Shipwrecked! Read online

  The last thing Lawless heard before he hit the ground was Morgan’s terrified voice shouting, “Jon!”

  Chapter Twelve

  Morgan raced to where Lawless had fallen with her heart in her throat. He had tumbled about two stories, but lucky for him, the bird had twisted under him and broke his fall. Jon’s weight had killed the creature instantly. Carefully, Morgan checked him as best she could for injuries. Except for being unconscious, he looked okay. She moved his arms in all natural directions and met with no resistance. Reaching behind his head, she ran her fingers over his scalp looking for blood, but there was none. No apparent head injury. So far so good.

  She shook him gently. “Lawless?”

  He didn’t respond.

  She decided she needed to get him back to the ship and break open the first aid kit. Propping him up, she moved behind him and wrapped her arms around his back and under his arms. He weighed a ton and she only got a few feet before she had to stop and rest. A few tears escaped her eyes and she wiped them away with her sleeve. Suddenly she spotted his eyes fluttering. Then they opened.

  “Oh my God, Lawless, are you all right?”

  He groaned and rubbed his head. “Yeah,” he grumbled. He looked over to the tree and grinned at the dead bird. “See,” he said getting to his feet. “I told you I’d get us dinner.”

  Relief went all through her, then a flash of anger. “And you almost got yourself killed!”

  “I didn’t think you gave a shit if I got myself killed.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I never said that. Of course I care. Who’s going to hunt for our food if you die?”

  “You could always take up fishing again,” he said, getting up slowly. He rolled his head from side to side, then stalked over and picked up the dead bird by its claws.

  “Whatever. I’m going back to the shuttle,” she said and turned to leave.

  “Wait,” he called after her. He held out the vulture. “Don’t forget our meal. Do you think you can come up with a recipe for this thing? Unless you’re planning to renege on our agreement. In that case, I’d be very disappointed in you.”

  Morgan stormed over, took the bird, and stumbled. It was heavier than it looked. “I’ll cook it, but could you at least carry it back for me?”

  He eyed her up and down with an evil twinkle in his eye. “I don’t know,” he said, strolling toward the shuttle. “That sounds kind of sexist to me.”

  Morgan sighed and picked up the heavy bird. It was easy sixteen pounds and awkward to carry. She started back, wishing she’d been stuck here with another man. Anyone would have been better than Jon Lawless.

  * * * *

  The meal was delicious. Lawless had to hand it to her, she didn’t look like she could cook, but she certainly surprised him. Morgan was a fascinating woman, different than anyone he’d ever known. She was so afraid of being hurt that she kept everyone at a distance, and he guessed that was one of the things he understood the most about her. He was guilty of the same thing. Sure he’d had plenty of women in his life but none who’d ever made him feel like Morgan did. He felt like they were similar in so many ways. All he had to do was get her to trust him.

  He lounged on a bench watching her as she plucked the leftover meat from the bones and stored it in the food compartment. “Who was your first boyfriend?”

  Morgan cleaned her hands with a rag. “I don’t know,” she said distracted. “Some guy in high school.”

  “You don’t remember his name?”

  She gave him a strange look and then said, “If you must know, his name was John.”

  Lawless smiled, but she didn’t seem amused. “Did you love him?”

  She shrugged. “I guess I did.”

  “Was he the first guy you had sex with?”

  Morgan glanced at him with fire in her eyes. “That’s really none of your business.”

  He continued undaunted. “Do you enjoy sex?”

  “Don’t be silly, of course I do.”

  “Then why won’t you sleep with me?”

  “Because I don’t want to.”

  “Well, Morgan,” he said, lying back and staring at the ceiling, “I hate to break it to you, but we’re probably the only survivors of the Defiant. We’re going to have to learn to live on this planet because I doubt we’re ever going to be rescued. So it seems kind of strange that you won’t sleep with me because you’re afraid of being used.”

  “That’s not the reason why I don’t want to sleep with you,” she said flatly.

  He turned on his side and stared at her. “Why then?”

  Morgan folded her arms. “I just don’t want to get too attached to you.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t want to be devastated if something happens to you. And with your hunting skills, something is bound to happen to you.” She tossed some leftover bones into the garbage pit. After a few moments, she said, “I sure hope we can locate the others.”

  Lawless came over and pulled her into his arms. “We will,” he said in a voice soft as mist. “I have a radio sending out Morse code for a few hours every day. If they’re here, they are bound to pick it up and signal us back. Then all we have to do is make our way to where they are.”

  Morgan stiffened and tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her. “Please let me go.”

