Stranded(23)

“Lust?”

“Yes! And passion. Tell me I’m wrong if you want, but I know you well enough to realize you want the same thing. I’m just not going to be a hypocrite about it.” Rafe strode toward the cave entrance with every intention of getting India back.

“Wait!” Grant gripped his shoulder.

Rafe turned around, wariness settling over him. He was through with arguing about this. It was time for action.

“I’ll come with you.”

Rafe gave his friend a long, assessing look, seeing the resignation in Grant’s eyes. He couldn’t fault Grant’s sensitivity for other people’s feelings; it was one of the qualities he’d admired most about him, but now wasn’t the time to play the chivalrous knight. “Okay.” He nodded. “Let’s go get our woman.”





Stranded





Chapter Seven


India shivered beneath the cold, sharp rain tearing into her skin. She didn’t know how long she’d walked or in what direction she’d been going, but she ended up in an unfamiliar stretch of woods. Since they’d been here, India hadn’t familiarized herself with the island as much as she should have, preferring to stay close to the cave and the waterfall when she needed to wash. Now she had no idea where she was and darkness was near.

Maybe she’d die out here and it would be all Rafe and Grant’s fault! They’d placed her in this predicament. Had they not confronted her with their perversions…no, that wasn’t exactly true. It had been Rafe. From the beginning she knew he was the aggressive go-getter type who went after what he wanted. The kind of attitude most women found sexy as hell, but for him to say what he did was not right.

The cutting part however, was the fact that Grant had sat by and not done anything, defended her. He was the one she felt the deeper emotional bond with. Why didn’t he speak up? It was useless in answering that question. He was no better than Rafe. They both wanted to treat her like some two-bit streetwalker.

India wouldn’t allow them to use her for their amusement, not even if they weren’t ever rescued. What they wanted was dirty…and wrong. Now if she only could figure out where she was… It wouldn’t be so bad if the rain didn’t make visibility so low. She wandered a few more yards before she stumbled, falling face first into a puddle of mud.

“I won’t cry,” she muttered with determination, dragging herself to a sitting position. Her resolve was shattered seconds later as a cry escaped her lips. Sobs racked her body, her tears mingling with the rain. She hadn’t cried since that first night when they buried that body, and now that was all she could think to do. India couldn’t recall giving in to her emotions this way ever. This island was bringing out the worst in her and the feelings of helplessness didn’t sit well with her.

Even the years of parental neglect, teasing in school and realizing she’d never be the person most people expected her to be, had never made her break down like this. India wished she hadn’t allowed her anger to take her out of the cave and into unfamiliar territory. She sat unmoving for several moments waiting for something, anything to happen, when the rain stopped abruptly, not steadily easing up as it usually did.

Now she should be able to find her way back. How big could this place be exactly? India fought to stand, her legs weak and tired. She couldn’t remember being this bone weary since studying without sleep for the bar exam. Wandering through the forest, India looked for landmarks she may have seen before, but didn’t see anything she recognized.

Just when she was ready to give up, she halted upon hearing her name called out. “India!” The sound was faint, but it was there.

“I’m here!” She tried to yell, but it came out as a weak croak.

“India!” The voices were getting closer.

She cleared her throat before calling out again. “Here I am!” India moved toward the sound of her name until the rustling of footsteps greeted her ears.

Rafe was the first one she saw, followed by Grant. She was so relieved to see them, India nearly threw herself into their arms, but memories of their last conversation had her staying where she stood.

“Thank goodness you’re okay.” Rafe’s relief was evident.

She wasn’t about to let them see how scared she’d been. “What? Didn’t you two think I could take care of myself? I’m not some helpless damsel in distress, you know.” They didn’t need to know she’d been lost. India had conceded too much to them already.

“What were you doing all the way out here?” Grant asked, looking around, a worried expression crinkling his forehead.