Too Darn Hot

Too Darn Hot.

These characters do not belong to me but to Twentieth Century Fox, I only borrowed them.

Timeline: After the run of the series.

Rating: NC-17

Genre: Romance

It was hot. The kind of hot that stuck to your body like it was part of you. It didn't matter what you did to try to relieve it, it would jump right back and never let go.

Carolyn stepped out on the balcony praying that just a small breeze would be blowing, just a touch of fresh air, but all to no avail. "I'd even settle for a hot breeze," she said aloud. "I'm not fussy." It was only 1:00 and she had already taken two baths. She wasn't sure why she had even bothered, the minute she had gotten out of the tub, she just started to sweat again.

Taking a deep breath, she came back into the room, shutting the French doors behind her. Picking up Candy's small transistor, she tuned it to the Keystone station, waiting for the weather report.

Candy was at camp. A present from her grandparents, and Jonathan was in Philadelphia with the other set of grandparents. She certainly hoped they weren't experiencing this weather. Martha had called from Florida yesterday, where she was visiting her sister. It was ten degrees cooler in St. Petersburg then it was in Schooner Bay, Maine.

She grimaced as the newscaster gave the forecast – hot and humid for the rest of the week! Captain Gregg had tried to explain to her why the weather had turned this way, something about air currents and air pressure and the way the waves ran, but it had made little sense to her. She only knew that it was hot and she wasn't sure how much more of it she could take.

'Well I might as well get something done,' she thought, sitting down at her desk. Sliding a piece of paper into the typewriter, she began clicking the keys, transcribing her thoughts onto the paper. After several minutes of working, she paused to read what she had just written. "Well, that sounds stupid," she shook her head. Ripping the paper out, she scrunched into a ball before attempting to throw it into the wastebasket.

It was so hot, Scruffy didn't even make his usual attempt to place it in the trash, he just lay on the floor in front of the desk and closed his eyes.

"You poor thing." She squatted down beside the little dog to pet him. "I can't imagine how you must feel with all that fur."

"Good afternoon, my dear." Captain Gregg came up behind her, causing her to squeal and lose her balance. He reached down to catch her, her back falling against him with a satisfying thud.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized, getting down on the floor beside her, his hands on her shoulders. "I guess I'm not really helping the situation any, am I? I didn't mean to frighten you."

"No, not much," she laughed, trying not to think of his lips just inches from hers. She saw him swallow and knew he was trying not to think about the same thing. "You think after all this time, I'd be used to you showing up like that." She told herself to move her head, but it was not obeying.

It was the kind of situation they had been avoiding for the last few months. They discovered a while back that he could indeed touch and be touched in return, and like two adults they had sat down and talked about hhe rhe revelation could change their relationship.

They had decided then that they would take things slowly and see how things went. In the last six months, they had learned more about one another, had taken time to spend quality time together, ‘in a sense he was courting her,’ she thought. But neither one of them could deny their growing physical attraction which had been strong from the start.

Each kiss was a little longer and a little sweeter. They found more excuses to hold hands and to touch one another, even if it were just brushing their hands when something was passed between them.

"Carolyn." He said her name softly, reaching out to touch her cheek.

"Yes, Daniel . . . " she barely said, the feel of his hand sending a swirl of emotions through her. Leaning toward one another, their lips blended in the kiss their bodies were craving, his hand caressing her cheek. The kiss grew deeper, his tongue wrapping around hers, longing coursing through them. "Oh Daniel . . . " she breathed when they pulled away. He helped her up, but held her for a moment and kissed her again before letting her go.

"Thank-you," she said to him, but she wasn't sure if she were thanking him for helping her up, or the kiss. "You know . . . " She looked him up and down, liking what she saw. "The sight of you in all that wool in this heat just makes me sick. It's just not fair that you don't sweat."

"One of the advantages of my existence," he chuckled. "But this weather certainly isn't my favorite. You can't even get a warm breeze."

"No, you can’t. I tried it." She shook her head. "I guess I better try to get some work done . . . " wishing he would insist they do something else. Not that you could move in this heat without dying. Well, at least she couldn't.

"I suppose you must." He looked forlorn at the thought. "You do have an article to get out in the mail by the weekend."

"Aye, Captain." She gave a brief salute. He touched her cheek once more before dematerializing from the room.

