Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
“Cracked but not broken. That’s what you said.” I kissed his seething mouth. “I lived, Ashley, and I’m stronger for it. Thank you for coming for me.”
An angry sound vibrated in his chest, and he leaned back to caress his thumb around the shape of my mouth. “Your lips are dry. You’re dehydrated.” He shoved to his feet and stepped a few paces away, probing the trees that fringed the shore. “We’ll find fresh water in those woods.”
His white breeches, now brown with dirt and sand, frayed at the waistband and calves. Bloody gashes glistened through ripped holes. Scrapes, gouges, and other reddening bruises marred his muscled torso and arms. He donned no shoes or weapons. Nothing but the breeches and all that carved brawn. I couldn’t imagine the strength and balance that was required to pull my limp body into the longboat without oversetting it.
Stripped down to his skin and tattered rags, he looked like a warrior of the Roman Empire. Fashioned of iron and ferocity, his masculine beauty alone would excite a hungry crowd. He needed naught a weapon, for he was one. The breadth of his shoulders and the well-thewed power in his arms and legs attested to his competence in battle.
The man had pulled me from the ocean, right out from beneath a burning, sinking warship. He’d more than earned my respect.
Gradually, I dragged my gaze from his magnificent physique and found him regarding me. “What?”
“You’re staring.”
“I’m admiring.”
He took my hand, and my body shivered from the heat of his touch. Then he bent to lift me.
“Wait.” I pushed against his chest, stopping him. “I’ll walk.”
“You have a concussion.”
“You’re not a doctor, and besides, while I slept for the past however many hours, you didn’t shut your eyes once. Am I right?”
“I’ll sleep when we find water and food.”
I stood, fighting a sudden onslaught of vertigo. With a hand shielding my eyes, I marked the location of the morning sun. “We’re on the eastern side of the island. The southern tip, you said?” I started the walk toward the tree line.
“Yes.” He drifted right up against my side as if expecting me to fall. “Where are you going?”
“Eleuthera is quite long and skinny. Less than two-hundred kilometers from end to end.” I picked up my pace to escape the burning sand underfoot. “If we head straight through these woods for three or four kilometers, we’ll arrive on the western shoreline. There’s a small farming hamlet somewhere on that side, and if we’re nice…” I gave him a pointed look. “The farmers will feed us and give us a place to rest.” I stepped into the shade of the woods, instantly relieved by the drop in temperature. “What I don’t know is if there are poisonous creatures or man-eating predators here.”
“None that I’m aware of.”
“One less thing to worry about.” I picked along a narrow path, quickly navigating around brush and low-hanging trees. “We’ll head toward the hamlet and—”
“You’re trying so hard to be the captain of this expedition. It’s adorable.”
“Don’t mock me, Ashley Cutler. I am a captain.”
“Yes, but I outrank you.”
I cut him an incisive glare, which he returned with a teasing glint in his eyes.
“As I was saying…” My lips twitched. “We’ll stop at the hamlet for food and rest then make our way north.”
“North?”
“Harbour Island. Look!” I pointed at a shallow creek. “Barely enough water to wet the stone bed, but if we follow it, we’ll find the source.”
In favor of drinking water, he didn’t pursue the topic of Harbour Island. Three kilometers or more from whence we started, we located a freshwater pool attached to a small waterfall.
The water tasted so crisp and refreshing I submerged my entire body in it.
“I haven’t had a bath in…” I dunked my head and came up to find his face inches from mine. My breath stammered. “I don’t remember.”
“The next time I have access to soap, I’ll wash every inch of your body myself.”
I’d said those words to my husband the last time I saw him. How long ago was that? Three weeks? A month?
Too long.
Oh, the irony. I ran from that man for two years. And now, I missed him horribly.
My throat closed, my world stilling to a dismal, eye-opening view of my situation. For the first time since jumping from Jade’s bow, I was looking at the real chance of survival. That meant I had to consider the future.
I was married to a man I loved. I loved another man who didn’t know I was married. Choosing between them wasn’t an option. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. I’d rather drown beneath a burning ship.
Ashley wrapped his wet body around mine and pulled me close to all his tempting male heat. His lips fell upon my neck, kissing, nuzzling, and governing the rhythm of my pulse. I melted into the velvet blanket of his chest, so firm and hot, not a dream but real flesh and blood. My man. He belonged to me and no one else.