| Author POV |
The boat eventually reached the shore of the private island, where a sprawling mansion stood silhouetted against the moonlight. Keifer lifted Jay Jay from the cabin and carried her up the stone path and into the master suite, laying her down carefully on the bed so she could continue her rest.
When the morning sun began to peek through the sheer curtains, Jay Jay stirred. She felt the soft breeze of the island and saw Keifer waiting for her to wake up. She blinked her eyes open, and immediately, a playful pout formed on her face.
"You're a meanie, Keifer," she huffed, crossing her arms. "A big, giant, marshmallow-bullying meanie."
Keifer tilted his head, a small smile appearing. "A meanie? Even after we made it to the island?"
"Yes!" Jay Jay sat up, her hair a messy halo. "You ruined my grand entry! I was supposed to walk into this mansion like a queen, with my head high. But no, you carried me in while I was fast asleep. Marshmallow didn't get her moment to shine!"
Keifer chuckled, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. "You looked like you needed the sleep. I didn't want to wake you."
"I was resting my eyes!" she corrected with a sharp nod. "And look at this! We're all alone on a whole island and I didn't even get to announce my arrival to the palm trees. You just tucked me away. You're trying to keep the mansion all to yourself, aren't you?"
"Maybe I just wanted you to be comfortable," he murmured. "Is that such a problem?"
Jay Jay's eyes softened, but she kept the pout firmly in place for a second longer. "Well... I suppose if there's a big breakfast in the kitchen, I might forgive the lack of a red carpet. But you have to promise no more carrying me around like I'm a sleepy doll."
He sat on the edge of the bed. "I'll make sure you get to walk everywhere yourself today. Since it's just us exploring."
"Hmph. You better," she whispered, finally leaning toward him. "Otherwise, the marshmallow is going on strike. No talking for at least... five minutes."
Keifer laughed quietly. "I don't think you'd last two."
"True," she sighed, looking out at the ocean. "But it was a very threatening five minutes in my head."
"Jay , butterfly 🦋 let's take bath"keifer saying while holding cotton soft towel.
Jay Jay lazyly wake up from bed and make faces "No,no,nooo".
Keifer wasn't taking "no" for an answer. Despite her protests, he scooped her up from the bed, ignoring the way she kicked her feet feebly.
"Keifer! Put me down! The marshmallow is closed for business!" she wailed, her voice echoing in the marble bathroom. "I'm a sleepy cloud! Clouds don't take baths, they just float!"
"You're a cloud that's going to have cramped muscles tomorrow if you don't soak," Keifer said firmly, his voice a low rumble of authority as he tested the water temperature. "The sea salt and everything else... it has to be washed off. Your body needs the heat."
"It's bullying! This is marshmallow harassment!" Jay Jay cried, her lower lip trembling as she turned on the waterworks. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a dramatic, high-pitched wail. "Look! I'm crying! Real tears! My heart is breaking because my mean lion is making me get wet when I just want to dream about donuts!"
Keifer didn't blink. He knew her "fake crying" all too well. He sat her on the edge of the deep tub, gently stripping her of the oversized shirt she'd been wearing.
"Nice try, Jay Jay," he murmured, a trace of a smirk tugging at his lips. "But the 'fountains' aren't working today. In you go."
As he eased her into the warm, lavender-scented water, Jay Jay let out one last, loud "Hmmh!" She splashed a bit of water toward him, though it barely reached his chest.
"I'm ignoring you," she announced, pouting so hard her cheeks puffed out. "I am a silent, soggy marshmallow. You can wash my back, but I won't enjoy it. Not even a little bit."
"Is that so?" Keifer asked, picking up the sponge and gently rubbing her shoulders.
"Yes," she whispered, her eyes already fluttering shut as the warmth hit her sore muscles. "I am very, very mad. If I fall asleep in here and turn into a prune, it's your fault. You'll have to marry a prune."
"I think I can live with that," he replied, his touch turning incredibly soft as he watched her finally relax against the edge of the tub.
[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅Jay Jay's POV)̲̅$̲̅]
The warm water was like a giant, liquid hug. Even though I had spent the last ten minutes pretending to be a very grumpy, very betrayed marshmallow, the steam was winning the war against my fake tears.
Keifer moved behind me, his calloused hands feeling like velvet against my skin. He took the sponge, soaked in bubbles, and started with my shoulders before working his way down. When his hands reached my thighs, I let out a tiny, involuntary squeak.
I were so sore from all the "running" we'd done, but as he began to massage the muscles with a slow, rhythmic pressure, the ache turned into a gooey, melting sensation.
"Still mad at me, little bird?" he whispered, his voice vibrating against the back of my neck.
"Furious," I mumbled, though my head was lolling to the side. "You're... you're a tyrant. A very helpful, good-smelling tyrant. You're lucky my legs feel like overcooked noodles, or I'd kick you."
"I'll take my chances," he chuckled. He didn't rush. He was so careful, his thumbs tracing the tension in my legs, washing away the salt and the fatigue. Every touch felt like he was apologizing for being so "lion-like" earlier, claiming me back with gentleness.
