Forever and a Day (56 page)

Maybe he really wanted to be a successful actor. He downplayed his abilities repeatedly to her. Given the right roles, she thought he could make a huge name for himself. Two actors in one family? She laughed aloud, if Brad and Angelina could do it, why not her and him? Hell, if it bothered him she would even consider retiring if it made him happy. A gold statue did not seem so important anymore compared to her Mystery man. Though he was not so much a Mystery anymore, she knew he was a good man, animals liked him, he was a loving father and dedicated, even to a not deserving wife… ‘so unfair’ she whispered.

Halo caught sight of him paddling down from the north and wondered why he was coming from way up there. She stood up slowly, waved to him and saw him wave his paddle at her. She watched, as his paddling looked a bit labored as he beached the outrigger.

She walked down to him as he struggled to bring the outrigger to the beach, “Xander, are you ok?” She asked concerned.

He nodded to her as he tied up the boat, “Yeah, just tired. How are you doing? Oh! You look really nice… uh not that you don’t normally.” He gestured to her pink sundress.

Halo laughed, “I get it, thank you. Here let me help.” Pointing to his bag.

He looked at her speculatively and she abruptly reached out and grabbed it from his tired hands then quickly slipped its strap over her shoulder with a smile.

Xander reached in and pulled out a pineapple and a papaya then handed her a large beautiful purple flower, “I went up and got some more fruit.”

“Thank you!” She accepted her flower with a smile and placed it in her hair, “I wondered why you came from up there.” She stared at him for a moment, “Xander you really do look tired, what happened?”

He wanted to tell her how heavy his work was today but he did not want to ruin her surprise, “Just need a break I guess. I’m ok, just a bit tired.”

She noticed that his t-shirt had been sweat soaked and looked ratty. She turned him around and saw that his back was still wet, and he definitely smelled of hard work and smoke, “Ok, Mister, let’s get you home and cleaned up. I bet you are dehydrated too.” Before he could answer, she looped her arm under his and tugged at him to move. Without any resistance, she led him back to the camp. Once there she ordered him to sit down and handed him a bottle of water.

Going to the food bag she dug around and pulled out a food ration bar and brought it back, “Here, it’s chocolate flavored. I think you need to be eating more.”

“Thanks, Halo. Yeah, you are right.” He unwrapped the candy like bar and began in on it.

“So earlier I asked for a hint… do I have to dig out my kryptonite again?” She laughed as he stopped chewing and stared at her.

He swallowed his mouthful hard and winced, “Uh, a hint? Ok, it’s for you.”

She feigned a shock look at him, “That’s it?”

He nodded to her, “Yep, that’s your hint.”

“Fine, you know about payback, right?” She giggled.

“Oh, yes… uh why?” He asked nervously.

“Oh, you’ll see.” With that, she got up, grabbed the two empty pitchers and proceeded to walk down to the surf. Coming back the container was full, she set it next to the smoldering fire and placed more wood on the coals and began fanning it with her hand.

“What are you doing?” Xander asked.

“You’ll see.”

The fire caught and she got up and went to her bag in the tent. She came back and sat next to him. “Mind if I trim you up?” She pulled out her scissors then opened and closed them at him.

“Uh, really?” He asked.

“Of course, if you don’t mind?”

He shrugged and she soon began trimming up his hair, then she turned to his beard and got his dark beard trimmed up tight, “Woo! Handsome.” She patted his cheek and stood up. “Take off that stinky shirt and those dirty shorts… you do have undies on?”

“Uh yeah?”

“Good.” She went over to the tent and returned with the large sponge from the life raft and her bottle of shampoo. “C’mon, strip already.” She ordered and watched him slowly slip out of his clothes, “Jeez, I see you half naked every night…” She chided.

She tested the water and with a hand towel, she picked up the pitcher of warm water and had him lean over. Walking behind him, she stopped in her tracks as she saw red welts across his shoulders, “Xander! My God what happened to your shoulders?”

“Oh… I, uh… I, uh can’t tell you. I’m fine, really… it’s nothing.”

She ran her finger gently along the welts and winced for him. She looked into his face and shook her head, sighed then poured some of the water over his hair. Using her shampoo she lathered him up and began massaging her fingers in his scalp. She smiled as he groaned with pleasure. When the shampoo began to dry, she rinsed it away with a bottle of rainwater. Using the hand towel, she took her time drying his hair.

“Now for the rest of you.”

“What?” Xander replied and tried to get up but she was ready for him and eased him back down.

“I said payback. You cleaned me up, now it’s your turn.”

“But…”

Halo cut him off, “No buts.” She grabbed the pitcher and poured it over his shoulders…

Xander felt her soft hands rubbing the soap over him and did his best to maintain his composure. He tried to tell her even Evie did not do this and to stop, but he could not or he did not want her to stop. Part of himself kept sounding a warning. He felt her stand him up and he became embarrassed as she bent over to rinse his legs.

“Halo! Stop! I feel weird you doing this!” He exclaimed. He saw her look up at him and shake her head.

“Why? What if you were sick?”

“But I’m not! Just tired.” He tried to reason.