Once more she sat down at the typewriter, determined to give the article a valiant effort. The sweat was pouring down her face in profusion, a drop hanging from the end of her nose, that dropped down on the paper before she could stop it. This was ridiculous. There had to be some kind of relief. But how many baths could a person take?

She had on a cotton sun-dress, but even it was too much. And right now even a swim in the ocean was unthinkable, going outside in this heat. If only she could find something more comfortable to wear, that might help.

Getting up, she walked over to the closet, desperately going through her clothes. There just had to be something that wouldn't stick to her body. The heat was doing a good enough job of that. Finding noththatthat looked even remotely comfortable and cool, she started rummaging through the chest of drawers. Surely she would find something in here. She held up a very skimpy piece of lingerie long forgotten about. Even it seemed too hot and confining for a day like today.

"A cold drink my dear?" Daniel Gregg came through the door, an icy glass of water in his hand.

"Thank-you." She took it gratefully. Careful not to drink it too fast. "It's just what I needed."

"I'm glad I could help." He sat down toward the bottom of the bed. "It is an annoying hot isn't it? Of course I don't believe it is as hot in here now as it was about half an hour ago."

Carolyn shook her head, knowing he wasn't talking about the weather. "No, not quite." She smiled, her body screaming suddenly that it was HER fault. Was it right to want a man this much? A ghost? Her heart sped up and her body began to tingle, a tingle that was turning into a slow ache. ‘For heavens sake Carolyn, it's much too hot to be thinking about such things.’ Or was it?

"Thank-you for the water," she said again, catching an escaping drop with her tongue. He winced at the action, wishing that he was the one catching that drop. The thought of her body slick with sweat, sliding into his was enough to make a ghost feel like a human being. It took everything in him not to cross the room to where she was standing and ravish her. A ravishing he knew that would be more than welcome.

"Well, I just wanted to bring you the drink, so I'll get back to my sea charts," he said a little too casually. "Scruffy, come along with me." He whistled for the little dog.

Left alone with her water and her overactive hormones, Carolyn went back to her typewriter, determined to get the article done at all costs. Oh God, she wanted him. She could almost feel his long lean body pressed up against her, his hands roaming her body, his tongue wrapped inside of hers. "Think Carolyn," she said out loud, "You are writing an article on the Pripet lighthouse and how it needs to be saved. You are not writing a treatise on how your thighs are aching and your hormones are protesting and how your sexual peak is definitely peaking. You and Daniel talked about this, you decided to take it slow and easy." ‘Slow and easy? She didn't even want to think of the mental picture those words brought up.’

Knowing Daniel wasn't in the room, or nearby, she stripped out of her clothes down to her bra and panties, feeling better already with even just the lightweight dress gone. But she had to find something. Seeing the paper bag laying on top of the bureau, she picked it up, wondering what could be in it. Oh yes, the undershirts she had bought for Jonathan last week. She had been so excited to see them and get on with the rest of her shopping she hadn't noticed until she got home she had picked up men's instead of boys.

Compulsively, she ripped the package open, holding the shirt up to herself.

"I think it will fit just fine!" She slipped it over her head. ‘It still didn't look right,’ she thought, or was as comfortable as she was hoping. She pulled the shirt back off, unhooked her bra clasps and then put the sleeveless T-shirt back on. Oh, that was much better!

Inspiration overtook her, and for the next three hours she wrote. The words seemed to fly onto the page, and when she proofread what she had written she found very little wrong with it.

Knowing that the Captain would be in the alcove, she pushed the door to the front room open and pulled back the curtain. "I got the article finished," she let him know, "And I quite like it."

"Congratulations!" He looked up at her. "I'm afraid I haven't gotten much done here. This ungodly heat seems to have dampened my sprits."

"Very funny." She sat down on the coach, crossing her legs carefully. "I thought the heat didn't affect you."

"It doesn't in the manner that I sweat or full the effects physically as you do, but I still feel the intenseness of it and the depression it makes in the air. It affects me, just in a different way. And I would much prefer it to be cooler."

"You and me both Pal." She grinned at him. "Well, it's much too hot to even think of doing anything else, even though it is almost dark. So, I think I might turn in and read for a while. Did you say there was an old fan down in the basement?"

"Yes, there is, I saw it today. I'll fetch it for you if you'd like."

"Thank-you. I would appreciate it."

"I'll bring it up directly." He gave her a smile.

