The Probability Factor

Chapter Nine-Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Tuesday morning, at the crack of dawn or what I felt was the crack of dawn, I had Haldur load up the trunk of my car, while I discussed Roxy’s walking and eating habits with Alistair. Alistair was grinning as I explained Roxy’s walking schedule for the nth time.

“Susan, I already know this,” he laughed, “I have taken care of Roxy before y’know. We’re good buddies, aren’t we Rox?” He bent down and ruffled her fur, as she licked his wrist.

“I know, I know. I just worry, that’s all,” I dragged my heel along the sidewalk.

“And you have every right to,” Alistair patted my back soothingly, “She’s your baby. I understand. Now, I have only one request of you.”

“Uh-huh?” I patted Roxy as I looked at Alistair.

“Have a good time! For heaven’s sake, you need the break, and consider this a primo opportunity to advance this thing you’ve got going on with Haldur,” he scolded me.

I stood up. “We’re going with June,” I reminded him.

“You’re not going to be with June all the time. You have two rooms booked. You’ve told me you’re not a screamer, so I don’t see what the problem is,” he said seriously.

“I will do my best to live down to your basest desires,” I retorted.

“That’s all I ask,” Alistair leaned in and hugged me hard, “Now go out there and make me proud.”

I laughed and handed him the leash. Haldur had closed the trunk and was standing by the car, waiting for us to leave. The early morning sun shone through the tree branches, and the dappled light made Haldur’s skin glow warmly.

I had bought him a MEC Monsoon jacket for the possible wet conditions. I didn’t think we’d get rain, but I figured on surf. In some spots, the ocean comes up in huge waves, crashing against the rocks in a spectacular fashion. We had gone to the MEC store on Broadway, and he’d picked out the jacket himself. We had to get to get the tall size, as the regular just didn’t have long enough arms. He loved the jacket so much, he stood by the car clutching it in his hands. The temperature was a warm 28C and he wouldn’t need the jacket unless there was a sudden downpour, which, with no clouds in the sky, seemed like an impossibility.

Giving Roxy another goodbye pat, I turned and went to the car. Haldur got in, folding himself into the front seat, and I opened the driver’s side door, pausing for a second.

“Take good care of Roxy, Alistair. She’s my baby,” I said before I got in as well.

Alistair grinned and walked away with Roxy, back to his place. I started the engine and off we went. Picked June up at her hotel and then headed off to Horseshoe Bay for the 8:30am sailing to Departure Bay. I went through the McDonald’s Drive-thru, so we could have something that resembled food for breakfast. I come from a long line of ferry travellers, and there is one thing we can count on, and that’s bad ferry food. Eggs like rubber, bacon that’s still alive; with toast being pretty much the only safe thing. Plus, I haven’t the foggiest idea how you screw up a hamburger, but believe me, they’ve done it. June and Haldur held the bags of steaming food, as I drove into the line-up to pay for the ferry. While we waited to board, we ate our breakfast and read the paper. Haldur went for a short walk through the line, and returned with little bits of paper in his hand.

“Some women gave these to me,” he said, a little perplexed.

I looked closer and noted they were phone numbers. “Haldur, those women gave you their phone numbers. They seem to really like you,” I commented.

“Are you going to call them?” June asked mischievously.

“No,” he said decisively, “I am happy as I am.”

I gave his hand a squeeze, and he smiled back at me. The ferry began to board, and we drove onto the Queen of Cowichan. Quickly we got out of the car, locked it up tight, and got upstairs to secure seats for the voyage. The Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route isn’t that exciting as far as ferry rides go. I prefer Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. It’s interesting, routing the ships through Active Pass and the Gulf Islands. The Departure Bay route is mostly ocean, or rather Strait crossing. No interesting land masses to keep the eyes occupied. Although you can keep a lookout for the odd Orca pod swimming up the coastal waters to the North. Haldur enjoyed the voyage anyway. He had not been on a ship this size before, and from what I could glean from the distracted words he mumbled, had not been on an ocean going boat at all. June was an old pro, having been to Victoria with me back in 2004. She led him outside and they waved to me through the large windows. It was funny to watch him be so awestruck by the seagulls, which are filthy birds and general pests. Everytime there was a break in the surf, June would yell something unintelligible, I am assuming it was about whales, and Haldur would run to the rail to look. After the third time, I pounded on the glass and waved for them to come in. It’s only funny twice. After that, it’s tiresome.

