6

We do a good job of avoiding each other after that—which is actually pretty normal for the two of us.

For me, it's become much more important. Anytime I see him, I fight the urge to smash our faces together. Despite my resolutions about moving on and not letting him drag me down any longer, my body is craving his touch.

So the only solution is obviously to stay far, far away from him. It is unfortunate that that is not an option.  We live together, after all.

I'm outside at one of picnic tables reading when my watch face lights up. I hear a rustling in the bushes outside the fence. I instinctively get nervous.

After my encounter with the Compsognathus, Zach admitted that he had turned the electricity to the fence off. Dinosaurs never ventured this close to the coast, so he was attempting to save energy. However, we've been seeing more and more of the small dinosaurs close to camp, so he turned it back on. I know I'm safe...at least...I think I know.

Moving slowly into the clearing I can finally see what was making the noise. It's a Stegosaurus. She sees me, but doesn't seem bothered by my presence. She begins digging in the dirt, looking for food.

After my trip to Jurassic World, I became obsessed with Stegosauruses. I learned what they ate, where they lived, when they lived. It was my Halloween costume that year.

I want to touch her. I want to know exactly what those spines feel like. I know these type of dinosaurs are not aggressive, so I decide to do it. I may never get this chance again.

I quietly walk toward the gate, doing my best to not scare her. I don't take my eyes off of her as I reach my hand up to the latch to let myself out. My hand lands on the padlock. The chains rattle, and the Stegosaurus hears it. She looks at me one more time before slowly returning to the trees, disappearing.

Dammit! I've been here for three months, why is Zach still locking this damn gate?!?

I take a deep breath. I need to calm down. With all the tension--some might say sexual tension-- in the house, it is putting me on edge. The slightest inconveniences have been making my blood boil.

Yesterday, Zach left his shoes in the middle of the floor. I didn't even trip on them. I just saw them there. I threw them, one at a time, at his bedroom door. I thought he was outside, so I was surprised when he opened his door. He looked at the shoes, and then looked at me. He picked them up and shut his door without saying a word--which made me even more mad.

How dare he keep his calm when I am losing it? How dare he stay away from me when all I want is for him to be all over me? How dare he not care about me the way I care about him?

I decide to get back to my book. Maybe it will take my mind off of everything. That doesn't work. As I turn the page, I see someone has written a note in the margin. I would recognize Zach's handwriting anywhere.

That's it. That's the final straw. I'm going to confront him.

I realize that I'm grasping at straws here, but I have got to get this tension out of me one way or the other. Maybe yelling and screaming will be the best way.

I push the door open with all my strength, slamming it into the wall. Zach is standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, drinking a glass of water. He stops moving and stares at me while I slam the door shut again.

I stomp my feet over to him, grab the cup out of his hand and throw the water in his face. His eyes widen, and his mouth is hanging open. "What in the actual fuck, Ivy?!?" He's yelling.

I respond with my own yelling. "Who the hell do you think you are, Zach? Why are you still locking the gate? And why do you think you can write in the communal books?"

His hands are out on either side of him, and he keeps looking through the window at the gate and back to me. He looks very confused, but still angry, eyebrows creased. The hair around his face is soaked and there is water dripping off the end of his nose. "Are you kidding me?!? That's what you're pissed about?!?"

I cross my arms and nod defiantly. I know the truth. It's not what I'm really mad about, but there's no way I'm going to tell him what's really going on.

"What's your excuse for the last week, then? Huh? You've been snapping at me and throwing temper tantrums nonstop."

I take a step toward him and point my finger in his face. "You don't get to talk to me like that!"

That's my only defense. I really don't have anything else.

We're quiet then, and my heart is pumping so fast, Zach can probably hear it. I'm breathing heavy, and Zach is breathing heavy. I see his eyes travel across my face from my eyes to my lips.

I don't even know who moves first. The next thing I know is that our mouths are together. My arms wrap around his shoulders, and his hands are roaming up and down my back.

This kiss is different than our other one. That one was sleepy, and slow, and sweet. This one is hot, and needful, and intense. He shoves his tongue between my lips, and I accept it willingly.

Oh my God. He tastes amazing. It's a mixture of toothpaste and chocolate. I can't get enough of him.

We break apart for Zach to pull his shirt over his head--it is drenched in water--and I take the opportunity to remove my own shirt. I want to feel his skin on mine.

As soon as we meet again, Zack picks me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He turns us around so my back slams against the wall. He begins kissing my neck, and I tilt my head to the side, giving him more room. His mouth moves down to my chest until it reaches my cleavage.

"Zach," I moan, "I want you."

He stands up straight so our faces are at the same level. "You are so beautiful."

I run my hand through his hair and bring his face back to mine. I need to kiss him--like I need to breathe.

He breaks the kiss again and looks into my eyes. "I've wanted you since the moment I saw you."

"Then what took you so long?" I ask, smiling.

"I was trying to fight it. You're perfect. You don't want me. Trust me."  He brings his lips back to my neck and trails tiny kisses up and down. "I don't think I can fight it anymore, though."

His mouth feels so good. I want it all over me. "Then take me, Zach. Please."

"Which room?" He asks, not moving his mouth from my neck.

"My room's closer."

Zach doesn't hesitate to carry me to my bedroom, and slam the door behind us.

The sheets are tangled around our bodies. Zach is on his back, and my head is resting on his chest. We are both sweaty and exhausted. Every so often, Zach gives a satisfied sigh. I feel so happy. I never want to leave this spot.

"We're going to need to move that picture," Zach says.

I look across the small room at my bookshelf. There is a picture on the top shelf of Owen and me. It was the day he returned from...here. The whole family went to greet him from the plane.

I giggle, "Why?"

He kisses the top of my head. "I don't think I'll be able to have sex in here again knowing that Owen Grady is looking at me."

"Well in that case..." I grab one of my pillows from the bed and toss it across the room. It hits the picture, knocking it on its side. "Problem solved."

I love my brother, but I don't need him looking at me right now either.

I lie my head on Zach's shoulder, and he wraps his arm around me, pulling me tighter. "Ivy, I'm sorry for locking the gate. I don't know why I do it anymore. I guess it just makes me feel better—safer."

"Zach, it's fine. I was just angry," I decide to admit the truth. "I was looking for an excuse to yell at you. I was sick of you avoiding me, and I thought if I fought with you, you'd have to talk to me."

He kisses my head again. "I'm done with that now. I swear."

"Me too," I whisper.

"So why did you want out of the gate anyway?" Zach asks.

"I saw a Stegosaurus. I wanted to get a closer look." I feel Zach's body stiffen beneath me.

"A Stegosaurus?" He sounds upset.

"Yeah..."

"Okay. We've got to figure what's going on. I've never seen a dinosaur even close to that size near camp in the entire time I've been here."

"I guess in my excitement, I didn't even think about it," I think for a moment. "What could be going on, Zach?"

Most dinosaurs live and hunt in the center of the island, and the bigger the creature, the less likely that they would need to venture towards the coast. The only carnivores we have seen so far have been small and non-threatening to us, but what if some of the bigger ones head this way? Would the fence hold?

I hope we don't have to find out.