Stranded

by Chance Carter

  The other two bedrooms were furnished with single beds. Charles told her the arrangement was only temporary, that once they added the addition they would include more bedrooms. Joss couldn’t help but wonder who would be sharing her bed until then. Would they take turns? Draw straws? What exactly was the plan? It was one thing to find a cozy little corner in the jungle to make love, or snuggle up privately on the beach. But what did all of this mean?

  “How long are you guys staying?” Joss asked, sitting down at the kitchen island.

  “How long will you have us?” Willie asked sincerely. She’d forgotten how sexy his voice was.

  “What does that mean?”

  “We’re staying,” Daniel nodded, grinning from ear to ear.

  “How can that be? You all just left everything behind?” Joss pressed, her eyes landing on Ryan.

  “Well it’s not like we’re trapped here, we can still travel, work if we want, connect with the outside world. This is just home base,” Ryan explained, setting some wine glasses on the counter in front of them. “I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be relevant in the movie industry anyway. You know how fickle it can be.”

  “What about that movie you were going to make, that action flick with Ethan McLaughlin?” Joss asked, looking at him skeptically.

  “That ship has sailed, baby. When the world thought I was dead they gave the part to another sexy stud,” he chuckled, making them all laugh.

  “Daniel? What about you?” Joss asked, patting the seat beside her, gesturing for him to sit down. He sat on the stool, wrapping his knees around her.

  “Well I no longer have my trust fund, if that’s what your asking. My parents disowned me when I told them I was leaving, but I don’t give a damn. After I went home I decided that nothing about that life made sense for me. I couldn’t stand being at work, in that stuffy law office. The walls were literally closing in on me. You know me, Joss. I need adventure. So when Charles called and told me what he was planning, I didn’t even blink. I knew this was where I was meant to be. With you, the love of my life. And my mates, of course.”

  “Happened the same way for me,” Willie interjected thoughtfully, to no one in particular. Joss looked at him and smiled, encouraging him to go one. “I just couldn’t do it anymore. You saw how I was here on the island. For the first time in my life I felt like I had purpose, peace. Basketball was great, but when I weighed out all the pros and cons, the list was pretty one sided. I wasn’t happy anymore, so I retired. I missed you guys. You’re like family.” His eyes landed on Joss, as the next words spilled from his lips, “I love you too, Joss.”

  He came closer, kissing her on the top of her head before allowing their eyes to connect. In that moment of vulnerability she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that his heart belonged to her.

  “Look what I have,” Ryan said, raising a dusty old bottle of wine. “Is that...?” Joss gasped, recognizing the worn out label.

  “Yup, it’s the bottle of wine we were saving for the day we got rescued. I guess in all the haste to save my sorry ass, it got left behind.”

  “How did it get here?” Joss asked, taking the bottle from him.

  “I had our belongings gathered up and brought back here, all the stuff we left at camp. The wine was in one of the suitcases. I thought it would be fitting for our first toast together,” Charlie chimed in.

  “It’s perfect,” Joss agreed, thinking about Grant. She wished he was there with them. She set the bottle on the counter for Ryan to open.

  “Did you forgot to buy a corkscrew?” Ryan laughed, digging through the cabinet.

  “Shit,” Charlie laughed, slipping in beside him. He rifled through the drawer himself, coming up empty handed. “You’d think we were on a deserted island or something,” he quipped, slapping Ryan between the shoulder blades. “I’m sure I have an extra one on the yacht.”

  Joss let out an anxious breath, looking at each of them, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “What is it, Joss?” Charlie asked, closing the drawer with a thud.

  “How does this work for us?” she asked pensively, sweeping her hand between them all. “What does this mean?”

  “What does what mean, love?” he asked, regarding her warmly.

  “Me, you, all of you?” she asked cautiously, struggling to find the words.

  “It means we all love you, Joss. We’re here because we want to be together, to be a family. We’re here because we’re committed to you,” Charlie replied confidently, answering for them all. The others nodded enthusiastically, affirming his sentiments.

