Dreamtyme

Publisher Marketing: Almost everyone has, at one time or another, wanted to go to Australia. Its a continent, its a country and its almost 24 million inhabitants seem to be universally friendly. Maybe its because it has the fifth highest per capita income in the world, and the second highest human development index. All of its major cities score well in the livability index and Australia was the only developed country that did not suffer a recession in 2008. Then again, maybe we're overthinking it. Australia, being down there between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, doesn't seem to have the pressures of border countries that almost every other country has. Maybe they can just be themselves? Whatever the reason, Maren Lofton chose the Whitsunday Island, way up on the eastern coast of Australia, as their new home. She surprised Jon, her lover and longtime boyfriend, by telling him only after they were already on their way there. She hoped he would understand after she gave him a full explanation. Shakespeare once said, "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged cupid painted blind." Maren was hoping Jon's love for her was like that. She would soon find out. Jon Fitch believed he was completely in love with the woman of his dreams, Maren Lofton. She was smart, capable and savvy. More than that, she had always been worthy of his trust. He believed they were just going on a short ride in a commercial jet with her brother and a friend. She told him, after takeoff, that they are actually on their way to a new life in Australia; the Whitsunday Islands to be exact. After coming into a large sum of money, and unbeknownst to Jon, she had made arrangements for their travel and even signed a year lease on a condo there. Maren believed she had done her homework on their new destination and covered their tracks so they were not to be found. But most of all, she hoped that their love was strong be enough to stand this test. Jon couldn't help but wonder what she was running away from. They had a good life on San Roussel. They had lived together and he thought he knew her. His trust in her had always been complete. Now he had reason for doubt. Was this the same woman to whom he had given his heart? The afternoon weather was pleasantly warm. Where they parked the beach was pretty desolate, save for a few surfers far away. This was their first real chance to relax in a rural type of setting since they left San Roussel. It was mostly wooded up from the beach, which was about fifty feet wide. The sand near the water was on the firm side and very pale, good consistency for a stroll. The day was clear and the onshore breeze was refreshing. They had been used to warmer beaches, but this was a nice, more temperate change. After walking for a while, they just sat down in the sand, she on his left, feet almost in the water, lost in their thoughts. This was kind of a romantic setting. She turned toward him, put her right hand in the sand, and left hand on his right shoulder. They shared a kiss. They were both already on a little high from seeing the "roos" on the golf course. Maren's thoughts were morphing from gentle kiss to something more stirring. Their kissing was becoming more passionate. She decided on action. Her left hand trailed slowly down his T-shirt to his his bathing suit, found his manhood, and gave him a squeeze with her hand. Jon felt like he could read her mind. He again looked around to make sure no one saw them. Noticing the shift in her mood, he brought his free right hand hand to her breasts and began gently caressing. She pushed Jon down onto the sand and ran her hand up his chest under his t shirt, pausing at his nipples to give a little squeeze, as he had done to her so often. She was picturing in her mind Bert Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity.