What a pain in the butt this chapter was to get through. I apologize for the delay in updating but I was going to one way and then decided to go another and this was the result. I hope it works for you, please let me know.


"Hello beautiful."

-Hello-Hello-Hello-Hello-

The alcohol had done its job, only the good stuff for the tenants of these bungalows.

-Hello-

It had to be the rum.

-Hello-

Or the tequila.

-Beautiful-

The hurricane glass in her hand was solid and real, the yellow liquid inside potent, magic, it had given her this.

It had to be that, had to be the drink because Jake couldn't be here, wouldn't be here.

-Beautiful-

It was cruel the tricks her mind could play how vivid her imagination could be, but not like this; never like this.

The jeans, the shirt and God the hair, so right, so vivid; the sunshine, stupid, lovely sunshine lit him up; so handsome.

The following rush of blood between her legs blindsided her.

The warmth of her embarrassment spread across her face. How could she? How dare she?

Her eyes screwed shut.

All at once she felt it, the tight twist of desire. Adrenaline, endorphins, fucking lust raced through her veins; her nipple hardened, her scalp tightened, she felt everything.

No, no, no, no.

Didn't matter; her arguments were rebuffed, logic and sanity overridden by the potential, albeit phantom, lover before her.

-Hello-

Jake, she wanted Jake; never more in that instant than in anytime since he had left. Words and lips and breaths, God; she fucking wanted him.

Touch and taste and cock.

-Jake-Hello-Jake-Jake-

"Jake."

And then it was real, his name spilling out, pulling the pain and longing and everything out through her teeth. Had she said aloud?

-No-

Not in months, never out loud, couldn't wouldn't; too dangerous, too real to speak those four letters.

His name fell.

A big oily mess at her feet; the nausea pushing the last of the wound through, she could breathe now.

"Jake."

She didn't want that.

The alcohol should be nicer to her, it had cost her enough.

"Calleigh."

Pleading, desperate, so, so real; perhaps a little scratchier than she remembered, evocative of a voice that hadn't been used so much.

-Hello beautiful-

-Shit-shit-shit-shit-

Panic welled up in her belly clutching her insides.

-Fuck-Fuck-Fuck-Fuck-

-It wasn't-

-It hadn't been-

"Jake."

Blinking back the sun and there he still was.

Jake was there. Jake was here.

Jake

Jake

"Jake."

With a thud her drink fell from her hand.

An impossibility; Jake here, right here.

"Hello beautiful."

And there it was that amused lilt that fucking crooked grin.

-Holy Mary Mother of God-

The movement across the deck to where he stood by the short set of stairs was an exercise in strength and determination.

No one, no one, should ever move when their blood was pounding so hard. It couldn't be safe or health or sane, but she had to.

She had to move to him.

Her.
Calleigh.
Beautiful.

Him, Jake, right there, here, three steps separated them; then two.

An even keel; his dark boots partially hidden in the too white sand, without the steps he would have towered over her.

"You're here."

Here with her. Lightly, absolutely terrified he would vanish, she reached for him. Fingertips on his cheeks, palm on the warm hollows of his throat were tangible; a confirmation.

"Calleigh."

Her touch pushed his control; his eyes shut, jaw clenched, but she wanted his fists to uncurl, to roam her body.

Here.

Now.

"Jake."

Exhaled on a fresh breath steadier, calmer, she focused on the four letters.

Wrapped herself in the low rumble of his laughter when he would sneak up on her in the kitchen, the grin, her favorite, a little crooked and a whole lot of lopsided but perfect.

"Calleigh."

And that she remembered the short, tight burst of her name.

-Calleigh-

Short and tight and clipped when he was angry.

-Calleigh-

Long and low and warm when her lips were wrapped around his cock.

-Calleigh-

Bright and high and clear when he was amused.

""Fuck. Calleigh."

-Fuck. Calleigh-

Accent thicker, syllables longer, it was frustration and desperation, she hated that –Calleigh- hated that he had worked so hard to reach her he had changed the very timbre of her name.

He was here. Jake was here.

Catching up finally, her body reacted and she threw herself at him.

With an 'oompf' he caught her. At once her reactions spilled out. Tears and laughter and questions; over and over he said her name.

Pressing kissed to every bit of skin he could find he reassured her that he was here and real and as alive and hers for as long as she wanted.

"Always Jake."

-Always-

That was how she wanted him; for always and forever.