Still, Sophie had already decided her future wasnt here on the islands, but in some exciting city. Was she willing to give up on that dream for good sex? A tiny smile quirked at the corners of her mouth. Maybe. If the sex was really good.
As for a real relationship, one that included love and commitment, Trey had a life of his own back in the States. And she wasnt about to follow him around, begging for his attention whenever he might want to give it. This was a twenty-four-hour fling, nothing more. Once the twenty-four hours were over, they would be, too. And then, shed find a way to start her new life away from these islands-on her own.
IT DIDNT TAKE VERY LONG for Trey to gather their meager belongings. He put everything he could carry onto the canvas tarp and then tied it up with the ropes. He thought it might be easy to drag it along the sand, but in the end, he waded out into knee-deep water and floated the bundle as he walked.
The plane and his attempt at a campfire were the only things he left behind in their first camp. In truth, he was a bit sad to leave, even though theyd only lived at the location for the morning. Theyd made love on the sand there and shed pleasured him beneath the small clump of coconut palms. Once they moved, would things suddenly change?
When theyd first tumbled onto the beach, wrapped in each others arms, he hadnt even thought about the consequences of what they were about to do. Hed been so glad to be alive, he hadnt thought of anything else.
But with each touch, each kiss, his feelings for Sophie were growing. Was it simply because they were here alone, without anyone to interfere? In the past ten years, the press had hounded him unmercifully. Every relationship hed gone into had been splashed across the pages of some magazine. He hadnt been able to enjoy anything close to a normal romance with a woman.
Being here with Sophie was the nearest hed come. And to his surprise, he was falling fast. He could barely stand to be away from her, so addicted was he to her presence. He had to fight to keep from touching her and kissing her. And there were times when he honestly felt he could be content simply listening to her voice for the next fifty years.
Was this what it was like to fall in love? Trey shook his head, pushing the thought from his brain. Hed met Sophie seven hours ago! Besides, he didnt have a clue about what it was like to be in love. Lust, now that was another thing. But love wasnt something Trey had ever experienced for himself.
As he approached the ruins of the old village, Trey called for Sophie. When she didnt respond, he dragged their belongings onto the shore and went in search of her. After ten minutes, he came to the conclusion that she was either too far away to hear him or something was wrong.
Raking his fingers through his hair, Trey tried to calm the fear that coursed through his body. If something had happened, there was nothing he could do. They were alone on this island with no help available. Drawing a deep breath, he tried to think of where she might have gone.
He would have seen her had she walked along the shoreline. Wood, he muttered, spinning around to find a small pile of palm fronds near the front steps of the cottage. Shed probably walked across to the ocean side to search for wood.
He ran back through the grove of palms, past the water tanks, toward the ocean side of the motu. Sophie wouldnt have been stupid enough to go swimming on her own. Hell, even he knew better than that.
Trey ran until his lungs burned, weaving through the tangled underbrush and dodging palm trees. When he burst out of the trees onto the beach, he bent over and gulped a deep breath of the humid ocean air. Sweat dripped down his chest and his legs were cut and bleeding from the sharp edges of old palm fronds.
He scanned the beach, then caught sight of her sitting on the sand a hundred yards away. Cursing softly, Trey kicked off his shoes and jogged toward her. She didnt see him approach and when he called her name, Sophie jumped as if startled. Shading her eyes from the sun, she stared up at him.
Jesus, Sophie, didnt you hear me calling you? He squatted down in front of her and peered into her face. When I got back to camp and couldnt find you, I was worried.
Where am I going to go? Sophie asked.
I dont know. I thought you might have taken a swim in the lagoon and drowned. Or been bitten by some poisonous spider and were now lying under a tree, dying. Dont scare me like that.
There are no poisonous spiders on this island, she said. Or in all of French Polynesia. I told you, the only thing that might kill me would be a centipede bite. Or a shark attack.
Well, there you go. I did have good reason to be worried.
Theres more chance Id be killed by a falling coconut than a shark, she said with a shrug.
He plopped down in front of her. Really?
He plopped down in front of her. Really?
Sophie nodded. There are a lot of people killed by coconuts, she said.
Trey reached out and grabbed her hands. What are you doing out here?
Just sitting. I was curious what the beach was like on this side of the motu. This is nicer than the lagoon side, dont you think? I mean for your resort.
