Page 87 of Into Her Fantasies

I jabbed a foot deeper into the sand. Huffed defensively. “Untwist the knickers, bucky. My eyes are wide open here.”

“Yeah. Along with other things.”

“Okay, stop.” I pushed back to my feet, needing to pace. “Why are you doing this?”

“What?”

“Dragging this down. Turning it into a bunch of slut jokes.” No way was I backing off on the conviction. I refused to banter about Shiraz—about the magic I’d shared with him—as if he were simply another great fuck.

“Sorry, Luce.” His mutter was an incision of accusation. “I had no idea you hated it so much in my little gutter.”

“Dammit, Ez.” I turned and walked deeper into the shade of the palm grove. The seven stares behind me were a tangible weight down my spine. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I just—” Gave in to a heated huff. Another plunk down, this time using a fallen tree as a seat. “He’s just—”

“I know.”

His voice, thick with compassion, buzz-sawed my composure. “No,” I snapped past thick tears, “you don’t know. How could you know, when I don’t even know?”

Ezra sighed. Just like before, it was omniscience and sorrow blended into a weird oneness. “I just do, Betty Stepford. I just do.”

I broke into a growl—which sounded dorky through my tears.

“I’m sorry I smutted it all up. He’s a good guy. In a different stratosphere.”

I sniffed. “I didn’t say that.”

“Your heart did.”

And Ez had been listening. Because, damn him, that’s what he listened to when my mouth was being too damn stupid for common sense.

“Well, my heart needs to shut up,” I muttered.

“Wouldn’t matter,” Ez contested. “Because Prince Hottie-McHottie has already made the case for himself, loud and clear.”

“Huh?” I jerked up my head, probably looking like an ostrich who’d been forced into the sun. Good analogy, since Ez’s laugh suffused the line with his special kind of warmth.

“Shiraz really didn’t tell you, did he?”

“Contrary to what you’re probably thinking, I haven’t seen the man in nearly thirty-six hours.” Which had been about thirty-five hours too long—but Ez didn’t need to know that. He was having too much fun with his I’ve-got-a-secret hum, anyhow.

“Well,” he finally dove in with dramatic relish, “it seems his Highness carved out at least a little time in his schedule last night to find some kind of working phone line on Arcadia—then use it to call both your mom and me.”

Stunned silences seemed to be the new trend. I took a crack at it now myself, letting my mouth pop wide as my head ostrich-cocked. “He…”

“Called us,” Ez repeated.

“Why?” No pretense on that. I was genuinely curious about the answer. Though it seemed obvious, I needed to hear it.

“Well, he didn’t take time to shoot the shit, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Of course not.” Now I fibbed. I was wondering. Why would Shiraz hassle to find a satellite line, since those had been the only functioning communication modes on the island until an hour ago, then burn the valuable time for two calls to the US?

“He was pretty straightforward.” Ez hummed again. “I was pretty bummed about that. Melted cheese on a breadstick, girl. That man’s voice.”

“Tangent for a different time.” I gave it enough humor to let him know it was a promise. At some point in the future, long after I could talk about Shiraz’s voice without fighting the instant pressure between my thighs, we’d have that discussion. For now, I had to stick to the facts. Strictly the facts. “Just tell me what he said to you and Mom.”

“Practically the same thing.” He emulated my matter-of-fact tone. “Like I said, he didn’t linger. Just explained cell service was still down across the island, but he knew we’d be worried about your safety. He assured us you were secure and well, and said that as soon as safe transport off the island is available, he’ll personally make sure you’re on it. Errr…Luce? You still with me?”

His hail was founded on my thick silence, spent in a tangle worthy of a dozen seaweed balls. As soon as safe transport off the island is available. How long would that be? And why did I both dread and anticipate the answer?

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