Chapter 15
“This is your assignment. Don’t do anything more or anything less. Get the intel and get out. I don’t care if you could take out the entire command at the push of a button. Stick to the plan.” Decoded message from ILF handler Hiro Tanaka to ILF undercover operative Nightingale
Briar
Sweating is a baseline on the island. The only time I’m not sweating is when I’m working in the cooled lab. Waking up entangled with a massive bear of a man this morning means I’m even sweatier than usual.
Worth it. Marcus is still sleeping peacefully, giving me a nice view of his thick, dark lashes. He was beyond exhausted when we finally went to sleep late last night.
Yesterday might have been the best day I’ve had on Blue Arrow Island, though. Marcus called everyone together for a meeting in the Hub, where he laid everything out in his measured way.
He admitted his former role in Rising Tide, confirming rumors that had been swirling around camp since the night I killed Virginia. He explained how he inadvertently caused the crack now splitting our camp in half, and how he seems to retain parts of his aromium bond even when it’s off.
One of our people who works in the garden, David, was an engineer before the virus came, so he volunteered to oversee a plan to make our camp safe again. He’s planning a wide bridge we’ll build through the main part of camp, and the rest of the open ground will be covered with planks.
Work began immediately after the meeting. Almost everything in camp that draws electricity—other than power to the Sub, where our shield device is—was taken offline to power the giant saws used to cut full-size trees into planks.
We had an assembly line where the planks would be delivered for use while they were still warm off the saw. People who aren’t strong enough for that kind of work refilled canteens and delivered food.
All of us were working together as a community. We kept at it until it was too dark to continue, and then Marcus and I took showers and got in his bed together. It felt right to be back there, talking and falling asleep with my cheek on his chest.
He needs the rest, so I lie there while he sleeps for almost another hour.
“You’re up?” he says when he finally wakes up. “What time is it?”
“Time for you to get a watch.”
It was one of my dad’s favorite jokes, and it doesn’t hurt to say it anymore. It makes me smile and remember how he’d crack himself up when he said it.
“Damn, I slept too late.” Marcus scrambles out of bed. “I need to get to work.”
I watch as he grabs clean pants and pulls them on over his boxer briefs. His legs are one of my favorite parts of him. Long and powerful, with the same dark hair as his chest. Everyone in camp sees Marcus with his shirt off, but only I see what’s below his waist.
He runs a hand through his hair, looking at me. “Sorry. Good morning.” Putting a knee on the large cot, he bends to kiss me on the forehead.
“Morning,” I say, amused.
He isn’t great at being idle. He’s always focused intently on something.
“I’m working on the bridge again today, no training,” he says. “You should go to the lab.”
“Oh, should I?” I arch my brows, holding in a laugh.
“I’m not telling you what to do, but if you want to. The stabilizer’s important, and you’re the only one who can make it.”
My amusement disappears when I remember McClain’s condition. It’s just me and Olin now, and I’m just changing up variables, using what McClain taught me.
“You’re on break from eleven to one today,” Marcus says as I get out of bed.
“But you’re not telling me what to do.”
A low sound escapes him. “I’ll take you over my knee and spank that sass out of you.”
“Will you?” I slide my shorts down, leaving me in just underwear and a tank top.
He’s fast, grabbing me and pulling me close. My heart races with excitement. I missed this primal but playful side of him that’s all mine.
“Keep running that mouth and you won’t be able to sit down for days without thinking of me.”
I’m enclosed in his strong arms, and this is where I want to stay. But he’s right. There’s important work to be done.
“I could do a break from eleven to one,” I say softly. “What are we doing?”
“I’ll tell you where we’re going. What we’re doing is up to you.”
I arch a brow. “Okay, I’m intrigued.”
“The pool. Just us.”
My breath catches. The pool is a spring on the edge of our camp boundary with a waterfall cascading into it. It’s surrounded by a rainbow of tropical flowers, and it’s my favorite place on the island. Everyone in our camp goes there during time off.
“Just us?” I ask, unclear.
“Everyone knows Mom and Dad are back together and they want us to have some alone time.”
I burst out laughing and cringe at the same time. “That’s ... a little weird, but okay.”
He grins and kisses the top of my head. “Okay? I can do a lot better than that. Or we can just talk if you want.”
“I’ll think about it.”
