Stranded With The Billionaire by Brynn Paulin

Chapter Five

~ Lily ~

I was sitting on the beach, my arms wrapped around my legs, when Silas returned. Alone. I guessed that meant no one else was on the island. I’d already braced myself for that possibility, so I just returned my gaze to the brilliant sunset in the distance.

From my estimation, he’d been gone at least three hours. I’d sat right here for the past hour or so, the crank flashlight beside me, as twilight had begun to stretch across the sky. I’d collected debris for a while before that and lugged it all back to camp. There’d been nothing to write home about. I’d hoped for my purse, since it contained my passport and other ID, but no dice.

Silas dropped down beside me, taking a pose similar to mine.

“Find anything interesting?” I finally asked.

“No people. Lots of trees and ocean.” His voice was flat, edged with the defeat I suspected he didn’t want to admit. “You find anything interesting?”

I shook my head, also feeling disheartened but not wanting to go there. “Some cushions from the boat. Your tacklebox—I’m pretty sure that’s what it is. Some other random stuff. A pan. I took it all to the clearing. I didn’t know what we’d end up needing. I tried to check out the other buildings, but I couldn’t get the doors open. One might be a kitchen, though I’m not sure how much good that’ll do us.”

“Did you eat something?”

I shook my head. I wasn’t really hungry, though I should be. “I had a little more water.”

He stood and reached out a hand toward me. “C’mon. Let’s eat something and go to bed. Things will look better in the morning.”

Or not.

With a small sigh, I placed my hand in his and let him pull me to my feet. After scooping up the light, we headed back to the clearing, the shadows dramatically deepening as the trees blocked out the sun.

“If we’re here for very long, I should hack down a wider path through here,” Silas said.

“We should probably build a signal fire.”

“Probably. We’ll do that in the morning. Did you see any boats or planes?”

“No.”

He cranked the light as we walked. Once we reached the clearing, he sat me down and handed me a bottle of water. I tried to ignore the worry in his eyes. It had been absent earlier today, giving me hope. Since he’d left for his walk, his demeanor had shifted, and I didn’t like it.

“We still have the beacon going, right?”

“Yeah. After we get the signal fire setup, I want to explore the interior of the island. Find a fresh-water source, what kind of edible vegetation is here. These granola bars and few bottled waters won’t last us long.”

I stopped mid-sip and pulled my bottle from my mouth. Maybe, I should save the rest of it.

“Drink it,” he ordered. “You have to stay hydrated, especially with how hot it is here. I own an island, remember? I know how to get water.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m pretty sure your circumstances there are a lot different from this.”

He lifted a shoulder. “Yes, but I did a lot of research before I moved to this region. The islanders have taught me a lot, too. Besides, we’ll get some water from our rain catcher, too.”

That made me feel a little better.

“I saw crab while I was walking. Do you eat that? I saw quite a few coconut crabs.”

I nodded. “And fish. I’ve been mostly pescatarian for about eight years.”

As silence grew, both of us slowly finishing our water, I stood. “I’m going to move this stuff inside in case it rains again,” I said, pointing to the pathetic amount I been able to gather. Maybe, there’d be more tomorrow. Or maybe, we’d get rescued tomorrow.

Silas joined me. “I’ll help you. The coconut crabs like to steal things, too. Natives nicknamed them robber crabs because they’re pretty opportunistic about taking stuff.”

Together, we moved everything inside in one trip, both of us putting our empty bottles with the supplies. Everything was a commodity now, even what we’d usually consider as trash. Silas checked the cabin to be sure we hadn’t gotten any visitors after nightfall. While he surveyed everything, I headed toward the clothes I’d lain out to dry earlier. My things from my suitcase were strewn over almost half the barracks as I tried to dry them. With the humidity, I was afraid it might take forever. One of my tanks and my sleep shorts were pretty dry. I looked at Silas.

“I need to change.”

“Okay,” he replied, not taking my hint.

“Can you go outside, turn off the light, turn around, or something?”

For the first time since he’d returned, humor filled his eyes, and he smirked, his grin downright devilish. I just knew he was thinking “or something.”

“Silas…” I gritted out.

“Fine,” he laughed. “I’ll go outside while you change, and I’ll…take care of business. Do you need to…?” He waved his hand toward the door as he asked if I needed to relieve myself without saying so. It was kind of charming how he tried to be so careful with what he said to me.

“No, I’m good. Probably not enough to drink and too much sweat today.” I sniffed. “You really don’t want to sleep in the same bed with me; trust me.”

“Babe, I was just sitting right beside you. You don’t stink. Nice try. And tomorrow, you better drink more water. Maybe, have one before you go to bed now.”

“Just go, so I can change.”

