In My Heart // GAWSTEN

Never Let Go

Sweat-soaked and sated, Geoff finally stilled. The sounds of harsh breathing punched the air. All the windows had fogged up, and there was a handprint on the glass that Awsten had accidentally made.

"You're trembling," Awsten whispered.

Geoff nodded. He could hardly think. "Don't worry," he said, repeating the same words he'd said earlier that day. "I'll be fine."

Geoff and Awsten's mouths connected again, and then Awsten pressed his lips to Geoff's sweaty forehead. Geoff let himself relax, his head resting on Awsten's chest. He didn't know how long they laid there, Geoff catching his breath, and Awsten running his hands over Geoff's hair.

---

"Did you see those guys' faces?!" Awsten laughed as he and Geoff ran to the deck. They'd narrowly escaped some guards looking for them among the luggage. "Did you see-"

Geoff raised a few fingers to cover Awsten's lips. "When the ship docks," he said breathlessly, "I'm getting off with you."

Awsten looked at him in wonder. Geoff just nodded.

"This is crazy," Awsten admitted.

"I know. It doesn't make any sense," Geoff agreed. "That's why I trust it."

Their lips met in another kiss. Awsten's hands were in Geoff's hair, and Geoff was smiling, and-

The whole ship shook underneath their feet.

"Get back!" Awsten shouted, dragging Geoff a few feet away from where huge chunks of ice seemed to be falling from the sky.

At second glance, the ice wasn't falling from the sky – it was falling from an iceberg. A massive iceberg that the side of the ship had just scraped against. Awsten and Geoff looked at each other with wide eyes.

---

"Did you see what happened?" one of the sailors asked another a few moments later.

"No."

"Apparently, it hit over there. It's flooded eight feet, and the mail hold is worse."

"Can you shore up?"

"Not unless the pumps get ahead."

"Have you seen the mail-hold damage?"

"No, she's already underwater."

"This is bad," Geoff muttered once all the crew had disappeared. "We should tell Mother and Cal."

Awsten didn't want to go back, but he wasn't leaving Geoff alone, especially with... whatever the hell that was that just happened. He walked with Geoff back to first class and down the hallway to the Wigingtons' cabin where they'd been an hour before.

"Just keep holding my hand," Geoff murmured under his breath as they encountered Mr. Lovejoy in the hallway.

"We've been looking for you, sir," he sneered at Geoff with forced politeness.

Geoff and Awsten both ignored him. Neither noticed when the valet slipped something into Awsten's pocket.

"Something serious has happened," Geoff stated as he and Awsten entered the cabin. There were several men - including two policemen - in the room along with Geoff's mother.

"Yes, it has indeed," Cal replied angrily. "Two things dear to me have disappeared this evening. Now that one is back, I've an idea where to find the other." He glared at Awsten. "Search him."

"Take your coat off, sir," one of Cal's men directed.

"Now what?" Awsten scoffed, rolling his eyes.