Play With Me || 2 || Off the Ice Series

17 | The Smooth Talker and His obsession *

ARDEN

I wake up to the sound of Jason humming softly beside me, his voice low and rich, blending with the early morning sounds of the island. The makeshift tent offers little protection from the bright light that filters through the thin material, and I blink against the harsh rays as I stretch out, my body stiff from another night on the ground.

I don't remember falling asleep last night, but I do remember the way his body felt against mine and the thought that plagued me right before I fell asleep again. 

Love? Surely not. 

I shiver, but not from the cool morning breeze. 

I sit up, careful not to disturb Jason as I move out of the makeshift tent. The sand is warm beneath my feet, and the scent of salt and the ocean fills my lungs as I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

But it's not so easy when I know he's still right there, just a few feet away.

I'm stubborn, and I've always been good at keeping people at arm's length, but something about this situation—being stranded on this deserted island with Jason, the man I've tried so hard to forget—makes it feel like the walls I've built around myself are slowly crumbling.

And I hate it.

I hear him moving behind me, and I brace myself for the inevitable banter, the jokes that he uses to keep things light even when everything feels so damn heavy.

But when he speaks, it's not what I expect.

"Morning," he says, his voice still a little rough from sleep.

"Morning," I reply, turning to face him. He's leaning against the entrance of the tent, arms crossed over his chest, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Sleep well?" he asks, and there's a playful glint in his eyes that tells me he knows exactly how I slept—curled up against his chest, using him as a pillow.

I scowl, trying to muster up the stubbornness that has always been my shield. "I've had worse."

His grin widens, and he steps closer, his movements slow and deliberate, like he's testing the waters. "Oh yeah? I'm guessing I didn't make the worst list, then?"

I roll my eyes, but I can't stop the small smile that tugs at my lips. "You're still in the top ten."

"Ouch." He places a hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "You wound me, Arden."

"Somehow, I think you'll survive," I shoot back, but there's no real bite to my words. It's hard to keep up the pretense when he's standing so close, his presence warm and solid, a comfort I didn't know I needed.

His gaze softens, the teasing banter fading as he looks at me like he's seeing something more, something deeper. "We'll get through this, you know."

I nod, my throat tightening with emotions I'm not ready to face. "I know."

But as much as I want to believe it, the truth is, I'm scared. Scared of what's waiting for us out there in the wild, scared of the predators we might encounter, and most of all, scared of the feelings that are slowly creeping back to the surface—the ones I thought I'd buried long ago.

Staring at him, I feel myself start to pull back a bit but then Jason is talking, the banter I'd expected when I first awoke starting. 

• • •

"So, Arden, what's your favorite way to pass the time on this island?" Jason asks, his voice carrying a hint of mischief. Jason had made it his mission to make this whole ordeal seem like a planned holiday, including asking me mundane questions.