I lay my head back in the sand and welcome his weight on top of me. I’ve never felt so sated, so exhausted, or so completely and totally safe as I do right now, in the sand, with his arms cradling me. I know that as long as he’s here and holding me, nothing bad will ever happen.

  We lie in the sand for a long time, but the sun is never too hot, the wet sand never too uncomfortable. When he does shift his weight, and I feel his cock slip from inside of me, my skin cools.

  Bastian rises up, looking down at me with his expression full of concern and uncertainty.

  “I’m sorry, Kandace…I’m so fucking sorry…” He wipes at tears on my face. I have no idea why I’m crying. “I didn’t mean to…”

  The sense of unreality washes over me again. The words are too familiar. The sand beneath me should be itchy and uncomfortable, but it’s not. It’s warm and soothing. It gives in the same way that foam mattresses mold to people’s bodies when they lay on them. The sun is bright but doesn’t hurt my eyes when I look up at it.

  The thoughts disappear from my head even as I think them.

  Bastian places his hands on the sand next to my head and pushes himself up. I grasp his shoulders quickly to bring him back down to me. Abruptly, the idea of losing contact with his skin, even for a brief moment, is abhorrent to me.

  “Don’t let go!” I cry out as I tighten my hold on him.

  “I won’t,” he replies in a whisper. He wraps his arms around me and sits back on his heels, bringing me with him. I straddle his lap and place my forehead to his shoulder.

  “Tell me you’ve got me,” I say softly.

  “I’ve got you, Kandace.” He brushes his fingertips over my cheek. “I’ve got you. I swear.”

  Chapter 2

  We’re just a few yards off the beach in a shelter made of long poles and palm fronds. There are tall palm trees all around us, offering cool shade. Wooden hooks are attached to the walls, and our clothing hangs from them, shifting slightly with the breeze off the water. Bastian is lying next to me on top of a pile of towels, naked. He has one hand behind his head, and he’s staring up at me as I sit beside him with my legs crossed.

  “You’re remarkably beautiful,” he says with a smile.

  I can feel myself blush. I had just been thinking the same thing about him. I reach up and run my hand through my short, brown hair. I recently had it highlighted to give it a little more pep, but I don’t think it’s remarkable in any way.

  “You already got into my pants,” I tell him. “You don’t really have to butter me up now.”

  He sits up slightly and balances on one elbow. With his other hand, he reaches out and strokes my thigh.

  “I’m not,” he says with a sharp shake of his head. He sounds sincere, and though I shouldn’t doubt the look in his eyes, I can’t quite bring myself to believe it.

  “Yes, you are.” I sigh heavily. “I’m just me, and there’s nothing special about me. Besides, I’m sick and I know I don’t look my best. I’m so tired all the time…”

  Bastian’s eyes go dark as he sits up the rest of the way and grabs my hand.

  “Don’t you fucking say that!” he says as he glares at me. He places his hands on my cheeks and looks right into my eyes. “You are special, and you are fucking beautiful. It radiates out of your eyes, and it feels like it will blind me if I look at you too long, but I can’t look away.”

  I open my mouth, but I don’t know what to say in response.

  “Everything about you captivates me,” he says, his tone softer now. “Your beauty, your selflessness, your courage—all of it just makes me want you more.”

  “I don’t feel brave.” I look away from him and feel pressure behind my eyes. I’ve felt so much fear lately—fear of myself, fear of my body turning against me, and fear of the future. Many times, I have felt it was all too much to bear.

  He strokes the side of my face with his rough fingertips, taking me away from my unpleasant thoughts. I’m reminded of what he can do with his hands, both to me and to others. A shiver runs through me though there’s no chill in the ocean breeze.

  “You are brave.” He uses his hand to make me look at him and then covers my mouth with his. The kiss is slow and deep, and his tongue runs gently over mine. Without breaking the kiss, he lays me on my back and throws one leg over my hips, pinning me to the ground with his body.

  “Are you tired now?” he asks as he nibbles up the side of my face to my ear. He takes the lobe in his mouth and sucks gently.

