I was a patient man. I was renowned for it.

I was also, apparently, an incredibly stupid man. There was nothing else that could explain why I had refused to take the woman across the table from me to bed, despite her pleas. This was the third time we'd gone together to dinner together, and my resolve lessened more each time I saw her.

"What?" she asked, patting the corner of her mouth and frowning. "Do I have something on my face?"

I shook my head.

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like something's wrong with me." Her lips turned down in a frown.

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with you Amelia Carmichael." There wasn't. She was beautiful and spirited and confident. I had never met a woman quite like her.

"Says the man who won't sleep with me." Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she took a sip of her drink and surveyed me. "Why exactly is that again?"

"I've told you."

"Tell me again."

I sighed and leaned my elbows on the table in front of me. This was the second time tonight she'd made me explain this to her; it wasn't that she didn't understand, she just wouldn't believe me.

"There's something different about you," I said, switching tactics from the standard I don't want to be another notch on your bedpost line. "Something about you makes me want to savor the time before we have sex."

"We've already had sex," she pointed out, draining the bottom of her cocktail and waving the waitress down for another one. The tavern was deserted; it was late enough that those who were still out were at the local beach club, and those who weren't out were sound asleep in their beds. We fell in the middle, for I did not want to go to a club, and all Amelia wanted was for us to go to bed, not that we would be getting any sleep in if she had her way.

"Ten years ago," I responded.

She shrugged. "So? Ten years, ten days, ten minutes, what's the difference?"

I couldn't explain it to myself, much less her. There was something that made me feel protective of her; something that made me treat her different from all the other women I'd dated. I had never turned down an offer of sex with a beautiful woman, unless I was already involved with another one. It wasn't that I shied away from it, but I needed to know that it was something more for Amelia.

Believe me, I knew how ridiculous it sounded that I would feel something like this for a woman I barely knew. Our paths had separated too long ago to claim any real knowledge – I could hardly claim to know my seventeen year old self, we were so different from one another. Yet, I felt like I knew Amelia. And, having grown up in a household where superstition meant everything, I couldn't ignore my gut feeling about Amelia.

I had tried to shrug off the instinct to claim her as my own the night I saw her again. I had been drinking, and she had always been the one that got away. I figured that I would laugh at myself the next day and resume business as usual, but then I saw her lying down on the beach in front of my parent's house and the feeling had returned. It wasn't something I could deny, hell it wasn't something I wanted to deny. I'd never felt this way about any woman. I owed it to myself, and to her to play this right.

"What's another few days?" I asked back.

"What's the point?" she asked, thanking the waitress as she dropped her drink off. "We have to live in the moment. Seize the day."

I raised my eyebrow at her, but said nothing.

She smiled and began to sing. "Don't be afraid and don't delay."

"Afraid?" I asked, shaking my head.

"Proud and defiant, we'll slay the giant. Let us seize the day."

"What is that?" I asked.

She laughed and shook her head. "Newsies?"

"Whatsies?"

"Newsies," she repeated. "The musical?" I shrugged and shook my head. "My goodness, did you ever watch television?"

"Not particularly," I said with a shrug. "Mom never approved of it, and they kept me busy learning the business from the time I was twelve. I spent most of my free time learning and reading comic books until I was seventeen and discovered the allure of girls."

"Comic books?" she gasped. "Thank goodness none of this came out when I was sixteen! I would never have lost my virginity to someone that read comic books!"

"There's nothing wrong with comic books," I said defensively. Granted, I hadn't read them in years, but they'd been a staple when I was growing up. "And you did lose your virginity to a comic book reader."

"I'm not going to pick that fight with you," she said, shaking her head. "Please tell me you weren't a dungeon master too?"

"No," I said with a smirk.

"Good," she replied, with a nod.

"Sakis was the dungeon master," I added, and chuckled when her draw dropped.

"Oh my God, you're such a dork," she said with a giggle.

"You're the one singing a song from a movie called Newsies, and I'm the dork? Need I remind you that you're the one who wants to get into my pants?"

"Dorks are sexy," she said with a shrug. "Or, at least, you're sexy and I'm willing to overlook your inner dork, oh wise wizard."

"Shut up Carmichael."

"Do you have your polyhedral dice with you tonight?" she teased. "Do we need to roll them to see if you're going to give in and sleep with me already? Or will the Master not allow that?"

"You are in for a world of trouble Amelia," I said, tipping my glass back and signaling for the waitress to bring another.

"I look forward to it," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

.

The night breeze was cool and balmy as we left the tavern. We were the last customers remaining, the sleepy eyed wait staff watching us expectantly as we finished our drinks, smiling when I asked for our ticket. The stars sparkled in the clear dark sky above us, the sound of the party on Paradise Beach wafted on the air of the otherwise quiet night.

