Air Bound

by Christine Feehan

  He went over the side, using the anchor chain as a ladder. It was slippery and he had to concentrate sliding down it to the dark waters below. Each step was treacherous, and he was very aware he held Airiana’s life in his hands. He spotted the small black boat carrying reinforcements from the boat anchored a distance away.

  They needed a head start. He was going to have to swim with Airiana on his back and mostly stay on the surface. The water wasn’t freezing, but already she was shivering, more—he was certain—from fear not cold.

  We’re going in as quietly as possible. Lock your arms around my neck, but don’t choke me, he cautioned again. She was terrified of the water and he didn’t want her panicking. Take a breath. We’re going under. Count to forty and we’ll be on our way to the surface. We have to get away from the yacht. They’ve got men in the water now and the moment they find us gone, they’ll spread out and come hunting.

  Airiana pressed her face flat against his back, hard. She shook until her bones threatened to fly apart but she stuck with him. I’m ready.

  He felt her fill her lungs and he slipped down beneath the water, allowing it to close over their heads as he followed the chain beneath the surface. Once out of sight, he kicked strongly, using his strength to propel them through the water as fast as he could toward shore.

  He heard her counting in her mind, slow and steady, not hurried and panicked although her heart pounded against his back. When she hit thirty-nine, he angled upward. She kept counting, although he could feel her mind beginning to fight her determination.

  They came up a distance from the yacht. The decks appeared to be swarming with men. He could only hope that the men wouldn’t bother murdering those in the den once they discovered their quarry was gone. Evan might even have told them to spare her father for leverage.

  He couldn’t worry about that now. We’re going under again. Count to forty. You’re doing fine.

  I’m glad you think so.

  That was definitely sarcasm. Her body shuddered. She sniffed. Damn it all. You’re crying again. Woman, don’t you ever stop?

  I cry when I’m stressed. Swimming underwater stresses me. You’re going to have to get used to it because I’m crying all the way to shore.

  He took them under. The salt water burned his wounds, but it gave him something else to curse about rather than think about her tears. That lasted for the first fifteen seconds.

  You aren’t helping anything by crying. Just count. That’s so much more reasonable. I can’t think straight with all that noise.

  She dug her heel into his side hard. Stop being a bastard. You’re doing it deliberately and you’ve made me lose count. Now I’m going to panic for sure.

  You were on twenty-seven.

  But then I had to respond to your obnoxious, self-centered remark and that took several more seconds. I’m at least on thirty-seven.

  Thirty-five.

  You’re just guessing. I’m going to faint from lack of air.

  He nearly lost what air was left in his lungs. Trying not to laugh, he surfaced a second time. The yacht was much farther away. He stayed still, treading water, calling in the fog. They needed cover. With that many men searching the yacht, they would figure out fast they were gone and come after them—and they had boats and gear.

  Tendrils of grayish white drifted in, great fingers reaching toward the yacht. The wind kicked up, pushing playfully at the fog and the water. Waves slapped over, spilling white foam. The yacht rocked. The fog enveloped the vessel in a thick blanket.

  Take a breath.

  She did so, drawing air deep into her lungs. Her fingers clutched at his shoulders as he went under again and kicked strongly toward shore.

  Just so you know, I’ve made up my mind, Airiana. I think it’s your complete inability to swim that’s done it.

  Are you purposely trying to make me lose count?

  This is important and you need to hear it.

  She sighed overly loud. Seriously? Now? You’re going to tell me something important while we’re swimming in a dark ocean, killers coming after us and sharks circling us.

  I don’t see any sharks. You’re making that part up.

  How would you know? You aren’t paying attention. You’re too busy trying to distract me from the forty-second count, which you’ve once again managed to do. You’re going longer than forty seconds, aren’t you?

  Well . . . yes. But that isn’t the point.

  Airiana’s fingers dug into his shoulders, gripping tightly. Maxim really was trying to distract her and swimming for closer to a minute—he could have stayed longer underwater—but she was too frightened. Talking to her definitely helped.

  You have a point? I don’t believe you.

  He surfaced again, turning his head to look at her over his shoulder. Her swollen eye was black against the stark white of her face. She looked so scared he wanted to comfort her, but didn’t dare. Right now he had to keep her distracted and his strange revelations could easily do the trick.

  He had no idea how to talk to a woman he cared about. He had never been the most charming of agents, but at least he could talk when necessary. She pulled things out of him he didn’t altogether understand, but he knew he had to be honest with her.

  Just for the record, you look awful. A little like a drowned rat.

  She kicked him hard enough in the ribs to make him feel it. Don’t tempt me to shoot you with this dart gun.

  You won’t. He was completely complacent. You need me to swim you out of here. And don’t forget those circling sharks. You need me for protection against them as well.

  Don’t think you’re safe.

  She leaned forward and bit down hard on his shoulder—not his injured side. He noticed she was careful of his wound.

  Take a breath, honey. He’d let her rest for a moment and recover from the ever present near panic. Each time they came up and were that much closer to shore, he hoped it would be easier on her.

  Is the count up to one hundred?