***************************

He found her on the balcony, not at her usual spot by the wheel, but leaning over the railing, her small hands pulling her hair off her neck. He watched her for a few moments before putting the electric fan on the bedside table and plugging it in. Slowly the ancient blades began to turn; stirring up the heat. Surely that would help a little.

"Carolyn?" He walked out behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "I put it beside your bed. It’s not a bad breeze."

"Thank-you," she said again. "I hope this heat breaks soon."

"As do I," he said simply.

She knew he was going to do it before he did, but she still shivered when his lips brushed the back of her neck. She closed her eyes, relaxing in the moment while his mouth moved across her skin.

Her breath took a sharp intake when she felt his hands move from her shoulders down to her waist, slipping in past the small opening of her robe. He spread his palms out over her stomach, a flutter of desire gathering between her legs.

"Carolyn, there is something I would like to talk to you about," he said softly but firmly. "I've been thinking about this for several days now and today I have thought of nothing else. We decided that we would move this relationship along slowly and I think it was a wise move. After all you were still dealing with issues of your late husband, and I was adjusting to the fact that I was actually in love and both of us have had to deal with the fact that . . . well . . . that I am a ghost."

"Right," she nodded. "I do think it was the best way to handle it."

"However, I have come to a conclusion, but it won't work unless you agree that we perhaps we should move on."

"What exactly do you mean by move on?" she almost asked, hoping he meant what she thought he meant.

"Maybe it's getting harder to fight our desires because we've gotten to the point where we no longer should be fighting."

Carolyn turned in his arms to look at him, trying not to let the smile she felt on the surface come through.

"We are rational and logical adults and we will move this new phase of our relationship along in a sensible pace."

"Yes, we will," he agreed.

They stood there on the balcony, her head against his chest, his hands warm on her skin.

"Daniel?" She looked up at him. "Have we been logical and rational about this long enough?"

"I hope so!" He said, with relief in his voice.

His mouth covered hers, moving across her lips with undue speed. She parted hers for him and he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. They relished the taste of one another, not getting enough to satisfy themselves. His hands untied the knot of her bathrobe, discarding it without noticing where it went.

"What is this thing that you are wearing?" he fingered it hesitantly. "It looks like nothing."

"It's hot," she defended herself, but noticed he didn't really mind. They began to kiss once more, hungry, frantic kis His His hands cupped the rounded mass under her shirt, finding her nipples waiting in attention for him. Her lips left his, trailing down his neck, while his mouth nestled in the hollow of her throat.

He pulled the already tight garment, even tighter against her skin, the tips of her breasts poking through the cotton. He placed his mouth over the material, gently closing her nipple into his mouth, sucking through the cloth. She moved against him impatiently, her hips rubbing his erection, a sound escaped him as he moved his tongue against her breast.

With sensual movements, he pushed the shirt up her smooth skin, his work-worn fingers amazingly tender against her. He moved it tantalizingly slowly up her body, pausing to pay attention to her breasts that were crying for his touch. She held her arms up for him and he pulled the T-shirt up over her head, tossing it somewhere in the air.

"You are so lovely . . . " She was surprised that his words were warm against her skin. He took one breast in each hand, squeezing them gently. "A perfect pair"

She found his words just as arousing as his actions. She had never thought of herself as beautiful. It didn't matter who had told her so.

"No," she shook her head.

"Yes, "he said insistently. "I am the Captain, and I am always correct in my statements."

A giggle escaped her throat, and he too laughed.

"Never forget that."

His tongue ran a silvery line down her stomach, while his hands still held her, his thumbs rotating over her nipples until she cried out from their tightness. He sent his mouth to relieve her. Her body quivered. When he moved his hands away, she made a noise like she had been abandoned and he brought his mouth back to her breast. "You like that," he said, before closing over the stiff peak.

Needing something for his hands to do, he moved to the mound covered by her thin silk panties, pocketing her in his big palm. Her moistness made him harder. She tried to hold him there, wanting to bring her legs together, but he refused to let her. "No," he said, in a low tone that she found very erotic.

His fingers dug into her folds, and a bolt of what felt like electricity went up her spine. It had been five long years since a man had touched her in any regard other than a chaste kiss or a clasping of hands.

"I want you to enjoy this," he told her. "Tell me what you want me to do."

As his hand clenched into a ball that began to gently rock against her sensitive area, she felt a part of her awaken that she was sure had died long ago. His fingers played on the silk, digging as deeply as the material would allow him. Her body was fully out of it's trance now and she looked deeply into his blue eyes.

