Forever and a Day (51 page)

“My first house was right up the street from my home. I’d drive by this gorgeous Spanish style home every day and I would always drive by slowly so I could enjoy the sight.”

“Tell me more about it?”

“Well… I bought it the first day it came on the market… my dad about fell over when I told him. My mom was so cool about it though. My dad still wonders why I need a house that big.” She was ready for the next question as she saw his lips move.

“Arches and red tile roof?”

His question caught her off guard. Most everyone asked how much it cost or how big it was. “It’s white stucco with a red tiled roof, courtyard and yes, lots of arches… the driveway is circular with a fountain in the middle… I would love for you to come stay with me sometime!” She exclaimed.

“Really?” He chuckled with disbelief.

“What? Won’t we at least be friends after all this?” She asked quietly.

“Oh… I—I just meant that… well, you are a beautiful somebody back home and I’m just a guy. Things will be different when we get back…”

“Xander? I don’t understand… we have spent almost two weeks together. You’ve seen me at my worst! Holy hell, you help me go potty. Don’t you think that makes you a little bit special in my book?”

He turned to her and saw her eyes were wide and staring at him. He frowned with his lips tight against each other and shook his head then sighed, “Halo, I—it makes my heart feel good you would even suggest that. My wife would never allow me to be alone with you, uh again.” He felt his eyes start to burn and knew his heart would finally finish falling to pieces.

“Oh.” Halo replied. She saw his eyes water and felt his sadness, “I’ll be sad.” She sighed and reached over and touched his hand with hers and left it there against his. So not fair, she thought. Looking back up at the stars, the thought of being rescued left a sour feeling in her insides. At least he will hold her tonight and make her forget their future.

Xander felt her hand touching his and it woke up the butterflies in his belly. He lay there looking up at the stars knowing that he was so close to leaning over and kissing her soft lips. He quietly cleared the lump in his throat, “I don’t know any of these constellations.”

“Me either.” She mumbled.

An hour went by as they both enjoyed the proximity of their closeness. They both would glance at one another out of the corner of their eyes, both knowing what was there but unattainable to them.

When the breeze picked up, he turned to her, “Want to head up? I’ll work on your back if you would like?”

“Oh yes please!” Halo blurted out then covered her mouth as she giggled with embarrassment.

He chuckled as he got to his knees, “I may just have to start charging you…”

She looked at him long and hard and hazarded her response as he came to pick her up, “I’d pay you anything you want…”

He felt a rush of excitement bolt through him, with all his will he pushed her words from his mind, thinking it would never work. Besides she is just feeling like she needs to keep him happy to continue helping her, he sternly reminded himself. He gently picked her up and he felt her arm go around his neck as she tucked her head under his chin. Rather than pick up the blanket, he kicked sand over it so it would stay put for the night.

In silence he carried her up to the tent and laid her down on the blanket, then helped her turn over on her tummy. No words were exchanged as he began the fire cupping. When he was done and the cups removed, he began rubbing down her back once more with baby oil. Through his hands, he felt more than heard her moan in pleasure again as he worked the muscles in her back into submission. He was tempted to use Kiatsu pressing on her, but at times unintended things had a tendency to happen…

Even though he promised her a short massage, he conveniently lost track of time as he did not want to stop being in contact with her. Working on her injured back was more than a plausible enough reason for him to keep touching her so soft skin. A sudden yawn made him realize that he was getting very tired and he began pulling her shirt down over her bare back. She rolled sideways again for him and he caught sight of the side of her breast. His heart jumped and with unsteady hands, he delicately pulled her T-shirt past her perfect looking breast. Then she turned to the opposite side and he caught sight of her pink, perfect nipple. He quickly looked away and with still shaking hands, he got the fabric over her breast and into place. Then he quickly covered her up in her red blanket.

He felt the beads of sweat on his forehead and wiped it away before he turned her over. When he did, he saw she was faintly smiling up at him, “You are still shaking.”

“Yeah…” He said nervously.

She had a mind to pull up her T-shirt and really start something. Instead, she watched as he lay down next to her on his back and moved around trying to get comfortable. Failing, he turned towards her on his side and their eyes met.

She held his green eyes in her blues and whispered, “Xander… I know you have a wife at home and all, but…would you hold me again? It—it’s kind of cold with the breeze.” She saw him swallow hard in the dim firelight and felt bad for asking. Before she could beg off, he reached under her head with his strong arm and pulled her close.

She smelled his sexy scent, along with smoke and salt water. She was in heaven as she nuzzled up under his chin. She casually reached up, touched his chin in a gesture of thanks then curled it up under her own chin. She wondered if his wife did the same and thought that if she did not she was stupid.

