Illusion

by J. S. Cooper

  “Stand still,” he whispered. “Steve is watching us. I don’t want him to think we’re arguing.”

  I nodded and remained still.

  “It’s a gorgeous night, isn’t it?” he asked softly, and I just nodded again in response. “I love the water.”

  “So do I.”

  “This is exactly the sort of place I’d choose to be lost in if I had a choice,” he continued, and I looked at him for a second. There was a strange tone in his voice, and I realized that he looked sad.

  “You okay?” It was my turn to touch his shoulder, and he looked at me with dark eyes.

  “That’s the ultimate question, isn’t it?” He gave me a wry smile. “How do we ever really know if we are okay? I’m physically okay. I’m mentally okay. I’m emotionally okay. Yet I’m stuck on an island with someone I don’t know and I have no idea what’s going to happen. That should scare me. That should have me freaking out.”

  “And it doesn’t?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I really don’t know.”

  “I just don’t understand why we’re here. Why us? Why you? Why me?” I cried out. “Why him?” I whispered and nodded toward Steve.

  “And why bring us to this island?” His eyes narrowed. “There has to be a reason.”

  “Do you think we’re going to die?”

  “Not if I have anything to do with it.” He pulled me toward him, and I rested my head on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his body against mine.

  He was warm and hard. He felt solid, and that’s what I needed. His hands slid around my waist, and I felt them on my ass, softly stroking and pulling me toward him. I looked up at him, and he was already gazing down at me with open, questioning eyes.

  “I see what you were talking about with your eyes before.” He spoke lightly. “They seem to be changing from green to brown right before me.”

  “It’s the moonlight and refraction.” I smiled up at him weakly. “The way the light bounces off my irises makes them appear different colors.”

  “They’re beautiful.” He leaned down and stared into them more intensely.

  I could feel my heart beating rapidly as his hands moved up and caressed my back. His lips moved closer to mine, and within seconds, they were pressed down on mine.

  At first, his kiss was soft and sweet, and I kissed him back gently, wanting to enjoy the moment. All too soon, his lips moved more urgently, crushing into mine as his tongue demanded entry into my mouth. His tongue was salty and rough as it entered my mouth. He was all-consuming, and I was immediately overwhelmed as he sucked on my tongue and ran his hands through my tangled hair.

  I pressed against him and ran my hands down his back. It felt as magnificent as I had imagined, and I moaned as I pushed into him harder. A guttural groan escaped his lips as he pulled back from me slightly. I didn’t know if this was real or part of the act.

  “I’m so hard right now. I want to fuck you very badly, Bianca.” His eyes bored into mine, unsmiling.

  “Don’t look so happy about it,” I quipped back with my heart racing.

  “This is no time to be making jokes.” He pulled me toward him, hard.

  “I wasn’t joking,” I whispered, and shifted against him slightly.

  He gasped as my hand accidentally brushed against his cock, and he grabbed it. “Don’t tease me.” He held my hand in his, and I swallowed hard.

  “I’m not teasing you.” I shook my head at him, not sure what he was talking about.

  “You feel this?” He brought my hand to his briefs and pressed it against his cock. “I’m rock hard right now,” he muttered. “I want to push you down onto the ground and fuck you so hard that you’ll forget that you met me only two days ago.”

  I swallowed hard as my palm pressed against him. I could tell that he wasn’t lying. He was hard and thick against my hands, and it took everything in me to not grab him and squeeze him between my fingers.

  “So what are you going to do?” I finally spoke, and he sighed.

  “We’re just going to go to sleep.” He dropped my hand. “Though that’s going to be hard for me. Ignore the unintended pun.” He winked down at me.

  “So this isn’t awkward or anything.” I took a step back and gently rubbed my bruised lips.

  “You look so sexy.” He sighed as he stared at me. “I want to push you down on all fours and take you from behind. I’ll pull your hair as I enter you, and you’ll scream out my name.” He cleared his throat then. “Come on. Let’s just get some sleep.”