"I want to feel you tasting me," she whispered, not caring if she sounded like a wanton. "I want you here." And she led his hand down inside her panties, urging him to sink into her wetness. Placing her hand on top of his, their fingers moved in unison across the silky folds. Her breath caught in her throat, her whole body melted in the heat of his touch.

Just as she could feel the edge of her climax, he moved his hands away from hers. "Just a moment of patience," he said low in his throat. She nodded, hoping whatever he had planned he would do quickly. Still she wasn't expecting it when he crouched down in front of her and pulled her panties down around her ankles. She lifted her feet one at a time and he slid them completely off and pitched them where they fell.

Resting on his knees, he ran his hands up her inner thighs parting them slightly. Carolyn didn't really believe he would do what it looked like he would do, until she felt his mouth inside her. His tongue explored deep inside her folds, tasting her sweetness. As he licked the moist cavity with long strokes, she held onto his head, his hair silky beneath her fingertips. She couldn't explain it, but the sight of his curly head between her legs was almost as erotic as what his tongue was doing to her.

"Oh . . . " She could barely breathe when he parted her folds with his hands and covered her nub with the tip of his tongue. She threw her head back, her entire body burning with intense heat as he played with the pleasure point.

"Daniel . . . " She breathed his name in a way that made his arousal tighter. When the orgasm came, it surprised her. She had never felt one so powerful, a wave that swept up and down her body, hitting her like a tidal wave. Nothing had ever felt this good!

Her body began to ache as the climax began to fall and she couldn't help but whimper. His warm fingers moved up and down where his tongue had just been, and once more she shook with fulfillment. But it wasn't enough. And she was amazed to see he knew that.

She helped him up from the wooden deck, tying to remove his shirt as he yanked at the fly of his trousers. It seemed to take forever before his clothing joined hers on the ground below, and he was wonderfully naked.

"I did say magnificent, didn't I?" She reached out a tentative hand to his bare chest.

"I believe those were your words." His tone was playful.

She reached up to touch his face, loving the feel of his beard against her skin. Carefully she traced his lips, and his chin, slowly moving down his neck. She outlined his collarbone, playing with the hair that lay across his muscled chest. As if she were memorizing every inch of him, she moved at a snail pace until she reached the hair that covered the object of her desire. It was hot and heavy in her hands and so satisfying just to look at. He didn't move a muscle as she laid him out in her palm, liking the power he was allowing her. Stroking him almost timidly, she was surprised to find her face turning red. How often had she dreamed about doing such a thing? More times than she liked to admit, she knew!

He gave out a small whine, and the sound seemed to make her bolder. Trying to remember something she had read once, she gripped him like a baseball bat and exchanging her hands over each other, crawling up his enlarged member. She saw his eyes close and he let out a heavy sigh. Carolyn smiled at his reaction, her heart beating fast at the thought that she could make a man feel like that.

As though she were trying to make up her mind about something, she shook her head and then squared her shoulders. Moving her hands all the way up, she took hold of the entire package and squeezed it gently. When he groaned low in this throat, she did it again and noticed his hands were clenched at his sides. Leaning down she placed her lips against him and watched him quiver.

'Oh God that was lovely,' she thought.

He tasted almost salty, reminding her of an exotic piece of fruit. Not that she had ever tasted any. Laying her tongue in the midst of his maleness, she slowly licked him wondering if anything in her life had tasted this good. He was trying not to make a sound, which only made her move across him in longer strokes.

"Woman, you do intend to torture me to the death?" His eyes were closed as he spoke. Placing his hands on her head, he sighed deeply at the feel of her mouth closing around his tip. The noise emitting from his throat filled her with raw want and her stomach flip-flopped with the idea of wanting someone this much. And so clearly that he desired her.

Slowly getting up from her kneeling position, she kissed each part of his body that was in reach. Right before she reached his mouth, he placed a hand on her buttocks and pulled her against him. Everything was quiet and still for a moment before they began to devour one another with their kisses. It seemed they couldn't get close enough to one another, taste one another to their satisfaction. Carolyn groaned as his hands trailed down to wetness, her breath catching in her throat as he parted her legs.

"Lean back against the railing," he said, barely able to say the words. She did as she was told – the feel of his fingers inside her so intoxicating. His face was drawn with passion and it amazed her that it was for her. It had been much to long.