After a time she felt him drift off into a deep sleep, when she was sure he was out she laboriously got herself turned with her back to him and scooted herself into him to where they were spooning. She could feel his warm manhood against her bum as she wrapped her leg around his. His arm eventually came around her, scooped under her breasts, and held her tight against himself. His breathing never wavered.

With a smile and a warmed heart, Halo found sleep in the arms of her Superman.

Halo looked over at Xander and saw his full lower lip was relaxed as he slept, they were so, so kissable! She ran her foot down his leg softly, feeling his skin. She saw his one eye open at her and he gave her a sleepy smile. She gave him one back, reached over and touched his cheek with her fingertips, “Xander?”

“Yes, Halo?” He replied sleepily at her.

“I—I was thinking… I saw something a while ago, on Twitter of all places. It said the last person you think of before you fall asleep is the person you truly love…” She paused and watched him smile at her, “if that is true, what does it mean if all I can do is think of you?” She gave him a little pout. She watched as his smile grew bigger and he reached over and caressed her cheek with his fingers.

“Halo, it means we are both lost to each other… for forever and a day.” He leaned in close, and she could feel the heat of his lips so close to hers. Suddenly with a start, her eyes flew open and saw she was alone in the tent, her heart was rapidly beating and she was panting. She pushed herself to a sitting position and looked out at the morning sun drenching the white sand. “Damn…” She sighed wistfully.

Something in the surf caught her attention and she shielded her eyes with her hand and focused. It was Xander, he was coming out of the water with something in his hands. All he was wearing was his white swim trunks. She watched as he came closer and caught the contours of his finely defined muscles. She felt her nether regions warm as he came into full view, it reminded her of a recent 007 film, when Bond came out from the water.

She marveled at his body and found herself biting her lip—holy hell he was hot! She realized that he had to have spent years working out. His body was no quick Hollywood work out with steroids to boost an actor’s physique. His was the real deal.

She saw him nod to her with a smile as he closed the distance to the tent, “Good morning!” He called out cheerfully.

She waited until he got closer, smiling the whole time as she took in the sight of his body, “Well, a good morning to you, Mr. Magic Mike!”

“HA! Not likely, but thank you, Miss Beautiful.” He chuckled, “Hey, I got some more fish as you can see!”

“I see that! How?” She saw a long stick in his hand and gestured to it. He held it up to her and she saw that he fashioned a fish spear with three pointy prongs at the end that were blackened by fire. They were held splayed out by a disc in the middle and tied close by what looked like wire.

“I woke up early and found this stick, as well as some wire. I think the tsunami from a few years ago is still washing things up. Anyway I made this, I was hoping to find some squid, but no go.”

“Impressive, I must say.” She replied. She saw him furrow his brows together at her and cock his head at her. “What?”

“You are talking almost normally…” He looked down with a chuckle then back up to her, “I mean your voice is almost normal now.”

“Ah… yes! It is!” She took a deeper breath, she still felt some stuff in her lungs but it was nothing like a few days ago.

“And you are sitting up.” He gestured to her with his spear.

“I am…” Halo was happy but she was worried she might be sleeping alone soon if she got better too quickly. “I don’t think I can walk yet, I still feel some stuff in my chest…”

“Well you look healthy; there is some pink in your cheeks. So! Are you hungry?” Xander said raising the two fish on a stick.

“Oh my yes!” She said and unconsciously licked her lips.

Xander laughed and went to the cold fire pit and got a small fire going.

She watched him deftly clean the fish and spit them over the fire. She saw him place the entrails into a plastic bag and set it aside. She called over to him, “Why keep those?” She pointed to the bag of fish guts.

“Oh, bait for the fish rack in the lagoon. I hate to say it, but you will probably be hating fish soon. That’s why I was hoping for some squid or an octopus.”

“I’ve never had octopus, I love calamari though!” She replied with a smile.

“Then, my lady, I will do my best to get some. If I can find the right type of wood I can make a trap.” He checked the fish and came over to the opening of the tent.

She saw his washboard abs flex as he moved close and kneeled down in front of her. Her thoughts took her to his wife, and the words ‘lucky bitch’ shot through her mind. She almost brought her hand to her mouth in shock at what she just thought. She returned her attention to him as he asked her a question.

“I’m sorry, what?” Halo asked.

“Oh… uh do you knit or crotchet by chance?” He asked.

“Yes, I’ve done some of both, why? Need me to make you a speedo?” She saw him look down at his tight swim trunks and she saw his cheeks redden. “Xander, I’m kidding. You look, um… very good! I can tell you have worked out for a long time.”

“Uh, thanks. Why I am asking you is, if you are willing. Would you be good with trying to do some palm leaf weaving for mats and the like?”

Halo gave him her proud smile, “Of course! I’d love to help out! I feel like such a third wheel.”