Island Rush (41 page)

I knew the first huge rock was a large step ahead of the bank, and I realized what he was doing.  He took that large step and was standing on the rock, his arm stretched out to keep his hand in mine where I stood a few feet away on the bank.  How am I going to do this?

“Casey?!” I asked.

“Don’t open your eyes!  Now, when I say jump, you jump forward!”

Was he serious?  I mean really, jumping with my eyes open was a big enough challenge.  Now he wants me to jump and not know where I’m going?  One inch could make a big difference.  “Wait, how?” I--”

Cutting me off, he yelled, “Jump towards my voice when I say, and I’ll pull you to me with my hand. Trust me.”

I internally sighed and nodded, a smile dancing on and off of my lips.  This was going to be interesting no matter the outcome.  I tried to get a good idea of where I was going to jump and also according to where his hand was. 

“Okay, jump!” he yelled, and I did, feeling him pull me to him immediately and I crashed against his body.  It was a success, I knew that much.  I didn’t open my eyes, though I was tempted to.  It was actually quite easy.  What I needed to keep out of my head though was that he was still a little sore from his cut and that he also never did this before.  Not here on this island, anyway.   

I could feel my arm rising when he started to move.  Hearing the water rushing by me in every direction, and the fact that I couldn’t judge how much extra space we had, kept me in place.  I could feel the stress in our fingers and knew there was a bigger gap this time because his fingers just barely grasped mine.

I waited for his voice.  “Jump!” he called, and I did, trying to get a good push off to go a little farther.  His strong muscles didn’t disappoint when he swiftly pulled me to him, and his body was there to secure my blind one with a laugh. 

“Janice?” he spoke.  This time instead of moving on, he stood close to me.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“When I say this, you can’t open your eyes.  There is a larger gap this time between this rock and the next one!  I won’t be able to reach that far.  So I need you to jump towards my voice and my voice only!”

The hardest thing throughout the entire thing was not opening my eyes because that’s all I wanted to do.  Open my eyes and start swearing at this guy who must have lost his mind.  I succeeded in keeping my eyes shut but not my mouth. 

“I can’t do that?!  I trust you fully!  But not even you can promise I will be okay, not when I’m jumping blind!”

“Do you or do you not trust me?” he asked.

“I trust you,” I said and was trying to get that through my head.

With those words, I felt him leave my side, and I froze immediately. 

“Okay!  You hear my voice?” he yelled.  I shifted towards his voice until I heard him yell again.  It sounded far from where I was, but that could have been because of the rushing water.  “That’s good!  Now, just jump to my voice from there.  You’re directly facing me.  Ready?!” he called, and I wasn’t sure if I could actually do this.  Sure, I trusted and loved this man but how could I trust he would catch me?

Because he told me, he would.  He was sure that he would catch me even though a lot of this jump depended on me.  I would do this, and I wasn’t sure why other than the fact that I trusted him.

“I’m ready!” I answered to him.

“Okay, jump!” he yelled, and it took a lot in that second to get my feet to move.  But I did, taking a step to push off, and I jumped towards his voice. I couldn’t help myself from releasing a squeal.

My heart pounded hard and fast in those few seconds.  Immediately after jumping, I felt his inviting hands slide around me and to my back.  My feet hit the rock as his hands rested on my back, holding me to his body tightly. 

I expected him to let me go, but he didn’t.  I figured he would continue onto the next rock, but all he did was hold me to him.  His body against mine, his breath moved in and out close to my face.  I was breathing hard, but my mouth was instantly shut by the soft contact his lips made with mine. 

It was unexpected.  Really unexpected too when his mouth became urgent on mine.  I cursed the fact that we were standing on a rock because that didn’t give me much space to do what I wanted with him.  His hands grasping my back and his lips devouring mine, I did the same.  My hands flew up around his shoulders as I held him to me, my head swimming with a light feeling. 

He broke away from me slowly.  Lips resting where they just brushed on mine, he spoke softly,  “You can open your eyes now.”

I was confused by his request but opened my eyes.  They immediately met the deep brown ones of Casey’s, his face not an inch from mine.  He sounded calm before, but I could see he was hiding a lot.  I found a loving yet vulnerable man before me. 

