I really did intend for this series to end with The Damsel Wore White, but my imagination kept running away with me and I was FORCED to write one more piece! It's sheer madness, and I couldn't figure out a title that had Damsel and a dress reference in it, so this one is different. It's...

Crazy Love

By WritePassion

Love can make you do crazy things. Sam thought he had them all covered, but then again, he'd never truly been in love until he fell for Yvette. When the newlywed couple spent their first night together, he realized he'd barely scratched the surface of crazy love. Being with her made him feel like everything was brand new, and he couldn't wait for another day for them to spend together. For a week they had fourteen acres of palms, thick foliage, and pure sand beaches as their playground, and they took full advantage of it. It had been awhile since Sam really let his hair down, and he loved every minute. They soaked up the sun on the far side of the island in a couple of wood deck chairs, their hands hanging over the armrests, fingers touching. Sam thought they'd make the perfect model for a beer commercial, but the really crazy thing was, other than the champagne on the way to the island and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner every night, he hadn't had anything else that contained alcohol. Even crazier, he found that he didn't miss it.

He snuck a peek at Yvette, who appeared to be dozing behind her sunglasses, but as he stared at her, she stirred and turned toward him. She smiled. "What are you doing, Sam?"

"Nothing. Just admiring you, that's all." He winked. "And thinking you're starting to get a little red. Maybe we should go inside for awhile...get some lunch."

"Lunch is good," she purred and slipped her legs off the lounge chair. Taking his hand, she led him through the tall sea grass and found the narrow path that served as a secluded shortcut to their hut.

Sam thought he couldn't have gotten any luckier. She was a dream come true, an answered prayer, and not just because of what happened between the sheets. He knew they would be equal partners in this marriage. The proof was in the way she worked with him as they tried to escape from Roche's men. She showed an intelligence and drive to do what it took to get out of their jam. Ever since then, an idea was forming in his head. He wasn't sure how she would feel about it, or even if Michael would like the idea. But he was thinking that maybe he could have the best of both worlds if Yvette became part of the team. Granted, they would have to spend a lot of time training her in the art of self-defense, gun handling and shooting, not to mention spy craft, but he sensed she would be an eager student.

"You're a million miles away again, darling," Yvette cooed into his ear as she stopped in a clearing in the middle of the island. "You're thinking about work again, aren't you?"

"Again? What...this is only the first time."

She barked out a laugh. "Then your subconscious is lying to you. Last night you had some kind of nightmare. You were thrashing around, muttering...whatever you were reliving, it wasn't good."

Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, that's my life sometimes. I warned you what you were getting into when you married me."

"I know." She closed the distance between them and slipped her arms around his back, massaging the muscles as she rose up to kiss his lips. "Maybe I'll just have to try harder to make you forget, at least for a little while."

She'd been inexperienced when they first coupled, but she quickly learned how to please him, and had a way of kissing him that sent a tingle down to his toes. When she did it again, he was helpless to resist. "Oh yeah...Come on, baby, make me forget." The ground beneath them was mostly sand and a soft bed as he lay her down. The birds in the foliage serenaded them and the warm sea breeze flitted over their bodies. He'd never made love to a woman outdoors before. Crazy love was good.

Their last morning on the island, Sam walked the beach alone. It felt so strange, because they'd spent practically every waking moment together. When he found Yvette's side of the bed empty and cool, he wondered how long she'd been up and around. And where she'd gone. He walked the perimeter of the island, and as he turned a sharp curve on the north end, he spotted a dark figure sitting on the beach. The air was a little cool that morning, so Yvette was clad in jeans and a dark blue shirt. It was the first time all week that she wore anything besides a swimsuit or the sexy lingerie Fiona bought her. He had to remember to thank Fi for that.

"Hi honey, what are you doing out here?"

"I've been watching the sun come up. Realizing that this is our last day here and wondering if the sun will ever look the same when we get back to the real world."

He sighed. "I know what you mean. I've been thinking along those lines myself. Mind if I sit?"

The grin she gave him could have beaten the sunrise any day. "Do you really have to ask?" He sat beside her, and she wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned her head on his shoulder. "You can sit next to me any time." She pecked him on the cheek.

"And I will." They fell silent and watched the sun rise above a line of puffy clouds that meandered slowly across the sky just above the horizon. They sensed each other's reluctance to leave, but leave they must. After breakfast, they were scheduled to head back to Miami, where they would settle into their new home. They ordered a lot of furniture and it was arriving late in the morning, ushering them back into reality.

Sam carefully lifted his right arm high enough so he could take a glance at his watch. The strap almost felt foreign on his wrist, and there was no tan line to remind him how to place it that morning, because he abandoned the timepiece when they fell into bed that first night. Now, time was an unwanted interloper. They had only a couple hours left to enjoy their private paradise. "We better get back to the hut and pack."

"Already done. I left some things out for you, but otherwise, we're all set to go." She met his eyes. "I didn't want to waste any time that could be better spent."

"I noticed." He looked down at the light blue shirt and khaki pants that he wore. "There's another reason I love you. You're a great time manager, and you're good at dressing me." He gave her a meaningful grin. "And undressing me." She giggled and turned into his arms, and he had complete control over her as he covered her neck with kisses trailing down to her bare clavicle. She arched her back, curling into him. He loved how she could so easily get lost in him as he lost himself in her.

Not even the phone ringing in his pocket could interrupt them.