The bunker was plunged into darkness, the only illumination coming from the faint blue glow of computer screens and the hum of machines that filled the air with a soft, rhythmic pulse. Ethan's mind was still racing from the events of the day. The cryptic message and the near miss with the government's counter-hack had shaken him more than he wanted to admit.
But for the first time in a long while, he wasn't alone in dealing with it. Mariam was here, standing by his side, refusing to be pushed away any longer. She was more than just a friend, more than just a curious soul who had somehow woven herself into his chaotic world. She was his anchor, the one person who could steady him when everything felt like it was spinning out of control.
As Ethan shut down the system, the last of the screens flickered off, leaving the room almost pitch black. Mariam's presence was still palpable in the dark. He could feel her eyes on him, the weight of her unspoken concern hanging heavy in the air.
"You did well today," she said softly, breaking the silence. "Even if it was insane."
Ethan chuckled, a sound that came out rougher than he intended. "Insane is my specialty, remember?" He reached up to run a hand through his hair, feeling the exhaustion settle in. "But yeah... today was cutting it close."
Mariam moved closer, her footsteps almost silent on the concrete floor. Without a word, she reached up and rested a hand on his shoulder. Her touch was warm, grounding him in a way that nothing else could.
"Ethan," she began, her voice steady but tinged with something deeper, something vulnerable, "you can't keep doing this alone. You have me now. Let me in."
There was a beat of silence as he processed her words. In the dim light, he could barely make out her features, but he didn't need to see her to understand the intensity behind her gaze. He took a step closer, closing the distance between them.
"Mariam... you don't know what you're asking," he whispered, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. "I don't want to drag you into this mess any deeper than you already are."
"You already have," she replied, her tone unwavering. "And you know what? I don't care. I want to be here, Ethan. I'm not some fragile thing that needs protecting."
Something in Ethan snapped at that moment. The tension that had been building between them, simmering beneath the surface for weeks, finally broke free. Without another word, he reached out, pulling her into him. Their lips collided in a rush of heat and urgency, the weight of all their unspoken words melting away in that instant.
Mariam responded immediately, her arms wrapping around his neck, fingers threading through his hair. The kiss was desperate, almost frantic, as if they were both trying to erase the fear and uncertainty that had plagued them for so long. Ethan's hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.
She tasted like adrenaline and something sweet he couldn't quite place. It was intoxicating. For a moment, everything else disappeared the threats, the enemies in the shadows, the ever-looming danger. It was just the two of them, a fleeting moment of connection amidst the chaos.
"Ethan," she breathed against his lips as they finally pulled back for air, her voice shaky. "I've wanted this for so long."
He looked at her, his normally guarded eyes softening in a way that was rare for him. "You have no idea," he replied, his voice low and rough. "But if we do this..."
"Shut up," she whispered, silencing him with another kiss. This time it was slower, deeper, more deliberate. She was taking her time, savoring the moment as if she were afraid it would slip through her fingers.
Ethan's hands roamed down her back, feeling the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her shirt. She gasped softly as he found the edge of it, sliding it up to reveal the soft curve of her waist. He paused, looking into her eyes, silently asking for permission. When she nodded, he wasted no time, peeling the shirt off and letting it fall to the ground.
Her skin was smooth, soft to the touch, and he couldn't help but run his fingers along her ribs, memorizing every inch of her. Mariam shivered under his touch, her breath hitching in her throat as he leaned in to press soft kisses along her collarbone.
"Ethan..." Her voice was barely more than a whisper, but it sent a shiver down his spine. It was the sound of surrender, of trust, of something far deeper than just physical desire.
He pulled back for a moment, looking at her in the dim light. Her hair was tousled, her lips swollen from their kisses, and her eyes were dark with something that made his heart skip a beat. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice rough with barely restrained need.
In response, Mariam reached for the hem of his shirt, tugging it over his head in one swift motion. "Does that answer your question?" she shot back, her lips quirking up in a challenging smile.
Ethan didn't need any more encouragement. He pulled her into him once more, their bodies pressing together, heat radiating between them. As they stumbled toward the makeshift bed in the corner of the bunker, everything else faded away-their enemies, the threats, the darkness lurking just beyond their sanctuary.
For tonight, it was just them.
The morning after
Ethan woke to the soft sound of Mariam's steady breathing beside him. For a moment, he let himself enjoy it-the warmth of her body against his, the way her hair fanned out across the pillow. It was a rare moment of peace, one he hadn't had in years.
But reality was never far behind. As he lay there, his mind started piecing together the events of the previous night- the counter-hack, the message, the enemies closing in on him. The world wouldn't stop just because they'd stolen a moment for themselves.
Carefully, he slipped out of bed, trying not to wake her. He pulled on a pair of pants and padded over to his workstation, firing up the computers once more. The encrypted message from last night still blinked on his screen, taunting him.
"We see you, Stone."
Ethan's jaw tightened. Whoever was coming for him had just made their first move. But now, he wasn't just fighting for himself. He had Mariam to protect, whether she wanted his protection or not.
As if on cue, he felt her arms wrap around him from behind, her warmth pressing into his back. "Couldn't sleep?" she asked softly.
"Something like that," he replied, turning around, he grabbed her by the waist pulling her towards himself and placed her on his laps. He was grateful he had her by his side, the weight of everything that had happened.
Mariam kissed him, her lips soft against his lips. Whatever comes next, we'll face it together, she said after pulling back
He looked into her eyes with something close to wonder. "You know you're crazy, right?"
She just smiled. "Crazy enough to fall for you, yeah."
And for the first time in a long while, Ethan allowed himself to believe that maybe-just maybe-things would be okay.