  Lawless tilted her face up and stared into her eyes. Powerful emotions swirled inside him making his gut ache. He wanted her desperately and completely. “I can’t let you go. I need you.” Placing his lips on hers, he kissed her with all the passion in his soul. It flowed out of him in a torrent, like a river after its dam had burst. The kiss was the only way he could show her how he felt about her, and he poured all his love and anguish into it. At first, she pushed on him, trying to escape this hungry thing she could not face, but then the kiss took her over. She returned his passion with a fire all her own. Then she turned her head and broke the kiss.

  “This is too much,” she protested. “Too strong. I can’t control it.”

  “Then let go and let it happen,” he whispered into her ear.

  And that’s exactly what Morgan did.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Morgan had never been so aroused by a kiss before. Pushing her breasts against Lawless’s chest, she crushed her mouth harder into his, reveling in the taste of him. Within moments, she was aching with desire. Tearing his mouth from hers, he dragged a trail of kisses along her cheek and throat. Morgan heard an animal groan and realized it came from her.

  His hands were all over her, sliding under her shirt and finding the firm roundness of her breasts. The flesh of his hands was hard and rough as he massaged her, awakening the most intense desire she’d ever felt. Laying her down on the floor, he peeled her clothes off in seconds. Morgan closed her eyes and enjoyed the pleasure of his touch. He slid off her pants and underwear and gently nuzzled with his mouth the throbbing secret of her sex. Parting her legs, he caressed her with his lips and tongue. She leaned her head back and moaned.

  Lawless opened her and inhaled her scent. His tongue ran through the tender pink folds, pushing, tickling and exploring. Finding her swollen button, he nibbled and teased it causing shockwaves of ecstasy to race through her body. Morgan could barely catch her breath. Reaching down, she ran her fingers through his hair and whispered his name. Blinded by pleasure, she lifted her hips and rocked them up and down matching the rhythm of his mouth.

  Then he stopped and moved up and over her. Lifting her legs up over his hips, he found the soft, wet center of her pussy and eased himself in. The feel of his thick cock deep inside her was complete bliss. She caressed him with her hands down the twisting muscles of his back finding new levels of pleasure with every stroke of his rod. Memories came back to her of their drunken but uneventful night a year ago and every casual encounter since, all leading up to this wondrous moment. Morgan was happier than she could remember ever being.

  She listened to the rich tones of his voice as he whisper
ed sexy threats in her ear. The hair on his chest tickled her nipples, making them tender and stiff. Then the sweeter pleasure began building to a fever pitch within her slick, throbbing pussy. Morgan could tell Lawless too was close to orgasm by the carnal animal sounds coming from his chest. Squeezing his buttocks she encouraged him to go deeper and harder until the hunger within her was so wild she could bear it no longer. Her peak took her with the violence of an earthquake and pushed all the air from her lungs. As her body came down, Morgan realized she’d reached a high she had never thought possible.

  Knowing her lover was close to release she nuzzled his ear and whispered naughty demands. Every muscle in his body was rock hard and slick with sweat. He bucked into her like he hadn’t been with a woman in years. Then Lawless stiffened and released his lust deep into her womb.

  He lay on top of her panting as Morgan stroked his thick dark hair and realized she’d never been so happy in her entire life.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Over the next few weeks, they busied themselves with learning how to survive. Morgan combed the woods for fruit and nuts to supplement their diet, even taught herself how to fish. Lawless hunted and built them a beautiful seaside shack with side-by-side hammocks. They spent their days working and their evenings feasting on what they’d collected during the day. After all the chores were done, they lounged in their hammocks and talked about everything from the evolution of humans to their careers in the Fleet. She loved listening to his stories, and he seemed to enjoy hers as well. Sometimes they just argued all day then made up by making love like teenagers.

  Morgan came to love this strange and alien land, but most of all, she loved the deep, growing bond between her and Lawless. Every night before going to sleep she wondered what happened to the others. She hoped they were all right too, but the more time that passed, the more her hope bled away. When she was feeling sad, she’d often share things with Lawless she’d never told anyone. One night, just as he was dozing off, she said, “I heard on the ship that you were married once.”

  He nuzzled her neck and kissed her cheek. “Actually, I’ve been married twice.”

  “Oh,” she said, feeling awkward. “What happened? I mean . . . I hope you don’t mind me asking. Why did they break up?”

  Lawless put his hands behind his head and turned his searching gaze to the ceiling. “My marriages broke up because I didn’t tend to them properly. I didn’t put in the time and attention to make them work, and I regret that.”

  Morgan was confused. Did that mean he wished he’d stayed with those women? Where did that leave her? “So I guess if you’d been a better husband to those women, you’d still be married and not stuck here with me.”

  Lawless studied her. “No.” Those marriages wouldn’t have lasted no matter what I did. They had other problems. I just wish my behavior hadn’t caused those women all that pain. As for being stuck here with you, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be stuck with. You and I have something different, Morgan. We have something very special.”

