Page 88 of Five

I need to see her.

I need to verify that she’s okay with my own eyes.

I tap lightly on her door, then curse under my breath as I check my watch and see the time.

I should leave, let her sleep. I’m about to walk away when the door swings open.

Except it’s not Neve standing there, but Oliver.

We study each other silently, an entire conversation happening without either of us speaking.

I don’t bother giving him a hard time about today. No matter how I feel about it, he’s right about one thing; Neve is a free agent. None of us could have stopped her if she had a mind to leave the safety of this island. This is her sanctuary, not her prison.

Besides, I can see from the torment in his eyes that he’s beating himself up enough for both of us.

“I just needed to check she’s okay,” I say, finally.

Oliver gives a curt nod. “She’s doing all right. She just wanted some company, but I’ll let you take it from here.

He moves past me to leave, but I grab his arm. “Ollie, you don’t need to go.”

He looks at me, and I can see the shadows that haunt him.

“Yes, I do. I’m not good company right now.”

I know he has nightmares, even though he swears he never remembers them. Truth is, he’ll probably sleep more comfortably in his own bed, not having to worry about traumatizing Neve with his night terrors.

“Oliver?” Neve murmurs sleepily as I close the door behind Ollie and make my way to the bedroom. “Who was it?”

“Me,” I reply, slipping off my shoes.

“Oz?” She pushes herself up. “Is everything all right?”

Sitting down on the bed next to her, I stroke Neve’s hair and encourage her to lie back down. “Everything’s fine. I’m sorry I woke you. After everything that happened, I just wanted to check on you.”

She peers over my shoulder. “Where’s Oliver? You’re not still mad at him, are you? Because you should know it was my idea.”

I place a finger over her lips. “Let’s not go there right now, huh? It’s late.”

“I didn’t want to be alone…”

Her voice trails off, and she sounds so vulnerable in that moment. I bend to kiss her forehead. “I’ll take over if that’s all right with you?”

She nods and pulls the covers back, and I quickly undress and climb in next to her.

Neve snuggles into me. She fits so perfectly, and my dick takes note that there’s a beautiful woman in my arms and perks up despite my exhaustion. “Ignore him and he’ll go back to sleep.”

Neve is quiet, not even commenting on me referencing my cock in the third person.

Just as I think she’s gone back to sleep, she whispers, “What if I don’t want to ignore him?”

Fuck!

She lifts her head and looks at me, her gaze dropping to my lips a second before she leans in to kiss me.

That’s it, I’m done for. I’m only capable of being so much of a gentleman.

Burying my fingers in her hair, I deepen the kiss, my other hand brushing down her body. Lingering and teasing pebbled nipples covered by nothing more than a barely there wisp of silk.