His thumb makes bigger circles, and, like a desperate, horny teenager, I plunge my hand into his boxers to find his erect cock. He stiffens, and sucks in a deep breath, but no noise escapes his throat. He begins fucking me harder with his fingers, circling my clit faster and faster. I match the pace with his cock. My hand works up and down frantically, desperately, wanting so much more. I’m on the edge, ready to go over. My entire body fills with warmth, and I can’t hold back a second longer.

I turn my head, and release my lip before biting down onto the flesh on his chest. I come so hard my body jerks, and my teeth draw blood. I feel him stiffen, make a hissing sound, and then he’s coming too, hot spurts of semen filling my palm. His body is rigid, mine is convulsing, yet we’re both utterly silent. I release his chest, and slowly exhale a shaky breath as I slide my hand from his boxers. I find a stray corner of the blanket, and I wipe his release away.

He slides his hands from my panties, and I hear him suck my arousal off. I want to whimper and roll, straddling him and fucking him so damned hard that both of us pass out, but I know I can’t. I just can’t. I have to do this right. I have to know he wants me. We both lay in silence, and I resume my position of lying against his chest, listening to his heart slowly stop thudding and I know…I just know…

What started out as a way of escape has just become something more to me.

Something so much more.

How the hell am I supposed to keep playing a game when I no longer care for the rules?

Hoist the colors!

I wake in the morning, and I feel a hard hot body pressing against mine. My entire body begins to tingle with the knowledge of Hendrix’s presence. My stomach does a little somersault. I let my mind go back to what went on last night, and my cheeks flush. We got frisky in the sleeping bag, like two teenagers. Like it was forbidden and we weren’t supposed to be doing it. Perhaps we weren’t. That’s why it feels like this. So wrong, so right, a mixture of emotion that blends in the oddest way.

I move gently, and Hendrix’s arm slips off my stomach. He was holding me. Like I matter. I don’t matter; we both know that. So why is he here protecting me? Is it purely because he wants to make this deal, and he doesn’t want it to go bad if something happens to me, or is it because he cares more than he’s letting on? Are my seductions actually working? Or is it a connection that was going to happen, no matter how things went down? I’ve felt a spark since the moment I laid eyes on him. Does he feel it, too?

I gently pull myself from the sleeping bag, and get to my knees, peering around. I find the shirt I was wearing last night, and pull it on as well as my jeans. Everyone is sleeping, and I let my eyes fall on Eric, who is leaning against a rock looking awfully uncomfortable. I tilt my head and listen for rain. It’s drizzling outside, but the urge to go out and breathe in the fresh air is far stronger than my hesitation over getting wet. I get to my feet and very carefully tiptoe out of the cave. The moment I straighten, I suck in a gasped breath.

It. Is. Breathtaking.

There are no other words to describe it. Even through the drizzling rain, and the rolling grey clouds in the sky, it’s utterly gorgeous. The trees are thick, covered in a fine furry layer of moss. They range from tall and slim to short and bushy. The sound of birds chirping and bees buzzing fills the air. I can smell a mix of pine, salt, and fresh cool air. I shiver, and wrap my arms around myself as I take a step forward. I need to see more.

I walk out through the trees, and peer over at the ship sitting on the sand. It looks as though it’s been thrown up there without a care in the world. Seeing it like this makes me realize just how beautiful it really is. I just pictured it as an old, raggedy ship. It’s not. It’s absolutely a work of art. It’s massive, and the dark wood that it’s made from really gives it something extra, like it just completes it. The flags are white, the detail in the wood is exquisite, and the mermaid off the front just tops it off. It’s divine. I rub my arms, and peer around at the beach. It’s hard to see because of the fine layer of mist covering the water, but I already know that the water is blue and crystal clear.

I wiggle my toes in the damp sand, and then turn and walk back into the trees. My foot aches as I begin walking toward the sound of running water, but it doesn’t stop me. Curiosity far outweighs pain in this case. I trek through the trees, following the sound of water. I bat away mosquitos, and some other little flying insects, and keep on shoving through. I near closer to the water, and when I finally see the crystal clear lake topped with a waterfall, I lose all my breath.

Oh.

My.

I didn’t realize how cramped I’d been on the ship until this. The urge to strip off is strong enough that I find myself peering through the trees to make sure no one is around before gripping the hem of my shirt and pulling it up. I lift it off and toss it on the ground, and then discard my jeans. I hesitate with my bra and panties, but decide to leave them on. It’s not worth the risk if someone decides to come down here. I find an entry point, and I slowly sink into the cool crisp water.

Oh, heaven.

I go under, letting the cool water soothe my slightly throbbing head. I make my way over to the waterfall, and little splatters of water and mist hit my face as I near closer. I climb up a few rocks, slipping a few times, before finally stepping underneath it. The water hitting my body is like an all-over massage. I groan and close my eyes, tilting my head back and letting it wash over me. It’s almost erotic, like you need a body pressed up against you to make the experience that much more real.