“I know men who think they are geniuses.” He scratched his right eyebrow. “I know men that will do anything for money. I know men who figure out on their deathbed that their love of money got them nowhere.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“No one in particular.” He shook his head.

“What’s your father like?” I changed the subject, hoping I could find out more about this man I was starting to fall for. At first, it had been all about the physical attraction, but now, as each day passed, I realized that I liked who he was as a person. He was genuinely caring, and I believed he had my best interests at heart. It was just so hard, because he was so reserved and closed off. I still didn’t really know anything truly personal about Jakob. He was still essentially a stranger. A stranger I wanted to get to know better.

“He’s dead.” His voice was curt.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be; I didn’t know him very well, and we weren’t close.”

“Did you never meet him, then?”

“No, I knew him all my life.” He gave me a twisted smile and lay back on the sand. “I’ve been thinking.”

“About what?”

“Everything.” He looked up at me, but he didn’t smile. “I wonder what’s going on in the real world.”

“We are in the real world.” I laughed. “Unless you think we’re in some sort of twilight zone or time warp or something.”

“I don’t.” He groaned and rested his face on his hand. “So who in the real world is worried about you right now?”

“Rosie must be freaking out.” I lay down next to him. “I bet she’s gone to the news media and everything. What about you?”

“I can’t say that anyone will be worried about me.” He shrugged and moved a few strands of hair from my eyes.

“That’s sad.” I reached out and removed a small leaf from the side of his ear. “You know what you never told me?”

“What’s that?” he asked curiously, and ran his fingers down my cheek.

“You never told me where you were the night we got kidnapped.” I was testing him. I still remembered what he’d said when I’d asked him before, and I wanted to see if his answer was going to remain the same.

“I was leaving work,” he said smoothly as his fingers ran along my lips.

“You must have been deep in thought to not have noticed two men following you.”

“Yeah, I guess I was.”

“Had you had any alcohol earlier that day?” I whispered as his fingers moved to my neck and then to the valley between my breasts.

“No.” He shook his head. “I wasn’t drugged, at least not via alcohol.”

“How did they get you . . .” My voice trailed off as his fingertips ran along the curve of my breasts. “What are you doing?”

“Touching you.” He leaned in closer to me. “You can touch me too.”

“I don’t want to,” I mumbled as my fingers flew to his chest.

“Liar,” he whispered.

“I’m not lying.” My eyes widened as his fingers worked their way to the back of my bra. “I thought we were going to look for Steve this morning.”

“He can wait.” He grinned and bit down on my shoulder. “Can I?” His eyes fell to my breasts as his fingers paused on my bra clasp, and then he looked back up at me. I nodded, and he grinned as he undid my bra. “Do you want to have a bath?” He pulled away from me and smiled at me. I was grateful that he wasn’t staring at my breasts or attempting to get into my panties. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to tell him no if he did. I could still remember the pleasure he had brought me the night before, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stop him from going all the way again.

“I’d die for a warm luxurious bubble bath right now, with some Epsom salts.” I rested my head on the sand and sighed. “And then I’d like a nice massage. Someone with nice firm hands.”

“I can’t guarantee any bubbles, and I can’t guarantee that the water will be warm, but I’m willing to give you a massage.”

“What?” I sat back up and felt my breasts falling forward.

“What?” he repeated as his hands fell to my breasts and played with my nipples.

“Jakob, you were telling me you were going to give me a massage!” I closed my eyes and withheld a moan as his fingers played with my breasts.

“I am.” His deep voice sounded hoarse, and I knew he was feeling horny without looking down to his briefs.

“I’d like my back massaged, not my breasts,” I whispered before moaning loudly. His lips were sucking on my right nipple, and his teeth were nibbling on it as if it were a carrot and he was a hungry rabbit.

“You taste so sweet.” He groaned as he pushed me back to the ground and fondled my other breast with his fingers. “I almost forgot.”

“Don’t you mean salty?” I replied breathlessly.

“I mean divine. Your breasts almost make me forget my hunger.”

“Jakob.” I pushed him back slightly. “Why don’t you seem concerned about finding Steve?”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s been gone for over a day and yet, we haven’t even gone to look for him.” I nibbled on my lips. “Did you hurt him? You can tell me. I just need to know.”