Stuck in an Island with Twelve Beautiful Women
Chapter 1053

Chapter 1053: Chapter 1053

The sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting soft gold over the woven walls of the treehouse. Jude stirred as the warmth crept across his bare chest, a slow sigh escaping his lips before he opened his eyes. The scent of morning dew, bark, and the faint sweetness of ripened fruit drifted in with the breeze. Beside him, Emma was still asleep, her arm lazily draped over his waist, her breath steady and quiet. Her hair tickled his skin, and he smiled to himself, brushing a kiss against her forehead before slipping gently out from under her.

The treehouse creaked softly as he moved, careful not to wake the others. Down below, the forest was already alive with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves. A calm morning. No screams, no sudden crashes, no heavy fog choking the air. Just peace.

He climbed down, stretching, his muscles tight and warm from sleep. He walked barefoot through the clearing, where the dew still clung to the grass. Stella and Grace were already outside. Stella was crouched beside a basket, checking through their supplies, while Grace stood a few feet away, braiding her hair with quick, practiced fingers. They looked up when they saw him, and Grace smiled, soft and slow, like the way water glides over stone.

"You’re up early," Stella said, tilting her head. Her red hair glowed in the morning light, and the shirt she wore clung just a little tighter after the wash yesterday. Jude’s eyes lingered for a second before he nodded.

"Couldn’t sleep," he murmured, stepping closer. "Emma still is. You two are heading out today?"

Grace nodded. "We were thinking of fruit. Natalie and Lucy said they’d go to the river for fish. Maybe Serena and Zoey can check the honey trees."

Jude ran a hand through his hair, considering. "Sounds good. I’ll take Layla and Rose into the west trail, see what the wind brought in."

Grace raised an eyebrow. "Feeling lucky?"

He grinned, a quiet thing. "Always."

They shared the chores easily, instinctively. No one needed to be told. Over time, they’d grown into the rhythm of the island, letting it shape them, letting each day lead them forward just enough to keep them sane. And maybe something more.

The others began to emerge slowly, yawning, stretching, the warmth of the sun on their skin waking them gently. Susan kissed his cheek when she passed him, her hand brushing down his chest with a teasing smile. Scarlet nuzzled against his shoulder as she walked by, still half asleep, her fingers curling around his for just a second. Sophie bumped into him on purpose and laughed when he caught her waist, tugging her close until she squeaked.

Breakfast was light, some fruit, dried strips of meat, and the tangy tea Serena had made from the bright leaves they’d gathered last week. Everyone sat in a loose circle, quiet and content, basking in the calm like cats in a sunbeam. Zoey leaned into his shoulder, twirling a strand of his hair while talking with Lucy about fishing spots. Natalie sprawled across the grass, her legs on Layla’s lap, and they passed a piece of fruit back and forth with little smiles. Jude watched them all, something tight and warm blooming inside his chest. It didn’t have a name, but it lived there, strong and deep.

After breakfast, the group split. Serena kissed him quick, whispering something about bringing back sweet roots. Zoey winked as she pulled Lucy along, both carrying woven nets and baskets toward the river trail. Layla appeared at his side with her long blade strapped to her thigh, while Rose joined a moment later, adjusting her boots.

"Ready?" Rose asked, her voice low and smoky as always.

Jude nodded. "Let’s go."

The forest shifted subtly as they moved through it, the trees a little taller, the shadows a little thicker, but it didn’t feel threatening. It felt like it was watching. Always watching. Jude moved easily, and the two women flanked him in practiced silence, keeping their eyes open for glints of color, fruit, feathers, anything edible. They didn’t speak much at first. It was enough to be near one another.

Eventually, Rose broke the quiet. "It feels too quiet."

Layla smirked. "You always say that. That’s how you jinx us."

"No," Rose shot back, "that’s how I keep us alive."

Jude laughed under his breath. The sound made Layla glance at him, her eyes softening. "It’s good to hear you laugh again."

He glanced at her sidelong. "What do you mean?"

"You’ve been distant. Since the... dream."

