Mishi took another puff from his cigar before starting his story from five years ago. "I finished a gig and was sitting on some money. Two girls, hot, one on my left, other on my right. They felt good while sticking onto me. Too good probably. We got into an underground gambling place. By the time I realized that those two dolls set me up, I lost all my money and was owing a sum to some shady characters. Fast forward into the evening, I'm in an alley, five or six of them with clubs are ready to break my hands, or legs and probably my head as well. I still clearly remember desperation just before I surrendered to the thought that it's over. And then a skinny girl showed up. I didn't see how, but in an instant all of them were on the ground and she was standing above me, asking me if I'm OK." Mishi laughed. "Such a small and skinny girl... at that moment I thought she is as big as a mountain. My clothes were torn from the treatment I received previously. She applied some medicine and my bruises were gone by morning. She didn't linger. As soon as she was done, she left. Before I managed to stumble out of the alley, she was back with new clothes for me. Only then she asked what happened." Another cloud of smoke rose above him. "She fixed everything. I got my money back, and I never heard again from them. Shortly after, I went back to the underground place to see if I can find those two girls who set me up and teach them a lesson. I was angry and embarrassed that I ended up in such a situation. I didn't think about the consequences of going back there. To my surprise no one dared to look me in the eyes. It felt good." Mishi paused for some time after finishing his story. "I told myself that I need to stay close to that skinny girl and wait for time when she suffers injustice. When that happens, I will help her fix the wrong and return the favor."
Mishi placed the remains of the cigar on a palm sized rock next to him, to extinguish itself. He laid back on the lounging chair, entwined his fingers over his chest and closed his eyes. Aiden thought that a smile lingered on Mishi's face, but he was not sure because of the mustache, and he didn't want to stare.
Aiden looked where Sarah is, and noticed that Lucija and Tereza joined them. Now four girls were chatting while throwing pebbles into the water. Aiden heard them laugh occasionally.
Mishi grumbled when Petar and Emir joined them on the lounging chairs, and their lively chatter prevented him from napping. But he didn't leave. Mishi opened his eyes and straightened slightly in the lounging chair while listening to their endless array of topics.
Not long after, they mentioned Nick. Aiden used this opportunity to see if he can find out Nick's story and how he ended up with them. Emir didn't disappoint. He was eager to talk.
"I don't guarantee that I have all the details, but I know the major points." Emir started his tale about Nick. "Nick was about ten when Boss found him on the street. He was in foster care, moving through families and he had a rough time. Boss didn't take him in or anything like that! After finding out about his situation, Boss helped him find blood relatives. It turned out that they were loaded and eager to take him in. On top of that, they could not have children, so they are treating him like he is their own son. He is like modern Cinderella, but a male, and without a prince... or there are no two evil stepsisters..." Emir was lost in his prattling for some time until his mind came back. "Now he is a young master in a family of good standing. That hideout that we have above town... Nick convinced his father to buy that piece of land... so he owns our hideout." Emir let out a laugh.
Aiden's gaze drifted off to Sarah again. The more he found out about her, the more he admired her. 'She is a perfect existence.' No matter how much he thinks that he maxed out his capability to love her, every next time he was surprised that he loves her more.
Next to the water, Sarah glanced toward Aiden and saw that he is looking her way. She smiled.
"Come on... look at you. Tell us details. How is life with Omega?" Marija looked at Sarah eagerly.
"Life is good." Sarah gave a vague answer. She wanted to change the topic and turned to Lucija. "How about you? I didn't know that you and Petar are an item."
Lucija giggled. "Should I feel happy that something escaped you? We are doing fine. We chat every day online, and whenever we can, we visit each other. Last month I was in Belgrade for a week. I had to come back home because of work... and month before that he was few days in Zagreb at my place."
"Do you plan to stop that travelling and pick a place to move in together?" Tereza was curious.
"I'm not sure." Lucija responded shyly.
Marija clapped. "Ha! I think you are. But maybe he is not..." She suspiciously looked toward the guys.
"Don't tell him anything!" Lucija panicked. She knows that Marija is the type who would just go and say what is on her mind, regardless if it would stir up trouble.
They all laughed seeing Lucija's reaction.
Marija pouted. "Fine, fine... stop treating me like I'm the troublemaker." She sighed. "I wish that I can find someone to hold me, and squeeze me, and all the juicy stuff..." She gestured kissing on the back of her palm, but it looked more like licking of a cat when it grooms itself.
Again, the girls laughed.
"How about you, Tereza?" Sarah asked.
"I'm still with my guy. We are doing fine." She smiled and glanced at Marija. "And no, I will not bring him here. For him, I'm an electronic engineer at Lirix. Nothing more."
"You are not worried that he will find out?" Lucija gave her a concerned look.
"Not really. He is not the nosy type." Tereza shook her head and smiled. "It's much simpler this way. If he ever finds out, I will worry about that then."
The girls joined the guys on the lounging chairs.
Aiden shifted to make space for Sarah to sit next to him. As soon as she sat, his arm was on her hip, and he remembered the panties... those dark pink panties that are in his back pocket. His fingers moved slightly over her dress, and he verified that there is nothing between that thin fabric and her skin. His throat got dry again, and he was struggling to swallow. He spread his legs with intention to push Sarah's legs close together, so that she does not expose herself by accident... but then he realized that his bulging crotch is exposed when he does that. He was conflicted.
Sarah saw him fidgeting and let out a quiet giggle. She moved a bit sideways and her bottom leaned on his thigh.
Her move was not too inviting, but Aiden knew that under that dress there are no panties! He wished all these people just to go away already. Luckily for him, he didn't need to wait long. It was late.
Emir asked when two of them will go back to the mainland and if they need a ride. Sarah told him not to worry about them, they will manage.
Aiden was happy to know that there are things she shared with him, and not with them. She didn't want them to know that this island is hers. As much as she shared with them, there were still things that she kept for herself. One of those things is that today is her birthday. They didn't know, or even if they did, no one spoke about it. For him, it was a confirmation that for Sarah, he is special, more than anyone else.
Six of them boarded the sailing ship and left after agreeing to meet next day in the hideout.
Sarah waved toward the departing sailing ship shortly, and when she faced Aiden, his lips crashed onto hers. She giggled as he lifted her up with his hands below her dress. When he felt that nothing is separating his palms from her inviting skin he groaned.
As soon as he stepped of the berth, he went on his knees, and Sarah broke the kiss to voice her protest as he started lowering her on the ground. "Pebbles! It's not comfortable! Let's go upstairs..." She didn't need to finish; he was back on his feet and rushed inside the large house he called castle with Sarah in his arms. Finally, it was just the two of them.