Page 34 of Lost Paradise

Jack looks more like he parachuted himself onto this island rather than escaped from a wrecked plane crash that sunk intothe sea in the middle of nowhere. This is freaking day two of our disaster, and I’m pretty sure I stink of mass body odor, yet I can help but want to rub myself off on him and smell like he does.

For fuck’s sake, why does Jack smell so good?

Yesterday, he was licking the sacrifice altar. Now I’m convinced he might be a vampire.

Geez, I might be losing my mind here.

After spending half a minute silence and just staring at the man, my eyes travel to what he holds in his hands.

“That’s a coconut,” I say stupidly, feeling really dumb for staring at him.

“I’m glad you recognize that. For a second there, I thought you froze,” he hands it to me.

“Is this for me?” I ask, taking it and seeing a rough hole that’s been pierced at one of the eyes.

“Well, you can throw it to the fish if you’d like, but I spent quite a bit of time trying to pierce that fucker.”

I shake the coconut and can feel the liquid inside it. I’m a little stunned that Jack, of all people, would go out of their way for me. My silence is his cue to leave, and he turns to walk away.

“Jack!” I call out, “Would you like to sit next to me?”

He stops and contemplates my question momentarily, returns, and plops beside me.

“Why?” I ask, showing him the coconut.

“You seemed pretty much under the weather last night, and you’re probably dehydrated. Taking our circumstances into consideration, this probably isn’t the nicest place to feel sick.”

My cheeks go crimson, and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s a combination of his physical beauty, his gorgeous smell, his deep voice, and that I ended up vomiting in front of everyone last night.

Twice.

I fucking barfed twice.

In the real world, my social life would be over. Someone would have captured the moment, it would have been all over social media, and I might as well unalive myself before the online trolls do it for me.

But stranded on this island, I get coconut water served by a mysterious, handsome man who I’m almost convinced is a vampire.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I ask, a little surprised byhis kind gesture.

There's a playful glint in his eyes, hinting at a depth of character beneath his charming exterior.

“Because you’re letting me.”

He doesn't seem bothered by my surprise or vulnerability; instead, he embraces it with a sense of ease.

There's a flicker of curiosity in his gaze as if he's intrigued by my presence and the unexpected turn of events that brought us together on this island. Yet, beneath it all, there's a genuine kindness in his actions, a willingness to extend a helping hand without expecting anything in return.

I flip the coconut up, drink a couple of sips, and hand it to him. He takes it, does the same, and hands it back to me. We sit here quietly, exchange drinks, and watch the calm ocean splayed out in front of us.

“Ask me anything,” I say, feeling daring.

He doesn’t say anything and sits there, still staring out at the water.

“Hmm...” he finally says, “That’s a very wide-open question. Are you sure about that?” His reply is delivered with a hint of humor, his voice carrying a smooth, confident tone.

I turn to look at his profile, and I can't help but admire it. It’s the kind of profile that demands attention, with strong, chiseled features and a defined jawline with just the right balance of ruggedness and sophistication.

High cheekbones accentuate his angular face, adding a hint of allure to his already striking appearance. And a straight and well-proportioned nose that adds to the perfect symmetry of his face.

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