Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“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.