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They were nowhere near finished for the night.
Born out of mutual need, they dropped into a pattern after that day, and Ice couldn’t say he was unhappy about it, but Echo remained just out of his grasp.
When he thought back over the past week and the hot as fuck sex with Echo, he couldn’t have been happier that the assassin had slept in his bed every night, but something was missing. Ice plucked at the beach towel Echo had draped over his legs…as if he’d get cold in this weather.
He sighed. They didn’t talk much…and when they did, it wasn’t about what really mattered, things like their pasts, families, or if they even had a future.
But damn they were so good together in bed.
They burned up the sheets, but Echo was still distant outside of bed, and that was frustrating as all hell.
Right now, the man was dressed in a pair of black loose-fitting shorts and a loud button-down shirt with a big yellow and black flower print. Holding a pair of pruning shears, Echo hacked away at the foliage around the house. The man had been doing it for a few hours, and he only stopped long enough to check on him about every half an hour and to replenish his drink.
“Hey, I have to go into town for groceries and to the phone store.”
Ice glanced up and found Echo standing close. Pulling off his work gloves, Echo dropped them on the ground near his chair.
“There’s nobody we can pay to have them delivered?”
Echo frowned. “Why? Are you feeling okay?” Again with the concerned hand pressed to his forehead. It was so at odds with Echo’s standoffish behavior during the daytime.
“Yeah. A hell of a lot better today.”
“And to answer your question, I don’t want strangers coming to the house.”
“So, you personally know the doctor?” Ice was curious about the medic who’d shown up shortly after they’d arrived that first day. The doctor had come and gone without saying much, not even his name. Each visit, the man gave instructions, left medicine, and then quickly left.
“No, he’s the only exception,” Echo said, crossing his arms and glancing toward the beach.
“Ah, I see. Go then. I’ll be here when you get back.” Ice smiled and patted both hands on the arms of the lounger.
Indecision flashed in Echo’s dark eyes when their gazes locked and held, but then the assassin nodded and walked away.
He gazed after Echo’s slender form until he disappeared around the corner of the house.
“Screw this,” he muttered and finished his tea before shoving the bottom of the glass into the sand.
Ice pushed the towel aside, got his legs beneath him, and stood before walking toward the ocean in bare feet. The warm breeze blew at his hair and he tied it back with the band from around his wrist. The doctor had told him that light exercise would do him good, but so far, he’d only gone from the bed, to the washroom, to his chair outside.
He felt fucking restless.
Oh, and useless.
But he figured the useless feeling would take some time to ease, and the feeling of restlessness would go away when Echo got back.
He might need to ask some hard questions to get Echo to open up, and he thought about the different ways he could do that. Perhaps talking in bed might be the answer? Echo seemed different when he was in his arms during the night. But when he wasn’t, all Echo’s walls came back up.
Reaching the shoreline, he walked into the warm water up to his ankles. The Indian Ocean’s color resembled the palest of turquoise and aquamarine blue. It was one of the warmest oceans on Earth.
Today, the view wasn’t doing it for him. Not if he couldn’t swim, and swimming was out for the time being.
Glancing around, there were two directions he could go. One was the deserted beach to his left that ended at a rock jetty and to his right held population.
Lifting a hand, he squinted toward a far-off crowd and spotted several beachside businesses. People wandered about, some stood in groups, and Ice made his way toward the gatherings. Choosing the populated area was mainly due to the fact that he was weak as hell and couldn’t really defend himself right now if he were caught alone.
In this area of the world, a person had to be extra careful and diligent about shit like that. Besides, it was habit for him to choose the best option that would keep him alive and out of trouble. Especially since he didn’t have a weapon.
Music coming from an open bar reached him first and Ice smiled at the lively tune. A few people were dancing in an area where the tables had been shoved back. Brightly colored clothing added to the happy vibe. Maybe he’d bring Echo there when he got back. They could have a drink and eat. Walking to the bar, Ice gazed at the menus lining the wall behind the bar.
