Endless Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Four) (22 page)

M
axie jumped out
of the old style shower/tub combo, reaching for a clean towel. She briefly wondered if all the rooms had a clubfoot tub with a showerhead similar to her setup. The two-second break from thinking about Van was welcome, but it faded just as quickly as the steam surrounding her.

She quickly dried off using the soft cotton towel and put on the clothes she’d brought into the partitioned bathroom area. If the team rooms were all the same, each had a queen-sized bed, a dresser, a standing wardrobe, and a desk complete with a chair. Jacob would be right next to her, as the ladies had provided a playpen she could use for Jacob to sleep in.

Maxie peered around the partition to listen for any sound that Jacob might have awakened, but all she heard was the reassuring sound of his even breathing. She leaned against the vanity and stared into the semi-dark room beyond the small privacy area provided by the abbreviated wall.

It was strange at first, seeing regular wooden buildings inside of caves, but she soon realized that the ambient temperature of the mine was a bit cooler than anyone would want for a normal living area. The bunker really consisted of a small town built inside of interconnected caves. She’d yet to investigate all the levels, but the situation at hand didn’t afford her much personal time. The safety provided them by the group’s compact didn’t apply to everyone. Van wasn’t so lucky and she could still picture the anguish on Berke’s face after receiving the news. It wasn’t something anyone had been ready to hear.

Now they had to wait to hear Allman’s demands.

Owen and Ann hadn’t returned from their scouting trek, while she and Brenna never did go search the eastern and southern area of the property for anyone who might be close by with ill intentions. Maxie hadn’t wanted to leave Jacob, and deep down she was glad she got an additional day of reprieve. She’d eventually have to leave him in someone’s care, preferably Rosa’s because of how much Jacob enjoyed being with her. Just not yet. As for Truman and Mason, they had done the initial perimeter check they’d set out to do with no results to show for it. Wherever this group had set up to watch the comings and goings of this camp were either well-hidden or in orbit.

Spot had remained out of sight as well, apparently coming to the conclusion that the barn was his new home and the horses were his family. He still had his little area on a bale of hay Brenna had set aside just for him, but he’d braved the new wonders and explored his new home. He was perched on a fence post when Maxie, Berke, and Jacob had entered the bunker this evening. The contented meow he gave told them he appreciated his odd home. The security office sentry had taken to feeding him dry food with a bowl of fresh water at the start of each shift. He’d already been seen carrying a mouse back to the barn from the tunnel where Tank’s work shack was located. Spot was earning his keep.

Maxie reached for her brush and gently drew it through her damp strands, grateful now that she’d cut it shorter. It was easier to deal with in this type of situation and it certainly helped whenever she had to put on a gasmask. She’d be back in one relatively soon and couldn’t stop herself from wondering if Berke was catching some well-needed sleep to prepare for his upcoming trip.

A rescue mission had been hastily organized and now all that was left to do was carry it out at first light…well, as much light as the ash would allow to filter down through to the ground.

Maxie had already brushed her teeth, so she set her brush down in the glass sitting on the small sink and shut off the vanity light. The quietness of the room was so still, it was as if she could hear the particles in the air slowly part as she made her way across the room to the queen-sized bed alongside the opposite wall. Berke had set up the playpen beside Maxie’s bed in order for Jacob to be within reach. She thought about transferring him to her bed, but he was currently snuggled against his favorite blanket with his back up against the netting after finding the perfect sleeping position. She wouldn’t be selfish and interrupt his dreams just so she could feel better.

Maxie only wished it were that easy for her to fall asleep.

Fifteen minutes had passed and she was still wide awake. She turned on her side and folded the pillow in half, wishing she’d thought to bring hers from home. It wasn’t high on the list of things needed, but she would have done so could she go back in time. It was the little things that were imperative for one’s own comfort. She put her hand underneath her cheek and closed her eyes.

Ugh!

This wasn’t working. Maxie sat up and once again looked down at Jacob through the shaded darkness. His cheeks were slightly flushed, but he was sleeping soundly. She was envious. She’d gotten used to having Berke around to talk to when sleep was impossible, as well as the blowing wind outside whatever building they’d chosen to hole up in during their three weeks of being out on the road. The rhythmic sounds had been soothing. Now? This silver mine was so deep under the mountain that the quiet was almost as loud as someone screaming.

“This is crazy,” Maxie whispered to herself, studying the door intently. She should go knock on Berke’s door and see if he was having trouble sleeping as well. Those who were going on the rescue mission had to report to the lower level entrance to the bunker at zero five hundred. That was less than six hours from now, and she had to get up earlier than that to take Jacob up to the main lodge so that Rosa could watch him while they were gone. “Just do it.”

Maxie wasn’t one to sit back and be timid over things like this, but she and Berke had never really discussed the true nature of their relationship. Sure, they’d gotten close. Who wouldn’t with what they’d gone through these last few weeks? Hell, he’d even kissed her. That right there was a sign that things between them had changed and that they were more than just friends. So why was she in this room and he was in another?

Fuck it.

Maxie got up from the bed, mindful of the springs that made too much noise, and walked the short distance to the door. She quietly opened it, not wanting anyone to hear her should someone be in the hallway. She would have said that she didn’t want anyone getting the wrong impression, but that was idiotic. They’d be right in their assumption she was seeking out Berke for intimacy. There wasn’t anything wrong with that either. She preferred discretion and that wasn’t asking much.

“Oh!”

Maxie hadn’t expected to find Berke leaning up against his doorway and holding up something in his hand in what looked like victory. There was also a small smile on his face, even though the concern for his friend still weighed heavily in his dark gaze.

