one’s haldi, which is the Indian word for turmeric. Next to the haldi is ground bilva fruit. Bilva is a sacred tree for Hindus and every part of it is used in ?yurvedic medicine. The tree is associated with the worship of Lord Shiva.”
“And all of this goes into making a powder that will be washed off in a few hours?”
“It’s the ritual and the symbolism that are important, Rolan.” Sarita read his bewilderment in his creased forehead and pursed lips. “It’s a different way of thinking.”
The ship’s engines died.
“We’re here.” Tony jumped up. “Terry says the beach is awesome. I’m going to swim to shore and hunt for twigs for the fire.”
“Remember Captain Terry had all the wood delivered, so don’t go overboard with the tinder.”
As usual, her son sprinted out the doorway.
“I hear we’re having a clambake tonight?” He arched an eyebrow.
“Austen’s doing everything pertaining to the meal. He’s from Maine.” She lifted a shoulder to rub her cheek and tried to blow a stray hair away from one eye.
Rolan tucked the lock behind her ear. “You don’t have to sound so defensive, Sarita honey. Is that finished now?”
Sarita’s gaze dropped to the series of stainless steel bowl filled with powders of all hues. “Yes. I think I’ll take you up on that swim now.”
“I’d prefer my cabin and a bath,” he said, standing and extending a hand.
“Anthony will be waiting for us, Rolan.” She reached up and grabbed his fingers, and he pulled her to her feet. “If we go to your cabin…”
“We’ll end up making love for hours,” he finished her sentence. Brushing the back of his hand on her cheek, he added, “I know. Okay, let’s table that for later. Tonight, we sleep together.”
Sarita shook her head and said, “I want to save that for our wedding night.”
The horrified expression on his face prompted a wry smile. “The actual sleeping part, Rolan, not the stuff that goes before.”
His hunched shoulders lowered and he let out an audible sigh.
“Thank God.” He spiked his hair. “Go get your suit on. I’ll wait for you on deck.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“I’m gone, before I give into temptation.” He smoothed his thumb over her lips, kissed the tip of her nose, and left.
Sarita made sure she didn’t brush against anything on her way back to the cabin. It took her a while to change and gather the items she need because of the powder stains.
When she reached the deck Rolan helped her into the Boston Whaler , and they motored the short distance to the glistening white shore.
Terry waded out to the boat, accepted their baggage, a large cardboard box, and returned to the shore.
Rolan shed his T-shirt. Sarita took off her long cover-up and jumped into the Mediterranean.
“Sarita.”
She heard his shout, but kept swimming. When her feet touched soft sand, she stood and strolled over to Terry, Austen, Harrison, Suresh, and Tony. Crowded around a wide opening in the sand, the group was digging the hole deeper.
Wedging in between Austen and Harrison, Sarita squatted.
She heard Rolan’s heavy tread and glanced up to see him stomping toward them.
Sighing, Sarita dusted off her hands and stood. “Where’d you put the box, Terry?
“By the rocks up there.”
Sarita headed in the direction he pointed.
Rolan caught her elbow with a cupped hand halfway to the boulder.
Halting, she took a deep inhale, cut to his face, and squared her shoulders. “It’s a swimming suit, a decent one. There’s no need for you to look like that.”
“Humor me and put this on.” He thrust the long cover-up into her hand. “I know it’s a decent suit, but damn it, I don’t want anyone else to see you in it.”
Shrugging her head and arms through the cotton, she muttered, “How on earth can you be upset with a one-piece?”
“Damn if I know. Never used to bother me before, but it definitely does now.”
“I knew you’d react like this after that red
“And all of this goes into making a powder that will be washed off in a few hours?”
“It’s the ritual and the symbolism that are important, Rolan.” Sarita read his bewilderment in his creased forehead and pursed lips. “It’s a different way of thinking.”
The ship’s engines died.
“We’re here.” Tony jumped up. “Terry says the beach is awesome. I’m going to swim to shore and hunt for twigs for the fire.”
“Remember Captain Terry had all the wood delivered, so don’t go overboard with the tinder.”
As usual, her son sprinted out the doorway.
“I hear we’re having a clambake tonight?” He arched an eyebrow.
“Austen’s doing everything pertaining to the meal. He’s from Maine.” She lifted a shoulder to rub her cheek and tried to blow a stray hair away from one eye.
Rolan tucked the lock behind her ear. “You don’t have to sound so defensive, Sarita honey. Is that finished now?”
Sarita’s gaze dropped to the series of stainless steel bowl filled with powders of all hues. “Yes. I think I’ll take you up on that swim now.”
“I’d prefer my cabin and a bath,” he said, standing and extending a hand.
“Anthony will be waiting for us, Rolan.” She reached up and grabbed his fingers, and he pulled her to her feet. “If we go to your cabin…”
“We’ll end up making love for hours,” he finished her sentence. Brushing the back of his hand on her cheek, he added, “I know. Okay, let’s table that for later. Tonight, we sleep together.”
Sarita shook her head and said, “I want to save that for our wedding night.”
The horrified expression on his face prompted a wry smile. “The actual sleeping part, Rolan, not the stuff that goes before.”
His hunched shoulders lowered and he let out an audible sigh.
“Thank God.” He spiked his hair. “Go get your suit on. I’ll wait for you on deck.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“I’m gone, before I give into temptation.” He smoothed his thumb over her lips, kissed the tip of her nose, and left.
Sarita made sure she didn’t brush against anything on her way back to the cabin. It took her a while to change and gather the items she need because of the powder stains.
When she reached the deck Rolan helped her into the Boston Whaler , and they motored the short distance to the glistening white shore.
Terry waded out to the boat, accepted their baggage, a large cardboard box, and returned to the shore.
Rolan shed his T-shirt. Sarita took off her long cover-up and jumped into the Mediterranean.
“Sarita.”
She heard his shout, but kept swimming. When her feet touched soft sand, she stood and strolled over to Terry, Austen, Harrison, Suresh, and Tony. Crowded around a wide opening in the sand, the group was digging the hole deeper.
Wedging in between Austen and Harrison, Sarita squatted.
She heard Rolan’s heavy tread and glanced up to see him stomping toward them.
Sighing, Sarita dusted off her hands and stood. “Where’d you put the box, Terry?
“By the rocks up there.”
Sarita headed in the direction he pointed.
Rolan caught her elbow with a cupped hand halfway to the boulder.
Halting, she took a deep inhale, cut to his face, and squared her shoulders. “It’s a swimming suit, a decent one. There’s no need for you to look like that.”
“Humor me and put this on.” He thrust the long cover-up into her hand. “I know it’s a decent suit, but damn it, I don’t want anyone else to see you in it.”
Shrugging her head and arms through the cotton, she muttered, “How on earth can you be upset with a one-piece?”
“Damn if I know. Never used to bother me before, but it definitely does now.”
“I knew you’d react like this after that red
Similar Books
