GRIPP
Gripp loved the way April felt pressed up against him in the tiny bed. He hadn’t been with a woman in a long time, physically as well as quite literally. He couldn’t stop thinking about the sex they had. His fixation made sense, though, since no one had come close to touching him that way for ages.
She was a breath of fresh air, though, in many other ways to him. He was expecting some spoiled brat who had never gone for a walk in her bubbled-up Nerf gun life, but instead, he was moving through the islands with a fierce warrior. They were more like a team than a hero saving the damsel in distress, which was more in line with what he’d expected.
It made April stand out, her presence vibrating with every breath and movement. She was unbelievably sexy in her innovation, resourcefulness, and wild thirst for adventure.
It itched at Gripp’s brain a little to wonder what would happen once he got her home. Was it all just a fun experience that would win her a Pulitzer? Then he scolded himself for caring at all. She would likely go back to her family and never see him again.
When he woke from being curled against her in the hut, Gripp was surprised to find she was already awake. She had moved outside and was sitting up against a thick mangrove, scribbling furiously in one of her journals.
He could see her through the spaces of the trunks as he lay there, leaning up against the mound and admiring the bright look in her eyes. Of course, he caught a nice glimpse of her strong ass and muscular legs that peeked through the mangrove.
Gripp sighed to himself, rubbing at his pants so the growing erection would go away. Once he was satisfied, he sat up and crawled from the hut.
April didn’t look up when he came out and stretched with a loud, booming growl. She was swimming in the midst of creativity, undisturbed by even the slightest sight or sound.
A part of him wanted to leave her be, but he knew they had to get going soon.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
April looked up at him with a dazzling smile. It nearly made Gripp have to take a step back for a minute.
“Hey,” she said sweetly, then moved back to her journal. “Did you sleep okay?”
Gripp furrowed his brow as she continued writing quickly. Her question was amusing like they were on some vacation in the Caribbean rather than running from pissed off murderers.
“As well as someone can in a tight-ass hut,” he replied.
She let out a snort of laughter but continued to scribble in her notebook. Gripp sat close to her and crossed his arms, fascinated by her dedication.
“What are you writing?” he asked.
“Oh, just about everything that's happened,” she replied quickly. “I don’t want to forget anything once we get out of this.”
Gripp felt his heart sink in his chest, then immediately batted away the feeling. As he fought his emotions, he noticed a snake had curled beneath her feet, resting in her shadow for some shade. Then, he also noticed a turtle had done the same but a few feet away.
He was astonished by her lack of fear, or at least her willingness to summon the courage to face what frightened her in the first place.
Gripp nodded, trying not to seem too nosy.
April wrote a few more lines, then snapped the notebook shut. She stood, placed her things inside the waterproof backpack, and then threw it on with conviction.
Gripp was still seated, leaning up against the mangroves. He couldn’t control the smile he flashed at her.
“I’m good to go whenever you are,” she said with an excited look in her eye.
Gripp stood and let his arms fall to his sides. She was astonishing. Every second that he spent getting to know her made him hungrier for more.
“You know, I never thought I’d meet someone tougher than me,” he said, cocking an eyebrow. “But I may have done it.”
April adjusted her pack and simply grinned at him. There was no hint of bashfulness at all.
“Come on,” she said, playfully pushing at his shoulder. “We’re losing daylight here.”
Gripp’s cheeks warmed as he chuckled, and it was the most joyful feeling he had experienced in a long time. He tried to brush it off as innocent fun, but it was more, the idea of which scared the shit out of him.
Gripp retrieved his pack and the blanket from the hut, and they started along a ravine. Once it plunged too far, they stopped to discuss what their next move could be.