Free Tempt (Take It Off) by Cambria Hebert Page A

wasn’t like the impassioned one we shared yesterday. This one was softer, lighter. It caused a fluttering sensation inside me that made my heart stutter. I could literally feel it bouncing around beneath my ribcage.
    Before he pulled away completely , he bestowed several brief kisses one right after the other, ending with one on the tip of my nose. “Thank you.”
    My hands rested over his chest against him warm skin. “I didn’t do anything,” I grumbled.
    “I don’t think going off on your own is a smart idea, especially after what we heard last night.”
    “I wasn’t going off alone. I was just going to look right here, outside the plane.” Why did saying that out loud make it seem like a dumb idea? I wondered if I dyed my hair brown would I get smarter…?
    “Why don’t we go look around for fruit together?” he suggested , making me forget my home makeover ideas.
    I didn’t answer because my stomach growled loudly , replying for me.
    “I actually have to go to the bathroom. Don’t go anywhere,” he said , giving me a hard look.
    Seconds later , he came back and disappeared into the plane to get some shoes and reappeared with all the empty water bottles, including the empty can of Coke. “Maybe we can find a freshwater source,” he said, motioning to the bottles. “If not, we’re going to have to start boiling some sea water.”
    I took a second to grab my messenger bag and slid e it over my shoulders, slipping the bottles inside. I really hoped we found some food. I was so hungry I felt lightheaded.
    “Stay close to me,” Nash murmured as we traveled deeper into the florae. I gave him a sidelong glance, wondering if he was ever going to put a shirt back on. ‘Course if he did, I would totally miss the view. The way his shorts hung low on his hips displayed his long, solid torso, and I think I might have started to drool a little.
    I looked away. I was acting ridiculous. It was totally lack of food.
    “What do you think that was last night?” I whispered, feeling like there were a million eyes staring at us as we moved.
    “I’m not sure. It sounded a little like people and music.”
    I nodded. That’s what I thought too. “But this place looks completely untouched.”
    “This side of the island. Maybe it’s bigger than we realize and maybe on the other side there are people.”
    “Who would live way out here where there’s nothing?” I wondered.
    “Exactly,” he said, his voice low like he hadn’t wanted me to hear.
    But I did. And it brought back that fear I felt last night.
    A little while later , Nash stopped and tilted his head. “Hey, you hear that?”
    I listened, not making out much over the loud chatter of the wildlife.
    “It sounds like water.”
    I perked up and listened harder. It was very faint, but once he pointed it out, the sound was undeniable.
    “T his way.”
    He walked for what felt like hours (probably only minutes) and with each step , the sound of falling water drew closer and closer.
    Nash pushed through very large plants with huge leaves and a few palm -looking trees and stopped. I ran right into his back because I wasn’t paying any attention. I was too busy staring a beautiful pink flower close by.
    He let out a whoop of joy and stepped to the side so I could see too. There just ahead lay a small lagoon -type pond and pouring into it was a short but wide waterfall.
    Both of us rushed forward toward the water , but something caught my eye and I turned. Oval-shaped green fruit grew from a plant very close by. I changed course and rushed over, plucking one of the fruits and palming it. It was about the size of my hand and boasted a fresh green skin.
    It was an avocado.
    I’d never seen any of these plants in person before. This was something we could live on. It was full of healthy fats and fiber, something that would definitely help keep Nash from starving.
    “Ava?” Nash called.
    I looked over my shoulder with a smile, only to realize I’d gotten