Who Needs Mistletoe?

7

THE STORM RAGED OUTSIDE, the wind rattling at the old shutters and threatening to blow in the front door. It was raining so hard the sound from the tin roof had almost become background music. The darkness was broken only by the flashes of lightning and a wavering light from the old lantern Trey had found.

Sophie handed Trey the empty champagne bottle, then launched into another verse of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” They’d begun singing Christmas carols after the effects of the champagne had set in, Sophie standing before him in her pareu and fumbling through “pipers piping” and “geese a-laying.”

Though Sophie wasn’t much of a singer, Trey found her performance endlessly charming. But when she got to “five golden rings,” Trey pushed off the wall and playfully covered her mouth with his hand. “No more,” he cried. “I can’t take it.”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him playfully. “It’s Christmas Eve. What else are we going to do?”

In truth, there were plenty of things that they could have been doing. They had one condom left and Trey intended to make passionate love to Sophie before the sun came up in the morning. And this time, he was determined it would be more than just a physical release for them both.

The doubts and insecurities that they’d both felt building had been banished by their argument. Like a valve releasing steam, they’d simply let go. They were laughing and having fun, dissolving into silly giggles and outrageous teasing, then taking time out to kiss and tease each other.

Trey couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this close to a woman. Maybe he’d never experienced it. He felt her laughter in the depths of his soul, as if the sound of her voice was vital to life. Like eating or breathing.

He couldn’t stop touching her, couldn’t seem to stop watching her every move. Every time she looked at him, he found some new facet of her beauty to explore. And when he finally realized what was happening, Trey wasn’t surprised or even concerned. He was falling in love with Sophie and it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Damn,” he said, rubbing his forehead. “I forgot my presents.” He pressed his finger to her lips before she could begin another song. “Stay right here.”

“I thought we weren’t going to open them until tomorrow morning,” she said.

“If it will get you to stop singing that ridiculous song, then you can open them tonight.” He walked over to the front door, where they’d piled all their belongings to get them out of the rain. Bending down, Trey grabbed his bag then returned to the center of the room. He sat down on the floor, pulling her down with him, then handed her three small packages. They looked rather festive, wrapped in yellow legal paper and tied with palm fronds.

“Where did you get presents?” she said.

“Didn’t I tell you? There’s a Bloomingdale’s on the other side of the island. You can take the subway right to the front door.”

“What is Bloomingdale’s?”

He nodded. “A department store? In New York City? At Christmas, they have the most wonderful window decorations. Someday, maybe we’ll go there and see them together.” He pointed to the smallest package. “Go ahead. Open that one first.”

The thought of them spending Christmas together in New York was almost enough to make up for the pathetic trove of gifts he’d managed to find. He wanted to show Sophie the world, all the wonderful things she hadn’t yet seen. And then he wanted to show her all those that she had, so they might experience them together.

“Pretty wrapping paper,” she said as she tore open the first package. Inside, she found a chocolate bar. A gasp slipped from her lips and she seemed genuinely surprised. “Where did you get this? Oh, this is wonderful.”

“It was in my bag. But it had your name on it.” He’d given expensive jewelry to women and never gotten such an enthusiastic reaction.

Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, lingering over his lips for a long time. “Thank you. We’ll have it for dessert.”

Trey handed her the next package. “And what’s this?” she asked.

“That’s actually yours already,” he said. “I figured, at least you’d like it.”

She pulled away the paper to discover a bottle of nail polish that had been sitting at the bottom of her purse for the past few months.

“It fell out of your purse when you pulled out the monoi. If we run out of things to do, I can paint your toes. I was really good at art when I was a kid.”

“I’d like that,” she said with a laugh. “What a nice present.” Sophie held up the last package. “Maybe I should save this for tomorrow morning.”

“Open it now,” he said.

Trey had thought long and hard about this gift, but in the end decided to give it to her anyway. After all, at this point, he had nothing to lose. She glanced up at him as she ran her fingertip over the plastic card.

“It’s my frequent-flyer card,” he said. “I have a lot of miles. I thought you could decide where you wanted to go and…just go. I’ll get you a ticket. Paris, London. Wherever you want.” He paused, then reached out and took her hand. “We could meet. I could show you the sights. We could drive up to Malibu or shop at Bloomingdale’s or visit the Eiffel Tower.”

She stared down at the card and Trey said a silent prayer. If she accepted, then he knew there would be a time for them off this island-a chance at just a few days, maybe a week together in the real world.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice soft and filled with emotion. “It’s a wonderful gift.” Sophie glanced up, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything for you.”

