"You're in our village," she said in a strange accent I'd never heard before. "You're safe now, but you need to rest. You're still weak from the after-effects of the gata bite."
She placed her other hand on my chest and gently pressed me down on top of a scratchy mat.
"Gata?" I said, pinching my eyebrows in confusion. "How did I get here?"
"It's our native snake. Normally, it doesn't cause this much trouble, but it struck you in the neck and the poison traveled quickly to your head. I had to carry you back to our village."
"Carry me?" I said, wondering how her small frame could support my weight. "How far?"
"I guess it would be more accurate to say I dragged you. I built a rough stretcher out of tree branches and vines. It took almost a full day to bring you back to our village."
I paused as I looked at the girl quizzically.
"Where are my travel mates? I came with a dozen other people—"
"If you're referring to the people on the sailboat, they stopped by our bay a few hours before we arrived asking if anyone had seen a yellow-haired European woman. The chief wasn't very happy with their intrusion, and when he said he hadn't seen any other foreigners, they sailed away."
"Away?" I said, shaking my head in dismay that they would abandon me so quickly. "Does that mean I'm alone on this island?"
The girl reached out and clasped my hand in hers as she smiled at me warmly. A group of young naked children suddenly rushed into the hut giggling, and the old lady shooed them away.
"You're hardly alone here," she said, glancing up at the woman who was still holding the smoking cup under my chin. "My family and tribe will care for you until your friends return."
The old woman said something to the girl in their native tongue and I flinched again, smelling the strong vapor rising from the bowl.
"What's this strange smoke you're having me inhale? It smells like incense—"
"It's burning hibiscus leaves. We've found that it helps neutralize the effects of the toxin. Since you were unconscious, it was the only way we could get the medicine inside you. But now that you're awake, there are some more potent herbs you can take internally."
The old woman reached down beside her and lifted a coconut shell filled with a milky substance and raised it to my lips. She smiled at me softly and nodded for me to drink the elixir.
"What is that?" I said, frowning from the pungent smell of the mixture. "It smells like something died in there."
The girl chuckled as she squeezed my hand.
"It's made from the same natural ingredients that I've been using to neutralize the pain and swelling on the side of your neck. It's a mixture of plantain leaves, papaya bark, and turmeric, dissolved in coconut milk. You have to trust us. We've been administering this medicine for hundreds of years, and we know it works. I think you'll find the taste quite pleasant."
I reluctantly lifted my head and parted my lips as the old lady tilted the bowl toward my mouth. The potion was thick and grainy, like a soup broth, but it tasted more like chocolate milk. I swished it around in my mouth for a few seconds, then gulped it down nervously. The old lady looked into my eyes and nodded as she tilted the cup higher.
"Sila atu," she said in a heavy accent.
"Drink the rest," the native girl said. "It will help settle your stomach and ease the pain."
I slowly emptied the bowl, then the old lady got up and said something to the girl before she stepped out of the hut.
For the first time since I'd woken up, I began to feel a little less anxious about my situation, and I gazed up at the native girl, studying her face. She was even more breathtaking close-up than I'd remembered. Her large brown doe eyes, small slender nose, and spongy cheeks gave her the appearance of a girl far younger than her sexy figure would suggest. I glanced at her chest and was disappointed to see that she was fully covered with some kind of dyed dress. The cloth looked thick and dense, more like a mat than the woven cloth used to make our Western garments. I glanced down my own body and was relieved to see that I was still wearing the same clothes I'd left the boat with.
"How long have you and your family lived here?" I asked, interested as much to learn about the history of her culture as her actual age.
"Our family and those of our tribe have lived on this island for centuries. As best we can tell from the oral traditions passed down from our ancestors, the island was settled by Polynesians traveling from the larger islands around 300 AD. I myself have lived in this little hamlet my entire life, which I'm told is eighteen rainy seasons."
So young, I sighed. With her flawless brown skin and soft cheeks, she looked even younger than her chronological age. I flashed back and remembered what she looked like naked under the waterfall, and shifted uncomfortably on the mat beneath me. I could feel the wetness building between my legs and blushed suddenly, realizing how attracted I was to this island goddess.
"You look even younger than that," I said, glancing at her tight-fitting frock. "At least, from the neck up. You're very pretty."
The girl smiled at me as she leaned in closer and lowered her voice.
"I saw you watching me," she said. "And I saw what you were doing behind that tree."
"Um..." I stumbled, not knowing how to react at being found out.
"It's okay," she said. "We're very open about our sexuality in our tribe. It's perfectly healthy and normal. I'm glad that you saw me. I think you're very beautiful also."
I felt a sudden tingle between my legs as I squeezed my thighs together, unconsciously rubbing myself against my tight cargo shorts.
"Oh?" I said, fishing for more details. "Have you had a lot of experience in that area? Where I come from, girls don't usually become active until your age or later."
"Most of the boys and girls in our tribe become sexually active soon after they reach maturity. But since I'm the daughter of the chief, he expects me to save myself until marriage."
"Now I see why you needed to find another form of release under the waterfall."
The girl smiled at me as I began to feel the perspiration building between our palms.
