The doctor had kept on carefully washing my foot.
It was odd but nice.
“Now, as for the shoes being needed on the beach. That’s a good point, Charity, but the rule was made, and you broke it. We’ll deal with this another time.” He looked up. “Other foot, please.”
“Oh. Good?” I muttered, exchanging feet. Why was he cleansing my feet?
The doctor stood, gave me a towel, and watched as I dried my feet. “The staff will get your sandals in the morning. And yes, after this, shoes are not required on the sandy beaches.”
“How many of those beach—”
“There are two on the island, this one is mostly gravel and rocks at the shoreline. I have a new rule also, for everyone. We do not speak ill of each other when outside of our…” He made the air quote sign with his fingers. “Our scenes.” I opened my mouth, but he was too fast. “When is a scene a scene? When Cassius or I say it is.”
“Right. I get it.” So I couldn’t decide. That was expected. Cassius stepped up to drop his shoes by the entry with the doctor’s.
I waited and ended up following their backs, a little muddled at how they assumed I would be there, tagging along behind them. If anything cemented that this island was inescapable, it was not the long, mountainous waves I’d glimpsed in the deeper sea beyond the island, it was this blasé attitude to my whereabouts.
“That means no calling her a slut or a bitch,” the doctor explained.
“Wow.” I said that silently. He meant that?
“Okay. Interesting. It’s your call, doctor.”
Cassius was being accommodating, and I was walking along with my mouth agape. This made it seem as if they had not planned to share me. The doctor had mentioned Lost Girls, as if it were a label he used often. He seemed entirely too kind and stable for a psychopathic murderer, but how many Lost Girls could one man have fall into his hands by accident? Where were they now?
Grabbing a handful of the dress to make it easier to jog, I trotted a little closer as we neared the stairs. “Um, doctor?”
“Yes.” He spoke over his shoulder but kept going.
“I’m to go back to that bedroom, yes?” I was in total subservient mode and cringed at myself. I may as well do a curtsey.
“No. My bedroom has a large enough bed for all of us. The bathroom is also big.” Finally, he halted and faced me. “Did you think I’d let you sleep alone, after everything today?”
Yes, I absolutely had.
Heart pitter-pattering at his measured stare, I said, “No?”
“She lies badly, doesn’t she?” Cassius was grinning at my discomfort.
I didn’t dare curse either of them for being smug. They turned away but the doctor’s words were clear. “We’ll both help you shower before bed.”
Fuck.
“And there will be no underwear for you tonight, maybe not ever again while on the island.”
“I’m liking this more and more every minute, doc,” Cassius winked back at me then stuck his hands in his pockets. “I will have to phone my boss tomorrow to clear staying here. And do you have clothes I can borrow, or will I get them sent over?”
“That’s all fine. I should have some casual pants and shirts for you. I will clear it with Jacob, if necessary. He and I know each other well. Be aware, I leave for the mainland for two to three days every week.”
“I can take care of her then.”
“No. You will not be here when I am not.”
Cassius shrugged. “It’s your island.”
That sounded promising. I’d be alone for all those days. I prayed the island was truly idyllic instead of some creepy horror movie vibe, like in theLostseries. The men had reached the stairs and were already half a flight ahead. I sighed and began to climb. My legs had somehow been filled with sand from the beach.
Somewhere between the first and the second floor I had a small revelation. They both had said they like seeing me struggle, and as their prey, I could see the attraction of being chased and wanted. It was the nitty gritty of what they might do, with open slather on my body, that was my problem.