  “And you’re all okay with this? The intimacy?” she asked, pressing for clarity, her heart thumping nervously beneath her breasts.

  “Nothing has to change, Joss,” Ryan assured, reaching across the counter for her hand. She could feel herself shaking beneath his touch. He grinned at her playfully and winked, “Think of us as your boy toys.”

  “You guys have talked about this? You don’t foresee any problems? Any hurt feelings?”

  “Of course we thought it through,” Willie answered softly, brushing a loose hair off her cheek. “We made it work before. We had a good thing going, didn’t we? We know it’s unconventional, but so what? As long as you’re happy, we’re happy. You’re our girl.”

  Her mouth softened, suddenly aroused, the blood rushing to her womb. She couldn’t help but fantasize about all the sinful possibilities.

  “What’s that?” Daniel asked, holding his hand up to silence them. It was a low pitched humming, getting louder and louder by the second. They silently stared at each other for a minute, trying to place the sound.

  “That sounds like a plane,” Willie suggested, heading towards the door. The rest of them followed him outside, Joss bringing up the rear.

  They stepped out on to the porch, curiously watching a floatplane skillfully land in the water, somewhere between the yacht and the dock.

  “Are you expecting company?” Joss asked Charlie, slipping under his arm. “A delivery?”

  “Not for a few days,” he admitted, just as confused as she was. The little plane navigated towards the dock, pulling up behind the dinghy.

  “Holy shit, is that Grant?” Ryan asked, hurrying down the steps, the others following quickly behind.

  Her eyes softening, Joss stared up at Charlie curiously. He looked down at her and nodded, as though he knew exactly what she was thinking. He knew how much Grant meant to her, and his smile expressed exactly what she needed to know. Charlie had nothing but the best of intentions. He just wanted her to be happy.

  Charles pulled her in tightly, kissing her softly on the temple. “Let’s go say hello,” he whispered sweetly.

  Grant turned off his plane and stepped out onto the dock, raising two bottles of champagne in the air. “You blokes weren’t going to start celebrating without me, were you?” he said, strutting towards them.

  The boys greeted him the way boys do, whooping and hollering and slapping each other on the back. Joss waited patiently at the end of the dock, observing their bromances. She couldn’t help but smile, laughing softly at the scene. Satisfied with their greetings, they walked in a line towards her, Grant leading the way. As soon as he was within arms reach he handed the champagne to Daniel and pulled Joss into his arms, kissing her cheek.

  “Did you miss me, girly?” he said, leaning back. Speechless, Joss just nodded, still amazed he was actually there.

  “Come on,” he said, leading her up the path, “let’s crack open the bubbly. We have a lot to celebrate.

  Chapter 33

  They celebrated for hours, eating, drinking, laughing and loving one another. Aside from their new, fancy digs, it was like they’d never even left.

  “So what do you say, gents. Do you think I could steal Joss away for a bit?” Grant asked, directing his question to Charlie. It was becoming apparent to Joss that Charlie was, once again, falling into the role alpha. It wasn’t surprising really, out of all the men, Charlie was the calmest, the most ra
tional, always looking out for everyone’s best interests. Especially hers.

  Charlie looked at Joss thoughtfully, gauging her reaction. She did want some time alone with Grant. He’d left her with the most questions.

  “I was just going to bed anyway,” Charlie agreed, satisfied with her smile. She was expecting an awkward silence but the others just grinned and nodded their approvals, easily working through what could have been a potentially uncomfortable request.

  “Why don’t you take the dinghy back to the yacht,” Charlie suggested, tossing Joss a wink.

  “And bring the corkscrew when you come back,” Ryan smirked, knowing full well they wouldn’t be back.

  “Don’t wait up,” Grant chuckled, offering Joss his hand. She giggled softly, hoping her blush wasn’t too obvious. “What do you say, girly. Shall we?”

  She glanced at the others, looking for any signs of discomfort, but they just smiled at her and said goodnight, teasing in the familiar way they used to. Satisfied, she took Grant’s hand, allowing him to lead her outside.