"A woman can only go so long with unsatisfied needs—"
"I know the feeling all too well," I nodded. "It's been a long time for me too."
The girl's eyes widened in surprise as she rubbed my ring finger with her fingers.
"You're not married? I would have thought a pretty woman of your age would have plenty of suitors..."
"I was, once. But my interests seem to have gravitated more toward women these last few years..."
The girl shifted her weight off her knees and sat cross-legged beside me, pulling the heel of her foot under her dress against her crotch.
"So have mine lately."
I paused for a moment, wondering how far I should take our little flirtation.
"You've never even been kissed?" I said.
The girl chuckled as she looked towards the front door of her hut.
"Not unless you count all the pecks on my cheek by my matua. I'm expected to remain chaste until the day I'm given away."
"Given away?" I said, shaking my head in confusion.
"Any potential mate must first be approved by my father. Not many suitors have stepped forward in deference to his authority."
"How many men are there in your tribe of marrying age?” I asked. “I can't imagine any young man or woman not being attracted to your physical beauty."
"It would have to be a man," the girl frowned. "It's considered tapu for a woman to sleep with another woman after she's reached childbearing age.
"That's a shame, because it's a singular pleasure to be properly kissed by a girl."
She paused for a moment as she looked longingly into my eyes.
"I suppose it wouldn't be a sin if we were to kiss briefly. My grandmother says the exchange of saliva acts as a potion in the case of snakebite. Something about the built-in immunity I've acquired from so many of my own snake bites. In this case, it would be more medicinal—"
>
I pulled the girl's hand toward me as I lifted my head up to her face.
"What's your name?" I whispered in her ear.
"Teuila. It means red flower in our native language."
"My name's Jade. It means pretty green stone in my language. Kiss me, Teuila."
The girl leaned forward, and when our lips touched, it was like a lightning bolt passed through me. I could feel goose bumps on my arms as my heart pounded in my chest. As she pursed her lips awkwardly against mine, I felt the sweet taste of her wetness filling my mouth. But as I reached up with my hands to cradle her head, I heard the loud flap of the blanket covering the front door sweep aside and the thud of heavy footsteps on the wood lattice floor.
"O le a lea?" a gruff middle-aged man shouted in front of the doorway, flanked by the older woman who'd treated me earlier.
Teuila shot up into an erect position and said something in her native language to the man. He looked at me with an angry expression and continued talking to her in an agitated manner. It was apparent from her submissive body language that the man was her father and the chief of the village. He obviously disapproved of a foreigner in his house as he pointed at me and motioned with his finger in the direction of the beach. He continued berating Teuila for many minutes before storming out of the hut and down the front steps. The older woman said some gentle words, then followed the man out of the hut as I heard them talking some distance away.
"I'm guessing that was your father?" I said.
"Yes," the girl said. "I suppose it was a bit of a surprise to find a strange European woman lying in his house after he'd been out fishing all day."
"He seemed a little angry," I said. "Was it because of our kiss?"
"I explained to him that I was trying to administer pulu, but I don't think he was very convinced."
"What was all that gesturing about when he pointed at me and then toward the sea?"
Teuila exhaled heavily as her lips tightened into a frown.
"He said that he wants you off the island as soon as possible. If your friends don't return soon, there's a cargo ship that passes by here every month or so, where we exchange goods. He insists on your being on that ship by the latest."
I glanced up at Teuila, grunting as I tried to sit up.
"In the meantime, where do you want me to stay?"
"You're still weak and sore," she said, easing me back down onto the mat. "You're welcome to stay with us until you're fully recovered. I'm sorry to have put you through all this. My father can be a little hard-headed sometimes. I'm sure he'll come around once we explain the situation. How are you feeling?"
I smiled at the native girl and reached back out for her hand.
"I was feeling much better when you were administering your magic elixir. If the coast is clear, can I have another one of your healing kisses?"
Teuila turned her head as she watched her father and grandmother walking slowly toward the other end of the village.
"Maybe for just a few more minutes..."
She leaned down to kiss me, and I reached up and ran my fingers through her soft hair. When our lips touched, I gently probed her mouth and played with her tongue, tasting her sweet salve. Teuila moaned softly, as she rolled her hips over her splayed skirt on the floor.
This won’t be the only waterfall we'll soon be experiencing, I thought, feeling my panties begin to rapidly moisten.
4
Later that day, the chief returned to the hut, and he and Teuila had a calmer discussion. His countenance seemed to have changed completely toward both of us, and he nodded as he made eye contact with me before leaving to attend to other business. Not long after, the old lady entered the cabin carrying a platter of food and some fresh water. She spoke with Teuila briefly, then she kneeled down beside me and felt my forehead, encouraging me to drink the cool water. I was beginning to feel stronger, and I was able to sit up as the two women tended to me.
"Your father seems less angry," I said. "Should I thank your grandmother for that?"
"Probably," Teuila nodded. "When she explained the circumstances of your arrival and reminded him of our longstanding tradition of giving refuge to wayward travelers, he softened up. In fact, he insisted on holding a ceremony this evening to celebrate the rapid recovery of our honored guest. Do you think you'll feel well enough to attend the festivities?"
