Page 133 of Lost Paradise

In an instant he’s got his hand behind my head and drags my mouth down to his, kissing me like the world was ending. I deepen the kiss, and he wraps his arms around me, holding me to his chest as we both catch our breath.

“You asked me earlier about you being unforgettable,” he says, and I lift my head to look at him. “It’s never been like this with anyone but you. When I touch you…when I fuck you, it's something morethan magical.”

I sink my teeth into my lip hard. And right here is when I know I’m totally fucked. It’s going to take a lot for my family to keep me away from him. From all of them.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoes through the sky, and we both look up to see the darkest freaking cloud looming overhead. It’s so big and dark that it must cover the entire island, and it dims the light.

“We need to get out of the water, darling.” Foster insists, withdrawing from me. I feel empty, but I know he’s right. Finding cover fast is crucial; no one wants to be caught in a lightning storm while in the water.

"Where are the guys?" I ask, my voice tinged with concern as I scan the dimming surroundings.

"Probably back at camp," Foster replies, his grip tightening around my hand as we hasten toward the edge of the lagoon.

Suddenly, the sky above us splits open with a deafening roar. Massive, charcoal-grey clouds collide and churn overhead, blotting out the sun and casting a blanket of darkness over the landscape. The air crackles with electricity, and within moments, raindrops the size of marbles pelt down relentlessly, drenching us within seconds. The wind picks up, whipping through the palm trees with an ominous howl, and waves in the lagoon swell and crash against the shore, sending sprays flying into the air.

"We need to find shelter!" Foster shouts over the rising storm, urgency coloring his voice as we scramble to seek refuge from the fierce tropical tempest that has suddenly descended upon us.

Foster effortlessly lifts me out of the water and follows close behind. The rain pelts down relentlessly, stinging my skin. I frantically search for our clothes.

"What are you looking for?" Foster's voice cuts through the chaos.

"Our clothes," I shout back.

"Leave them for now. We'll get them later. Come on, we need to find shelter!"

He grabs my hand, and we sprint along the jungle path back to camp. As we approach our hut, I see the guys already inside. The rain pounds loudly on the roof, and thunder rumbles ominously outside. It's not exactly soundproof, but I hope it will keep us safe from the raging storm.

Astro and Zane extend their hands to help me inside, followed swiftly by Foster. I look around the cramped space: Byron and Zanehave towels around their waists, while Jack has one slung over his shoulder. Astro, true to form, seems quite comfortable in his nudity again.

"Where are your clothes?" I ask them.

"We left them behind," Jack explains. "Didn't want to intrude on you two getting cozy. Figured we'd retrieve them later. Took a longer route to avoid the lagoon."

“It was Astro’s idea,” Byron chuckles at the irony. “Trust a nudist, they said.”

“Hey, it was a suggestion. How the fuck did I know we’d lose our clothes.”

"I'm sure they're not lost," Foster reassures. "We'll stay here tonight and check in the morning. Worst case, we can fashion togas from towels or blankets, or we can embrace Astro's newest lifestyle."

Foster winks at me, and I can't help but laugh. Byron offers me a spot on a blanket amidst the tools, generator, and other clutter. "Firebug, go lie down there. It's cramped, but I can keep watch with one of the others," he offers.

"I'll join you," Foster offers, settling beside Byron. I take the towel I used to dry off and hand it to Foster. Instead he drags my hand down and kisses me before taking it. Turning to Byron, I share a kiss with him too.

"I'll see you both in the morning," I say, though the howling storm makes sleep seem unlikely.

"Come here, Eve," Zane gestures to the space between him and Jack. I glance at Astro, huddled nearby with his knees to his chest.

"Go on, babe. I'll take turns lying down," he assures me.

I glance around at the others, all of us unclothed and huddled together in the hut. It wasn’t too long ago that we were laughing at Astro’s carefree attitude towards nudity, urging him to put some clothes on. Now, we’ve all embraced our inner barbaric impulses, shedding the layers of societal norms that once bound us. As we sit here, surrounded by the primal fury of the storm, it feels like we’ve peeled away more than just our garments. There’s a liberating rawness in this moment—a freedom from the constraints of civilization, where nature’s power reconnects us with our primal roots.

I look to Foster, our leader, a symbol of strength and order within our little group. The guys look up to him with respect, and though he’s faced challenges, he’s managed to bringbalance to our dynamics. Foster has built a caring and orderly mini-society among us despite our unconventional rituals and the relationship I share with him and the others, which might be considered taboo in conventional society. But this island is an unconventional setting, and we’ve adapted to it. I don’t want to think about the future, not right now. For the first time in my life, I’m happy—truly happy. The kind of happiness that makes your heart flutter, and your insides shine bright.

Settling onto the blanket between Zane and Jack, their warmth is comforting against the raging storm outside. My eyelids grow heavy as Zane kisses the back of my neck, and Jack plants a gentle kiss on my shoulder.

The wind howls through the trees, bending them with its force. Rain lashes against the roof in relentless drumming, occasionally punctuated by booming thunder that shakes the ground beneath us. Each flash of lightning casts fleeting shadows through the small gaps in the hut's walls, illuminating our faces in stark relief.

Despite the chaos outside, inside the hut, there's a semblance of calm. Zane's steady breathing beside me and Jack's occasional shifting bring a sense of reassurance and companionship in the face of nature's fury.

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