Jack took a deep, satisfied breath, not caring if he ever moved again. The rhythmic ebb and flow of the ocean tide acting as his metronome as his newly freed fingers traced random patterns along Sue's arm. He had only been without the ability to touch her for 24 hours, yet he couldn't get enough contact with her. Stubbornly refusing to return to their room with her, he had instead led her to one of the comfortable chaise lounge chairs positioned on the beach. Tiki torches were softly glowing behind them and the sky before them was gloriously arrayed with twinkling stars. Sue was nestled against him, one arm and leg draped across him. He was perfectly content.

"You lied to me, you know," she lazily mumbled against his chest.

He cut his eyes toward her but she made no move to look his way. Searching his mind for where she might be headed, he waited.

"You said you would protect me from Lucy." Tilting her head back against the arm that was securely anchored against her, she continued. "Instead, you got her all excited and then walked away." She giggled when he held his hand in front of her face before squeezing it shut and circling it around his chest. "I guess I can't stay mad about that when you did do something incredibly sweet for me and suffer for doing it."

It was his turn to smile. He may have been physically uncomfortable while his hands had been bandaged, but he could not say he had suffered. That particular incident had worked out well for him. He had no complaints.

"...and then there was this morning. You sat back and let me walk right into her verbal trap. Some help you are."

He felt her quickly exhaled breath, his lips curving into a tender smile. Tilting her chin so she could read him, he was entranced by her sparkling eyes. "Did you just pffft me?"

Lifting an eyebrow in challenge, she pushed up and balanced on her elbow. "What if I did?"

He sucked in a breath at her playfulness, desire slamming through him. Lifting a trembling hand to capture the escaped tendrils of hair the breeze was having its way with, he pursed his lips and pondered his response. "Then I guess I'd have to punish you," he finally threatened.

She lifted the hand that had been draped across his abdomen, holding it in front of his face. "See me shake?"

Her impish grin was his undoing. Jumping to his feet, he easily reached over and swept her into his arms. Walking with purpose toward the water, he tightened his hold when she started to squirm.

"Jack, you wouldn't."

"Wouldn't I?" he questioned blandly, his steps continuing while hoisting her higher in his arms.

Changing tactics, she ran a fingertip down his cheek, across his jaw to his mouth. Using her index finger, she pulled on his lower lip, teasing him with a feathery touch. Snatching her finger back with a laugh when he tried to nip it, she wagged it at him with a mock frown, pouting prettily.

Her lips were too much of a lure and he dropped his head. He missed his mark when she threw her head back to avoid him, so he switched to plan B and explored her slender neck, absorbing her responsive shudders by increasing the pressure of his arms. He heard her sharp intake of breath when he found the indention where her neck and collarbone merged, filing the information away for later use. Retreating, he waited for her to focus on him. "Two can play at your game, Sweetheart," he told her cockily.

"I was counting on it," she responded cheekily, daringly holding his gaze.

He stared into her twinkling eyes, captivated by her flirtatious mood. Relaxing his hold on her legs, he shifted to let them slide down his body while his hands migrated to her waist, enjoying the sensations the friction of her body against his generated. Letting his hands slide daringly lower, he exerted enough pressure to make her shift forward so that one of her legs nestled intimately between his.

"I guess I should thank you for not dropping me in the water. It feels nice lapping over my feet." She was rambling, trying to adjust to his closeness and the serious expression that shadowed his face.

He glanced down before bringing his gaze back to her, his smile tremulous. "Funny, I'd say I was in over my head." He leaned forward and settled his forehead against hers, enjoying their closeness before lifting his head once again. "Do you think it's too soon?"

Cupping his face with her palms, she searched his expression, suppressing the fear that threatened to bubble to the surface at his intensity. "Too soon for what?"

"Too soon to tell you that I am head-over-heels, completely and utterly in love with you?"