of her sparkle since becoming mine…if anything, she glittered brighter.
From cubic zirconia to a Hawk diamond. Unbreakable, untouchable, unaffected by time or pressure—the strongest stone on earth. Yet despite her diamond exterior, I tasted a delicate girl beneath. She’d hidden that from me.
She still did.
It was Skittles who’d shown me the truth.
Skittles who I’d raised and protected, who’d always appreciated my involvement in her survival but had never fully accepted me as Pika had. The moment I’d moved to my island, she’d flown off to be with other flighted creatures, visiting occasionally, welcoming a touch periodically, but most of the time, happy to remain on her own.
I’d never expected Skittles to seek out Jinx. To not only seek out but to choose her as her person. Out of all the women sharing my shores, not one had ever been deemed worthy enough for Skittle’s shy affection.
It changed everything.
It fucking terrified me at how much it’d changed things.
I no longer had a single feeling for her. I had a fucking blizzard full of temptation and want. I was…confused. Twisted up, lost, and blindfolded on what the hell this all meant.
When we’d first went to board the helicopter, I’d eyed Skittles as she took off from Eleanor’s shoulder. I waited to see what my goddess would do. A test of her character. A revelation into her truth.
She’d stuck an arrow in my heart when she’d backed away, shaking her head. “I can’t go on that. Not if Skittles is too afraid. She can’t fly the distance back to your island.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“No.” She’d looked worriedly into the forest. “She rested a lot in the kayak…it…it wouldn’t be fair to leave her here alone.”
I’d crossed my arms. “She wouldn’t be alone. There are other parrots she can befriend.” Of course, I had no intention of leaving a bird I’d raised and cared for over fourteen years but I wanted to see how strong Eleanor really was. How far she’d go to stand up for a creature who she’d only just met.
“I can’t.” She shook her head. “I’ll…I’ll row back. I give you my word that I’ll return. But…I also gave Skittles my word that I’d keep her safe.”
Her reply clenched my stomach with barbwire, twisting me up until I bled.
Without thinking, I’d waved my hand at the pilot, cut the helicopter’s engines, then whistled the special call when it grew quiet. Skittles flew from the jungle and straight onto Eleanor’s shoulder. I didn’t want to stress or harm the caique, but if I had to throw a blanket over her or trap her in some way so she’d accept the mechanical flight, then so be it.
But Eleanor gave me a soft smile and walked away. She held up her hand for Skittles to perch on. She murmured something to the bird, pressed a kiss to her delicate head, then gently planted her free hand over her wings. Holding her sandwiched between her hands, cradled into her chest, she walked past me with her sexy bare feet and climbed into the helicopter.
And
fuck
me.
If I’d been worried for my sanity before? It was all over.
I’d lost it.
Right there.
Forever.
I’d clambered in after her, watched her the entire time the engines whirred back to life and we traded gravity for flight, all while my heart pounded as she soothed Skittles on her lap.
Shaking my head, I dispelled the memory.
I was turning into a fucking fool. Just because she was kind to animals, I had stars in my fucking eyes?
Get a grip, Sully.
Needing to do something, I snatched a bottle of water from the cooler on board. Tearing at the lid, I went to take a swig when Eleanor’s gaze locked onto the icy dripping bottle. She swallowed hard, then forced her stare back out the window.
She’d been capsized hours ago. She’d swum fuck knew how far. She was sunburned and palm blistered. Yet she didn’t ask for water.
Without a word, I passed her the bottle.
She flinched as the cold condensation dripped onto her lap. Skittles chirped and tried to squirm from her hold, but she stroked her thumb on the parrot’s head and cooed. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” Meeting my stare, she added, “I can’t let her go. I need two hands. It’s all right. I can wait until we land.” Her mouth said one thing, her eyes begged another.
She was thirsty, probably desperately so.
But she put Skittles before herself.
I wanted to do so many goddamn things.
Kiss her.
Thank her.
Throw her out of the goddamn helicopter so I didn’t