Chapter 349

**Sara**

"They're fruit bats," Tom explained. "Biggest bats in Australia. They come out at dusk to feed."
"They're huge!" I whispered, watching one stretch its impressive wingspan. "And kind of cute, in a creepy way."
"Like me?"
I elbowed him in the ribs. "You wish you were that exotic."
A commotion down the path drew our attention. A wedding party emerged from around a bend – a bride in a flowing white gown, a groom in a sharp tuxedo, and a photographer directing their poses against the harbor backdrop.
We watched as the couple gazed into each other's eyes, their happiness palpable even from a distance.
"They look so in love," I murmured.
Tom's eyes found mine. "They do."
Something unspoken passed between us, a current of possibility that neither of us was ready to name. I broke the tension by standing up.
"Come on, show me more of your planned stops."
We continued along the path, pausing when a flash of brilliant color caught my eye. A group of rainbow-colored birds had descended on a feeding station where a park volunteer was distributing fruit.
"Rainbow lorikeets," Tom said, reading from an information board. "They're nectar feeders, but they'll take fruit from visitors."
I approached slowly, delighted when the birds barely acknowledged my presence, too focused on their meal. One particularly bold lorikeet perched on the edge of the feeding tray, eyeing me with intelligent curiosity.
"They're so tame!" I exclaimed, snapping photos.
"They're used to humans," Tom explained. "But they're still wild birds."
As if to prove his point, the bold lorikeet suddenly launched itself into the air, wings a blur of red, green, and blue as it disappeared into the canopy.
"Where to next, tour guide?" I asked, rejoining Tom.
He consulted his watch. "The Calyx should still be open. It's their exhibition space."
The Calyx turned out to be a modern structure with soaring glass walls and a curved roof. Inside, we discovered a breathtaking vertical garden – thousands of plants arranged on living walls stretched from floor to ceiling.
"This is incredible," I whispered, staring up at the tapestry of greenery. "How do they keep it all alive?"
"Integrated irrigation systems," Tom replied, pointing to barely visible tubing. "The current exhibition is about pollination."
We wandered through displays explaining the relationship between plants and their pollinators, from bees to birds to bats. The afternoon crowd had thinned, leaving us almost alone in certain sections.
As we rounded a particularly lush display, Tom suddenly pulled me behind a massive tree fern, out of sight from the few remaining visitors.
"What are you—"
His lips captured mine, cutting off my question. My surprise lasted only a second before I melted into him, my hands finding their way to his chest. The kiss deepened, his tongue seeking entrance, which I eagerly granted. Tom's hands slid down to my hips, pulling me flush against him as he backed me against the tree trunk.
I lost myself in the sensation; his taste mingled with the earthy scent of the garden. When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily.
"What was that for?" I asked, my voice husky.
"Planned stop number four." His eyes were dark with desire. "Kiss Sara senseless behind exotic foliage."
"Mission accomplished." I straightened my dress, glancing around to make sure we hadn't been spotted. "Should we continue the tour before we get kicked out for indecent behavior?"
Tom checked his watch. "One more stop before sunset. It's a bit of a walk."
We exited the Calyx and followed a path that hugged the harbor's edge. After about fifteen minutes, we arrived at a sandstone outcropping with a bench carved into the rock.
"Mrs. Macquarie's Chair," Tom announced. "She was the governor's wife in the early 1800s. She used to sit here and watch for ships from England."
The view was spectacular – the Opera House and Harbour Bridge perfectly framed across the water, the late afternoon sun casting everything in golden light.
I leaned against the sandstone, trying to absorb every detail of the panorama before me.
"It's breathtaking," I whispered, almost afraid to speak too loudly and break the spell.
"Not as breathtaking as what's coming next," Tom said with a mysterious smile. He checked his watch. "We should head out. We have an appointment to keep."
"Another surprise?" I raised an eyebrow. "You're really going all out today."
"Only the best for you." He offered his hand, pulling me to my feet.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up at the base of the Harbour Bridge. A small building with "BridgeClimb Sydney" emblazoned across its entrance stood before us.
"No way," I gasped, realization dawning. "Are we actually...?"
"Climbing to the top? Absolutely." Tom's eyes danced with excitement.
Inside, we were greeted by a cheerful staff member who checked us in and directed us to a preparation area. Several other climbers were already there, being fitted with gray jumpsuits.
"Welcome to the Twilight Bridge Climb," announced a tall woman with a clipboard. "I'm Heidi, and I'll be your climb leader today."
We were each handed jumpsuits to put on over our clothes. I eyed the unflattering garment dubiously.
"Is this really necessary?" I whispered to Tom as I stepped into the baggy outfit.
"Safety regulations," he replied, zipping up his own suit with surprising grace. "Besides, you look cute in anything."
"Liar." I struggled with the zipper, which seemed determined to get stuck halfway up. "I look like a janitor who got lost on the way to work."
Tom reached over to help, his fingers brushing against my collarbone as he fixed the zipper. "A very sexy janitor."
I snorted, drawing looks from the family of four being suited up nearby.
Next came the harnesses – complicated contraptions of straps and buckles that wrapped around our waists and thighs. A staff member helped adjust mine, tightening various straps until I felt securely trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
"How am I supposed to move in this thing?" I complained, taking an experimental step.
"With confidence," Tom replied, looking annoyingly comfortable in his own gear.
We were each given a hat, which attached to our suits with a clip, and a handkerchief secured by another clip. Radio devices were hooked to our suits, with headphones so we could hear our guide throughout the climb.
"Is anyone else feeling like they're preparing for space travel?" I asked, adjusting my headset.
An older man next to me chuckled. "My wife said the same thing. She's waiting below with a camera – said she'd rather take pictures than wear the 'astronaut costume.'"
Heidi gathered us for a safety briefing and demonstrated how our harnesses would connect to the safety line that ran the length of the climb.
"Remember, you'll always be attached to the bridge," she assured us. "Just follow my instructions, and you'll be fine. Do you have any questions?"
A teenage boy raised his hand. "What happens if we need to pee?"
His mother looked mortified, but Heidi just laughed. "That's why we asked everyone to use the facilities before gearing up. But don't worry – the climb only takes about three and a half hours."
"Three and a half hours?" I whispered to Tom, panic rising. "You didn't mention that part."
"Would you have agreed if I had?" His eyes crinkled with amusement.
"Probably not."
"Exactly why I left it out." He squeezed my hand. "Trust me, you'll forget all about the time once we're up there."
The Professor's Temptation
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