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*** "Claudia, wait!" Mark jumped up from the blanket he and Claudia were sharing and chased after her. "I don't want to marry you, I just want to have sex with you!" Mark stopped dead in his tracks as he realized what he just said. "Wait, that didn't come out right." Mark yelled, attempting to redeem himself. Claudia continued running toward the cabin, tears running down her face. She was so shocked by Mark's last comment that she didn't realize that her blouse was still unbuttoned from their activity. Anna, Bryan, Nicky and Shane were sitting outside the cabin enjoying the beautiful night air. Claudia ran up the stairs to them, still crying and finally buttoning up her blouse.
"Claud, what's wrong?" Anna leapt up from her chair, rushing to her. Claudia brushed her away as she walked past Shane and Bryan. Shane stood up to go to Claudia as Bryan pushed him back down in the chair. Nicky stood up and grabbed Claudia as Mark came running up the beach.
"Are you all right?" Nicky asked as Claudia just looked at him and started crying again.
"What the hell did you do to her?" Anna yelled meeting Mark and grabbing his arm.
"I didn't mean it." Mark said, his pain obvious in his eyes. He couldn't stand the thought that Claudia was hurting and he was the cause of the pain. Bryan stood next to Anna while she berated Mark. Nicky stood holding Claudia as she continued crying. She couldn't look at Mark, she couldn't face him as his words rushed through her mind.
"What did you say to her, Mark? So, help me if you hurt her in..."
Bryan touched Anna's shoulder, silently pleading with her to stop. "Come on, Mark. Let Claudia have some time." Bryan began leading Mark to the cabin. "Stay here with Shane, Anna."
Claudia released herself from Nicky's comforting arms and ran into the cabin. She needed to be alone, be alone and sort out her true feelings. Anna stood with her hands on her hips as she watched Bryan drag Mark into the cabin, cussing in Irish before the door slammed.
"He's your friend!" Anna yelled at Shane and Nicky. "Claudia's not as experienced as Mark." She collapsed as Shane sat watching Anna.
"Bryan will work it out." Shane said, softly wishing he could be with Claudia to calm her tears, she was too beautiful to have tears stain her face. Nicky walked over to the lads' cabin to help Bryan with Mark. Actually he was going to try to prevent Bryan from beating the crap out of Mark.
Claudia ran past Kori and Kian who were reading sheet music on the
couch.
"Claud, what's wrong?" Kori asked as she ran to her friend. Claudia slammed the door to her room. "Claudia, let me in." Kori said knocking on the door. She could hear Claudia crying but the door was locked.
"Give her some time, Kori. We'll be out here if she needs us." Kian placed his hand on her shoulder. He took her hand and led her back to the couch where the music laid on the floor.
"Mark must have said something wrong. Eventually he ends up putting his foot in his mouth." Kian smiled at Kori. He had the brightest smile and it intoxicated Kori. No matter how much she tried to look away, she could not ignore the smile that was captivating her.
"Claudia is just so inexperienced. I just know that Mark is going to hurt her." Kori finally confided to Kian.
"Does that mean that you're the experienced one of the group?" Kian asked.
"That's means that it's none of your business." Kori said returning the smile.
She is so beautiful, Kian thought to himself-so beautiful and so untouchable, and that was the turn on.
"What's bothering you?" Shane asked finally breaking the silence
between he and Anna. "I know you're worried about Claudia, but I think
there's something more."
"If Mark hurts Claudia..."
"It's more than that." Shane argued.
Anna looked at Shane, not sure if she could confide in him, not sure if she could trust him. Shane sat patiently, waiting for her to speak. She was just as intriguing to Shane as Claudia, but for vastly different reasons. He'd taken an avid interest in Anna the first time he saw her. The two of them were like the sun and the moon. Claudia was the ice princess and Anna was completely, totally warm-blooded. Anna was very sensual, easy to lust after, any man could sense that. But the sexual quality just enhanced the sparkle in Anna's eyes. Bryan quickly made his claim on Anna, he knew he had to, he knew that Anna was too wonderful to let just any bloke take her. But Shane could still admire her from a distance. He thought she was fascinating. And beautiful. He especially loved the color of her hair and how it transferred to her personality. RED. She was passionate about life in general. He loved the motherly demeanor that she expressed with Claudia and her deep commitment to her friendships. Bryan was very lucky to have Anna, Shane knew that she was Bryan's and he just wanted to be friends. He just hoped he could resist the temptation...
