by Lola Gabriel
Kristy could see that reasoning with the woman was going to be more difficult than she had hoped.
“What’s going on?” one of the men from the group asked, and Kristy steered her kayak around to address him and the rest of her kayakers.
“Just head back toward the beach. Carter should be there waiting with your drinks,” she told them.
“No!” Inga shrieked again. “We must go—”
“Inga!” Kristy interrupted sharply. “Even if it was possible to go tonight, which it isn’t, we are not bringing the entire group back with us!”
The words seemed to have some effect on the woman, though it wasn’t a good one: she narrowed her eyes at Kristy and declared, “If you will not take me, Sven and I will go alone!”
Ugh! Kristy groaned to herself. We were so close to the beach! In ten minutes, I would have been on the phone texting Keegan and starting my two days off! Instead, I have to deal with Viking Ken and Norwegian Barbie and her stupid lost ring.
“Go back to the beach,” Kristy said through clenched teeth. “I will go back to where we were and look for your ring.”
“But we must come!” Inga insisted.
“Inga,” Kristy began as patiently as she possibly could, “if you do not go back to the beach, you and Sven will go at your own risk. I will not come with you tonight, and if anything were to happen to you, or if you were to encounter sharks or a crocodile…”
Kristy let her sentence trail off, watching as the newlyweds’ eyes grew into saucers. They seemed to quietly consider her words.
“You will go tonight?” Sven asked finally, and Kristy nodded begrudgingly.
“But only if you go back to the beach and stay there,” she said. “I will try to find your ring and bring it back to you.”
Inga studied her face for a moment. She was apparently convinced by Kristy’s expression, and she nodded slowly.
“You will come find us?” she asked, and Kristy tried not to roll her eyes.
“I’ll do my best,” she replied cordially. “Now go meet up with the others. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
They turned to follow her instructions, which made Kristy exhale in both relief and annoyance. She wished she was authorized to drive one of the speedboats, but she was not insured.
I could always get someone to take me, she reasoned, but then she also dismissed that idea. She didn’t want to spend time listening to the inn workers complaining about the guests—not when she was so close to being off for a couple days. I’ll just go and be back as fast as possible.
She debated telling her co-workers, but she didn’t want to risk being talked into taking a boat with one of them. Anyway, she was sure Inga and Sven would relay the message.
They’ll probably drive everyone crazy tonight telling the tale of the missing ring, Kristy thought wryly. I better find that ring fast and get back before the Swedes scare off all the business.
She hoped she still had time to salvage her evening, too.
It took an hour and a half to get back to the sandbar, and dusk was settling as Kristy guided the kayak toward the shore, her eyes scanning the rocks where the couple had been sitting.
The inn staff had already cleaned up the remnants of the buffet, taking the speedboat back to the main island. No one was left in sight as she climbed out to look around the isolated spot.
Please don’t tell me I just set my day back four hours for nothing, Kristy thought, peering about with the hopes of finding something resembling a shiny diamond on the sand, but she could see nothing.
She glanced at the horizon, realizing that it was getting dark faster than she had thought it would. Unfortunately, she did not have a flashlight with her to face the lack of sunlight quickly approaching.
This was a stupid idea, Kristy thought, helplessly looking around. Why did I agree to this?
A horrifying thought occurred to her: had the Swedes gone snorkeling before taking her tour?
The damned ring could be at the bottom of the Atlantic right now!
Kristy didn’t have time to entertain what could have happened to the ostentatious piece of jewellery—not when night was closing in around her and she still had a two-hour trip back to do without proper supplies.
Inga is just going to have to wait until morning, she decided, hurrying back to the kayak. She could only envision the histrionics Inga might indulge in when she returned to the inn. As she paddled away from the sandbar and moved back toward Key West, she frowned to herself. She couldn’t believe her perfect tour record had been sullied by this.
Kristy just hoped the couple would not file a formal complaint.
It’s not my fault she was so careless and brought a larger-than-life ring with her into the middle of the ocean, Kristy thought indignantly. If she complains, I will fight it.
Still, her mood was soured by the experience, and she scowled as she made her way back toward the inn, carefully planning the words she would say to the Swedes.
I will tell them I tried my best, but the ring was not there. We will arrange to go back another time…
Kristy’s scowl deepened as she realized that she would likely be called back in on her days off to search.
So much for seeing Keegan, she sighed to herself. That was what bothered her the most about the entire affair.
She did not notice the rain drops until the first rumble of thunder caught her attention. Suddenly, she noticed how choppy the ocean had become seemingly in an instant.
Her dark eyes widened, and she gazed up at the moody clouds towering above her head, water splashing into her eyes.
Oh, this is not good, Kristy decided. She still had a long way to go before home, and the ocean seemed to be swelling more with each dip of the kayak oar. She needed to find safety and wait out the rain.
Kristy tried to orient herself. This was a path she had taken a hundred times, and she willed herself to be calm as she gauged the distance between her current location and the nearest point of safety.
It’s not far. I just need to stay to the north, and I will be there in a few minutes, she determined, paddling with more determination. Thankfully, her phone was in the pack she carried around her waist.
