"Are you okay?" he whispered.
She nodded. "Better than okay." He felt her ribs expand as she inhaled a deep breath of the fresh ocean air.
Kaitlyn's hand grazed Carter's arm and for a moment, he forgot about everything else; his fears, his worries, his past. He just wanted to stay in this moment forever with her by his side.
"I say we turn this place into a paradise resort."
"Always thinking about business, aren't you?" She glanced up at him before scanning the beach once more. Part of her healing plan had been coming back, but she didn't think she was ready, so he'd brought her close with a plan of actually enjoying themselves this time. He'd set everything up in advance; they had a luxury bungalow he'd had built, food was flown in, they had everything they needed for a real vacation and he planned to enjoy her fully.
He never wanted to be afraid he'd lost her again.
The memories of the wreck were still so vivid, and he couldn't help but think of the terror he had felt knowing that he could lose her forever. He couldn't bear the thought of a life without her, and he felt a wave of gratitude for her safety. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and smiled, his heart filled with love and appreciation.
The two of them shared a moment, a moment of understanding and connection that went beyond words. They were alive, together, and that was enough for now.
"Let's go explore!" Her exuberance shone through in her words as she raced off. He gave chase, chuckling at her behavior.
"The island is small," he called out to her, "There's nowhere to hide." He laughed again when he saw the shocked look on her face, before she darted off into the woods.
He followed in hot pursuit and found her leaning against a tree trunk, her hands raised up and above her head, keeping it in place. "Gotcha!"
Carter grinned at her. "I can let you play some more, if you promise to return the favor later."
Kaitlyn blushed, then stepped into his arms. "I can be fun when I want to be." She winked at him.
Her quiet statement surprised him. "You're always fun and you make me happy." He leaned down to kiss her. A real kiss, full of the emotion he felt for her, laced with gratitude and worry that he'd lost her once and couldn't bear the thought of it again.
Things had shifted between them to a deeper, warmer, sweeter relationship. She seemed to feel comfortable around him, though she'd been a bit withdrawn for the past week. He had no doubt she'd tell him what was going on when she was ready.
His arms tightened around her, and his mouth melded with hers as the kiss deepened. She pressed against him, her arms around his neck, as his hands stroked her back and they swayed to the same silent music.
The sun beat down upon them and he'd seen the way she stepped from the shade of the trees and into the sunlight, and he knew she was healing.
Kaitlyn pulled back, her eyes meeting his. "I really like you."
Her words tugged at his heart. He wanted to hold her and never let go, but he didn't want to push her. He could see something was bothering her and he vowed to be patient until she was ready to open up to him.
"I really like you, too." He leaned in to kiss her again, nipping at her bottom lip. "Come on." He held his hand out to her. "I want to show you something."
She slipped her hand into his, falling into step beside him as they walked back onto the sand. "What do we have to see?"
"It's a surprise!" His eyes lit up with excitement and she laughed.
"Just don't close your eyes and start walking. I don't want to be lost in the jungle," she teased.
"Not planning on it. I've got you." Carter winked at her and she chuckled.
"I love your surprises." She squeezed his hand.
"You'll love this one, I promise." He stopped walking as they reached an inlet of water that was sheltered by the palms.
"The ocean is pretty damn amazing." He entwined his hand with hers.
As they got closer, Carter scooped Kaitlyn up into his arms and began to walk towards the bungalow. The two of them were basking in the sun, the sand beneath their feet, and the happiness of being together again. In that moment, he felt like the luckiest man in the world.
A few moments later, she was kicking and he set her down. "You didn't!" she said, staring at the bungalow, then at him, before racing off to go look inside.
"I did." He hoped she'd be happy. He wanted to see her smile, wanted her to be happy. He knew at some point something would crash their wonderful lives. Nothing ever stayed good for long for him. Life taught him never to expect things to stay the same - good or bad.