For those who haven't read the edited versions of Mel and Katy's parts they are finally up and I highly recommend you read at least the first paragraphs or things will not make sense.
Thanks to luvtaread for editing.
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Brandon awoke the next day with Ashley still asleep in his arms. He lay there for a while just staring her and recalling the night before. It seemed it had all really happened. The speedboat crew was dead and he had freed not only Ashley, but Katy and Mel as well. He marveled at all this as he enjoyed the feel of Ashley's warm body against his, admiring the beauty of her sleeping form. It was amazing how the past few days had changed his reality. He had gone from a lonely guy sharing a room with an asshole on a cruise ship to waking up on an island with a naked gorgeous woman in his arms.
Ashley stirred and he was taken out of his reflection. She woke, looked down at his arm and then looked up at him and relaxed. She rolled over to face him and kissed him.
"Good morning darling."
"Good morning." Brandon responded and they laid there for a while before a giggle from the door made Brandon look up. He spotted Katy looking in through the opening.
"See Mel, what did I tell you?" She said, "They are so cute together."
"Yes I guess they are," Mel said and Brandon noted she too was looking in.
"Alright ladies thank you for that," Ashley said, "but if we can get some privacy to get dressed, we'll be out in a sec." The ladies agreed and disappeared from the entrance. Brandon grabbed his shorts and put them back on and Ashley located her clothes and they exited the shelter to join Mel and Katy around the fire for breakfast.
After breakfast the group took inventory of the things they had gathered from the other camp the previous day. Key finds were the knife, a pistol with a few extra clips, a shotgun and shells, a shovel, rope, some canned food, a few pots and metal dishes, a stack of clothes, a first aid kit, and weirdly enough Katy's suitcase. The last item had a mix of Katy's belongings and John's who had apparently claimed it due to the quality material it was made of.
Besides clothing it also contained several hygienic supplies that if used correctly could last them for quite some time. This included a supply of birth control pills which given last nights activities Brandon was glad Ashley still had access to. As a pregnancy for any of the girls would be a major issue they could not afford.
After taking note of their assets Brandon began making plans for a larger shelter. As Mel's ankle was still swollen he decided it would be prudent to wait to do the major construction for another time, but he figured they could assemble materials.
So after a brief discussion the group set to clear the area around some trees that they figured they could use as a basis of their shelter. As they cleared the area they looked for materials that could be used for walls and a ceiling. By days end they had succeeded in clearing the area and Brandon had managed to lash together a support for the floor using the rope and some of the larger branches they had collected.
The four friends stood back and admire their modest progress. It did not look like much, but they were proud of the half floor they had assembled.
"Alright well good start I think." Brandon said to the others. "With luck tomorrow we'll be able to finish the floor and work on the roof." They nodded in agreement and they all went to work on assembling dinner.
As the meal wrapped up Brandon sensed something was amiss, so he asked, "Okay ladies what am I missing?"
"Well, Katy and I had discussed your comments from last night today, and we were wondering if you wanted to make a small wager." Mel said with a smile.
Brandon was confused, but both women made a subtle glance in Ashley's direction and he suddenly realized what they were talking about.
"Ladies, I don't think that's right..." Brandon said
"What?" Ashley asked.
"Well," Mel answered after a brief silence. "Our male friend here made some views Katy and I wish to disprove this evening."
"Oh, and what are those?" Ashley asked giving Brandon a curious look and before he could answer she said, "You know what I don't think I want to know, but he's in."
"I am?" Brandon asked incredulously wondering if Ashley knew what she had just volunteered herself for, "of course she doesn't that is absurd" he thought to himself.
"Absolutely, you would not want to appear a coward or a liar in front of three lovely ladies, would you?"
"Yeah, Brandon you wouldn't, would you? You know how I hate cowards and liars," Mel said.
"As do I," Katy echoed. "I wouldn't want to think of my big strong hero as nothing more than a lying coward."