  In spite of the darkness they safely arrived without issue, the lights from the yacht acting as a beacon. Once on board, Grant found the liquor cabinet and poured them each a glass of cognac before settling down on the sofa.

  “Now this is one thing I missed while we were stranded,” he admitted, swirling the amber liquid inside the expensive crystal. “At least this time we’re doing it in style. Look at this freaking place.”

  “It’s pretty spectacular,” Joss agreed, sipping her cognac. It burned her throat, deliciously adding to her arousal. Admittedly, being around the boys had worked her up nicely, flirting and teasing with her the whole night, but she couldn’t get her mind off of Grant. She’d wanted him since that night in the jungle, when they finally let down their guard.

  “I guess you might be wondering why I came back?” he asked, regarding her curiously. She shrugged her shoulders, playfully feigning indifference.

  “Not at all...”

  “Is that right?” he chuckled, tickling her under the ribs, making her squirm.

  “Of course not,” she laughed, slapping his hand away. She hated that she was so ticklish but loved the flirting.

  “I honestly wasn’t sure I’d be back,” he offered, a little more seriously. “When I got Grant’s message I had such mixed feelings about it.”

  “How so?” Joss asked, matching his sincerity.

  “I’ve been miserable since we parted ways...”

  Joss raised her brows, wordlessly doubting him.

  “No, it’s true,” he continued. “I’ve always been a loner, you know that. Never really bothered me, I liked being alone, but after we left the island, everything changed. My house seemed too fucking quiet, you know? I guess I got used to the constant chatter, the bantering, the nagging...” he teased, his eyes challenging her playfully.

  “I never nagged!” Joss laughed, shoving him playfully.

  “I meant in general, but funny how you thought I meant you,” he said. He loved getting a rise from her.

  “You’re such a dick...”

  “You love me,” he groaned, accepting her playful punch. Joss cocked her head and smiled, her expression turning serious.

  “I do love you,” she whispered, her eyes taking him in. She desperately wanted him to kiss her, once and for all, like he did in her dream that rainy night. He stared back at her, as though he wanted the kiss her too, as if he wanted more.

  “I know. That’s why I came back. I was afraid, Joss. I came up with dozens of excuses not to come, but every single one of them meant I’d never see you again and that seemed to frighten me more. The longer we were apart the more I realized that I couldn’t live without you, even if it meant that I had to share you,” he confessed, reaching for her hand. “I finally realized I could live with that part.

  “Really?” Her insides oozed like warm liquid, melting from the words she’d been longing to hear.

  He nodded, caressing her finger tips seductively, “I lost my first love, Joss and it nearly killed me. I don’t want to lose my last love too.”

  Grant leaned in and kissed her, tentatively exploring her mouth as though waiting to see if their chemistry matched his feelings. She leaned into him, parting her mouth for his tongue, inviting him to be vulnerable with her, to trust that he made the right decision. He moaned softly, knitting his fingers into her hair and pressed himself against her. His kiss was everything she’d imagined it would be, hot, passionate, perfect, just like in her dream.

  “I love you, Joss,” he choked, his hands fumbling with her blouse. “I’ve wanted you so long.”

  “Me too,” she confessed, pulling his t-shirt over his head, “I dreamt you kissed me in the jungle...that night.”

  “I did,” he confessed, pulling her in for another kiss.

  He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, tossing her playfully on the bed. He pulled off her blouse and threw it aside, nearly knocking the small lamp off the bedside table. He kissed her again, smothering her giggles.

  “Jesus, you’re beautiful,” he moaned, his hard cock pressing against her. She spread her legs, inviting him to feel the heat between her thighs, her desperate need.

  “What do you say we get rid of these clothes?” he suggested, pulling at the button of her shorts. She smiled up at him and nodded, raising her ass so he could peel them down.

  He kissed her stomach, gently tonguing her belly button, trailing his wetness towards her pussy. She was completely lost in the moment, her body submitting to the seduction, his touch setting off a series of silent little quivers, a teaser of the quake to come. He spread her legs wider, exposing her beautiful folds, blowing his breath on her clit. The cool air felt like feathers, gently stroking her tender flesh. It was like nothing she had ever felt before, and she was certain that sexy little maneuver alone could make her cum. He plunged his tongue inside her, playing her like an instrument, every flick, every nibble, making her sing like a siren, encouraging delightful notes of pleasure from her.