"Will it require my active participation?" I said, still feeling a bit sore and lightheaded.
"Not unless you want to. It mostly involves a lot of singing and dancing. My father has asked that we prepare a special feast for the occasion. There will be lots of local dishes for you to sample. All you really have to do is watch and eat. You haven't had anything in over twenty-four hours. It will be good for you to regain your strength."
I looked at the large platter of food that the old woman had placed on the floor beside me and smiled at her.
"I'm beginning to feel my appetite coming back. Is this all for me?"
"Ai meaai," the woman nodded, holding the platter up and motioning with her hand toward her mouth.
The tray was filled with pieces of sliced banana, papaya, fresh fish, and some kind of shaved gourd. In the corner of the board sat a hollowed out half-coconut shell filled with the same creamy brown fluid the woman had administered to me earlier.
I looked at the plate, inhaling the rich fragrance of aromas, then peered up at Teuila.
"Is it okay to eat it with my hands?" I asked, not seeing any utensils.
"Of course," she said. "That's the only proper way to enjoy good food. Dig in!"
I picked up a slice of papaya, and when I bit into it, I closed my eyes, humming in appreciation.
"Oh my God," I said. "That is so good. It's so much more flavorful than the fruit I buy at my local grocery store. Do you grow all of your food on the island?"
"Absolutely. We have a great variety of fruit, vegetables, and seafood. The gods have blessed us with an abundance of natural resources to allow us to be self-sufficient."
I picked up a piece of white fish and sucked it slowly into my mouth. It appeared to be raw and marinated in some kind of citrus seasoning. Unlike the fresh snapper our charter chef had cooked up on the beach yesterday, this seafood was far more tender and juicy.
"You're spoiling me," I said, purring as I savored the succulent flesh. "This is the most tender seafood I've ever tasted. What kind of fish is it? And what's the seasoning? It tastes so simple and pure."
"We call it fa'aipoipo, but I think you call it halibut. It was fresh-caught today by my father and his fishing crew. We've added nothing but fresh lime juice to season it."
I shook my head at the simplicity of the native diet. I'd always felt that the best food needed little extra embellishment if it was truly fresh. And you couldn't get much fresher than this—from sea to plate in a matter of hours.
I took a sip of the coconut milk, then picked up the large pear-shaped tuber and took a small bite off the tip. It tasted a bit like sweet potato, but I also detected traces of the fresh seafood and papaya juices that covered the wooden board.
"What's this interesting fruit? It's got a delicious texture and flavor. I've never seen it before."
"It's one of our staples," Teuila said. "The taro root is actually a vegetable, not a fruit. We use it in much the same way that Westerners use potatoes. It's a very nutritious side dish that soaks up the flavors of other foods it's paired with. Do you like it?"
Holding the curved tubular vegetable in my hand, it reminded me of one of my favorite sex toys that I’d use on lonely nights to stimulate my G-spot.
"Mmm," I said, sucking the rich seafood juice from the tip of the bulb while raising a suggestive eyebrow at Teuila. "I'll definitely have to try more of this. I can imagine all sorts of ways it can be paired with other delectable dishes."
After I devoured the rest of the food on the serving plate, the old lady smiled at me and said something to Teuila.
"We should probably start getting you rea
dy for the celebration tonight," she said, glancing at my soiled hiking clothes. "You must be looking forward to a bath. Let's get you cleaned up and into some fresh clothes. There's a private section of the lagoon where I can take you if you're strong enough to walk. Then my matua and I will prepare you with our local costume for the festival."
My pussy suddenly pulsed at the thought of bathing privately with Teuila.
"You're really having me go native, aren't you?" I said. "I think a swim in the lagoon would be very refreshing. I shouldn’t have any trouble walking as long as you stay close by my side."
"I wouldn't think of leaving you," Teuila smiled. "Besides, I saw the way some of our young tribesmen looked at you when you came into our village. I need to make sure they don't get any ideas about the sexy white girl in their midst."
5
As Teuila escorted me toward the bathing lagoon, women and children smiled at me from the open verandas of their huts flanking the main thoroughfare of the village. But a group of men carving a dugout canoe on the main beach eyed me suspiciously when we veered off onto a flagstone-lined path leading into the woods. When we reached the secluded lagoon, I peered around me at the natural splendor of the landscape.
"Your island is so beautiful," I said, inhaling the fresh onshore sea breeze. "Where I come from, people pay a small fortune to visit these tropical paradises. And here I am, being feted by my native hosts, with never a thought to any kind of compensation."
"At least for a few more weeks," Teuila frowned, reminding me of the cargo ship pickup that was scheduled to pick me up later this month.
"If not earlier, if my shipmates return before then." I glanced toward the thick canopy of trees lining the lagoon. "If I hide in the forest, will you tell them I'm still lost? I'm in no hurry to leave this Shangri-La."
"I'd be happy to, but I think my father will have other ideas. We have to be careful not to test his patience too much. He's very suspicious of European visitors overstaying their welcome. He's heard stories of the destruction they brought to some of the other Polynesian islands."
Polynesian Pleasure Page 2