"I just don't know what to do about..." Anna stopped as she realized that she was just about to say the words that she couldn't. She was just about to tell Shane...
"Anna, I know that you don't know me very well, but I want to help you." Shane reached over to hold Anna's hand in his. Once again, Shane was holding the hand of a woman who wanted another man.
"I love Bryan." She started. "But I haven't been totally honest with him."
"Honesty is best when you love someone." Shane said, knowing that he was not the picture of honesty, especially right now.
"I know but I just don't know how he will..."
Kori began singing the chords to the song she was reading as Kian sat
listening to her.
"You have a beautiful voice." He said as she brushed back her hair.
"Thanks. I'm just a closet singer." She shyly said. She only sang for her friends or in the shower. She didn't even realize that she was singing out loud for Kian to hear.
"Well, you need to come out of the closet." Kian grabbed Kori's hand and squeezed it. He lingered and Kori found herself getting lost in his touch. But reality set in and she pulled away. She stood up and brushed the wrinkles from her shorts.
"I hope Claudia is okay." She quickly changed the subject.
"She'll be fine." Kian stood up, closely facing Kori.
"I should probably..." Kori's words were stopped by Kian's lips on hers. The sudden presence of his body next to her took her by surprise but she stood fast, kissing him back.
"Sorry, couldn't resist." Kian said as he finally pulled away from Kori.
"Well, you should have." Kori said as she walked away from him. His kiss was still fresh as her heart raced with excitement.
"One of these days, when you stop running, I may not be here." Kian moved closer to her and she didn't move.
"Kian, what makes you so sure we're even right for each other? There are plenty of girls here that would die for your affection. Why are you pursuing the one who doesn't want you."
"You don't want me? Then why didn't you resist my kiss? That's what gives me hope!" Kian said confidently.
"Kian Egan, you are amazing. You just think that your blue eyes, your beautiful face, your incredible body, your charming smile, and irresistible accent are just goping to magically win me over."
"You think I have a great body?" Kian said as he grabbed Kori's hand.
"Stop it!!" Kori pulled her hand away. "I don't have time for you." She began walking towards the front door.
"Yeah, whatever. But after all that, you still think I have a great body and gorgeous smile?" Kian said as Kori stopped to face him.
"Kian, I just have so much in my life right now. You're a sweet guy and I do like the attention..."
"You mean the kiss." He said interrupting her. He walked towards her, a predatory smile forming on his lips. She couldn't move, she was locked in his gaze.
"No, Kian!" She finally objected as she stood in the circle of his arms. "I can't do this. You're a wonderful distraction but a distraction that I don't need." She gently pushed him away as his blue eyes went dark. Kori's heart sank as she tried to look away.
"Kori, I could be the shoulder for you. I could be your strength. I could be your friend..."
"But I would want more, you would want more. But... the timing just sucks!" She turned around facing the door. She took a small pause as her mind began racing. He was so perfect in every way and she knew that her heart already belonged to him, but she couldn't. She couldn't give in to the love and pleasure that he was offering. It took all of her strength to open the door and walk out. She didn't look back but quickly walked past Shane and Anna. Kian stood silent as his heart broke. He tried to reach out to her but her hand slipped through his grip. He vowed at that time to never loosen his grip on Kori, he would wait until the time was right and then he would hang on to her. He could never love anyone else, she had stolen his heart.
Anna sat in Shane's arms, crying as her strength was being renewed by Shane. Shane said nothing and held her tight. His heart wanted to reach out to her, as a friend and more. Damn it, he thought. Why do I torture myself?
"I just don't want to lose him. But I just don't know what to do about Jerid." Anna said in between the sobs.
"Dump Jerid. You and Bryan belong together." Shane said softly.
"But Jerid and I have so much history together. I just met Bryan." Anna raised her head up from Shane's chest as she looked into his incredible eyes. Shane gently brushed the hair from her face and wiped her tears. It wouldn't be the last time that he would sweep the tears from her face.
"I know that Bryan loves you,Anna. Talk to him, he'll understand." Shane held Anna as they looked into each other eyes. Shane was torn as he thought about Claudia who was aching in the other room and Anna who was hurting his own arms; two women that he knew he could never have. The two remained in their embrace, Shane trying to soothe Anna as she continued to weep.
Next door, Bryan stepped onto the porch. He started to head to his cabin when he saw the two entwined figures on the patio. Bryan stopped and shook his head. He shut his eyes, trying to block the image of Shane in the embrace that belonged to him...
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