I won’t. He knows damn well what happens when I see him in just his boxer briefs. His body is not meant to be ignored. If the entire camp thinks we’re having dirty waterfall sex, we might as well do it.
He releases me and gets his shoulder holster from a hook on the wall, putting it on. “Are you getting breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry. I think I’ll go straight to the lab.”
“I’ll bring you something when I meet you there at eleven.”
“Oh, you’re even picking me up for this date?”
His smirk is back. “Yep. Even though it’ll shatter poor Olin.”
“Olin doesn’t care.”
“He’s crazy about you.”
I laugh. “It’s not like that. It’s more of a brother-sister thing.”
“That kid has a massive crush on you, and I get it.” He kisses me on the cheek. “I haven’t brushed my teeth, so I owe you a good kiss.”
“Maybe. We might just be talking.”
He scoffs and scrubs a hand down his face. “It’s whatever you want, B. You know I’m a giver, and I miss having my mouth on you.”
I clench my thighs because he can’t miss it more than I do. He’s very much a giver, and a great one.
“I’ll see you at eleven.” He picks up the small wood basket that has his toothbrush, toothpaste and shaving stuff in it.
“Hey, maybe wait to shave your face,” I say. “I like looking at the beard when we’re talking.”
“You got it. I plan to talk you into next week. Lock up when you leave.”
“Is this how you wanted it?” Olin asks me later that morning.
I look at the test tubes lined up in a wooden holder. “Yes, that’s good. Do you remember how to mix the compounds?”
“Yeah.”
I’ve been struggling to keep my mind on my work all morning. It’s been a productive few hours, though. Olin is a good lab assistant. He listens well and picks up on things the first time I tell him.
“Hey, you know that blond who works in the garden?” I ask. “Daisy?”
“I’ve seen her around.”
“She was staring at you during the meeting yesterday.”
His fair cheeks flush. “I’m sure it was someone else.”
“No, it was you. You should try talking to her.”
“I don’t know how old she is. I’m twenty-one. It’d be creepy for me to talk to a seventeen-year-old.”
“Want me to find out?”
“No. Please don’t.”
A knock at the door cuts our conversation short. My body hums with awareness, knowing it’s Marcus. When I open the door, he’s standing there with a bouquet of plumeria and wild orchids.
“Hi,” I say softly as he passes me the flowers. “Thanks.”
“Hi.”
“Olin, I’m taking a break,” I say, gently setting the flowers on an empty counter. “You should take one, too.”
“Nah, I’m good.” He gives a small wave. “Hey, Marcus.”
“Hey, Olin.”
Once we’re going up the wide, gradually sloping walkway to leave the Sub, Marcus passes me something wrapped in brown paper. When I open it, I find an egg, tomato and cheese sandwich on sourdough bread.
“This is my favorite,” I say, my stomach murmuring its approval.
“I know. I talked Vadim into making it.”
“I’ll have to thank him.”
I bite into it, realizing how hungry I actually am. I don’t really think about it when I’m in the lab.
“How’s it going?” Marcus asks.
“Good so far. How about you?”
“We started on the bridge.”
When we walk out of the Sub, the glare of daylight makes me squint. I eat my sandwich as we walk to the pool, Marcus giving me occasional glances before he finally speaks again.
“I know everything’s not like it was before,” he says. “I need to earn your trust back, and I don’t want to come on too strong. We really can just sit at the pool and talk, and I mean that.”
“I know. We’ve never done anything I didn’t want.”
A vine quietly slides along the ground beside me as we walk. The island air is thick with humidity, my clothes already wet with sweat. The rush of the waterfall is a dull roar that gets louder as we approach it.
“I still want to leave the island,” I say. “I need you to know that. I’m here because I don’t have a way off, but when I do, I’m going to look for Mae.”
“I understand. Would you want me to come with you?”
“Yes. I wasn’t sure you’d want to. You’re important here.”
He shakes his head. “I’ll do everything I can to help this place, but if you leave, I want to come with you.”
The waterfall comes into view. No matter how many times I see it, I’m still in awe. It’s at least two hundred feet tall, and it spills into a crystal-clear spring.
Marcus is quick about getting his clothes off and diving in. I look around in every direction, not fully trusting that no one else can see me.