She was warm and wet when he touched her, and he swore he could feel his heart beating out of control. He had wanted to be with her in this way for so long. It was hard to believe it was really happening.

"Darling," he said, hot against her face as he bent her arched hips toward him and slowly began to enter her. Carolyn gripped the rail, leaning as far back as she could to help him. It felt wonderful to have him becoming a part of her, but she was impatient to feel more.

Urging him to enter her fully, she rubbed her hips against his.

"I don't want to rush anything," he told her. "I'm trying to be easy."

"For heaven's sake, why?" She couldn't stop the words from coming. "I am not a virgin, you know."

He laughed, in spite of himself. "I was thinking more of not rushing because I want to remember this moment forever." His voice was gentle.

"Sorry," she grinned. "I don't know what came over me." And then she felt him completely fill her and the thought of him so full inside of her was indeed mind-blowing.

It was like a dance that you learned, but never quite forgot how to do. But as their bodies worked together in that glorious rhythm, she never remembered it being quite this good. Every nerve in her body was waiting to jump into the fire of release and when the flame surrounded her, her cry of pleasure could not be stopped. Arching up into him, she felt him join her in the flow of competition. Still inside of her, he clung to her and she to him.

"You are a part of me now," he said when he was able, and she nodded against his chest.

"And you, me." She kissed his chest, which made him groan. Tilting her head back to look up at him, her own eyes flushed with their passion, she caught the look in his eyes and it made her shudder. He still wanted her!

The sun was completely down now, but the heat was still oppressive. But when he pulled out from her warm folds, she shivered, never remembering feeling so cold.

"Daniel," she whimpered, and he took that as a ‘yes.’

"Come inside my love." He held out his hand and she slid hers in his larger one.

He pushed the covers on the bed before sitting her down on the edge and kneeling in front of her.

"Carolyn, I want you to know how much I do love you." He said as he kissed her slightly swollen lips. "And I have to say this because it's important to me. If I could marry you, I would."

"I know. And I would be honored to be your wife." She nodded. "I love you too."

She felt herself falling back on the bed as he pushed her gently. "There are so many ways I want to pleasure you," he said in a husky tone. "I hope that you will allow me to show you some of them."

"If you will allow me the same honor," she said, much to his surprise and then his joy.

‘This really was the age of the liberated woman,’ he thought. ‘And in some ways that might not be a bad thing.’

"So many ways," he said again as he leaned against the bed, his backside firmly on the floor, his head looking up upside down into her folds. He tasted her – so sweet and moist, and he knew he could never get enough. "Come down a bit," he urged her, making it easier to reach the spot he wanted. He could tell from the sound that escaped her that he had indeed struck gold and he kept at it for quite a while. Her legs moved around him, her buttocks moved off the bed, the sounds of her thrashing giving him pleasure in more than one way. When her orgasm hit, she kicked his chest, making him give out a slight ‘oomph’ that made her giggle.

"Get up here on the bed with me and face it like man," she tugged at his shoulders. "If you dare."

"I don't know," he grinned, getting up and coming after her. "Are you going to kick me again?"

"I'm really sorry about that."

"Like hell, you are." He trapped her body underneath his stronger one, pushing her down into the mattress until something snapped.

"What was that?" She made a face and he even looked a bit worried.

"I don't know," he answered, easing off of her but not completely.

"You think it will hold?" she asked, doubt crossing her beautiful face.

"Well, it is getting on in years," he shrugged. "I guess maybe we should be careful."

"Right," she nodded. "Very careful."

Easing their way up toward the headboard, he rolled off of her, the two of them laying side by side, their fingers touching. ele electric fan on the table kept making turns over them, Daniel watching the goose-bumps come up on her skin when the cool air hit.

"Daniel?" she rolled over, her breasts staring at him invitingly, the nipples just asking to be touched.

"Yes, Carolyn?" He loved the way her name sounded as it tripped over his tongue.

"Do you think that if we are very careful . . . ?" Her eyes shone in anticipation.

"Don't you ever get enough?" he asked her, praying she would say no. He could love her forever he knew, never growing tired of being with her.

"No," she said so truthfully, it made him realize perhaps he was closer to being human then he thought.

She went to him, their bodies fitting together as though they had always been doing so. His tongue left her mouth after several minutes, licking her skin, catching the driblets of sweat that lingered on her body. She wrapped her legs around him, feeling him so hard against her. A bolt of electricity seemed to go through her when he took her nipple in his mouth, rolling over the tight bud with his teeth.