I’ll get to land and call for help. My GPS will allow rescue to find me.
Kristy felt slightly ridiculous about being alarmed at the situation, but she could not help it. Never had she been trapped on the ocean in a storm, and while she had training in dealing with emergencies, she had never had the chance—or, rather, the obligation—to exercise that training.
There’s a first time for everything, she thought grimly.
Just a couple of yards beyond her, Kristy saw a small mass of land although the lights of the small key were still distant. Even if she docked, she would have quite a trek to go before finding any help.
Her immediate concern was landing safely, though, so when the kayak finally met the sandy shore, she exhaled in relief, despite the sudden bolt of lightning crashing against the sky above like a terrible omen.
The rain drops were almost painful upon her as Kristy pulled the boat up the soggy beach, and a rush of wind threatened to topple her as she ran up the coast, her eyes seeking shelter. She did not want to risk running through the brush, not when the storm only seemed to be worsening.
Kristy ran, her waterproof sport shoes sinking into the sand. She tried to focus on the path before her, but it was becoming difficult to see.
I’ve been here before, she reminded herself. There are low caves on the shoreline, just around the bend. You can find shelter there and call for help on your cell. No problem.
As she rounded the turn, Kristy saw that her assessment was right, and the caves were just ahead. She had ducked inside within seconds, away from the unexpected and driving rain. She sank down on the ground, trying to still her heartbeat.
“You’re okay,” she told herself aloud, laughing nervously. “That wasn’t even a close call.”
The sound of her own voice seemed to pl
acate her somewhat, and soon her nerves were steadied enough for her to reach into her hip sack.
Even if they can’t come right away, I am in no danger, Kristy reassured herself, looking at the screen of her phone. Her brow furrowed as she realized the device was off, and when she attempted to power it on, she had no luck.
She wasn’t sure if it was out of battery or just soaked from the storm—in either case, she had no way of calling anyone.
Kristy groaned. There was nothing to do except wait.
At least I’m out of the storm, she reasoned. When the rain lets up a bit, I’ll head inland and get help, or I’ll paddle back to Key West. I’m fine here for now.
No sooner did the thought enter her mind than Kristy feel a shiver of apprehension slither through her, and her head jerked up toward the entrance of the formation, as if she expected someone, or something, to be there.
She saw nothing except the blackness of the night colliding with the unsettled waves against the storm, but Kristy could not shake off the feeling that she was being watched.
Probably by bats, she thought, falling back against the stony wall. That thought did not make her feel any better.
The cold was beginning to affect her, and Kristy was not sure what was worse: the cold or the hunger. Her bikini did absolutely nothing to comfort her against the former.
The wind howled eerily, each breeze sending shivers down her chilled skin.
She dug an energy bar out of her fanny pack and bit into it, pretending not to notice the concern growing in her gut.
Kristy couldn’t determine how long she had been huddled in the cave, but the ocean continued to crash outside the entrance, and the gale showed no signs of decreasing as the time passed.
Maybe I should risk it and make my way further inland, she thought, gobbling the little bit of sustenance in her hand. She knew it was a bad idea to move, but the longer she remained stagnant, the more her mind began to whirl with potential dangers.
Which was more perilous: staying put or venturing out? Even if she ventured out, how long would it take her to find help? A couple minutes? An hour? Even more than that?
Kristy steadied her breath and tucked the wrapper inside her waist sack. She couldn’t sit still anymore.
I need to get moving, she decided, heading toward the mouth of the cave.
She had just taken a step forward when she fell back, a gasp making its way out of her mouth.
A pair of glowing blue eyes appeared in the entranceway, and a low, feral noise accompanied the unexpected arrival.
Kristy stepped back, her brown eyes wide with terror.
The wet body of a wolf emerged against the opening, and Kristy shook her head.
No! she firmly told herself. This is not real. You are hallucinating. No wolves live in this area.
No matter how she tried to reason with herself, though, she could not make sense of the approaching beast.
Her mind traveled back to the day in MJ’s room, the afternoon she had left for Florida—it traveled back to the words she had heard Sylvie say, the words she had originally thought were ridiculous garbage.
Is this some kind of otherworldly creature?
The wolf kept approaching her, and so Kristy continued stepping back until she was forced to press herself against the cave wall. The animal’s black head was at the level of her stomach.
“What do you want?” she whispered, staring into his eyes as if expecting the animal to respond.
The wolf lowered his majestic head, and suddenly Kristy realized that he was not a threat to her. She extended her hand, allowing him to sniff at her palms, which he then roughly licked.
Inexplicably, a jolt of excitement surged through Kristy’s body, and she stared speculatively at the animal. He peered back up at her, his gleaming eyes the only beacon of light she could see, and she was not afraid of him anymore.
She lowered herself to be at eye-level with him, and the wolf lapped at her face.
Kristy closed her eyes, allowing herself to relish the feeling of strange familiarity that the motion caused for her. The wolf’s hot breath was on her cold skin, and she barely noticed that his wet snout became a warm nose, nuzzling into her neck.
