Page 34 of Treasure of the Abyss

“They are wounds, aren’t they?” heasked.

“Yeah. They’re bruises. You don’t…bruise?”

“Are they…tender? When pressure is placed onthem?”

“Yes, and they change color as theyheal.”

“I think we bruise, too,” he said. “Skin in such spots will not change color properly for a day or so, and touching them causes minorpain.”

He slid his hand down the back of her leg, following the curve of her calf and cupping her heel before allowing her to lower her foot. Their eyes were locked the whole time; Macy’s heart beat rapidly, her breasts ached, and her sexclenched.

What is happening tome?

Macy stepped away. She felt detached from her own body, no longer in control of it. Camrin’s touch had never elicited suchresponses.

“Would you start the fire,please?”

Jax was silent for a few seconds, brow creased — he was studying her again, searching her. She moved back as he pulled himself onto the island. Water sluiced down his skin. She watched the play of powerful muscles beneath his flesh, and the heat at her core was, for an instant, hotter than anyflame.

He twisted, and a splotch of color caught her eye — the gun was strapped to the upper part of one of his tentacles with a piece of rope. He untied it and took the weapon in hand. Grasping it by the barrel, he met Macy’s gaze, and held the gun to her, grip-first.

Macy frowned. “I…don’tunderstand.”

“This is the power setting,” he said, pointing to a knob on the side. “And here, behind the trigger, is the on and off button.” He extended his arm fully. “This…is my trust. Do you understandnow?”

“Even after what I did? Tricking you so I couldescape?”

“I would have done the same if our places were reversed. I do not want you to be myprisoner.”

Her chest tightened, but it wasn’t from pain or sadness; it was elation. She smiled and took thegun.

“Thank you. I…” Her smile faded, and she bit her bottomlip.

“What is wrong,Macy?”

She walked to her shelter, running the words through her mind as she crouched to light the fire. She felt Jax’s eyes on her; he was awaiting an answer. Lowering herself to the ground, she placed the gun aside, took a deep breath, and looked athim.

“I thought about what yousaid.”

“About which thing I said?” He moved closer, but only alittle.

“About letting my family — my people — believe I’mdead.”

“I pushed too far. I didn’t mean to upsetyou.”

She folded her hands in her lap, running her thumb along the tops of her knuckles. “I understand why you can’t let me go back, that there’s more than just me and you, and…and even though it feels selfish and wrong to want them to believe I’mgone, I do think it’s…it’s for thebest.”

Macy shifted her gaze to the fire. “I don’t want to be your prisoner, and I don’t want to be cagedhere.”

“I…don’t understand. You think it best for them to believe you are gone, but you do not want to stay here?” He shook his head. “I cannot take youback.”

“I’m not asking youto.”

“What are you asking,then?”

“I want to see things. Want to explore the world. I don’t want to be confined by The Watch, or this place, or anywhere again.” She met his eyes. “You’re Jax the Wanderer, right? And you said I’m…that I’myours. So. Take me with you, out there. Not back home, but beyond. Then…then I’ll be yours, and stay with youwillingly.”

Jax staredinto Macy’s eyes. Though her voice was filled with conflicting emotions, her gaze was steady, unwavering, devoid of hesitance. If only his thoughts were as steady as hereyes.

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