He shrugged, surprised by her sudden emotion. “That’s all right. It was just something silly to do.”

“But it was nice,” Sophie said. “It was a very nice thing to do. It feels like Christmas now.”

“All right, continue with the song,” he said, hoping to cheer her mood again. “I believe you had stopped at five golden rings.”

“I don’t feel like singing.” She slowly got to her feet and walked to one of the windows, peering through the shutters at the storm outside. “This isn’t how I expected to spend Christmas Eve.” She glanced back at him, forcing a smile.

“You miss your father?”

“Yes. But that’s not it. The past few Christmases, my father and I would open gifts and then he’d drink too much and fall asleep in his chair. And I’d sit there and wonder if there was anyone else in the world quite as lonely as I was.” She sniffled, brushing away her tears with the back of her hand. Then a smile broke through. “But I’m not lonely now. This is the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time.”

The truth was, Trey didn’t want to be anywhere but here, with Sophie. And try as he might, he couldn’t feel guilty for finding some kind of pleasure in this time marooned on the island.

Trey got to his feet and joined her at the window. “Everything is going to be all right, Sophie. I promise.” It was the only thing he could think to say that might stop her tears. And yet Trey knew it was the truth. He would make everything right for her. And she’d never have another lonely Christmas again. Not if he had anything to say about it.

Sophie wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled her face into his chest. Running his hand over her hair, Trey kissed the top of her head. It was so easy to lose himself in the feel of her body touching his. But every kiss, every embrace was filled with more meaning and more intensity.

He drew back and wiped her cheeks with his thumbs. “Don’t cry.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, then took her hand in his. “Come on. There’s a band playing. Let’s dance.” Slowly, he began to move, gliding her around the floor as he hummed “White Christmas.”

Sophie was reluctant to participate at first, but then he picked up the tempo and pulled her into a swing dance to “Jingle Bell Rock.” Trey didn’t know half the words and hummed almost everything but the chorus. And before long, they were laughing again.

He didn’t like to see Sophie sad. When she hurt, he felt almost frantic to soothe her. But then he realized it was all right to let her cry, or yell or pout if she wanted to. She’d held her emotions in for so long that letting them out was a good thing. If she could feel passionately enough to get angry at him or to weep in front of him, then she could feel passionately enough to love him.

“Look out,” he warned. “Dip coming up.” Holding tight to her waist, he leaned Sophie back, then yanked her up again. Before long, they were moving easily around the floor, their steps strangely in sync with each other. “We’re not too bad, are we?”

“You’re a good dancer,” she said.

“My mother made me take dancing lessons when I was a kid. She said someday I’d appreciate knowing how. She’s right.” He glanced down at her, then dropped a kiss on her lips. “Feeling better?”

She rested her head on his shoulder as he moved her slowly around the room, this time singing “Silent Night.” “I wish I’d known you when you were a little boy,” she murmured. “I wish I’d known you when you were a young man.”

“You wouldn’t have liked me very much,” he said.

“Why not?”

They continued to dance in silence, Trey wondering how much he ought to tell her about his life before Suaneva. “I suppose you’ll find out anyway, once we get off this island.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

“It’s not good. I have a bit of a reputation around town. Actually, around the world. Some journalists have called me a wastrel. Others, a playboy. A boy toy. A himbo.”

“A himbo?”

“The male equivalent of a bimbo,” Trey explained. “All looks, no brains. I don’t think I deserved that label, but then, the press is never really interested in the truth.”

“I don’t understand. Why would they call you that?”

He opened his mouth, ready to change the subject. But then, Trey decided to tell her everything. He wanted to be honest with her, to let her know that he’d left that life behind. “Because that’s what I am, Sophie,” he said. “I’m famous for spending money. And for being with famous women. You said that once they realized I was missing, they’d call my parents. In twenty-four hours, the whole world is going to know that you and I spent the night on this island. They’re going to want to talk to you and take your picture and get all the salacious details.”

“Why would they be interested in me?” Sophie asked, staring up at him in disbelief.

“Because you were with me.” Trey grabbed her arms and set her back from him, so he could look into her eyes. “Don’t believe anything they tell you, Sophie. What happened here was real. What goes on everywhere else isn’t. Promise me you won’t listen to any of it.”

“But I-”

“Promise!” he demanded, a desperate edge to his voice.

“All right,” she murmured. “I promise.”

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “Good. As long as I know you believe in me, then everything will be all right.”

There was an apprehension in her expression that frightened him. How could he protect her from that? Public opinion had never been on his side. But Sophie had lived so far from what went on in the rest of the world. Maybe it wouldn’t make a difference.

