as light as a feather, as if her skin were made of thin porcelain. Eyes blazing with desire followed my movements. And when I reached the laces in the collar of her shirt, I loosened them.

"Eveline, wait, I..."

I withdrew my hand quickly, as soon as I heard the uncertainty in her voice. Arenis stared at me. She parted her lips, as if to say something, but did not utter a sound. I had never seen her so vulnerable.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, worried.

'No, no... I just didn't expect you to take the initiative so abruptly. Are you sure you want to do this? There's no hurry, really."

"I'm sure," I replied firmly. "Just know, though, that I'm going to go a bit by trial and error, because I've never done this before."

Arenis laughed heartily at seeing me so willing to try. "Oh, me too."

"But how? Haven't you already slept with other women?"

"Every body is different, Miss Adler," she said, mischievously. "What gave pleasure to them may not necessarily give pleasure to you."

"Oh," I replied, astonished. Then I took on a serious expression again. "Well, but are you sure? If you want to wait it's not a pro-"

She blocked my words with a kiss. I surrendered, clinging to her. When she pulled back and leaned her forehead against mine, she spoke in a sensual voice: "You are so beautiful."

'You too. You smell like the ocean," I replied. That smell filled my nostrils. I sighed and resumed kissing her, and continued as I slowly pushed her towards the ground, making her lie down.

Blades of grass tickled my face.

Carefully, Arenis freed the buttons of my shirt with one hand, one by one, rubbing herself against me. Her other hand encircled my waist and pulled me against her, even closer. It seemed it was never enough.

I felt the warm breeze brush against my bare skin. And it was only then that nervousness began to rise within me. I had never disrobed before someone. Arenis sensed my hesitation and opened her eyes wide, observing me. "Don't worry." She spoke with such gentleness that I felt a curious emotion invade me. "It's alright."

"Forgive me."

"No problem. Do you want us to stop?"

"No."

"You must tell me if you feel the need to stop. I place my trust in you. You must say no if something makes you feel uncomfortable, are we clear? There is no reason to remain silent to please me. On the contrary, it would not please me at all to find out that I have hurt you, that I have upset you in some way."

I only nodded, unable to answer her because of the lump in my throat.

She needed more than just a nod of the head, however. "You must promise me, Eveline."

"I promise," I replied in a whisper, my voice hoarse.

"Very good."

Arenis wrapped me to herself, wrapped me like a cocoon, leaving me no way out. But I had not the slightest intention of escaping. Not now, not at that moment, not when the desire was igniting, inflaming, with such intensity that I could not stay still. Our hands explored each other's body eagerly, trying to get under each other's clothes, touching those parts hidden from view, that warm, intoxicating, soft skin. Arenis let out a moan, so warm and inviting.

Arenis was kind to me. She sought consent in my eyes for everything, even the smallest thing, like a caress.

She slowly pulled off my shirt, leaving me bare-chested. She gently touched my breasts, my belly, and a warm shiver ran down my spine. Those touches were so full of sweetness.

I was busy keeping my eyes on Arenis' face, on that face so full of wonder, lust and serenity. Her cerulean eyes shone under the shadow of the mangroves, her mouth was bright red from being tortured by my kisses.

Her nakedness made my blood burn. My eyes darted from side to side, non-stop in embarrassment. Arenis' crystalline laughter trilled around us, catching me by surprise.

"You can look at me," she invited. "No need to hold back."

My shame ceased to exist and I allowed myself to contemplate her. I contemplated her slender body and muscular shoulders, her round, rosy breasts rising with every breath. I caressed one of her nipples, barely touching it with my fingertips. Her breasts were soft and cool under my palm. I drew circles on her belly and traced the outline of the bones that crept under her hips.

Arenis, at that point, was shaking from head to toe. Her eyes burned with an intense light. She was as if enchanted, enraptured by my movements and my mouth. I kissed her, not on the lips, but on the shoulder. And then down, lower and lower, until I reached the skin below her navel.

Arenis could no longer hold back. She lifted herself off the ground and sought my lips. Her hands quickly slid over the waistband of my trousers. She opened them and slipped a hand into them. The caress on my pubis made me sway, but she held me firm and steady.

I gasped when I felt her fingers, delicate but firm.

