Her concentration was wavering, her mind refusing to stay on the book propped open in her lap. She stared unseeingly at the grandeur before her, her bottom lip migrating familiarly between her teeth. She startled when a bottle of water appeared in front of her, her gaze sliding up and locking with Jack's. Fidgeting self-consciously, she grew disconcerted with his scrutiny and let out a sigh of relief when he turned without a word. Her brows knitted in confusion when he stepped out from under their large, rectangular umbrella and began releasing the gossamer sides, effectively cutting off the outside world while still providing enough light to communicate.

"Wh...what are you doing?"

He pulled his lounger close to hers and settled on the edge, enjoying a taste of his ice cream before answering. "I've seen you with that look before," he told her, using his index finger to motion toward her face. "You're worrying about something and I want to know what it is." His face reflected his uncertainty. "Did your mom give you a hard time last night? I'm sorry I never did ask."

Sue rolled her eyes. "Like you were worried. You've got my mom wound around your little finger, Hudson. All you have to do is flash your eyes her way and she'll be at your beck and call."

His handsome face twisted comically as he rose and then settled on the edge of her lounger. "What about her daughter? Do I have her wrapped around my little finger?" He leaned forward to waggle his eyebrows and succeeded in dripping some ice cream on her arm. Keeping his head up so she could read him, he absently reached for her arm, lifting it and removing the small droplet with his lips. Her quiet gasp was not lost to him nor was the way her eyes darkened.

Sue sucked in her breath at his seemingly inconspicuous action. "I think you already know the answer to that."

"You'd be surprised," he admitted in a moment of candor. "Talk to me, Sweetheart. What is it that has your beautiful face troubled?"

She lifted one shoulder in a half-embarrassed, half-irritated shrug. "I know I'm being silly, but I can't seem to help it." Her eyes drifted to his, finding him focused and listening, waiting for her to continue. "Knowing that we have to return to reality in a couple of days makes me nervous. I just wish we could stay here, frozen in time, just like we are now."

Jack pursed his lips, realizing that she had more to reveal. "I hate to leave all this too," he agreed, waving his arms about him and managing to drip more ice cream on her reclining figure. "But," he continued, while absently watching the sweet droplet roll from her abdomen toward her belly-button while capturing her hand to keep her from wiping it away, "I get to leave with the most breathtaking beauty of all." Leaning over, he slowly followed the tasty trail with his tongue, lingering at her navel, enjoying his task.

Her hand in his hair, traitorously holding him closer before pulling him away, brought his head up to meet her sweltering gaze. He drank in her body's response to his actions, zeroing in on her heightened color. "You look a little overheated, Sweetheart," he murmured huskily, knowing that his body was doing no better in hiding his response to her. "Let me help," he offered, taking his ice-cream cone and blatantly touching it to her calf. Keeping his eyes focused on hers, he dropped to his knees and lifted her leg, bringing her toned calf to his lips so he could remove the awaiting cream.

She worked hard at finding her voice, unable to break away from his visual hold. "I don't think that helped."

He lifted one brow, cocking his head in the process. "I'll tell you a secret," he whispered out of habit. "I'm not really trying to cool you off."

She feigned a look of surprise. "Then you're doing quite nicely," she reconsidered.

"But I can do better," he promised, dipping the cone, causing her to catch her breath as the cold confection settled over her rapidly beating heart. Bracing a hand and a forearm on either side of her, he avidly set about warming the chilled skin, using his lips and tongue to remove every vestige, his own pulse tapping out a matching cadence to hers. He lingered, breathing deeply, nuzzling the smooth skin not often accessible to his questing touch. He ran his tongue along the seam that separated skin and fabric, his guttural groan accompaniment to her arching shudder.

"Jack," she panted helplessly, her feet restlessly crossing as she strove to suppress the engulfing sensations his touch evoked.

"Shhhhh," he comforted, raising his head and straining forward, bringing the savory aphrodisiac up to hover above her lips. He waited, his eyes wild and predatory, until she took the bait, opening her mouth and licking at the offering in front of her. He reacted immediately, tossing the cone aside and swooping to intercept her seeking tongue, engaging it in a flavorful duel. Closing the remaining distance between them, he draped himself across her and continued to feast on his latest delectable craving.

His lips moved expertly over hers, drawing her with him into a world of their own where nerve endings were finely tuned and wandering hands fueled the rapidly building inferno. Gathering her in his arms, he moved to roll with her but his way was blocked by the rigid arm of the lounge chair. Serving as a reminder of their location, he sought to control their spiraling voracity.

Hissing with the effort it cost him to stop, he dropped his head to her heaving chest and waited for his breathing to regulate somewhat. Once he had mustered enough restraint, he lithely rolled off of her and picked her up, ducking through the billowing opening of their shelter. Striding to the water's edge he gently set her on her feet and took her hand, pulling her into the surf with him. Once he guided them past the breaking waves, he released her and dove underwater, swimming several feet away. Surfacing, he turned to find her regarding him with a baffled expression.

Taking in her loveliness, he ran his hands through his hair before explaining. "I needed to cool off...quickly. And I don't trust myself to be too close to you at the moment."

She blushed becomingly. "Thank you."

He watched her swim, admiring her gracefulness, thankful she was a part of his life. They splashed one another and spent time diving for starfish and exotic shells that could be found on the ocean floor. Jack finally tapped her on the nose and glanced ruefully at his watch. "We need to begin making our way back toward the hotel. We've got one more rehearsal before the big luau tonight. And I want us to have time to finish our discussion."

"What discussion?"

"The one where you were going to tell me what has you worried about returning home to D.C."