When he entered her, she knew it was something much better than ordinary electric current. Once more she couldn't help but think how fully he filled her. Hips rubbing against hips; her hands pushing on his buttocks, his favoring her nipples. His thrusts made the bed shake, as did hers when she rose up to meet him. Sweat was pouring off of her body, the smell of salt mixing with the pure musk of sex.

Completing their cycle close to the same moment, the bed rattled as Carolyn arched up further into him.

"Oh God," he muttered as he felt his body releasing with hers. Not wanting the feeling to die too soon, they moved together in one swift motion, clinging to one another. And then the bed gave out a creak and a snap and they were still on the mattress but it waw onw on the floor.

"Are you all right?" he asked her, looking like he didn't q bel believe what had happened.

"I guess we weren't quite careful enough," she giggled, her hands wiping the tears of laughter off of her face. "Can we fix it?"

"In time," he smiled. "I hope. I've had this bed for quite a while, but didn't realize just how long."

She laughed until she couldn't laugh any more and he couldn't help but join in.

"Oh my love . . . " He looked at her, his blue eyes smoldering for her.

"What do we do now?" askeasked.

"I'm not sure," he admitted freely. "Surely it won't be too hard to put back together. I thought the workmanship better than that!"

"Like you said before, it's old and perhaps not used to such activity?" she raised her eyebrows in question.

"Perhaps not." He answered her solemnly, but with a hint of laughter.

"Let me help you up." He gave her his hand.

"No, let's just lie here." She shook her head. "Just let me feel you against me."

They cuddled together on the fallen mattress, his hand running through her damp hair.

"You know," he whispered, "In this hot weather I didn’t think this togetherness would be that comfortable for you."

"It's worth it," she assured him. "So worth it. And if you are going to be hot, well then you might as well have a very good reason to be."

********************

It was hard to keep their hands off of one another and after a while they stopped trying. They had spent the last two and half years getting to know one another emotionally and mentally and now were catching up on the physical aspect.

She sat straddling him, his knees coming up to hold her His His body was muscular as she knew it would be, peppered with tiny scars.

"Where did these come from?" she asked him, running her finger across a series of the markings that were past his stomach.

"Those were from an operation," he told her. "Appendix, I believe. All I really remember was the most obnoxious pain I had ever experienced, and it occurred in the middle of the Indian Ocean.\>
<>

"Did you have a doctor on board?" She looked worried; as though it had happened just yesterday and not 100 years ago.

"No, my love, we didn't. I was the only one with any kind of medical knowledge on board and it was very limited. If I am remembering correctly, the ship's cook did it while I tried to tell him what to do by looking in a book."

"Are you telling me the truth?" She looked down at him, doubt in her eyes.

"Why would I make such a story up?" He reached up a hand to touch her breasts.

"I'm not sure," she smiled, "but if you say so." His fingers reverently touched her, moving closer to the waiting nipple. When he made contact, she gasped and he smiled.

"I see I have found one of your pleasure spots. I'm very much looking forward to finding the others."

"Any time you want to start looking. I’d be happy to oblige." The feel of his hands coming up under her and cupping her buttocks was heavenly and she wondered if such things had always been this nice or was it just with him? Carolyn reached for his penis, loving the smoothness and warmth in her hands. She moved her legs further apart and placed him inside of her. Seeing what she wanted, he got off his back so that they were now chest to chest, rolling with one another in this upright position. It was hard work, but they were rewarded with one fit of pleasure after another.

He rolled her down the mattress – her head near the edge, and stretched out over her.

And then everything went da

The light over the fireplace went out, and the fan stopped turning and everything grew still. The only sounds were the ones of the night coming in the through the open door. The room was so dark, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

"What the devil happened?" Carolyn felt Daniel sit up.

"M we we blew a fuse?" She pulled herself up from her cross-legged position and walked over to the French Doors. "Oh Daniel . . . " she turned to face him, even though she couldn't see him. "The stars are even more beautiful."

She heard him get off of the mattress and materialize beside her. "It's much safer this way."

She heard him grin.

"You can't see in the dark, like a cat?" she laughed.

"What do you think I am, a blasted owl?" Taking hands, they walked outo tho the balcony, nothing but stars and darkness for miles around.

