by K. A Knight
The pleasure is too much, like ecstasy shooting through my veins.
For someone who can hold their breath for eleven minutes, Tyler never fails to take it away from me. He pulls another orgasm from me, demands it, dragging me along. His thumb presses into the side of my neck, and the pleasure and pain races through me, creating an electrical storm until, with one more spark, I detonate.
“Count,” he orders through gritted teeth, knowing I’m close. Meanly, he pinches my clit, and I scream my release. He fucks me through it, only slowing slightly before I remember I was supposed to count.
“Two,” I say, and then my breathing hitches as he pulls out.
With a grin, he turns me around and bends me against the rock as he rubs his wet cock along my ass.
“Think we can get another two from fucking your ass?” he questions as he parts my cheeks and circles his finger around my hole. “I think we can. What was our highest?”
“Seven,” I gasp out, pushing back.
“Seven? Shit, I need to up my game again.” He groans and leans forward, trailing his tongue down my spine as goosebumps erupt on my skin and his fingers massage my cheeks.
“You do,” I taunt, pushing back, urging him to take my ass. I need to come again already. I’m a greedy fucking bitch, and I don’t care.
“Shit, did I ever eat this ass? ’Cause I’m so fucking tempted,” he mutters.
“Later.” I pant. “I need your cock.”
His hand slaps my back as he presses the head of his dripping cock against my hole. “So fucking demanding, Peyton, nothing has changed.”
“Some things have,” I mutter, and he freezes before fisting my hair and tilting my head back.
“What was that?” he asks slowly, angrily.
“I said some things have. You tease more, you’re more patient to get your cock in me,” I whisper.
“I have three years of practice,” he snarls, “of waiting and being needy.” He pushes his cock in, starting slow and forcing me to relax, before pulling back and pushing in again. The angle makes him spear me so deeply, and I’m stretched so much, it’s almost painful. He’s showing me he’s still pissed about me leaving and taking it out on me, but our love has always been like that. “Three years of wanting you. Remembering the heat of your body, the sound of your cries. Three fucking years, baby, makes me a patient fucking man. Especially when it comes to your pussy and pleasure.”
He stops talking and starts fucking. Each thrust is faster and harder than the one before, almost splitting me open around his fat cock. He fucks me like he hates me, just like I asked.
He pins me in place with his hand gripping mine, the other digging into my hip. He uses my body, takes it, but this time when I come, I want him to as well. I want to feel it dripping from me, to know he wants this as much as I do, so I push back, meeting his thrusts and urging him on. He groans, the sound strangled as he fights through my tight ass.
“Fuck, baby,” he growls, and his hips stutter in a familiar way. I grin, knowing he’s close, no matter how hard he tries to fight it. Unwilling to come without me, he slams his fingers into my pussy, just holding them there as his thumb rubs my clit, throwing me into my third orgasm with a silent scream.
He yells as he drives into my ass once more, and then I feel his release fill me as he grips my hip harder. A moment later, his head presses against my back, and his ragged breathing blows over my sweaty skin as he holds me up—good thing, since my legs are trembling. I close my eyes as fatigue hits me and bask in the afterglow.
“Tell me you’re done,” Fin calls, his voice pained. “I’m hard as hell from listening to you two, and Kalen is basically holding his head underwater.”
We both laugh, and Tyler kisses along my spine. “Even after all these years, baby, each time still feels like the first.”
“You mean when we were fumbling, idiot teenagers?” I tease.
“That too, but when we first got to experience the depth of the emotions between us. It never changes. I love you so fucking much,” he whispers.
“I love you too, Tyler,” I reply. “Even if I love others, you will always be the first man to hold my heart.”
It’s true, I love the others, but Tyler… Tyler was my first love, and I know he will be my last too. It just so happens now that that love has changed, matured, and grown with us.