  “Are you sure you don’t need to take care of business first?” I stared at his crotch meaningfully as he laughed.

  “Do you need to take care of business?” He looked down at my crotch, and I crossed my legs. There was no way I was going to let him know how heavy and wet my panties felt.

  “I’m fine,” I lied, and walked back to where our clothes were. “I’m going to sleep now.”

  “I’ll join you.” He walked besides me. “Hopefully tomorrow we can figure out some answers.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “I sure hope so.” I sat back down and stretched out on the sand.

  Jakob lay behind me and spooned me. I felt his cock press into me as his arms slid around my waist, but I didn’t complain this time. I didn’t even think about how right it felt to be wrapped in his arms when I had only just met him.

  I wished that I could call Rosie then to figure out what she thought. She was probably panicking right now. She’d left me at the table to go to the washroom and when she’d come back, I was gone. Whoever had kidnapped me had to have dosed the wine I’d been given. That meant it had been premeditated, which meant it wasn’t a mistake that I was here, as I’d partly hoped. Someone had wanted me, Bianca London, on this island for a reason. A reason I thought I knew. Until I realized that I wasn’t alone. I thought I knew why I was here, but why were Jakob and Steve with me. I had nothing guiding me as to why.

  I shivered slightly as I realized the severity of the situation. Jakob’s hands wrapped around my body tightly, and I snuggled back into his arms and closed my eyes. I didn’t know if I liked Jakob all that much, though, I was wildly attracted to him. But I was definitely glad that I was here with him and not alone. I would never admit it to him but being wrapped in his arms made me feel safe—well, as safe as I could feel in this situation. My mind drifted to Rosie and the package. I was praying that she’d found it in her handbag and had gone to the police. She might not understand what all the papers meant, but someone in the police department should. Hopefully it would at least lead them in the direction of the Bradleys.

  I fell asleep quickly. I guess the day had exhausted me, and even though I wanted to enjoy being cuddled next to Jakob, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. My dreams were sweet and delicious, and I didn’t want them to end. However, a hand fondling my right breast stirred me out of my slumber. My eyes opened slowly, and I realized that I couldn’t have slept for very long. The sun hadn’t risen yet. I lay still for a second and felt Jakob’s hand groping my breast.

  “Jakob,” I hissed as his fingers pinched my nipple. I shifted away and groaned as I realized that I was firmly ensconced in his arms. “Jakob, are you awake?” I murmured, but there was no response from him.

  I lay there for a second, wondering what I should do, when I heard a light snore coming from behind me. So he was asleep—unless he was faking it. And I didn’t think he was faking it. I grabbed his arm and pushed it down to my waist. My breast felt abandoned for a few brief seconds, but I soon began to drift off again myself.

  I was almost asleep, when I felt his fingers running back and forth across my stomach. I felt slightly self-conscious as his fingers unconsciously caressed me. I definitely didn’t have abs or a flat stomach, and that was obvious to anyone who touched me. I didn’t move his hand though. I enjoyed the feel of his fingers against my warm skin. It was harmless, and it wasn’t like he knew. I smiled to myself as I lay there and snuggled back into him.

  I
closed my eyes again and imagined what it would feel like to make love to him. Would he be a skillful lover? I supposed he had to be. I imagined that he would be if his kiss was anything to go by. He would probably be very alpha and dominant. He seemed the sort to like control. I wondered if he was into BDSM or other kinky stuff. He had mentioned the Marquis de Sade to me earlier. What if he tried to take me over his lap and spank me? I shivered as I imagined his hands on my ass again. Only this time, he wasn’t caressing my ass—he was being rougher.

  I moved backward slightly as I felt myself becoming turned on. My dream was so vivid that I could almost feel his hands teasing and tormenting me. My dream became dirtier as his fingers moved from my ass to my panties. His fingers gently rubbed the skin at the top of my panties for a few seconds before moving forward and sliding between my legs.

