She caught herself staring at him when the steam from the coffee tickled her nose. She began reflecting on her life as the rain fell on the world outside. Here she was....forty five years old, working as an account manager....living in a small apartment...scattered with good and bad memories. Her husband of twenty three years had left her for a "Hooters" girl last spring. Her son and daughter were both in college and occasionally called when they needed to hear,"I love you", attached to money.
Beth wondered how her life became so screwed up...where was the turning point to dysfunction? The man who dazzled her heart in college was now dazzling a much younger woman with his Platinum Visa. She loved her children but knew they were far too self centered. She couldn't have a calm conversation with her daughter and her son was clueless about any kind of responsibility. Beth could feel the rain falling inside her soul. She had been a "stay at home mom" for 22 years and it seemed to her...as if she failed at being a wife and a mother.
She stared down at her hands wrapped around the warm cup and thought of all the work they had done. The cleaning, laundry, prepared meals, changed diapers, drove to run errands, gave her husband satisfaction and applied her makeup to appease the world. She felt tiny tears form in her eyes as she heard,"Are you alright Miss?
She looked up and saw it was the man who had been across the street under the canopy. She focuses on his more than beautiful face...almost angelic. He had such wonderful puppy dog brown eyes that bled kindness in harmony with his smile. Beth wiped her eyes and said,"I'm fine.....thank you...I was just plodding through memories....I guess the rain brought it on."
He asked,"Mind if I sit here with you?" She melted at the soft, deep tone of his caring voice and she said,"That would be nice...that would be very nice." He took off his coat...folded it and laid it on the booth seat and sat across from her. Beth couldn't help looking at the form of his body...especially the rather plump place between the pockets.
He ordered black coffee from the waitress behind the counter and said to Beth,"This might sound strange...but I felt you were troubled from across the street." Beth sipped her coffee and smiled a little as he went on saying,"I lived with a pride of lions for almost a year...a female had been hurt by a wildebeast...two of the males and even myself, felt it and ran to her." He hung his head...saying,"She was hurt so bad...we stayed all night and most of the next day until she died with her head in my lap."
Beth was looking at him with her eyes wide open as he embarrassingly said,"I don't know why I told you that...I just..." She cut him off and said,"No...no...wow...you actually lived with lions?" The waitress brought his cup of coffee...sat it on the table as he smiled and said to Beth,"Yes I did...I still have a few scratch scars to prove it...lions can be a bit rough when they play."
He reached his hand across the table and said,"I probably should have introduced myself before my life story...my name is Sampson Ewinds...but you can call me Sam....and you are?" Beth smiled and said,"Beth Kainen...and you can call me Beth." She saw that his hand was strong and smooth...so manly yet his touch was so soft. He then smiled big...saying,"You are an amazingly beautiful woman." Beth blushed and said,"I haven't heard that in a long time...thank you."
Her cell phone rang...she looked at her watch and it was 9:14 AM. She said out loud,"Oh God...I'ts my work...I'm late...I'm sorry but I have to go!" Sam reached and closed her cell phone. She said desperately,"Why did you do that?" He looked into her eyes and said,"Come to Africa with me...right now."
Beth pulled her hand away...opened her cell phone back up to call and said,"I'm sorry...but that is the craziest thing I've ever heard...we've just met and you want me to go with you....to Africa? Sam smiled and said,"Why not....we can be on my jet in less than an hour.....I want to get to know you, Beth Kainen."
Beth blushed....looked out at the rain and said,"I can't...it's just too crazy... I really have to go to work." She started to get up and he said,"I'll bet you a million dollars that I can kiss you without touching you." Beth eased back in her seat...giggled and said,"Oh...what the hell...I'm already late...might as well be later." She was so intrigued by this young man...a little afraid but wildly curious. She looked at him and said,"I don't have a million dollars to bet." He smiled and said,"If you had a million dollars...would you go to Africa with me?"
