Chapter Six


    With a sigh, he got up and dusted himself off, before walking towards her, to join her in the surf. The first touch of the wave slamming against his bare leg made him yelp. "Damn, that's cold."
    "You'll get use to it," Misty said. The water came up to her mid thigh, and she was casually jumping the waves.
    Justin followed her, diving through the waves, until the water came up to his waist. Since Misty was shorter, the water came up a little higher. When a wave flew by, it would casually lift her off the sand, but then set her back down. "Do you want to go back a little while, so you can stand."
    "I'm fine, this is my favorite spot," she said and then ducked her head under and then came up, pushing back her long wet hair.
    The gesture made Justin want to groan, so instead he did the same thing and let out his groan under water. "You come down here a lot?" Justin asked as he ran his finger through his wet curls.
    "I live out here," she said with a smile. "We actually might be visited by one of my friends."
    Justin froze and then looked around the beach. "Who?"
    "Lucky," she said. "A year ago, I came out here and found a baby dolphin trapped in a fishing net."
    "Are you serious?" he asked. "That's awful."
    "Yeah, well I ran back up to get a knife, and when I came back he was almost beached. But luckily I got there in time, and stayed with him as I cut him loose. It was hard as hell, but I did it."
    Justin smiled. "That must have felt great."
    "Oh, it felt wonderful," she laughed. "I thought he'd swim off but he started to swim around me, and play...totally trying to show off. But ever since then, we've been inseperable. Sometimes he'd show, sometimes he wouldn't. But I named him Lucky, since he got another shot."
    "That's so cool," he said and then combed the sea. "How does he feel about strangers?"
    She laughed. "Don't know! Never brought anyone else down here?"
    "Not even your ex?"
    "Oh, hated my ex," she warned. "Despised him."
    "Ohh, well...maybe it's not safe for me to...ahhh!" he yelped when he felt something rub against his leg. "What the hell?"
    Misty let out a laugh when she saw Lucky poke his head out of the water. "Speak of the devil."
    "Well, hello, Lucky," Justin said as he put his hands on his hips. "Are you going to hate me too?"
    Lucky replied by turning his slippery body and floated on his back between Justin and Misty. "He wants us to pet him," Misty said as she rubbed his belly.
    Justin laughed and did the same, while Lucky flapped his flippers and slapped his tale against the surface. "This is incredible," he said as he continued to pet his belly.
    "He didn't like Kevin touching him like this," Misty told him. "So you're off to a good start."
    Lucky then dove down under water, and began to swim around Justin--rubbing his body against his leg, and then over his back. "What is he doing?"
    Misty shook his head in belief. "Hell...he loves you. He's showing his affection--is there anyone or any thing in this damn world that does NOT love you?"
    He laughed and tickled Lucky's exposed belly, and then looked at Misty. "I can think of one person," he said softly.
    Misty's smile faded at his words. He was looking at her in question and then just gave her a shrug, before diving under the water. Misty watched him swim in circles, with Lucky playing by his side. "You're wrong," she said quietly to herself. "Oh, how wrong you are."