He’d face that problem when it came. For now, he had an entire night to convince her he wasn’t the man the rest of the world believed him to be. Instead, he’d be the man she wanted him to be.

SOPHIE SNUGGLED INTO THE CURVE of Trey’s arm. They sat on the top step of the porch, staring out at the lagoon in the night. The squall had passed, the rain had stopped and every now and then, the moon would peek out from behind a cloud.

It was late, probably well after midnight. Trey’s fire had been doused long ago, but there was no need for it now. In six hours, the sun would come up and a new day would begin. She took a deep breath of the damp night air, a cool breeze blowing in from the ocean. She was afraid to go to sleep, afraid that when she woke up, everything would have changed.

For now, she wanted things to remain exactly as they were, for just a few more hours…until the sun rose and this magical night came to an end. She’d always remember this Christmas. Every detail would remain etched in her mind-the presents, Trey’s tree, the storm, the dancing and singing. Though it wasn’t a traditional celebration, it was perfect in her eyes.

Sophie turned to Trey and smiled. “I do have a Christmas gift for you,” she said.

“What is it?”

She slowly stood, then pulled her T-shirt over her head. A moment later, her pareu fluttered to the ground. He stared at her, unblinking, in the moonlight. As she shed her clothes, Sophie felt as if she were letting her last inhibition go.

She didn’t want to hold anything back, not physically or emotionally. They only had one chance, just a few more hours together, and she didn’t want to leave Suaneva with any regrets.

At first, Trey seemed to be afraid to touch her, his gaze skimming her body. Though it was dark, her skin gleamed from the monoi, reflecting the white light from the moon. Sophie knew the effect her body had on him. But this time, she wanted him to really see her, not just as a sexual object, but as a woman.

He slowly reached out and spanned her waist with his hands. “That’s a nice present,” he said, running his palm from her shoulder to her hip.

Sophie shook her head. “I have something else,” she murmured.

His eyebrow arched. “What are you giving me, Sophie?”

She took his hand and placed it over her heart. Sophie could feel the pounding of her pulse and she wondered if he could, too. Drawing a deep breath, she met his gaze. “Just for tonight, I’ll love you.”

He looked at her, a frown furrowing his brow. “What?”

“I’ll love you. Tonight, I’ll be completely yours, my heart and my body. I’ll do anything you want, be anything you want.”

“What if I want you to love me for more than just one night?” Trey asked.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen once we leave Suaneva,” Sophie said. “You don’t, either.”

“But I know what I want, Sophie. And it’s you.”

“When we wake up tomorrow morning, everything might be different. We might feel different.”

“That’s not going to happen. I know how I feel. And I think I know how you feel.”

“It’s all I can give, Trey. Tonight, I’m yours, completely. It has to be enough for now.”

Trey stood and took her hand, drawing it up to his lips and kissing each fingertip. “Then for tonight, I love you, too.”

He laced her fingers through his, then led her back up the porch steps. After slipping out of his shirt and tossing it aside, Trey took off his shorts, as well. Sophie held her breath, watching as the light from the moon played off the planes and angles of his naked body. He bent down and dug through his pocket, then held up the condom they’d been saving. He pressed it into her hand as he led her to the hammock.

It was damp from the rain, but Sophie liked the feel of their bodies cradled so closely together, as if there were nothing between them at all. They could barely move, but it didn’t make a difference. He kissed her, softly at first, teasing at her tongue until she moaned in frustration.

Sophie ran her fingers through the hair at his nape and drew him into a longer, deeper kiss, a kiss meant more as an invitation than a challenge. He was already hard, the heat of his erection pressed against her belly. But this time, she was in no hurry. Sophie wanted the night to last forever.

It was a long, slow seduction. Sophie focused on the warm spot beneath his ear, rough with a day’s growth of his beard. Then she moved to the notch in his collarbone, tracing the soft dusting of hair there.

All the while, her hands roamed over his lean but muscular body, smoothing over hard flesh and warm skin. Though she’d touched him before, this time she felt a measure of possession. His body was hers, at least for tonight. And in turn, she surrendered herself to him.

They held off for as long as they could, each of them bringing the other closer and closer to release, touching and teasing. When she finally sheathed him, Sophie was almost dizzy from the need. He turned her away from him, tucking her against his body, his lips pressed to her nape. Then, ever so slowly, Trey entered her.

The sensation was more powerful that she’d ever experienced before. And as he began to move, Sophie had to keep herself from dissolving into her orgasm. Trey whispered her name softly, telling her how much he wanted her, how much he needed her.

