Naked and Defiant by Breanna Hayse Read Free Book Online Page B

them."
    "I guess I've made quite a few," Jade said,
quietly. "What was your biggest mistake?"
    "Falling in love.

CHAPTER 4

    "Will it ever stop?" Jade asked, after two
solid days of rain. "I am bored to death and am getting really
hungry. What I would do for a hamburger and fries … or two big
scoops of coffee ice cream, with Oreos packed in a
chocolate-covered waffle cone …"
    "Yes, I know," Griffon grumbled, "you have
been telling me that every hour for the past two days and reminding
me exactly how poor your diet is. It's starting to let up a bit.
Once I think we are safe from the lightning, we can go out."
    "Do you know how to make a bow?"
    "Yeah. Do you know how to shoot one?"
    "Yeah!" Jade sounded excited. She slapped
Griffon's arm at his disbelieving expression. "I really do! I used
to compete in longbow archery when I was a teenager. Our safari
guide was a bushmaster and taught me how to shoot. Stop looking at
me like that; I'm telling the truth!"
    "I don't believe in doing safari," Griffon
frowned, deeply.
    "It was a rainforest photo safari! Geesh. We
didn't hunt anything. He taught me, so I would keep out of
everyone's hair. And to kill a snake, if I needed to. I hate
snakes," she shuddered.
    "I'll make you a bow and some arrows and you
can show me. Personally," he held up another spear, "I prefer a
Woomera spear-thrower."
    "Just like a man ... Favoring a long
harpoon," Jade teased. "You don't know how to use a bow, do you?"
she asked mischievously.
    "Don't need to know," Griffon grunted.
    "You are so damn stubborn. Hey, it's down to
a drizzle, and it's really warm. Can I go out? Please? I'll wear a
trash bag," Jade begged, sticking her head out the shelter.
    "You will stay put until I decide it's safe
to go," Griffon said, taking the sharpening stone to the edge of
his knife. A distant clap of thunder emphasized his point. "Trash
bags are too much like clothing, and it isn't cold enough to worry
about hypothermia."
    "It will keep me dry, that's all. I've been
so good, haven't I?"
    "We both know that will change very soon," he
sighed, shaking his head as she offered her wide, puppy-dog eyes.
"Go on, get out of here. And if you see any lightning, you are to
get your ass back right away. Make sure you stay within the sound
of my voice, and do not forget to mark your trail."
    "Yes, sir!" Jade offered a mock salute,
quickly slipping out of the shelter before he changed his mind. She
twirled in the light sprinkle of the rain, grateful that the
temperature had once again changed to balmy warmth. Venturing down
to the beach, Jade paused to take in the eerie beauty. Pockets of
heavy mist followed the bright green tree line, and the wet,
sun-bleached sand sparkled under the rivulets of water than ran
down towards the surf line. She checked the fish wall and grinned;
two large parrot fish were swimming around in the 'hole'. They
would remain there until Griffon speared them for dinner.
    In the distance, she saw a billowing column
of steam and decided to investigate. They had not had the
opportunity to explore the island fully because of the
unpredictable weather, and Griffon mentioned the strong possibility
of a freshwater source based on the foliage. Jade simply hoped that
her discovery meant a volcano-heated pool of water. She would give
up her Mercedes for a hot bath! She carefully stepped her way
through the dense trees and between rocky ledges, making her way
around tall, rocky shelves and heavily-vined thickets. The beach
was out of view within minutes, but she maintained her focus on the
column of steam, without paying attention to direction. She lost
track of time as she sought her way towards her goal, weaving in
and out of the jungle, not realizing that she had become hopelessly
lost in the process.
    Jade came upon an edge of a short cliff that
overlooked a narrow channel lined with protruding reef mounts.
Grunting, she turned around to attempt to find another way towards
the steam column, her frustration growing