Section 12: Book #3 in The Makanza Series

by Krista Street

  “How the hell did you manage to get in the reservation and get us out of isolation, Meghan?” He set me back down.

  I shrugged as a blush stained my cheeks. It seemed like too much work to explain about Cash, the videos, our meeting with the president, and everything else that had occurred in the last few days.

  Instead, I said coyly, “I have my connections.”

  He laughed loudly. I felt Davin watching us. When I turned to him, a small smile covered his face.

  It took everything in me to not reach for him. I’d loved the feel of his hand covering mine during our walk to the house. More than anything, I wanted his arms around me again, to feel his heat and strength envelop me. My gaze drifted to his mouth. The one kiss we shared seared my memory.

  His gaze grew hooded as he stepped closer. It took all of my self-control to not touch him.

  Sage cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. “I… uh… Well, I think I’m gonna take a shower. I could really use one, and you two, you know, probably want to catch up.”

  Sage lumbered off to the bathroom. I had a feeling his disappearance wasn’t entirely related to a shower. The energy strumming between Davin and me was electric.

  When Davin and I were alone, we continued to stare at each other. I loved that I could see him again, in the flesh, standing only inches away. It was so much better than seeing him in my memories.

  “How have you been?” he asked softly.

  I shrugged. “Okay. It’s been a crazy few weeks, and I won’t lie, it’s been hard. I’ve…” I glanced up at him through my lashes. “I’ve really missed you.”

  He nodded, his bright eyes glittering like sapphires. “I’ve missed you too.”

  A moment of silence passed. Neither of us moved. My heart was beating so fast it felt like a fluttering bird rattling against a windowpane.

  Davin waved at the couch, and said in a husky voice, “Do you want to sit down?”

  My legs felt like gelatin when I walked to the couch. I sank onto the cushion as Davin sat beside me. His hard, warm thigh pressed against mine. I didn’t pull back.

  It was a bit surreal. Just a day ago, I’ve been in Washington D.C. fighting for Dr. Roberts’ removal. And a day before that I’d been breaking into the reservation. Now, I sat in Davin’s home, on the reservation, beside him on his couch. Dr. Roberts was gone. Protesters wanted the Kazzies freed, and I’d re-established my link with Sara.

  So much had changed in such little time.

  Davin put his arm on the couch back and angled his body toward mine. “Sara said that you spent some time in Seattle?”

  His small-talk question helped clear my head… a little. “Yeah, Dr. Hutchinson wants me to take her position out there.”

  He stiffened. “Oh. Does that mean you’re moving to Washington?”

  “No, I told her it wasn’t going to work. My place is here.”

  He grunted before sinking back into the couch. “How else have things been? You know, when you’re not breaking the law?”

  A twinkle lit his eye as a cheeky smile stretched across his face. I laughed. I thought of the videos Mitch and I posted online.

  “If you only knew,” I replied slyly.

  A deep laugh rumbled his chest.

  I relaxed as all of the tension eased out of my shoulders. Around most people, I clammed up like an oyster. But with Davin, it had always been different. It was like he understood me, that he got me on a level that nobody else did. I’d always felt comfortable around him, and even though we’d been apart for months, nothing had changed.

  He shifted on the sofa causing his shirt to stretch across his chest. Despite being locked away in isolation, he still looked hard and lean. When he’d been a prisoner in the Compound, he’d done exercises daily in his cell. From the looks of him now, he’d probably done the same here.

  My heart rate increased as my gaze wandered over his chiseled frame. He looked just as I remembered. Black hair that curled at the ends. Intensely bright blue eyes that veiled deep emotions. A strong lean body. Hard, impossibly strong muscles coated every inch of him. And his hands were so large they spanned a dinner plate.

  The sound of a shower starting came from the bathroom. Other than that, the house was quiet. Alone with him like this, my hormones shot into overdrive. Sometimes, the reaction he evoked in me felt so obvious. Like it poured out of me. I felt like an open book, like a storyteller read aloud all of my thoughts and emotions.

