Page 7 of Surrendering the Skies

Marcus chuckled. “Same old, same old. Work hasn’t changed, and I keep getting roped into attending various events afterward.”

She nodded. “I’m sure you’ve run into my mother a number of times.”

“Of course. Sometimes I feel like it’s always the same people at these galas and fundraisers, just rotating through the same pile of money.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.” She huffed out a sigh, her mouth curving downward. “You know how I feel about banquets and concerts and all those things, but I almost wish I was there with you.”

“Uh-oh,” Ash said, drawing his head back to look at her. “Do we need to get you checked out at the infirmary?”

She elbowed him in the side then turned her attention back to the tablet. “I guess that’s my way of telling you how much I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.” His charcoal eyes shone with affection. “Both of you. I—”

The audio cut out again, and Geneva let out a pained grumble. Jagged gray lines shot across the display, but before she could say anything, Marcus reappeared, though at a different angle. “Sorry,” he said. “I shifted some things around on my end. Hopefully it’ll help.”

“It’s okay.” Raising an eyebrow, she leaned forward to get a better look at the screen. “Are you…are you not wearing a shirt right now?”

He glanced away from her, but his crooked smile played upon his lips. “Well, it’s late over here. As soon as we’re finished, I’m turning in for the night.”

She squinted, and parts of the background began to make sense. “Are you in bed?”

“Yes.” He pushed his dark hair away from his forehead. “Why do you sound so surprised?”

“I have to admit, I forgot to consider the time difference before we called today.” A wicked thought flashed through her mind. “Let me see more of you.”

His eyes widened and he let out a nervous laugh. “What?”

“Come on, there’s no one else around, either here or there.” She looped one arm behind Ash and rested her cheek on his shoulder. “It’s very boring and lonely where we are, and we could use something to lift our spirits.”

“Oh, definitely,” Ash said, playing along. “Think of how much our work could suffer if we don’t find something to boost our morale.”

“You two are ridiculous sometimes.” Marcus rolled his eyes but held his device out at arm’s length. “Better?”

Satin sheets framed his slim torso, the shimmering ivory a glaring contrast to his tan skin. The covers bunched around his waist, obscuring the rest of his body. “Well?” she prompted.

He shot her an incredulous look. “Seriously?”

Ash snickered as she straightened and folded her arms across her chest.

Sighing, he kicked the sheets and blankets down to the end of the bed. “Satisfied yet? Nothing’s changed since we last saw each other.”

Geneva let her gaze linger on his lean muscles and exposed form. “Much appreciated. Thank you.”

Ash nudged her off his lap until she stood on the floor. “Don’t you think you owe him something in return?”

A flush of heat rose to her face and she pursed her lips at him. “This is a secure channel, right?”

“Uh-huh.” He sat back in his chair, mimicking the stance she’d taken moments ago. “But there’s a chance we’ll lose our connection again, so you’d better get going.”

She looked at the screen again and caught Marcus’s gaze, silently asking the lingering question. He nodded. “Do it,” he ordered.

Her pulse raced, yet she couldn’t deny the thrill spreading throughout her body. Reaching for the hem of her black T-shirt, she grabbed the bottom and pulled it off over her head, revealing the matching bra underneath. Her fingers moved to the top button of her pants next, but Ash stopped her.

He spun her around so her back faced the camera. “Go slowly,” he said. “It’ll be better this way.”

Geneva didn’t argue. She unfastened the closure and dragged the zipper downward. Casting a glance over her shoulder, she hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her pants and tugged them down over her hips. Fire burned in her cheeks as she exaggerated her movements, bending over to push the khaki material off her legs. After they lay crumpled on the floor, she lingered in her bent-over position a moment longer than necessary, aware of the two pairs of eyes tracking her every move.

When she stood upright, she saw Marcus had propped his device up on one of his pillows, leaving his hands free and granting her a full view of him. Despite the shadows, the outline of his cock, swollen and erect, was clear. Desire stirred inside her, but they weren’t ready yet.

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