Page 75 of Lost Paradise

Chapter 23

After that duel, I'mseething with frustration at Foster. He didn't need to prove his dominance by engaging in that macho showdown with Astro. We all know Astro's a bit of a loose cannon, and Foster's actions only served to stoke the flames of conflict unnecessarily.

As I watch the others around the campfire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames, I can't shake the feeling that something fundamental is shifting within us. The longer we remain stranded on this island, cut off from the trappings of civilization, the more I see us shedding the veneer of our civilized selves and embracing the primal instincts that lie dormant within us.

It's a sobering realization, one that fills me with a strange mix of horror and fascination. On the one hand, the thought of succumbing to our baser instincts, of abandoning the rules and conventions that govern society, is deeply unsettling. But on the other hand, there's a raw, primal energy coursing through our veins, a sense of liberation that comes from casting off the shackles of civilization and embracing our true nature.

I find myself torn between these conflicting emotions, unsure of whether to cling to the remnants of my civilized upbringing or to embrace the untamed wilderness that surrounds us.

In the end, perhaps it's not a question of right or wrong but of survival.

My eyes brighten as I watch Jack join us, followed by Astro, his presence a welcome relief amidst the tension that hangs thick in the air. As much as I can’t stand the bastard, I’m glad he decided to join us. Foster gives him a brief nod to acknowledge him back in thepack.

I shrug off Zane’s sweatshirt and rise to my feet, extending it towards Astro. We were all stranded with nothing but the clothes on our backs, and his were stripped away by the savages.

“Here,” I offer, holding the garment out to him, my voice laced with a begrudging attempt at civility. But even as I speak, my gaze is drawn to the imposing figure before me, my eyes lingering on the sinewy muscles that ripple beneath his bronzed, inked skin. Trying hard to be respectful, but I already noticed the monster cock he possesses.

Watching him and Foster lock horns in battle was a sight to behold. His raw power and athleticism are undeniable despite my reservations about the man.

But Astro merely glances at the sweatshirt before dismissing it with a nonchalant wave of his hand. "I don't need it," he replies, his tone curt as he turns away from me.

"I'm going to wash in the lagoon," he announces, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.

As I watch his muscular form disappear into the jungle, a pang of admiration stirs within my core. Despite our differences, there’s no denying the primal allure of the man, his rugged masculinity a stark reminder of the harsh reality of our existence in this untamed wilderness. And as he vanishes from sight, I can't help but wonder what it would be like to be with him intimately.

Then, the reminder of his arrogant mouth slaps me straight back into reality.

No, I do not need to know what sex would be like with Astro Doukas. It’ll probably be all about him anyway. He takes but will never give.

I turn my attention to Byron and Foster discussing possibilities of the invisible border and smile, wondering what it might be like to have sex with both of them at the same time.

“It could just be superstitions or taboos,” Foster muses.

“That theory isn’t a bad one. If the cannibals have deeply ingrained superstitions or taboos regarding certain areas of the island, believing them to be cursed or inhabited by malevolent spirits,” Byron says thoughtfully. “But there’s that ancient sacrificial temple. Why would they abandon it? It would have been deemed as something sacred to them.”

“Could it be that the cannibals' culture may dictate that certain areas of the island are sacred or off-limits?” Zane joins in.

Jack brings over a coconut shell bowl filled with diced papaya fruit and silently offers it to me. I smile and thank him and watch him walk towards the shore. I want to join him, but he’s very much a person who prefers solitude over company.

Instead, I dip my fingers into the bowl and eat the sweet, juicy fruit as I listen to the others talk about the daunting phenomenon of the invisible border.

“….respecting these beliefs, they may avoid crossing into these sacred territories out of reverence or fear of retribution from their deities,” Byron suggests.

Astro soon emerges from the shadows, his skin glistening under the luminous glow of the moonlight and the flickering warmth of the fire. Every inch of mud and paint has been washed away, leaving him bare and exposed, his flesh seemingly radiant in the ethereal light.

Water droplets cascade from his taut muscles, tracing a mesmerizing path down his bronzed, tattooed skin. His brown hair, tousled and damp, frames his chiseled features, accentuating the rugged allure of his appearance. He embodies a vision of masculine perfection, a living embodiment of strength and vitality.

Four words: Astro is fucking hot.

I get a damn good eyeful of him, and holy shit. Wow!

Heat rushes up my cheeks as I look away.

Envy stirs within me, a gnawing sensation that twists inside me. Astro moves with confidence among us, which I can only dream of. He seems comfortable in his own skin, and somehow, I now feel almost overdressed in front of him. But I’m still shackled by the constraints of modesty and societal norms.

“Do you plan on dressing yourself?” Zane asks.

“Feel free to lend me your clothes,” Astro says. “Otherwise, when in Rome applies, here.”

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