Page 27 of No Escape

Chapter Ten

The meaning behind Clint’s words became clear when they reached a platform tucked behind a thick curtain of water. The narrow ledge took them to the mouth of a dark cave. He continued inside without hesitation, but Sarah found herself mesmerized by the unexpected beauty of Mother Nature. She held out her hands, letting the silky water cascade over them, before cupping her palms for a drink.

“Sarah.”

The tone of Clint’s voice told her he wanted her to follow him. She turned reluctantly, entering the cave. He’d already started a small fire and was crouched down next to it. His gaze shot up to hers, his expression unreadable, yet she sensed what he was thinking. She was thinking it too, remembering what they’d shared in the raft, what didn’t get finished between them. Was he expecting them to continue what they’d started?

She glanced away to examine the rest of the cavern, suddenly nervous at being alone with him in such primitive conditions. Although she hadn’t known what to expect, the cave seemed much bigger than the small entranceway implied and appeared to have corridors leading away from the main room. “We have a suite,” she quipped, not willing to venture any further.

“The honeymoon suite,” he added, with a wolfish grin. “Complete with a shower.”

Sarah watched as he dug around the bottom of his bag for something, mildly surprised at the teasing quality of his voice. When he pulled out a small can of fruit, she almost pounced on him. Her mouth began to salivate, her belly rumbling so loudly it was a miracle he couldn’t hear it from where he was.

“Care to eat first?” The heat in his eyes made her wonder what he had in mind after they ate. However, hunger overcame caution, and she dropped eagerly to the ground next to him, taking the offered can. Popping the top, she brought it to her lips, eagerly drinking some of the sweet juice before sticking her fingers inside to snatch a piece of pineapple.

She brought it to her mouth, freezing upon finding Clint was watching her quietly. The fire danced upon his features, making him appear as uncivilized and wild as their surroundings, turning his eyes blacker than she’d ever seen them. He reminded her of a picture she saw once, of a hungry wolf hiding in the brush, his eyes intent on something that caught his attention. She almost choked as the food slid down her throat, something telling her it was just a matter of time before they stopped denying the sexual pull between them.

“Would you like some?” She offered him the can.

“I’m hungry, angel, but it’s not for any fucking fruit.” His eyes fell to Sarah’s mouth, the look on his face clearly saying that was the only thing which would satisfy his appetite. She caught her breath.

Whether it was by accident or unconscious choice, she licked the sweet juice off her lips and was rewarded with a flare of sharp desire in Clint’s eyes. He reached for the can though, his fingers brushing hers and sending an electric shock straight through her. He must have felt something too, if his savage expression was any indication. He finished off the contents in one swallow, not taking his eyes off her.

“Are you going to eat the can, too?” She decided it was best to ignore the sexual pull between them.

Clint grinned, tossing the can aside before moving on to the Vienna sausage. “I tried that once; it’s hard on the gums.” He popped the top, digging out a few before giving Sarah the rest. She knew she was obvious about avoiding his touch when she saw his lips twitch.

“Thanks.”

His lazy gaze followed Sarah as she scooted back against the cave wall. She leaned back wearily and closed her eyes, munching contentedly.

“Don’t go to sleep yet, angel. I have a surprise for you.” His rough voice sliced through the silence in the cave, echoing beyond the corridors.

She opened her eyes to see him getting to his feet. “How can a man so big, move so silently? And in boots no less.” Her eyes started at his feet, traveling slowly up his long legs, solid thighs and further, taking in the rest of him. He was a healthy specimen. She meant to skim over the fullness behind his zipper but found herself intrigued by the sheer length and size of him.

“You’d get a fucking rise out of a dead man looking at him like that. Are you prepared to back that look up with action?” Clint’s low words seemed intimate in the confines of the cave.

Sarah met the hard look in his eyes with surprise. She hadn’t realized she was so obvious. “I don’t…”

“You’re playing with fire, angel,” he ground out.

She tried to ignore the heat creeping up to her cheeks, embarrassed. “What am I doing?” she asked innocently.

“Looking me up and down like you want me for dessert.”

She jumped to her feet. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It was a mistake getting to her feet, the action putting her in close proximity to him. She crossed her arms in a defensive gesture, damning him with her look. “You’re imagining things.”

“Liar,” Clint said softly. “And I never back down from a dare.”

He took a step forward, and Sarah lost her nerve. His bark of laughter echoed through the cave interior as she flattened herself against the wall. “You…you…” She wrinkled her nose. “Stink!” She finally got out, unable to come up with anything better.

His head fell back as deep laughter peeled from his throat. He reached forward, fingering the dirty hair hanging at the side of Sarah’s streaked face. She knew it was stiff and caked with dried mud and looked more brown than blonde. “You don’t exactly smell like roses, angel.”

Sarah’s eyes glanced at the waterfall with longing, her anger extinguished with the thought of being clean again. The next thing she knew Clint was reaching for her hand and pulling her behind him.

“Come on. We’re dirty and tired, I have a remedy for both…something I discovered the first day I landed on the island.”

“Where are we going?” Her startled whisper filled the chamber.

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