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  "Seriously though,” he said, his voice a low sexy growl, his lips only a breath away from mine, “blame me for your sore feet. It was definitely worth it to me." Edwin dropped a soft peck on my lips and hugged me close as he carried me away from the water. He shuffled a bit, before he went down to one knee and leaned me over it. "Okay, now you can kiss me." His smile was radiant, breathtaking.

  I tugged him down until his hot mouth covered mine. He tasted so sweet, but it couldn't stop me from yawning again. This time against his mouth.

  "Am I boring you?" he asked, a quizzical look raising his brow.

  I smiled softly. "I’m just a little tired."

  Edwin scooped me back up into his arms and, though I enjoyed the fact that this massive man could throw me around like a small child, I started to feel self-conscious about my weight. "You don't have to carry me around."

  "I like to."

  Edwin carried me over to a huge old fallen tree. He took a seat against it and effortlessly sat me on his lap. I savoured the silence, as he rested his chin on top of my head, though I knew, before long, I would have to ask Edwin how he felt about us. What are we doing here?

  "We're quite the pair, eh?" I asked.

  "Yeah, we definitely are." Edwin’s chest rose on a deep intake of breath and fell with an exaggerated exhale. At that moment, I knew he was as content as I was. "There's something about this place. I don't want to leave," he whispered.

  I felt it too. "We don't have to go," I said softly.

  I pulled myself off his lap and sat next to him on the massive branch, our legs still touching, my head resting on his arm. The moonlight sparkled on the gentle waves and the night was filled with serene sounds only nature could provide. The quiet night set the stage for a flood of thoughts to come to me.

  Just days ago I was denying my feelings for Edwin and calling him just a friend, though I knew in my heart that our flame had never died out. The love we’ve shared could never be erased. So why does the word safe always come to mind? Edwin makes me feel safe. Being in a relationship with Edwin is easy. Those should be good things. The fear of ultimately losing each other altogether seemed to be the glue that always pulled us back together.

  There was never any shortage of love, but now there's a new piece to this puzzle. I want a baby. And soon. Edwin’s always known how important a family is to me and he’s never denied that he wants to have children in the future, but I’m worried that the pieces just won’t fit together. He’s always reiterating how important it is to be secure in a career before making such a huge investment in life. I doubt a few weeks on the job has given him a warm fuzzy feeling when it comes to financial security. He's so not ready. I shook my head to clear the new disturbing thoughts suddenly crowding my mind.

  Edwin looked at me funny. I wonder how long he had been watching me. I returned a smile and turned away, suddenly wondering if he was even ready to commit to a permanent relationship. Was this just another fling for him? A relationship of convenience? One way or another I would find out by week-end.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ~

  EDWIN PLANTED HIS HAND on my thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze. "What are you thinking about?" he asked, breaking the long silence.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “Things. And how amazing things are right now. Just being with you."

  "Yeah, I am the man," he said with confidence.

  The lack of sarcasm in his voice made me laugh out loud, but it was stifled with an all-consuming yawn. I stretched my arms out over my head. I was fading fast.

  "We better get you back," he said, brushing his fingers through my tangled hair.

  "No, I'm not ready to go." We couldn't leave now. I had made it this far and I wouldn't trade this dreamy atmosphere for the world. Our connection felt so special tonight, despite my self-deprecating thoughts. It was the perfect chance to tell him how I feel.

  Edwin got up from the log and took off his jacket, spreading it before me on the damp sand.

  "What are you doing? You’re gonna get wet."

  Without any words he laid down in the sand facing the log and patted the jacket for me to join him. I clambered down from the log and curled up on the warm, soft jacket in front of him. Edwin draped his bare arm over my curvaceous hip, giving me more of his grizzly warmth. It was only then that I realized just how tired I was.

  "I knew that you wouldn't lay with me if I’d asked you to lie in the dirt. Am I right?"