  “No.” I reach up and place my hands on his sides, stroking his skin with my fingers.

  “You’re fucking going to be.”

  Bastian runs his hands from my waist up to my breasts, cupping them both for a moment before he takes one in his mouth, sucking hard enough that I gasp. As his tongue circles my nipple, I swear I can feel it on my clit. He switches to the other side, and I arch my back in response to his touch.

  I close my eyes to the experience, allowing him to do what he will with me. His hands seem to be everywhere at once, and my body sings in response. My muscles clench, my heart rate increases, and each breath is a gasp.

  Placing my hands on the side of his head, I bring his mouth to mine, kissing him deeply. I feel his passion so intently, and I want to show him that I feel the same. I need him to know how much I want this—how much I need this.

  His hands are all over me—stroking every inch of my skin as his tongue caresses my lips. With each touch, all other thoughts are wiped away from my mind. There is nothing but the two of us in this small shelter, safe and secure. He takes my lower lip in his teeth briefly before pulling back and gazing down at my body.

  “So beautiful.” He runs his hand from my stomach to my shoulder. “Are you ready for me? Are you ready to take my cock into that hot little pussy of yours?”

  Bastian doesn’t wait for an answer but reaches down between my legs to find out for himself. I feel a single finger slide inside of me, quickly joined by another. He hums in appreciation when he feels how wet I am, grins down at me and winks.

  “How bad do you want it, Kandace? How bad do you want to get fucked?”

  I look up at him, pleading with my eyes as I raise my hips to press against his hand. He slips his fingers in and out, stroking me on the inside. His thumb rolls around over my clit, causing me to buck up against his hand. He presses against my shoulder to hold me down on the towels, and I’m not sure if I’m annoyed or grateful for the restriction. I want to be closer to him, but I can’t sit up at all with his hand pressed firmly against me. I give in, close my eyes, and allow myself to just revel in the feeling of his hands on me.

  As he withdraws his fingers, I groan slowly. A moment later, I welcome the head of his cock at my opening, and he pushes slowly inside—filling me completely. He stills inside of me, leans down, and presses his lips firmly against mine. I open my mouth to him, relaxing against the towels and giving myself to him without hesitation.

  He starts to move, taking his time as he backs out of me slowly, then buries himself inside of me. He pauses before sliding in and out again and runs his hands up and down my sides, capturing my breasts, releasing them, and then starting all over again. Each thrust is hard and purposeful.

  “You are mine, Kandace,” he tells me. “Mine and mine alone. Do you understand that?”

  “I’m yours,” I whisper in response.

  My whole body is tingling. We’re both coated in a thin layer of sweat from the actions and the warmth of the sun peeking through small gaps in the shelter. At the same time, the slight breeze cools my skin, keeping the temperature perfectly balanced.

  “You feel so good wrapped around my cock,” he whispers in my ear. “I could stay like this forever—buried inside of you and just trying to keep myself in check. I want to fuck you so hard and fast, it leaves you sore. I want you to spend every waking moment forgetting everything else, only remembering what it feels like to have my cock in you.”

  “God, Bastian!” I cry out.
“Please…more. I need more!”

  His pace quickens at my words, and I reach down to dig my fingers into both his ass cheeks as he keeps plowing into me. I can feel the muscles in his ass clench with each thrust—hard and tight. I lean up a little so I can look over his shoulder and watch his movements from a better angle. The way his ass and back move together in a purposeful wave is an incredible sight, and I can’t hold back any more.

  “Oh god! Oh god!” I squeeze his backside harder and pull him deeper into me. He’s pounding into me so hard, I can barely hold on.

  “That’s it, baby.” His muscles flex and quiver under my fingers. “Give it to me!”

  “Bastian!”

  “Kandace…oh, fuck! Kandace!” Bastian cries out as he delivers the final blow, bringing me over the edge as I feel his cock spasm inside of me. He wraps his arms around my shoulders before he collapses on top of me, breathing heavily.

