Chapter 17

Kate and James slept under the shadow of a palm tree in the open, neither one of them had wanted to sleep in their tents or secretly, part from the other.

The beach was abuzz with the story of James' daring rescue of Walt and the other children. The presence of the children had restored flagging faith that rescue and good things were going to happen. Rose had immediately taken a mothering role, gathering the children and organizing food, bathsand gamesfor them. She wouldn't let them sleep because she wanted them to sleep at night.

Everyone looked at the sleepingpair with renewed interest but tried not to make too much noise or wake them. Not that it would have mattered because they were fast asleep. Eko had gone to his tent and slept in there, practically robbed of speech with exhaustion.

That evening

Kate glanced over at James who was still fast asleep and breathed a sigh of relief. 'Oh God I thought I'd lost him for good this time.' The last rays of orange sunset gilded him with a beautiful glow. She didn't know when the way she felt about him had ceased to be a matter of contention in her head but here she was. After Jack's high handed manner with her this morning she was thankful the Southern charmer had survived if only to keep her sanity. Kate couldn't wait until he woke up so she could tell him she was sorry about before and beg his forgiveness.

"Freckles you're staring at me with a slightly crazy look on your face."

"I'm sorry about the way we parted a few days ago, Tex. I was out of line on so many levels. I shouldn't have spoken to you or left your tent the way I did that night." The words came out in a rush.

Closing his eyes in frustration, James sat up and looked ather, dismayed that she'd just launched into a conversation he wasn't prepared for.

"Had to get that off your chest did ya?"

Tucking her legs beneath her she faced him, leaning close, "I'm serious. No games this time. Just the truth! I don't ever want to feel that there are things unsaid between us. That night in your tent meant a whole lot more than I made it look like it did. I have never felt… I've never been…So…"

Giving up on trying to conjugate her feelings into words, she looked up at him through her lashes in an unconsciously seductive gaze as she bit her lip in frustration.

James looked at her with an aching heart, lifting his hand to her face and stroking her cheek he spoke gruffly, "You don't owe me any explanations, Freckles, well actually ya do, but it don't matter really… I know."

She beseeched him with her eyes, turning her face into his hand, an act of surrender.

"I also know that you and I are strangers Freckles and despite what you feel me, you're saving a part of yourself for Dr. Jones over there."

Sadly, he let his hand fall to his side, getting to his feet, "The day you figure what's real and what you do want, just may be the day we get of this fuckin' Island." His voice was heartbreaking; there was so much regret and pain in it.Walking away in his long legged strides he left her kneeling in the sand, just as Jack was walking towards her.

"Good morning, you sleep well? I resisted interrupting your siesta under the palm tree for as long as I could. I am glad I didn't have to face the wrath of Sawyer, he looks angry… again."

Kate looked up at Jack in annoyance, petulantly propping her hands on her now drawn up knees and staring out to sea.

"Lovers tiff?"

Kate tsked in anger, "What do you want Jack?"

"I just wanted to know if you were okay, you scared us this morning."

"Don't you have sick people who actually are in need of your help to tend to?"

Jack was flabbergasted at the rudeness of her tone, "What's the matter Kate, this is unlike you."

"You don't know me Jack, how would you know what I am like?"

She stubbornly refused to look up at him. Jack sat down next to her, "I know you're stubborn, and brave and just generally a very resourceful woman. You've had a very action-packed life and been in situations I know must have been hard for you. Am I way off the mark here?"

"Action packed? Is that what they call it in your social circles? Is that the PC way of saying I am a criminal?" She was being unduly harsh but she didn't care, she was hurting and she wanted him to feel her pain.

Jack stared at her for a long time, eventually he gave up and left her there.

Half an hour later, Eko approached her with a plate of food, leaning down he picked up one of the blankets and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"You looked happier sleeping in a tree in the middle of the day, with blisters on your bare feet."

"I was. Thank you. And I'm still barefoot, lost my boots remember?" She accepted the proffered plate gratefully, realizing she was starving.

Taking a bite of boar she closed her eyes to relish the flavor of the chewy and hot meat.

"Mmm that is so good. Take a seat and eat with me." She patted the spot on the blanket next to her.

Eko accepted and sitting next to her the two of them ate in silence.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"He's right you know, I don't know him and I don't know what I want."

Eko didn't say anything, he just looked at her encouragingly.

"I never in my wildest imaginings thought he spoke Spanish, could disappear in a jungle like that… just generally everything he did at that camp showed me how little I really know him. And I don't know how to go about finding out either."

"Perhaps you should just ask him and go from there." Eko spoke sagely.

Smiling at him she shook her head softly, "Now why didn't I think of that?"

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Still feelingtired, Kate gathered James' blankets and took them to his tent, crashing into it as she tripped on the tarp, she fell on top of the sleeping man, waking him up with a start.

"Sonofabitch! Kate! Whatcha doin' here?"