  I hid my inner giggle, because of course he was right. The wind was blowing strong and the waves crashed on the nearby rocks, occasionally spraying us with a cool mist. The way Edwin was cocooned around me, it made me feel so utterly happy. When I shivered, he reached forward and collected my hands in his. Though the old dry log was blocking the brunt of the mist, it didn’t protect us entirely. Edwin squeezed around me tighter, his skin rough and exposed, but he seemed unscathed by the cool moist air around us. With Edwin's massive body wrapped around me I felt so cozy and safe.

  "I love you Abigail," he whispered in my ear.

  "Mmm," I mumbled, shimmying to remove the only pocket of air between our bodies. We fit together perfectly.

  "You good?"

  "Yeah, but I’m afraid to close my eyes. I don’t want to wake up and find that this was all just a dream," I said softly.

  Edwin’s chuckle rumbled against my back. He combed my hair back with his fingers and tucked it behind my ear. My eyes fell closed. I felt so calm and secure in his arms.

  "I'm gonna rest my eyes for a few seconds," I whispered, though we were the only two people for miles.

  "Be my guest babe. I'm not going anywhere," he said, then nuzzled his nose in my hair.

  As we lay together on the warm bed of sand, my lack of sleep, recent hysteria and alcoholism hit me with a daze of emotions. So much for that discussion. And Edwin wasn't even trying to seduce me. It wasn't like him to put off sex. Not for a whole night.

  I forced my eyes open, eager for answers, but they fluttered involuntarily, compelling me to close them again. Regardless of how badly I wanted to talk to Edwin, my mouth refused to speak and my mind shut down. Darkness encircled me and I lost the battle.

  WHEN I REOPENED MY eyes, the sun was starting to rise in the sky. Rays of sunshine peeked out over the trees. I lifted my head and was dazzled by the blur of golden colours glimmering on the soft wavy water. I laid there very still, unable to take my eyes from the natural beauty. I thought Edwin was still asleep, until I felt him twitch behind me. He rubbed my arm gently and enfolded me in an affectionate squeeze. I fumbled to a sitting position. My back ached, but other than that, I was pretty darn good all things considered.

  "Morning," I said, my voice rough and raspy.

  Edwin stretched out his thick muscles, having been clamped around me all night. "Good morning," he growled, then drew me back into his arms, wrapping me in his manly armour.

  Neither of us spoke as we watched the soothing waves roll off the rocks, my head against his warm chest. Edwin smoothed his hand over my hair, warm and tender, then tilted my chin and sealed my lips with a soft good morning kiss. In an instant, I felt like the luckiest woman in the world. I knew, at this very moment, everything was just perfect. Everything else could wait.

  IT WAS 7:55 A.M. when we finally reached the ATV. In the morning light, the path was an easy find. To our surprise, not far from where we had scaled the rocks last night, a sandy trail continued on to a manmade rocky stairway. At the top of the climb, we glanced around for the large boulders we had travelled over only hours earlier. The bright yellow ATV was an easy 20 feet away from us, still parked with its tires firmly against the rock wall that it had refused to climb.

  Where there are man-made stairs, there is man. After starting the machine, Edwin pointed off in the distance. He caught the sun reflecting off of a car passing on a nearby roadway. I guess the beach wasn't as secluded as we thought.

  The return trip seemed so much less demonic in the light of day. The lush plant
growth dripped with dew and the warm sunshine beat away any eerie thoughts of what had transpired last night. Edwin ignored the path less travelled and crawled through the brush, heading straight for the gravel road. It was now deserted, barely wide enough to accommodate one car, and so he pulled onto it and gunned it without looking back.

  Edwin sped back to the Southwind at record speed, turning back into the forest onto a trail that let us right into the resort. Edwin pulled up behind his neighbour’s cabin and cut the engine.

  "Our place is over there. What are you doing?" I asked.

  "We should probably be getting this beast back to its owner. He was so nice to loan it to me last night, in exchange for a small fee of course. I promised I would get it back to him by 9:00."

  “Are you kidding me?” He knew we were going to spend the night in the wild?

  Edwin ignored my scowl and glanced at his wrist. "Damn I'm good." He showed me his wrist watch. 8:58 am.

  I rolled my eyes and pushed him aside, having blown off the dreamy stupor on the trip back. Feeling back to normal, though hung over, I plucked the helmet off my head and dropped it onto the empty seat. “I’m gonna head in,” I said, then walked off.