I squeezed Amelia's hand, which was tucked in my own as it had been every night I'd walked her home. The bones of her fingers felt so small and delicate, but there was power there; power I didn't quite understand.

"You're such a gentleman," she said, stepping closer to me as she rubbed her thumb along the pulse at my wrist. "Always walking the lady home and leaving her with a chaste kiss at her door step."

It had been difficult to keep the kisses innocent when she'd tried every wile and tactic to break me, but somehow I had prevailed. It was a good thing my timeline for chastity was ending, because I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold out.

"My mother taught me well," I said, smiling down at her.

She looked up at me, her face illuminated in the moonlight. "A little too well if you ask me," she said with a smirk as we reached the door to her villa.

"When are you leaving the island?" I asked, not wanting to know the answer. I knew she wouldn't tell me; she hadn't answered the question the first ten times I asked it.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Now is not a time to talk about that."

"When is?" I asked, trying to stop the frustration from coming across in my voice.

"Later," she reassured. "Tonight is too perfect to ruin it with talk of parting."

I wanted to tell her that there was no need to ever have that conversation, no need to part. We were both fortunate enough that we did not have to have jobs; there was nothing tying us anywhere. We could pursue this, let it run its course and see where it went. Somehow, I didn't think her free spirit would appreciate that conversation at the moment.

I opened my mouth to respond and closed it when she shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. "I love the smell of the sea at night," she said, opening them back up and smiling up at me. "It's magical, this time of the night, when all the respectable people are tucked away in their beds and the streets are quiet."

I looked down at her quizzically. She had a tendency to romanticize things; it was one of my favorite qualities about her. She practically glowed positivity. As far as I could tell, she had never taken the time to be unhappy.

"Oh to be in Greece with a handsome man on a night like this," she said, stepping closer and wrapping her arms securely around my waist. "I must have done something right." She nuzzled her head against my chest, her breath dancing across the cotton of my shirt.

"I'm too tired to sleep," she continued, tipping her head up to look at me. "I feel alive. Can you see the energy pouring off of us?"

I chuckled and shook my head. Amelia was something of a new age witch, constantly aware of her surroundings and her place in the universe. While I did not see the world through her eyes, I was endlessly amazed and amused by her.

"Oh poo," she said, shaking her head. "Let's walk along the beach," she said, nodding to the alleyway that led to the quiet beach behind her villa. She released my hand and ran towards the beach, her laughter filling the air as she looked back at me.

I stood rooted in place as I watched her kick off her shoes and dart around her villa out of sight. I reluctantly followed, knowing the longer I stayed, the harder it would be to leave, but she was irresistible when she was like this.

I stopped on her porch, leaning down to remove my shoes and roll up the cuffs of my pants, and when I rounded the corner to the beach, she was nowhere in sight. My heart stilled, my breath catching in my throat. One in the morning was not a time for single women to be on the beach by themselves, no matter what neighborhood you were in. There were lecherous men, local and tourists, who would see no problem accosting a beautiful woman who was alone.

"Amelia!" I called out, trying to squash the panic I felt inside of me. "Amelia!" I called again when I didn't get a response.

I heard a splash, followed closely by a giggle and my eyes darted to the sea. There, in a beam of moonlight on the water, was the dark head of the woman I had been searching for. My panic was replaced quickly with irritation, mainly at myself for getting worked up over something so simple.

"What are you doing?" I asked, making my way down the stretch of sand and picking the clothing she'd discarded on her way to the water. I swallowed audibly when I came to the water's edge and saw the scrap of lace that was an excuse for underwear. My body responded immediately to the thought of her in the water with no barriers against her naked skin. She was going to be the death of me.

"I'm swimming," she said, with a laugh. "Come in, the water's gorgeous!"

I looked behind me, along the short stretch of white beach I had come across her on days before. The memory of her sitting up, proud and topless, winning the game I had initiated without even a scrap of modesty flashed before my eyes. I groaned as I recalled the way her breasts had looked in the sunlight, knowing I could, and likely would, see them in the moonlight.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I said, placing the clothes I had collected on a rock well above the lapping water.

"Why not?" she asked, spinning around effortlessly in the water. "We need to pay homage to Mother Earth, to thank her for this moment. What better way than to enjoy the elements she provided?" She stopped spinning and looked at me, her eyes piercing mine through the darkness. "Unless, of course you're afraid."

I scoffed, brushing the sand off my hands. "What would I be afraid of?"

"I dunno," she said, shrugging and dislodging the water around her as she began to rise. The tops of her breasts visible as the waves danced across her skin. "Maybe you're afraid of getting caught." She rose another inch, revealing her chest in all its glory. "Maybe you're afraid of me."