  He was testing the waters at first, because he slid only one finger gently down to my panties. My legs parted involuntarily as another finger joined the first one, and his movements grew rougher and more urgent. I moaned as his fingers rubbed against my panty-covered clit. I wanted to feel his fingers directly on my skin. I wanted to feel him inside me.

  I waited for him to explore further, and I wasn’t disappointed when, a few seconds later, I felt his fingers slip inside my panties and start to gently rub me. I spread my legs, trying to give him easier access, yet his hand felt like it was at an odd angle. I closed my legs slightly and trapped his fingers there.

  I could feel myself growing wetter as his fingers moved roughly in the tight space. It felt so good. I smiled to myself as he played with me, and then I froze as something in my consciousness woke up. I wasn’t dreaming.

  My eyes fluttered open, and I realized that Jakob’s fingers were in my panties, and he was rubbing my clit. I knew that I should push him away and sleep on my own, but I hesitated for a few moments as I felt my orgasm building up. The devil inside me didn’t want it to end. It felt so good. His fingers knew exactly how to please me. I knew I should stop it, but I just wanted to feel it for a few more seconds.

  I was about to push his arm away, when he woke up. I knew he had gained consciousness immediately because his breathing changed and his hand stilled.

  “Bianca?” he whispered as he pulled his fingers out of my panties. His voice sounded tormented, and I could tell that he felt ashamed of what had happened.

  “Yes?” I whispered back, though part of me told me to pretend to be asleep.

  “You’re awake!” He sounded surprised. “I’m so sorry about that,” he muttered, and rolled me over to face him.

  “I was just about to push your arm away.” I blushed defensively. “I just woke up.”

  “I’m sorry.” His eyes gleamed at me. “I didn’t even realize I was doing that.”

  “It’s fine.” I stared at his lips and noticed that he was breathing harder than usual. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m hard,” he muttered, and groaned.

  “Oh.” I bit my lower lip, wanting to look down but not wanting him to see me looking.

  “You were wet again.” He winked at me, but I didn’t laugh. My panties were completely wet, and it was no laughing matter. He reached his fingers up to his mouth and sucked them, his eyes still staring into mine. “Though you taste better than the sea,” he groaned as he licked his fingers clean.

  I stared at him for a few more seconds, and then I did something that surprised both of us. I reached down, rubbed the front of his briefs, and then gingerly grabbed his cock.

  “You weren’t joking.” I smiled at him. “You’re very hard.”

  “I never joke.” His eyes darkened as he looked down at my hand and then back up to my face. “I think we should go back to sleep now.”

  “Okay.” I nodded and stared at him, my hand moving away from his hardness.

  “Good night, Bianca.” He kissed my forehead and brought me into his arms.

  “Good night, Jakob,” I whispered and looked up the beach.

  I could see Steve sitting up and looking in our direction. I wondered how much he’d seen. I shivered and rested my head back down next to Jakob. I closed my eyes again and snuggled next to his chest. This time, I fell asleep and didn’t wake back up until just before sunrise.

  The next morning, I woke up before both men and walked to the ocean to think. It was still dark, but the sun was just beginning to rise. I was confused about my growing attraction to Jakob. My body and mind reacted to him in ways I’d never reacted to anyone before. There was some sort of instant chemistry between us that I couldn’t break. Every time he was close to me, I felt as if there was a slow buzz of electricity running back and forth between us. It was like he made me feel more alive, only I wasn’t generally one for romantic epithets and foolish thoughts. I almost wished that I’d met him online or in the real world somehow. That way I’d be able to trust him more and we’d have been able to get to know each other in normal circumstances.

  “The ocean looks like a magnificent creature in the beauty of the day, does she not?” Steve’s voice interrupted my thoughts and I nodded without looking at him.

  “She looks magnificent at night as well though.”

  “Indeed she does, but at night, her treacherous waves are dark and subtle. During the day her hidden danger lies right before us but eludes us with its magnanimity.”

