Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Marcus uses his thumbprint to open up the door to the housing block, letting me step inside first.
Fatigue tugs at my limbs as I climb up to the second floor. I can’t wait to take a shower and finally dry my feet fully.
Marcus speaks into his radio. “Ares to Operator, do you read?”
“Loud and clear. Welcome back, Ares.”
“Can you open up the keypad on my quarters for the next two minutes?”
There’s a pause before an answer crackles over the radio. “Ares, I can’t do that without more information.”
A corner of Marcus’s lips tilts up in a half smile. “Right. Peanut butter and cherry preserves on wheat.”
“Copy, Ares.”
Marcus puts his radio away and I ask, “What was that?”
“Code. We’re cycling through everyone’s favorite sandwich. That one’s ... Breck’s, I think. We’ll set a new code tomorrow. But more importantly, put your thumb on the pad.”
I pinch my brows together, pressing my thumb to the small black pad beside his door.
“Leave it until the light turns green,” he says.
It takes around twenty seconds for the light to switch from red to green, and then I remove my thumb.
“You can get into our block and room with your thumbprint now.”
I arch my brows, smiling. “Ours, huh?”
He opens the door, holding it for me. “Casa de us, baby.”
My pulse races with happiness as I go inside, him following and closing the door behind us.
“I might need to do some redecorating,” I say lightly, looking around the spartan space. “Just a few dozen doilies and some decorative plates on the walls, maybe some potpourri...”
He sweeps me into his arms before I realize it’s happening, his lips meeting mine in a short, soft kiss. “You’ve got ten minutes to shower and get back here.”
I bracket his head with my hands. “And if I go over?”
“I’ll carry you back from the shower, naked and dripping. And I’ll enjoy the hell out of it.”
I think he means it. I brush the tips of my fingers through his hair, my gaze locked with his. My exhaustion is forgotten. Though we’ve been alone for most of the past five days, we haven’t been this alone. Now it’s just the two of us, no aromium influencing our thoughts.
It’s no surprise I want him just as much as I did before. Now it’s a yearning I feel deep inside, though, instead of just a magnetic pull to get closer to him.
We both grab clean clothes and our shower supplies and silently head in separate directions for the showers. There’s only one other woman in a stall on the women’s side.
I close my eyes and soak in the feel of cool water washing away the sweat and dirt from my skin. Only for a few seconds, though. Then I get to work lathering myself with soap from head to toe. I have a lot of bug bites and little scrapes, my skin more bronzed than it’s ever been.
My shower is finished in record time, my body and hair scrubbed clean and my legs and pits shaved. Sliding into soft, clean clothes feels heavenly. I don’t know how this buttery blue sleep set of lightweight pants and a tank top made its way to this island, but I’m glad it did.
I brush my teeth last, then put all my supplies back in my tote and head for ... I smile huge just thinking about it. Our room.
Marcus is waiting when I get there, my breath hitching when I see him. He’s only wearing black shorts, his wet hair pushed back from his forehead.
“Thinking about this is the only way I got through the past five days,” he says, his gaze dark and hungry. “But I do understand if you need sleep instead.”
I set my shower caddy down on the table and approach him, my heart thudding like a drumbeat.
“I need you more,” I say simply, gently touching his stubbled jaw.
He closes his eyes for a few seconds, then takes my other hand and puts my palm on his warm, solid chest. “I swore I’d never be with a woman on this island. But I can’t ...” He shakes his head. “I need you as much as I need to keep breathing, Briar.”
I run my fingertips down his chest, all my hesitation forgotten, too. “Ellison has something that will keep me from getting pregnant. I saw it in her office.”
He takes the hand that’s on his cheek, kissing my fingertips. “I don’t deserve you, but I’m a selfish, greedy bastard.”
Need throbs between my thighs as I whisper, “Show me.”
I inhale sharply as he wraps his hands around my waist, picking me up. I wrap my legs around him, resting my forehead against his as he carries me into the bedroom.
Still cupping my ass with one hand, he uses the other to secure every lock on the door. I run my fingertips through the waves of his hair, kissing his forehead, his nose, and his cheek.