We docked at Departure Bay, and drove off the ferry in a long line of vehicles. I drove down Hwy 1 to Brechin, and then followed that to Hwy 19A, and onto Hwy 19. Just outside of Qualicum Beach, I took the exit to get onto Hwy 4, and followed the narrow road through Port Alberni. I reached the turn to go through Pacific Rim National Park, and even though we had been going through heavily wooded areas, Haldur seemed to relax a bit more. Maybe it had to do with the age of the trees, I had no idea. June asked if we would get lunch soon, as she was starved. It was just past one o’clock when we drove down Osprey Lane to the Inn. I had booked two king rooms, but the Inn staff had advised me that they would not be beside each other. When we got to the front desk, the desk clerk told me that June would be two floors down. I asked why, and they said it was just the way the rooms worked out. Peak season and I only booked a week in advance; I suppose I was very lucky to get what I got. June just gave me a look, you know the kind, when I took the key cards and handed her one. Haldur picked up our bags and walked with us to the elevator. He still didn’t like them, but he put up with their existence.

June got off on two and told us to meet her in the restaurant in fifteen minutes, as she was famished and was in the mood to eat seriously. I told her not to wait for us if she was that hungry and she laughed as she wandered down the hall to her room. Our room was lovely. The view was spectacular, with huge windows that went from the floor almost up to the ceiling. Haldur put the bags down by the bed, and surveyed the premises.

“This will do,” he announced.

I laughed, “It will more than do. It’s lovely.”

“There is only one bed,” he observed.

I cleared my throat, “Are you okay with that?”

He looked at me carefully, “I am if you are.”

I bit back a grin. He was hedging his bets. Typical man. I nodded, “I’m fine.” To prove my point I walked up to him, wrapped my arms around him, and leaned in for a kiss.

Haldur tipped his face, and cradling my head with his fingers, he bent down to brush my lips with his. I felt an electric surge, as his gentle brush became more intense. I sighed and he deepened the kiss more. Our tongues duelled gently with each other, and I let my hands run under his t-shirt, feeling his smooth skin. His free hand slid under my shirt and ran up to cup a breast gently, kneading it through the fabric of my bra. I shivered under his gentle ministrations, and had to force myself to pull away from his touch.

“We have to meet June,” I reminded him a little breathlessly.

He touched his head to mine and sighed, “Yes, we must go.”

June had managed to score a table by the windows, which boasted a fabulous view. It seemed this place was chock-a-block full of spectacular views. We sat down as June nursed a Diet Coke and pointed to the menus we had picked up.

“You took too long to get here. I’ve already ordered,” she smirked.

“No big,” I replied, “I told you not to wait.”

June just gave me a superior look and took another sip of her drink. I would’ve told her that we didn’t do anything, but I figured she wouldn’t buy it, so I didn’t bother to correct her assumptions. We ordered and while we waited, June and I discussed what we wanted to do for the couple of days we were here. I wanted to take Haldur for a hike through the coastal rainforest after lunch, but June begged off, saying she needed to kick back and relax from all the car travel. We decided to meet for dinner around 8, and leave the next day free, so we could go where the wind took us.

With lunch over, June left us to our own devices while she went to explore the Inn on her own and find something to amuse herself with. Haldur and I went up to the room to change for the hike. I went into the bathroom, so I could avoid the temptation that was naked by the bed. I consulted with the concierge as to what the best hiking trails were nearest the Inn before Haldur and I headed out into the forest. Not too far away from the front doors of the Inn lay the comfortable coolness of the woods. Haldur practically dragged me in after him; he was so excited by the trees.

As we entered the shade, Haldur relaxed and began his usual greeting of the trees. He would go to each tree and touch his hands and face to its bark, muttering quiet words in his native tongue. You could feel the shift in the energy of the woods as they greeted him back; not by doing anything, just the energy changed. It was subtle, and you’d miss it completely if you weren’t looking for it. I remember him doing this in Stanley Park with a group of tourists standing not even twenty feet away from him, completely oblivious to what was occurring. We were alone in the forest now, and I felt a powerful sense of peace flow through me as he moved deeper into the old growth, greeting his old friends along the way. He led me off the marked path, holding my hand to his chest, as he walked with complete assurance even deeper into the darkening growth. We slowed to a stop about two klicks away from the Inn. Haldur leaned against the trunk of a very large tree and pulled me close to him.

“I feel like I am home here. The trees are quite old, not as ancient as the ones in my homeland, but old. It is like breathing fresh air again, to be amongst friends,” he said softly.

“Do you miss home?” I asked carefully.

He looked down at me, “Yes. I miss my friends and my work. I miss the way the trees talk to me, but I also like being here with you.”

I wrinkled my nose, “Are you just saying that?”

A rumble of laughter echoed through his chest, “No. I am very glad we met and I am happy to be with you. Do you not realize how much I care about you? I have made no effort to try and find my way home because I am happy here with you.”

I snuggled closer, “Just as long as I’m not holding you back from something important.”