Beth smiled and said,"Sure...if I had that much money...sure...I would go." Sam said,"OK...I'll bet my million dollars and you put up your earrings." Beth laughed and said,"My earrings....they might be worth a hundred dollars." Sam smiled and softly said,"But those earrings are on the most beautiful woman I've ever seen....that makes them worth a million dollars."
Beth melted at the compliment and said,"OK...the bet is on....kiss me without touching me." Sam leaned over the table...slowly moved his face to her....his lips were less than an inch from hers...suddenly he kissed her softly." Beth bit her bottom lip as he backed away...he then said,"I guess I lose...I touched you." He reached in his coat pocket and got a worn black leather checkbook cover...opened it and asked Beth for a pen."
Beth laughed and said, "OK...you are going to write me a check for a million dollars...sure...I can at least provide the pen." She continued to giggle as he wrote her out a check for one million dollars. He ripped it from the book and handed it to her. Beth looked at the check and said,"This is silly." Sam gave her a serious look and said...call the bank....the check is good...you can afford to go to Africa with me now." Beth tried to hand him back the check but he insisted she call.
Beth called the bank and quickly found out that the check could be cashed. She almost fainted when the teller told her,"Yes..Mr. Ewinds is our very most valued customer." Beth closed her cell phone...looked at Sam and said,"Is this for real?" Sam smiled and said,"As real as the rain." Beth felt confused, nervous, wonderful, excited and nauseous at the same time. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said,"I don't want to be hurt Sam...please...I don't want to be hurt."
Sam took her hands...looked in her eyes and softly said,"I don't want you to be hurt...I want you to go to Africa with me and see the lions...I've never asked another person in the world to go anywhere with me...I feel this will be good for both of us...please Beth....come with me...please?" Beth looked out at the rain and back in his brown eyes...saying,"Why me Sam...I must be close to twice your age...why me?"
Sam wiped her tears gently away with his right hand fingers and said,"I felt you were wounded and I came across the street...I've never felt that before...I want you to walk with me among the lions....I want you to feel what I feel....I can feel your soul Beth...you are a lioness at heart....I need to be with you.....I know this seems crazy to you....it seems just as crazy to me but it is how I feel...I need you to go to Africa with me...please Beth?"
Beth's phone rang again...she opened it and shut it off. She looked at Sam, smiled and said,"OK....OK...I'll go but under one condition." Sam grinned and said,"Name it." Beth said,"I can come back home at anytime...no questions asked?" Sam agreed as two waitresses and three customers clapped their hands. Sam and Beth left the cafe and took a cab straight to the airport.
As they boarded the jet....Sam's pilot looked at him strange and said,"Wow Sam....this is a first...a passenger?" It made Beth feel good when the pilot said that. Beth had traveled in commercial jets before but this was like a royal carriage. She noticed the corner of a bed sticking out from behind a red velvet curtain. It made her feel a little uneasy. Sam saw her looking at it and said,"I take a nap now and then on long trips." Beth smiled at him and said,"Oh...you mean the bed....naps...yes."
Sam grinned as they became seated for take off. An old gentleman came from behind the curtain and said,"Sir...I see you have a guest...would you like something to drink?" Sam said,"Beth...this is Nigel....Nigel this is Beth." The old man bowed, smiled and said,"Pleased to meet you Beth....I would guess you are going to Kilimanjaro with us?"
Sam chuckled and said,"Yes she is...I have invited her to accompany me on the Serengeti...the lions and I are going to entertain this beautiful lady." Nigel said,"Ah yes...the wonderful lions sir." He looked at Beth...saying,"You are in for a very rare delight...they are truly the Kings and Queens of the earth." Nigel later brought their drinks as Beth and Sam talked about their lives. Sam Ewinds was born into millions.... had given much of it to charities for the care of children and animals around the world.
