Page 68 of The Darkest Hour

However, I had to remember that Havoc and I were bound together by circumstance and necessity. Our survival depended on each other, and despite my instincts screaming at me to stay guarded, a part of me desperately wanted to trust him.

I needed to believe that we could work together, that he wouldn’t use my own weapons against me.

I yearned for an ally in this nightmare, someone I could count on.

In silence, Havoc watched me closely, his eyes probably searching mine for any sign of what I was thinking.

Did he sense my inner conflict?

Did he share the same doubts and fears?

I looked down at the coconut. It’s rough, mottled brown husk was cracked open in uneven places, revealing smooth, creamy white flesh inside.

The hard, pointed edges of the husk showed signs of being hacked at with a knife.

So thirsty, I lifted the coconut up to my mouth and drank from it.

Oh my God. So damn good.

The coconut water was pure, clean and incredibly thirst quenching as it flowed into my mouth, leaving a hint of odd sweetness on my tongue.

Mmmm.

A dark chuckle left Havoc. “Can a bear do that?”

I almost choked on the coconut water and I swallowed more and then lowered it. “Fuck. I needed that.”

“You did.”

I began reaching inside and tearing at the white flesh, starving more than I ever have before.

Havoc followed my lead, reaching into his coconut, yanking away the bits of flesh, and eating it.

The taste of the coconut was sweet and nutty, and as I scooped out chunk after chunk, devouring every bite, I could feel some of my strength returning.

Oh my God. He’s right. The damn bear couldn’t do this.

Munching on coconut too, he kept his gaze on me and remained silent.

We must have done that for several minutes.

When I finally finished, I licked the last bit of coconut flesh from my fingers and looked at him. “I really mean it. Thank you.”

“No need. You will thank me later.”

Those words hung in the air, charged with a tension that sent shivers down my spine.

Thank him later? What the fuck does he mean by that?

Fuck and Survive

Onyx

I tried to read the hidden message in his tone, my mind racing through the possible ways he might expect gratitude.

His dark, intense gaze gave nothing away, but my imagination filled in the gaps with unsettling images.

Did he mean something sinister? Something intimate?