The peace was overwhelming. The sound of the water, the scent of the island flowers drifting through the window, and Keifer's steady breathing... it was all too much for a tired marshmallow. My eyes felt like they had lead weights attached to them. My chin dipped toward my chest, and I drifted into a hazy, warm dream where I was floating on a donut in a lavender sea.
Splash.
A tiny drop of water hit the tip of my nose.
"Jay Jay," a voice rumbled softly.
I let out a tiny snore-grunt. "Go 'way, step-donuts... I'm busy..."
Suddenly, I felt a soft, wet warmth on my cheek. Keifer wasn't just shaking me, he was nibbling on my earlobe very gently, his breath tickling my skin.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple. "If you fall asleep now, you'll drown, and then who's going to boss me around all day?"
I blinked my eyes open, seeing his face just inches from mine. He looked so handsome, his hair damp and his eyes full of that protective look I loved. I pouted, reaching up with a wet hand to boop his nose.
"You woke me up from the best part," I complained, my voice thick with sleep. "I was just about to find the chocolate fountain."
"I'll find you a real one later," he promised, kissing my wet forehead. "But for now, let's get you out of here before you turn into a literal raisin."
"A high-quality raisin," I corrected, finally letting him lift me out of the water.
Keifer stood by the bed, holding out one of his soft, charcoal-grey t-shirts. It was huge—it would have reached my thighs—but I just shook my head, my bottom lip popping out in a stubborn pout.
"No," I insisted, hugging the plush towel tighter around my chest. "The marshmallow is feeling restrictive. No shirts."
Keifer raised an eyebrow, reaching into my bag and pulling out a lacy little piece of lingerie. "This, then?"
"No!" I giggled, batting his hand away. "That's for when I'm being a fancy marshmallow. Right now, I just want to stay in my towel."
"You'll catch a cold," he grumbled, though his eyes were soft.
"I won't," I countered, stepping toward the large glass doors of the gallery. "Keifer... I want to see the seashore. Right now. Just like this."
He moved to block my path, his shadow towering over me. "Outside? Without clothes? Jay Jay, there might be birds... or the wind."
I rolled my eyes, stepping right into his space. "I don't need clothes. I have you. You're my warm shield, remember?"
He groaned, a sound of pure defeat, but he didn't reach for the shirt again. Instead, he grabbed his own thick, oversized hoodie from the chair and pulled it over my head. It smelled exactly like him—woodsmoke, sandalwood sea salt, and safety.
"Fine," he muttered. "But you're staying attached to me."
I didn't need to be told twice. I hopped up, and Keifer caught me instinctively. I wrapped my legs firmly around his waist, my toes digging into his back, and draped my arms over his broad shoulders. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, feeling like a koala clinging to her favorite tree.
He walked us out onto the gallery, the cool island breeze hitting my bare legs, but I didn't feel a single chill because his heat was radiating into me. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was rhythmic and heavy, matching the heartbeat I could feel against my chest.
"See?" I whispered into his skin, tightening my grip. "Best seat in the house. The marshmallow is officially a backpack."
Keifer's hands settled firmly under my thighs, holding me effortlessly as he looked out at the turquoise water. "You're a very heavy backpack," he teased, though he squeezed me closer.
"Liar," I mumbled happily.
[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅Keifer's POV)̲̅$̲̅]
The weight of her in my arms was the only thing that felt real in this world. As we stood on the gallery, the rhythmic sound of the waves must have acted like a lullaby, because her grip on my neck eventually slackened. Her breathing slowed, turning into those tiny, rhythmic huffs that told me my little "koala" had drifted back to dreamland.
I carried her back inside the room, the silence of the mansion wrapping around us. I moved with a caution I didn't know I possessed—like I was holding the most fragile glass in a storm. I carefully eased my hoodie off her, making sure not to wake her, before pulling my own shirt over my head.
I slid into the cool sheets and pulled her directly onto me.
She didn't even wake up, she just let out a soft, contented mumble and climbed right up onto my chest. Her whole body was draped over mine, her frame perfectly aligned with my own. Her head tucked right under my chin, and her legs tangled with mine, pinning me down as if she were afraid I'd disappear if she let go.
I looked down at her, and my chest felt tight—not from her weight, but from the sheer, ridiculous cuteness of her. Her eyelashes were long and dark against her pale skin, and her lips were slightly parted, still puffed out in a faint, lingering pout even in sleep. She looked so small, so remarkably peaceful after everything we'd been through.
She was my "fertile masterpiece," my bratty marshmallow, and the only person who could turn a "lion" like me into a literal mattress. I ran my hand down the curve of her back, feeling the soft warmth of her skin. She shifted, her nose wiggling against my collarbone before she settled even deeper into my chest, a tiny, subconscious sigh escaping her.
I wrapped my arms around her, locking her into place. The world outside could scream and burn, stepfathers could chase us, and "tornadoes" could howl, but right here, under the weight of this sleeping girl, I was exactly where I was meant to be.
"Sleep, Jay Jay," I whispered into her hair, closing my eyes. "The lion's got you."