The Skylar Experiment : Dead Ending (second draft)

92. Teaming And Trusting

RILEY

I'VE BEEN CONFUSED BEFORE in my personal life, but probably never as confused as this. I lounged on my side under the blanket, listening to the blissful silence save for Luc's calm breath skating over my neck. A lazy, rock-hard arm pinned my back to his bare front.

I was so happy. We were in hiding, about to put ourselves out there again, and I was happy.

At least in this very moment. If I didn't concentrate, a stupid smile would creep right back on my face.

I searched along his arm under the cover, sliding my hand over his. He sighed.

"How much time left?"

I tipped my cellphone screen to my eyes and pushed it back under the pillow. My sigh followed his. "Ten minutes."

His lips brushed the side of my neck. "Ten minutes... How do you want to spend those?"

"Like it's just you and me," I whispered, flinching at the stubbly kisses tickling a path on my skin. He made a rough sound of approval, and I smelled the little spice of his shower soap.

We did just that, kissing and fooling around like the rest of the world didn't exist beyond this basement. His arms felt safe. Comfortable. And they magically seemed to know where I wanted him to touch me. He rolled us over and placed me on top of him as if I didn't weigh heavier than a cloud. My palms slid down his chest and abdomen.

We didn't talk much unless Luc had a tongue-in-cheek comment to make me laugh. We didn't want to get into it just yet, and we'd talked enough business before going to sleep.

But alas... the alarm I'd set up started blaring.

I leaned around Luc to shut it off. His hands curved around my thighs. Bright green stunners met my eyes. "It's time to go."

My chest squeezed. I swept my thumb along his lower lip, counting down to the moment I'd have to pull away. "Time to go."

The kitchen was busy. Raymond had kickstarted breakfast, toasting bagel slices and cooking oatmeal that smelled like cinnamon. Lauren was boiling eggs beside him, then circling the island or pacing by the sink. She was folding and unfolding her arms, tapping her foot off the floor.

That looked like a hot mess.

Raymond rubbed his hands as he faced us. "Aren't you guys a little more excited? After this, the real work gets to start."

He wore a black Marvel pajama shirt over flannel pants. Black, pin-straight hair strands fell over his forehead. His gaze kept jumping back to Lauren as if to check that she wasn't hitting the ceiling. As they moved around the kitchen, it was like a part of them was constantly aware of the other, and that was sad to see.

Luc told me yesterday when we went to bed.

He winced. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. This idea is ambitious, and we don't know yet how we can deliver the malware. And if it works, nothing is certain about what comes after."

Even though I knew this, hearing it knotted my stomach. But we were trying this, otherwise we were just doomed.

"You're so damn motivating," Raymond shot, then the toaster dinged and he turned away.

Luc lumbered to the cupboards and lined out a jar of peanut butter, mayonnaise, a sriracha bottle and strawberry jam. Weird combination, I thought.

"Pass me a banana and knife?" I chimed in, and he glanced over his shoulder with a banana already in hand. Without warning, he chucked it at my head.