  I stare at the palm-frond ceiling of the shelter and try to settle myself. I am completely surrounded by his body, like a swaddled baby. Each breath presses my chest up against Bastian’s, but I don’t loosen my grip around his shoulders. I swallow hard and just allow myself to feel the sensation of skin on skin. It’s too much to feel all at once, especially after what he’s just done to me. It’s all too much.

  I roll over and sit up. Without warning, I feel my pussy shudder, and a loud, distinctive noise erupts from between my legs. My eyes go wide as I glance in Bastian’s direction, wondering if there was any possible way he might have missed that.

  “Did you just fart?” he asks.

  “No,” I say in a near-silent whisper.

  “What the fuck was that, then?”

  “Nothing.” I’m completely mortified.

  “Bullshit.” He narrows his eyes at me for a moment. “Did you queef?”

  “No!” I shift a little, and another burst of air emits from my body.

  “You did!” He laughs loudly.

  I turn away from him and wrap my arms around myself. It’s fucking embarrassing, and he’s just laughing about it. I grit my teeth and refuse to look at him when I feel his hand on my shoulder.

  “Aw, come on!” he says as he sits up. “Babe, you know that’s a good sign, right?”

  I turn my head just enough to glare at him.

  “A good sign?”

  “The only way to avoid it is to have slow and gentle sex.”

  “Is that bad?”

  “Bad, no.” He raises his eyebrow and grins. “But it could be considered boring.”

  I keep glaring at him. My body is tense, and I’m not sure if it’s from anger or just embarrassment. I decide it’s anger, but I’m not sure if I’m mad at myself, my body, or the audacity Bastian has to actually acknowledge the faux pas instead of pretending it didn’t happen like any normal person would have done.

  Apparently, he’s not going to let it go. He works his arms in between mine and forces me into a giant bear hug. He pulls me to his chest and kisses my head.

  “You just got fucked hard, babe,” he says. “A little queefing is to me like a big-ass burp at the end of a good meal is to a chef—nothing but a compliment.”

  I stare at him in disbelief for a moment before I look to the shelter’s entrance and watch the rain fall from the sky. There’s a rumble of thunder in the distance, and I shiver in his arms. He tightens his hold and kisses the top of my head. I relax into his grip and play with the short hairs on his forearms.

  “Bastian, can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure. Why the fuck not?”

  “Well, it’s about…it’s about Raine.”

  “It probably will rain all night,” he says. “The way the clouds are gathering together and the wind currents—we might actually get a storm later tonight.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “What then?”

  “I mean Raine.” I have no idea how to say this. I just know that something isn’t quite right here—something is not normal. I can’t really put my finger on it. “I mean Raine, the woman. Where is she?”

  “I have no idea who you are talking about.”

  “The woman you rescued.”

  “You are the only woman I’ve ever attempted to rescue.”

  I start to shake my head. I know this story—it’s one of my favorites—and I don’t understand why he’s denying it.

  “You were on your ship,” I say emphatically. “There was a storm, and it capsized. You were on a raft with Raine, but you knew just what to do to survive even though you acted like an ass most of the time.”

  “You’re talking nonsense, Kandace.” Bastian gives me a patronizing smile. “That sounds like one of those smut books you like so much.”

  “But that’s my point!”

  “For fuck’s sake, Kandace!” He pushes me off his lap, turns me around, and grabs my shoulders. “There is no one here but you and me. This is about you and you alone. This is all for you.”

  I stare at him, wide-eyed and unprepared for his reaction. The words echo through my head as if they are my own, not his. He relaxes his grip and takes a deep breath before he continues.

  “I’m here to make sure you’re safe—protect you from anything that might try to cause you harm. I’m never going to let you out of my sight. Even if you can’t see me, I will always be looking out for you.”

  There is nothing but sincerity in his voice and his eyes. I lean into his palm as he caresses the side of my face and kisses my lips softly.

  “You really are the man of my dreams,” I whisper.

  “And I always will be, Kandace,” he responds just as quietly. He strokes the side of my head. “I will always be right here with you. Always. I’ve got you, babe. Now and forever.”