He'd rolled over and tackled her to the floor his bruising grip on her hands relaxing when he realized it was her.

"I came to bring you back your bedding." Kate felt her breath catch in her throat at the position they were in. Even with the blankets trapped between their bodies she felt like she was being lit on fire from within. He looked so dangerous and sexy with his new and crudely shorn locks. The new hairstyle made his molten eyes positively glow in his face.

"Thanks." He grunted irritably, hauling himself off her, much to Kate disappointment.

James wasn't immune to the fire that seemed to be raging inside her but he steeled his resolve and helping her up said, "There's less disruptive ways to return other people's property, Freckles."

Kate smiled, "You know me, I always go for the most physical way."

He looked down at her wistfully, "Yeah I guess I know that."

He released her hand like he'd been burned and sat down on his makeshift bed. It was dark in the tent and they could barely see each other, meaning all their other senses were heightened.

He could smell the intoxicating perfume of Kate and the desire that was radiating off her and curling itself around him in tendrils.

Approaching him and kneeling between his legs, Kate looked at James with naked desire in her eyes.

James groaned in frustration, he tried to move away from her but her elbows were on his knees trapping him.

"No, Kate."

"Yes." She breathed forcefully. Leaning in to kiss him, James couldn't move as he saw her lips approaching his.

At the touch of her lips on his he knew he'd lost, wrapping his arms around her he lifted her up onto his lap, deepening the kiss.

She kissed him greedily, like she couldn't get her fill of him, nipping his upper lip with her teeth. She pushed him back so she lay on top of him, straddling him she pressed her breasts against his chest as she continued her arduous onslaught. She was on fire and she wanted him to burn with her.

James struggled to keep a lid on his emotions as she pleasurably assaulted him with her mouth, tongue and body. For the life of him he couldn't form a coherent thought let alone summon the will to stop this. As if watching from afar he saw himself unbuckling her belt and sliding her jeans down her hips. Bringing his hands back up as she kicked the jeans off to cup her butt. He squeezed the panty clad supple flesh and was rewarded by the reflexive thrust of her pelvis against his.

Kate fumbled with James' jeans, much to her delight once again he wasn't wearing any underwear, this time she broke the kiss in order to take the time to pull his jeans off his long legs, and admire the impressive specimen that stood proudly against his belly.

Next to come off was her shirt and then his, unhooking her hand with one bra as they resumed their tonsil hockey, Kate pulled her own underwear off, kicking the panties somewhere. Naked they paused to look at each other in mounting passion, her hair was unbound and one particularly thick strand curled around her left breast. James reached to touch the strand, pushing it away so he could get an unobstructed view. Kate turned around doing a little twirl, flashing him a saucy look over her shoulder before she faced him again.

James pressed himself against her and slid his hands down her smooth shoulders and toned arms. "Beautiful." He whispered throatily. Tilting her head to look up at him as she stroked his flanks and replied, "So are you."

James pulled her up against him and then tossing her on his bed, practically pounced on her. Kate giggled softly and welcomed him into her arms, drowning in their passionate embrace.

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"You bit me again, Sassafras."

Kate looked at him with sleep heavy eyes, smiling sexily she said, "I know."

He was wearing his jeans again, and standing against the wall with an unlit cigarette in his tawny fingers, his eyes raked her naked form hungrily, "So you planning on sleepin' here, like that?"

Laughing to herself she stretched luxuriously on his makeshift bed before sitting up, "No and no. I am going to sleep in my own tent with clothes on." James nodded, waiting for her to say something else.

She didn't; she was too busy trying to locate her clothes, giving up at his lack of helpfulness, Kate pulled on her jeans without the missing underwear, then picking up her bra and tossing it on the bed, she pulled on her shirt. Walking up to James she kissed him soundly, re-igniting the flames, she drew back, stunned by the swiftness of boththeir reactions to the kiss.

"Careful Sass, don't start somethin' you ain't plannin' on finishing."

Shaken by the kiss, Kate stepped away from him reluctantly, "Do you think anyone heard us?"

"I doubt it, we were quiet as church mice. I've got the bite mark and you've got the bruises on your hips to show it." They were speaking in hushed voices and Kate couldn't help but find the secrecy a turn on.

Picking up her bra she strode to the entrance, peeking out of the tent to see if anyone was around, she whispered, "Good night, Tex." Blowing him a kiss she disappeared into the inky night.

James sighed to himself emerging out of his tent to go sit by the surf and smoke his cigarette.

'She's gonna drive you crazy James. She wants to sleep with ya, but she doesn't want anyone to know 'cause she's ashamed. You're fallin' hard for her and I don't think it's wise to continue to let her do this to you.' As he chided himself angrily for being so susceptible to Kate's charms, James dug his feet in the cold surf. He needed something to take his mind off the temptress and he knew just what would do the trick. Flicking his finished cigarette into the ocean he retrieved the gun in his tent, shrugged on a shirt and walked to the hatch to have a long overdue talk with Zeke.