Chapter 12

Robin sat off by herself the next morning, disassembling the broken radio and laying all its pieces out on a scrap of fabric. Darcy had already had a go at it without any luck, and Robin had offered to try her hand. She wasn't in the mood for people today –not after they were all at each other's throats last night –and she thought if she could just get the radio working, they'd stop fighting and start working together.

They'd been on the island six days now and they needed something to hope for.

Unfortunately, Robin didn't know thing one about electronics, and the jumble of wires and circuits she was looking at meant nothing to her. At least she could get it all dried out, and clean the sand out of it.

Lost in her work, Robin didn"t notice Scarlet approaching until she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked up, squinting against the bright sunlight. Scarlet smiled down at her, and Robin drank in the curves of her tanned body. Their clothes were no match for the abrasive saltwater, and everybody at camp was looking increasingly ragged.

Scarlet, on the other hand, only became sexier as she stripped down to her bra to combat the heat and wrapped a gauzy skirt around her hips that flowed in the breeze.

"Hey, beautiful," Robin smiled.

"You okay? You"ve been at this for hours."

"I just want to do something that feels productive," Robin said. "Everything we've done has just been about surviving minute to minute and none of it is actually getting us ahead."

"It"s time for a break," Scarlet announced, taking Robin's hands.

She opened her mouth to protest, but Scarlet silenced her with a kiss. "Everyone agrees that you"ve been working your ass off since we got here. I know something we can do that will make you feel productive and reassure me that you're not gonna collapse from exhaustion."

"Yeah?" Robin looked skeptically at her.

Scarlet pulled her to her feet, then pointed to a pair of sticks jutting out of the sand a few feet away. Looking closer, Robin noticed they'd been whittled to points. "I found a beautiful little inlet when I was scouting. Nobody else knows about it, and I saw some fish swimming there. Let"s go catch some dinner for the group."

Robin smirked, looking at the sticks. "Spear fishing? Do you think we can?"

"Won't know until we try."

Robin hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the radio. But the promise of spending time alone with Scarlet, away from the constant pressure of survival, was too tempting to resist.

"Okay," she agreed, a smile spreading across her face. "Lead the way."

They pulled the spears out of the sand and walked along the shoreline, their bare feet getting washed by a gentle tide. The day was beautiful, despite a cloud cover that had moved in overnight, and for a moment, Robin forgot about their predicament and a strange sense of contentment flooded her.

"You know, if it weren't for that cruise, I never would have had the courage to talk to you," Robin said. "I mean, if we'd ever even met in real life."

"Why couldn't you talk to me?"

Robin scoffed. "Have you looked at yourself? Plus you're a literal rock star."

Scarlet laughed. "The first time I saw you, during our first performance, I thought you were a dead ringer for Brie Larson."

"Is that a good thing?"

Scarlet pulled her into a kiss. "Captain Marvel? Um, yes, that's a very good thing." Her body pressed against Robin's, leg slipping between Robin's thighs. And then she glanced back up the beach where they'd come from. The camp wasn't visible anymore, but it wasn't too far away. She gave Robin a coy look and said, "Come on. It's not much further."

They came to an outcropping of rocks that blocked the beach and turned inland, and instead of going back out to the beach after they got around the rocks, Scarlet kept leading Robin deeper into the island.

"Here it is," she said at last, as they stepped through the undergrowth and Robin"s breath caught in her throat.

Scarlet had brought her to a secluded little cove where the ocean had cut its way into the island and pooled, crystal-clear, turquoise and pristine. Lush green foliage framed the little pond, and rays of sunlight banded down through the canopy despite the clouds. And just like Scarlet said, bright blue and yellow fish swam lazily around the small pool.

Scarlet grinned, her eyes sparkling. "See? I told you it was beautiful."

Robin nodded, in awe. "It's amazing."

Even better, though? She watched Scarlet slip out of her skirt, then carefully step down into the water. She waded in up to her thighs, and then waved for Robin to join her. Her skin was golden in the morning light, and every curve was on full display.

