Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
ARENA
Predawn’s light woke me.
On the island, daylight determined our days, not a clock. Working while it was light out conserved batteries for emergencies. Sometimes we worked by firelight when needed, but otherwise everyone not on watch went to bed early.
It didn’t seem like Nav was awake, though. His chest slowly rose and fell underneath me.
Not moving, I studied my hand that was comfortably resting on his impressively large left pectoral. If I were honest with myself, he had a nice body. Face too, really. Just different eyes, which I was getting used to.
And if I wanted to be double-honest, his trust exercise was starting to work. My knees were hiked up so far that I was sitting on him, and I wasn’t freaking out. Actually, this full-body snuggle felt kind of nice.
My acceptance worried me. I didn’t have the best track record when it came to trusting men.
Human men, my brain whispered.
Maybe Nav was different.
I wanted to believe he was, but I couldn’t take that risk. I had too many people counting on me to trust my questionable judgment, especially when I was lying naked on top of a guy I was kind of starting to like.
You weren’t a fan when he was waiting there expectantly to strip when you got back to the room last night.
No, that had scared me. So had the intensely hungry look in his eyes…until he got me into bed and didn’t do anything about it except warm me up.
The room grew considerably lighter, and I knew I needed to get up soon. I had a bra to hang out the window before my friends docked. But how could I do that without Nav noticing? I needed to get rid of him. He’d been pretty quick to get me a shirt yesterday after our agreement.
I wondered what I’d need to trade today. Probably more than I’d like.
Resigned, I teased his skin with my fingers, hoping it would make him more agreeable to a trade that favored me.
He made a pained sound and caught my hand.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” he asked.
“A little of both, actually,” I said honestly.
He rolled us so I was lying on my side, facing him, and brushed my hair back from my cheek.
His yellow gaze swept over my face.
Could he see what I was up to?
“Stay warm. I will find both for you.”
Excitement ripped through me. He didn’t leave, though. He stayed where he was, watching me expectantly.
Shit. This was one of those silent negotiations Gwen mentioned, wasn’t it? The first one to make an offer lost. But if I stayed quiet, he wouldn’t leave. I was already lucky the others hadn’t returned yesterday to try looking for me. I couldn’t keep delaying.
Playing it safe, I decided on a move that would leave some room to negotiate.
He watched me lean in, his pupils growing wider.
I brushed my lips against his cheek. When I pulled back, his pupils were so wide, they looked human.
“Thank you for taking care of me, Nav.”
His fingers twitched against my hip.
I didn’t do or say anything else as I waited for him to counter. After a few long moments, he pressed his forehead to mine.
“Thank you.”
Then he got out of bed and left. Naked. Again.
I scrambled out from the covers and hurried to put on yesterday’s clothes, along with several more layers from the suitcase.
The owners had packed well. It didn’t matter if the clothes were dirty or clean—I took what I needed.
The three pairs of socks on my feet would keep them warm, and two pairs of longer socks over my arms would help resist a bite.
Hoping not to test that theory, I left the room with the signal bra safely tucked into my shirt.
The hallway was empty, all the doors now open.
Frowning, I wondered when he’d done that, then hurried down the hall toward the stairs. The fire door was closed. First, I listened. Then, I knocked on it just like Nav had.
Nothing.
Was the door too thick to hear, or was it really empty?
After taking a few breaths for courage, I eased the door open and listened again.
Nothing.
I crept into the stairwell and hurried up to the third-floor door to repeat the nerve-wracking process, aware of each passing second.
Nav moved so fast. How long had he been gone already? How soon until he found me missing?
Slipping into the hallway, I made my way to the first door. Unfortunately, it wasn’t open like the ones on the second floor.
A quick scan of the hallway didn’t give me a solution. I couldn't break down the door like Nav could.
The fire door creaked.
I froze, gaze straight ahead, too afraid to look for a second.
“Arena?”
