excitement of the fight becoming sexual excitement Breath emerged from her choppily. "Maybe we could... you know, and - "
"Change. Now."
After a heavy pause, her gaze devouring him the entire time, Jewel moved behind the trees to remove her wet clothes and don his shirt. A few moments later, she returned, and the sight of her hit him like a well-placed punch in the gut. The camo shirt hung to the middle of her thighs, but it was his shirt and she was wearing it and the sight nearly undid him.
Sweating now, he dug inside and withdrew two energy bars. His supply was running low. If he didn't get out of this underwater hellhole soon, he'd be forced to hunt and eat the creatures here - and a Formorian souffle was not his idea of a good, nutritious meal. Unfortunately they couldn't risk going back into town.
"Time for breakfast." He handed one of the bars to Jewel and plopped onto a rock.
She eased beside him, enveloping him in her sweet scent, and nibbled on the edges of the bar. He gulped his down, staying the urge to escape her appeal.
"Thank you," she said finally, though she sounded anything but thankful. "I do believe these energy bars are the most horrid things I've ever eaten."
"It'll keep you alive, so eat."
"I have berries and meats I bought in town." "We'll save that for later."
Nose wrinkled, she finished off the bar. They took turns sipping water from his canteen. She continually cast glances in his direction. He knew because he could feel the force of it. Finally she sighed, sending a small puff of air against his shoulder, and looked away. Sighed. Looked at him again. Sighed.
What the hell was going through her mind?
He popped to his feet and paced to the far tree, unable to handle the closeness. Her calves were bare, but her ankles were crossed. She folded her hands in her lap. A very ladylike position. Her eyes told another story, however. They were filled with sadness and desire, hope and need.
"We should get going," he bit out. "We've got a lot of ground - "
Without warning, dark, eerie shadows fell over the forest. The insects ceased their chatter. The air thickened with salt.
"Ah, hell." Gray groaned. "Guess we aren't hurrying anywhere today." This very thing had happened his first night here, so he knew what was coming. "I should have expected this. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Fucking great. Anyone ever tell you you're a bad luck charm?"
"Yes."
He heard the hurt in her voice and swore under his breath. "I'm sorry."
"Why apologize? You've known one disaster after another since meeting me." "It hasn't all been bad." Some of it had been amazing.
With a bittersweet snort, she moved to his side. He bent down and hefted up his backpack and her wet things, then linked his fingers with hers and tugged her to the shelter he'd erected. Thank God he hadn't taken it down yet.
"You built this?" she asked, a bit awed as she studied the lean-to of twigs and sapling.
"Yeah. And before you get any ideas, it isn't the Love Shack." He pulled the robe from the backpack and rolled it into a pillow, then tucked the pack in the shack's corner. "Climb in."
They had to lie down and crawl with their elbows, but they both managed to get inside, where there was more room to move around.
The crystal dome creaked open, booming like thunder, and drenched the entire land with ocean spray. Gray knew he should keep his hands to himself, but trapped as they were in the tent, it was no use even trying. He'd give in eventually and better now than later. He couldn't not touch her when they were so close. He wrapped his arm around Jewel's waist, the sound of the rain creating a lulling rhythm.
"Why don't you get some sleep?" he said. "You've had an eventful day." She traced her fingers over his cheek. "Thank you," she said softly.
"For what?" Every where her fingers touched, his skin burned hungrily. "For saving me from the Mermen. For... everything."
The rain pitter-pattered against the leaves as he contemplated her words. He'd saved her life a few times, yes. But it was he who suddenly felt thankful.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The rain lasted several hours, and Jewel somehow managed to doze off and on, despite her sizzling awareness of the man next to her. Her robe had thankfully dried and was spread over their legs. Sometime during the