Page 102 of Adrift

“Thank you for the dinner, Dante. It was really good.”

“I don’t know about it, really. But with what I had to work with, it was fucking fantastic. I’m brilliant.”

I have to shake my head. “You’re feeling better?”

“So much so.” He takes my empty bowl and puts it by the door flap.

“Where are they?” I look outside. I can almost see the trail from where I’m sitting. Angry clouds move across the tops of the trees.

“They’ll be here soon enough,” Dante says with his normal cocky tone.

I shiver.

“Are you cold, Sassy?” He pulls the flap closed.

“It’s crazy right? How can we be cold here?”

“It’s a lot—the stupid alpha dog shit, the storm. But we’ve got pots. This is a gold star day!” He opens his arms. “Come here.”

I pause for a second.

“Unless you don’t want to.” He says it with a smirk and a cocked eyebrow.

“No. I . . .”

“You’re worried. I get it. I’m just going to get you warm.”

Am I worried? What am I worried about? The storm? The guys fighting? Or being alone with Dante? Which is crazy.

That’s crazy, right?

I crawl over to him. I’m about to lean into him, but I realize my zipper jacket is dripping. I pull it off and hook it to the side of the raft. It won’t get dry in here, but at least it won’t get anyone wet either. “The storm is really picking up.” Rain pelts the top of the raft.

Dante moves from my side and pushes at the few places on the ceiling that the water collects, sending it down the outside of the raft’s sidewalls. “We’re good, Sassy.”

I put my head on his shoulder and take in a deep breath. And glare up at him. “How do you smell good? I smell like dead crabs and seaweed.”

His laugh fills the raft at the same time the ground shakes from a lightning strike. An unnatural squeal comes out of me.

“You smell like home.” He rubs his hand up and down my arm.

“Yes, well, I guess your home stinks of a clogged garbage disposal.”

He laughs again. “You do not smell like dead crabs or a garbage disposal. Sassy. Come here.” He pulls me around to his front, and I snuggle into his chest. Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder hit somewhere on the island.

“I’m doing okay. I’m doing okay.” It’s a mantra I keep repeating to myself. I know Calvin doesn’t think we’re going tobe rescued. But I do. I believe it. I just have to say it over and over and make it true. I will manifest the shit out of this. The storm is gone. The guys are getting along. A nice ship takes us off the island—back to dry clothes and pizza.

“You’re better than okay.” He kisses the top of my head.

And I flatten my hand on his chest. His heart is constant and strong, and I’m trying to focus on it instead of the storm. My stupid fear of storms has come to bite me in the ass more than once. I’m going to get over it.

When I tilt my head up, his eyes darken. I know I shouldn’t. It’s not the right time, but I can’t stop myself. I tilt my chin far back and take in his lips. My heart does sprints inside my chest. His kiss is firm, but while I might have started it, I’m no longer in control. The others might be fighting for top dog position, but Dante knows who he is. It doesn’t take long before he’s hiked me up to straddle his waist. I’m on top, but I’m as much in control as someone driving an amusement park car ride.

“Sassy.” He holds the sides of my cheeks and locks eyes with me in the low light. I’m chained to his gaze. His eyes aren’t solid brown. They are amber with flakes of deep blue. He has a square jawline and a dimple on his right cheek that gives him a celebrity chef look. The man is like artwork, artwork that smells of cookies and fresh laundry. It’s easy to forget how attractive he is with his mouth continually running.

A wiry smile takes over his handsome face. “What are you thinking, Sassy?” He shifts a bit, and his hard cock hits me in just the right spot. I move back, doing it again. Loving how it feels. I’m chewing on my lower lip. “Damn, Sassy. I’m trying to be a gentleman, but if you do that again?—”

I slide up on him, and he full-on growls, leaving a trail of goosebumps down my arms. Then my back is on the bottom of the raft. “You’re mine now, Sassy, understood?”

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