Casey felt his wet thumb skim across her bottom lip as he watched his own

movement with amazement. She was mesmerized as the right side of his mouth

lifted into a grin.

He was going to kiss her.

She was going to let him kiss her. Casey wasn't sure she had ever wanted anything

more.

Derek moved his hand to her cheek and soothingly stroked her as he placed a gentle

kiss on her eye which closed automatically. His left arm beneath the water that still

held her tight, moved to her bottom and lifted her higher so they were now equally

face to face.

She audibly gasped and tried to wriggle free from his grasp.

"Shhh," he soothed as he leaned in closer. It was evident he wasn't going to let go.

"I'm just going to kiss you now, Case...Is that alright?"

He was asking her if he could kiss her. Since when was Derek a gentlemen?

It wasn't how she had pictured it but she hated to admit that this was better than

any fantasy she could have ever dreamed up.

She nodded her head so slightly that it would have been missed had he not been

watching her with intensity. He waited for a split second more and then captured her

lips with his own.

The pressure was feather light at first and then slightly harder. Casey heard

herself gasp as his tongue ran across her lip, begging for entry. She opened

a fraction, which seemed to be all the invitation he needed.

Derek invaded her mouth, kissing her lips and playing with her own tongue.

How was she going to stop? He felt perfect...more than perfect.

His strong lean body held her naked one just right as he continued his ministrations

inside her mouth.

Why is it that out of the three boys she had kissed, it was her step brother that did it

right? That made her weak with need?

Casey pulled back, breaking the spell. She had to catch her breath.

Instead of releasing his hold on her, Derek trailed kisses along her jaw and neck

causing a sweet ache that she had never felt before.

"Derek." Casey didn't recognize her own voice.

"Hmmm," he moaned as he gave one last kiss to her bare shoulder before giving her

his undevided attention.

"I want to go home."

He looked at her in confusion and then dropped his gaze, releasing his hold on her.

"We just got here, Spacey," he said a little offended.

"No, it's not what your thinking...the kiss," she said boldly. "I wanted that."

Releif sweft across Derek's features.

Then whats wrong.

"Promise to not get offended?"

He looked at her with caution. "Sure."

"I...can't stand Kendra and her model wanna be cousin."

Derek just laughed and shook his head as if he understood what she meant.

"I just want to be with you." His features fell and the laughing ceased. He backed

away from her twords the peir.

Derek didn't get out the water but waited for her to catch up to him. Atleast he

wasn't really running away from her.

"I dont know what I'm trying to say but.."

"I get it, Casey."

Derek turned around and looked at her. Really looked at her and held his chocolate

gaze with her own sky one.

"We're here right now, virtually in the middle of nowhere," he began. "When we get

home, reality sets in, and we'll go back to hating eachother."

"Does it have to be that way?"

Derek swam her way once again and placed each palm on the sides of her face. "Dad,

Nora, Edwin, Lizzie, Marty...reality, Case."

A tear fell. Now he was going to run from her. He hated tears above all else.

But he surprised her. He kissed it away.

"Maybe they'll be okay with it. It's only been a year Derek, not ten."

He just stared at her with a look of awe. "How could you want me that much? After

everything I've done to you?"

She laughed deep within her throat. "I just look between the lines a little bit I guess.

It's the effort you put twords me that counts more than the actions themselves."

"Deep, Case. Real deep."

"I thought so." Casey wrapped her legs around his waist and was the one to kiss him

this time. He didn't pull away from her but grabbed each slim thigh and walked

twords the shore lifting her naked body from the water and causing the cold air to

strike her nakedness and bring her back to her senses that she clearly had lost or just

found depending on what was right or wrong.

She yelped and duck down into the three feet of water that was left, falling

backwards out of his arms.

"Ahhahaha," almost forgot you wern't wearing anything.

"Thanks a lot."

"I said almost. Let me go get you a towel."

"There's one right next to shore."

Less than twenty seconds later he was sauntering back to her, holding out a large

white towel to wrap her body in.

"Your shivering," he said.

"Ya, the airs about a hundred degrees colder than the water is."

"Let's get you inside."

Derek bent down and grabbed her clothes with his right hand. He had his left arm

placed around her shoulder as they walked back to the cottage. All of the lights were

still on which caused her to momentarily pause. Derek entered the side door and

came back less than a minute later to tell her the coast was clear.

She went inside, welcoming the slightly warmer air.

The hall way was eerily silent as he walked her to the bedroom door and left her

there.

"I'll see you in the morning."

"Are you going to her?"

Casey couldn't hide the hurt in her voice. He was going to bed with someone else

after he had done all but make love to her moments ago.

"I'm going to sleep."

"You can sleep in here with me."

He sighed and rubbed his temple. "We just got here and have five days to go. We're

three hours from home and I just don't want to have to deal with any drama while

were stuck here, Case," he paused. "It's better this way."

Casey turned around and slammed her door a little more than she had anticipated.

Tears fell freely as she slid to the floor and listened for the click of the door across

the hall that happened too quickly.

How was she going to spend the next five days acting like nothing had happened

between them.

How was she going to spend the rest of her life acting like nothing had happened

between them.