Page 15 of Hidden By the Convicts
“That was a basic search,” he explained. “Mozely searching every building he could think of to see where you might be hiding. He doesn’t know we have you. But if we had sat back, all polite like we expected the intrusion, he would have suspected us and then he truly would have torn the place apart. Not just upturned a few beds and broken a few dishes.”
“Oh,” she said with a slight nod, still quite uncertain of how to act around them. He couldn’t imagine being in her position.
“Don’t worry, Teagen. You’ll be fine.”
As she pushed the covers aside, her shirt hiked up, exposing creamy thighs. She quickly pulled the shirt down. She worehisshirt. That sent a wave of need through him. Damn, she was a temptation he wasn’t sure he could handle in the long run.
“Help yourself to any food. Seeing as how we’re in charge of the crops, it’s the one thing we don’t lack around here.” He grabbed his jacket, even though he was sure it was going to be another hot day. He needed to hold something in front of his crotch as he left the house.
“When will you be back?” she asked, looking so innocent.
“Not sure. Just stay away from the windows until we can cover them up. “In fact—” He pushed Bowen’s bed aside and pulled out the section of wood covering the pit.”
She paled. “I don’t think I can stay in there all day.”
“I’m only getting it set up,” he said, attaching the string to the leg of the bed and lowering the ends into the pit. “Just in case. You’re going to need to stay vigilant, especially when we’re not here. There will be times when we all have the same shift. That means no napping, showering, or anything that will keep you from listening for guards.”
She started shaking again when she looked at the pit. They’d left her in there for four hours last night, without a word or explanation to ease her mind. They couldn’t be sure Mozely wasn’t outside listening or about to barge back in.
Gavin walked over to her and rubbed her arms, waiting for those stunning green eyes to focus on him and not the hole in the ground. When she continued staring at the pit, he tipped her head up with a single finger below her chin.
“It’s only a hole. Nothing down there to hurt you. I promise.”
“I know. It’s just. . . I don’t like being trapped. Not since. . .” She shook her head.
“Not since what? Did the guards lock you in the cage?”
“No, my. . . my boss. He attacked me and then he locked me in a closet for three days. As soon as he released me, he forced me to shower, then let me go. Two hours later, I was arrested and charged with stealing from The Company.”
“And they made you a Level 4 and sent you here?”
She nodded.
“Bastard.”
Gavin would strangle the guy if he could. He placed his hands on either side of her head and again waited for her to look at him. “Think of it like the shower in the back of the house. Small, cool, just no water. And you get to sit down. A place to relax.”
He knew he was going to hate himself for this, but he couldn’t resist. He pushed her hair back from her face, cupping the side of her head long enough to feel the silky strands and revel in the feel of holding someone so precious in his hand.
“I wish I could do more, but that’s all I have, darling. I’m not a psychologist. Just a guy who knows how to keep the food supply going.”
She smiled up at him. “I’ll be fine, Gavin. Thank you.”
Without warning, she reached up and kissed him on the lips. When his hand cupped the back of her head, she opened to him, allowing his tongue to delve inside. The taste of her, the feel of her, woke his entire body.
He languished in the kiss, exploring her mouth, but he quickly realized it was one-sided. While she didn’t fight him, she wasn’t engaging with him, either. He had mistaken a simple kiss of thanks for an invitation to do more. As hard as it was, he pulled away.
“That will be our first and last kiss, okay? I don’t expect more than friendship.”
“I can do that,” she said, her eyes revealing her relief.
Gavin threw her a quick smile and headed out the door before he got any other foolish ideas, like kissing her again and not stopping until long after he buried himself deep inside of her.
Chapter Five
BOWEN
Bowen didn’t know what happened that first day between Teagen and the others after he left, and he didn’t want to know, but she avoided Gavin and Harlis later that night. And the day and night after. Otherwise, she’d become more comfortable around them, talking a bit more about her home on Argus.