  Her sensual moans ignited him, stimulating his senses, compelling him to uncover every pleasure point he could find. He’d never been with a woman that made him feel that way. He spread her lips apart with two shaking fingers, exposing her sex; pink, engorged, glistening with need, and kissed her, sucking gently on her swollen button. With every whimper, every sigh, she was teaching him how to please her, and he was so eager to learn. Joss pressed herself against his lips, writhing with every pass of his tongue.

  “Oh God,” she cried, blindly clutching the sheets with her fingers, balling the fabric between her fists. Her body bucked under his tongue, the stubble on his unshaven face fiery against the wings of her shaved labia. Her orgasm burned in her centre, aching for release. Grant easily slipped his fingers into her pussy, meticulously searching for her little almond g-spot. She sucked in her breath, her eyes opening wide, as pleasure swept through her body, intensifying as his fingers ruthlessly milked her.

  “Touch yourself, my love,” he commanded, thrusting his fingers in and out of her. “Rub your clit for me.”

  Joss hesitated for a moment, curiously turned on by the request. “Do it,” he panted, his fingers not letting up their sensual assault. She rested her hand on the curve of her stomach, tracing her fingers to her mound, until she felt the wetness of her pussy.

  “Oh yes, that’s it. I love a dirty girl,” he panted, both of them working in unison to make her cum. She could feel the pressure of his fingers, pushing against her hand from the inside. It was a sensation like no other. She threw her head back and called out his name, shaking as a climax ripped through her body, her hot juices pooling beneath her.

  Smiling, he raised himself on his two strong arms, quite pleased with himself. She grinned back, draping the heavy limb of her arm over her eyes, trying to catch her breath. He crawled up her body, kissing her curves on the way up to her breasts. He took a nipple into his mouth, sucking on the perky bud, strictly for his own
enjoyment. His moan vibrated through her, sending shivers up her spine. She raised her arm, peeking at him through the gap. His boyish eagerness made her giggle and he glanced up at her and tossed her that charming, Aussie grin she had come to love.

  “How was that, girly?” He asked, pressing himself against her, his hard cock resting between her legs.

  “It wasn’t bad,” she teased, drawing a raised brow from him.

  “Is that so?” he growled, using one strong hand to force her arms over her head. Her eyes flew open, excited by his sudden, sexy aggression.

  “I’m sure with a little practice you’ll get much better,” she giggled. He used his free hand to tickle her armpit, laughing while she squealed beneath him.

  “God, you’re a cheeky wench. I might have to use that sassy mouth of yours for something else.”

  “Hmm, that could be fun,” she purred, licking his chin with her tongue.

  Grant rolled off and kneeled beside her, lacing his fingers through her blond locks. He raised her up on her knees, gently pulling her by the hair. She fell into his kiss, enjoying their aggressive little game. She sucked on his tongue, tormenting him, tasting the spicy remnants of her earlier pleasure. As appetizing as it was, she fancied something meatier.

  She rolled off the bed, encouraging him to sit on the edge of the mattress, and crouched at his feet. Her eyes raised to meet his, and she smiled wickedly at him before taking him in her mouth, digging her nails into his thighs.

  “Fuck,” he groaned, pulling his breath in sharply. His cock jerked eagerly in her mouth, hinting at his penchant for pain.

  She had to admit, it secretly gave her a thrill and made her wonder what other naughty things she could do with him. She stared up at him while she sucked him off, instinctively knowing how much it excited him. He did his best not to choke her, but his cock was huge. She had barely swallowed half of him and still it hit the back of her throat. She pulled her mouth up the shaft, quickly swallowing him again, over and over, his salty pre-cum icing her tongue. She wanted to watch him cum, to feel his hot seed exploding down her throat. He was close, his body rocking to her rhythms, the muscles in his strong thighs tensing with pleasure.