"I don't think it's a fuse." She shook her head. "On a night as clear as this, you can usually see the lights from the Schooner Bay ball field. There is nothing."

They stood against the railing, his arms holding her tight and looked at the show of heavenly bodies over their heads.

"Must be a blackout," she said, after a while. "All the electricity that has been used lately."

Scruffy let out a bark and it startled both of them.

"Poor fella!" Carolyn turned around, running into the Captain's firm chest. "I hope he's not scared."

Carefully she made her way back into the bedroom, feeling her way over to the dresser. After several attempts and hitting the wood, she found the package of undershirts and slipped another one over her head. Finding a pair of underwear, she put those on as well and slowly made her way for the doorway.

"What you need my dear, is a candle." Daniel said right before one appeared in her hands.

"Thank-you kind sir." She smiled into the darkness. "And what else I need is for you to come with me."

"At your service." She could see him bow in the filmy light of the candle.

They found Scruffy in the kitchen, nosing around the pantry and looking fine, but upon seeing them the dog started to whine.

"Faker." Carolyn addressed him affectionately. Putting the candle down on the stove she crouched down beside the little terrier and began to pet him. "And here we were feeling sorry for you!" she told him. His coat felt hot and she wondered again how it was making it in this heat with that fur coat.

"How do you open the can without the device?" The Captain asked her. "It's electric, is it not?"

"It is indeed and yes it won't work. But unless I've already used it, I should have a bag of dry food in the pantry for him." Once more she picked up the candle and began to rifle through the contents, finding what she was looking for. Carefully she filled his bowl and noticed he still had water. "There you go, boy." She scratched the dog's ears. "I hope the lights do come back on soon too."

"What do we do now?" The seaman asked her, sitting down on a kitchen chair.

"What do you have in mind?" she gave him a smile. Wiping her forehead, she sighed. "I hope it's something to help me forget how hot and dark it is."

"It does seem more oppressive in here without the lights, doesn't it?" he said. "The candle doesn't seem to be doing much good." She nodded bending to blow it out, it taking a few minutes to adjust to the darkness incasing them in its blackness.

"Now you can see how much good it was doing, " she said. " It's like a tomb in here." Even though she knew who's finger it was that reached out to touch her leg, she still screamed a little when she felt him brush her skin. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting that," she said quietly. "You could scare the life out of a person, doing that." They heard Scruffy walk out into the service porch and then heard the slap of the newly installed dog flap as he walked out into the yard.

"I just wanted to see if you were there," he said in a manner that let her know he was smiling widely.

"Where else would I be?" Her smile was just as wide. "Where exactly are you?"

"Come and find me," he challenged.

She found him by tripping over her own feet and falling into his lap. The scent of his skin was intoxicating, she thought, and she would never tire of touching him, whether in an intimate manner or not. She couldn't really see him, it was more like a vague outline of him, but it wasn't hard to guess where his mouth might be. Soon they were engaged in kisses that once more made her weak body weaker and were filled with promise that the love they had shared earlier would be nothing to what was to come.

His hand slipped between her knees, stroking the skin like was it was the finest silk. He maneuvered her around so that she was sitting on his lap, her feet resting on his thighs. While he went past the barrier of her cotton pants, she reached backwards to stroke him, gently at first but as she became more worked up, her hands worked faster. It was more then a little erotic she thought, sitting in the dark kitchen, each giving the other pleasure in this way. And if she had ever thought at any time in her life she would be doing this she would have vehemently denied it. Yet it seemed natural.

He climaxed before she did, the slickness of his male moisture filling her palm. The air seemed to be full of him, him as a fully sexual man, full of passion and desire and she knew she could get drunk off it. She turned off the part of her brain that told her it shouldn't be happening and reached her arms up around his neck to give him better leverage to work from.

"Come here, my lovely," he said in whispered tones. Slipping her off his lap, he once more pulled her underpants down, leaving them on the kitchen floor before picking her up, wrapping her legs around him.

Using the aged icebox as support for her back, he entered her with one mighty thrust that instantly found its mark, making her body melt with the impact of the orgasm. With every thrust, he prolonged the heat that was dripping down inside of her and she wondered briefly if indeed she was dreaming. Burying her head on his shoulder, she squeaked as he exploded inside of her and she knew that nothing that felt like this could be a dream.

When he finally released her, her body was dripping with sweat and her breathing heavy from their extrusions. As he held her, feeling her damp body against him, she suddenly understood that for the first time love and lust did indeed go together. They could walk hand in hand not taking from one another but complimenting.

