Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
We walk out, and when we get to the sandy beach, I release his hand and reach down, taking off my wedges, dropping them where we stand, and then putting my hand back in his before we start walking again.
“The women are beautiful, that’s for sure,” I say as we start walking.
“Not as beautiful as you.”
I blush at his words, then I spot some kayaks at the edge of the water and look to Nicholas.
“Do you like the water?” he asks. I nod. I love the water nearly as much as I love running—which I haven’t been able to do since I got here.
“I’m not really dressed for water, though.” I bite my lip as he pulls his shirt over his head and drops it.
He doesn’t have a dad bod, that’s for sure; he clearly works out. Nicholas already has on swim trunks, and he reaches for the kayak, pulling it half in the water. “I’m sure you will dry.” Nicholas looks to me, and before I can second guess myself, I pull my shirt off and shimmy my skirt down my legs. I’m in a black bra and matching panties, and when I look up at Nicholas, his eyes are already homed in on me.
I smirk at his reaction.
He coughs and looks away.
“This way, I will be fine.” I walk over and step in, and he pushes the kayak out before I feel him get in behind me. He takes us out on the water, and I sit back watching. The ocean waves are calming, and it helps ease my stress just a little bit.
“You seem a bit lost today,” he says. “Quiet.”
I turn back to look at him, and he’s watching me with thoughtfulness in his expression. “I just found out last night my sister is married, and she never bothered to tell me.”
“You close to her?”
I shrug. “I’m all she has, and I’m always saving her ass. So you’d think the least she could do would be to send a card telling me.”
“I’m an only child, so I would be no assistance in that matter.”
“Have you been married before?”
“No. And to be honest, it’s never appealed to me.”
“Maybe you are searching for the wrong women.” I smile.
“You? Do you want marriage?” he asks, throwing my question back at me.
“I thought I did. To be committed to someone and have someone love me unconditionally. But now, I don’t know. It’s a joke. There are too many people who end up in divorce. So what would be my luck finding my soul mate? To be honest, I have no idea. It seems a pipe dream to me.”
“I could see many men choosing to make you their priority. There is something special about you, and it’s not just your boobs,” he says, making me chuckle. “Though, from what I see, they look great.” I smile at his words as we turn around, and when we do, I look back to the shore and my body freezes. “Thea.”
“Yeah,” I say, biting my lip.
“Do you happen to be in some kind of trouble?” he asks in a hushed tone, even though they can’t hear us.
“Ummm… no.”
“Well, this will be twice I’ve been directed away from you.”
Atlas stands there on the bank, waiting until we get closer.
“Sir,” Nicholas says as he gets out. Nicholas offers me his hand, and when I pull up, I look to Atlas who’s staring at me. His eyes skim my body before he looks back at Nicholas. “Leave us,” he says.
Nicholas looks at me and rubs his hands through his hair as if he’s going to tell him no.
“It’s okay, I will hopefully see you later.”
“I doubt it,” Atlas says.
Nicholas leans in and kisses my cheek before he picks up his shirt and walks away while I stand there awkwardly. Looking for my clothes, I see he has them clutched in his hands, and he’s squeezing them. “You take your clothes off for everyone?” he asks with his head inclined.
“Give them back,” I say, holding out my hand.
“You like to get undressed for strangers, flirt with them?”
I throw my hands up in the air. “You have to be shitting me, right? Tell me you are joking right now?” I ask in disbelief. “You bring me to this island, for what?” I yell. “For what, Atlas?”
“You are right, you are nothing but a whore.” He throws my clothes at me. “Get dressed, you are leaving.”
“Why the fuck did you even bring me if you didn’t want me to seduce a man?” I pull my skirt up my legs and look at him. “Is this not the whole point of this island?” I huff.
A scream is heard and we both turn.
Atlas takes off before I can, and soon my feet are stomping behind to catch him as we reach the source of the scream.