Chapter 43
“I’m heading down to the river to fish, baby. Can you collect firewood while you’re out?” Nate calls from outside our shelter.
“Yeah! I’m going down to the beach to feed the fire anyway,” I shout back, tying up my hair and sliding on my flip-flops.
I open the door to our little haven and get smacked in the face with the bright sunlight. I squint for a few seconds, letting my eyes adjust, and then head down the path toward the beach.
The first few weeks we spent here, Nate and I went everywhere together.
He didn’t feel safe letting me wander on my own.
As time went on, we realized we would get more accomplished if we split up.
He spent weeks carving out a clear trail to the beach, river, caves, and all of our favorite foraging spots.
It was his way of ensuring I never got lost. The hollowed paths also deter larger species that rely on the bush to hunt.
Now, they tend to avoid setting up shop in our little corner of the jungle.
Even so, I never leave camp without a sharpened spear and the flare gun that washed ashore inside the lockbox from the cockpit.
I close the door to our shelter—a project Nate is especially proud of—and follow the trail to the beach. It took us about two weeks to secure our living space, but the end result has been nothing short of amazing.
We mixed dirt and sand to create thick mortar for our rock walls, sealing the tiny holes and insulating the small space to keep it warm.
The smooth stone looks even better than the drywall in my childhood home.
We used nail files to help smooth out our cement concoction and ensure we covered all the small nooks and crevices.
After that, we dug out the muddy terrain and fashioned our flooring by shaving down bamboo shoots and tying them together with the yucca fibers.
Large palm leaves soften the ground beneath our feet and retain more of the warmth from the fire.
We crafted a fire-pit stove at the rear of our shelter, designing a stone wall and flooring so that the flames don’t settle into the cemented rock.
We used a hollow log to filter the smoke out of our shelter, creating a small crown at the top of our structure and using the suitcase fabric to ensure proper ventilation.
The smoke releases through the fabric, but we are still protected from the elements.
The internal structure is wide and has a tall rock ceiling, but the overhanging cliff dips low and narrow.
That was beneficial when constructing the door to our refuge.
Nate used the metal from the plane as the main component for the door.
He tunneled a large log and secured it to the side of the rock wall, the way you would when constructing a bushcraft shelter.
He carved out a slot in the wood to slide the metal into, creating a hinge and allowing us to open and close the door easily.
Eventually, Nate went to work on some sitting space and a bed. Not that we do much sitting when our lives consist of daily work maintaining our fires and hunting for food.
We don’t do much sleeping either. But that has nothing to do with work.
I can’t help but smile to myself as I think of our nights together. I bend down to pick up some firewood for our shelter and the beach fire, and a chill sweeps down my spine.
I’m being watched.
I stand up slowly, turning my head from left to right. I don’t see anything, but I know it’s there.
Hunting me.
I let out a short breath and try to suppress my fear.
Fear makes me easy prey. I stand tall, making myself appear more threatening than I am.
I don’t move a muscle, trying to give the impression that I can see my stalker.
The sudden silence of the jungle is unnerving; the only sound I can hear is my light breathing.
Even the birds seem to have abandoned me.
I hear a branch snap and the rustle of leaves coming from my left side.
I slowly turn my head in that direction and meet the vibrant amber eyes of a huntress, hunched low in the tall grass.
Jaguar.
They aren’t typically a danger to humans. Jaguars are shy creatures, and don’t normally attack unless they are provoked or feel threatened.
She feels threatened.
Which means she must have a cub nearby.
My heart races, and time seems to freeze.
The fur of her golden coat, decorated with black rosettes, sways with the soft wind.
Our eyes stay locked, each regarding the motives of the other.
Her powerful muscles clench as if she is going to leap in my direction.
I grip my spear tightly, not wanting to hurt her, but willing to do what it takes to protect myself.
She stands up and inches forward cautiously, no longer in a position of attack.
I hear the rustling of grass behind her and realize it must be her cub.
She watches me intently, like she is trying to determine if I’m a threat.
After what feels like an eternity, she turns her head, stretching her long neck before swinging her head back in my direction.
With one final look, she bends down and lifts her cub in her mouth and runs off.
Jesus. Christ.
I let out the huge breath I was holding.
I can hear my heart pounding in my ears.
I quickly gather the rest of the firewood and run toward the beach.
I am definitely not going to tell Nate about that.
He would never leave my side if I did. The uneasy feeling eventually settles when my feet meet the sand.
We’ve never seen a predator on the beach, so I feel the most comfortable when I’m out here.
I feed the bonfire, adding more rubber from the suitcases to turn the smoke black, then head to our lobster traps.
I squeal with excitement when I see we’ve captured two large crabs.
We are definitely eating well tonight. I grab our dinner, drop them into my foraging basket, and then bundle the remaining firewood and head back to the shelter to drop it all off.
Nate isn’t back when I return, so after securing the crab, I take off toward the river.
I reach the riverbank and find Nate swimming over by the waterfall.
I sit down in the mud and watch as he does a few laps back and forth.
Nate has definitely kept up his exercise routine since we’ve been here.
Now that we are back to consuming a normal amount of calories, it makes sense to stay physically fit. Especially in this harsh environment.
I just happen to stay fit in other ways.
Nate (Present)
She thinks I don’t see her sitting there, watching me. I put on a show a little longer, letting her relax for a minute. I’ve got plans for her, and they do not include rest.
“If you look…you also have to touch. I don’t make the rules, Pip,” I tease, keeping my back to her.
“What exactly do I have to touch?”
“I have something in mind. Come on in,” I throw back, finally turning around. She raises an eyebrow, shaking her head in exasperation.
“I left my suit back at the shelter,” she mumbles.
