Our first Greek campsite was on a little strip of grass beside a stream that wound along a dirt track we’d followed from the highway. 

I dropped the pack off my back and fell forwards onto the grass. 

‘Oh man,’ I groaned, ‘I am dead.’

‘Poor Danny,’ Ayamin knelt behind me and massaged my shoulders. Something in my back clicked and I gave a moan as I felt my body relax. 

Near the stream was a small stone firepit, Ayamin pointed to it, ‘How do you feel about rice, spice, and oranges for dinner?’

‘You wouldn’t happen to have a steak hiding in that pack would you?’

Ayamin laughed, ‘Let me check.’

She stood and pulled the straps, the pack got half a meter off the ground before she dropped it with a thud.

‘Danny, how did you manage to carry that?!’ 

I just let out a moan from where I lay on the ground.

Ayamin ran over and practically jumped on me, ‘I’m sorry Danny,’ she said, ‘I didn’t realise it was that heavy.’ 

She clung to me like a koala bear, ‘You should’ve said something.’ 

I combed a hand through her hair, ‘It’s okay. I mean now it’s mostly just my neck that hurts.’ 

She reached out and brushed her fingers on a spot on the side of my neck, ‘Here?’

‘Yeah. I mean it’s not that…’

My sentence broke in two as Ayamin leaned forward and placed her lips on my neck, right where she’d touched me. Her lips were soft and tingled on my skin. 

Ayamin sat up with a wicked grin. 

‘Does that feel better?’ 

‘Uh-ha,’ I managed to say. Then turned my neck slightly, ‘But the other side is still a bit sore.’ 

She laughed, and brushed her fingers against my neck again, ‘Here?’

‘That’s the spot.’ 

Ayamin’s kiss lingered this time, I felt her breath on my skin, and her face brushed my chin. 

‘Better?’

‘Yes better…’ I bit my lip, ‘Only I have sore shoulders as well, you know how the pack pulls them.’

‘I’m going to get sore lips with all this kissing I’m doing.’ 

‘That’s okay,’ I brushed her lips with a finger, ‘Here?’

She laughed, and then I kissed her. It was warm and sweet and I could feel her smiling underneath.