Stormswept: The Bold and the Beautiful by Shannon Curtis

Author:Shannon Curtis [Shannon Curtis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781760080808
Publisher: Momentum
Published: 2014-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Come on, hurry,” Oliver urged Hope, and grasped her hand. He started to drag her back into the forest.

“Wait, can’t we climb over the rocks?” she protested, trying to keep up with him. Her side burned with each breath, and her legs were shaky.

“It’s too treacherous. Besides, we should take cover.”

She followed him into the brush, bending to avoid low-hanging branches and wincing each time she did so. She watched where she stepped carefully, conscious of the ground turning to mud underfoot, then frowned. Oliver wore only one shoe.

“What happened to your shoe?”

“I lost it.”

“So you’ve been walking around barefoot?”

Oliver shrugged. “It didn’t seem so bad earlier.”

Hope shook her head. They’d been walking for what felt like hours. His foot must hurt like hell. How had she not noticed? She was so preoccupied with her own state that she hadn’t considered her friend’s welfare. He’d been so solicitous toward her … guilt rose at her self-absorption. “It’s going to take us ages to get back to the cave.” Maybe they could just rest quietly somewhere, give them a chance to recoup.

Oliver pointed to their right. “Not if we go through there.” She glanced in the direction he pointed. Thick forest. She tried to hide her shudder. There would be spiders. Maybe snakes. Bugs, definitely.

“We were skirting around the island. We can save some time if we cut across it. By my reckoning, if we go through this bush, we can come out and cut back on the other side of the cliff.”

“You really think so?” Hope eyed the brush hesitantly. It just looked so … wild.

Oliver shrugged. “Well, I don’t know for sure, but I’ve got a gut feeling.”

“Oh, well, that’s reassuring.”

Oliver grinned. “Quit complaining, let’s go.”

The thicker canopy gave them some protection from the rain, at least. Hope followed, letting Oliver go ahead and beat back the bushes—along with any spiders or other creatures that happened to be lurking. Of course, following Oliver also meant she could look at him without him noticing. His cotton shirt was stained and sodden, clinging to each muscular curve of his back and shoulders.

His arms swung easily with each stride, and he’d occasionally stop to lift a branch out of her way and she would see the bunching of his biceps, the corded muscle revealing his coiled strength.

Oh, and that butt. She sighed. His wet shorts hid absolutely nothing. The fabric clung to his frame like a second skin. That was one thing she’d never denied about Oliver: he was H.O.T. And not just because he was traipsing through a tropical rain forest. She fanned herself. Great. Now she was getting hot, perving on her friend’s very fine form. Heavens, she was beginning to think like her mother.

She stumbled, and Oliver reacted instantly, turning to steady her with strong hands.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.

We’re marooned on a deserted island, and all I can do is drool over your butt. No, I’m not okay.

“Uh, fine. Thanks.” Oh, great. She sounded all breathless and gushy.

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