Page 44 of Explorer’s Revenge

THIRTY-NINE

WAY

T he last few days have been hell. We are running out of water, and we are officially out of food, but it’s more than that.

It’s the fact that we haven’t seen any signs of rescuers for a while.

It’s like they left us here to die or gave up.

I don’t know how many days ago that was.

They all blend together, especially since we are trapped.

When that second wave came, it dragged us away.

We had nothing to cling to. I don’t know if the storm or tsunami opened the entrance to this cave, but the water carried us right into it.

We were lucky it was elevated so when the water went down, we didn’t drown, but from that first moment we realized we were stuck here, we also realized that thing did too. It’s been out there for days, waiting.

After we were swept in here, we tried to get out.

Wilder nearly lost his arm. We’ve tried a few more times, especially when we heard helicopters.

We needed to get their attention, but that beast is out there waiting for any splash or movement, and it lunges at us.

Luckily, it’s too big to get in here, but it knows it just needs to wait us out.

Fucking asshole.

Sighing, Rick rolls over and sprawls across my chest. I push him off, and he rolls the other way, curling up on Logan.

Wilder sits near the entrance, perched on a rock.

I don’t know where we are, but it’s nowhere near the beach.

We need to get back there and figure a way out of the cave now that the water is receding.

We’ve been waiting for it to lower as much as we can so we can see where that asshole is, but we are risking being too hungry and dehydrated to make it.

We need to make a decision soon.

“Nothing?” Aiyaret’s voice is small. He lies next to me, his back to the rocky wall of the cave. It was where he felt safest, so we gave it to him since he struggles to sleep anyway. I make sure my body is between his and the entrance in case the worst happens.

“Go back to sleep,” I murmur. He’s only been resting an hour or so.

Sighing, he sits up and rests his head on the wall as he looks at me. His hair is slicked back, making him look younger, and he’s still so handsome it hurts, so I glance at Wilder, but Aiyaret’s voice brings my attention back to him.

“She’s okay, right?” he asks softly, and I flinch. “If she was okay, she wouldn’t stop until they found us. I’m scared something happened. I just hope she’s okay. I hope she’s resting and her dad is with her. It’s what she would want.”

“Maeve Carter is fine. There’s nothing in this world that could kill her.

She’ll be in a nice hospital somewhere, giving them hell.

” He smiles, and I cover his hand with mine.

“She’ll be okay. We got her out of here.

They’ll take care of her, and I’m sure her dad is at her side, holding her hand. She won’t be alone.”

He nods, looking at our hands for a moment, and I debate drawing mine back, but honestly, I need his touch too. I’m scared, not that I’ll tell him or the others. They need me to be strong. I can’t implode.

“We are going to die here, aren’t we?” he asks, and I startle as his lips curve in a sad smile.

“It’s okay. I know you all like to protect me, but I’m not scared of dying.

Honestly, I’m surprised I made it this long.

I spent my entire childhood thinking I was going to die each day, that one day she would take it too far.

After a while, it just became something I knew would happen someday. Death doesn’t scare me.”

“Then what does?” I ask. “The thing out there?”

“No. Something much worse,” he answers quietly.

“Then what?” I frown, not understanding. “Tell me, I’ll make it better.”

He watches me for a moment. “I’m scared I’ll die without ever being brave enough to be honest with myself . . . and you. I’m scared I’ll die never knowing.”

“Knowing?” I hedge, something inside me waking up. Warmth flows through me, and my heart starts to hammer, but I don’t know why.

His eyes search my face, and it’s like he decides something when he nods. “If we are going to die here, then there’s one thing I want to do before that.”

I want to tell him we won’t die, that I’ll make sure I’ll get him out, but all that comes out is a rough question. “What’s that?”

“This.” He grips the back of my neck firmly, and with more strength than I thought he had, he yanks me forward and presses his lips to mine.

I freeze, staring into his eyes as he kisses me.

I expect him to pull away, to apologize, but his eyes close, and he deepens the kiss.

Before I know it, my eyes are shutting too and I’m kissing him back.

He gasps, and I pull away.

I stare at him before remembering the others. I glance at Wilder, but he’s still keeping watch. He probably heard us, but he stays silent, giving us privacy.

“Aiyaret,” I whisper, no other words filling my head.

“I’ve been scared my entire life, but I don’t want to be anymore.

