Page 24 of Cavern of Silence

I quietly reply, "I don't want everyone to see my back."

She puts her arm around me. "Wear a T-shirt. I will, too. We can say we don't want to get burned."

"You don't have to do that."

She smiles. "Put your suit on. Let's have a brief moment of fun. It's not like we've had any exciting things to do in a long time. Come on."

"Okay."

I turn my back so it's to the wall, and Penelope stands in front of me. We change, put on shorts and T-shirts, and step outside the tent.

The guys are lined up with their backs to us.

"What's going on?" Zoe asks.

"Piggyback rides for everyone," Malin says, and they all crouch lower.

Penelope steps forward and puts her arms around Axel. "Don't have to tell me twice. That jungle is muddy."

Ryker glances at me, pats his shoulder, and winks.

Why does he have to be so gorgeous?

I climb on his back, and we follow the others. When we get to the river, Zoe and Emilia strip off their T-shirts. Penelope takes off her shorts and steps in the water.

"Don't forget your shirt," Axel says.

"Sorry, don't want to get too much sun. English skin and all."

I remove my bottoms and step into the water, too. Ryker follows. "Are you worried about getting burned, too?"

No, I already was.

"Yeah." After a few feet, I dive under the water and end up farther out than I wanted. The stream is moving fast, and Ryker grabs me and pulls me back.

"Be careful. The current has picked up."

"Thanks. I didn't know." I try to gain solid footing, but the water wants to take me with it.

He wraps his arms around me. "Hold on to me so you don't drift away."

I glance at the other girls, who are all hanging on to the guys. I turn back to Ryker.

"Promise, I won't bite."

Maybe I want you to.

How very inappropriate of you.

Your body is scarred for life. No man is ever going to want to touch you when a drug lord's initials are on your back.

"Julieta, hold on. You're going to drift away again."

I latch my limbs around his torso full of muscle.

His blue eyes stare into mine.

"Not going to be a very relaxing swim for you," I say, trying to fill the awkward silence.