  As I reached the flagstone path, I was surprised to find Maddie sitting on the patio furniture playing on her phone. I was even more surprised, when Edwin jogged up behind me.

  “Hold up,” he hollered.

  I spun around and he collected me into his arms for a kiss.

  "Mmm. Love you," he growled.

  I raised an eyebrow and hinted that we had a visitor. "You sure about that?" I whispered.

  His lips brushed mine again, ignoring my terrible morning breath and Maddie's squeal when she finally figured it out.

  "Love you too Eddie," I said softly, struggling to break free from his amorous grip. I flattened my hands on his shirt and smoothed them over his chest. "You realize I'm all sweaty and hung over, not to mention my bedhead. Real attractive." I pushed him off of me, trying to get some distance.

  "You look fine to me," he said, smiling.

  "You need your eyes checked!" He was obviously looking through some rose coloured glasses this morning.

  The need to discuss our relationship was more urgent than ever. It’d have to happen sooner rather than later. Sooner, but not this soon. I couldn't bear to get into it now, since my aching head was reminding me that drinking is bad.

  Maddie took two steps up the path, unable to wait another second for us to reach her. "Where have you two been?" she prodded.

  "Uhh…" I said.

  "We were just out for a little cruise. Then we stopped to check something out. Hmm, we must have fallen asleep," Edwin suggested, as it were all just a faint memory.

  "Do you realize what time it is?" Maddie asked.

  "Yes mother. It won't happen again," Edwin mocked.

  While they bickered, I scooted past Maddie. "I'm gonna take a shower. I don't want to be caught in public looking like this," I said.

  Luckily, short of Maddie, none of our friends had risen from the dead yet.

  "Can I at least get one last kiss goodbye?" Edwin asked, stalking up behind me.

  "Awww," Maddie said, but it was like she wasn't even there.

  "No... but you can have a good morning one." I wrapped my arms around his neck and he swung me around in a circle. A smile lit up my face and our eyes met, as he slowly lowered my body, brushing it sensitively against his, until my toes touched the ground.

  Edwin leaned down slowly and when our lips touched, glorious flutters filled my stomach. When his soft lips caressed mine, I felt like I was the only woman in his world. "Mmm... good morning," he said.

  I pecked his smiling lips. “Don’t be a stranger.” I spun away and pranced inside the cabin, feeling exceptionally giddy. I couldn't fight the urge to peek out the window at him. He hadn't moved a muscle, and it sent another round of flutters in my chest when I saw him still gazing at the door I had just entered. I sighed, expressing my contentment, before I realized I had company.

  "Oh girl, you got it bad! Where the hell have you been?" Aliah was resting on the couch, with a blanket covering her, and she had been watching me the entire time.

  "I promise to tell you all about it…later."

  "But…"

  "…but I desperately need a hot shower right now."

  "Make it a quick one. I've got to hear this."

  I turned for the bathroom in time to see Hunter materialize from my bedroom, wearing nothing but some fitted boxers that left nothing to the imagination. He tiredly stretched for the ceiling. Every bulging muscle flexed.

  "Oh no you don't!" I hollered. My head start was just enough. Before Hunter even knew what was happening, I disappeared into the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind me, being sure to click the lock. "Morning Hunter!" I announced cheerily through the door. It’s bad enough he’s sleeping in my bed, he can go piss on his own toilet seat.

  He mumbled, confused, on the other side of the door, but I ignored him, leaving it up to Aliah to explain. He had his own place. He could use his own damn bathroom.

  After using up all of the hot water, I tip-toed out the bathroom door and peeked in my bedroom. It was clear, so I closed the door behind me and quickly dressed, feeling as fresh as a morning glory. When there was a knock at my bedroom door, I skipped over to see who it was and smiled at Aliah as I pulled the door wide open for her.

  "What's with you this morning?” she asked, disturbed and jealous. “Oh yes. You're in love."

  "Enough about love. I'm starving! Let's go get something to eat," I said.