"Relax."

It seemed an impossible request. How could I relax with her so close, while she was touching me like that?

Arenis seemed to know how far to go, where to touch, what to say. We let ourselves be carried away by each other. I was completely helpless to all those emotions I was feeling inside. I had never felt anything like that before, never thanked the universe for anything. But that day, I thanked it, over and over again, because it had given me her.

"Look me in the eye when you come."

It was a simple request, yet so difficult to put into practice. Waves of pleasure radiated through me until I gasped for breath. I felt so vulnerable, so exposed in that moment, yet I went along with it. I reached the climax and plunged my eyes into Arenis'. Eyes of a peculiar hue. Intense blue, like the sea on a sunny day. Arenis saw everything. And I let myself be seen.

Warm tears gushed from my eyes. They were not tears of sorrow, nor of sadness. They were tears of joy. Arenis understood this and wiped away each tear with a kiss. She savoured those salty drops, those tears so full of happiness.

'Shh, it's okay,' she murmured, again and again.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying..."

She smiled. "Go ahead and cry. Tears don't scare me."

I laughed between sobs. "Thank you..."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"I don't know... Maybe, for being so nice to me."

She leaned towards me and placed a light kiss on my forehead. "You are my treasure; how could I not be kind to you?"

"Your treasure?" I sang to her, amused by that chicanery.

Her cheeks turned red. 'Hmm,' she replied, embarrassed, making a hasty gesture with her hand, as if she wanted me to understand to give no weight to what she had said.

I laid a hand on her cheek, smiling. "Are you always this affectionate with your lovers?"

"No."

"You know, when you blush you are even more beautiful."

"Are you teasing me?"

"Not at all."

At that moment she seemed to me at once tough and defenceless, vulnerable and strong. I felt a strong desire to protect her, to keep her away from harm. That feeling swept over me like a wave and I let myself be carried away without resistance.

"I want to do the same thing you did to me," I declared.

Arenis raised an eyebrow, shrewdly. "You must not feel compelled to reciprocate."

"Compelled?" I huffed. "How could I feel compelled if that is all I want right now?" I retorted, silencing her. Swiftly, I straddled over her and grabbed both her wrists, nailing them to the floor above her head. Arenis was completely surprised, her lips, so tumid and voluptuous, were half-open and she stared at me with a mixture of excitement and dismay.

I lowered myself onto her and began to kiss her, exploring every inch of her body with my tongue. I slid my loose hair over her skin, tickling her.

My gestures were hurried, almost desperate. My desire for her was all too impetuous. It all seemed so unreal as to border on madness. I hoped it was not just a dream.

Arenis winced. "I'm not going anywhere."

"But you are real, right?" I asked, fearful.

We exchanged a long look. Arenis finally sketched a loving smile. 'I am. I am here. I will not leave you."

I put one hand close to her thighs, my fingers ran over her trembling skin. I insinuated a hand between her legs and Arenis wrapped her back. She was warm and moist.

I smiled and took her pleasure. I watched her, fascinated, as she wiggled under me. She had let herself go and at that moment I knew I had her.

After a few minutes, her body stiffened and she visibly trembled. She held her breath, then gasped.

Her moaning was music to my ears.

Arenis fixed her eyes in mine as I withdrew my hand and looked, interested, at the slimy substance on my fingers.

"You blushed again," I observed, beguiled. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, yes..." she hastened to say, unable to look me in the eye.

I gave her a heartening smile. "Thank you."

That evening, we talked about many things; we talked mostly about the future. We lay there, clinging to each other, naked. Arenis' relaxed voice and that warm breeze gently caressing my face put me in such a calm mood that I sank into sleep. I had tried to keep my mind active, to listen to what Arenis was telling me, but I felt my eyelids heavy and my eyes half-closing.

In my sleep, I dreamt of a gentle touch.

I was awoken by a wave of pomegranate-coloured light. The sun's rays warmed the skin of my face. I pulled myself up and looked at the lake before me, smooth as oil. I smiled when I noticed Arenis beside me. She was sleeping on her back, her face turned towards me. She had one hand open, resting next to one cheek, the other softly placed along her side. She had such a peaceful and serene expression that it struck me. Her face, lit by the dawn, was beautiful.