His hands drifted to her breasts and then to the damp spot between her legs. But Sophie was so close that she couldn’t bear to have him touch her. She wanted the feelings to last far longer than they ever could. Days, weeks, months would never be enough.

“Tell me you want me,” he murmured, his breath warm against her shoulder.

“I do,” Sophie said, arching back against him. “Oh, God, I want you so much.”

It was nearly impossible to get any closer to him, the hammock cradling them both. Sophie knew he was almost there and this time, when his hands drifted lower, she allowed him to touch her.

Her orgasm came quickly, like a bolt of lightning, sending a current through her limbs until she trembled with ecstasy. Spasm after spasm rocked her body and a moment later, Trey followed after her, moaning her name as he surrendered.

The pleasure seemed to go on and on, long after they’d both been satisfied. For Sophie, this time had been different. This wasn’t just sex. It was an expression of her feelings for Trey, of her trust and her affection for him.

Sophie listened as his breathing gradually slowed. Trey pressed a kiss to her shoulder and sighed. “Say it,” he whispered.

“I love you.” The words were so simple, yet so powerful. But she barely had to think before they formed a sentence and became true.

“I love you,” he replied.

Sophie didn’t care whether it was the truth or not. For now, in this moment, it was. And though their feelings for each other might not last past morning light, they would last the rest of the night and that was enough.

TREY SLEPT SO SOUNDLY, he didn’t stir when Sophie crawled out of the hammock. As he opened his eyes to the early morning light, he realized she wasn’t lying next to him anymore. He raked his hands through his hair and brushed the sleep out of his eyes before swinging his feet to the floor.

He was still naked and the breeze off the ocean was cool on his skin. He rubbed his chest, surprised at how smooth his skin was from the monoi that Sophie had rubbed all over their bodies yesterday.

Trey smiled sleepily. It was odd to wake up and find himself alone. Usually, he was the one who crept out well before dawn, preferring to finish out the night in his own bed, alone.

Drawing a deep breath, he stretched his arms over his head and worked a kink out of his back. Though the hammock had kept them close, it wasn’t the most comfortable place to sleep. His thoughts shifted to the big four-poster in his hotel suite, with the down pillows and crisp cotton sheets. He’d like to wake up with Sophie there.

Trey walked to the door of the cottage and peeked inside, then turned and stared out over the lagoon. There was just enough light to see the outline of the atoll, and Sophie standing at the edge of the water.

She was naked, the low light creating a silhouette over her curves. The stiff breeze tangled her hair, whipping it around her head. For a moment, Trey wished he’d had a camera with him to capture the scene. She looked like an island princess, a sacrifice to the gods of passion, her tanned limbs and dark hair a contrast to the white sand that surrounded her.

He’d thought the sunset had been beautiful the evening before, but this was just breathtaking. Closing his eyes, he committed the scene to memory, burning the image into his brain so it would be there for years to come.

What was she thinking? Was she looking for the rescue plane to come and take them both off the island? Or was she thinking about last night and the pleasure they’d shared? Her words still echoed in his head. I love you.

It was just a silly sentence, a Christmas gift that expired at the end of the evening. But it felt so real, he mused. And when he had returned the sentiment, there was no guilt or regret in his heart. He’d wanted to say those words again and again. But now, in the light of day, Trey wasn’t sure what to do.

Now he knew what it was like to make love to a woman. Though he’d seduced more than his fair share, love had never been part of the equation. Sophie had changed that. The connection between them had been so intense, so perfect and pure, that Trey couldn’t imagine ever feeling that same way again with anyone else.

He slowly sat down on the top step, his eyes fixed on her, his mind running through what might happen in the next four or five hours. In truth, he would have been happy to kidnap her, to take her back to Tahiti, lock her in a hotel suite with him, and figure out exactly how they felt about each other.

But Trey was afraid the moment they returned to civilization, they’d both realize what they’d shared was some silly fantasy. People didn’t fall in love in the course of a day. Their situation had merely made them vulnerable to the illusion of love.

It seemed like the perfect solution, but only if Sophie went along willingly. But would forcing the issue be the right choice? Or should he take a few steps back and woo her slowly? He could find more than enough excuses to stay in the islands for a week or two. Certainly, after that, he’d know where they stood.

Hell, he’d never really had to work to get what he’d wanted from a woman. It had always been so simple. They went after him and he was happy to oblige for as long as it suited his fancy. But with Sophie, he felt like a rookie, desperate to get into the game, yet not fully aware of the strategy.

