The Lake Villa – Part 2: Moonlit Water

They rowed out across the lake in the little wooden boat, Anthony at the oars, Rebecca in the stern with a bottle of wine and a picnic hamper. The moon came up huge and orange over the mountains, laying a long silver path across the water. The shore lights twinkled. A distant guitar played somewhere.

"I haven't been in a boat with you since the honeymoon," said Rebecca.

"You told me to row faster."

"You were rowing in circles."

"I was rowing romantically."

She laughed and moved forward on the bench to sit beside him, taking one of the oars. They rowed together, slowly, in perfect, lazy rhythm, the water chuckling under the bow. At the middle of the lake they shipped the oars and drifted, shoulders touching.

"Anthony."

"Mm?"

"I'd like you to kiss me."

"Here? Twenty years of marriage, in a rowing boat?"

"Especially here."

The kiss was slow, and soft, and tasted of white wine and warm evening. It was the old familiar kiss, but with something new in it, a wide, bright spark, like a lamp lit in a long-shuttered room. Her hands slid into his hair. The boat rocked gently under them. The moon laid its silver on the water.

"We should go home," murmured Rebecca, against his mouth.

"The villa has a very comfortable bed."

"I've noticed."

They rowed back, giggling like teenagers, and tied up at the jetty. The villa was silent, the shutters open to the warm night. They climbed the stairs hand in hand to the big white bedroom with the balcony over the lake. They undressed slowly, laughing at damp sleeves and a tangled strap, and their love-making was warm, tender and entirely unhurried, with twenty years of knowing each other woven into every touch, and the lake sighing quietly below.

In the morning, they breakfasted on the terrace in their dressing gowns, with warm bread and lemon marmalade, and a view that would stop anyone's heart.

"Same time next year?" said Anthony.

"Twenty-one years," said Rebecca, leaning on his shoulder. "I'll book the boat."

More married couple romance: The Cruise · Couples Retreat · The Second Honeymoon