Island Heat

Ahead of me, the bushes parted and a large, plate-headed dinosaur crossed the path just ahead, oversized rounded head swaying as he looked for me.

I froze in terror.

An arm snaked around my shoulders, hand over my mouth. A hot, hard body pressed up against mine, and I heard a voice whisper in my ear. “Silencio.”

I remained in place, the stranger holding me against him, pinned into stillness. As we stood there motionless, I noticed a few things about the person behind me – though I didn’t dare turn. His body radiated warm heat, and judging from the thick arm that was tossed over my shoulders, he was taller than me. I caught the faint smell of coconut and male sweat and outdoors, an oddly enticing mixture.

This wasn’t Mr. Wingarde or the stewardess…who was this man and how was he here?

The man remained stock still, and I followed suit, not wanting to be the one to break and cause the dinosaur to turn. My mind was a crazy jumble as we waited for the dinosaur to pass. Who was it behind me?

The dinosaur sniffed the air, then eventually wandered away a few minutes later. My breath expelled in a whoosh that made me dizzy; I hadn’t realized I was holding it. “Oh, my god,” I whispered. “That was close.”

The man behind me grunted in response.

I turned to face my savior and gasped in surprise. It was the beautiful man from my wild fever dreams. Perhaps I hadn’t dreamed him after all. I should have guessed as the dreams were so vivid. Tousled hair swept around his cheekbones, ragged and loose. His face was darkly tanned, and his entire body was the same dark buttery shade of gold, rippling with muscles. Impossibly green eyes stared down at me under a chiseled brow. He was a golden Tarzan, dressed only in a loincloth. He was gorgeous.

He was frowning at me.