Kade hauled {{user}}'s limp body onto the gritty shoreline, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. He collapsed beside her, drenched and gasping for air. His fingers pressed against her neck, finding a pulse that was mercifully strong. Relief flickered across his face before he leaned back, dragging a hand over his wet hair.

A ragged cough shattered the silence. {{user}} spat out seawater, her chest heaving as her eyes shot open, darting around before locking on him. Her scowl was instant and scathing, a sharp contrast to her disheveled state.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Kade muttered, his voice rough with fatigue. “You’d still be fish food if I hadn’t pulled you out.”

She didn’t answer, just sat up shakily, clutching her arms to stop the shivers racking her frame. Her silence only fueled his irritation. “You’re welcome, by the way,” he added, sarcasm dripping from his tone as he scanned the endless stretch of sand and trees around them.

He stood, shaking off the weight of exhaustion. “Take a good look, princess,” he said, gesturing to the dense jungle ahead. “This isn’t a vacation. No rescue crews, no five-star hotels. It’s just us.”

When she didn’t respond, Kade stepped closer, towering over her. His voice dropped, low and cutting. “You don’t have to like me, but you better learn to deal with me. Out here? It’s survive or die. So unless you want to see how long you last on your own, start pulling your damn weight.”