I love this story so much, @litguru. Or should I say "novella"? I have to say, it hums along beautifully. Your masterful use of action and dialogue keeps the reader moving forward, and a therefore a story that is on the longer side does not at all seem long!
The comment made by the guys depositing them on the island created some interesting foreboding!
"I must warn you," said one of the men on the boat, "this island is rarely accessible to travelers. Only local people."
The young man seemed about to say more but just smiled and then began steering the boat towards the island.
I kept thinking something really bad was going to happen. But as I braced myself for that, the story took such a pleasant turn. The propriety of the couple simply could not be sustained in the magical and sensual environment of the island. They were helpless in its embrace, even though on the ship where the very raw exposure of flesh was something they couldn't handle. I just love how this played out. It's like the difference between sex and love making. Miranda and Larry found the beauty of sensuality after experiencing the crass nature (at least in their point of view) of people taking off their clothes and exposing themselves.
I'd love to know if you knew the direction this story would take when you started writing!
RE: The Bare Necessities