I’d been alone most of my life, and now, I was alone on an island. And for some reason, the only male of dateable age found me desirable.
The longer we spent in each other’s company, the more I saw beneath his mask. He came across as brash with hard edges, but I sensed there was a lot more to Galloway Oak than he wanted to reveal.
Pippa darted in front of us. She spun around with her bottom lip stuck out. “Can I jump in?”
I stopped as the first lap of seawater met my toes. “Think you can take some of your clothes off, so they don’t get wet?”
Or is it best to swim in our clothes so they’re semi clean?
We all had a few pieces to change into. I’d found my handbag with my nightgown, bikini, and shorts. And Conner had sourced Galloway’s messenger bag and his father’s rucksack. We had enough clothing to tide us over.
The clothes we’d folded neatly and weighed down with a rock after rummaging through supplies. What I’d really been searching for were things of use: lighters or matches, cell-phones or communication devices (even a flare would’ve been nice). But Galloway’s phone was dead with no charger, and Conner said his mum and dad begrudgingly left their tablets behind so there would be no work distractions.
I have to find my jacket.
I had a phone and a charger.
That was our best hope of rescue.
Conner jogged to his sister, peeling off his t-shirt and hopping on one leg to shed his shorts. His actions were awkward with his wrist splint, but he stood proudly in silky Star Wars boxers. The satiny material clung to his skinny boy hips.
He nudged Pippa, who’d gone shy. “Come on, Pip. Swimming in clothes is no fun.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You’re so scrawny.”
“And you’re just a chicken.” Dashing into the lapping waves, he called, “Last one in has to give the other their allowance.”
Allowance.
My heart rattled like a moneybox with no change. Those normal things had now vanished. There would be no allowance here. Unless payment in the form of shells were welcome currency.
Pippa squealed, hurriedly ripping off her t-shirt before slipping out of her trousers and barrelling toward the water in just her knickers.
I slapped a hand over my mouth at the nasty gash in her shoulder.
“Oh, my God.”
Galloway flinched. “Ouch. That kid has balls not to scream every time she moves.”
I couldn’t stop looking. Her pearl-white skin was torn apart and angry. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”
His answer took a long moment. “I hope so.”
My throat clogged with tears.
Galloway’s arm tightened around my shoulders. “Hey...it will be okay. She’ll be okay. You’ll see.”
I nodded, unable to reply. Shrugging, I wordlessly requested he let me go. He obeyed, loosening his hold and placing more of his balance on the crutch.
I moved down the beach, never looking away from the children diving beneath the crystal water and acting like nothing was wrong.
Everything was wrong.
Including my feelings toward a man I barely knew.
Galloway had the unnerving ability to slip into my thoughts and trickle into my heart. I could cope with him being a bastard but not his sincerity and concern. That would ruin me because I didn’t have any more space to care so much when our future was unknown.
“I’m going to join them.” Shoving away my nerves, I yanked my black diamante top over my head (which bloody hurt my ribs) and anxiously stepped out of my jeans.
I didn’t dare look at Galloway.
Not one glance.
But I knew he looked at me because my skin prickled with heat.
I kept my head high as I waded into the ocean in my black knickers and bra. So what if he saw me in my underwear? I had no doubt he’d see me in all forms of undress over the next few days while we waited for rescue.
The blissful sensation of fresh air after wearing hot denim made me groan with relief. The moment the cleansing water licked up my hipbones, I dropped to my knees on the sandy bottom and disappeared beneath the surface.
I hovered until my mind felt mildly saner than a few moments ago before pushing upward.
My gaze landed on Galloway. Every nerve, stress, desire, and lust exploded into intensity.
He’d managed to strip off his t-shirt, revealing a powerful chest of sculpted pectorals and obliques. The ripples of his stomach shifted with every breath, his skin glittering with sweat.
My mouth fell open as I unashamedly drank him in. I’d found him attractive at the airport. I’d appreciated his height, roguish good looks, and bookish sex appeal with his glasses. But now...holy hell, I wanted him.
I wanted to be reckless and forget our lives were on the line.
I wanted to pretend we’d made it to Kadavu.
I wanted to believe he was an island fling and nothing could harm us.
My fingers tingled to touch him, my tongue watered to taste him.
I stopped breathing as he reached for his fly. My heart became a skipping stone as he unbuttoned and unzipped, loosening the denim to slide halfway down his hips. Black boxer-briefs and the delicious swell of a well-endowed male.
My mouth mimicked dry sand.
Galloway looked up.