Chapter 20

       Emie felt cold water droplets hit the hot skin on her bare back.  She was lying on her stomach, soaking in the last of the sun for the day.  Lucia had gone inside to take a nap.  Apparently Emie wasn’t the only one who hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep the night before.  Chris and Tom had been swimming most of the afternoon.  The boat would move, and they would get on, and then they would jump off as soon as there was something interesting to see.  Emie admired their energy, but she was just fine lying on the deck, getting a tan and catching up on some reading.       She lifted her head, looking up at a pair of strong, impossibly long legs.  Tom stood close to her, dripping wet.  She let her eyes wander up his legs, to the water droplets that were running steadily down his chest, over his abs and disappearing under the loose waist band of his low slung swim shorts.  She blinked.       “Care for some company?” He asked, and then settled down next to her on the towel without waiting for an answer.  She smiled, leaning up on her elbows and pressing her hands to her chest so her top wouldn’t fall off.  She had unclasped it in the back so she wouldn’t get tan lines.       “How was swimming?” She was working on having normal conversations with Tom, and saying things that weren’t fraught with worry or completely awkward.  She wasn’t sure how long she’d last.  He leaned back on his elbows, and looked at her. Against the bright blue of the water, his own eyes seemed almost a shocking cerulean blue.  His light hair was slicked back with water.  He looked like a clichéd ad for men’s cologne or some kind of classic clothing line.       “Excellent. How’s the sun?” He looked over at her, his face only a few inches from hers.  She could see the water droplets clinging to his hair, the newly tan skin on his cheeks, his white teeth.  She reached over, gently touching his cheeks with her finger tips.       “Good.  You’re a little pink.” She said, reaching over and grabbing her sun tan lotion.  She squeezed out a bit on her fingers and then dabbed it onto Tom’s face.  He stayed completely still, his eyes watching her intently.  She gently rubbed the lotions onto his cheekbones and nose and then a little across his forehead.  She tried her best to act normally, but she was holding her breath as she touched him.       “Thank you.” He said simply.  She smiled.       “Did Chris go in with Luce?” She asked, looking toward the cabin of the boat.  Tom nodded.       “Yes.  Apparently we weren’t the only ones burning the midnight candle.” He said out of the side of his mouth, his voice conspiratorial.  Emie’s eyes widened slightly and she felt her cheeks burn.  She couldn’t help it.  Tom leaned over then, and pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder.  She paused, watching him.  She wasn’t sure she would ever get used to having Tom around. He was so open and free with his affection and she was…the complete opposite.         “Tom?” She said softly, watching him gently bite her shoulder as if she were some kind of treat.         “Hmmm?” He gnawed gently on her, suppressing a laugh. He looked a bit like a puppy with a bone.  Emie laughing, nudging him with her arm and then he smiled at her, his eyes laughing.       “Why do you like me?” She asked suddenly, her voice open and candid. Tom blinked, looking at bit surprised at her question.  He looked up at her, under a raised brow.       “Why wouldn’t I?”  He asked.  She pressed her lips together.  “You’re exceptionally clumsy. You have an amazing inclination to panic at anything and everything.  You have this uncanny ability to insult me, unlike anyone I’ve ever met.  What’s not to love?” He grinned showing practically all his teeth.  Emie broke into a smile, shaking her head and refusing to acknowledge the fact that he’d just said “love”.  It wasn’t as if he’d said he loved her, but it was enough to make her stomach flip.       “Thank you.”       “Well, there you have it.” Tom shrugged, looking away and out over the ocean.  She sighed.         “You are the worst.” She muttered.  He looked back at her then, smiling the same wolfish grin.  Emie pursed her lips and reached behind her back.  She began to try to rehook her top.         “Need help?” He asked.       “No, you proved last night not to be very good with these—“ She teased before Tom growled in mock anger, and was lunging toward her.  Before she had a chance to react, he had rolled her onto her back, his larger body pressed firm against hers.  Her bikini top was pinned between them, but it was somewhere down near her navel.  His chest was pressed against hers, keeping her from feeling completely exposed.       “Tom!” She gasped, but he only leaned down and kissed her, letting the rest of her protests melt away.  She immediately responded to his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down against her.  He pressed against her, kissing her deeply.  He tasted a bit salty like the ocean, and Emie wondered how she had gone all day without kissing him.       “I like you…” He muttered then into the kiss. “Because you’re the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.” He kissed the corners of her mouth.  “You are endearingly honest.  You are wonderfully complicated.  You are a brilliant writer.” She closed her eyes, fearing he’d be able to read every emotion she was feeling if she kept them open. “You’re barking mad.” He laughed, and so did she.  “And lastly, you’re not too shabby at kissing.” He said as he leaned down again, gently brushing his lips against hers.  Emie reached up, holding his face in her hands.       “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.” She whispered, looking into his eyes.  Tom nodded, looking rather serious at her. “How do you know I’m a brilliant writer, if you’ve never read my work?” She asked with a smile.       “I have my ways.” He said, and then gave her what she could only describe as a rather evil smile.         “And you say I’m crazy.” She grinned. “Will you help me cover up?” She asked softly.  “We’ll be back to the resort soon.”  He gave her a nod, and then pressed a hand between them, grabbing hold of her top which had now been wedged somewhere between her side and stomach.  Tom lifted himself off of her, just enough so she could slide her top up and over herself.         “Will I see you tonight?” He asked, sitting up.  Emie did the same, turning her back to him and letting Tom clip her bathing suit into place.  She felt her face burn again.       “I...” She said softly, not sure how to answer.       “Say ‘Yes.’” His voice was right in her ear, over her shoulder.  She leaned back against him and Tom wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest.         “One day at a time, Tom.” She said softly.       “Tonight is today.” He kissed her neck.  Emie thought of the millions of things she would love to do.  Things they had started the night before, and perhaps could continue exploring that night.       “Tom…” She pulled away and turned to him.  He was sitting comfortably with his legs crossed, his blues eyes on her.         “Emeline.” He raised an eyebrow, then raised his hands in surrender.  “What are you going to do the rest of the afternoon?  I have plans.  I can’t be bothered with the likes of you.” He said, leaning back, a smile at the corners of his mouth. Emie frowned.       “Oh really?”       “Yes.  Some reading.  Some light reading.” He leaned back, yanking a cushion from a nearby chaise and putting it under his head.  He reached over and grabbed a book that was sitting on the seat of the chair.  Lying back, and setting one ankle over the other, Tom opened his book and sighed.  Emie nearly hit him.       “What?! Where did you get that?!” She gasped, lunging for the book as Tom laughed and pulled it out of her reach just as she grabbed for it. She would recognize that book anywhere.  It was her book.         “What do you mean?” He laughed, pushing her off his lap as she grabbed for it.       “Thomas!” She yelped, but then started laughing as he grabbed her around the waist and held her back.         “You’d be amazed, darling, at what the concierge at a 5 star resort will do for you.” He grinned, cheekily.  She groaned, sitting back.  “I mean, I bet if I slipped the woman a bit more cash then I’d have a new girlfriend.” He shrugged.  Emie burst out laughing.       “You are such an ass.” She grinned.       “And you’re beautiful.  So I guess we both have something going for us.” He settled back again and started reading.  Emie groaned and flopped next to him.       “You can’t read that while I’m here.” She sighed.  He looked at her from the side, slightly raising an eyebrow.         “Oh? What can we do that will persuade me otherwise?”       Emie slid toward him, grinning.  She had a few things in mind.