Like it should.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Kalen
Ignoring the sounds coming from behind the rock, I update Michael and the ground base on what’s happening. He’s relieved Peyton is okay and demands to speak to her, but I have to brush him off without telling him she’s currently fucking my brother’s brains out. Both envy and lust rage through me from the sounds she’s making.
I also start to pack up some gear. We’re going to stay here for one more night to ensure Peyton is fully rested and okay before we begin the dive back to forward base. This way she can keep up and fight off any attacks. Not that she will need to, I don’t plan on leaving her side ever again.
I start cooking food after that, knowing she’s going to need it to recover from her ordeal and all the fucking. Fin helps me while Riggs charts a map, looking for possible attack paths and the best exits. We are getting out of this fucking cave as soon as Peyton can move.
Just before the food is done, her and Tyler return, hand in hand. I raise my eyebrow at the wide smile covering his face. I haven’t seen him look so happy since before she left. It helps dull my anger and jealousy, and when she lifts her eyes and they meet mine, her gaze is filled with that same love and happiness—not just for him—but for me too. I settle and offer her a small smile in response, which only makes hers grow.
Tyler helps her dress in new thermals and a suit to keep her warm, and then we all sit down to eat. Fin, of course, has to break the silence.
“So…who was better?”
I throw my skewer at him, and he ducks and laughs.
“What? I was just curious! We should get like a chart system with stars for who gave her the best orgasm that day,” he teases, grinning as he leans back opposite me.
Peyton giggles on my left as she leans into me without even second-guessing herself, her other hand on Tyler’s leg. “They would both get stars,” she says.
He leans closer, wiggling his brows at her. “Yeah? Spill the deets, babe. Was it the hands—”
This time Tyler throws something at him. “Shut the fuck up, Fin.”
“Or next time it will be my fist,” I grumble.
Unafraid, he laughs and winks at Peyton. “He’s just mad he hasn’t had your pussy today.”
“That’s it.” I start to get to my feet, careful not to disturb Peyton, ready to kick his ass. She laughs and grabs me, yanking me back down before plopping onto my lap. I blink, unable to move in case I hurt or jar her. Glaring over her head at Fin, I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest, keeping her warm, and Fin begins to howl.
“She stopped your attack so easily,” he teases. “The big bad Kalen was undone by a girl on his knee.”
“Baby girl, warn your boyfriend to stop before I kill him,” I whisper in her ear, inhaling her scent as she relaxes into my hold, which has a smile curling my lips. I have no doubt she feels it against her skin.
“Fin, if you don’t stop, I won’t suck your dick ever,” she tells him.
He freezes, his eyes wide. “Babe, don’t threaten shit like that.” He looks down at his cock. “She didn’t mean it. I promise, little fella.”
“Jesus, I’m going to kill him before we get out of these caves,” Tyler murmurs.
“I’ll join you,” I offer, meeting his eyes. He smiles at me before his gaze flickers down to his girl on my lap—my girl too—and he softens, unable to pull his eyes away from her. I know the feeling.
I wonder if he will give her the ring or if this will calm him down. Maybe it will even soothe Fin and alleviate Riggs’ anxiety. She has a way of helping all of us. Peyton sighs and snugg
les closer, oblivious to my thoughts. “So what’s the plan, boys?”
“We rest here today. Base is packing up, so as soon as we get there tomorrow, we’ll move quickly but safely through the tunnels we took to get in, and then we’ll get the fuck out. It’s going to be reported as an unsafe environment,” Tyler explains seriously.
“We can go today—”
I lift and turn her so she’s straddling my lap, and then I grab her chin, forcing her to look into my eyes. “Don’t fucking finish that sentence. Let us look after you for once. Today, you’re going to rest.” I narrow my eyes. “I mean rest, not fuck, and then tomorrow, we’ll leave. Got it, baby girl?”
She leans in and kisses me, startling me, and then leans back with a chuckle, knowing she won still because she is only giving in because she wants to. “Fine.”
“That was too easy,” Riggs comments. “We need to remember how he did that.”