“Oh, so you can do this for me, but I can’t for you? Why?” She kept on rinsing his legs and applied the soap and rubbed her hands up and down his muscular legs.

“Ah hell…”

She interrupted him, “Because I’m Halo Raines, right?” She got a nod from him and moved to his other leg. She was not going to stop as her head was close to his privates and she knew the real reason why he did not want her doing this. She used the rest of the warmed water up rinsing him, dried his legs then stood up.

“See, not so bad!” She laughed.

“Halo…”

“Xander…” She mimicked him. “What?”

“Thank you.” He mumbled red faced to her.

“Oh, we aren’t done yet. Get your sexy ass in the tent.” She saw a look of shock appear on his face and he took a small step back. “Oh hell, I’m just going to give you a quick massage! Hell, I bet in two minutes you will be out in la la land, asleep!” She laughed and reached out for his hand. He did not budge and she rolled her hand at him to give her his.

He slowly reached out and she grabbed it, “Halo…”

“Holy hell, Xander you worry too much. Unless?” She raised her eyebrow at him and watched as his mouth fell open, “I know! You’re married.” She smiled and pulled him reluctantly to the tent.

Once inside the tent she pushed him down and grabbing her hand lotion, she sat down on his bum and quickly started in on his back.

“Halo, this is… oh!” He was interrupted as she began using her weight to press her hands into his tight muscles.

“Feels good?” She whispered.

“Uh… yes.” He replied muffled by the blanket.

“So be quiet and enjoy it, it’s the very least I can do for you… oh and I’ll keep the waistband as off limits.” She giggled.

Xander rolled his eyes then took her advice and stayed quiet as his belly erupted with warmth at the realization of the proximity of her very warm sexy parts. He knew there was no way he could turn over now. He lasted several minutes in massage ecstasy, his last thought before sleep found him was: he’ll show her payback…

Halo once again heard and felt his heavy breathing, her hands hurt so she switched to tracing her fingers through the valleys and hills of his well-defined and thick muscles of his shoulders and back.

She thought back to her last boyfriend, he was pretty for sure. He was fairly skinny so his physique showed readily, but there wasn’t nearly a fraction of muscle that Xander had. With a start, she realized she liked muscles. Was it because he was a little older? Nah, he was only a few years older than herself she guessed. She enjoyed sitting on his sexy firm bum. She so wanted to explore further but instead she laid down next to him and watched his face as he slept. His lips were relaxed and looked so soft, since she trimmed up his beard she giggled when she realized he could have easily played a role in 300. She giggled at the realization she had her own Greek Spartan here with her.

With a smile, she eased herself up, covered him part way up with the blanket and crept out of the tent. She went back behind the log and found Billy Jean. She had cleared a good area around her and she got a bleat as she came up and pet her bony head. Untying her she picked up her milk jug water dish and led her off to a new area to graze on. With a few more minutes of petting her, she slowly walked back to the tent, happily gazing up at the green of the palm trees backed by the deep blue sky.

She checked on Xander and found him in the same spot. Not knowing what to do, she decided to lay down next to him again. She reached around him and snuggled in with her leg going over his as usual. After twenty or so minutes she could not help herself, she reached up and caressed his face with her fingers, his eyes slowly opened and he smiled at her.

“Hello Mr. Leonidas! Have a good sleep?”

He smiled bigger at her, “Who is this Leonidas?”

She pointed at him, “You sir. Silly, you know, ‘This is Sparta!’ Butler, 300? Persians?”

Xander began chuckling, “Oh, so you think I spray paint my abs on?” He mocked with disbelief and winked.

“Hey! Now that you mention it, I don’t know! Lemme see!” She pulled his blanket away and tried to turn him over.

He screwed up his face comically at her, “No! You’ll say I’m fat!” He laughed and playfully pushed her hands away.

She kept at him laughing, “C’mon! Lemme see!” Then she remembered. Instead of pushing, she began tickling at his ribs and sure enough, he spun away laughing.

“OH! Ticklish!” She leapt on his belly and scooted down tickling him as he began howling with laughter, too weak to push her hands away. She laughed along with him until he had trouble breathing and she slowly stopped and rested her hands on his taut abs.

He caught his breath and flexed his abs at her, “Happy now?” He grunted.

“Woo! So sexy… I think it just got hotter in here!” She replied with a soft sexy voice.

“Thank you, years of hard work.”

“I can tell…” She stopped his hand as he reached for the blanket.

“What?” He asked nervously. He saw her look down at his belly and he realized with a start she was sitting on him. He could feel her heat on him once again which began turning him on.

“I wanna see!” She whispered and scooted back. She felt the heat from his manhood right close to her bum.

“Halo?” He whispered even more nervously than ever. He saw her face relax and a glow overcame her. He watched her eyes as she focused on his belly, the normal blue of her eyes deepened nearly to an electric blue. When she looked up at him, the color of her eyes were the most beautiful color of blue he had ever seen. He knew by the fire coming off her she was very turned on. All he wanted to do was kiss her, right now, right here and damn everything to hell. With everything he had in him, he held back as she stared deeply into his soul with those gorgeous electric blue eyes.