Bound To Love Read Online Free Page B

them tight. Hunger bit, and her stomach growled. The men kidnapped them at least a day ago. There might be plenty of fish in the sea, but there was no chance of catching any without a rod or a net.
    Jake untwisted the top of a bottle of water and handed it to her. Once she’d drunk her fill, she passed it back.  Electricity shot through her when their hands brushed. It was cold in the dank interior of the cave, but the goosebumps racing up her arms were from his touch, not the chill air.
    She longed to curl up next to him and feel his body heat seep into her. Her intuition told her that his solid, capable assurance was real. But her intuition had been wrong once concerning a man, and she dared not drop her guard. She stared out from the darkness into the sunlight. Beyond the entrance to the cave, a makeshift jetty extended into the grey water.
    Satisfaction warmed Jake’s core. The cave was exactly what he’d hoped. A place to keep her safe while he investigated the island. He stretched out cramped legs, flexing his protesting calf muscles. ‘I’m going to scout out this place. You stay here and keep an eye out for boats.’
    Tempest shook her head. His satisfaction evaporated like mist on a hot day.
    ‘No.’ She placed her hands on her hips and glared. ‘I’m coming with you.’
    ‘You’re not exactly dressed for it, Red.’
    His gaze scanned her curves. The ripped grey skirt revealed acres of long shapely leg and her nosebleed heels looked definitely worst for wear. The white shirt would make an easy target against the grey green scrub. Taking her with him would put her in danger.
    Her chin tilted up and her eyes flashed with the light of battle. ‘I’m coming. If you don’t take me, I’ll follow you.’
    He tried another tack. ‘Can you even walk in those heels?’
    ‘I’ve been walking in heels since I was twelve,’ she parried disdainfully. Her expression changed the moment she glanced down. ‘The shirt is a problem though, it’s too bright.’
    She glanced around, eyes settling on a dark red vein running through the rock on the back wall. She walked over and picked at it with a fingernail.
    ‘It’s some sort of clay or sandstone.’ She rubbed her finger against her shirt, colouring it a dull red. ‘This’ll do.’
    She undid the top button of her shirt, and then her eyes darted to his. ‘Turn around, please.’
    He raised an eyebrow, but obediently turned away for a few minutes.
    ‘It’s working!’
    He glanced back. She held the shirt in her hands now, rubbing it against the seam of clay. The shirt had turned a dirty terracotta, but he barely noticed. His eyes ran slowly over the small breasts outlined in her white lace bra and awareness blazed inside him like a forest fire.
    His mouth dried, and he turned away abruptly. He closed his eyes, but the image was burned into his retina. The fact that she was even more gorgeous undressed was a fact he wished right now he wasn’t aware of. He couldn’t protect her if she refused to play ball, and she’d be safer next to him than creeping along behind.
    Jake took a deep breath, and gave in. ‘Get dressed. I guess we’ll get it done quicker if we both go.’
    Tempest stuffed her arms into her now reddish shirt, and fastened the buttons. ‘Ready.’
    She followed him out of the cave. They passed the lighthouse along a rough track that led to some old cottages and an abandoned castle. Jake’s leg muscles ached as they clambered to the summit, stopping once to drink water from the backpack.
    The view from the top was magnificent. Or would be, if he wasn’t so worried. Dread formed a hard stone in his gut. ‘We’re on an island.’
    The ground fell away sharply towards the sea. Below them, hundreds of nesting seabirds grappled for purchase on sharp cliffs. Screeching calls filled the air and their sulphurous droppings stank. He turned on the spot, staring out to sea. The island was little more than a rock. On the horizon, a speck of land was