As the station looped the video from the front, the door opened, and his family walked into the room.
Nancy let out a sob and hugged him to her chest, kissing his face.
"Carter!" Grant and Mark said, pushing their way to his bedside. "We thought you were dead."
"Is everyone safe?" Carter asked.
"The Coast Guard came and rescued us and the crew," Grant explained.
"Where's Allie?"
"She's in another wing," said Kate. "You were both really dehydrated, and they were worried about the bump on her head."
"It's probably good you two are hidden in the hospital. Brandy is furious that her bachelorette party is ruined."
"Sorry," Carter said.
Grant laughed. "Honestly, it's for the best."
He didn't see Allie until they were both released later that day. The paparazzi were out in full force as they left the hospital. Wrapping her in a hug, he nuzzled her hair.
"Thank you for saving me," she said in his ear.
He stroked her face.
"Carter saved my best friend!" Stacy shrieked to the camera.
Allie seemed perturbed as her roommate wrapped her arms around Carter and kissed him.
"He's a hero! He saved Allie!" Stacy said as the cameras flashed.
After a quick plane ride, they were back in New Cardiff. Allie perched on the side of Carter's bed, stroking his hair.
"Were you worried about me?" he asked her.
She kissed his forehead and his nose and his mouth. His lips were still slightly chapped, and he winced when the skin pulled.
"I was so afraid you were dead," she told him, trailing her fingers down his face.
"Yeah, I was afraid I wouldn't see you again, either," he told her.
"I should let you sleep," she said finally.
She snuggled under the covers with him. Carter wrapped his arms around her, and she let herself be pressed against him.
The smell of her and the fact that she was there, alive, in his arms made Carter ache. She pulled off her shirt and bra, and Carter luxuriated in the feel of their skin touching. Allie smiled as Carter's erection pushed against her through his boxers, and he rubbed his hand between her legs and felt the wetness.
"I hope this is going where I think this is going," he murmured as she slipped a hand into the waistband of his boxers.
Allie pulled down Carter's boxers and exposed him then rolled on a condom, straddled him, and flicked her hips, letting him slide inside her. Groaning, Carter let his hands caress her hips and backside, and he pushed farther into her. She moved up and down slowly, rotating her hips. Carter arched into her then flipped them both over and pushed her hands above her head.
She strained against him. Carter wanted to hear her say something more than "Thank you for saving me" and "I was so worried." He wanted to hear her say that she loved him.
But he settled for hearing her cry out his name as she came.
53
Allie
