Christ, she was awesome.

She was a natural and so genuine even I wanted to go to the beach.

My eyes locked onto her mouth again. Her bottom lip was plump and pink, drugging me better than any painkiller. If I could stare at her, I could forget the discomfort and our shitty situation. If I could talk to her, get to know her, let her see I wasn’t the bastard I pretended to be...I might survive this place.

Conner kissed Pippa’s cheek. “Sounds cool, huh? A perfect start to a holiday.”

Pippa burst into tears. “I don’t want a holiday. I want Mummy and Daddy!”

Conner dropped his stuff, hugging her. “I know. Me too. But we’ve got each other. And I’m not leaving you.”

How old was this kid?

His capacity to hold back his own horror and support his sister astounded me. Estelle too by the way her eyes misted and pride shone on her face. She gawked at the two children as if wishing someone could hug her the same way and utter comforting things.

Come here, I’ll do it.

I would gladly hug her, stroke her, kiss her until she forgot where we were.

But that was out of the question and I couldn’t make it worse by letting her know just how attracted I was to her. We were the adults here. We had to set the example.

Leaving the two siblings to talk, Estelle came toward me. Her skin paled with pain. “Are you okay?”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She looked as if she wanted to say something else but stopped herself. Cocking her head at the path she and Conner had created, she said, “I think it’s best if we rest on the beach. That way people can see us.”

“What people?” My tone dripped with sarcasm.

“You can’t do that.” Her eyes narrowed. “It’s up to us to keep them calm. God only knows how long the meagre rations we found in the helicopter will keep us alive. We don’t need tears using up bodily fluids and stress burning through calories. Got it?”

I gave her a salute.

She was right but damn if it didn’t piss me off that she had to remind me.

Again.

Why was I being such a prick?

I growled, “It really should be me carrying all of that and exploring the island and—”

“Why? Because you’re a man and believe in sexism?” She rolled her eyes. “Save it for somewhere that gender actually matters.”

Hugging her chest, she took a few steps away. “I’m going to drop this off at the beach. I’ll come back for you.” Her gaze fell on my leg. “I’ll find a stick to splint your ankle like I did for Conner’s wrist.”

I ground my teeth. “Don’t worry about me. I can find one myself.”

“Yeah, right. You can barely move.” She laughed coldly. “Tell you what, best of luck proving you don’t need others to lean on while I drop this and the children off. You have about half an hour before I return. And when I do, be prepared to show a bit of gratitude and drop the arrogant asshole routine.”

She left again, traipsing down the path, steadily fading into the green haze and thick foliage. Every inch of me wanted to chase after her, back her into a tree, and show her just how thankful I was that she was here. I’d use my fingers and tongue and—

I groaned under my breath as my cock hardened again.

What the hell was my problem? I couldn’t have her like that. And I didn’t have energy to waste on lust. She’d offered to help. That was it. Yes, I couldn’t walk. Boo fucking hoo. If I wanted to show her how grateful I was, then I had to stop being a dick.

Her voice sailed back, snapping with authority. “Conner, Pippa. Come on!”

The kids grabbed the remaining scattered items by their feet and dashed to catch up. Conner looked back. “You coming?”

I grinned, even though I felt like swearing. “Yep. Right behind you.”

“Cool.” Taking his sister’s hand, they vanished.

The second they’d gone, every emotion that I’d spent the last few years running from suffocated me. Hatred, loneliness, regret, and most of all...terror.

I didn’t do well on my own.

But I didn’t do well with others, either.

I wasn’t hardwired right for society, and suddenly, society had thrown me away. I had no one.

No, that wasn’t true.

I had three invaluable people who’d gone from strangers to my entire world.

They were all the company I had.

The only people I could rely on.

My skin itched and the familiar urge to run consumed me.

Come back.

Don’t leave me.

I’m sorry.

.............................

“I’m impressed. You’re still here.”

My head shot up as Estelle returned, minus the kids and whatever supplies she’d had. In her hands rested a large stick. Moving closer, she eyed my leg, slowly dancing her eyes over my crotch, waist, and face.

I couldn’t deny having her eyes on me made me hard.

Did she like what she saw? Did she see the real me? The me I’d chained deep, deep inside? The me that died the day I became a monster?

I flexed my bicep like a moron, hoping to impress. I made an effort to stay in shape—not because of egotistical reasons but because it was a necessity. Working with timber and building on a daily basis demanded strength and stamina.

Not that sculpted muscles will impress her when I can’t bloody walk!

I took a deep breath, doing my best to stay calm. Sitting still, chained to pain and unable to move, hadn’t put me in the best of moods. “I thought you’d forgotten about me.” I wiped away the copious amounts of sweat from my brow. I didn’t relish the thought of moving somewhere where the sun would cook me, but I did crave the ocean breeze.