DEIRDRE POVMuffled voices, footsteps echoing, and the revolting scent of antiseptic wafted into my nostrils, pulling me out of my slumber.Swallowing back the nausea that rose, my teeth gritted, and I attempted to pry my eyes that seemed to be glued together. I succeeded, wincing as the bright light flashed into them.Snapping my eyes shut immediately, I opened them again, squinting.My gaze stayed fixated on the chandelier, currently swaying slowly. The wind drifted into the room through a crack in the window, rustling the ugly brown curtains.The walls of the room were painted in weird brown and blue colors, and a large cross sign was at the far corner of the room.The room itself was large, yet ugly, and I wasn't the only one in it. There were several beds in the room, the exact one I was laid in, and I saw some were empty while some were occupied.I didn't recognize the room, and from what I could tell, I was in the hospital. I remembered Matteo saying he would take me to one, bu

DAY SEVENDEIRDRE POVToday didn't go as planned. Having woken up as early as 4 AM to set out without alerting the villagers, it had been thwarted.The raft we were meant to travel on was damaged beyond repair, and oh, the major parts had been taken as well.Matteo had flipped, yelling profanities in raw Italian in the air.Yes, he was still cursing at whoever had done that, and right now, I was back in the room with Matteo pacing around the room nonstop."Relax, Matteo. Someone will definitely realize we are missing and send help.""Send help?" Matteo scoffed. His eyes narrowed at me as though I was the one who had pissed him off."This dratted village is not on the fucking map. It is fucking off the radar, and no, we won't be getting out easily after the last chance had been thwarted." He grunted.I nodded, "I understand that. But I believe something can happen...""Something like a miracle?" Matteo cut me off.As I nodded, he let out a humourless laughter, "Don't be fucking delusio

MATEO POV"Fuck, Deirdre," I muttered, trying to pull her onto my lap."No," She denied, shaking her head and refusing to move. "Not until you tell me what you want, Matteo.""You fucking tease," I growled, releasing her hair and pulling her up."I'm not a tease," She protested, "I just want to know what you want. Do you want me to fuck your brains out or make love to you?""You want to know what I want," I muttered, pushing her back to the bed.I grabbed the tie, climbed the bed, sat beside her, and tied her hands with the tie."Oh!" she exclaimed, staring at her hand with wide eyes."Yes, I want you to fuck my brains out," I whispered, my voice thick and hoarse with arousal.I was very much a dominant man, but letting Deirdre take the deal was the sexiest thing ever.Deirdre giggled, a sweet melody that filled the room, and I groaned as I leaned forward to nuzzle her neck."You're so sexy when you giggle, Tesorina.""Am I?" She asked, smiling as she turned to face me."Yes." I nodde

DEIRDRE POV"Do you know hiking boosts the immune system and reduces stress, amongst other characteristics that it has?" Leslie said.I groaned, pushing myself up the hills. I wasn't feeling any of the boost; rather, my legs ached, and likewise, my hands, even though I was barely using them.Perhaps it was because I had swung them around; that was why they ached."Spending time outdoors allows you access to fresh air and vitamin D, and it increases your white blood cells. It even reduces your cortisol level because, hey, you are spending time in a natural environment and not being holed up in that room." Leslie said, and she turned.She shrugged, "Hey, don't look at me like that. I might be blonde, but I am not ditzy.""Hey, I wasn't saying you were," I said."You don't need to say; your expression says it all. Just so you know, I got my mother's features as well as her brain," Leslie grinned."I see," I muttered, continuing forward as she started to speak again.She was really enjoyi

DEIRDRE POV"What, no way!" I yelled, taking the fourth bite out of the spicy grilled chicken with me.Taking a sip of the serenity sunset chardonnay wine directly from the bottle to wash it down, my eyes closed momentarily, savoring the rich, smooth, and creamy flavors of ripe pear, vanilla, and a touch of toasted oak.It spread warmth throughout my body, relaxing my tensed-up muscles as well as giving me the ability to think properly.Well, I was not much of a drinker, but this wine had to be one of the best I had ever tasted.I set the bottle down to see Leslie watching me, "And you don't drink?"I shook my head, "I don't.""You're taking it better than I imagine. But then again, it's not as though it's sour.""So, continuing with what I was saying, I literally fled the scene, refusing to see him afterward. He's kept in touch, but I was too embarrassed to see him on one."She winced.I tried to imagine being in her shoes. Just a few days after getting to the island, catching an isl