“I’ve missed you,” he breathes in my ear.
“Not as much as I’ve missed you,” I counter. I cup his face with my hands and draw him to me for a kiss. His lips are warm. He kisses me back, and I melt against him. He rests a hand behind my head, allowing me no escape when he deepens the kiss. I surrender wholeheartedly to his touch, draping my arms around his neck and pressing closer to his strong frame. He breaks away from my mouth and nibbles his way down my neck and along the curve of my bare shoulder. My quiet moan of pleasure is carried away on the sea breeze. He traces his tongue along the line of my strapless top, pulling it down to expose my breasts to the cool air. My nipples pucker into tight rose-pink buds, and he gently brushes his thumbs across their tips, tearing a gasp from my throat.
He places a soft kiss on one tip before sucking it into his mouth. I clutch his head to my breast, not wanting him to stop, tangling my fingers in his dark hair as I throw my head back in ecstasy. My need grows with his every touch. He takes advantage of my throat and kisses his way up to my mouth, lowering me to sand as he moves. I lay there, helpless and wanton beneath him. He slides a hand over my ribs, my waist, and pushes the skirt down until I can feel the air against my mound. He moves down my body until his lips are kissing my pussy. He moves lower, and I writhe in the sand to remain close to him. The water laps at my ankles, my calves, my knees, and I lift my head to see what’s happening.
Sam is being pulled out to sea. I sit up and reach for him, frantic. “Sam! Sam, no! Don’t go!”
There’s nothing I can do but stand by and watch him disappear under the water.
∞∞∞
Arielle Nygard
I wake with a start, sitting bolt upright, a scream still on my lips.
“Hey, easy,” Tim says from the side of the bed. “It was just a dream.”
A sob tears from my chest. It had all been a dream. I launch myself at Tim and expel my grief in a fury of fists. He endures my outburst stoically, but after a minute he gently restrains me, and I sag against his chest, my energy spent.
“Feel better?” he asks, not unkindly.
“A bit, yeah.” I sit up straight. “Sorry, that was really uncalled for.”
“It’s okay.”
“Where’s Austin?” I ask, realizing that the bed is empty.
“Watching TV, eating waffles.”
I smile weakly. “He didn’t give you any trouble?” Tim shakes his head. “Wow, he’s taking all of this way better than I thought he would. Way better than me.”
“Coffee’s hot, and there are still a couple of waffles left. Come have breakfast.” Tim gets up from the bed and I follow him into the living room.
I stop next to Austin. “Morning bud.” I ruffle his hair gently. “You doing okay?” His answer is to scoot out of my reach and take a bite of his waffle. “I guess so,” I say with a smile.
Tim places a large cup of coffee on the counter beside an oversized bunch of white roses that I’m sure weren’t there before. “For you.” I go over and pick up the cup, inhaling the intoxicating aroma of ground and filtered beans.
“Thanks.” I take a sip and relish the hot, sweet, creamy beverage as it slips down my throat and settles in my stomach. Tim refills my cup and sets a waffle in front of me. I climb onto the bar stool. I’m not hungry, but I know that I should eat, so I do. When I’m done, I turn to Tim and ask, “What do I do now? I’ve never been homeless.”
“You don’t have to rush into anything,” he says. “You and Austin can stay here as long as you want.” We’re both silent for a moment. Reality is sinking in, and it’s more unsettling than either of us is willing to acknowledge.
And then there’s a sound from the window and Tim tenses visibly. “Take Austin to the bedroom, lock the door, and don’t open it until I say banana pancake,” he says tersely. I’m confused and suddenly afraid. I don’t argue.
I walk over to Austin. “Hey bud, I think you need some clean clothes.” I’m expecting him to put up a fight, but he calmly sets his plate on the coffee table and follows me down the hall. I lock the bedroom door, but a few seconds later, Tim calls out. “Hey! You want a banana pancake?”
Confused, I turn the key and pull the door open. My jaw drops, and I scrunch up my eyes at the sight before me. As soon as my brain registers who is standing next to Tim, I fly out of the room and fling myself at Sam.His hair’s singed, there’s a raised welt of a burn on his cheek, but I’ve never been more happy to see him.
He wraps his arms around me as I reach him and hugs me tightly. The scent of smoke lingers on his clothes as I inhale deeply. “What…? How…?” I stammer when I pull myself together. “You’re really here! I thought you were dead!”
“We both did,” says Tim. “Jesus, Foster, what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that I had to make it look real,” Sam says over my head. “I’m sorry that I frightened you, but I figured that if Buford came around asking questions, you might have second thoughts. If you thought I was dead, you wouldn’t have to lie for me.”
“So Buford’s guy did actually see you getting out of there?” Tim asked.
“Yeah. I just needed to make sure that Arielle and Austin were safe. He must have spotted me before I scaled the back wall.”
I pull away from Sam, reality sinking in. I ball my hands into fists and beat them against his chest. “You complete asshole!” I yell as I strike him. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to lose the man you love? How could you put me through that? Especially after Steve?”
