“How do I take a photo of you?”

Trey took the phone from her hand, then stood next to her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. A moment later, the photo came up on the display. Sophie laughed, delighted with the shot. It was so silly, but it reminded her of all the fun they’d had together.

“Now a serious one,” she said.

Trey wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they both smiled at the camera. As Sophie examined the third photograph, she stared at Trey’s face. He was a handsome man, a beautiful man.

“You’re very pretty,” she said.

He grabbed the phone from her and began to take pictures, one after another. Caught up in the fun, Sophie posed, throwing her arms out and giving Trey a series of sexy looks.

She gave him one last smile, then held a piece of papaya in front of his lips. “We should probably make a list of all the things we’ve consumed so that I can replace them when I come back for the plane.”

“Three bottles of wine, including a bottle of champagne,” Trey said.

“Funny, I don’t feel that hungover. And that’s the most I’ve had to drink in years.”

“You handled yourself well,” he teased. “Except for the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas.’ That was bad.”

She munched on a cashew. “I think I’ll bring back all sorts of good things. So the next people to stop here will have a gourmet feast.” She paused. “You’re going to have to get another charter service,” she said. “There’s an outfit called Tiare Air. They have the hangar next to ours. Gabe Aubert is a really good pilot and they have very nice planes. I’m sure I can arrange to have him take you up.”

“I’ll wait until you can take me up,” Trey said.

“I don’t know how long it will be before I can get the plane back in the air,” Sophie said.

“I’ll wait,” he repeated.

She didn’t want to lose the fee, but if he was willing to stay in Tahiti for a week, then she wasn’t going to fight with him. In truth, Sophie liked the idea that they’d have a little more time together.

They both nibbled on the fruit and cashews. Trey’s mood was a bit subdued but Sophie thought it might be due to a lack of sleep. Or perhaps he didn’t want to leave the island any more than she did.

They’d been together for less than twenty-four hours and already, they’d grown so comfortable with each other, sharing breakfast as if they’d done so for years. Sophie finished the last of the mango, then stood up. “I’m going to go get more,” she said. “Do you have the knife?”

“It’s on the counter,” he said. “There’s a couple more mangoes in there. And another papaya. Do you want me to help?”

She smiled and shook her head. “No. I’ll get it.” She picked up the banana leaf and walked to the front door, then turned and looked back at Trey. How would it be between them if they actually lived together? Would they wake up in each other’s arms every morning? Would they make breakfast together before going off to work? Would there come a time when they had children running around at their feet?

Sophie found the mangoes where he’d left them, along with the knife and a few more banana leaves. She sliced through the ripe fruit and arranged it on the shiny green leaf. But as she was cleaning up after herself, writing on the wall just above the counter caught her eye.

Unlike the rest of the inscriptions around the room, this one appeared unfaded and fresh, written with a thick black marker. “Here on this island,” she read, “Trey fell in love with Sophie. Christmas Eve, 2008. We will be back.”

Sophie glanced around, certain that she’d misread the writing. But it was her name and Trey’s there on the wall. Reaching out, she ran her sticky fingers over the inscription, aware that she was looking at Trey’s own handwriting for the first time.

They knew so little about each other. She wouldn’t have even recognized his writing had their names not been evident. And yet, he’d fallen in love with her. Sophie drew a shaky breath. Should she ask him about the inscription or should she pretend she never saw it? Had he meant for her to see it?

With shaky hands, Sophie picked up the fruit and carried it to the front door of the cottage. For now, she wouldn’t say anything. Maybe he would-

Trey’s shout startled her as she walked through the door. “Sophie!” He was standing near the lagoon, staring up at the sky.

“What? I’m here.”

“I think I hear a plane,” he said. He turned to face her, the flare gun clutched in his hand. “Do you hear that? Or am I imagining things?”

Sophie set the fruit down on the porch step and joined him near the lagoon. She closed her eyes and listened, then nodded. “I think so.”

“What should we do? Should I shoot a flare?”

“It’s too soon. If it is search and rescue, they’ll fly over and probably be able to see us from the air. At the least, they’ll see the plane.”

Sophie scanned the horizon. The sound was too far away to pinpoint the direction. But it was definitely a small plane. Was it part of a search-and-rescue team or just a passing pilot on his way to another island?