Trey groaned softly. How the hell had he managed to go through nearly thirty years of living without ever figuring out how to fall in love? He wanted her in his life, but he wasn’t sure what he had to offer. A marriage proposal was beyond his current capabilities. A simple promise to make her happy might work.

Maybe it was best to just wait, until they got back. Then, everything was sure to make sense in his head. He pushed off the steps and walked to the edge of the lagoon. Standing behind her, Trey slipped his arms around her waist.

His touch didn’t startle her. Instead, she reached back and wrapped her arm around his head, twisting her fingers through the hair at his nape. “They’ll be coming for us soon,” she murmured.

Her backside nestled against his hips, the soft flesh pressed into his cock. He closed his eyes and drew in a slow breath. “I know. I’m going to miss this place.”

Sophie laughed softly. “Me, too.” She turned in his arms. “We could always come back.”

Trey gazed down into her mesmerizing eyes. It was the first time she’d ever acknowledged the possibility of a future together and he took it as a hopeful sign. “We could. But next time, we’re going to bring better food. And wine. And ice for the champagne.”

“And a softer place to sleep,” she mentioned.

“And more clothes,” he said.

Sophie shook her head. “I was just thinking maybe we had too many clothes. It might be nice to spend the whole vacation naked.”

“You’re right,” he said, glancing down at her naked body. He dropped a kiss on her lips, his palm cupping her breast. “Who needs clothes?”

“We will today,” she said. “They won’t take us back to Tahiti if we’re naked.”

Trey smoothed his hands from her torso down to her thighs. “So where are your clothes, Sophie? If we don’t get dressed, they might just leave us both here for a little longer.”

She turned in his arms again, wrapping his embrace more tightly around her. “Will you buy this island for your resort?” she asked, her gaze scanning the landscape.

“I don’t think it’s right for the resort,” Trey answered. “But I wouldn’t mind making a personal investment in the local real estate.”

She looked at him over her shoulder, frowning. “I don’t understand.”

“I’d buy it so we could come back here. It could be ours. A place to come when we wanted to be alone, and run around naked, and make love on the beach.” He paused, pressing a kiss to her ear. “We could renovate the cottage. Bring in a bed and some other furniture. A stove for cooking.”

“And you would come here, a few times a year, to visit?”

“Yes,” Trey said. “I would.”

“I’d like that,” Sophie agreed. “I’d like to come back here with you someday.”

Trey took her hand and led her out into the water. When it was deep enough, Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and they bobbed in the water, neither one of them speaking.

It was enough to just hold her close, to feel her body against his. They didn’t have to say anything. The mood was palpable. He felt a knot of regret in his gut, regret that they didn’t have more time, that the end was coming soon. But as long as he could touch her, they could still communicate.

“What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get back?” Trey asked, running his hands through her hair as it floated on the surface of the water.

“Kiss my father. Tell him I’m sorry for all the worry I caused him. Then I’ll figure out how to get the plane back to Pape‘ete.”

“I told you I’d help out with that.”

She smiled, then dropped a gentle kiss on his lips. “Thank you. It’s probably just a minor problem. We’ll fly a mechanic over and he can fix it. And then I’ll fly the plane back.”

Trey frowned, not happy with the prospect of her getting back into that plane. “Maybe you should get someone else to fly it back,” he suggested.

She gave him an odd look. “Why? No one knows that plane better than I do.”

“What if the guy doesn’t fix it right? I don’t want you going down again. This time there might not be a safe place to land.”

“I’d never go up if I wasn’t sure the plane was ready to fly.”

“The plane wasn’t ready to fly when you took me up,” he said. “The engine died and the radio didn’t work.”

“The engine cutting out was probably caused by moisture in the fuel. That happens during the rainy season. And I suspect that I couldn’t restart the engine because the alternator belt broke. Which drained the battery for the radio and the ignition. So, it’s just a broken belt, that’s all.”

Trey knew he shouldn’t push the issue. But the last thing he wanted was for Sophie to go up in that plane again. When he got back to Pape‘ete, he’d discuss the matter with her father. He’d hire a mechanic and another pilot to do the job. Hell, he’d buy the damn plane and set it on fire before he let Sophie risk her life again. She shouldn’t be flying around in that old rattletrap.

He nodded. “Just find a good mechanic. Make sure he knows what he’s doing,” Trey insisted.

She kissed him again and a moment later, they were lost in a rush of desire. Trey had grown to love the taste of her. With just a simple flick of her tongue, she could make him crazy. Holding tight, he walked out of the lagoon and carried her up to the porch. Then, he gently put her back into the hammock and he joined her there.

They had at least a few more hours until someone came looking. Trey intended to use the time wisely.