* * * *

~ Lily ~

I’d finished changing and climbed into bed when he entered the cabin. Without a word, he shut the door then turned off the flashlight. Even though I’d made him leave while I’d put on my pajamas, I didn’t close my eyes as he disrobed. I knew he knew I was watching, but he didn’t seem to care. A strange, silent tension seemed to buzz back and forth between us, a knowing, an anticipation, a link that strengthened with each moment. It both worried and excited me. How long before it was unbreakable? Should I stop it now? Could I?

Through the darkness, his gaze never left mine while he stripped off his shirt, boots and socks, and khaki pants. Due to the moonlight through the windows, I could tell he still wore dark boxer-briefs. I also saw the large bulge in the front. My mouth watered, and I swallowed hard. My thighs pressed together as my panties dampened, my core seeming to vibrate with my need for him—a need I’d never felt for anyone before now. That, too, worried and excited me.

I struggled to keep my shuddering breathing even as he moved toward me. This was it. He really intended to sleep in the same bed with me. I wasn’t sure I could do that without coming undone. He hadn’t even touched me yet! In this small bunk, there was no way he wouldn’t be pressed against me. Our bodies would definitely touch. If not our hands and mouths and—

Don’t go there, Lily!

I started to scoot closer to the wall to make room for him.

“No, baby, stay where you are,” he commanded, making me freeze where I was. To my surprise, he climbed over me. For a moment, his weight pressed over me. Though he kept most of it off me, his balance on his arms and legs, it was the faintest preview of what it would feel like to have him over me when he claimed me. When he settled against my back, I stared into the darkness, wide-eyed. Wait a minute. Was I considering it a done deal that we’d fuck?

“Shh,” he whispered. “Stop thinking so hard.” His arms went around me, and I suppressed a groan as he pulled me flush to him, every hard line against my back. “I want to face the door,” he told me, “and I want to hold you like this. Nothing’s happening until you’re ready. Until you tell me you’re mine and only mine.”

“Okay,” I whispered, my throat dry. The man overwhelmed me.

He kissed the back of my head and just…held me. As we lay there in silence, our breathing syncing, he was true to his word. There was no denying the hard, thick length pressed against my ass, but he didn’t try anything. He didn’t do anything to try to coax me to his way of thinking. Slowly, I settled into a restful sleep, feeling safe in his arms.

That is…until the storm hit.

I startled awake at the screaming wind. The palm trees seemed to groan around us, their fronds whipping wildly. Rain battered the building and came through the open windows, splashing onto the concrete floor. As the violence swirled outside, I was grateful to be in Silas’ arms—not that it had been a great hardship before that.

Also awakened, Silas kissed my temple. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

He left me alone in the bed as he circled the room. Quickly, he strong-armed the shutters closed over the windows, then he was back, and I was once again in his arms.

“We’re safe; don’t worry,” he assured me as he pulled me close again. He couldn’t know or guarantee that, but I felt better in his embrace. I did feel safe. And before long, despite the violent storm raging outside, I was asleep again.

When I woke later, I was still tight in his arms, still surrounded by a sense of utter safety and rightness. He breathed evenly behind me, sound asleep, and I longed to trace my fingers along his arms and feel the light hair under my palms. I didn’t because I didn’t want to wake him. Still, the more time I spent with him, the more I wanted to get to know him—his body and his personality. His soul and his physical being.

Okay, now I was waxing poetic, and I really needed to get up before I did something I’d regret later. Besides, unlike last night, I really needed to pee.

Carefully, I started to extract myself from his hold. His arms tightened, and his nose buried in the back of my neck as he groaned, the sound full of pleasure. I couldn’t help but feel the steely length nestled against my backside.

“Where ya going?” he asked, his voice a sleepy rasp.

“Outside. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Go back to sleep.”

“M’kay.” He nuzzled my shoulder, and I almost decided to stay right there. But I had an urgent need to get outside. As soon as I was free from his embrace, I finished getting out of bed and grabbed my sandals. Outside the door, I slipped them on.

After taking care of morning business, I headed toward the beach, carrying a big stick. In bed last night Silas had told me more about the robber crabs he’d spied on his walk. Apparently, since the island was uninhabited and they had no natural predators here, they’d grown large—bigger than your average a small dog. They wouldn’t attack, but he’d told me to carry a stick so I could scare them away. Islanders considered them a treat, so I figured we were lucky to have a food source like that.

Breaking the tree line, I went right for the water. Squatting at the edge, I scrubbed my hands with sand then swished them in the waves as I looked around.

Suddenly, my eyes went wide, and I stood straight. No… No, no, no! The boat was gone. The boat. Our beacon.

A tear rolled down my cheek as I stared at where it had been. For a moment, I considered going back to camp to tell Silas, but really, what could he do? Wade out looking for it? And then what? I just prayed it hadn’t gone too far or else our beacon was gone, making it a bazillion times harder to find us. From what I knew of the area, there were hundreds of little islands. Many of them were uncharted. We were two needles in a watery haystack.