He kissed the top of my head, “Speaking of important…”

Haldur leaned down and captured my lips in his. His tongue darted in and out of my mouth, as his fingers lifted my shirt, pulling it up over my breasts. I gasped as the cool damp air touched my warm skin. Haldur unclasped my bra and slid his hands under the loosened cups to knead the sensitive flesh. I knew I was ready, and I pulled his top off, breaking the kiss only to allow the passage of the shirt. Haldur finished pulling off my pale tee and bra, and dropped them onto the forest floor by our feet. I arched my back as he trailed kisses down my chest to my breasts, gently sucking on the hardened nipples, giving them equal soft attention. Fingers worked open my shorts and pulled them to the ground. I could feel my arousal build as I felt his fingers brush my nether lips as he peeled off my panties. First one finger, then a second entered me as he sucked on my tiny bud of pleasure. I grasped his hair, trying not to yank it, as waves of bliss built higher and higher. Lifting my leg onto his shoulder, I moaned softly, panting through the wonderful sensations. My legs began to shake as I felt closer to the crest, and with one swift movement, Haldur had me leaning against the rough bark of the tree. I didn’t care that bark was biting into my skin, as the waves of pleasure had built up to an intense continuous crash of euphoria pounding through my body. I crashed over the edge, and cried out, stifling the noise with my fist. A few birds, high in the canopy, were startled by my cry and flew up into the sky with squawks of indignation.

Haldur pulled away from me, sat back on his haunches, and looked up with his intense blue-grey eyes. “You are ready for this now.” It was a statement of fact, not a request for confirmation.

“Yes,” I replied softly, stroking his cheek with my fingers.

He stood up, “I will be gentle.”

Kissing me, he nudged my legs farther apart with his knees. I ran my hands over his body, relishing the feel of his skin under my fingertips. His skin was so smooth and soft. Like an infant’s, except it reacted entirely differently under my delicate touch. Goosebumps formed under my fingertips, and as I placed tiny kisses on his chest, I felt little contractions of the muscles underneath the skin. It was as though I was exploring something so entirely new and different, no one else had ever encountered it before. I explored his body with my lips, learning every nook and cranny. I memorized his scent and taste. He smelled like the forest after a light rain, and tasted like the dew on the petals of a flower first thing in the morning. I nuzzled his silky hair, drinking in deeply the essence of his being.

I felt Haldur’s erection push against me, and I tilted my pelvis to help him in. There was sudden pop and then a massive feeling of pressure as he slowly eased inside me. I gasped with the effort, and he stopped his intrusion to see if I was all right. I nodded, and he continued inwards. When he got in as far as he could go, he began to thrust slowly, and I shifted to accommodate him. I lifted my leg up, and he slid his arm under it, to help support me. He then began to pump in earnest, and I thrust back at him, meeting him hard every time. Sensations threatened to overwhelm me as they ran into each other, melting like warm chocolate on a summer’s day. Haldur whispered things in his melodic language as we continued with our ancient dance.

It didn’t take long before Haldur had sped up his thrusts, and I was in a delirium of sensation, fast approaching my apogee. He looked into my eyes, seeming to send me all his love with his gaze. I collapsed into my climax, biting Haldur’s shoulder to keep from crying out. He continued to pump and whisper words before he came with a grunt, and fell against me. We clung to each other for a moment before he pulled himself off of me, and leaned against the tree, hugging my side.

“I love you Susan,” he said softly, gently running his fingers through my hair.

I was a bit stunned as I looked into his eyes and saw the truth of his words.

“I love you too,” I whispered. I reached for his hand.

“I will never leave you. I promise you, I am a part of you forever,” he went on.

I gave him an odd look, as the meaning of his words sank in, “I know you mean something with that, but I want more of an answer from you.”

Haldur pulled me away from the tree as he held my hands in his, looking deeply into my eyes. “I mean that I am a part of you. Even if I am not physically with you, I will still be with you. Just as you will always be with me. With our act of love, we have bonded absolutely,” he explained.

I felt this odd sensation of being more than just myself, and I looked at Haldur, somehow understanding what he meant. I was no longer alone. A single entity, by myself in the universe. I was somehow joined inexorably with Haldur, and he with me. I felt a tear run down my cheek, as I let this new completeness wash over me.

“You are crying,” he wiped the tear away with his thumb.

“Yeah. I’m happy,” I replied, kissing his palm.

“I am happy too,” he kissed me again, and then bent down to pick up our clothes.

We dressed quickly and making sure we had brushed off any debris from the forest floor, we started back towards the Inn. Just before we got out of the woods, we encountered a couple just walking into the shade of the woods. They eyed us and smiled.

“Good hike?” the woman called out.

“Yes, it’s lovely in there,” I answered truthfully, “Enjoy your walk.”

“We will,” the man replied, as he took his partner’s hand and walked away from us.

Haldur made our way back into the Inn, and I stopped by the concierge to book a spa treatment for the two of us. I was able to book a Lomilomi for two first thing in the morning. I knew that Haldur had never been to a spa, and I thought it would be a memorable experience for us both. As we walked to the elevator to go up to our room to clean up, I spotted June chatting up some cute young guy outside on the deck. She looked like she was having a marvellous time, so I decided not to interrupt. We had a few hours to kill between now and dinner, and I knew just how I wanted to spend them.