  Morgan grinned and placed her head on his chest. “That was a very nice thing to say.”

  “I meant it. But now let me ask you—how do you really feel about me?”

  “I don’t want to talk about this.”

  “Why not? I told you how I felt.”

  “No you didn’t. All you said was you were glad you were stuck here with me and stuff about us being special . . .”

  “Oh come on! All right then, the truth,” he said. “The truth is I’ve been in love with you from the first time we met in that bar a year ago.”

  Morgan didn’t know what to say. She bit her lip, then finally said, “Me too.”

  Lawless propped himself up on one elbow. “If you felt like that, then why didn’t you stay till morning that night you came home with me? Why did you sneak off before I woke up?”

  “Look, I’m really tired. Can we just go to sleep now?”

  “No, Morgan, we can’t,” he said. “You brought this up, and now I want to know. Why did you take off?”

  Morgan got up and grabbed her blanket. She glared down at him. “Because I didn’t want to be used like you use all those other women you slept with, that’s why.” Then before he could answer, she stormed off to sleep in the cold, empty shuttle.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Morgan’s father had once told her there were a million mysteries to the human heart, but she never understood what he meant until now. Why had she gotten so angry with Lawless? Was she still afraid of getting hurt even with no one else around? The thought worried her. She hated to think she was so dysfunctional that she couldn’t let go of such a ridiculous fear. Climbing into the shuttle, she grabbed a blanket and settled into the rickety metal cot. For a moment, she half expected him to come after her. She wondered if she’d hurt him, and a sudden surge of shame came over her. Instead of beating herself up, she thought of the many things she needed to do tomorrow. A loud clicking interrupted her thoughts. Rolling over she tried to ignore the sound thinking it was just a branch tapping against the shuttle’s hull. Then with a rush of adrenaline she realized what the sound was—Morse code.

  Morgan jumped up and raced to the transmitter. Lawless had hooked up a tiny computer with a screen just in case they got a signal. The screen was cluttered with repeat coordinates and names of the crew members at that location. Morgan couldn’t believe her eyes. She stared at the screen in disbelief. We weren’t the only ones to survive!

  Stumbling out of the shuttle she raced to the shack on the beach. “Lawless! Come quick, the transmitter is picking up the other crew members and they’re alive!”

  Lawless came out and stared at her in disbelief. “Are you sure?”

  “Come see for yourself,” she called over her shoulder while racing back to the shuttle.

  He came in behind her watching the screen display as if it held the meaning of the universe. Kneeling down by the machine, he picked up a pen and carefully wrote down the coordinates. Then he went to the shuttle’s main computer and started it up. They hadn’t used it much since landing to conserve the power cells. The large display screen shone to life above them, showing a dazzling map of the area. It pinpointed the coordinates in seconds and plotted the route. By the computer’s estimate, they should be able to reach the others in two days. Morgan’s head swirled with the possibility of seeing her old crewmates.

  She licked her lips more confused then she’d ever been in her life. What did this mean to her fledgling relationship with Lawless? Was everything over now that they’d found the others? A nagging doubt moved over her when she realized that their affair could have been an illusion. She doubted he’d give up the prospect of other women now that he had his pick again. “What do we do?” she asked him in a voice devoid of emotion.

  He folded the directions and placed them into his pocket. “We’ll secure this place as best we can and head out tomorrow morning to find them. I hope they did as well as us.”

  Morgan only nodded. She couldn’t find any words to say what she was really feeling and it seemed selfish to bring their relationship up now. “I’ll pack some extra food just in case.”

  Lawless watched her. “Are you still angry with me?”

  “No, of course not. I was never really angry with you. I guess I was just tired.”

  “You still want to sleep in the shuttle?”

  Morgan shrugged. She might as well get used to life without him. “Sure,” she said. “I sleep better when I’m alone.”

  She felt his gaze bore into her as she crept back inside the shuttle and curled up on the cold, empty cot.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lawless trudged through the thick forest, cutting the heavy branches out of their path. They were making good time as they trekked in tense silence. Both were nervous, wondering what they would find as their journey brought them ever closer to their lost crewmembers. Morgan hadn’t said anything to him in over two hours, and he was worried about her. Her normal good-natured qua
rreling had been replaced with a sullen brooding that he found puzzling. He suspected he knew the reason behind her mood change. He was convinced Morgan must be pregnant. Her breasts were plumper, and her belly had a barely visible paunch that he loved. Lawless didn’t know if she suspected anything about her condition, but he was fairly confident she didn’t have a clue. He stopped and looked back to make sure she was keeping up. “You okay back there?” he called.