Revolution (Collide, #4)(57)

My lips tingled, making my whole body tingle. Did she really think that I didn't love every piece of her, no matter how thin or fragile? In honesty it made me love her more. My caring little martyr who took care of everyone else so thoroughly and left crumbs of everything for herself.

I felt her fingers in my hair, tugging and claiming. What I wouldn't have given for a closet sized room right then so I could claim her properly. I let my lips lower to her chin and then her neck. Her lips parted and her eyes closed. I kissed as low as her shirt collar would allow me and then yanked the whole thing off in one smooth motion.

Yeah, we were in the 'bowl bath' area, but apparently, I had no dignity any longer because I was going to have my wife, right there.

"Bloody hell!" I heard and quickly covered her with my body. Miguel was barely containing his laughter as he turned away. "What kinda bloke bogs into the wife in the wide open, huh?"

"Get out, Aussie."

He looked back and grinned. "Well, look at you. Grinning like a shot fox."

I threw the first thing I could grab; a metal mixing bowl. He laughed, ducking it easily and kept right on laughing as he made his way back to the others.

I looked at Sherry, expecting red cheeks and flustered breaths, but she was laughing. We laughed together, sharing breath, before she finally said, "This wasn't exactly discreet, Merrick."

"I was trying to prove a point," I said huskily.

"What was that?" she said, her breaths soft and panting.

I whispered against her mouth, "That I want my beautiful wife anywhere, everywhere, always, in all ways."

She chuckled. "We're never going to get dressed if you keep that up."

"Ok," I agreed easily and she laughed again.

She kissed my lips and held my face. "Thank you."

"I love you, wife."

"I know you do, husband. Now put me down." She grinned.

I did what she commanded of me. I would always gladly do that.

After getting ourselves situated, I took her hand and towed her to the new commons room. We had decided this morning that a stake out of the radio station was needed. Sherry and I along with Ryan and Ellie would go. I'd bring Sherry, for obvious reasons, because she could tell me when someone was lying, and Ellie, because she could hide my Keeper senses from the Lighters. They wouldn't be able to tell what I was. Jeff and Marissa were coming, too, to drive and watch out for things while we were inside.

Celeste and Danny were on Lily duty. As I watched Lily braid Celeste's hair on one side and Danny on the other, preening like a little girl as he did it, making Lily giggle, I knew they didn't mind.

Sherry and I both ate a small can of fruit with the others in our group that were going. Marissa was plowing through a can and then gladly accepted the rest of Jeff's. He grabbed something else from the box and ate it quickly.

I hadn't even thought about the ramifications to the baby in Marissa's belly. It was one thing for us to be hungry, but Marissa was another.

We finished and everyone was dressed as properly as we could be. We looked normal again which wasn't a luxury we were rewarded often anymore. Miguel ran to catch up with us and smiled in a jaguar kind of way. "Hey, why don't I tag along?"

"Me, too!" Billings chimed and slung his arm around Miguel's shoulder. I guess those two were on better terms. "If I don't get outta this bunker, I'm going to start eating my own flesh or something. I'm going crazy here, man. Besides," he said and cleared his throat, "maybe we could look for Cain a little while we're out."

"Well…you can come, I guess. We're not doing much today, just seeing what to make of this broadcast station that Chesser was making such a big deal about."

"Broadcast station?" Lillian asked. We turned to look at her and I tried not to grimace at the redness of her eyes. "Cain and I have been there."

"When?"

"When he took me to that club," she said, her voice choked a little. "The club is next to the station."

"A club…" Miguel mused. "We could hit the boozer while we're there," he said and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Have fun," she said and ran a hand through her disheveled hair before turning away.

Miguel told her to wait up. He went to her and wrapped his arms around her in a soothing manner. It was at that time that Rylee strolled up, all dressed and ready to go. She had her hair up and even had a little make-up on. Rylee looked up and an expression of devastation smacked into her.

She looked at Miguel as if he were betraying her. When he looked up, he saw the look on her face and his mouth fell open with an explanation, but no words came. It got awkward real fast.

"Rylee," he said and Lillian raised her head. She looked between the two and I could've sworn she rolled her eyes before detaching herself from Miguel and walking away. He kept his eyes on Rylee who crossed her arms, always the tough cookie.

"Are we going or not?" she spouted to me.

"Sure," I said uneasily. We'd never been to town like this together without going for food or necessities. I knew Ellie could keep us hidden from their senses, but it still felt strange to be walking into their turf so easily.

We got into the elevator and rode to the roof. It was dark now, but even though it posed more risk of getting caught on the road, it posed less risk of getting caught at the station. I went first and waited at the bottom of the ladder for Sherry. I gripped her tiny waist and brought her to me. I left her feet dangling in the air and she giggled before smacking my arm.