  I leaned closer to him. My gaze again drifted to his mouth. He groaned before abruptly disappearing.

  The air rushed around me.

  With a blink, Davin stood ten feet away by the window on the opposite side of the room.

  My breath caught in my throat as my heart fell. I slumped into the cushions. Of course. Nothing’s changed. That realization drowned me in its intensity. Despite the undeniable attraction we shared, Davin’s beliefs hadn’t altered.

  Until he’s free, he won’t allow anything to happen. It had been the same after our first kiss. He’d put distance between us then too.

  “Are you hungry?” He raked a hand through his hair and paced in front of the window. His cobalt gaze pierced mine. “You look like you haven’t been eating enough.”

  I shrugged. “You know me. I try, but…”

  “How about we make supper?” His pacing increased. “You know. It will give us something to do.”

  In other words, we’ll be in a kitchen, standing and busy. Not on a couch with our bodies pressed against one another.

  The clock on the wall ticked steadily. It was early evening. Most people made dinner around this time. Funny how I wasn’t hungry.

  “Um, yeah, I guess we can make supper, but I hope you know how to cook.” I held my breath. Davin had no idea how lacking my culinary skills were.

  Just as he took a step toward the kitchen, a knock sounded on the door. The sound of a key inserted into the lock came next. With a flourish, the door opened and a soldier appeared with Sharon in tow.

  The soldier stepped to the side. “You have a visitor.”

  Sharon’s eyes lit up when they landed on her son. “Davin!”

  She flew across the room. Davin caught her in his arms as tears poured down her face. They stood holding each other as the soldier discreetly backed out. “I’ll be back in two hours.”

  I didn’t think either Sharon or Davin heard him.

  Giving them privacy, I inched up from the couch and retreated to the kitchen. Despite the distance, I still heard Sharon pummel Davin with questions about how he was and if he’d been harmed.

  Since the house wasn’t big, there was nowhere else discreet for me to go. Instead, I opened a kitchen drawer and leafed through its contents. All that did was make me wonder how to use the items within.

  I was holding up some apparatus with two handles and a grind of some kind when Sharon peeked her head around the corner. “Meghan, sweetie? Come join us.”

  She held her arm open to me and gave me a half-hug when I reached her side. Her soft warmth pressed against me.

  “My world is complete right now. The two people I care about most are standing right beside me.” Her words were quiet and content.

  A lump formed in my throat. So this is what a loving family feels like.

  Davin’s eyes were bright, just like Sharon’s. With a start, I realized it was the first time I’d ever seen them together.

  “Now, what did I interrupt?” Sharon wiped the tears from her cheeks and dropped her purse by the wall.

  I bit my lip. “Well, we were about to make dinner.”

  A horrified look appeared on Sharon’s face but she quickly covered it up. “Would you like me to help?”

  “Yes!”

  Davin gave my enthusiastic response a quizzical look.

  I stuffed my hands in my back pockets. “Um… well… You haven’t seen me cook, but your mom has.”

  He chuckled but still kept his distance. Thankfully, his mother had no idea what sh
e’d interrupted.

  TWO HOURS LATER, Sage and I were doing dishes in the kitchen when another knock sounded on the door.

  Sharon glanced at the clock. “That must be my ride.” She picked up her purse.

  “You’re not staying?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “You stay, sweetie. These houses are small enough. Besides, I’ve made myself right at home in Mobridge, and I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  Sharon hugged Davin at the front door while the soldier waited. She waved goodbye to me and Sage before following the soldier out. Once they closed the door, the sound of the bolt sliding into place followed. Locked in once again.

  Drying a plate on a towel, I put it away before joining Davin in the living room. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I rocked to the backs of my heels. “Now what?”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “Uh… I dunno.”

  “How about a movie?” Sage appeared, still drying his hands on a towel. He reached for the remote and flipped on the TV. “There has to be something on.”

  His lumbering frame made the floor vibrate when he walked to the chair. That left the couch for Davin and me to share.