A relieved sigh escaped me at the sound of Nav’s voice, and I turned toward him. The mad scramble to think of an excuse died at the sight of him. His broad shoulders and abs were nice, but I barely noticed them.
His purposeful stride was making his length…swing. Very distractingly. Or maybe mesmerizingly.
Why was he still hard?
“Why are you up here?” he asked.
I blinked at him, words failing me until he smoothed his hands down my arms and frowned at the socks on them.
Shit. Right. The bra.
“I just wanted to have a look around while it was light out. I forgot the doors are locked though, so I didn’t get to do much.”
He nodded, but his expression looked a little troubled.
Did he suspect something?
I stood on my toes, grabbing the back of his neck to pull him down for another cheek kiss. The troubled look in his eyes vanished, but the intensity that took its place wasn’t any less concerning.
I cleared my throat, not releasing him yet.
“I’m glad you’re here. Can you open the door for me?”
He reached out and knocked on the door. A groan came from inside.
“No.”
A very valid refusal.
I glanced at the next door that faced the water.
“What about that one?” I stuck out my bottom lip since playful pleading had seemed to work well yesterday. His gaze dipped to it, growing hungrier. I quickly let go of him.
He sighed and went to knock on that door. Silence answered.
He broke into the room with ease, but the noise provoked the infected in the neighboring room. It called out loudly as Nav peeked inside.
“The room is safe. Stay inside while I check the rest of the rooms for you.”
Not believing my luck, I hurried inside, glancing at the king-sized bed in front of the room’s two windows. The second he closed the door, I took out the bra.
The window fought me, and when it finally opened, it didn’t go far. That didn’t deter me. Using the gap I had, I created a small rip in the screen and worked the majority of the bra out.
Closing the window again, I covered it with the curtain and hoped the bra would be enough to signal the others. If they saw it, they wouldn’t dock. They would leave straight away. But if they didn’t see it…
How could I convince Nav to leave the hotel? And where would we go? At least on the second floor, we were realistically safe from infected. But for how long?
I was still considering the options several minutes later when Nav returned. He’d given me enough time that I had the linens, warm bedding, and toiletries neatly stacked on the mattress, waiting for pickup.
Not by me, or Nav, but whoever came after us.
Maybe the Breakwater islanders months from now. Maybe someone else.
He glanced at the pile, then at me.
“I thought I’d organize everything to make it easier for later. Did you find more infected?” He was still clean…and naked…so I didn’t think he’d run into much trouble. But I did wonder how he managed to kill so many of them without getting bitten.
“No. Are you hungry? I brought back food.”
My stomach growled at the suggestion, and I nodded, holding out my hand.
He glanced at it, his passive expression shifting with a tilt of his lips.
Instead of giving me another meat stick, he threaded his fingers through mine. And with a tug, he pulled me off balance. I tipped forward, face-planting into his bare chest. His arm circled around my waist as he nuzzled my hair.
Trying to straighten, I wasn’t prepared for the way he caught my chin and tilted my head back. His gaze swept over my face, lingering on my mouth. A potent mix of panic and anticipation surged inside of me.
Where was the fear?
He leaned in and kissed my forehead.
“Thank you, Arena.”
Then he led me out of the room toward the stairs.
Confused, I stared at his back, trying to figure out why he had thanked me. Did he think that I’d held out my hand in invitation? Was he taking me back to the room for sex?
That finally triggered my fear response.
He glanced back and saw it. His steps slowed.
Dammit.
Before I could say something to play it off, he had me in his arms. Not the front-to-front warming hold like before, but carrying me like a bride over a threshold.
That didn’t help calm me.
The way he leaned in to press his forehead to mine did, though.
“Do you fear being in the open or me?” he asked, his voice rougher than usual.
In his arms with his face so close, I felt oddly safe. Safe enough for some honesty.
“I’m afraid that you misinterpreted holding out my hand as a sign that I’m willing for—”
I flushed, unable to say it.
Words would make it too real.
And naming it might make me want it.