  “I suppose so.” I agreed again, not really sure what he was talking about. If he wanted to say the ocean was dangerous, why didn’t he just say so?

  “The ocean plays an illusion on our minds.” He continues. “It is so easy to perceive her wrongly.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “On the surface, the water looks calm, does it not?” He took a few steps in and touched the water. “And even here, the water is gentle.” He splashed around a little. “She is able to deceive us with her gentleness. However, if I were to go farther in, if I were to attempt to swim out in her graceful waters, I’d realize that looks can be deceiving. I’d be caught up in her currents. The undertow would suck me in. I’d be lucky if I made it out of the water alive.”

  “Well, of course you have to be careful how far you swim in the ocean. Everyone knows that. That’s why they have buoys at the beach saying don’t swim too far. You never know when the undercurrent is going to sweep you away.”

  “Exactly. That’s the perfect phrase.” He nodded. “You never know when the ocean is going to sweep you away. It is much better to avoid the possibility, don’t you agree?”

  “I’m not going to venture in too deep, so that’s not a problem.”

  “If only it were that simple.” He gave me an odd little smile and stared at my face. “Long night? You don’t look like you slept well.”

  “It’s hard sleeping on the sand.” I shrugged. “My back’s not accustomed to it.”

  “I’ve slept on the floor for the last five years of my life. This feels like heaven to me.” He smiled and stretched. “Though, in the light of the day, I do have more questions as to how I got here and why.”

  “So you no longer think you’re on the same island as your resort?”

  “Considering how sparse this setting is, I’d say I’m pretty definitely not on the same island.”

  “So what do you think happened?”

  “I think that someone’s playing a sick trick on me.”

  “A trick?” I frowned. Who on earth would pull a trick like this? And why was he still acting so calm as if it were perfectly normal to wake up on an island with two strangers who had been kidnapped?

  “You know. A trick? Also known as a prank.” He shrugged.

  “Who were you at the resort with?” I frowned.

  “My wife.” He paused, and I could see something going through his head. I was almost certain that he was lying—I was pretty confident he wasn’t married. He wore no wedding band and there was no tan line on his wedding finger. The way he stared at me was also too interested. I mean, I understood that there are married men everywhere who still have t
heir eyes open to other women, but this felt different. I was almost positive that he wanted me, in a very obvious way.

  “Have you been married long, then?”

  “No, this is our honeymoon.” The lie slipped easily out of his mouth and I wondered why he would make up such a story.

  “I’m sorry your wife played a prank like this on your honeymoon.” I replied smoothly, and I saw the expression in his eyes change slightly. He knew that I wasn’t swallowing his story. I stretched my arms and yawned. “You’ll have to excuse me. I think I’m going to go lie down again. See if I can catch some more sleep before Jakob wakes up.”

  “He’s lucky to have a girl like you.” Steve called after me as I walked away. “There aren’t many things I wouldn’t do to call someone like you my girlfriend.”

  My pace increased as I walked back to Jakob, and I lay down next to him with my heart beating fast. What had Steve meant? Was he threatening me? I shivered as I cuddled up next to Jakob and closed my eyes. I could feel that Steve was watching the two of us and so I gave Jakob a quick kiss on the cheek before wrapping his arms around me. Even though I was wary of my attraction to Jakob, I still knew in my heart that, of the two men, he was the one I’d much rather be aligned with.

  six

  There’s a certain hollowness you feel when you’re all alone in nature. It’s an empty feeling that rattles in your head as you realize that you’re all alone, even if you’re with someone else. It’s that feeling that pops up in all of us sometimes. The feeling that makes us ask the ultimate question—what’s the point of it all? That’s how I felt as I stared out at the ocean in her ominous glory. For while she was beautiful, she was still treacherous. The crashing waves against the rocks told me that if I were to swim out too far, I’d get stuck in her currents and washed out to sea. Not even Jakob could save me then.