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Chapter thirty-two

Darla

W eston watches the boar meat cook with a satisfied look on his face. We ran out of jerky two days ago and I said I’d catch us a smaller one, but Weston refused to let me go alone, saying he wanted to learn how to hunt and survive here like I had.

So I agreed to show him how to properly take one down, causing the least amount of pain and suffering. My dad had taught me that, and I was grateful for it.

“So West, I guess you’re a real hunter now, huh?” Bower asks as we all watch the meat sizzle on the fire.

Weston looks over at him with a smirk. “When are you gonna learn how to hunt one?”

“With you two expert hunters, who needs me?” Bower asks. The truth is, I think he knows he couldn’t actually make the kill.

“That’s okay, foraging is important, too.” I pat Bower’s knee in support, which earns me a glare from him.

“Are you making fun of me, Tink?”

“Of course not, we all have our strengths, and yours isn’t hunting, that’s okay. ”

“While you’re at it, go forage me some eggs,” Weston says with a small sigh. “I’d kill for some eggs and bacon right now.”

“Mmm, yeah, I haven’t had an egg since we left the states,” Kingsley adds with a dreamy look in his eyes.

I haven’t gone climbing for eggs since these guys arrived on the island. Bob’s bound to have some new ones by now.

Deciding this will be a fun surprise, I jump up and grab my bag. “I’ve got to go do something, I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Wait, Zee, you can’t just run off like that!” Kingsley yells, halting me in my tracks.

“Why not?” I turn around, seeing them all frowning at me.

“I thought we talked about this, no wandering off alone,” Weston all but growls at me. “If you need to go somewhere, I’ll come with you.”

“You can’t!” His eyebrows lift in surprise at my tone. “I just mean… it’s girl stuff.”

His face turns to a look of understanding as he sits back down. “Oh, I guess that’s okay then, don’t be long.”

“Yes, sir!” I salute him with a smirk and turn before he changes his mind. I understand that they worry about me being on my own, but it’s what I’ve done for fifteen years and is second nature to me still.

I take off on a quick walk towards my old friend, Cliff. When I finally reach him, I take a moment to drink some water as I gaze up to the top. “Were you always this tall?”

I swallow heavily, feeling a little nervous. I’m doing this so they’d have eggs, and the pleased looks on their faces will be worth it.

Letting out a deep breath, I move closer and find a handhold, being careful as I slowly make my way up the 200 foot rock wall.

When I’m about twenty-five feet up, someone yells my name, startling me. “ZEE!” The small jerk of my body is enough for my foot and hand to slip, my other grip not enough to keep me tethered as I start falling backwards.

A scream tears from my throat as I blindly fall backwards towards the ground. The wind is knocked out of me as I’m caught by a strong set of arms. I gasp, taking in big lungfuls of air and turn my head to Weston.

He looks furious as he stares down at me, where I’m cradled in his arms. “Weston,” I ask nervously. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?” he asks, grinding his teeth. “Of course I’m not okay! I followed you to make sure you didn’t get into any trouble, and I find you climbing up a goddamned cliff! What were you thinking, Zee?!”

My eyes start to blur the more he speaks. The last thing I want is to disappoint him, that’s the complete opposite of the reason I’m out here. “I’m sorry,” I mumble as I try to wipe away my tears before they fall.

His face softens as he watches me. “Baby, what on earth were you doing climbing that thing?”

“You remember Bob, the seagull?” He nods and I continue. “He has a nest up there and I was going to get you some eggs.”

His brows furrow as he scans my face. “You were risking your life to get us… eggs?” I nod, feeling stupid. Now he puts it like that, it does seem a little crazy.

I reach my hand up to stroke his cheek. “I’m sorry, don’t be mad at me,” I say, hoping my touch will help him go easy on me.

His face slowly changes from frustration to something softer, something that makes me squirm in his arms. And as if he feels the same tension I do, he leans down, pressing his lips to mine .

I thread my fingers behind his neck and pull him closer, moaning as he takes control of the kiss. Without lifting his mouth from mine, he turns me so my legs are wrapped around him, my back pushed against the wall.

“Weston!” I gasp, his hard cock connecting with my core through his cargo pants. He pushes his hips against my bare pussy, grinding himself against me, licking and sucking my neck as I beg for more.

With one hand on my ass, he moves the other one lower and manages to sink two fingers inside me from behind. “Fuck, baby, you’re so wet for me right now.”