Robin's body was thrumming with a need that hadn't gotten much attention since they abandoned ship.

She pulled off her shorts and t-shirt and joined Scarlet in the water in just her underwear. It was warm, with a refreshing breeze rustling the leaves around them, birds calling to each other from the trees.

Robin gripped her spear, watching the fish dart around, carefully avoiding the two sets of human legs that had just entered their space. "How do we do this?"

Scarlet gave a wry grin. "All I know is what I've seen on Survivor. Wait patiently and then throw?"

They tried it. They stayed as still and quiet as possible, waiting for the fish to get used to them, and after what felt like an eternity, a fat blue one swam past Robin and she launched her spear into the water.

It darted away, and the spear came up empty. "Nothing."

"Well, I didn't expect us to be spear fishing savants," Scarlet said. "It'll take practice."

They kept at it for more than an hour, mostly trying to lure the fish into a false sense of safety, taking a few more failed attempts with the spears. The silence between them felt comfortable, natural, as if they had known each other for years rather than mere days, and Robin enjoyed watching the fierce determination on Scarlet's face when she launched her spear. She always gave 110 percent to whatever she was doing, and that was how Robin knew the Begonias were going to be a massive success when they got off this island.

Robin herself wasn't quite so focused on the task, and that was probably why she was the first to notice the cloud cover intensifying.

The sun rays went away entirely, and she thought she felt a few cool raindrops, but they could have been condensation from the trees overhead.

But then the sky darkened, as if someone had flipped a switch and turned day into an eerie twilight.

"Shit," she muttered, her heart racing as her mind went to the last tropical storm she'd experienced.

"We better get back to camp," Scarlet said as the rain started to fall in earnest, turning the pond into a sea of ripples. All the fish disappeared, and the birdsong above them ceased.

It was fucking terrifying how fast the storm was rolling in, but Robin tried to keep her face calm as she helped Scarlet out of the pond and handed her skirt to her. Robin threw her shorts and t-shirt over her shoulder and they only made it a few steps toward the beach when the previously gentle breeze had transformed into a howling gale. Lightning streaked across the sky and the accompanying crack was so loud and close that Robin could feel the electricity lifting her hair.

"We can't be near the water during this," Robin said, suppressing a full-blown panic that was climbing up her throat.

"There!" Scarlet pointed towards a hill not too far from the pool, the rocks mounding up around it and a big dark opening in the middle. "Is that a cave?"

"God, I hope so."

They used their spears as walking sticks, clinging to each other to keep their balance as they walked along the rocks –slick and treacherous from the downpour. The wind tore at their clothes and hair, the rain stung their skin, and the lightning continued to flash overhead.

"I hope everybody at camp is okay," Robin said.

As they neared, she saw the cave, a dark, tight opening in the side of a rocky hill. It wasn"t much, but it was better than being caught out in the open during the storm.

Inside, it was cool and moist, with just enough room for the two of them and not tall enough to stand. But it kept the rain out, the lightning didn't feel quite so dangerous, and they huddled together for warmth as the rain dried on their skin.

The storm outside showed no signs of abating.

"Do you think we're in here for the night?" Scarlet asked.

"I have no idea."

"I've never felt so helpless," Scarlet said, and Robin knew she wasn't only talking about this storm.

"I know."

Robin arranged her clothes on the ground to keep the dirt from sticking to their skin. They curled up together on top of them, bodies wet from the storm, arms and legs entangled. Their eyes locked, and Robin's gaze flicked down to Scarlet"s soft, full lips. When she glanced back up, Scarlet was still watching her intently, her own eyes dark with longing.

Were they doing this?

Here, stranded on an island and trapped in a cave?

Hell, Robin's whole body was aching for it.

She reached forward and hooked her hand around Scarlet's neck, drawing her in. A new kind of electricity jolted through her as their lips met. Scarlet sighed into her, pressing closer. Her hand came up to cup Robin"s face as she deepened the kiss.

Robin lost herself in the press of their mouths, in Scarlet"s clean, rain-soaked scent and the euphoric tingling spreading through her body. She tangled her fingers in Scarlet"s damp hair, pulling her tighter until there was no room between them.