If I’m going to die here, I’m going to do it knowing I gave it my all.

I love you, and maybe I always have. You’re my best friend, and I think that confused me for a while, thinking it was just friendship, but I don’t feel the same way about the others as I feel for you.

I can’t live without you, Way. You’re my light in the dark, my safe harbor.

Maybe you don’t feel the same way, but I don’t care anymore.

I have to tell you. For me, love was pain from a mother who hated me.

I have nothing to offer other than this scared, flawed body and soul, but it’s yours. It always has been.”

Covering his mouth, I press my forehead to his. “You’re confused?—”

“Don’t tell me how I feel,” he snaps, tugging my hand away. “ Stop being so calm and rational. For once, Way, tell me how you really feel instead of trying to protect me.”

“Aiy, let’s talk when we’re out of here,” I say, and he flinches and stands. I stare up at him, fear pounding in my chest as he locks me out.

“If you don’t feel the same way, then just say it. Don’t make excuses. That’s worse. Stop being such a good guy and trying to protect me,” he snaps, and then he goes to walk past me. I have this horrible, gut feeling that if he does, I’ll lose him forever.

Grabbing his arm, I yank him down. His eyes widen as I pin him.

“I will always protect you. You’re damn right about that, but it’s not that .

. . I’m terrified you’re getting mixed up and saying it out of fear, offering me everything I want only to take it back later.

I couldn’t live with that. I can live with being your best friend as long as it keeps you in my life, but I can’t go on if you give me a glimpse, a taste of what I want more than anything then take it away again.

” I’m breathing heavily, and so is he as he stares up at me, wide-eyed and shocked.

“You’re wrong, Aiyaret. It isn’t you who can’t live without me.

It’s me who can’t live without you, and I’m terrified you’ll realize that one day and leave me.

Don’t give me hope and take it away again.

I know you have feelings for Maeve too?—”

“So do you,” he retorts, and I swallow.

“I do, but in a different way than you. You’re both in my heart, but Aiyaret, I love you. I always have. If you aren’t sure about this, then don’t give me a chance. If you . . . If you feel the same way and you love me, then I’m yours.”

We are both damp, and we smell like saltwater and sweat, but I don’t care, not when he looks up at me with hope-filled eyes. “I love you. I don’t want to be your best friend anymore.”

“No? Then what do you want?” I ask as I lean closer, needing to know before I cross a line we can’t come back from.

“I want to be yours,” he whispers, and it’s all I need. I slam my lips onto his. He arches below me, turning his hand in my grip and lacing our fingers as he groans, kissing me back. I force his mouth open, sweeping my tongue in and tangling it with his as we press together.

Despite how tired, dehydrated, and hungry I am, desire spirals through me, but I ignore it. This is about love, nothing else. I would never cross that line with him until he was ready. He might never be after his past, and that’s okay as long as he doesn’t leave me.

The little whimper he lets out has me hardening, so I pull away before I push him too hard. I rest my forehead against his and stare into his beautiful eyes.

“We’ll get out of this, I promise, and when we do, I’ll show you how serious I am.”

His smile is slow but bright, and for once, it’s unchecked, and it fixes something in my heart. “You better.”

Grinning, I tug him into my arms. He snuggles into my chest like he has a million times, but it feels different now. I don’t know if we’ll make it out of here, but it doesn’t matter, not now that I know he feels the same way.

After everything I’ve hidden, everything I’ve held back, he’s in my arms. I don’t know how long we’ll get to be together, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll have a chance, and that’s enough.

“It’s about time,” Logan mutters. “How much longer do we have to pretend to be asleep?”

“Logan . . .” Wilder sighs as I laugh, and Aiyaret hides his face against my chest, but he’s smiling and holding me tightly.

“What?” Logan asks as he rolls to his back, his hand over his eyes. “I’m not looking, but if they start fucking, I’ll be out there with the croc. There are some things I can’t unsee.”

I tug Aiyaret closer. “Idiots, all of you.”

“I’m with him. We love both of you, but I don’t need to see your balls,” Rick teases.

“Jesus Christ,” Wilder mutters. “Alright, since we’re all awake, let’s come up with a plan to get out of here.” Rick and Logan groan, and Wilder laughs. “Come on, idiots, it’s now or never.”

“We’re getting out?” I ask.

“Or we’ll die trying,” Wilder admits.

That sobers us all.