Lit Fuse by Caisey Quinn

Author:Caisey Quinn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2016-12-02T13:41:29+00:00

11

Vivien stared at the current bane of her existence. She and Chase had worked on overcoming her claustrophobia for the past two days but had made little progress.

It lay on the ground appearing harmless, but in reality, it was a demon come to life to destroy her dreams.

Chase didn’t know where her fear of enclosed spaces came from, but she did.

The night her parents were taken away her mom had put her in a closet in the attic to keep her safe.

It was days before her granddad found here there—starving, dehydrated, and covered in her own urine. Three long days and terrifying nights. But the men who’d come had guns and she’d known leaving that closet to pee or sneak food or water might have meant the end of her short life.

The only thing that terrified her more than enclosed spaces was the dark. She still slept with the television and a lamp on most nights. She was thrilled she’d gotten a private room in the barracks.

“You ready?” Chase came to stand beside her. “We’ll aim for ten minutes today. Not moving, not walking, just ten minutes with it on.”

Breathing was already becoming a challenge. “Ten sounds like a lot. How about we aim for five?”

He nodded. “If you’re more comfortable with that, we’ll make it the first benchmark.”

The iron fist clenched around her heart loosened its grip a fraction. Anyone could do anything for five minutes, right?

“Viv,” Chase began while placing his hands on her shoulders, “breathe. First rule: don’t cause yourself to pass out from lack of oxygen.”

His caramel-colored eyes were lighter in the glow of the sun. Being this close to him, remembering how he felt inside of her, inhaling his masculine scent, didn’t make breathing any easier. Not that she could tell him that.

Her hands trembled as he helped her on with the suit. It wasn’t the suit really. It was the helmet. It was limited oxygen. It was having no peripheral vision. The anticipation alone made her nauseous and light-headed.

“Can I have some water first? There’s a bottle in my bag,” she said urgently just before he lowered the helmet over her head.

She figured he knew she was stalling but he was being supremely patient with her. He retrieved the water bottle and brought it to her lips. She took several large swallows, then nodded to let him know she was good.

Before he picked up the helmet again, he stepped directly into her space—or as close as he could get with the suit in the way. “Look at me, Private Brooks. Vivien. You’ve got this, okay? I’m right here.”

She nodded, but her mouth had already gone dry even though she’d had water mere seconds before.

“Breathe,” he reminded her before lowering the helmet once more.

She didn’t even want to blink for fear the darkness would overtake her again. She stared at Chase through the clear shield in the helmet. He gave her a thumbs-up and she nodded.

Time stood still as she watched him stare at his watch.

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