In the hours that they were on the plane...they covered a lifetime of stories. Love, joy and pain swirled in their words and eyes. Beth even wondered if they had been lovers in past lives. Sam wondered the same. They landed at the Kiliminjaro airport and a limousine took them to their motel. They stayed up most of the night talking. Sam and Beth fell asleep laying on the large canopy bed and woke up...holding hands. They had a late breakfast and went shopping for clothing. Beth laughed at Sam because he bought everything she looked at or picked up.
During the day she called her son and daughter...simply telling them she was on a vacation and would call them when she got home. She left her ex-husband a message on his work phone,"Paul...I'm in Africa...toodles." It wasn't long before they were in a jeep with a truck behind them headed for the plains. It was breathtaking to Beth....the people, animals and landscape were so wonderful. Sam drove through and by villages where people waved and sometimes cheered. The children all loved him and a couple of times he played games with them.
Dusk came around and they sat up camp near a cluster of Umbrella trees. Sam, Beth and two native hired hands, talked by the campfire. The fire light on Sam's face made him look bronze. Beth stared at him often as he joked and laughed with the men. They went to sleep that night with Sam holding Beth in his arms. Morning came and one of the men was cooking eggs and bacon as they woke up. Sam handed her a cup of coffee and Beth felt like she was in heaven.
Sam spoke up....we eat breakfast and then to the lions. After breakfast...Sam strapped a back pack on and they headed out. The two men stayed behind at camp. Beth was a little worried that she and Sam were now alone. Sam could tell and comforted her by holding her hand and telling her he had done this many, many times. They walked and saw a herd of wildebeests, gazelles and a few elephants in the distant plains.
Sam was looking for the lions and finally saw them in the high grass. It was the same pride he had spent so much time with before. An older male stood up in the grass and stared at them. He slowly walked towards them as two females stood. The slight breeze was blowing from behind Sam and Beth. Beth could see their yellow eyes as Sam told her,"Take off your clothes...all of your clothing...now."
Sam began stripping down and Beth reluctantly followed his advice. She had to sit with her pants to her knees and take her boots off. Sam chuckled,"You better hurry." He was completely naked before she got her underclothing off. She stood up and nervously fumbled with her bra as he pulled her white panties to her ankles. She said,"Hey" as Sam softly said,"Just take my hand...don't be afraid and move very slowly like I told you before."
Beth wanted to cry but was too excited and scared. The large male approached them slowly and the females stuck their heads in the air to smell. Sam pulled Beth towards the lion and said,"Hello King George...sorry to disturb your basking in the sun but I wanted you to meet a very special person." The lion obviously recognized Sam but insisted on investigating Beth. Sam whispered,"Stay still" as the male sniffed her. Sam gently put his arm around her waist and the lion sniffed at his hand on her hip. Sam whispered,"Reach slowly...very slowly and touch his mane."
Beth didn't want to but Sam insisted. She wound up not only touching the lion but petting him. The females circled them a few times and then came closer to make their approval. Beth stayed close to Sam as the pride eventually ignored them and went back to basking in the afternoon sun. Beth and Sam began to notice each other.... more than looking at the lions. Sam told her to kneel in the grass and watch him. He went to the large male...began rubbing his belly and the male rolled over on his back like a house cat.
As Sam played with the lions....Beth thought of how he fit in so well with them. His long blond hair. muscular body and the graceful way he moved was more than erotic. A cub started walking towards Beth and Sam whispered loudly,"Don't move at all...close your eyes tight and don't open them until I say it's clear....his mother might get jealous." Beth did exactly as he said. Within seconds she felt something brush her leg. She could feel the cub's breath on her hip.
She trembled as she felt a tongue on the small of her back. She felt licking on her arms, legs and then strangely her shoulders. She nervously whispered,"Sam...I'm scared...Sam...Sam." She felt his hand on the side of her face and she slowly opened her eyes to see him petting the cub and grinning. She whispered,"It licked me...does it mean it likes me?" Sam grinned saying,"It means I like you...the cub just got here."