  Sage surfed through the channels until he found a drama that was halfway over. Braveheart. “Is this okay?”

  “Yeah. I love this movie.” I curled my toes into the couch cushion. Despite trying to stay on his side of the couch, Davin’s large frame pressed against me. He felt warm and hard.

  Swallowing tightly, I tried to relax and concentrate on the movie, but all I could think about was how close he sat and how warm he felt. It didn’t help that subtle wafts of his unique soap and aftershave scent kept tickling my nose. All I wanted was to bury my face in his neck and inhale.

  A few times, I caught him glancing my way. Every time I met his gaze, he quickly looked back at the screen. At one point, his fingers drummed along his thigh. When he caught me watching, he abruptly stopped.

  Just as the movie ended, and I felt certain I would die from oxygen deprivation due to breathing shallowly for over an hour, Sage flipped the channel to a sports game. He leaned forward in his chair, already enraptured by the score.

  I stood abruptly. “Excuse me.”

  Racing to the bathroom, I couldn’t get there fast enough. Once inside, I closed the door and sank against it. How is it that I already feel so lightheaded I can barely breathe?

  It was killing me that Davin was still a prisoner here. I knew that he’d never allow himself to really feel anything for me until he was free. Despite the kiss we’d shared all those months ago, despite both of us admitting feelings for each other, despite the obvious chemistry that sparked between us like a loose wire – nothing had changed. It was just like at the Compound. Emotions flowed between us – unspoken, achingly deep emotions – that neither of us brought to our lips.

  I closed my eyes and groaned.

  A knock sounded on the door. “Meghan?”

  Straightening, my eyes flashed open. “Yeah, just give me a minute!”

  I turned the faucet on so it would sound like I was actually doing something. Versus what I was really doing, which was obsessing over him while lamenting our current state.

  After patting cool water on my face, I didn’t look quite as flustered. My image in the bathroom mirror wasn’t horrible. My face was still pale, and my hazel eyes were unnaturally bright, but I didn’t look as frazzled as I felt inside.

  With tentative movements, I opened the door.

  Davin lounged against the wall in the hall. Blaring from the sports game carried from the living room. He studied me with his arms crossed, his impossibly bright blue eyes following my every move. “Are you okay?”

  No. I love you so much it’s driving me crazy. More than anything, I want to tell you that, but I’m scared. Even though I know you love me too, I still don’t know if you’ll ever be free. And I know if you’re not, you’ll never give us a chance.

  I ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah, I’m completely fine. Why do you ask?”

  He watched me for a moment, his expression giving away nothing. “You seem a little tense.”

  “It’s been a long day.”

  He pushed away from the wall and shook his head. “Of course. You must be exhausted. Let me show you to my room.”

  My eyes widened. “Your room?”

  “Yeah. I’ll sleep on the couch, and don’t even try to object. There’s no way I’m letting you sleep on the couch while I take the bed.”

  Knowing arguing was pointless, I followed him to the second bedroom. With the lights on, I studied it. There weren’t any knickknacks or personal touches. It was a simple bedroom with a bed, dresser, closet, and chair. But already, I caught a hint of Davin’s scent in the room – his aftershave, the soap he used, and that subtle scent that was all him. Perhaps it was from him standing right beside me, or perhaps his scent still lingered in the sheets, regardless I’d never smelled anything so good.

  “Do you need anything?” he asked. “Clothes? Toothbrush?”

  I smacked my hand to my forehead. “I left my bag in my car.” I couldn’t believe I hadn’t realized that until now.

  “So you basically have nothing?” His lips twitched up.

  A smile spread across my face at his amused expression. “You could say that.”

  “Good thing I have lots of t-shirts. Do you want to sleep in one of those?”

  All I managed was a breathy, “Sure.”

  A few minutes later, after hurriedly brushing my teeth using a spare toothbrush, I was alone in Davin’s room. Wearing his t-shirt. In his bed.

  The only thing missing was him.

  19 – SECRET LETTERS

  I was the first one awake the next morning. It had been hard to fall asleep the night prior. Faint sounds from the TV, and Sage’s occasional cheers or groans from the sports game, had carried into the room.