    Justin swam around with Lucky, casually rubbing his back or his belly, but his eyes would still find their way back to Misty. She just stood there, with the sea dancing around her, and her wet tangled hair slicked back. She looked like she belonged in a Sports Illustrated swimuit addition, he thought with a grin.
    "What are you grinning about?" she asked annoyingly.
    "Nothing," he said and then slipped under the water and swam towards her.
    "Oh, God...where did he go," she asked warily. "Lucky? Where did he...." She gasped and flinched when she felt him pinch her calves. "Justin!" She yelled when she tried to kick at him, but undewater he grabbed a hold of her legs and pulled them out from under her.
    She let out a laugh, before her head sliced through the surface. When she resurfaced he was standing up and running his fingers through his wet curls. With a grin on his face, he chuckled at her. "You look like a drowned rat." She looked beautiful.
    "You're just evil," she snapped. "If only your fans would know how you really are."
    "They'd love me even more," he said and then stepped towards her.
    She backed away. "Justin, stop....don't..."
    He reached out and grabbed her arm and yanked her against his naked chest. Her eyes were as wide as dinner plates, as she stared up at him in shock. The feel of him against her half naked body, was just too much. Yet, she didn't want to let go. "Justin? What are you......"
    "Look behind you," he said softly as he gazed in her eyes.
    She gave him a weird look and then turned around to see a jellyfish floating inches away from her. She gasped and then turned around and clung to him like glue. "Woah," he said with a laugh when he placed his hand against the small of her back. "It's okay, I just didn't want you to get stung."
    "I hate jellyfish," she said as she looked warily back to see that it was at a safe distance and then relaxed against him. "Thanks."
    "Sure," he said as he slowly let her go.
    "Ow! Justin, stop!" she winced when she felt a prick on her ankle.
    "Um...Mist?" She looked up at him. "That wasn't me? And Lucky left awhile ago."
    Her eyes widened and then she quickly jumped up into his arms. "Woah...Misty," he said as he bent over and wrapped an arm around his waist.
    "What the hell was it then?" she asked as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
    "For someone who loves the sea, you can be a real wimp."
    She gasped at his words and slapped him on the arm. "Shutup, and carry me to shore."
    "Carry you?" he asked as he tried to peel her arms and legs away. "You can swim like a big girl."
    She clung to him. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her head was buried against the crook of his shoulder. Her legs were circled around his, as he stood there with his hands to his side, refusing to touch her. "Misty...let go."
    She shook her head. "No."
    He sighed in frustration as he began to walk to the shore, but still not touching her. "Come on, Mist...I think it's safe to to come down."
    "When I was little, I got caught in a swarm of jelly fish," she mumbled in his chest. "The fear is coming back to me."
    He paused and then look down at her. She looked up and gave him a pitiful, pleading look as she poked out her bottom lip. "Fine," he finally said and then grabbed the back of her soft thighs, and yanked her up on his hips. "You happy now?"
    "Once I get to shore I will be," she said as she clung tightly to him.
    He trudged through the surf, as he held on to Misty and then let out a sigh when he got to shore. "Okay, down you go."
    She didn't want to let go, but she loosened her legs around his waist and then took her time as she slowly slid down his body. Justin avoided her eyes and bit his lip to keep from groaning at the feel of her soft body rubbing against his. "Justin?" he heard her say softly.
    He looked down at her, trying to show no emotion on his face. "What?"
    She reached up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Thanks," she said and then left him to return to her blanket.
    Justin stared at her in amazement as she walked away. 'Was she flirting with him?' he thought. It was almost as if she was purpously trying to make him crazy. And if that was the case, she was doing a hell of a job.

    With a sigh, he looked at his watch at see it was almost 3:30, and the growling of his stomach reminded him they haven't eaten lunch yet. He walked up to where she was laying on her back, enjoying the sun.
    She pulled her sunglasses down and looked up at him. "You're in my sun."
    "I'm starving," he said as he placed a hand on his flat belly. "Aren't you hungry?"
    She propped herself up on her elbows. "Well, now that I think about it, I'm famished."
    "What do you want to do?"
    She sat up all the way. "We can just go inside and make something."
    "Sounds good to me," he said and then held out a hand for her.
    She looked at it and hesitated before slipping her hand in his and pulling on him until she was standing. "I make a killer tuna sandwhich," she said with a smile.
    He softened his grip and without thinking began to stroke the back of her hand with his thumb. "Sounds good," he said as gazed down at her. Two can play at this game, he thought with a grin.
    The movement of his thumb, caused her insides to dance and it sent chills up her body. "Uhh..." she stuttered as she tried to pull her hand away, but he held on ight. "Justin? What are you...."
    "You have beautiful hands," he said as he looked down at her hand and began to caress it with his warm fingers.
    "My...My hands?" she asked. That was the most ridiculous pick up line she had ever heard. Beautiful hands? But then again, the way he was looking at her hands made her knees go weak.
    "Yes, your hands," he said softly. "Have you ever noticed how beautiful a hand is? Just think about what it's used for."
    "Like...like what?"
    He grinned at her. "Well...to hold a loved ones hand for comfort like this," he said as he linked their fingers together. "Or something like this," he said as he reached up and ran the back of his knuckles down her cheek. She closed her eyes as her heart began to burst with life. "Feels good?"
    "Mmm-hmm," she mumbled and then reached up and placed her hand on top of his while he cupped the side of her face. "I see what you mean."
    Justin felt a slight tug at his heart, when she started to rub her warm cheek against his hand. "Misty?" he finally said as he stepped closer to her.
    "Yeah," she asked as her eyes fluttered open and became totally aware of his closeness.
    Justin's eyes scattered across her face, and paused at her lips. She licked her lips as if she was preparing them for his kiss. He looked up at her and then slowly ran his hand down her cheek until his hand fell to his side. He stepped back. "How bout that lunch?"



Chapter Seven