A few minutes later, the plane was visible to the south of the atoll. Trey reached out and took her hand, as they waited silently. Gradually, the plane began to descend and Trey held up a hand and waved.

The pilot circled once, then came down low. “That’s Franc Aubert,” Sophie said, waving. “He owns Tiare Air.” Sophie took the flare gun and aimed it over the lagoon, then pulled the trigger. “There. Now he’ll know we need help.”

“Is he going to land?” Trey asked.

Sophie shook her head. “No. He doesn’t have floats on that plane. He’ll radio back and they’ll send someone with a float or amphibious plane, one that can land in the lagoon. His son, Gabe, flies an amphibious plane like ours.” She turned to him and smiled. “I guess we’re going to be rescued.”

“I guess so.”

They both turned and started for the cottage, their fingers linked, their arms swinging between them. Suddenly, Trey pulled her to a stop. “I don’t want to be rescued,” he said.

Sophie laughed. “Neither do I.”

He yanked her into his arms and brought his mouth down on hers, his kiss fierce and possessive. It was clear to Sophie what he wanted beyond no rescue. Stumbling toward the cottage, they tore at each other’s clothes, the same way they had that very first time.

“How much time?” he whispered, untying her pareu.

“Maybe minutes,” she replied, breathless with anticipation. “Maybe an hour.” Sophie pushed his hands away and she unknotted the filmy fabric and tossed it aside. Then she tugged his shirt over his head and dropped it at their feet.

“I don’t have another condom,” he whispered as he watched her unzip his shorts.

“I don’t care.” Sophie knew her body well enough to know that there wasn’t much chance it would matter. “I’m safe. Are you?”

“Yes,” he said. “Always.”

She skimmed his shorts and his boxers down over his hips and calves, then pushed him gently back to sit on the step. After she’d stripped off her T-shirt, Sophie straddled his legs and sat down on his lap.

Trey groaned as he glanced down. With a sly smile, Sophie wrapped her fingers around his shaft and began to stroke him. “You could ask me for anything right now and I’d give it to you,” he said.

“All I want is you,” Sophie replied. “Nothing else.”

He leaned back and braced himself on the step behind him, watching her every move. And when he was hard and ready, Sophie lowered herself onto him, burying his shaft to the hilt.

The sensation was so exquisite that for a long time, she was afraid to move. She closed her eyes and arched back, burying him even deeper. And then, unable to stop herself, she pushed up until he was outside of her again.

It was a tantalizing game and she was in complete control of his desire. When she felt him nearing the edge, she slowed her pace and when he’d regained his control, she quickened it. But all the while, she knew she was drawing him closer and closer to an explosive orgasm. If this was the last time they made love, Sophie wanted it to be the one he remembered for the rest of his life.

She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. Or where they would be in a few days’ time. But this was the way she wanted to spend their last hour together…swept into a vortex of pleasure.

BY THE TIME THEY WERE completely sated, Trey and Sophie were both drenched with perspiration. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along to the water tanks behind the cottage, then showed him the shower.

The water was a bit cooler than that in the lagoon and it was fresh. He turned his back to Sophie and she smoothed her hands across his shoulders, gently massaging. He loved the feel of her touch and the sensations she caused. He tipped his head back, letting the warm water rush over him.

Sophie circled around him and began to wash his chest. Trey rested his hands on her shoulders. Her skin was warm and smooth beneath his touch, her limbs lean and supple, yet soft and feminine. She hadn’t been toned by a trainer, but kept beautiful by living a healthy life in lush surroundings.

His gaze fixed on her fingers as they skimmed over his chest. Her nails were clipped short and were unpainted. Sophie was beyond the rules of feminine primping, but he’d come to admire that about her. She wore no makeup, yet she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever set eyes upon. She hadn’t been spoiled by the modern world. Sophie was completely unaware of her own beauty.

His gaze slowly drifted down to her breasts and Trey watched, fascinated, as the water sluiced between them. Natural, that’s what she was. Perfect and natural, the way God had intended a woman to be.

He grinned as her hands drifted lower, lingering just below his waist. “We don’t have time for that,” he warned, grabbing her hands and bringing them back to his lips. Trey kissed her fingers.