Okay…the boat had a huge gash in the side. How far could it really go? How far did the Titanic drift?

Stop it! Deep breaths, Lily. You’re not any worse off than yesterday. Not really.

Closing my eyes, I planted my feet in the sand and turned my palms forward at my side. After a few moments, I brought my palms together in front of me then remained still, just breathing as I found my center and quieted my mind. The sounds of birds blended with the gently lapping waves and my rhythmic breathing as I held the position. Then slowly, I began gliding through the twelve positions of sun salutation. My muscles stretched through the yoga poses by rote, calming me with their familiarity even here. My mind rolled into my gratitudes, further calming me and improving my outlook.

I was alive here on this beautiful island.

Silas was with me; I wasn’t alone.

We’d both survived the wreck uninjured.

We’d been able to salvage some supplies.

We’d found a shelter, and we didn’t have to build one or repair it.

As my thoughts went on, a sense of wellbeing overcame me, and I knew I’d be able to face the day. Having promised Silas I’d be back in a few minutes—and it had been longer than that—I finished my exercise with a single rotation through the cycle. After holding the last pose for an extra minute, I slowly dropped my hands and rolled my shoulders then opened my eyes.

Turning, I startled to find Silas sitting in the sand a few yards away. His arms rested on his bent knees as he watched me. He wore khaki shorts and nothing else, showing off his ripped torso. That six-pack… Mouthwatering.

My hand flattened on my chest.

“You surprised me,” I laughed.

“You said you’d be right back. I was worried, so I came looking for you. Then… Hell, Lily, that was beautiful.”

Heat burned into my cheeks. “Thanks. I started doing yoga in high school. It helps me…deal with things.”

“You do that every morning?”

“Much as I can. I mean if I’m stuck in an airport or something like yesterday, no, but the rest of the time, yes. I usually practice in the evening, as well. I have different routines, depending on what’s going on. That one,” I nodded behind me, “the sun salutation, it’s my fallback.” Wanting to change the subject from me, I turned the topic onto him. “What do you do for exercise? You know, besides rescuing drowning damsels, wrestling boats and lugging luggage.”

He huffed a laugh. “Well, generally, I like to swim and run. Other than that, just work on the plantation. You know, get away from my desk and get outside.”

I looked at his tanned, smooth muscles. Yeah, he spent a bit of time outside. I suspected he did more than he let on since he had a hell of a six-pack and not a bit of fat. I really, really wanted to run my hands over the ridges of muscle to see what they felt like in real life. I’d read about such things but thought they were the thing of fiction and of Hollywood stars with personal trainers. Nothing I’d ever encounter one-on-one.

And you’re not “encountering” them now! Geez, Lily!

Dragging my gaze away, I glanced over to where the boat had been. “Boat’s gone,” I said.

His head whipped that direction. “Shit!”

He hadn’t noticed? He’d been that distracted by watching me? A new warmth swept through me, this one having nothing to do with a blush and everything to do with the moisture forming between my thighs.

Silas levered to his feet and stalked over there. Curious, I followed along.

Together, we stood on the shore, waves lapping around our toes, then he pointed. “There.”

Through the shimmering, clear waters, I saw the distorted image of the craft. “Good, it’s not too far.”

“No, but it’s probably farther away than it looks. Still, close enough though. Let’s pray it doesn’t drift any more out to sea.”

Reaching down, he clasped my hand. “Ready for breakfast?”

“Mmm, granola bars,” I deadpanned.

“Maybe. Maybe not.” His fingers laced with mine, he guided me back toward what I now considered camp. After sitting me down on one of the stumps we’d arranged near the future-fire—we still hadn’t gotten one burning yet—he headed into our cabin. A moment later, he returned with his go-bag and a couple bottles of water. He handed me one then sat on the log beside mine, the pack on his lap. He pulled out a large, plastic-covered packet and dropped it on the ground beside him. Whatever was inside was red.

“I’ll set that up after we eat. I should have done it last night, but I’m actually glad I didn’t. If I had, it might have been gone in the storm along with our boat.”

“What is it?”

“Basically a huge flag that says rescue me.”

I nodded, thinking yeah, we didn’t want to lose that. We needed to do whatever we could to signal boats or planes. “Maybe, we should take it down every night so it doesn’t get blown away if it storms while we’re sleeping.”

He nodded. “No one will see it in the dark, anyway.”

“What else do you have in there? You said you might feed me something that wasn’t granola bars.” Parched, I opened the water and took a sip.

“Patience, grasshopper,” he laughed. He removed two foil-like packets and handed me one.

“Tuna to-go? You were holding out on me.”

He shrugged. “Thought it might be a good breakfast before we get down to some hard work. We have the water catcher, but we need to find a better water source today. Hopefully, there’s one nearby.”

“Hopefully,” I echoed. I wouldn’t want to miss the rescuers. And hopefully, they’d be here today.