Something else caught my attention. I slowly turned my head towards where the water was rushing by.  We stood in the middle of the river on a rock, but as I looked forward, there was no water in front of us.  The water that was rushing by me raced down to the lake.  We were literally standing at the top of the waterfall, on the edge of it.  I heard myself gasp, not because it scared me.  While we were on the bank, I didn’t even realize how close we were to the edge.  Or how beautiful this actually was.  We were somehow higher than before because I could not only see out to the beautiful blue of the ocean.  I saw a little of the beach too, over it all was the wonderful setting sun.

Yes, I don’t know how I couldn’t have noticed that the sun was starting to set.  An orange canvas began to cover the sky.  The usually shadowed palms in the distance glowed with light.  I looked down again, still stocked that we were on top and over the waterfall.  The splashing of the water filled our ears, and though it was quite loud, it was peaceful and natural.

I felt Casey, with his arms still wrapped around me, start to lower himself.  He was leading me to sit down in his lap on the rock which was a lot larger than I thought or that he led me to believe.  He shifted, his legs outstretched and his feet just hanging over the edge of the rock but we couldn’t get wet unless if we were to literally jump in the water. 

I rested in his lap, my head against his shoulder and my legs outstretched over his.  His one arm rested around me, and his other hand supported him.  I tilted forward a little and looked behind me up to his face.  “So, this was your plan the whole time?  Scare me half to death then show me how fast you can transition into a sweet man?” I asked, my heart still shocked by everything. 

He smiled as he raised his hand up to caress my cheek. Tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear and giving me a loving gaze, he shook his head. Whether it was out of awe or disbelief, it looked like one or the other, he leaned forward and softly kissed my lips before speaking. “I really wasn’t sure if you would jump.  That was the only thing that worried me if you didn’t trust me enough to jump.  I want you to know that you were in no danger.  You obviously didn’t see the size of these rocks because they are quite roomy.”  He smiled, eyes locked onto mine, refusing to let go.  “You were always within my reach, even at that last jump, I could reach you.  I wouldn’t put you in that kind of harm, and I’m sorry if I scared you.  I just knew that you would love the sight of the sun setting from this view.  I get how this could be dangerous, but I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.  And—”

I cut him off with my lips, his words tempting me too much.  He said he did this for me because he knew, I would like it and for no other reason… because he loved me, and he could do this now that he was healed. 

I detracted my lips from his and smiled.  “Thank you.  Don’t be sorry for this.  I can’t believe you are actually going to sit here with me and watch the sunset,” I said and was close to cutting myself off.  I kissed him again with more need than before, tilting myself back and up to his lips.

Detaching our lips, he smiled.  “So, did I win the title, ‘Toughest Man Known’?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “First of all, it was the toughest man that I know.  And no, you are one of the softest men I have ever known.  I love you for it.”

Chapter 42

As the sun slowly started to descend, the pink and orange colors becoming heavier, I knew there was still awhile until the sun is actually set to the point of darkness. So Casey and I continued to sit there, enjoying it all. His arm was wrapped around me, holding me to him as we looked out and over our kingdom. 

“I’m sure I would have loved your mother,” he said, and I looked up to his face in confusion, wondering where that came from. Then I recalled I told him about my mother on the way up here.

I smiled as the sun did too, resting on his face.  His eyes swam over the ocean and the beauty of this island as I spoke, “I know she would have loved you.”

He smiled and tilted his head down to look at me. “You’re saying she would approve of our relationship? If she found her daughter dating her teacher, being a part of an illegal relationship, she would be fine with that?” he asked.

I chuckled because I knew exactly what she would do. “Casey, I meant she would love you as a person. If she ever found out that we were together, she would kick your ass until it turned black and blue. Then she would kick mine. My mom wouldn’t have supported this relationship based on the danger it would bring. But I think she would come around.  Once she got to know you, she wouldn’t care about anything else. She would see that you make me very happy.”

He smiled. “I make you very happy? I thought I pissed you off most of the time.”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that because you do,” I laughed.  “Mostly, you make me feel better about my life and myself. I am actually smiling, not faking my joy like I did before.”

I sat back in his arms, overlooking the island and waterfall directly in front of us.  Staring at our shelter below in the shady grass, the strip of lit beach, and the ocean.  Then finally the sun as it lowered in the sky, painting the world in streaks of fire.