Beth gritted her teeth, grinned and whispered loud,"Sam!" Then....she looked and saw what he meant by saying he liked her. This man was truly a lion in every way. The cub went back to his mother as Sam gently kissed Beth. Their kisses led to gentle touches. Beth could feel his long hair brushing her shoulders and face as he laid her back in the high grass. She could feel his rock hard member against her left leg. She felt the tightness of his back muscles with her hands and the warmth of his breath on her neck.
He moved to her aching breasts circled each nipple with his tongue and began to kiss, lick and suck them gently. Beth moaned sotly as Sam kissed down her stomach to her mound. He made little bites at her hair and swollen lips. He carressed her clitoris with his bottom lip and moved it from side to side. Her moans became louder and longer as he inserted his tongue and wiggled it wildly. Beth screamed out,"Oh...oh...I'm ready Sam...I'm ready!" Sam backed away and guided her to roll over. He whispered loud,"Grab the grass." Beth positioned her bottom up....laid her face down and grabbed stems of the tall grass in each hand.
Sam kissed her back as he slowly entered her soft, moist vagina from behind. He cupped her breasts in his hands and began gently humping. She gripped the grass tighter as his pace picked up. He pinched her stiffened nipples between his fingers as Beth began bucking back at him. Sam, quickly grabbed her shoulders and began to ram wildy! He rammed so hard...Beth felt as if she was being spanked. Every long and deep thrust was bringing her closer to extasy! She felt her toes bending and grasping the grass as she gritted her teeth...muffling her scream! She felt the wild of Africa rush into her abdomen and flutter like a thousand birds swirling inside her....like a stampede quaking through her very being.
The gushing came like an African water fall...as her whole body trembled with an orgasm that drained her fluids and filled her soul with a pleasure she had never dreamed of. Sam felt the hot soaking and heard her scream like a lioness! Sam grabbed her hips and made his hardest thrust...holding her tightly against him as he filled her with pumps of his hot seed. He roared like a lion as sweat dripped from his hair on the small of her back. An aftershock of Beth's soaked vagina pushed his softening member from her.
Sam collapsed on the ground beside her and Beth eased into his arms. Tears of total satisfaction filled their eyes as the near silent breeze swayed the high grass around them.
They laid in the high grass...wrapped in each others arms and slept an hour of the afternoon away in the middle of the pride. They made love three more times before they left for camp. Sam carried his backpack and Beth carried their clothes as the sight of the lions disappeared behind them. They got dressed under an Umbrella tree and went back to camp. They became inseparable. They even managed to get into one sleeping bag.
When they got back to civilization...their motel room was filled with flowers of all kinds. A large brass, claw foot bathtub was filled with pink champagne. Sam left for a while as Beth took a long hot shower. He returned as Beth was waiting by a bay window in her bath robe. He didn't say a word...he took her hand...led her to the bathtub...slowly took her robe off and helped her in the tub. She started to say something but he put his finger on her lips. He took his clothes off and quickly took a shower.
Beth sat in the champagne and sipped a taste from her cupped hands. Soon...Sam came out...lit candles and eased in the tub with her. Beth started to say something again but Sam looked at her and shook his head no. He took her hand...held it to his face and then her palm over his mouth. She felt something push into her hand. Sam pulled her hand away to reveal a diamond ring...a very large diamond....ring. Sam softly said,"Will you marry me Beth...please...marry me Beth?"
Beth smiled and the tears came flowing. She looked at the ring and then in his eyes....they both sparkled in the candle light.
Sam leaned forward and kissed the tears from her face. He backed away...smiled and said,"Well...will you?" Beth put the ring on her finger and whispered softly,"Yes....yes I will marry you...God yes...I will." Sam kissed her and said,"I'll have a Minister here by morning." Beth giggled and said,"Sam...Sam...in the morning....it feels like I'm caught in a hurricane." Sam smiled saying,"A hurricane of romance...I hope?"