  Chapter 3

  Time passes, but I don’t feel it. It seems like only seconds ago I was walking down the beach. Now I sit by the fire just outside Bastian’s shelter and watch the ocean grow darker as the sun sets. There’s a shell with remnants of a meal on it, but I have no recollection of eating. I don’t even recall leaving the shelter after the last roll on the towels with Bastian.

  Wasn’t it starting to rain before?

  Several ideas in my head don’t coincide with each other. I should be sore, but I’m not. In fact, I feel fantastic. I can’t remember the last time I felt so good—so alive. I’ve never felt so needed and protected as I do right now. I’ve never been in a more serene setting. Everything about this island is perfect.

  Too perfect.

  Bastian kneels behind me and wraps his arms around me, cupping my breasts from behind. I feel first his breath and then the warmth of his mouth on my neck. He trails kisses from my shoulder up to my neck and then back again. He squeezes and massages my breasts, making my toes curl. I can’t believe he’s already at it again, and I can’t believe how quickly my body responds to his touch. I’m already wet, my clit already throbbing. My pussy is practically screaming to have him inside of me again. He’s completely insatiable, and I love every second of it.

  It’s a distraction—a perfect distraction.

  I ignore the words in my head.

  Bastian continues to worship my neck and shoulders with his mouth. His thumbs dance over my nipples, making them hard. His chest is pressed firmly against my back, awakening my body yet again. He’s driving me crazy in the very best possible way.

  I want to turn the tables on him, so I place my hands over his and remove them from my tits before turning around to face him. I place my hands on his broad shoulders and kiss him firmly before pushing him on his back in the sand next to the fire. He leans back and grins up at me with one eyebrow raised.

  I push on his thighs until he moves his legs out of the way, allowing me to get between them up on my knees. I look down on his face and bite my lip. His eyes grow dark with need as I start to run my hands over his thighs and hips. I massage the muscles but don’t ever touch his dick even as it grows in response to my hands on his skin. I watch it bob up and down as i
t juts out toward his stomach. It’s magnificent. I’m quite sure it is the most perfect cock in the world.

  With one hand, I caress the tight ridges of his abs, still not touching the thick and hard shaft so close to my fingers. Bastian growls, and I feel the tension in his muscles as my palm glides over his skin.

  “You going to keep teasing me?” he asks.

  “Maybe,” I say with a shrug. “Maybe I just want to make sure you’re ready for me.”

  “I don’t think my cock can get much harder,” he says. “Believe me, babe—I am fucking ready.”

  “I’m not so sure.” I rise up on my knees and run both hands over his chest and shoulders. “I mean, maybe what you need is a little relaxation. I could just give you a massage until you fall asleep.”

  “If your hands are on me,” he says, “there will be no sleeping.”

  “Hmm…” I tilt my head to the side and smile sweetly as I continue to run my hands over his firm muscles, still avoiding his luscious cock. I can’t stop glancing at it, but I’m enjoying the look of agony on his face as I avoid touching it. I slide back a little and poise my head over it, watching it flex off of his stomach as if it has a mind of its own, and it’s trying to reach out for me. I lean forward again and look into his eyes.

  “Stop stalling.” There’s humor in his voice but also a dark undertone of warning. “Wrap those lips around me. I want to see how much you can take.”

  I glance back down at the massive cock that is now just below my dangling breasts. I didn’t really have a plan here, but now that’s he’s gone ahead and said it, I’m curious as well about how much of that thing I can get in my mouth. I take a deep breath and get myself into position.

  With one hand, I wrap my fingers around the base. I stroke it slowly for a moment. The sheath around the head is so soft and warm against my skin, and I love the sounds coming from Bastian’s throat as I run my palm over it.

  Slowly, I wrap my lips around the head, and Bastian moans loudly.

  “Oh, fuck, baby! Yeah!”

  Encouraged by his outburst, I take more into my mouth. I feel like my cheeks are being stretched, and it’s hard to run my tongue along the length with it in my mouth, so I back off a bit, licking down the sides of his shaft and then around the head. I use my hand around the base, trying to give sensation to his whole shaft, not just the part I can fit in my mouth.