  Still, I’d somehow managed to fall into a peaceful sleep. I figured it had something to do with Davin’s scent surrounding me.

  Easing the door open, I tiptoed to the bathroom. The house was unnaturally quiet. From the hall, dark hair was visible on the couch. Davin lay sprawled on it.

  After finishing in the bathroom, I crept to the living room. Davin’s sleeping form rested only feet away. He slept without a shirt. I had no idea about his lower half.

  Swallowing, my pulse ticked faster as my gaze wandered over his chiseled frame. Scars littered his abdomen. Years of being at Dr. Roberts’ mercy could be thanked for that. Still, he was beautiful.

  Midnight hair tousled from sleep covered his head. Dark lashes rested against his cheeks. With the covers pushed down to his waist, his beautiful dark-honey-colored skin was on display. Longing pulsed through me. More than anything I wanted to touch him. To lay my cheek against his chest. To feel his strong hands roam over my body.

  With a sharp turn, I scampered back to his bedroom. Closing the door, I flew onto the bed and buried myself under the covers. Not creepy at all, Meghan, to be perving over a guy sound asleep.

  Early morning sunlight peeked around the curtains. Under the covers, I listened for sounds of Davin or Sage waking. They didn’t come.

  Sitting up, I once again pushed the blankets back and sat on the edge of the bed. A crinkling sound followed. Cocking my head, I shifted. The crinkling sound came again.

  Sliding off the bed, I frowned as I tried to figure out what the sound had been. Pushing on the mattress, the sound returned. It sounded like…

  Paper.

  Tentatively lifting the mattress, my eyes widened when a small stack of papers appeared. With my cheeks heating, I reached for them even though I knew I shouldn’t. They were Davin’s papers.

  That he was obviously hiding.

  Still, my hand kept reaching. Maybe it’s nothing. Could just be something the MRRA left behind when they set up these houses.

  Pulling the papers out, I set the mattress back down. Turning, I sank to the floor, my back to the bed, effectively hiding me if a
nyone looked in the room.

  I turned the papers over. Handwritten words stared back at me. Pages of handwritten words.

  With a pounding heart, I knew these weren’t papers left by the MRRA. They were letters. Yet I didn’t put them down. I knew I should.

  But I didn’t.

  My heart was pounding so hard when the words from one page leaped out. ...I’ve missed you so much. I had no idea you were still alive…

  My hands shook as I shuffled to the first page. The letter began with, My dearest Davin.

  It felt like someone punched me in the gut. Everything inside me screamed to not read further. To put the letters down. To not know what was written on them.

  Yet, I began reading.

  My dearest Davin,

  It’s a bit surreal to be writing this letter. How long has it been since we’ve seen each other? Twelve years? It’s so hard to believe that we were practically kids the last time we saw one another. Yet we weren’t, not really. We were on the cusp of adulthood, that awkward age between being a child and growing into an adult. I’ve thought about you continuously since we parted. Wondering what happened to you. Wondering if you were okay. I assumed you had died in the First Wave, like so many did, so when I saw your name on the list of Kazzies admitted to Reservation 1, I was shocked.

  You’re alive! And you’ve been alive the entire time!

  My hands shook like dry, fluttering leaves on a windy autumn day. Inside, it felt like my heart would pound right out of my chest as my cheeks flushed. From the flowing, feminine handwriting, these were letters written to Davin by a woman. A woman from his past. Against my better judgment, I lifted the page again.

  I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through, living in the Compounds and now living on the reservation. But I’ve never forgotten you. I’m in Texas now. My sister is too, but our parents died in the First Wave, so now it’s just me and Danielle. Since we’re not kids anymore, we’re no longer in the state’s care. We lived in a quarantine facility that first year of the First Wave, after our parents died. In the second year, they moved us to a foster home. We were lucky. Our foster family stayed healthy, so we lived with them the entire time. They’re nice people. They’ll never replace our mom and dad, but-