Page 56 of Exiled

“It’s gonna storm.”

We both stare off at the horizon.

“Well, we’re almost back, aren’t we?”

I wet my lips and look around, squinting. Nodding, I say absently, “Yeah I think so.”

“You think so?”

I shoot Skyler a look. “I’ve never been this way.”

“You said it was a shortcut.”

“Yeah, except the map didn’t fully account for how much more work it is to hike this way.” I grimace and glance away. “It’s shorter, but the difficulty is adding time we no longer have.” I give myself a little shake. “Come on.”

We carefully climb our way across another jagged, rocky slope, using rocks and trees for balance so as not to tip sideways and roll off the face of the earth. From up here, I can hear the waves crashing along the cliff’s edge, but I don’tseewhere it ends. All I can see is a rippling glittering ocean off in the distance turned navy from the thick storm clouds above.

The sun is nothing more than a patch of orange light at this point, doing jack shit to light our way. Thankfully I have my phone. I’m not sure why Skyler hasn’t taken out his, but I don’t ask. I’d rather him have his hands free. I make sure to angle the beam of light so my body’s not blocking it completely.

Just as we reach the other side, I feel the first drop of rain. I look around to see if there’s anywhere we can take shelter to ride it out. If it’s anything like the other storms I’ve experienced in my time here, it won’t last long. But if the electricity bristling my skin, lifting the little hairs around my nape, are anything to go by, this one’s going to be swift, but brutal.

The terrain is tricky enough without having to endure ripping winds and heavy torrential downpours while we do it. Not to mention the fact that we’re surrounded by tall trees, and I’ve seen lightning bolts hit the island that would give the wrath of God a run for its money.

We reach a steep, abrupt shelf where there must’ve been a landslide at some point. A look up and down each way shows it extends as far as the eye can see. It’s not impossible to climb, but it’s going to require a bit of work.

“Here,” I say, stuffing my phone in my pocket. The flashlight shines dully through the denim, but it’s better than nothing and only for a moment. I extend a hand, and Skyler hesitates only a moment before taking it. “Now use your other hand to— Yep, like that, perfect,” I mutter gruffly when he grips the nearest tree trunk.

I use my free hand to cup the underside of his ass. The hand in mine twitches, and I clear my throat, diverting my gaze.Focus. Don’t think about that.

“On three.” I spread my legs, finding a good stance so I don’t fuck my back up. The bottom of his backpack bumps my forearm and I adjust my hold on him, desperately trying to block out the sensation of his surprisingly plush ass filling my palm. “One, two, thr—”

My rough voice cuts out with a grunt as I heave him up. Using my momentum, he uses the tree to swing himself up. He releases my hand, just as my fingers slide away from his bottom. He plants both hands in the dirt, fingers flexing for purchase as he all but crawls the rest of the way up.

The sky flickers with lightning.

Adjusting the straps on my bag, I reach for the same tree Skyler used.

“Here,” he says, reaching for me, but I just shake my head and bring my other hand to the tree, and using my core strength, pull myself up.

In the corner of my eye, I see Skyler step back. I feel his eyes on me as I curl forward and swing myself up with a grunt, landing flat on my feet in a low crouch. Dirt kicks up around me, and I feel the ground start to give, so I jog a couple steps forward, crashing headlong into a hard, lean body.

Warm, dirt encrusted fingers grip my biceps. Our chests bump, and his forehead hits my chin with a dull thud. His hands seem so…smallcompared to the muscle rippling under my skin. He can barely get his hands around me.

“Sorry,” he gasps, shivering.

I grab his shoulder to halt our momentum, then turn him around before my body betrays me again.

“Come on,” I say, brushing past him to take the lead. I find another stick and start hacking away at the dense growth blocking our way. I don’t realize Skyler’s veered off, until I hear him call out.

“Look!”

Pausing mid-step, I whip my head around. Skyler doesn’t even wait for me, he just jogs ahead through a small clearing he spotted.

“Shit,” I mutter, turning to follow. “Hey, wait up, you don’t—”

My voice cuts out when I see what it is he found.

A bridge.

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