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“I know,” he says sadly, but he’s grinning at me.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because,” he says with a sigh of relief. “I wanted to know where you stood on this whole thing. It’s a relief to know that you feel the same as I do.”

“Well, of course I do. I havesomemorals.”

“Then you keep those morals,” he says, his eyes flashing with intensity. “Because I’ve seen what ambition does to a person. I’ve seen what it’s done to Everly. Everything gets thrown aside in pursuit of significance or the almighty dollar.”

“You really sound like you hate it here,” I tell him. “Why don’t you sail away and quit?”

“One day,” he says, looking off. “One day I’ll do just that. But I can’t quit now. As long as you’re here, I’m here.”

“Oh no,” I tell him, even though my chest feels light. “Don’t say you’re staying for me.”

“I’m staying for you, sweetheart,” he says, grabbing my hand and holding it up to his mouth, pressing his lips against my skin. “I’m burning up for you. You’re my fever, Syd. No cure.”

CHAPTER 24

That evening,after everyone has gone to sleep, I creep through the darkness over to Kincaid’s tent. Luckily he pitched his close to mine so I don’t have far to go.

He unzips it for me, and I crawl inside, not wanting to be alone. The memories of the mycelia wrapping around me, the flowers licking me—I keep thinking that if I close my eyes I’ll be devoured by the earth without Kincaid there to pull me out.

But we don’t sleep. We have sex instead, quiet and controlled movements that keep the tent shaking to a minimum. Kincaid takes his time, slow and teasing as he pushes in and out, pausing to lick up my body. Sometimes he goes down on me again, a thirsty boy who can’t seem to get his fill, and then he’s rolling me over on my back and taking me from behind.

At some point in the haze of sex, footsteps crunch outside the tent and a light appears, showing a silhouette.

I freeze but Kincaid keeps fucking.

“Wes,” Hernandez whispers. “Are you awake? Where did you put the extra stakes?”

Kincaid places his hand over my mouth and clears his throat. “They’re underneath the bag with the extra blankets,” he says evenly, as if he’s not currently thrusting his dick into me.

I stare up at Kincaid, wide-eyed, and he grins down at me, clearly enjoying the fact that we’re fucking in front of his co-worker, who currently has no idea but could catch us at any second.

“Thanks. Sorry to wake you,” Hernandez says as he shuffles away.

“Wasn’t asleep,” Kincaid says after him, and quickly brings me to climax, never taking his hand away.

After that I sleep soundly, no bad dreams or anything until Kincaid rouses me awake at first light. “Better get back to your tent. The moment that sun is up, everyone will be awake.”

I thought I got back to my tent in the grey dawn without anyone seeing me, but later Lauren pulls me aside and says, “I saw you sneaking out of his tent.”

My stomach churns uneasily and I give her a sheepish look. “Well, you did say he was always staring at me. Just wanted to see if it was true.”

I expect her to laugh because she has always been teasing me about Kincaid, but she doesn’t. Her expression is grave, tone serious. “I want you to be careful,” she says. “He’s taking advantage of you.”

I frown. “No, he isn’t. What do you mean?”

She puts her hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Just be careful with him, please.”

After that, everyone has a breakfast of oatmeal and nuts and we’re tasked with taking down our tents. But I can’t help thinking about what Lauren said. I know Kincaid isn’t taking advantage of me, because I’m the one initiating everything. I want her to know that, but I have a hard time getting her alone without Rav or Munawar around.

Just as we had all tucked our tents into their respective packs, Kincaid, who had been conversing with Hernandez over something that looked serious, listening to a small radio in his hand, turns to us.

“Can I have your attention?” Kincaid booms, giving us an uneasy smile. “I’m afraid I have some bad news. The weather center is calling for a massive pacific storm to hit us in forty-eight hours, with the first bands coming in at twenty-four hours. The peninsula is exposed to the elements on all three corners and the weather is usually foul as it is. We can’t risk it and will have to head back to the lodge immediately.”

Everyone breaks out into a disappointed groan, myself included.