"I wish we had a shower," she looked up at him, her eyes bright. "That way we could kill two birds with one stone," she wiped her forehead. "But hey," she smiled before he could say anything. "We do have a hose."

"A hose?" He followed her outside like a puppy, wondering what she was up to.

She walked over to the side of the house and turned on the spigot, letting the water run for a while. "It's hot too," she told him, "Everything is so darn hot around here. Of course that's not necessarily a bad thing." She scanned his body hungrily.

"So what do we do with the water?" He asked her, thinking of a couple of ideas himself.

"This," she blasted him with water, making him jump. He laughed and tried to get the device from her, but she was too quick. Making a lunge for the hose, he slipped on the wet grass and fell flat.

"Daniel?" She crouched down beside him. "Are you okay?"

He laid there quietly just long enough to scare her, before he reached up and grabbed her and the hose.

"No fair!" She squealed, enjoying the spray of water that was coming over her. They played in the spray of the water, enjoying the freedom of being with one another.

"You look good wet," she told him, her mouth watering at the sight of his gleaming body.

"It certainly does things for you too." He touched her breasts through the T-shirt that she could see even in the dark was extremely revealing. She let the hose drop, the water squirting up over them. His hands reached up under the wet cloth, grabbing her tight nipples, watching her body's reaction.

"Let's go down to the beach," she whispere"I'"I've always wanted to make love on the beach."

"Then your wish is my command," he picked her up and suddenly they were on the beach. The water felt actually cool to her feet and she sighed. They found a stretch of sand that was smooth and damp from the water and carefully he laid her down, but before laying down on top of her: "I think we might get a bit wet here," he told her, pulling the T-shirt off of her. "But I think it will help keep the sand out of some other places."

"Shut up and kiss me," she pulled the back of his head toward her. "Make love to me."

He wiped his mouth over her breasts, down her stomach and then rolling her over, placed his hands on her bottom and licked the inside. Her body was flaying – trying to hang onto something. She shrieked out her want and felt her body seem to soar through the clouds and hoped it would never hit earth. After a while, he rolled her on her back and they explored every nook and crevice they could find – Carolyn finding out that his belly button was more than a little sensitive.

The sun was rising over the ocean as their bodies joined together in the dance of the ages, the sounds of passion mixing with the wild cry of the seagulls. The water washed around them, feeding their passion.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear as he held her close. She was shivering with the impact of their lovemaking, noticing that he too was trembling.

"You love me?" Her eyes filled with tears, and she found she couldn't look at him.

"I love you more than I ever thought possible." His voice was low.

To his horror she started to cry.

"What's wrong my sweet Carolyn? Was I wrong to tell you how I feel? Maybe you don't feel the same?" Although he was sure she did, after today.

"You love me!" She almost shouted. "I've loved you for so long, but never thought you could return it."

"Look at me," he commanded.

"No." She kept staring at the sand.

"Look at me, woman!"

Doing as he said, she turned her eyes on him and saw the love he was talking about there in his eyes.

"Why would you think that?"

"I never thought of myself as lovable," she said without pride. "You've had so many women and lived such an amazing life and me, I'm just a woman who thinks she can write."

"Never, ever talk about yourself that way again. I will not allow it. You are the woman I love. And you must never forget that!"

They shared a kiss and then another, a glow of contentment settling over them.

"We better get back to the house," she said, and he agreed. "The sun is up now and we don't want to cause any scandals."

He materialized them by the back of the house and they both headed for the door. "We better do something about that bed," she called over her shoulder, happy to see from the clock in the kitchen that the electricity was back on.

"Right," he agreed, coming up behind her. "When does Martha get back?"

"I need to check her letter, but I think she will be here . . . Oh my God, the clothes!"

"What clothes? Oh the clothes . . ." He looked as rattled as she felt.

Sure enough, a quick survey of the outside showed the lawn was littered with their discarded clothing – including one of the lions that was now sporting her T-shirt.

"We would have had some explaining to do," she said, as they picked up the last of it.

"Indeed," he agreed. "But then, on the other hand, it might have given her something to wonder about."

Carolyn shook her head and walked ahead of him, toward the house. The sun was still beating down on the earth and already she could feel the heat boring into the back of her head. "Too Darn Hot," she said aloud. "But what a way to spend it!"