She rolls her eyes and goes to say something when we all hear a noise. Frowning, I set her to the side as I stand and look around. Years of training kick in, causing me to react instantly. They try to talk, but I lift my hand to silence them, scanning the surrounding area for any threats to my family and girl.
Just then, a scream splits the air—a familiar crying caw.
My head jerks up, and I grab my knife as I shove Peyton behind me. “Fuck,” I mutter.
“That’s them,” she snarls.
“Shit, you mean those monster motherfuckers are coming?” Fin yells, leaping to his feet.
“Not coming, they’re here,” I murmur, watching them crawl from a small crevice near the top of the cavern that we missed.
“Shit!” Tyler yells.
Pretty much.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Peyton
I grab a stick from the fire, with one end aflame, and clench my knife. Fuck these monsters. They don’t get to hurt my family. I watch, standing half behind Kalen, whose body is vibrating with barely leashed violence, as they crawl from the opening above us before bursting into the air. They fly around blindly, seeking us. We all go quiet, filled with tension as we wait. I can feel Kalen’s concentration, unlike the nervousness that fills the rest of us.
He’s used to this, used to being ready for an attack at any moment. From going relaxed to defensive. We all just stare, putting our backs towards each other as the creatures circle above us, trying to remain silent since that’s how they hunt.
The fire is still hissing though, and they focus on that, their screams increasing as they descend. Fuck. Moving closer, I start to slowly stamp it out, darting my gaze back to them every few seconds until the fire is out, and then I move away again, back to Kalen’s side as the cave is plunged into darkness. I reluctantly put out my stick too, not wanting the crackle of the fire to give us away. Instead, I hold my knife closer. Our lamps are still on but are casting shadows. I watch as they land on rocks and the walls around us, their heads tilting as they listen and wait.
They can undoubtedly wait us out.
I look at Kalen to see what I should do. He’s watching them, seemingly unconcerned. The seconds drag into minutes as my heart hammers and adrenaline pounds through me, my muscles bunching with tension as I try not to shift from foot to foot.
Suddenly, there’s the sound of sliding rocks. My eyes widen, and I whirl around to see an open-mouthed Fin gaping down at his feet before the monsters scream and dive at us. I prepare myself, focusing on their descent. One comes close, so I stab at it, and he caws and dives backwards as another’s claws dig into my arm, but I continue to slash and stab, fighting back and going wild.
I feel the others fighting around me, but someone cries out in pain, and our intent to drive them back doubles for what feels like hours. My arms grow heavy, and I’m starting to slow when a loud crash comes and they instantly fly away.
Panting, I look around and spot Riggs moving back from the edge of the plunge pool where he just tossed a rock. He presses his fingers to his lips, and we all freeze, barely breathing. The monsters fly straight into it, swimming down towards the noise. We all remain still and silent, and as the minutes pass, we begin to relax.
“They could come back at any time, we need to move,” I whisper.
“We can’t,” Tyler mumbles. “You’re bleeding, and so is Fin.”
I spin in panic to see him weakly smiling at me with claw marks across his face. Fuck, they aren’t too deep, but they’re still deep enough to have blood running down his face in rivulets. “Kalen, Riggs, keep watch. Peyton, get the bag and help me clean it.” I rush to follow orders as Fin sits. I pass him water and hold his hand as Tyler starts to clean his wounds and unpack the bag. I ignore my bleeding arm, knowing it isn’t as bad.
“Babe, you’re bleeding again. Ty, do her first,” Fin insists, but I narrow my eyes.
“Shut up, you big baby. The faster he cleans and dresses that, the faster he can get to me,” I retort before softening my voice as I kiss his other cheek and then his lips. “Please?”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “Fine, but be quick, I hate that she’s bleeding.”
I distract him by talking softly of nothing and everything. I regale him with stories of stingrays I swam with and the island that had pigs in the water while Tyler dresses the wounds. Once he’s done, they both clean my arm and dress that as well. I know it’s not too deep, so we’re okay, and once it’s dressed, I barely even feel it.
