Page 27 of Mated to Team Shadow

"We've trained for this contingency, but no, it's not a usual occurrence."

"What situations do you guys get into?"

"Holy hell," grumbled Damon. "Can't a guy get some sleep?"

A snarky remark died on my lips as I caught the drone of an airplane engine. At once, the rest of my team stirred with the whip-quick reflexes of our feline natures and eyes strained into the pre-dawn dark.

"Fire that thing!" growled Ryker.

I pointed into the sky and pulled the trigger. The flare shot into the dark blazing in an arc in the gray dawn until it faded out. The airplane's engine grew farther away.

"Did they see us?" Jeanine asked hopefully.

"There is no way to know," said Ryker as the raft rocked to the rhythm of the waves. "We'll just have to wait until someone comes back."

"How do you guys take this?" she huffed.

"We're adrenaline junkies," said Gunner.

"Yeah," deadpanned Damon. "We live for danger."

"Oh, brother," said Jeanine.

"Let's get to work," snapped Ryker. "Damon, pull up the raft survival kit and deploy the solar stills."

"Aye, chief."

"Gunner, deploy the sea anchor."

"Yes, chief."

"Kane, inventory the food."

"Okey-dokey."

"What do you want me to do?"

"You can sit and look beautiful, doll," said Gunner.

"Please," she scoffed.

Ryker handed her the flare gun.

"You can keep watch for passing planes and boats. If you see one, send up a flare."

"Now, listen up. You all know that hygiene is important on a raft. Jeanine, it's a small space, and relieving yourself won't be easy. You can either hang over the side, or take a swim and do the job, but whatever you do, we'll be here to give a hand."

"And anything else," said Gunner. Most of the time we liked his jokes, or at least put up with them, but now I just wanted to knock his head off.

"Damn it, Rhodes, keep it professional," snarled Ryker. "Things are tense enough on a raft with five people."

"Yes, sir," said Gunner and Ryker's eye's narrowed. Gunner did that on purpose because as we all knew we did not call non-commissioned officers "sir."

"Hey," said Jeanine. "There's one of me and four of you, and I can't expect you boys to change your raffish ways just because I'm here. Just keep your hands to yourself, and I'll deal with the rest, okay?"

"Well then," said Gunner. "I do have to take care of a piece of business." He pulled up on his knees and unzipped his pants.

"Don't forget to take it in spurts," said Ryker.

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