Page 16 of Redemption Island

“Sometimes the things we learn about others come from looking at ourselves as individuals first,” Lillian said, patting my arm. The touch soothed me, and I smiled more genuinely at her words of wisdom. I admired her and appreciated her help with my case.

“Get some rest, honey,” she said, but I’d slept enough lately. It was time for me to wake up and take charge of my life again. I needed to finish my sentence on this island and get back to reality.

16

Day 33 – Tack

“Thank fuck,” I muttered as I crossed over the rocky ledge and found her wading in the pond below. She walked under the waterfall, disappearing for a moment, before returning to stand under the cascade. Brushing back her hair, her face rose to the filtered sunshine streaming through the trees. Just seeing her move without measured steps made my heart skip a beat.

The water was only waist deep, exposing her breasts to me. The globes ripe and peaked at the nipple made my mouth water. I reached for my shoes and began undressing. Her eyes opened, sensing my hungry leer on her. Blood raced through my veins, the naked look of her becoming an addiction to me. She lowered into the water, watching me, meeting my stare. Hastily undressing down to my boxer briefs, I stepped gingerly down the remainder of the rocks and entered the pond.

“Holy fuck! It’s cold!” I shrieked, noticing her eyes playfully gleam in the reflection of the sun. “How do you handle this?” I continued to lower myself incrementally, worrying my dick might shrivel and freeze from the frigid water.

“You get used to it,” she replied, swishing her arms through the water, sending ripples around her shoulders as she crouched in the protection of the pond.

I lowered deeper, taking full breaths to release the chilled tremor rippling up my body. Dipping to my waist, I bent at the knees and disappeared under the water. The cold shock took my breath, and I pressed upward, breaking the surface to find she stood close to me. I shook out my hair and she giggled. The sound stopped me. My lips curled in response. The din was sweet, and my body revived under the cool liquid. I mimicked her position, letting the water lap at my shoulders, arms outstretched to cause a subtle wake.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, noticing the faint purple under her eyes was not as prominent as it had been.

“Much better, thank you.” She bit her lip, as if holding back a smile, and it forced another one from me. Pre-pubescent feelings of giddy awkwardness filled me, and I couldn’t take my eyes from her. We stared at one another for a moment before a question that had been burning inside me had to be asked.

“I came to see you, but I saw someone sleeping under your tree house. Who was he?” The actual question came out harsh, a surge of jealousy nipping through my veins. Strangely, I didn’t like the idea of another man looking after her.

“That’s Franco, Lillian’s driver.” She paused, and I waited, tweaking an eyebrow to suggest I wanted more details. “Lillian is my academic advisor and restoration guardian.”

The title brought me up short. Was she not of legal age? She looked young, but not that young.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-five,” she offered, looking over her shoulders as her arms gently pushed the water around her. I nodded in understanding.

“Garvey is my restoration coach. He and his son, Colton, come for my regular fifteen-day visit. I’m twenty-seven, by the way.”

We were silent a second, water lapping between us. I noticed we were closer to one another than when I initially entered the pond.

“You didn’t tell them about me?” she asked, and I shook my head. Her eyes shifted to the rocky side of the pond. “I see.” She paused. “Why not?” The quietness with which she asked caught my breath. Did she think I was hiding her? Keeping her a secret?

“I don’t want to share you with them,” I said without thinking, offering more than I had admitted to myself lately.

“You did…” she stopped. Was she going to throw it in my face that I’d shared her before? The words would have stung, and I deserved the slap. I stepped closer to her.

“Not like that,” I said.

“I didn’t mean…” she faltered again.

“You did,” I sighed, wiping a wet hand through my hair. “Anyway, what about you? Does this Lillian know about me? What about Franco?” I exaggerated his name, hinting at my jealousy. From his propped position under the tree, I could see he was a large man, meant for clearing jungles and wrestling alligators.

She smiled slowly, and my breath hitched. She was so pretty. “No. I didn’t tell them about you either.” While I wanted to ask her, why not, I didn’t care about the answer.

We tread close enough to one another that our arms could no longer extend before us without bumping into one another.

“Tell me more about Lillian. You said, academic advisor. Are you a student?”

“I’m studying to be an anthropologist. I’m working on my Master’s degree. Or I was…until…” The unspoken information hung between us. “Anyway, Lillian thought this situation would be good for field study. As well as reflective for me.”

I nodded in understanding.

“I work for our family company. Corbin Industries couldn’t have a mark against their name, though. My dad learned of this retributive process and decided it would be good for me. You’re too entitled, he says.” Sarcasm spat as I repeated my father’s words, but she burst into laughter. A trill sound echoed off the rocks and surrounded us.