Page 31 of Brighter than the Boss
I tilted my head. "I think women used to give birth in the field, then pack the baby and hike back to the house, so I'd say yes. But after seeing up close and personal what the female body is capable of doing, I don't see how she'd be able to sit or walk or do anything for years after that." I shuddered just remembering the dilation process.
Ivan slapped me on the back, jolting me, not even caring that I was traumatized. I mean c'mon. I'd never be able to look at a vagina the same way. "Saddle up, boss. Let's get these ladies on the boat!"
Grabbing the lifejackets, I distributed them around the room, ordering everyone to put them on. Jack radioed in our exit to his supervisor who warned us to wait a few more minutes to see if they could get the rescue helicopter over to us to pick up the woman and baby. When we got the green light, Natalie, Dave, and the baby went up to the roof level. Natalie was hobbling slowly, but she made it. The helicopter only held a few at a time and they already had two people they'd rescued from the condos on the beach just north of us.
From the roof, I could see the massive amount of flooding that was occurring. Not one spot of sand was visible for miles in either direction. It was surreal to see the beach line I walked every single day completely gone. Covered up by the sea because of a slight tremor miles away. I'd always had a healthy respect for the ocean and its power, but that respect reached a whole new level with the sight before me.
A renewed sense of danger drove me to get the new family on that helicopter as quick as possible. Ivan gave me a knowing look. He had his own woman to save. As soon as was safe, we hustled back down to the second floor to get our group ready on the boat.
My heart settled the minute I laid eyes on Sunny again, seeing with my own two eyes that she was okay in that moment. My radio flared to life, the voice from the Weather Service letting me know that the tide wasn't coming in further. They believed the tsunami had reached its peak.
"We advise all civilians and personnel to stay where you are. Do not continue evacuation if the water level is safe. Over."
Ivan and I exchanged glances. "We stay then."
He nodded at me and radioed back our decision. I turned to the assembled group, all of them by the front doors in their bright yellow life preservers. "Tsunami is over. They told us to stay here until we get the all clear. We should settle in and get comfortable. I'm thinking the front doors are the safest spot. Let's stay away from the rooms over the garages that are flooded. Never know how sound the structure is when it's underwater."
Head nods all around from the group, the relief was palpable. We weren't out of it quite yet, but we knew the worst was over. Hugs were given out and life preservers were tossed aside.
Sunny ran over to me, her face split by a broad smile, those eyes of her sparkling with happiness. My face was incapable of remaining stern in the face of her radiance. The corners of my lips tilted up, my whole body feeling lighter just to see her happy.
The sounds of the room faded and all I saw was her: the way her blonde hair fell in her eyes, the muscles in her legs as they ate up the ground, the breasts that bounced with each step. I itched to touch her, wanted to shout to everyone that she was mine. I wanted to take her to my house and not let her go until we'd explored each other completely and even then, I wouldn't let her go.
She didn't slow as she approached, surprising me by jumping up and wrapping her legs around my waist, my face in her hands as she kissed the life out of me in front of all our friends and coworkers. I'd wanted to announce to the room what she meant to me, but she took it one step further and showed everyone.
So I didn't hesitate, completely unconcerned with what everyone thought. To hell with protocol and reputations. I gave her what she wanted and took what I needed. A crisis was good for making it very clear what mattered. And she was it.
Her legs tightened around my waist and her tongue dipped into my mouth. She was the aggressor and if she kept her sweet body pressed up against me like that, we'd need to find a private room in quick order. My hands roamed, not sure what part of her body I wanted to touch more, just knowing I needed her closer.
She was contagious. Her enthusiasm, her happiness. It was like all of her essence tunneled into the dark recesses of my heart and lit me up inside. There was no other explanation for it. Everything burned brighter the longer she stayed in my arms.
If it weren't for the wolf whistles and the heavy slap on my back, I would have spent the rest of the day with my lips sealed to hers. As it was, she reluctantly pulled back, both of us breathing hard but sharing the same smile.
"You've got some explaining to do, missy!" Bailey hollered in between cackles. She was snuggled up to Jack, looking all too happy to have some fresh gossip to sink her teeth into.
Sunny's cheeks turned pink and she tucked her head into my neck. It was that simple movement that drove the final nail in the coffin of my single life. She trusted me and I would do anything to keep her safe and to keep that smile on her face. Like a lion defending his lioness, I pushed back.
"Shut up, Bailey," I growled at her.
"Ooohhh! Touchy, huh?" She wasn't phased at all, the wink she threw me completely aggravating, but I'd be damned if I'd let her upset Sunny.
Ivan, the one who'd thumped me on the back, leaned in closer and spoke quietly to us both. "You know we need to talk about this, right? Why not do it now, when we've got nothing but time and it's just us friends here." He paused, a big smile on his face. "We're on your side, man."
Sunny lifted her head and kissed me sweetly on the cheek before turning to Ivan.
"I know. And I'm happy to tell you guys everything, but I need to make a call first, okay?"
Ivan nodded and I helped her down to her feet. She started to walk off to the locker room like she'd make the call by herself.
"Hey, I'm coming with you." I rushed to follow her, getting ready to defend my position about how I wanted to be there to support her when she called her dad.
At the door to the locker room, she turned, smirked at me and said, "I don't know, Cain. We tend to get distracted in the locker room together."
Then she walked through the door, the damn thing almost hitting me again, just like the first day I'd met her. As she intended, her words brought back exactly what I'd done to her in this locker room. I wondered when she'd stop surprising me. When I'd get used to all the sides to her personality, each one more intriguing than the last.
That primal side of me came screaming back, not to protect her, but to have my way with her. The girl just had the worst day of her life and here she was flirting with me. This fucking tsunami had better recede quickly so I could take her home with me before this hard-on became painful. Or before the Beach Squad girls killed it with their constant harassing and teasing.
I closed my eyes and willed it away, promising it would get hours of what it wanted later. Much later. I thought about the baby I'd just delivered and the people still jammed in traffic trying to get further away from the beach. The reminder of what we'd just been through that day was enough to calm me down and keep me focused on what still needed to be done. With that thought front and center, I walked into the locker room and sat beside Sunny while she talked to her dad.
