Part II
"You're getting good at that," I say, watching as Desmond continues to skip stones into the water.
He turns toward me, arm still raised with his last stone. He lowers it quickly, dropping the stone into the sand. "I. . .I come here to think."
"So do I," I say. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" I sigh. "It's times like these that I wish we were never rescued."
"Yeah?" he asks. "Don't you have anyone waiting' back home?"
I shake my head. "Aaron's dad is long gone." I shrug it off before Desmond can say something meant to make me feel better about being abandoned in the middle of my pregnancy. "His loss. I've thought that since the second he walked out the door."
"You don't always have to be so brave, Claire," Desmond says softly, taking my hand hesitantly. I curl my fingers around his, liking the feel of his work rough hand around mine.
"I'm not always brave."
"Then don't always act so brave," he amends.
His eyes are brilliant. So dark and soulful. I take a step forward to be closer to Desmond and those magnetic eyes. I find myself tip toeing, trying to reach his lips.
"What's this?"
Charlie.
Desmond drops my hand, turning away, and I'm left to face Charlie who's looking confused and possibly a little hurt.
"What are you doing here, Charlie?" I ask. "You know I was about to head back."
"Is this what you do every day?" he asks. "When I'm watching Aaron?"
"It's not what it looks like, brother," Desmond says, attempting to come to my rescue.
"Really?" Charlie says, rounding on him. "To me, it looks like you're trying to encroach on what's mine."
"I'm not property!" I explode. "You can't claim me in the Name of England. It doesn't work that way, Charlie. It doesn't work."
"Claire! Claire, wait!" Charlie calls when I run the opposite direction back towards camp. I can hear his breathing and footsteps pounding behind me. He manages to grab me by the elbow and jerk us both to a stop. "I said wait."
"I don't do what you tell me to, Charlie," I say, trying to fight down the urge to cry. "I don't know where you get off acting like that but--"
He's kissing me. And not in his usual chaste way. His hands move to my face and my knees go a little weak. I wrap my arms around his neck blindly, pulling him closer, marveling in the feel of his breath, lips, and tongue. I make a little sound of protest deep in my throat when he pulls back.
"We can--" He needs to catch his breath. "We can continue this later."
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Charlie takes my hand and we continue back toward camp together. I glance over my shoulder back the way we came.
Desmond's gone.
I wonder if he saw what just happened between Charlie and I and if he even cares.