Done, we look around, knowing we aren’t safe here, but we can’t go into the water yet in case they are still there, and Fin and I need to rest. The blood loss might not be much, but there is plenty of adrenaline and fear in our bodies so we need to calm down, otherwise the worst could happen during the dive.
We all settle in to rest for a while.
We barely sleep. We keep our weapons in hand all night, trying to stay silent. Fin naps and I do as well, knowing we need the energy, but after a few hours of rest, Tyler gives up and agrees we can head back. We aren’t safe here.
Nervous but overjoyed, we start to pack up the remaining bits. It goes smoothly and quickly because we’re all used to this. This is routine, normal, and when we function best, even at the worst of times. Just as we’re strapping on our flippers, the radio crackles, and screams and yells come through it.
“Base—attacked.” It cuts off. “Don’t come back!” Michael shouts.
I grab the mic. “Michael?” I yell in panic.
“Minnow, don’t come—” He cuts out and then comes back panting. “Don’t come back here. It’s a massacre. Minnow, stay there!” The static is loud in the silent cave. I stare at the mic, my eyes wide as fear winds through me.
I try to get their attention again, swapping channels and yelling, but Tyler pries it from my clammy fingers and tilts my chin up. “He’ll be okay. Trust in him like he did you, but he’s right—if they’re there, we can’t go back.”
“So what do we do?”
Tyler growls, yanking at his hair in frustration as I stare at Kalen. I feel my heart cracking, and fear causes me to shake. I can’t lose Michael…but that’s also our only way out.
We are trapped.
“We survive,” he murmurs. “It’s the only thing we can do.”
Oh God, Michael, please be okay.
Chapter Forty
Tyler
They are all looking to me for a plan. They don’t outright say it, but the panic I see written on their faces is enough to tell me their thoughts. I can’t afford to lose it, I have to stay calm. I have Riggs doing inventory of what we have left. Kalen is checking the gear and setting up a warning system at the water entrance in case they come back. Fin is resting, and Peyton is checking the gear with Kalen. Me? I’m staring down at the virtual map Riggs has drawn up so far, looking for anything—another way in, another way…but deep down, I know.
We have to keep going, there isn’t another way yet. This system is unmapped, but it has ocean water, which means it has to have another exit somewhere. We just have to fin
d it before those fucking monsters find us. And I’m the one leading them. One wrong move, and my family dies. That means every fucking decision has to be calculated and thought out, because I’m not losing any of them.
Not now, not ever.
I tell myself this is just another cave dive, another obstacle to overcome. We’ve been in cave ins before, and we’ve been surrounded by predators and threats—not together—but just as we did then, we will survive this. They are animals, that’s all, and we are the fucking intelligent beings. We are going to get out of this. We have done it before, we can do it again.
Tightening my grip on the computer, I sigh and close my eyes. If we keep going, we need to head back through the tunnel those creatures flew into, but as cruel as it sounds, they are clearly busy at the other base at the moment. That gives us a window of time to get through and out.
Peyton moves closer, leaning into my arm. She knows I need her without asking, allowing me to continue with my calm, complacent demeanour. “What’s the plan?” She’s not inquiring to rush me, she’s asking so she can help. She’s good, smart, she might see a better way. It’s an old tradition to work together, and it brings me a twinge of sadness before I look up into those bright, loving eyes. We might have done it before, but everything has changed now, and we’re starting fresh. That means letting her back in.
One step at a time.
“We can’t go back, I think we need to go deeper. I know that sounds—”
“Smart,” she interrupts, throwing me a smile before it drops and she concentrates on the screen. She turns the map, her lip caught in her teeth like it usually is when she’s concentrating. I swallow, feeling my heart flip, and I try to push back the sudden burst of love. “I think we do too. There has to be another exit.” She looks up, blinking when she finds me staring at her. Clearing my throat, I look down at the map, but I catch her smile.