  Sarcasm mixed with something close to a hysterical giggle. Fortunately, she had the presence of mind to keep even that between them. He took them under, swimming strongly, hoping she hadn’t caught the sound of a boat sliding through the water toward them.

  What were you going to tell me that was so important?

  The truth. The absolute truth about us.

  Is there an “us”? she asked.

  It was much more difficult than he thought to reveal his feelings to her, but they were in the dark, and talking mind to mind rather than aloud. That helped. The water was warm. The dark night sky still held a million stars shining brightly over the band of mist he’d called in. The gray fog, dense and comforting, had enfolded them close, hiding them from prying eyes.

  I’ve watched you, Airiana, with your wild hair flying and your large eyes filled with the sky, taking turns being clear and stormy. A man could get lost in your eyes. They’re never the same, all that beautiful blue.

  She lost count but she didn’t protest. Her arms tightened around him. He felt her face press closer against his back.

  You’ve got courage. Unexpected courage. I’ve never met a woman like you. I didn’t know a woman like you existed, and I doubt there’s more than one. You’re absolutely unique.

  There was a small silence. He kept swimming, hoping to move away from the pursuit.

  Are you giving me a compliment? Because if you are, I take back what I said about the dart gun. You can’t really say I look like a drowned rat and then say something poetic like that.

  Well, just because you look disheveled right now doesn’t mean you aren’t beautiful. I certainly didn’t say the drowned rat wasn’t beautiful. He could feel the vibrations in the water, the gasses carrying to him the information of a boat coming closer.

  Baby, we’re going up, taking a breath and sinking fa
st. Do you understand? We can’t chance taking our time.

  She couldn’t swim. He couldn’t let go of her to fight mercenaries already adept in the water. They had to hide, and that meant staying underwater as long as possible.

  She didn’t answer him, but her fingers dug deep into his shoulders, the only thing that let him know she was as aware of the boat as he was.

  He broke the surface noiselessly, got his bearings as he took a deep breath, and he sank again. The boat was gaining on them fast, although it was making a sweep of the water. Back and forth, quartering an area.

  There’s another one. It’s a good distance away, but I can feel that one too. They’re searching for me. He’s not going to let it go, is he? If I go home, I’ll put everyone I love in danger. That’s what you were trying to say to me and I couldn’t understand.

  Forget what I said. What I’m saying now is that you’re mine. I belong to you. It’s that simple and we’re going to damn well make it work. Somehow.

  I thought you were all worried about choices, she reminded him.

  He gave the mental equivalent of a groan. This is my choice. And it’s going to be yours. You’re going to fall in love with me.

  I am? How?

  It was her amusement that caught at him—that won his heart completely. Even in the midst of this terrible situation when she was in caught in her worst nightmare, she found her sense of humor.

  I have no idea, he conceded. But it’s going to happen. I made my mind up about this. Maybe choices aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. You and I were meant to be together. I just thought it was important to tell you. I’m taking my chances with you.

  You mean warn me? As a declaration of love, Maxim, it falls a little short.

  Again there was amusement in her voice. He was going to have to take them deep, making certain the boat, as it slipped through the water, was far above them. He wasn’t certain what her reaction would be.

  Sadly, Airiana, you’re never going to get pretty words from me. You deserve them, but I don’t have them in my vocabulary. I feel them, but they don’t come out of my mouth, not out loud. There’s something wrong with me, so you’re not getting a great bargain.

  You need to do better at selling yourself, Maxim.

  He surfaced in the middle of thick, dense fog. The fog muffled all sound and prevented him from seeing the shore, but he could feel where they were by the patterns in the air.

  Take a good breath this time, Airiana, he cautioned.

  I can feel the boat approaching. They’re not low in the water at all, but they’re nearly on top of us, she warned.

  You’ll have to trust me, honey. I’m going to take us down. If you run out of air, tap my neck. I’ll breathe for both of us. He knew what he was asking of her. Most people couldn’t do it, let alone a woman petrified of the water. Still, he believed in her and he tried to convey the faith he had in her with his matter-of-fact tone.

  Maxim? If I drown, I’m going to be really angry with you. I’ll come back and haunt you. Her body shivered continuously, but her mind was determined.

  Baby, if I let you drown, you won’t have to haunt me, I’ll be right there with you.

  He slipped noiselessly beneath the water, sinking far deeper than he’d taken her before. The boat was nearly on top of them. He felt the wash of it as he sank and knew they’d just gotten under in time.

  They have scuba divers in the water, Maxim. There was definitely panic in her voice.

  I expected that. They have tanks, we don’t. He kept his voice even and as matter-of-fact as possible. The more she panicked the less air she’d have to stay under. He swam toward the reeds rippling back and forth with the current.

  I’m going to anchor us down in those reeds just ahead. We’ll just sink to the bottom. We’re close to shore and we’re not deep here. Getting to the surface will be fast and easy.

  Airiana nodded her head against his back to indicate she understood. It was dark beneath the water, but lights shone around them from several directions. She had to know what that meant.