Yeah, I guess. Was that really what she was thinking about? He tried to calm his anger at her, knowing that he ought to be happy she was fine. But as he stared at her beautiful face, Trey realized he wasnt really angry at her at all. She was a grown woman and could take responsibility for her own safety. He was angry at himself, for caring so much, for being frightened at the possibility of losing her.
Were going to get some bad weather, she murmured. Theres a squall coming in.
Trey glanced back over his shoulder to see a wall of slate-gray clouds building on the southern horizon. How long?
A few hours at least. We may have to secure the plane.
Why?
If the wind is high it will pick it up and flip it over. I saw some old pilings on the west side of the lagoon. We can pull it over to that spot and tie it down properly.
How high would the wind need to get to flip it over?
High. At Faaa, we just put it in the hangar. She looked at him, a frown wrinkling her brow. If the plane gets wrecked on this island, Madigan Air is out of business.
Trey reached out and took her hand. If it gets wrecked on this island, Ill buy you a new plane, he promised. He straightened, then pulled Sophie to her feet. She bent down and picked up her sandals and then wandered over to the waters edge. Trey watched her, wondering at her subdued mood. Was she having regrets about what had happened between them? Just an hour ago, hed never felt closer to a woman, but now, she seemed a million miles away.
Come on, lets go, he said, holding out his hand.
She turned to face him, and took a step. An instant later, he saw a look of pain cross her face. Oww! she cried, as she hopped on one foot.
What is it?
Sophie looked down at the sand, then groaned. Jellyfish.
They can be poisonous, cant they? he asked, a current of fear shooting through him.
Just box jellyfish, she replied, wincing as she hopped on one foot.
Trey stepped to her side and she wrapped her arm around his for balance. How do we know what kind that is? He pointed to the nearly transparent corpse lying in the sand.
Help me rinse off my foot, she said.
He scooped her up and carried her into deeper water, wading in up to his thighs so she could dip her foot in. How do you know if it was a box jellyfish?
She sighed impatiently. Well, if I die, then well know, Sophie said in a wry tone.
Dont kid about that, Trey warned.
She winced. I think I can stand. You can put me down.
Im going to carry you back to camp. He set her on her feet and then turned his back to her. Hop up.
You dont have to do this, she said.
Dont argue, Sophie. Just do as I say.
He waited. He didnt want to care so much, but Trey couldnt help himself. What if something went wrong? What if the jellyfish was poisonous and there was nothing he could do to help her? They were stuck in the middle of nowhere, helpless and completely vulnerable. What had seemed like a fun time could turn deadly serious in a heartbeat.
She barely weighed more than the backpack hed carried during his Outward Bound trip. Driven by adrenaline, they made it back to the cottage in less than fifteen minutes. He set Sophie down on the front steps, then bent to examine her foot. An angry red welt ran the length of it, from her ankle to her little toe.
What should we do? he asked.
Theres not much you can do, Sophie replied. Theres a gel that I have at home that stops the stingbut thats at home. She leaned back, bracing her hands behind her. You could always pee on it, she suggested. Thats supposed to work when you dont have anything to relieve the sting.
You want me to pee on your foot? Trey shook his head. No, Im not going to do that. I cant.
Why not?
Theres a limit to how kinky I go and thats beyond my limit. There has to be something else.
This isnt sexual, Sophie said. Its medical. I need something acidic and thats all we have.
No, it isnt, Trey said. He took the steps two at a time and returned a few moments later with a bottle of red wine. We have this.
Trey made quick work of the cork, then dumped the wine over her foot, the liquid running down the steps and into the sandy ground. He took a quick swig for himself, then handed her the bottle and she did the same. Is it feeling better?
Sophie wrinkled her nose. I think so.
How about you? Do you feel all right?
She nodded. I dont think it was poisonous. Really, you dont have to worry.
He sat down on the steps and stared at her foot, trying to control his frustration. Why was she taking this so lightly? Didnt she realize how serious it could have been? It would kill him if anything had happened to her and he wasnt able to help. Trey took another gulp of the wine, hoping that it would calm his nerves. From now on, we stick together. You dont go anywhere without me. Understand?
Im not a child. You dont have to talk to me like I am. Her chin was set at a stubborn angle and she looked at him through narrowed eyes. The sweet, funny Sophie hed known was suddenly replaced by a obstinate, dismissive, fiercely independent woman.