“I get it,” she says. “You wanna be left alone.”
She’s right about that. But I can make an exception.
“You can stay,” I say.
I’m beginning to like her.
She gives me a weird look. “Um … okay. Thanks, I guess?”
It’s not what she wants, but it’s not as if she’s getting off this island anytime soon.
“Is that why you put me in that pit?” she asks out of nowhere. “To keep me as a pet?”
I cock my head. Is that what she thinks? That I put her there like an animal?
I’m not that kind of person. I don’t keep people in cages just for fun.
It was for safety.
“No. You attacked me, so I did what I had to do,” I reply.
She frowns, confused. “What?”
So she really doesn’t remember.
“When I rescued you from that metal thing … you attacked me.” I point at the tiny scars on my arms. “This … was you.”
“Oh …” Her face reddens. She sucks on her bottom lip, and for some reason, I’m completely fixated on it. Images run through my mind of sucking on them too.
Fuck, I should learn how to tame my own desires.
They’re getting out of hand.
“Sorry,” she says, clearing her throat. “About that. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just—”
“Scared,” I fill in for her, and I shrug. “The mud does that.”
“That’s what I thought. But why do you put that on?” she asks.
“To scare away the animals,” I reply.
“Oh … I see.”
She nods, chewing on her lip, her eyes slowly drawing down my chest and back up to my face again like she caught herself even though it wasn’t in time. I saw it.
At first, I wasn’t sure if this would work … me and her together.
I was worried she might attack me again, but she’s turning out to be a nice companion. After all, it did shock her when I told her what she did when we first met, so I’m sure she didn’t mean to. Besides, I can help her be more aware of her surroundings.
Tame her a little.
“So what now? Will you lock me up again?” she asks, putting a berry in her mouth.
Grinning, I scratch my beard and reply, “Not if you behave …”
When she spits out her berry, I’ve decided.
I’m not just going to keep her.
I’m going to make her my woman.
Chapter Nine
Accompanying Song: “Devil In Me” by Halsey
Juliet
At night, I lie motionless on the bed as he crawls in beside me.
It’s the first night with a full stomach and without having to sacrifice my morals.
The first night without restraints around my wrists.
But not without mental restraint.
I’m growing increasingly aware of the mountain of a man lying right next to me. I hold my breath whenever he twists and turns. I’m terrified of him touching me, but I’m not scared he’ll hurt me … I’m scared of my own reaction.
Scared of how my body tenses whenever he breathes.
How goose bumps scatter on my skin when he groans in his sleep.
How easy it’s becoming to forget about the outside world.
I shouldn’t let myself slip.
Not here on this island.
Not … with a man like him.
I shiver as his arm touches mine, blood rushing through my veins.
I immediately roll on my side and close my eyes, forcing myself to sleep even if I can’t. I have to stop thinking about him. Have to stop being so aware of his rock-solid, muscular body mere inches away from mine.
What if he turns my way?
What if his …
No, Jules, stop thinking about this shit.
He put you in a goddamn pit.
There’s no way you should ever feel anything but anger for this man. And fear. Lots of fear. Hold it, because it’s the only thing that’ll ever get you off this island.
Not him.
Never him … not as long as I can stop it.
When his hand creeps up along my waist in his sleep, I jolt out of bed.
I can barely breathe.
Memories of the way he touched me when I was crying flash through my head. The sheer need I felt when he did it terrified me. I actually wanted him to keep touching me.
But it’s wrong. It’s so damn wrong.
He captured me, imprisoning me.
I was supposed to do research, not hang around with him…
He’s a savage, and I’m a scientist.
I’m not even supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be home, bringing the bad news about Ollie and Pete. I’m supposed to be doing something. Not just sit here and wait.
No one will find me here if I don’t act. If I don’t do something to be seen.
That’s it. I’ve decided.
I grab the torch and light it, then grab one of the digging tools he made. Before I leave, I glance behind me to make sure he’s still asleep. A loud snore is enough to know, and I shut the door behind me and walk off.