  They descended down into the reeds, and Airiana let go of him to sink into the soft powdery floor of the sea. Maxim took her hand, squeezing it to give her confidence. She clung for a moment but then turned her head, looking behind them.

  Maxim spun around, drawing his knife, nearly tangling his legs in the cord binding his war bag to him. He kicked hard and met the diver chest to chest, crashing into him, gripping his arms and propelling him backward. They rolled over and over, struggling for supremacy, each controlling the weapon in the other’s hand.

  The diver had the advantage with his air tank. He could stay down longer than Maxim, and he knew it. Maxim felt a sudden drag on his body, and glanced down to see Airiana coming toward them. She had caught the cord of his war bag and was using it to pull herself toward the two combatants.

  Maxim’s heart stuttered. She couldn’t swim. Was terrified of water. She had to be running out of air, but she moved right up to them, pressed the dart gun against the diver’s leg and pulled the trigger.

  Maxim held on to him until the body went limp. Airiana held tightly to the cord, but signaled frantically that she had to rise. He tore the tank from the diver’s body and thrust the breathing regulator at her. She shook her head. He put it into his mouth to show her how to use it again. He knew she could, she’d used one before when they swam to the submersible.

  She shook her head again and let go of the cord to kick to the surface. He wrapped his arm around her waist and yanked her up against him.

  Don’t be crazy. Breathe.

  I killed that man. I can’t put my mouth where his was.

  He caught her face in his hands and, staring into her eyes, breathed air into her mouth, forcing it into her lungs. He gave her as much air as possible and returned to the tank so that he wouldn’t get dizzy. He slipped the tank on.

  I’m the one using the tank now, not him. It’s my mouth on it. The next time I give you air, you take it. He used his most intimidating, commanding voice.

  I will.

  She sounded young and vulnerable and he felt like an ogre. She’d shown courage and he’d had to be tough with her instead of comfort her. He took her away from the area as fast as possible, sharing the air in the tank with her, moving away from the searching boats and hopefully their divers as well.

  Having the tank meant they were much more mobile beneath the water. He could feel the position of the boats and divers and avoid them. They didn’t have to make a straight line for shore.

  Are you all right? You’re being very quiet. He didn’t like the silence between them. She had to be traumatized by the events of the past seventy-two hours.

  She gave him a thumbs-up but she didn’t reply. He didn’t like that at all. He struck out strongly for shore, towing her, the war bag and guilt. For the first time in his life that he could remember, he was terrified for another human being.

  All he wanted to do was gather her into his arms and hold her, showing her she was safe with him. All he could do was force her to stay beneath the surface in the dark waters and swim with him until he felt they were a safe enough distance to get to shore and find a place to rest.

  15

  AIRIANA’S feet were killing her. She was bone tired. Exhausted beyond all comprehension. She couldn’t think, and that had never happened before in her life.

  “Your feet are going to bleed if you keep insisting on walking. Let me carry you,” Maxim said for what seemed like the millionth time.

  He didn’t understand why she didn’t want to be carried—why it mattered so much to her. She was small and she didn’t have the best figure in the world. Her face looked young—although maybe not so much all battered—but that wasn’t the point. She was a grown woman. It was important to her that he saw her as a grown woman as well.

  She supposed that s
itting down right in the middle of the path they were on would be childish. “I can walk, Maxim. You’re not any better off than I am.”

  She’d been a bit appalled that she’d been clinging to his back while they were underwater when she got a good look at him. “But we’re not passing up any more places to sleep. No matter what, we’re taking the next one. I don’t care if every single one of Evan’s men is camped out there. I’m about to launch a mutiny.”

  He glanced down at her and her heart skipped a beat. There in the moonlight, his face appeared more ruggedly handsome than ever. She was a mess. Black eyes didn’t look good on anyone, and hers was swollen with an ugly cut above it. She definitely wasn’t the glamorous type.

  “If you’re seriously thinking of mutinying, it’s important that you know I singlehandedly stopped a couple of serious rebellions in foreign countries. I’m just saying you might want to rethink.” His voice was droll and his fingers tightened around hers as though she might try to bolt at any moment.

  She found she could still laugh, and it felt a bit like a miracle. There wasn’t a place on her body that didn’t hurt. Her bones hurt. She couldn’t imagine how exhausted he was. She had slept a little on the submarine but he hadn’t slept at all. He was bleeding in half a dozen places.

  “You know, if we meet anyone, they’re going to think we’ve been in a war,” she said. “That and our clothes are wet—well, damp now.” He’d blown warm air on her clothes and they were mostly dry now.

  She was thankful it was a warm night. Still, she was shivering uncontrollably and her teeth were beginning to chatter.

  “I’m good at talking. We’ll be fine.”

  She sent him a look from under her lashes. “You mean you’re good at lying.”

  He smiled at her, and his smile was worth the last hour of torture. “Excellent at it. And I’m especially adept at knowing when someone else is lying.”

  He’d be great to have around when she was raising the children, but she kept the thought to herself. “Maxim. I don’t want to be a whiner or anything, but I have to stop. I don’t care if we sleep under a bush, I have to lie down.” If she didn’t, she was going to fall down.