  "Sorry. I already ate. You took too long! You do realize you've been in there for like an hour."

  I joined Maddie in the living area. "Maddie?”

  "No thanks. You can have my banana, if you want," she offered.

  “No, that’s alright. I'll go check it out myself."

  "You’re sure?" Aliah asked, but not seeming too interested to join me.

  "Yeah. I could use the time to think. Were the guys there when you went? Eddie?" I asked.

  "TJ left with me and Hunter," Aliah said. “I didn’t see Edwin."

  "Okay. I'll be back soon," I muttered, then scurried off.

  The heat of the day was progressively getting warmer and I was glad that I had opted for my short white flowing halter dress this morning. I walked down the dusty road in my heeled sandals, remembering how sore my feet were from the night before, but ignoring it entirely. I refused to let some sore feet stop me from looking totally hot today. My dress fluttered in the warm breeze as I walked up the wooden stairs, onto the raised deck, that overlooked gentle, still water.

  I slipped through the sliding glass doors and, after a quick glance around the large room, headed toward the small breakfast bar lining the side wall. A few small round tables were set up nearby and they were mostly vacant. The few lingering late risers were no one I knew. I approached the food to eye up what they had to offer. I picked up a cup of fruit and spoon and placed them at a free table, then went back to the small fridge for a vanilla yogurt and bottle of orange juice.

  The breakfast attendant caught my attention as I took my seat. She smiled, as though she recognized me, and then approached me watchfully. "A young man was looking for you earlier. I think he's just around the corner. Oh, and he's cute," she added, her cheeks flushing. She flashed me a wink and walked away in that direction.

  I sat staring blankly at the wall for a minute then decided I would check it out. I bundled my breakfast in my arms and slowly walked around the corner to find my mystery man. I watched the lady as she tapped the handsome man on the shoulder, to point out that I had arrived. He was sitting alone and when the lady left, I suddenly felt the temperature in the room spike a few degrees. I looked behind me, to check on the other guests, but they had already slipped away. When I turned back to the attendant, she was gone too and the handsome man was staring at me with dark blue eyes. He pushed out his seat and walked toward me.
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  "May I?" he asked, reaching for the chair across from him.

  After pulling it out, he took the bottle of juice from my arm.

  "Of course," I said, as I took a seat and placed the rest of my breakfast on the table in front of me. I brushed my skirt under my legs, as he took his seat across from me.

  He leaned back in his chair, looking deviously handsome, his arms folded across his massive chest, his eyes dark and intriguing. "I started to think you weren't coming," he said.

  "I didn't recognize you. When did you do that to your hair?" I asked. Edwin was donning fresh blonde highlights in his soft brown hair and it totally turned him into a tanned, beach babe. Oh. My. God! He looks so damn hot!

  "TJ had some die left over and I knew you'd be a while, so we just did it. You like it?" He scrunched his forehead, looking adorably self-conscious for a change.

  "You look so different," I said smiling.

  "Good different, or bad different?"

  "Definitely good." I couldn’t even remove the smile from my face as I filled my mouth with fruit, and it was difficult to pry my hungry eyes from his buff bod straining against his shirt.

  “What took you so long?" Edwin asked.

  "Do you think I just wake up looking this good?"

  He chuckled at me and lowered his voice. "Actually I know exactly what you look like when you wake up." He raised his dark eyebrows in seduction.

  My God! "Is that a threat?" I asked, a smile hanging on the edge of my parted lips.

  "Abs, you always look good, but I must say you definitely made it worth my wait."

  I smiled, absorbing his compliment. "I’ll take that, considering I got all of two hours sleep last night, thanks to you.”

  "It was nice. Peaceful. At least I loved it,” Edwin said, unwilling to put words into my mouth.

  I swallowed some yogurt and fixed my stare on his soft, pink lips. "I liked it to," I agreed. At least the part where I was in his arms.

  After gazing into each other's eyes, I stole mine away to retrieve my bottle of juice and take a healthy swallow. I was relieved that everything went down and was settling just fine. “Ready?” I asked, standing from the table to toss out my garbage. When I turned to leave, I caught Edwin staring at my ass. Men.