Yet, as we sat on this rock together, I just wanted to give him all my attention because I finally could without holding back like I had to.  Since the second he revealed he loved me, he had that cut.  Up until now, it has been in the way of physical contact. Sure, we had some contact, but there was always a limit.

Today, right now, we didn’t need to be careful.  He was healed, aside from a little soreness. He showed me when he brought me up here.  We could engage in all forms of contact.  That knowledge already tempted me to spin around and give him a kiss again.  I could sense that he felt the same as I did.

“Going into photography, how would you take a picture of this sight if you had a camera, right now?” he asked.

I didn’t have to really ponder over that. “You can do it many ways.  One way could be just to get on your stomach, hold the camera low and out so it’s just above the water. Then have the lens point out towards the ocean. So in the end, the photo would consist of the waves and sun, but it would be just above the rushing river.”  I paused, seeing his low eyebrows and intrigued eyes. “Would you like me to show you?”

He shifted me off of his lap as he nodded.  It was surprising when I saw just how excited he was to see that I offered to show him.  His voice reflected the same enthusiasm. “Yeah! You said for this specific picture, you would need to lay on your stomach…?”

“For the angle I was talking about, yeah,” I said, moving low to my stomach, my face closer to the passing water. “I’m surprised how excited you seem,” I chuckled.

He scoffed as if I was acting silly. “Well, you seem really into this!  I want to see this creativity at work!”

“Okay.  Lay on your stomach next to me so you can see what I am doing,” I smiled.  It was big enough, and there was enough room, so why not?  It made me thrilled knowing how interested he was!

He shifted and laid down on his stomach beside me. “Wow, this is close,” he yelled over the water.

“Exactly! You see it from places that nobody else has because everybody sees sights like this from eye level usually. People are too lazy to look at things from a different perspective.”

I wiggled my arms up in front of us, so I could show Casey how the picture would be taken and how I would hold the camera. “Okay, now I would hold the camera out like this,” I said as I shaped my hands so it looked like it would if I were holding a camera. I lowered my hands towards the water and stopped before I touched it.  I tilted my ‘camera’ up, so it looked along the water and out into the sky.  “The camera is right above the water so it will be in the shot when I take the picture of the sunset. And because of the angle, you don’t see anything else besides this river, the ocean, and the sun.”

Glancing over at him, I saw a soft smile as he looked at the image in my head before us. Sitting back up after taking it in, I did the same and scooted back to his lap. “I didn’t know you loved it so much,” he said.  “You could really have an amazing future doing that.  I can’t imagine how many other ways you can do that.”

I blushed and looked back over the countless trees and a beautiful sunset.  “There are many other shots I could do with this sight too. That’s what makes this so enjoyable. It was always something I loved and wanted to do.  If we ever get back home—”

“If we ever go back, you won’t have to worry about your father. Remember what I said? That is something that will never happen again,” he said, a note of promise attached to his voice.

I nodded and relaxed back into his chest, watching the sun lower. Talking to him about something I loved so much made me realize how much I still needed to learn about him.  “What do you like doing? What are your hobbies?”

He thought about for a moment, “Well… I read if that counts. I can obsess forever over books.”

“Well, it doesn’t have to be a hobby exactly.  It can be anything. There is more to you than reading.”

He didn’t answer at first.  From that, I knew he was either thinking about what he could say or hesitating because he thought I might judge him.  After I had felt him take a big breath, he spoke,  “I’ll tell you what. I’ll show you when we get back to the shelter because if I just say it, it sounds weak. But if I show you, you should be impressed. Well, that depends on whether I can still do it.”

The way he said that really made me want to know. He wasn’t sure whether he could still do it, whatever it is.  Plus, it was obvious he was judged before because of it.

We watched as the sun began sinking below the ocean waters, the darkness and chill in the air slowly creeping in. It was a beautiful sight.  Then I felt a movement.  Casey lifted me from his lap, getting to his feet and then helping me up to my feet.

“What is it?” I asked, wondering if he wanted to head back.  However, his arms were around me and keeping me close.

There was no answer other than his eyes, which were flickering over my face. I felt one of his hands that grasped my back leave so he could now cup my cheek. He slowly bent down and made contact with my lips.

It was nice and slow as if time stood still. His warm, inviting lips moved in no hurry; they drew out the want I wanted to expose. My limp hands found their feeling and snaked up his shoulders, wrapping around his neck.  His mouth began dancing over mine elegantly, yet urgently as well.  I wanted to drown in all of him, and I could taste that reality as I moved my lips with his.