Beth reached forward and hugged him. She buried her face in his damp hair and said,"I love you Sam Ewinds...I can't belive I'm saying it after knowing you for only three days but I love you....so...so much." Sam held her tight and said,"I love you too...I think I always have....you are my lioness." Beth gave him a playful growl...they tickled and wrestled in the tub until almost all of the champaign had splashed out. They made love in the tub....then the bed...then the floor...then on the balcony as the African moon smiled a soft light on their bodies.
Sam was a man of his word. A local Minister came and performed the marriage ceremony while Sam and Beth stood in their bath robes. After the Minister left....Beth sat on the bay window sill with Sam at her side and said,"Three days ago...I was going to work at a mediocre job....worried about my selfish kids and so sad over a failed marriage.....now I am here with the man of any woman's dreams...in the beautiful country of Africa...I am so happy....so happy Sam."
Sam got down on his knees in front of her. He looked down at her knees...kissed each one and looked up at her with tears in his eyes. Beth put her hands on his face and said,"Sam...what's wrong....why are you crying?" Sam softly said,"I have a confession....I should have told you but I didn't want you to marry me out of pity." Beth felt lightning go through her heart as she asked with concern,"What Sam...pity...what do you mean?"
Sam buried his face in her lap and cried,"I am dying, Beth...I have weeks at best." Beth stroked his hair and confusingly said,"That's crazy Sam....you're the picture of health....don't tell me that...don't!" Sam lifted his head and said,"It's true...an extrememly rare brain disease....it doesn't hurt...it only stings a little at times." Beth lifted him from her lap and jumped up...screaming,"Don't dammit....don't tell me this...I will not believe this.....dammit Sam...why did you even do all of this...why!"
Sam pleaded with her,"Please Beth...let's just enjoy each other....please!" Beth looked at him....he was so beautiful...like a wounded lion. She took a deep breath....took a step towards him and said,"OK Sam....OK....five minutes in your arms is worth more than a lifetime with anyone else in this world. She ran and hugged him! They kissed, cried, hugged and kissed.
They had two glorious months of marital bliss. They traveled the countryside of Africa and made love as wild as the Serengeti itself along the way. It was a warm beautiful day when Sam felt the disease beginning to take him. She drove them to beyond the old campsite. He stumbled as they walked towards the pride of lions that they had been with before.
Beth helped him take his clothes off and then she removed her clothing. She held Sam tight as they approached the lions. None of the lions stood but they all focused on Sam and Beth. Sam groaned and said,"I have one more confession....we don't have to be naked around the lions." Beth just smiled and helped him walk. The large male was the only one to sit up.
Beth sat down in the grass and helped Sam down. He laid his head in her lap and she gently stroked his hair. Sam could barely speak by then but managed to whisper,"I love you Beth." Beth's tears fell in his hair as he smiled at her. He whispered with a strain in his voice,"Don't cry....close your eyes....don't move...I'm with you...always with you, loving you in the winds Beth...always."
Beth closed her eyes and the male lion roared at the heavens with such might that Beth felt the ground vibrate! She opened her eyes and saw every lion standing in a circle around them. From deep in her soul...she screamed at the sky! She held Sam tight and sobbed as the lions laid beside them. Beth left his body in care of the lions until she returned with two men to bury him. A large white stone had already been chosen as his burial marker.
(It is the year 2112 as an old man walks with his sixteen year old granddaughter across the Serengeti plain. They come up to the grave as he says)"Here it is child....the grave of your great grandparents...Sampson and Beth Ewinds...he died eight months before I was born. She traveled the world with me tagging along....she always came back here...every year.
Local legend has it... that when the breeze blows over the grass...they can be heard...roaring like lions and making love." (The girl knelt by the grave and said)"Look grandpa...look how her name is engraved in the stone....Be thE winds....next to....The Man Of Lions."
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