“You don’t have to get in.” Marcus is submerged from the shoulders down and he pushes back his wet hair. “I just wanted to cool off.”
“I want to get in, I just ... worry that someone can see.”
“Our perimeter is completely guarded. I made sure of it.”
I don’t know why I’m feeling self-conscious today. I swim here often in just my bra and underwear.
After taking off my boots, I remove my T-shirt and slide out of my pants. Marcus’s eyes are locked on me, more reverent than hungry.
“Oh.” I moan with happiness when I step foot into the cool water.
Marcus grins at me and goes back under, emerging by the waterfall. Standing beneath its powerful spray is the best back and shoulder massage on the island.
The pool is deep in some places and shallow in others. He’s standing where his feet can still touch the sandy, rocky bottom of the pool. I swim over to him, refreshed from going under the cool water.
We move away from the spray and I put my arms around his neck. He wraps his arms around my back, bending his knees so we’re at eye level.
“Things aren’t the same as before,” I say. “But maybe that’s good. Maybe we understand each other better than we did before.”
He leans closer and kisses me gently, his stubble grazing my lips. Something inside me relaxes, like a knot of tension finally giving way. When he deepens the kiss, I moan into his mouth, desire building hard and fast.
I’m dizzy with want when he moves his hands down to my ass, cupping it as he pulls away and moves closer to the waterfall. I close my eyes as he swims right into the cascade, his long, strong arm getting through it with just a couple of strokes.
We’re in the small cave behind the waterfall, concealed from anyone’s sight. Only a few faint rays of light break through the thick curtain of falling water.
He uses his arms to push himself up onto the slate slab of the cave, then reaches to lift me up onto it. He brushes the wet hair away from my face and kisses me again, his hand wrapping around my waist.
I climb onto his lap, grinding against him. A groan rumbles out of his chest.
“I can’t,” he says, regret lacing his words.
“What? Why not?”
“I don’t trust myself. When I’m with you like that, I’m out of control. And we’re sitting in a cave made of rock.”
I go still. “Oh.”
“I want something else.” He rubs his thumb over my nipple through the wet fabric of my bra, his voice husky.
Need throbs between my thighs. I understand why he doesn’t trust himself, but it doesn’t change how badly I want him.
He slides two fingers beneath the waistband of my underwear, murmuring, “Can I?”
Oh. God. Yes.
“Mm-hm,” I manage, warmth settling low in my belly.
“Lie back.”
I breathe in the cave’s earthy, fresh scent as he pulls off my underwear, then moves over me to slide my bra straps off my shoulders until my breasts are freed.
“I know I need to work on telling you how much I love you.” He murmurs against my skin, the warmth of his breath making my nipple harden. “But I’ve never had a hard time showing you.”
I sigh softly, my nails grazing lightly over his scalp as I rake my hand through his thick hair. He takes his time, teasing my nipples with his mouth until I’m frantic with need.
My back arches off the ground and I try to push his head lower. A short breath that’s half groan brushes over my skin.
Finally, his mouth moves to my stomach, the brush of his stubble giving me goose bumps. When he gets to his knees between my legs, a few seconds of frustrating silence pass. He’s just looking at me, need coursing through me like an electric hum.
“Spread that pussy for me,” he rumbles. “Show me what only I get to see.”
A little moan of desperation slips out of me as I comply, parting my legs as wide as I can.
Finally, he moves.
“You’re so beautiful, B. I waited my whole life to feel this way.”
He runs his tongue over my clit and I cry out, my back arching up even farther. He has me so wound up that I’m already on the edge.
“I only want one thing,” he says gruffly. “Say my name when you come.”
When he puts his mouth on me, it only takes a few seconds. He knows exactly how to draw it out, sucking my clit with just the right amount of pressure. Pleasure courses through me as I yell his name, breathless when my back drops to the ground and I whimper.
I’m boneless when I pull my underwear back on a few minutes later and we jump through the waterfall. When my head breaks through the surface of the water, Marcus is swimming toward the shore, moving faster than I’ve ever seen him go in the water.
“The radio,” he calls over his shoulder.
It’s in his pants. Nova told him she would only call if there was a true emergency. I swim as fast as I can. The radio is in Marcus’s hand when I get out of the water.
“We’re on the way,” he says into it.
“What is it?” I ask, frantically grabbing my shirt.
“It’s McClain.”