Neil, Louisa - One Queen with Two Kings (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Louisa Neil

it.
    “It took four months for us to both be reasonably movable again. The plane was broken up, but we managed to use it for shelter until we were both mobile. We lived off the land, Thea. Ate fish and fruit. We knew the Mayday call had gone through, it was just a matter of time before we were found. But as time went on, it didn’t make sense. The plane was in pieces, but it was on the beach. We just didn’t understand why the rescue teams didn’t find us. When we realized we weren’t seeing any planes, rescue or otherwise, we knew, Thea, we just knew something wasn’t right.
    “Russ had a makeshift splint on his arm, and I had one on my left leg. We figured it took six months before we were both healed enough to start to get mad.”
    Thea cried into his chest, not racking tears, just a constant flow for the agony he went through. Dex pulled her closer to him, if that were possible, but he didn’t tell her not to cry. He quietly continued with his story.
    “We started pulling the plane apart just about that same time. We’d finally been able to both cover the whole of the island and knew every inch of it. Russ had cut down palm leaves, and I’d sit and weave them together. Eventually we had mats to lie on and used the plane’s fuselage for shelter from the weather. We used bits and pieces of the plane and put together nets to fish with. Fire was a luxury. There wasn’t much to burn on the island, and we kept a signal fire ready if we saw anyone overhead. We just went day to day. We walked and jogged and ran the coast of the island. We thanked God every day that there was a fresh water spring toward the center of the island. It was a two-hour walk each way to get to it. It kept us in shape and took our minds off what we eventually found.”
    “Dex, the plane, what did you find?”
    “The hydraulic hoses had been pierced, Thea. Five perfect punctures in each of the two main hoses. They were done on purpose, in a spot hidden from the preflight check. Then we worked off anger.” Dex moved from beside her, but she didn’t follow him to the window. “I knew, Thea, I just knew , and so did Russ , that Lloyd was behind it somehow. I’d always known he had a crush on you, but I never thought he’d become obsessed to that degree.”
    “Dex?”

    He didn’t turn back to her , but he knew she watched his naked back from the bed. His shoulders had become muscle laden , and he was deeply tanned all over. The muscles in his thighs had become strong and defined from running around the island. He wondered if she noticed the changes in him but didn’t ask. He wanted to finish the gory details so they could relax.
    “What made it worse was realizing if he was willing to chance sabotaging my plane , he wouldn’t stop there. I knew he’d go after you, Thea. And every day it almost killed me to think he’d get you, and he almost did.”
    “Almost, but he didn’t. Dexter, I never let him do more than kiss me. Even then it was revolting. You said you listened to the tapes. I wasn’t in good shape for the first year. I couldn’t believe you were really gone. I’d sit with your mother and we’d look at your pictures and talk about you. After the first anniversary of your going - down passed, everyone around us told us we had to move on. Like a calendar could tell my heart when it had healed. Then , very slowly, Lloyd started to drop hints about Dad not being as healthy as he seemed to be. That Alex was in over his head trying to keep up. What I didn’t know was that it was his entire careful plan to turn me.”
    “Don’t, Thea, let it go.”
    “Not yet, not until I see him punished. For all of it, Dex, you and Russ and the plane. For slowly putting a wedge between Dad and me, and then with Alex. He even tried to get me to send Grace away. He told me she and the baby were a daily reminder of my loss because we were so close. Thank God I didn’t let him do that. Remind me later to tell you about Grace and