Maple Forest

Elias yanked up the blanket to cover himself and gnashed his teeth in mock exasperation. ‘Just wait till your Aunt Flo leaves, let’s see if you’ll still be able to laugh then.’ Callie stuck out her tongue. ‘Relax. It’s perfectly normal for a man to—’ In a swift move that was all Elias, he caught her shoulders and pulled her down, their lips meeting in a passionate, searing kiss that left her breathless. Callie waved the white flag before things got out of control. After washing up, they went downstairs for breakfast. ‘Where are we going?’ Callie asked as she climbed into the jeep. ‘A little place I know,’ he said cryptically. The morning sun painted the town in warm hues as they drove out of the carpark. The scent of fresh dew hung in the air, mingling with the promise of the day ahead. As they drove on, the town of Wingston gradually faded in the rearview mirror, replaced by the embrace of nature’s splendour. A short while later, Elias parked the car at the edge of a gravel path, lead