Oh fuck.
I follow him further along the path, telling myself my breathlessness is just because I’m tired and a bit out of shape.
Which is utter bullshit.
But this is all far, far too soon.
The pathway widens and I catch up with Axel, walking next to him. It curves between huge trees, then there’s the sound of rushing water. We cross a stone bridge over a small river, the balustrades shaped to look like dragons, horned heads with open jaws at the end. I trail my hand along the carved stone, wonder rising in me.
We descend further into a gorge, more vines like twisted ropes hanging from the cliff edges. It’s like being in an Indiana Jones movie. I am awestruck. Then the gorge opens out into a clearing.
And my jaw drops.
We’re at the base of a cliff. Water trickles from a small opening into a large shallow pool enclosed by a carved timber barrier, blocking access to the cliff. There’s a painted timber shrine at the centre of the pool, rising from the clear pale green water.
Behind me are more pools, these ones deeper and rectangular, filled with golden fish. And beyond them, water cascades from moulded clay pipes into a pair of deep baths, a pathway running between them.
It’s utterly beautiful, the shrine painted in reds, yellows and blues, the fish pools tiled in aquamarine, the baths lined with terracotta tiles embossed with patterns of leaping fish.
“Where are we?”
“This is a temple, dedicated to the spring coming from the cliff.” Axel points to the cleft in the rock.
“It’s amazing.” I turn slowly, taking in the flowing layout, the way everything feels serene, like it’s been here since time began. “Do people use it?”
Axel grins. “Yeah, of course. The water comes from the cliff here, into the pool around the shrine. Then it’s filtered into the fish ponds. From there it’s filtered again, into the baths. There are two because one is for men, one is for women. And then the water from the baths flows into the river.”
“You were right.” I breathe in the calm, letting the sound of water rush over me, the silent magic of a holy place. It’s exactly what my battered heart needs. I need to send Anna the biggest gift basket I can find to thank her.
“I was?”
“About this place being better than waves.”
“That’s quite a statement, coming from a surfer.”
“Maybe ‘better’ isn’t the right word. In a lot of ways, it’s similar. Worship of water. But this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Thank you for bringing me here.”
“Water shrines have existed on these islands for a very long time.” Axel moves closer to me. “They’re part of the culture.”
His bonfire scent teases my nostrils, and I swear I can feel the heat coming from him. We gaze at each other, a moment of connection. His hand comes up and he tucks a strand of loose hair behind my ear. My entire body tingles at his touch, my nipples standing to attention. God, I hope he doesn’t notice.
Or do I?
I swallow. “Uh, that makes sense. They’re surrounded by water, after all. Live with it every day.” We’re so close to each other. I barely know what I’m saying.
“Yes.” Axel blinks, like he’s waking up. “Lots of water here.” His throat moves. “We can go, if you’ve seen enough?” He takes a step back, and I want to reach out and bring him closer again.
No. Bad Jade.
“I might take some photos before we go. Just for me.”
I need to distract myself. Axel Black is not your rebound. I repeat the phrase like a mantra as I wander around, snapping pics with my phone, trying to capture some of the magic of this place.
But if he’s not my rebound, what is he?
ChapterFourteen
Axel