I groaned and closed my eyes, shaking my head. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Really?" she asked, her voice filled with laughter. "You look pretty scared standing there with your eyes closed. It's just a body," she said. I opened my eyes, unable to stop them from roaming across her exposed skin. It was not just a body; it was Amelia's body. My fingers itched to touch her. Maybe I was being ridiculous. "Come on," she said, rising further.

"Stay in the water," I commanded, knowing that if she came at me wet and naked I wouldn't be responsible for my actions.

"Only if you come in," she said, stopping. "If you dare."

I shook my head and reached to unbutton my shirt. I couldn't believe that I was susceptible to such a childish taunt. That was why I was doing this, I told myself. It had nothing to do with wanting to be close to her naked body. Nothing at all.

That being said, she was irresistible like this, bathed in the moonlight. The brown skin that had taunted me all night exposed for me and me alone. I felt my resolve dissipate. What harm would come from a little taste of what was to come?

I peeled the shirt off, smiling when I heard her gasp.

My hands stilled at my waistband. "You're sure you want this?" I asked.

She licked her lips, smiling without looking at my face. "Yes," she said. "Positive."

I slowly kicked out of my pants, fully aware that I was putting on a show for one. This would only heighten the anticipation for what was to come. I was resolved that it wouldn't come tonight, no matter what she did. But a naked frolic in the sea would be the perfect precursor for when I did give in.

The water was warm against my skin, swirling about my ankles as I waded in towards my final destination. Amelia had gone back under the water, only her head visible. Her eyes roved over my body as I walked closer, widening at my evident state of arousal. I was nearly at her, close enough that I could reach out and touch her when she disappeared under the glassy waves.

I frowned to myself, hoping she knew what she was doing. Night swimming wasn't very safe, regardless of how calm the waters were. I moved forward when she didn't resurface, feeling my heart speed up at the thought of what could happen to her out here. I was about to go under and search for her when I felt two small hands on my legs. Her head emerged from the water at my waist, too close for comfort.

"Not so fast," I said, hauling her up against my body. Her breasts pressed against my bare chest as she caught her breath. "What did you think you were doing?"

"I was getting a better look," she said, rubbing her body against mine. "Up close and personal."

"Oh yeah?" I asked, running my hand down her spine and pulling her hips roughly against mine. "Are you my personal inspector?"

She laughed, shaking her head and causing droplets of water to splay across the relatively placid water. "Not yet," she said, tipping her head up. "You haven't given me permission."

"Do you always wait for permission?" I teased, groaning as she wiggled against me.

"Not usually," she responded solemnly. "Only when I care; only when it matters."

"And you think this matters?" I asked, daring to hope that she was finally giving me the signal I was waiting for.

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. "I think it does. I don't think we would be thrown together again unless we are supposed to do something about it."

That was all the affirmation I needed, all that I was waiting for. Before she could say anything more, my lips were on hers, urging them to open to me fully. She tasted of ouzo, salt water, and something that was essentially her. The combination was heady, and I felt myself melt against her body, grateful for the buoyancy the water provided me.

Our mouths clashed, our hands roaming freely against every inch of available skin. She whimpered and said my name as I set about devouring her neck, tugging at my hair as my lips traveled lower and came into contact with the tops of her breasts.

I backed up towards the shore, never diverting my hands or lips from her body. I stopped when the water was shallow enough for her to stand and kneeled in front of her, worshipping her like the Goddess that she was. She looked ethereal, bathed in the moonlight as she emerged from the sea.

"Where did you come from?" I asked, almost reverently as I devoured her body with my eyes.

She giggled and looked down at me. "New Orleans," she answered simply.

Ignoring her pithy response, I leaned forward and placed a kiss on the skin over her belly button. Her fingers twined in my hair, her name escaping my lips as I kissed a trail up her body, stopping only when I reached her lips.

"This isn't a game," I said, half in question.

"This isn't a game," she repeated, shaking her head.

"You can't toss me over like the other men you've been with." Not that I wanted to bring them up now, but I had to reassure myself.

"You're nothing like the other men I've been with," she responded, clinging tightly against me. "When I'm with you, I feel whole. I didn't even know I felt empty until I saw you again. I feel like the world is raging around me and you bring the calm."

I nodded, picking her up in my arms and walking towards her darkened villa. There were no words to respond to that; it was what I had been unable to define.

"What about our clothes?" she asked, giggling as I left them behind.

"What about them?" I asked, not breaking my stride. I was a man on a mission, finally getting what I wanted. Nothing was going to stop me.

"Don't you think we should go back and get them?" She pulled herself and looked over my shoulder. "We probably shouldn't leave them on the beach."

I shook my head, leaning down to press my lips against hers. "We won't need them where we're going."