He pumps his fingers in and out in rhythm with his thrusting hips, making me whimper in pleasure. His mouth moves up my neck, to my cheek, before finally landing back on my mouth. I hold him to me as he kisses me deeply, sending warmth through my entire body.

“Can you take another one, baby?” I nod my head eagerly and he grins. He leans his forehead against mine then pushes a third finger into me and I gasp at the fullness. “Fuck, baby. You’re so tight. You’re taking me like such a good girl.”

I moan loudly, his words and actions bringing me closer to my release. My entire body is on fire, as if I’m being completely consumed by him. “You gonna come for me, baby? You gonna soak my pants with your release?”

“Yes!” I gasp, bucking my hips to take his fingers deeper. And when his thumb finds my clit, I scream loudly, my entire body shaking as I come on his fingers.

He covers my mouth with his, swallowing my screams of pleasure as he helps me ride it out. When I finally feel the last of my orgasm fade, I melt into his arms as he holds me against him. He places a kiss on my neck as he sways us from side to side .

“You’re so beautiful, Zee.”

“Mmm,” I reply, not being able to say much, my body feeling like jelly.

He takes a seat, his back to the wall, as I straddle him, my head resting on his chest, listening to his heart beat while he rubs my back.

“Zee?” he asks after we’re both quiet for a few minutes.

I lift my head to meet his gaze.

“Promise me you won’t try anything like that again. I can’t imagine what would have happened if you fell and I wasn’t there to catch you.”

“I only fell because you startled me.” His eyes narrow, making me roll mine. “Fine, I promise, no more cliff climbing without supervision.”

He reaches up and cups my cheeks, his thumb softly stroking my skin as his eyes explore my face. “You know I’m only like this because I care so much about you?”

“I care about you, too.” I give him a small smile, which he returns.

He reaches down and pulls something out from one of his side pockets. Gripping it tightly in his fist, he brings his hand up between us. “There’s something I want you to have.”

“Oh?” Intrigued, I eye his hand and wonder what it could be.

He opens his palm, and my eyes widen at the beautiful necklace. The one I’d seen them with when they first arrived. I’d forgotten about it.

“This is for me?” I ask, stroking my finger over the seashell charm.

“If you want it.”

“I do, Weston. It’s so pretty.” I pick it up and admire the delicate silver chain.

“Where did you get it? You’re sure it wasn’t meant for someone else?

” A small ball of doubt starts to form in my gut.

Did these guys have girlfriends back in the real world?

Do they just see me as some island fling?

Nobody had actually clarified that one way or the other .

“It was always meant for you,” he says, taking it from me and clasping it around my neck.

“What do you mean? You had it before you even knew I existed.”

“You’ll think it’s dumb,” he whispers, avoiding my eyes as he lays the charm against the top of my chest.

“I’m sure I won’t. Tell me?” I ask, lifting his chin so his eyes meet mine.

He lets out a deep breath as he rubs his finger over the seashell. “I saw it in the Perth airport.”

My eyes widen at that piece of info I somehow haven’t heard before. “You flew out of Perth?” I ask, unable to hold my question back.

“Yeah, why?” His eyebrows furrow as he looks up at me.

“Oh, no reason, just curious. Carry on,” I say, hoping he doesn’t dwell on my question any longer. I’m grateful when he picks his story back up quickly.

“Something about it drew me in. I picked it up, and the owner said something about it being a great present for my girlfriend. I didn’t want to admit I didn’t have one, so instead I bought it, hoping that one day I would find someone I cared about enough to give it to.

” His eyes finally lift to mine as he gives me a small smile.

“And I did. Like I said, it was always meant for you.”

“I love it, thank you!” I wrap my arms around his neck and he pulls me close for a big bear hug. That story just makes the gift so much more special.

“Zee,” he whispers against my neck, holding me so tight I can’t turn to see his face.

“Yeah?”

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

“I—”

He cuts me off before I can answer. “I already feel like you’re mine, I just wanted to officially ask you. And I hope you know this isn’t just while we’re here. When we get back to the real world, I’m not giving you up.”

It’s like he looked into my head and read my mind. But I couldn’t commit to life off this island with him, not when I’m planning to stay.

“Weston,” I whisper, tears forming in my eyes. “There's nothing left for me out there, not anymore.”

He pulls me back and stares at me, a look of worry in his eyes. “Your family?” he asks, and I shake my head.

“It’s just me now,” I finally admit.

“You’re not alone anymore, Zee. You have us, we’re your family now.”