Then I force myself not to rush to where we left the backpacks. I'm glad I'm facing away from them because I'm sure my cheeks are blazing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as the guys get in and lean back. I collect the backpacks and take them back to the edge of the mud pool.
Ade and Lex float happily in the warm, gooey mud, their eyes closed, their faces relaxed.
"Good?" I ask.
"Amazing," Ade sighs. "It's just above body temp. Being suspended in the warm mud is so relaxing."
"Yeah, it's like zero gravity in here," Lex adds, his voice a little sleepy. "And there's that handy waterfall nearby to wash this gunk off. Tiero really had this place sorted."
I giggle to myself. Yeah, Tiero did. But that walk to the waterfall will be uncomfortable covered in all that super sticky mud.
We fall into a comfortable silence as Rhia and I prepare the snacks. They lounge in the thermal mud pool, their bodies submerged in the warm, mineral-rich mud.
We hand-feed them, and I feel taken back a few centuries to Roman or Greek times when baths and feasts were enjoyed together. It's as if we're participating in an ancient ritual of relaxation and indulgence. The steam rising from the pool adds a timeless, ethereal quality.
After our mini feast, Rhia and I lie back on the rocks and enjoy the sun on our skin that's filtering through the treetops.
A few times, we glance at each other, a mischievous grin spreading over Rhia's face. She's trying to hide it, but she's starting to fidget, getting impatient to see the guys' reactions when they get out.
"Are you two joining us?" Lex asks, sitting up.
"We're happy where we are," I mumble.
Truth be told, I'd love to submerge myself in the warm mud too. It looks divine and so relaxing. But until I know for sure thatmud is going to wash off easily, I'm not game. I'm not risking looking like a gray corpse in my wedding pictures.
Ade's body will be mostly covered. So should there be any mud stains left, it will be okay.
But my dress? There's a fair bit of skin on show.
Not happy with my answer, the guys look at each other and seem to come to some unspoken understanding. Then they slowly turn to where Rhia and I are sitting… too slowly.
They're going to come for us.
"Rhia, run!" I yell, jumping up.
Ade and Lex leap from the mud pool. Rhia, ever the navigator, runs back toward the waterfall and, tearing off her shirt and shorts along the way, jumps into the plunge pool at the base of the falls.
Good thinking.
Following her lead, I quickly yank my shirt over my head and toss it onto a nearby bush. Undoing the button and zipper on my shorts while still running, I wiggle out of them on the water's edge and, with a huge splash, jump in too.
Rhia and I swim to the middle of the pool where we deem it 'safe'.
Seeing us both in the water is like a red rag to two charging bulls and within a few seconds, we're all in the pool together, laughing.
Our men catch up to us, no problem, and encase us in their arms, tickling and teasing.
Then they drag us to shore. Probably to throw us over their shoulders caveman-style and march into the mud with us.
But when we get out, they look down at their bodies. And so do we.
They're still fully covered in mud.
The water and all the splashing did nothing to wash it off.
Hmm.
