Darkness skulked in the corners of the room, held back only by the honeyed glow of a nightlight. Sawyer checked the neon hands of his watch. It was almost seven in the morning. A full day and two nights had passed since he’d escaped with Julia from the destroyed Chittrix nest.

Once they’d hauled themselves out of the mud of the Thames, they’d walked for hours, leaving the motionless corpse of the Chittrix half-buried in tidal silt. They’d stumbled and half-carried each other, bone-deep fatigue gnawing at their final reserves of energy, their headsets stubbornly silent.

When they the Coyote and Jackal TSVs had finally roared into sight, it felt to Sawyer that he’d not seen anyone for days. He’d never been so glad to see the bunch of filthy, battered soldiers and scientists. Foster had almost flipped the Coyote bringing it to a careening halt before jumping out, turning the air blue with choice expletives of happiness. Julia had slumped to her knees beside him, relief buckling her legs as Anna had scrambled out the vehicle and flung her arms around Julia in a smothering bear hug, tears streaking clean trails across her grimy cheeks.

Everyone had escaped the nest before the explosives detonated. Crossness was gone, the Victorian pumping station sucked underground by the disintegration of the underlying warren of Chittrix tunnels and sewers. Hardy had skirted the Jackal around the edge of the demolition area as the TSV carried them home. The wide, concave depression stretched for at least a mile. The team were all accounted for.

Except Darr.

Sawyer lay on the bed, wide-awake. He couldn’t explain it and had kept his opinion to himself, but there was no doubt in his mind that Darr was still alive. Whatever his reasons, Darr didn’t want to be found and had simply chosen not to return to the CB. The enigmatic scavenger would be back on their radar when it suited him.

Meanwhile, the entire base was enjoying what Violet called an alien-moon. Despite constant monitoring from drones and surveillance teams, there’d been no activity from the flattened nest.

Hardy had volunteered to take responsibility for improving security and spent the day before installing infrared cameras and motion detectors in all the sewers and conduits that approached or fed into the base directly. The set-up went smoothly, and the monitors remained silent.

Peace wouldn’t last, the Chittrix were here to stay and had already demonstrated their ability to adapt to whatever was thrown at them. Extra scavenger trips were planned over the next few days to take advantage of the temporary respite, an interval in the on-going fight.

Sawyer had consciously decided to make the most of this period of calm and actually enjoy it, instead of expertly tormenting himself about choices he couldn’t change. What was done, was done, and for the first time since forever, his mind was clear.

He rolled closer to Julia’s heavy warmth next to him in the bed, wrapping his arm around her and clasping her snug to his body. She pressed against him, her backside nestled in the crook of his groin, one hand draped possessively across his thigh. Her spine curved against his abdomen, her hair a soft cloud under his chin. He breathed in her clean scent of soap, tightening his arm protectively around her waist.

This.

He knew he’d wanted this, but it was more intense than he’d ever imagined. Finally after all the broken, snatched pieces of time he’d endured, they’d spent the entirety of the last two nights together.

And a whole day together in full view of everyone.

He kissed the nape of her neck, biting the skin in a gentle tease. She murmured and pressed more firmly against him. His cock hardened against her buttocks as she turned to face him. It didn’t matter how many times he possessed her soft, voluptuous body. He always wanted her again.

She bumped his chin with the tip of her nose then kissed him, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Morning.”

“Sleep okay?”

She gave the tiniest of nods. “Like a baby.”

“No nightmares?”

She butted her forehead up against his, her lashes tickling his cheek. “No nightmares. Must be a world record, two nights in a row.”

He pulled his head back a little, focusing on her. “I feel the same. Like a switch has been turned off in my brain, and it’s quiet in there. Kinda spooky.” He broke eye contact, embarrassed at his admission.

Julia stroked his cheek. “Silence is good, Ben.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I love hearing you say my name.”

She grinned. “I’m getting used to it.”

“You happy?” He asked the question quickly before he changed his mind and chickened out.

She smiled and nodded. “Even if I have to listen to all the ‘told you so’ chat from Anna.” She peeked up at him through thick lashes. “Maybe I could make you breakfast?”

Sawyer grinned. “Dr. Simmons, are you offering to cook?”

She stuck her tongue out at him as she rolled away and pulled on his t-shirt. Damn if it didn’t look better on her than it did on him.

“I make killer toast.” She cocked an eyebrow. “Live a little.” She switched on the bedside light and padded across the room. Opening the cupboard set under the counter, she produced a brown paper bag. “See. Foster’s been growing sourdough babies.” She pulled a dumpy rectangle of bread out the bag and waved it aloft, like a trophy.

Sawyer scooted up on one elbow. It was a good view. His t-shirt barely skimmed the top of her thighs, giving him tantalizing glimpses of hot pink lace.

“I could get used to this,” he said. “Lying here, watching you cook.”

She tutted loudly, scolding him with a wooden spoon. Then she gave a little wiggle as she bent to remove a plate from the cupboard. “Don’t get too used to it. I’m a busy lady. I have my research.”

He swung his legs out of bed, his bare feet hitting cold linoleum. Crossing the room in only a few strides, he grabbed her around the waist and squeezed her tight, his mouth grazing the length of her neck, forcing small sighs of delight from her.

“You were saying, Dr. Simmons?”

“Um.” She wriggled against him, every brush of her body igniting the nerve endings in his skin.

“Don’t plan too far ahead today,” he muttered, nipping her earlobe. “I have plenty of other things I want to do to you.”

She laughed, hooking her arms behind his head, holding him close. “Ben, I’m counting on it.”