Lost In Neverland

Chapter 6: The Oasis

Peter

The trek had taken its toll on both of us, but I noticed it more acutely in Gwen. Her once sleek, elegant dress was torn and dirty, the fabric clinging to her in all the wrong ways after our journey through the island’s rough terrain. Her golden-brown hair was matted with dirt and sweat, though it still somehow gleamed in the patches of sunlight filtering through the forest canopy. She kept tugging at the edges of her dress as if trying to make it cover more, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“There’s a safe spot nearby,” I said, breaking the silence.

She glanced up at me, her caramel eyes wary. “A safe spot? Like that tree?”

“Better,” I promised. “It has water.”

That caught her attention. She nodded, following closely behind me as I led her through the thick brush. The path wasn’t easy, but I knew the way by heart. After a few minutes, we stepped into a clearing. The oasis stretched out before us, a shimmering pool of clear water surrounded by lush greenery. The air here was fresher and lighter, and the sound of the water trickling over smooth stones was almost musical.

“Oh my God,” Gwen breathed, stepping forward. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight. “It’s beautiful.”

I watched her face, the way her lips parted in awe, and felt a strange warmth in my chest. “You can wash up here,” I said, gesturing to the pool. “The leaves on those trees…” I pointed to a nearby cluster of plants. “They’re soapy. You can use them.”

Her gaze flicked to me, gratitude softening her features. “Thank you, Peter.”

I nodded, turning away to give her privacy. I stood at the edge of the clearing, my back to her, my dagger at the ready. This part of the island was usually calm, but “safe” was a relative term here. I tried to focus on the sounds around us, the rustling of leaves, the soft hum of insects, but my thoughts kept drifting to Gwen.

A faint shuffle behind me made me turn instinctively, my dagger half-raised. I froze.

Gwen had her back to me, her dress sliding down her shoulders. The sunlight danced over her bare skin, illuminating every curve and dip. I should have turned away, should have looked anywhere else, but I couldn’t move. My chest tightened as I watched the dress fall completely, pooling at her feet. She stepped into the water, her movements slow and deliberate, and I saw everything. Her bare breasts were firm and full, her dusky n*****s taut against the cool air. The curve of her hips, the roundness of her bottom, and lower still… her dewy folds glistened as she moved. My body reacted in a way I didn’t understand, a heat pooling low in my stomach, my breath hitching.

The only women I’d ever seen like this were the mermaids, and they didn’t count. Their tails made them less human, their shells always covering their chests. But Gwen… Gwen was fully human, and the sight of her stirred something in me that was entirely new.

I tore my gaze away, my face burning. My pulse pounded in my ears as I focused on the trees, the rocks, and anything but the ripples of water behind me. I stood guard, trying to will my body to calm down, but the image of her lingered and burned into my mind.

“Peter?” her voice called out, soft and hesitant.

I turned slightly, careful to keep my eyes above her shoulders. She was standing waist-deep in the water, her arms crossed over her chest. “I need something to dry off with,” she said, her cheeks pink.

I hesitated, then tugged off the shirt I wore under my jacket, handing it to her without meeting her gaze. “Use this.”

She climbed out of the water, wrapping herself in the shirt. It was far too big on her, hanging off one shoulder and barely covering her thighs. I swallowed hard, and my throat suddenly dried.

“What about your dress?” I asked, nodding to the tattered garment on the ground.

“It’s filthy,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “I’ll figure something out.” Her eyes flicked to me, and I saw them widen slightly. “You’re… um…”

It took me a moment to realize she was staring at my bare chest. The jacket and shirt I had removed left me exposed, the cool air brushing against my skin. Her gaze lingered, tracing the defined lines of muscle, the faint curve of my collarbone, and the scars that crisscrossed my torso—some faded, others still fresh reminders of the island's dangers. Her caramel eyes seemed to soften as they traveled over me, pausing on the faint rise and fall of my chest. A deep flush spread across her cheeks, her lips parting slightly as if she were about to speak but thought better of it. The intensity of her stare sent a fresh wave of heat coursing through me, tightening something low in my stomach that I didn’t fully understand. For the first time, I felt vulnerable and powerful all at once, caught in the weight of her attention.

“What?” I asked, genuinely confused.

She shook her head quickly. “Nothing. Never mind.”

But she kept looking, and I couldn’t stop the small smirk that tugged at my lips.

“Gwen,” I said suddenly, the question burning in my mind. “What… what does it mean to kiss?”

She blinked, startled. “What?”

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the way my heart raced. “I’ve heard humans talk about it. About kissing and… being close. I don’t really understand it. Wendy once offered me a kiss, but I thought she meant an acorn. She laughed and gave me one instead. An acorn, I mean.”

Gwen’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Oh, Peter. A kiss isn’t something you give like that. It’s…” She hesitated, her eyes searching mine. “It’s when you press your lips to someone else’s. It’s… intimate.”

“Intimate?” I repeated, tilting my head. “Show me.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“Show me what it means,” I said, stepping closer. “If I’m going to understand, I need to see it. To feel it.”

She hesitated, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Yes. I want to know.”

Slowly, she stepped closer, her hands brushing against my arms. Her touch sent a jolt through me, and I felt my breath hitch as she leaned in. Her lips were soft and warm, and when they pressed against mine, a strange heat surged through me. It was unlike anything I’d ever felt, a mix of curiosity and something deeper, something I couldn’t name.

I kissed her back, my movements clumsy at first, but she didn’t pull away. Her hands slid up to my shoulders, her body pressing against mine, and I felt a new kind of fire ignite in my chest. The kiss deepened, her lips moving against mine in a way that made my head spin. I didn’t want to stop, and I didn’t want to let go.

A sound from the forest shattered the moment. We broke apart, both of us breathing heavily, our eyes wide as we stared at each other. My heart pounded, my lips tingling from the contact.

“We should…” she started, her voice shaky.

“Yeah,” I agreed, my voice hoarse. “We should keep moving.”

But as we turned back toward the forest, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something between us had shifted—something I wasn’t sure I could ever go back from.