Letty’s hands trailed down Joe’s chest, then under his shirt, where she teased his nipples with her fingertips briefly. He inhaled sharply as her palms brushed his abs then rested over the bulge in his shorts.

“Aloha,” he whispered.

“I think maybe we should take this inside,” Letty whispered back. She took his hand and led him to the sofa, switching off lights as she went, while Joe tugged at the waistband of her grass skirt. She playfully swatted his hand away, went to the front door and flipped the dead bolt, then opened the door of the bedroom by two inches and peeked inside once again, to make sure Maya was asleep.

She’s safe, Letty told herself, resting her head against the doorframe. And she realized, with surprise, that at this moment, despite the odds, she felt safe, too.

When she rejoined him in the living area, Joe quickly managed to unsnap her bikini top and fling it to the floor.

Letty crossed her arms over her bare chest, but he frowned and pulled them open. “I just want to look at you, just like this,” he said, taking a step backward. “You’re like my wildest, horniest teenage dream. A half-naked island girl. In a motel room. All for me.”

She laughed and did a slow half turn, swishing her hips in a sensual hula, beckoning him with her outstretched arms. “ComeonIwannalayyou,” she teased, pulling him toward the sofa.

He was fumbling with the condom wrapper when Letty froze, naked beneath him. Was that Maya, calling out for her in her sleep? “Wait!” She pulled herself upright, found Joe’s discarded shirt on the floor, and clutched it to her chest as she tiptoed toward the bedroom. She held her breath, sliding the door back, but glancing inside, she saw that Maya wasn’t stirring. A minute later she was back. “False alarm,” she whispered, folding herself into his arms. “Please continue.”

With a sweep of his arm he knocked the back sofa cushions to the floor and lifted her atop him. She tried to take her time, as they moved slowly together, she learning his rhythm, he touching, kissing, caressing, teasing. Just as she climaxed she heard a bizarre, hollow, crunching noise from very close by. “What?” she whispered urgently.

“Never mind.” He drove himself into her and she moaned as he shuddered beneath her.

“I should get dressed,” she whispered, struggling to sit up. Joe ran his fingertip down her spine. “Why?”

“Maya. She has night terrors. Not as often lately, but if she does…”

He shifted his weight and this time they both heard the weird crunching noise. Letty pulled him to his feet and examined the sofa. She lifted a cushion and extracted the smashed remains of Maya’s ukulele.

“Oh my God,” she giggled.

“We made some beautiful music together just now, didn’t we?” Joe wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him.