The long, coarse tongue became a set of full lips, and Kristy’s eyes flew open, watching as the naked form of a man knocked her onto her back.
She gaped at him in awe, her hands reaching to clasp his face, which made its way toward her clinging shirt.
“Who are you?” she breathed.
Slowly, the mysterious stranger raised his head, and shock overcame Kristy at the sight of the man she had been looking forward to spending her two days off with.
“Keegan!” she gasped. “What—how—?”
Keegan silenced her questions with a hot, passionate kiss to her mouth, and relief exploded throughout her body as she pulled him to her, feeling safe for the first time since the storm had begun.
Kristy asked nothing else, savoring the comfort Keegan gave her, his mouth trailing over her frame.
As his lips moved lower, she pulled her shirt over her head, moaning when Keegan’s mouth trailed over her rigid nipples, pushing her bikini top aside. He gently gnashed at her, and Kristy felt a rush of heat between her thighs. He peeled her bottoms off, casting them aside as he turned her onto her side, her back to his chest.
Kristy melted against his muscular frame, mewling softly as his fingers found the cleft between her legs. She arched her back against his hardness, wiggling her cheeks as Keegan manipulated the throbbing button between her legs with one hand, the other caressing her right breast.
Keegan’s breathing was heavy in her ear, and Kristy grew wetter with every stroke of his hand.
“Take me,” she begged. “Keegan, please, take me…”
Keegan chuckled, and the sound alone was enough to bring Kristy to the brink as she pushed harder against his member, willing him inside her.
Slowly, he guided himself into her slit, rubbing his hard shaft against her damp core before abruptly thrusting himself inside her.
Kristy yelped, goosebumps overtaking her skin, but the noise was hidden under the cover of thunder.
Keegan’s fingers pinched playfully at her nipple, and Kristy moaned again, knowing that she would climax in mere seconds.
They fell into a rhythmic dance, using the storm as their beat, Keegan’s movements long and deep inside her core. His mouth suctioned against her neck, and Kristy felt a slight nip as she released against him, crying out in pleasure.
“Good girl,” Keegan whispered, tightening his grip against her body, reaching up to lace her arm around his head.
Kristy trembled as the pleasurable sensations still pulsated from her center. She noticed Keegan’s movements became harder, more defined, and she felt her release build up again. She was so wound up that it only took a few thrusts from Keegan’s hard shaft inside her to make her cry out as she approached her climax at the same time as him.
Keegan groaned, his hold becoming vice-like, and Kristy felt herself filling with his scalding seed as she released once more, his own body shaking in sync to hers.
Kristy tried to melt herself closer to him, but she was sure she had never been closer to anyone than she was to him in that moment.
They silently gathered themselves, their quivering subsiding, and Keegan carefully slid out from her. Kristy fell onto her back and stared up at him in wonderment.
“What are you doing here?” she breathed. “And… what…?”
She didn’t know how to finish her thought, but she could tell by the expression in Keegan’s blue eyes that she did not have to elaborate.
“I should ask you the same thing,” he answered dryly. “What in God’s name are you doing out here? Why didn’t you tell anyone where you were going?”
“The Swedes knew where I was going,” Kristy replied defensively. “And the weather reports didn’t call for heavy rain tonight.”
“And thank God that the Swedes knew,” Keega
n told her sternly. “You should have known better than to come out here alone, anyway. It’s the first rule of kayaking.”
Kristy couldn’t help but laugh. “Everything you know about kayaking, you learned from me,” she reminded him, running her hands across his naked chest. She bit on her lower lip and stared up at him. “But how did you know to come looking?” she insisted. “You’re not an employee.”
I’m not sure what you are anymore, she thought to herself. She wasn’t worried—just curious and intrigued to learn about Keegan. She wondered if Jeremy knew his secret, and if there were really others like him, like Sylvie had said.
Keegan shifted his eyes away, and Kristy could see a glimmer of embarrassment in his eyes.
“I know you don’t see us as anything more than a casual thing,” he said gruffly. “But when you’re away at school, I miss you. There is no one else when you’re away, and I feel protective of you when you’re here.”
Kristy sat up and studied his face, her heart hammering in her chest. “You mean… you follow me?” she gasped. She waited for a spark of anger to follow, but to her surprise, she found herself flattered to realize it was true.
“I have always looked out for you,” Keegan replied. “Ever since you were a child. But you blossomed into this incredibly intelligent, beautiful woman, and I could not stop keeping an eye on you. I’m sorry, is that… is that weird for you?”
It was not. In fact, it was the most comforting thing Kristy had ever heard in her life.
She reached up to touch his humiliated face, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.
“It’s not weird for me,” she quietly answered. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I will always be here for you,” Keegan said. “Like I’ve always been.”
They stared at each other, unspeaking.
After a moment, Keegan cleared his throat. “About the other thing,” he began, but Kristy shook her head.
“It’s unimportant right now,” she murmured, laying her head against his chest. She was beginning to feel hypnotized in the wake of their lovemaking and the crashing waves of the shore. His heartbeat was strong and quick, adding to her sense of tranquility.