Free Forever and Always by Beverley Hollowed

about since I saw you that first morning out there swimming. It took every ounce off my strength not to run out and wrap you in my arms the first time I saw you sitting out there in the sand. You looked so sad and lost, it broke my heart. I tried to stay away from you because I knew if I talk to you I would lose my heart forever”.
    “Sam, please don’t” Melanie closed her eyes and begged him. She couldn’t hear these words. He would only make her fall deeper for him than she already had. 
    Sam leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips and sparks shot out from her lips to every corner of her body. She returned his kiss, pulling him closer to her as he deepened his kiss.
    He slowly slid his hands from her lap up her body, one hand sliding around her back and the other gently holding her face. Melanie slid her hand up into his hair and returned his kiss harder.
    “No Melanie Stop” he whispered his lips still pressed against hers. Melanie pulled back abruptly, the sting of rejection piercing through her. She quickly got up off the bed and moved away from him. She needed some distance between her and him right now. She was mortified. She couldn’t even look at him.
    “No listen” he said quickly up on his feet and moved next to her. He lifted her chin up so she was looking in his eyes. Reluctantly she let her eyes meet his. “I want you more than I have ever wanted anything. I want to kiss every part of your body and touch you in way you have never been touched”.
    Melanie just stared at him confused. If he wanted her so badly why did he push her away?
    “But Melanie this will be your first time” he added softly. “And it will be our first time. I don’t want it to be rushed. I want it to be special. I want to do this right”.
    Wow. Melanie didn’t know what to say. She just stared at him for what seemed like forever.  Finally she smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
    “Ok” was all she could think of to say.
    “So do you still feel like going exploring today?” Sam asked as he softly kissed her forehead.
    “Yes please” Melanie said with a big smile. She knew right then in that moment she had fallen completely and utterly in love with Sam. She knew it was beyond insane, she barely knew him. But what she felt inside her was too strong to be anything but love. What she had thought was love with Mike was nothing more than childish infatuation. This was something else, something deeper. She knew she should be running for the hills because her heart was going to be broken one way or another but she couldn’t. And if all they were to have was three months then she would take them and make every minute she had with him count.

Chapter 7
    As the time passed Melanie and Sam became more and more inseparable, meeting every morning for swimming and then having breakfast with Maggie. After that they would go off for the day visiting all the little towns and villages along the Cape. They would have dinner with Maggie every night and then spend some time alone.
    Melanie spoke to her Mom regularly but she still hadn’t talked to her Dad. She had tried to call a couple of times but each time she just chickened out. Her Dad hadn’t tried to call her either. He had promised to give her space and that’s just what he did. He did however text her every day. Telling her over and over again how much he loved her and how sorry he was. Melanie replied a couple of times; all she ever really said was she was ok and he shouldn’t worry. But the distance between them was growing wider and wider.
    She told her Mom all about Sam, though she figured she already knew because she thought she would have freaked out when she told her and she didn’t. Maggie must have filled her in. But Melanie wasn’t too worried because she knew Maggie liked Sam and she would have certainly put in a good word for him.
    Sarah seemed genuinely please her daughter seemed happier but there was a part of her worried that