The sun was high over the scorching Texas desert before they made it back to the compound. It seemed that whether or not Brent's theories about one volcanic explosion triggering others were scientifically accurate, it was definitely true of their need for one another. One hot and heavy coming together had barely whetted their appetites for more, three more to be exact.
It was not until they were dressed and on the ATV, her arms wrapped around Brent's waist once more, that Lauren had come to her senses enough to realize what they had done. Unprotected sex was a risk that exceeded her scientific calculations. She had spent the whole ride back to the compound entering data and making calculations. She hoped that her assumptions were correct this time.
She hoped even more that Megan and her grandmother had remembered to pack her old-fashioned calendar that served as more of a journal, since she now stored most of her appointments on her phone. Always one to suffer from PMS; Lauren had taken as a teen to carefully charting her moods in the journal. Like the scientist she was, Lauren felt that it gave her some control of her body...the ability to know what was to come.
As they drew back up to the other vehicles, Lauren cursed her lack of control with this man...for the millionth time in their lives together. Why did Brent Jacobs have the ability to make her forget everything that she held dear?
Science could not explain the phenomenon; she had long ago given up on the simple explanation of neurotransmitters that provided the brain with sensations of pleasure and love. This was not that weak. This was not merely love. It was an irrational obsession. One that even her logic driven brain had been powerless to thwart over the years.
Lauren could only hope that stupid neurotransmitters had something to do with it because this next week she intended to do everything within her powers to burn them out. Once and for all. She wanted to be free of the power this man held over her. The ability to control not just her emotions, those she had decided long ago meant next to nothing.
No, what scared Lauren most about her ex-husband was his ability to override even the most logical of her scientifically formulated theories. One look, one touch, a couple of sweet words from Brent Jacobs blew it all to hell, like the north side of Mount Saint Helens in the 1980 eruption.
Lauren smiled at the memory. She had been just seven years old, but she remembered staring at the television fascinated as the BBC replayed those mind-boggling moments of video over and over again. It had been the moment that she decided to become a volcanologist.
Why should she think of that now? Why the connection to this man? She chuckled, perhaps because he was just as destructive...or maybe because her commitment to him was as eternal as her love of this scientific field.
When Brent stopped the four-wheeler, she was quick to jump off, needing to put some distance between them. Perhaps a little too late. Taking off her helmet, she tossed it on the back of the vehicle as she turned towards the barn where they had left the girls. Brent reached out for her, grabbing her arm.
"They probably went to the mess hall for lunch. Either that or Megan found Sammy, and they went off exploring with Elise somewhere. I need to get back to the control center and look at the latest models. Check in with our pilots and see how things are going at the rendezvous points. I want to give everyone as much time as possible to make it out, but I can't risk waiting too long to call the planes back."
He scuffed his boot against the ground. "After you find the girls and get that shower, I could use a second set of eyes on my calculations, Lauren."
Lauren supposed she should be surprised that Brent would consult with her, given her adamant refusal to accept his theory. But after almost thirty years as best friends and colleagues, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to nod. "Sure, Brent. I'll meet you there after my bath. You know I don't necessarily agree with the assumptions that drive your model, but I am happy to check out the data you are feeding into the calculations."
He smiled, "That's why we were always the best team going, little girl. I do the theory, and you handle the application."
Lauren shook her head, "One week, Brent. This is only for a week. Working together again, playing family, the sex. It all ends in a week. Don't forget that."
Brent's face darkened. A frown creased his forehead and crinkled those magnetic blue eyes. "Yes, Lauren. How can I forget with you reminding me constantly?"
He stepped forward, and his hands caressed sensually up and down her arms, "But how about you take the time actually to live in the moment? How about for the next week you remember we are a damned good team...maybe the best? And if we are going to save the lives of the people I...we care about, it is going to take us both."
His grip on her upper arm loosened, "And while you're thinking about that...try this one. Divorced or not, we are a family. Those are our daughters. Mine and yours. And nothing is ever going to change that."
His other hand came up to her face, his fingers lifting her chin, forcing her to meet his blue eyes, "As for the sex, try the words...making love. It always fit us better. Whether it was hot and fast surrounded by the world falling apart around us or slow and gentle after the girls went to bed and we had argued and laughed. It was. It is love, Lauren. And nothing is ever going to change that either."
Lauren remained silent. His words shocked her sensibilities. It was not what she wanted to hear. Not when all she wanted to do was run as far and as fast as possible from this man. She jerked her arm from his grasp. "I'll go find the girls then grab that shower. I'll see you in a couple of hours," she pronounced with finality as she turned and walked away.
***
Brent had trouble forcing his mind to focus on the latest numbers that were still coming in from Iceland. It seemed that like a fucking potato chip when it came to his ex-wife...once was never enough. Her whole theory about burning out like some asteroid as it entered the Earth's atmosphere seemed to be nothing more than wishful thinking.
And all he could think about was how soft her skin had been, how he could still smell her sweetness clinging to his skin. How good she had felt, how tight and wet and warm as he entered her for the first time in over seven long miserable years. The sound of her moans and especially those precious screams still rang in his mind. They probably would for a lifetime.
Damn, he had not gotten around to tasting her sweet depths. Oh, well, there was always tonight. And the next. And the next. And if he had his way, a lifetime of them to come.
Because while they were still no closer to proving his theory, to making the simulation work, to finding that elusive magical prediction in the crystal ball of science, he knew in his gut this was it. And there was no way in Hades that he was allowing her and their children back on a plane to a place where he could not protect them. Not even if he had to tie up her and keep her helpless in his bed for days or weeks.
He growled as his cock thickened at the mere thought of it. Down boy. How the hell could he even still manage to get an erection after cumming inside her four times already? The simple answer was Lauren. She had had that effect on him since that summer when she spoiled everything by coming to camp a woman-child that he could not ignore.
"Get that brilliant mind off that woman, stud puppy," the thick French accent of Monique intruded on his thoughts.
It was enough to rapidly bring him back to reality, "How did you guess?" he teased his colleague.
Her smooth laughter echoed off of the glass of his private office, "Nothing else ever makes you smile." She shrugged as she took a seat on the corner of his desk, "Well, your girls, of course. But I'm putting my money on their mère this time," she teased as she reached over and pulled something from his hair. "Definitely, Lauren," she said using the French pronunciation.