“Look what I found,” Berke said, slightly waving what appeared to be a baby monitor. “I don’t know about you, but I could use some company.”

Maxie mimicked his pose, though she crossed her arms as if in deep thought. Berke had mentioned multiple times that he used humor to get himself through the roughest days back in the Corps and tonight was going to be no different. Not if she had her way.

Berke most likely wanted to leave hours ago to search for Van, but that wasn’t feasible considering they also had to worry about the people left at the lodge. Their safety had to be ensured as well, which meant a carefully laid out plan on how to go about freeing their friend from whatever hell he was currently going through.

Maxie wanted to give Berke the intimacy he was searching for, but she would do so in a manner that would hopefully lighten his spirits. She feigned looking at him up and down for selfish reasons and then rested her eyes right above the button on his jeans. His flat abs literally contoured down in a very sensual manner and it only emphasized how well he’d kept his body in shape after leaving the Corps. He’d also taken a hot shower and hadn’t bothered to put on a shirt, for which she was very grateful.

“What did you have in mind? A game of Scrabble, perhaps?” Maxie asked, getting the result she wanted by hearing Berke’s rich laugh. It faded, as well as his smile. Her heart ached for what he was going through. She took the three steps that separated their rooms and reached for the baby monitor. “Van is fine, Berke. You told me yourself that he wasn’t a man to break easily. He’ll know we’re coming for him. Why don’t you finish undressing while I plug this into an outlet? It’ll save us time and we both need as much as we can to rest up for tomorrow morning.”

Maxie squealed when Berke reached an arm around her waist as she’d turned, pulling her up to him with her back against his chest. He molded her into his body and then whispered against her ear what he thought of her instructions, the richness of his voice and the warmth of his breath eliciting a shiver of arousal that she hadn’t allowed herself to feel for a very long time.

“You’re in trouble if you think for a moment this is going to be that fast,” Berke murmured before pressing his soft lips against her shoulder. The old tank top she was wearing did little to stop the goose bumps from spreading on her arms. “I need you, Maxie.”

“I know,” Maxie replied tenderly and turning so that she was looking up into his wanting eyes, but it was more than desire she witnessed. He needed someone to love him, to tell him it would all be okay, and that his brother-in-arms would be brought back here to safety. The heavy guilt of being responsible for Paige’s involvement was evident, but no one could control other people’s actions. “I’m here for you, Berke.”

Maxie slowly backed up until she was able to enter her room and plug in the baby monitor that would let her know if Jacob woke up during the middle of the night. When he’d been in foster care, his foster mother had him on a routine and mentioned that he was one of the best sleepers she’d had the pleasure of fostering. Nothing had changed, especially since they’d driven in the Mule and maintained a routine as much as possible when it came to Jacob.

“He’s sound asleep,” Berke whispered in what sounded like awe as he stood over the playpen. He settled his right hand over hers, expressing his reassurance like he needed to hear it as well as she did. “Rosa is really good with kids. She’ll keep an eye on him tomorrow while we…”

“While we bring Van home,” Maxie murmured, taking his hand and guiding them out before closing the door behind them. “We’ll all sleep like babies tomorrow—”

Berke didn’t allow Maxie to finish her sentence. He’d shut them inside of his room and had her against the wall before she could double check that he’d turned on the other monitor. The question faded from her mind as she heard the rhythmic static coming from the small device situated on the desk against the opposite wall. As a matter of fact, that noise even washed out as he captured her lips.

Maxie rested her hands on Berke’s shoulders, relishing the strength pouring out of them when he lifted her so that her legs wrapped around his waist. The ease at which he’d raised her up high only added to the height of her awakening. She entwined her fingers together and worked them up until they slid through his thick, dark hair.

“Before this goes too far and you need to spray me down with a fire hose,” Maxie was able to say when she broke free of his lips, “please tell me you have a condom.”

“Have you ever known me not to be prepared?” Berke muttered, reaching for her neck to pull her mouth back down to his. He lightly bit her lip and kissed her more thoroughly. They were even more breathless than before. “I have more than enough to get us through tonight.”

Maxie hit her head against the wall when she leaned back because Berke had taken her nipple in between his teeth through her tank top. A sharp erotic pain shot through her, traveling right to her mound, which was currently against his abdomen. There wasn’t nearly enough friction to scratch that itch, so she moaned her displeasure. Okay, it might have everything to do with pleasure versus the antonym. Damn, that felt good.

“I want you naked.” Berke lowered her bare feet to the ground, which also meant that her breasts were nowhere near his mouth. Somehow, her nipples harden even more at the absence of his touch. “I want to touch you without anything in between us.”

“I can arrange that,” Maxie said faintly, still inhaling what little oxygen appeared to be left in the room. The comfortable temperature was now a hell of a lot warmer, having been replaced by the rising heat their bodies were producing. She slid her fingers underneath her top and didn’t hesitate to pull it over her head. She once again glanced at the button on his jeans. “What are you waiting for, Berke? A written invitation?”

“You’ve already extended that, sweetheart,” Berke replied, slowly unzipping his jeans and waiting to see if she’d remove the last of her clothing. Technically, she had her panties on underneath her shorts, but she took both off at the same time. Every inch of her flesh heated as his gaze slowly and methodically took in every bit of her body. She didn’t have the gorgeous curves that Prue possessed, she didn’t have the gracefulness that Brenna exuded, and she certainly didn’t have the natural beauty Henley had been born with…but Maxie had never before felt so beautiful as she did now. “How did I ever get so lucky?”