He didn’t answer right away. The shared dream. The children. The life that could have been. That wasn’t. A memory that was never real but still hurt like truth. His hand brushed hers briefly, a silent acknowledgment. Layla squeezed it once, then let go.

They found a cluster of fruit bushes, deep violet and round, bursting with juice. Jude tested one carefully before nodding to the others. They filled two baskets in silence. Then Rose found a patch of mushrooms, fat and earthy, and Jude checked them one by one to be sure. As they finished up, Rose suddenly turned to him.

"You know you can lean on us, right? Not just lead."

He met her gaze, searching. Her eyes were dark, unreadable, but her tone was gentle. He nodded once. She stepped closer, slowly, and kissed him, just a brush of lips at first. His breath caught. Then her hand rose, cupping the side of his face, and she deepened it, slow and deliberate. Layla watched them, her mouth parting slightly, then stepped in too. Her fingers traced Jude’s shoulder, her body pressing into his side, and he turned, catching her in his arms.

The kiss with Layla was different, sharper, hungry, but she softened against him as Rose’s arms slid around both of them. It didn’t go further than kisses, but their touch lingered. A promise, not a demand.

When they returned to camp, the sun was higher and the air thicker. Sweat clung to their skin, but their steps were lighter. Jude carried the baskets while Rose carried two long stems of edible fern. Layla had found a nest of strange nuts, tough but crackable. They heard the others before they saw them, laughter by the river’s edge, splashing water, playful shrieks.

Jude smiled. "Let’s drop these off and go see what they’re up to."

Back at the house, Grace took the fruit with a pleased hum and told them to cool off. Jude stripped his shirt off, not caring, and headed toward the river again, Layla and Rose trailing behind. The path was dappled in sun and leaf-shadow, and by the time they reached the riverbank, Lucy was already waist-deep in the water, hair slicked back, droplets glinting like diamonds on her skin.

"About time you showed up!" she called, tossing a fish into the basket Zoey held steady on the rocks.

Jude raised a brow. "How many?"

"Five so far!" Zoey said proudly. "And one weird shell thing Natalie says tastes like heaven."

Natalie was crouched in the shallows, her fingers delicately prying open a large shell. She looked up at them, then smiled, slow and deliberate. "It does. Want a bite?"

Jude sat beside her, letting the cold water lap at his legs. "Later. Let me enjoy the view first."

She rolled her eyes but grinned. Lucy swam closer, her arms hooking around his neck from behind, dripping water down his back. He hissed at the chill, then leaned into her slightly.

"You always smell like firewood and trouble," she murmured against his ear.

"And you smell like danger and distraction," he shot back, catching her hand and kissing her knuckles.

She hummed, clearly satisfied.

They all stayed there a while, letting the moment stretch. Serena and Susan arrived with bundles of roots and glowing pride, and Scarlet brought herbs wrapped in soft leaves. The camp felt full, of laughter, voices, shared glances, and warm touches.

As the sun started to drop, the golden hour bathing everything in rich, honey-colored light, Jude helped Zoey carry the fish back. She leaned into him while they walked, arms brushing. "I missed this," she said quietly.

"This?"

"This... feeling. All of us. Just... being. Not surviving. Living."

He didn’t say anything, just leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

Dinner was roasted fish, mashed root, and soft fruits. They are close together, plates on laps, limbs tangled. A few sat on blankets, others against trees, and Jude in the middle, surrounded by the soft sounds of chewing, chatting, the occasional kiss or whispered word. As night fell and stars flickered above, Grace brought out the drink they’d been saving, fermented fruit wine, just strong enough to make things soft.

Later, when most of them were half-lounging, half-dozing around the fire, Emma curled up beside Jude again, her fingers tracing invisible shapes on his chest. "You know," she said, "days like this almost make me forget."

He turned his head. "Forget what?"

"That we’re not supposed to be happy. That this place shouldn’t let us be."

He was quiet for a long moment. Then he kissed her gently, slowly, and whispered, "Then maybe we take it. Anyway."

She nodded, her eyes glowing in the firelight. Around them, laughter rose again, soft and low, and for just a moment, the world felt like it would never change.