Page 63 of Dangerous Mission
His eyes flash and I can see the scowl in them as he reaches for the line around my ankle. Then he frees my other fin.
When he’s got me loose, he signs to me again.The chamber is just ahead. Let’s go. There’s air.
The airline to his octopus is roughly seven feet long, so we have to stay close, chest to chest. Gripping my harness with one hand, he tilts me forward and begins to slowly kick. He scans the darkness with the beam of his light. Pulling us deeper into the cave system.
A blue glow starts to form ahead.
Shaking, I focus on the opening to the chamber as it comes into clear view. The water is clearer here. Less current.
Scout said there’s air, meaning there’s a room, a chamber of some sort. We can check my gear and get my equipment running again.
Seconds later, we glide through the opening, propelled by his strong kicks.
Water whooshes around us as we break the surface.
Above us an opening shows the blue-gray sky. Water ripples around us as we bob in the deep pool. Blue waves bounce off the sienna-colored walls and black rocks. The air is sweetand musty.
Life-giving air.I draw in a few more steadying lung-fulls. Almost giddy from relief.
Scout turns off his light and moves toward me, making more ripples spread from his shoulders. “You okay?”
“I’m good.”
He shakes his head as he pushes his mask up onto the top of his wetsuit covered head. “You gave me a hard scare back there.”
I laugh even though the terror is still making my insides tremble. “Try being in my shoes.”
Unimpressed, he frowns at me. “What the fuck happened with your regulator?”
I reach for the hose. “I have no idea. It’s just ruptured…”
Tugging me forward, Scout moves us to a cluster of large slab rocks. He pushes me up onto the ledge. Then he proceeds to slide up onto the rock like a predatory animal. All grace and muscle.
Every single outline of his toned body is highlighted by the slick, wet neoprene of his dive suit.
“You’re staring.”
“Oh. I guess you’re right.” I don’t bother to apologize. Why should I?
Taking off his fins, he moves to crouch next to me. After removing his gloves he inspects my gear. “Did you look all of this over before we started?”
“I did.”
His silence makes me uneasy. “What’s wrong?”
Tugging on the hose, he carefully inspects the place where it leaked. “I don’t like this.”
His jaw is tight, his hood is pushed back, and he looks every bit of the lethal SEAL that he is.
The sight of him steals my breath.
Maybe it’s the enchanting setting. The water drippingfrom his rugged jaw… the rugged masculinity of this incredibly capable man.
Or maybe it’s just the fact that I saw a few moments of my life flashing back there in the midst of all those bubbles.
I must make a sound because his gaze falls to my mouth.
Heat infuses every cell in my body. It’s an intoxicating feeling, especially mixed with the adrenaline of the mishap.