He slowly broke away from me, and we both opened our eyes, his body still pressed against me.  The hand that rested against my cheek rose to brush the loose strands of my hair away from my face.  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered over the crashing water, his mouth breaking open with a huge smile.

“So are you,” I said, smiling softly at him.

He smiled, and his eyes turned from mine and looked back out over the island. I looked at him and saw the sun barely peeking above the horizon. It was such a lovely sight as was the sky with the stars starting to show.

“Come on. Let’s get back before it gets too dark,” he said, smiling and taking my hand.



We sat there in silence for a few minutes, comfortably watching the flicker of flames.  Though the silence was no longer awkward, the urge to tackle him with kisses possessed me still.  We finally can be together with no boundaries, and I wanted to embrace that with open arms.  

I also remembered what he told me on top of the waterfall. And I was very curious and interested.  “Are you ready to show me?” I asked, breaking the silence because I was too anxious to wait any longer.

“Hmm… I don’t know.  I don’t think you can handle it.”

I glared at him in mock outrage, but before I could say anything, he was on his feet and standing before me, not pausing.  “Casey, what—?”

It happened quickly.  He took one of my hands in his, not giving me a chance to finish as he pulled me up in a fast motion before I knew it. With his hand in mine, he dragged me into an open space in the grass. Completely surprising me, he stopped in place but swung his hand that held mine around him. He swung me around him in a fast motion before he pulled me back to him, the muscles in his arms commanding me to spin back into him.  

With a surprised grunt from me, I felt my chest hit his and come to a halt.  Completely still with him holding me to him, his hand rested on mine while his other hand was wrapped around my back.  After that, I had a good guess what his ‘hobby’ was.

His face shined in the orange firelight, illuminating his sweet smile down to me.  All I could manage to do was stare, a dumb grin plain of my face. 

“You dance?” I asked, my breath brushing over his face.

His nodded, and his smile grew, but I saw him watch me with a calculating eye.  As if he was waiting for me to judge him. I remember what he told me before.  He implied that he hadn’t done this in a long time.

“Do you still dance?” I asked.

His observing expression broke into a relaxed one. “I use to dance but not anymore.  Apparently, I can remember a few steps.”

This was so cool and something I hadn’t expected.  I now understood his interest when he found out about my love of photography.  Because now, I was completely taken over with amazement that Casey had a talent in dancing.  I also have a large amount of respect for people who can dance, mainly because I don’t know how to dance.

“What type of dance?” I asked, truly intrigued.

“I can do a lot because I was taught the basics in each of the major types.  I found I was really good at ballroom dancing.  I liked tango, waltz, and mambo.  I thought swing was really fun.”

Hearing that, it was quite impressive.  He must have put in a ton of effort if he knew how to do all those.  I would have quit the second day because I wouldn’t have had the patience.  It must have taken effort, strength, and natural talent. 

“You’re judging me, aren’t you? I know it isn’t a normal—” he started.

I cut him off.  “Why would I judge you?  That is extremely amazing.  I could never learn how to dance, it would take a ton to do.  You must be extremely flexible,” With a blush, I internally kicked myself.  Why did I have to say it like that?  I ended up biting my lip and looking down. 

Glancing back up to his smirking lips, I saw a soft blush on his face too.   “Yes, I am
very
flexible,” he said, teasing me.  “I only assumed you were judging me because a lot of the kids in school did when they found out I danced. To fourth graders, it’s not something most guys should do.  Even in high school, people were like that, and it was annoying.  I suppose it always stuck with me.  I’m glad you understand me.”

I smiled up at him, very aware of how close we were.  “I don’t see anything wrong with dancing. It could be a good way to get all the negative emotions out. What did you like about it?”

He laughed a light and beautiful sound. “The reason I’m so good at ballroom dancing is because I first took lessons after seeing that there were pretty girls in the class.  And with ballroom dancing, you get to dance really close with them.”

I laughed at him and shook my head.  “How old were you when that happened?”

“I’ve been dancing since I was seven.  That was in basic dance classes I didn’t really care for.  But ballroom dancing, I started to take those around when I was twelve.”

I chuckled.  “Wow, Casey, a player by age twelve.”