Scarlet"s tongue teased along the seam of Robin"s lips and she opened eagerly, the kiss growing heated and urgent. A soft moan escaped Robin as Scarlet"s hands began to roam, caressing down her sides and slipping under the bottom of her bra.

Robin lost herself in the heady sensations as Scarlet"s hands explored her skin. Her own fingers trailed down Scarlet"s back, brushing aside her long, damp locks. Scarlet kissed a path along Robin"s jaw to her neck, nipping and sucking gently. Robin tilted her head back with a soft gasp, desire coiling low in her belly.

Outside, the storm continued to rage, wind and rain battering the cave entrance. But inside, the only sounds were their heavy breaths and soft sighs as they explored each other with increasing urgency. Robin tugged at Scarlet"s bra strap, desperate to feel more of her skin. Scarlet obliged, breaking the kiss just long enough to unclasp it and toss it aside before recapturing Robin"s lips hungrily.

Robin"s hands roamed the newly exposed expanse of smooth skin, trailing over Scarlet"s toned stomach and skimming the undersides of her breasts. Scarlet arched into the touch with a whimper. Emboldened, Robin cupped Scarlet"s breasts fully, thumbing over her hardened peaks.

"God, Robin," Scarlet panted against her mouth. "I want you so bad."

Robin"s pussy clenched at the needy words. She had never wanted anyone as much as she wanted Scarlet in that moment. "I want you too, Scar," she breathed.

They made quick work of the rest of their meager clothes, hands and mouths eager to explore as much of each other's bodies as possible. Robin pressed Scarlet back against the cave wall, kissing a heated path down her neck to her chest. She took a pert nipple into her mouth, swirling her tongue and reveling in Scarlet"s answering moan.

"Please, Robin," Scarlet begged, hips canting up in search of friction. "Touch me."

Robin didn"t need to be told twice. She trailed a hand down Scarlet"s stomach, over the jut of her pubic bone, until she reached the juncture between her thighs. Scarlet was slick and hot against her fingers, and they both groaned at the first touch.

Robin stroked through the wetness, circling Scarlet"s clit and inching lower to tease at her entrance. Scarlet"s hips bucked, seeking more. Robin obliged, sliding one finger, then two, deep inside her welcoming heat.

"Yes, fuck," Scarlet gasped, clutching at Robin"s back.

Robin pumped her fingers in a steady rhythm, curling forward until she saw Scarlet squeeze her eyes shut and felt her fingers digging into her back. She captured Scarlet"s lips again in a searing kiss, swallowing her increasingly desperate moans.

Scarlet rocked against Robin's hand, chasing her climax. "I"m so close," she panted. "Don"t stop."

Robin had no intention of stopping, picking up the pace and pressing the heel of her hand against Scarlet"s clit with each thrust. She could feel Scarlet"s walls beginning to flutter around her fingers.

"Come for me," Robin purred. "I've got you."

With a keening cry, Scarlet came undone, back arching and thighs trembling as waves of bliss crashed over her while the storm did the same all around them. Robin helped her ride it out, drawing out her pleasure until Scarlet collapsed bonelessly against the wall, clutching Robin to her.

They stayed like that for long moments, hearts pounding and chests heaving as they caught their breath. Robin peppered Scarlet"s face with soft kisses, savoring the afterglow.

Eventually, Scarlet lifted her head from Robin"s shoulder, eyes dark and a sated smile on her kiss-swollen lips. "That was..."

"Amazing," Robin finished, grinning. "You"re amazing."

Scarlet captured her lips in a sweet, tender kiss. When they parted, she was grinning. "Some fishing trip this has been. I guess we should have checked the weather report first."

Robin laughed. "I do feel more relaxed, though."

"Already?" Scarlet asked. "I was hoping to do that for you."

Then she pressed her hand to Robin's chest, pushing her down onto the ground and climbing on top of her. Robin"s laugh turned into a gasp as Scarlet began kissing her way down her body.