Page 114 of Buck & Mari

“I’d rather think about what we’re going to do when we’re back on land.”

“Yeah?” She needed the distraction.

She needed hope.

BUCK

They’d been out in the water for hours, but the warmth of the water was the only reason why they weren’t freezing.

Now, Pacific waters weren’t like a hot tub.

There was a distinct difference between day and night and the cooler night air mixed with the heightened winds from the storms, kept the air moving over them, chilling them.

Under the water, he held onto her trying to share his warmth with her.

“Heath?”

“Hmm?”

“What are we going to do after we’re on land?”

“I’m going to hold you.”

He swore he felt her smile.

“Hold me?” Her laughter was everything in that moment. “You’re already doing that.”

“I’m…” He turned his head and brushed his lips against the shell of her ear. “I’m going to hold you, bare. In bed.

“Hell, it could be on the damn floor, but I have a feeling that I’m not going to let you up except to breathe for a day or two.”

“Promises…”

He heard her voice catch in her throat.

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

He cuddled her closer letting the waves lift them up and lower them back down.

The rocking motion was almost soothing, but he was fighting it.

Fighting for her.

He looked around them at the water, dark and deep.

This was a long, long way from that night in Kaneohe Bay.

Back then, he was on the verge of death, only hanging onto life hoping that they’d be rescued in time to help Chicago.

Since then he’d been struggling to take the next steps in his life.

Struggling until he’d met Mari.

Mari and that menace of a cat.

The reason he was determined not just to hold on, but to survive.

And the aching emptiness inside of him was gone, filled with a hope that left him breathless.