Washed Ashore

Part 3

Lightning struck and I screamed as thunder boomed through the sky. The sounds made me step back into childhood, where my dad would comfort me and rocked me to sleep when this happened. Losing him bought back that fear and all I wanted was my dad.

I couldn't help but sob at the memory of him. The dark time of my life that I was trying to erase was still haunting me.

"Shh shh, it's okay." Tobias' voice soothed. "It's okay." He held me close to his muscular body and his large hand stroked my back in slow up-and-down motions.

He calmed my shaking body. "You're cold, Teresa. I'll start up the fire again."

I hadn't even noticed the fire was out. I guess I was so trapped in my childhood memory and the grievance of my dad that I wasn't fully awake.

"I didn't mean to wake you up," I said after he started the fire again.

"Nah, I couldn't sleep anyway." His hand gladed through his thick black hair before he added a little more firewood.

"Tobias," I was still sitting up and his hazel gaze snapped to me, "They'll come after us soon, right?"

"Yep," he gave a sure answer. He meandered back to the bed I sat on and climbed back in. "By the time they come, this will all feel like a dream, okay?" 

He hugged me and that moment of touch was all I was craving. The comfort he proved made me feel safe.

We laid back and my head and hand was on his chest, his chin rested on my curly hair. I guess I wasn't the only one seeking comfort.

The fire warmed the room and the strong winds and sound of thunder turned into just rain hitting the roof.

"You don't usually sleep?" Remembering his statement from earlier.

"No, I usually have too much on my mind to sleep peacefully. It's what happens when you have the world of responsibility dumped on your shoulders,"

"Oh, well the only thing I can offer is a massage," the statement came out as more of a question, "What is your job?"

Tobias' eyes were closed when I looked up at him and he was in his signature relaxed position. "I work as CEO for my fathers corporation. It was passed to me at 25 when he decided he wanted to retire early."

"Wow," I mutter thinking, 'No wonder you seem tired.'

"Yeah, I was on my way to a business meeting and my friends thought it would be a good idea for me to take a cruise there as a small holiday for myself but paperwork needs reading and signing."

"Tobias, there is no need to stress about it when we are in this situation. Once we are out of it you can worry all you want," I say leaning on my elbow to elevate myself to look at him. Damn he is so handsome, I couldn't help but bite the inside of my lip. 

His eyes opened, tiredly and he gave me a tight-lipped smile that I returned.

He started up rubbing his thumb on the small of my back and tugged the thin cloth to cover me as I went back to resting my head back on his chest.

This lulled me to sleep but before doing so I heard soft deep breaths and his decreased heart rate telling me he was asleep. 

I woke up to birds chipping and the sun beaming into the cabin from the small squares that replicated windows, thatch hung over it which stopped the rain from entering.

Breathing out, I felt warm and arms wrapped around me. Tobias spooned me, which I wasn't complaining about but then I felt something poking my ass.

I knew it wasn't his fault but I wanted to shower and prepare breakfast so I slide out of his hold and rummaged through my backpack taking out a light blue flowy dress. I took my netted sponge to scrub with and grabbed deodorant as well as a toothbrush and paste.