“How dare you force me to swim with my beautiful, naked girlfriend.” I wink, prompting her to roll her eyes.
She takes off her clothes, dipping her feet in the water to assess the temperature, before lowering her body and wading waist deep.
“I’m in. What now?”
“Gotta swim out to me, Pip.”
She sighs. “You’re annoying me.” She starts swimming out to me, a chagrined look on her face. “I can’t touch here,” she whines, making me chuckle.
I swim closer to her, and she grabs ahold of my shoulders, wrapping her legs around my waist. Her eyes pop out. “Nate Westin. Where are your swimming trunks?”
“I had a feeling you’d come find me,” I say, as if that explains everything. I start to swim toward the waterfall, getting so close the water pelts us in the face. The cool droplets fly at her mouth, causing her to sputter.
“Oh yeah? Do you have plans to drown me while naked or something?” she says with a playful grin, swatting the water away from her face.
I laugh at her but continue to swim around the falls as she hangs on to me.
Finally, we make it behind the cascade of rushing water.
I turn her in my arms so that she can get a better look.
The curtain of sparkling water obscures our view of the jungle and creates a rainbow effect on the river surrounding us.
I set her down on the eroded, rocky hollow, and grip the edge to keep me floating.
The water rushes down on all sides, cocooning us within our own little private paradise.
“Wow.” She gasps. “This is beautiful.” The sound of the falls roar loudly, making her words sound muffled.
“Yeah…it is.” She looks back to find that my eyes have never left her. The pink blush I love so much creeps up her cheeks. It will never get old; this affect I have on her.
I reach up to brush wet strands of hair behind her ear as the thunderous water tumbles around us.
I lean forward and capture her lips with mine, sliding my tongue along the bottom until she opens for me.
Gripping her hips, I pull her forward, allowing her to wrap her legs around me again.
The rocky ridge sits slightly underwater, aligning our bodies perfectly.
Our kiss quickly ignites into something much more intense, our bodies begging for friction.
Ellie grinds against me, causing me to thrust in response.
Her hand dips underwater, gripping my cock in her tight fist. I let out a primal groan, closing my fist over hers and removing it.
She grins, clearly happy with my reaction. “I thought I was supposed to touch you? Weren’t those the rules?” she goads, tormenting me with that sexy, confident smirk.
I wrap my fist in her long, auburn hair, twisting until I control the movement of her head. I tug down—hard—tilting her head back until her eyes meet mine. “I didn’t tell you what to touch me with.”
Her eyes sparkle. “If not my hands, then what?” she taunts.
I pull her off the ledge and back into the river, placing her hands on the edge to keep her upright. I lift up onto the wet stone, my cock springing out of the water, commanding her attention.
“Suck.”
She smiles wide before saluting. “Yes, sir.” She lifts herself out of the water a bit so that she can reach my cock. Sliding her lips down my shaft, she sucks hard, causing me to grip the ledge with white knuckles.
“Fuuuuck, baby. Your mouth is so good. So fucking good.”
She bobs her head up and down, taking me all the way to the back of her throat. I fist her hair again, holding her there until she starts to gag.
“Damn, baby. Shit.” I groan, the sounds coming out of me are animalistic. “You suck me so well, don’t you?” She nods her head before releasing my cock with a pop and moving down toward my balls. I release a long, low moan as she sucks them into her mouth.
If I don’t stop her now, I’m going to come.
I pull her head back, still gripping her hair.
She licks her lips, looking up at me with hooded eyes.
She takes her fingers, wiping the pre-come around her lips, and sucks them into her mouth.
Not wasting a single drop of me. Her eyes are dazed.
Her cheeks are flushed. She is so incredibly turned on.
My girl needs to come.
I release her hair and grab her waist, hoisting her up into my lap. She straddles me, moaning when she feels me rub against her clit. I lean forward, tasting me on her mouth, and I thrust up into her without warning.
“Fuck!” I roar, her tight pussy strangling my cock in this position.
She doesn’t even wait to adjust to my size.
She immediately starts bouncing up and down, throwing her arms around my neck and tossing her head back as she takes what she needs from me.
I thrust up into her, matching her pace, making sure to rub her clit with my movements.
“Nate, Nate, Nate,” she chants, shaking her head back and forth like she’s possessed.
“That’s it, baby. Take what you need. Ride me hard, such a good girl,” I praise, and she whimpers in response. “Look, baby.” I lean back so that Ellie can watch as I enter her body. “Look how well you take my cock, like you were made just for me.”
“Yes,” she exclaims. I can tell she’s getting close.
“Were you made for me, Pip? Are you mine? Tell me you’re fucking mine.”
“I’m yours, Nate.” She sobs, chasing after her release as it continues to build. She’s drenching me, making it nearly impossible to hold back any longer.
“Who do you belong to, Ellie?” I demand, needing to hear her say it.
“You, Nate!”
“Damn right, Pip. Now come all over your cock.”
She explodes.
Taking me right over the edge with her. I fill her with my come, making sure she takes in every last drop.
She drops her head onto my shoulder, breathing hard and nearly purring with satisfaction.
“Were you showing me the waterfall or did you always have plans to defile me among the fish?” she jokes several minutes later.
“I was naked when you got here, Pip. What do you think?” I tease, and she smacks my chest lightly.
“Well, I’ve got a surprise for you too.” She beams with excitement.
“What’s that?” I ask, grinning at her animated smile.
“We are eating good tonight! We caught two crabs in the trap.” She smiles wide, thrilled to share her news.
“That’s great, baby. I definitely plan to eat well tonight, but I’m not talking about the crab.” I wink before swimming back to the shore, hearing her burst out in laughter behind me.