Unseen Messages

by Pepper Winters

“I should’ve listened, should’ve paid attention. The messages were there. Warning me. But I didn’t see and I paid the price...”

And no matter what life path we choose, fate always has the final say.

No one can truly soothe your fears, your tears, your Rolodex of emotions. No one can truly make it right, fix the wrong, or make your dreams come true. Only you.

Looking up, my gaze fell on a man with sexy dark hair and the most insanely bright blue eyes I’d ever seen.

My songwriter’s brain went into overdrive, penning him a song of outdoorsy carpenter or wildlife patroller. Sunshine existed in his gaze, wildness wept from his flawless skin. I’d never seen a man so tamed by scruffy jeans, grey t-shirt, and glasses but somehow still look so recklessly undomesticated.

She was pretty—very pretty. There was something about her. Something intrinsic—something that singled her out and made me notice. Long blonde hair, translucent skin…large hazel eyes.

Pity fate couldn’t talk. If it could, I would’ve heard the reply: She’s your beginning. Your end. Your salvation.

Love doesn’t live in first glances. Life doesn’t dwell in second chances. Our path exists in unseen messages.

Who willingly choose a life of loneliness because she was too afraid to risk sharing herself with others?

I’d never thought of glasses as a sex statement (more of an inconvenience) but on him…holy crap.

His touch felt like a hundred fireflies—bright, flickering, and completely alive against my flesh.

Defeat comes swift. Tragedy strikes fast. The world is dangerous, monstrous, unthinkable. But the unthinkable is where magic exists.

The scent of his aftershave (or was it possible to smell that good with no manmade sprays?) intoxicated me with every inhale. A delectable-terrible mix of musk, cedar, and…was that liquorice? It was one of the best scents in the world—much

I was shattered pieces strung up with despair. The island was loneliness and terror. The sky my crying eyes. The drenched dirt my hopeless hope.

she represented everything I thought I’d lost and everything I’d been too afraid to want. She was safety to me. Even while granting jeopardy in the worst way.

Making eye contact with me, Estelle’s gaze cut me to the core. She made me feel lacking; she made me feel brave. She made me feel like she needed me even while I needed her in return.

So basically…I’m screwed.

oh no. shit!

Damn woman. Damn gorgeous, opinionated, strong-as-hell woman.

oh damn hell yeah!

And regret and guilt only hurt the living with no power to bring back the dead.

He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. How could a stupid petal tell me the heart of another? He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. How could I fall for stupid lines stolen from others? He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. I don’t believe in love. I do believe in love. But not with him.

Adults didn’t know what they were doing—we were just good at faking it.

Tomorrow will be better. A new day always is. Mistakes vanish. Tears dry. Tomorrow will be better. A new day makes sure of it.

I want to marry her. I didn’t care if she said no. I didn’t care that she didn’t want me. I had to have her.

“You’re saying you were happy kissing me?” “I’ve never been happier.”

Estelle had made me look like an idiot. She’d conjured fire. She’d created heat and cooking facilities and— Goddammit, who am I kidding? I wasn’t falling for this woman. I was absolutely bloody besotted. Where had she come from and how the hell did I make her mine?

I wasn’t besotted; I was infatuated, intoxicated, completely and utterly blown away by how incredible this island-wrecked woman was.

Hell, she’s beautiful. And smart. And brave. And strong. And so goddamn selfless.

“I never break my promises.” “Is that a challenge?” I leaned closer, our noses almost touching. “Do you want it to be?” “A challenge of letting you kiss me?” I shook my head. “No, a challenge of making you fall in love with me.”

MY SKIN BURNED. Not from too much sun or getting too close to the fire. But from him. I burned. Everywhere.

He made me glow. His eyes held rescue and freedom and safety, placing me on a pedestal I had no right to occupy. He looks at me as if he’s unworthy.

I needed her with an inferno that licked every part of me

“Do you remember my challenge?” “Yes.” “And?” “And?” “What do I have to do to make it come true?” Her cheeks pinpricked with heat. “To make me fall in love with you?”

“God, I want you.” She moaned. “You have me.” “No, I don’t.” “Yes. Yes, you do. Believe me. You do.”

“It's raining.” She nodded. “Is the sky weeping or happy for us?” My lips trailed from her mouth to her ear. “Are the clouds sanctioning this or forbidding it?”

“It’s raining because the sky wants us to survive.” “And what of my challenge?” “What of it?” I bit her throat. “You know what I want.” Her heart drummed against mine, our bodies as close as we could get. “What if I said there is no challenge. That whatever you’re doing…it’s working.”

“I’m glad it’s you on this island. I’m glad it’s you beside me.”

“Estelle, knowing I mean enough to you that you want to photograph me for future memories is the nicest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Starting today, let’s document every little thing that matters. Be it rain to drink or a fish to eat…or a kiss to pleasure. Let’s be grateful for what we have.”

I loved the way he made me feel as if everything he ever needed dwelled right inside my soul.

He drove me insane; he drove me happy. He made me want to care for him while accepting his care in return. Was that love?

“First, you belong to me. To us. Me, Pip, and Conner. Everything you do affects us. That includes stupid things that you think benefit us but only benefit you.”

“Christ, Estelle. Don’t you see? These weeks have been torture. I’ve kissed you. I’ve tasted you. I’ve slept beside you every night and I’m not allowed to touch you.”

“I know you want me, too. I see it in the way you watch me, care for me, make me feel like I’m worthy. But you’re afraid of me.” My hand slid from her mouth to her cheek, grazing her bottom lip with my thumb. “What are you afraid of that you’d rather scratch yourself with an unknown substance than dare to be alone with me?”

I’d reached my limit. She was mine. And she had to be taught that her life wasn’t hers anymore. She didn’t get to decide what risks she took. She owed me because she was the only person to look inside me and see redemption.

She was so sweet. So hot. So wet. So alive. Stay alive, Estelle.

“And you’ll let me into your goddamn heart because you’re already in mine.”

I was completely at her mercy. I might be the one touching her body, drawing physical desire. But she was the one touching my soul, wrapping strings around my heart and fastening me to her forever.

I wanted her to know this wasn’t just about sex for me. This was about trusting me to keep her safe. This was about standing against survival side by side. This was about becoming a team—more than a team—soul-mates.

Life takes more than you can give. But only because it knows you better than you know yourself. Life takes more than you can give. But only because it pushes you to be more than what you are. But he… He took something from me and I can never take it back. He took something from me and gave me something so much more valuable in return.

“I can’t give you what you want.” I shook my head. “Besides, it doesn’t have to be that way.” “What way?” “Demands and ultimatums.” “Yes, it does. Don’t you get it? I can’t keep hoping that one night you’ll slip into my bed and kiss me again. I can’t stop dreaming about your lips on mine or my fingers in your body. I want you, Estelle. No, I need you. And until I know where I stand, I can’t turn the hope off.”