I was proud of that.
Proud that we’d all signed a death warrant the night we’d crashed, yet we hadn’t succumbed. Pippa was happier than she had been in a while, Conner was adapting, and Estelle had somehow grown more bloody beautiful.
She’d lost weight—like all of us—but her bone structure only stood out more. With tanned skin and bleached white hair, she truly looked like an island seductress.
My heart wrapped itself around my ribcage as she appeared on the edge of camp. The children trailed behind her. She walked quickly, eager to see what I’d done.
My mood bounced between pissed off and inadequacy. Pissed because we still hadn’t cleared the air between us and inadequacy because as hard as I’d worked on our new house, it had its flaws.
Many, many flaws.
It wasn’t perfect, and to me, every issue and mistake was blatantly obvious.
What if she refused to live in it?
Her lips twitched into a kind smile, her eyes full of sorrow for the emotional gap between us. It was hard having a silent fight when it was just you and two kids on a damn island.
Unless someone was willing to clear the air it became harder and harder to stomach. I knew I’d been in the wrong. I’d jumped down her throat after she’d been nothing but forthright with me. It wasn’t her fault she lied about wanting nothing more than friendship—regardless what her body said.
Her eyes drifted from mine to the house.
She froze.
Her mouth fell open.
Tears sprang to her eyes.
My heart thundered, expecting her to rush toward the dwelling and step inside for the first time.
But she didn’t.
She ran straight toward me.
Her feet kicked up sand and when her arms clamped over my shoulders, I couldn’t stop my body’s insane craving for her. My fingers dove into her hair, and I didn’t know who did it.
Her or me.
It didn’t matter.
One moment, we were separate.
The next, we were one.
Her lips collided with mine.
Her tongue welcomed me.
Her taste exploded everywhere.
And I swore right there and then that I couldn’t do this anymore. I couldn’t hold a grudge. I couldn’t be angry. I couldn’t hate her for not accepting me.
Our fight dissolved. The distance between us erased.
Her kiss was like slipping into comfort and forgiveness all at once.
A groan caught in the back of my throat as her breasts pressed against me. Intensity thickened and heated until I worried I’d incinerate in her arms. I wanted to run my hands down her body, pluck her from the sand, and carry her into the first home we’d had in months. Cradle her in four walls and make love to her with a roof above our heads and privacy hiding our secrets.
Her teeth caught my bottom lip, dragging me closer for one last second.
Then, it was over.
She pulled away, dropping her eyes. “Um...somehow my scripted thank you became—”
“The best kiss since the first one you gave me?”
She blushed. “Yes...well. Sorry.”
I wouldn’t let her get away this time. Not again.
Cupping her chin, I forced her gaze back to mine. “There’s nothing to apologise for.”
She sighed as if a terrible weight had been lifted.
“Wow!” Pippa squealed as she ran ahead, disappearing into the only habitat on the island.
“Hey, wait for me!” Conner charged after her.
Estelle laughed. “I guess it’s inspection time.”
I didn’t want our moment to be over, but the ceasefire between us was an enjoyable place to dwell until we had more time to be open.
Considering we lived together...we rarely found time to just be and talk. Staying alive demanded a lot more effort than I’d ever imagined.
But we’re alive...and that’s all that matters.
Heading toward the top of our camp, I brushed my shoulder with Estelle’s.
She shook her head, wonder on her face. “I can’t believe you were able to create this.”
I squinted at the house, doing my best to see past its faults. The ratty flax knots and knobbly bamboo. Unstraight walls and basic layout. It was better than a tent...barely. “I just wish it could’ve been better.”
She wrenched to a halt. “What do you mean, better? Galloway, it’s perfect.”
I shrugged. “Next one, I’ll fix the issues.”
“I don’t want a ‘next one.’” She scoffed. “I want this one.”
I grinned. “Good job, you’re stuck with this one for a little while then, huh?”
Her smile broadened. “I guess so.”
I’d already drawn up blueprints for my next creation, and it wasn’t a house. I wouldn’t tell her, but my upcoming project was something floatable so we might have a chance at freedom.
In the months since we’d been stranded, not one aircraft, helicopter, or boat had been close enough to hear or see us.
We’d fallen through a tear in the map and no one knew where we were. It was up to us to find a way to be found.
“Come on. I want the grand tour.” Estelle dug her toes into the sand, moving faster.