by Dani Worth
“Oh, I listen…I just don’t always agree.” Chuckling, he began stuffing clothes into a satchel just as someone banged on the door.
Keera ran to open it and Ross bustled inside, water dripping off his soaked hair and clothing. “I was thinking this would be a good place to stop for the night. Ride out the storm. Cadmar said the raiders he was with used this place, that it’s cleaned up inside.”
“Then it’s on their route and not safe.” Chase stood up.
“His group cleaned it up. They didn’t stay long because one of the men got sick.” Ross grinned. “The youngest member of our group knows a little about making people sick with herbs. But he doesn’t think other raiders used the place and all the ones he was with are dead. It’s as good a place as any.”
“Let’s check it out.” Chase snagged his coat, slipped it on and followed Ross. He squinted through the rain. “Looks like it was a Chinese restaurant!” he yelled just as Dorian and the others joined them.
The inside of the old restaurant wasn’t what Chase expected. It had been cleaned, though the last cleaning hadn’t been for months because a new layer of dust lay over everything. It was easy to see why the raiders would have picked this place. The roof was intact, as were the doors. A couple of windows had been boarded up, but a few open places allowed in dirt and cold air. There was an in-ground fire pit in the center of the stone floor. It had probably once had wooden stumps around it for stools. He’d seen another like this years ago in a mall.
Ross walked past him, carrying a large satchel. “All these fire pits are making me want to put one in at our place. We could dig a pit off the deck near the stream. This one will be perfect for tonight.” He dropped the bag, shivered. “I’ll see about gathering firewood outside.”
Dorian grinned at him, pointed past Ross’s shoulder. “Why don’t we start with the dry stack over there?”
Chuckling, Ross just shook his head and turned toward the stack of wood. It probably wouldn’t be enough to keep the fire going all night, but if they got a fire hot enough, adding wet wood to it wouldn’t be a problem.
“Since we’re already pretty soaked, I’ll go out and gather more wood now.” Tripp blew on his hands, rubbed them together.
“Wait!” Cadmar set down the bag he was carrying and dug inside. “I’ll help, but take these. One of the other women at Ross’s place sent extra knitted gloves and hats. She stuffed several in my bag.” He handed Tripp a pair of bright purple gloves. “The color’s weird, but these have the longest fingers.”
“Who cares about the color?” Tripp took the gloves, slipped them on and wiggled his fingers. “They fit. Thanks.”
Chase grabbed a rickety-looking broom leaning against the wall and started sweeping a clean area for them around the fire pit.
“There’s a canvas wood carrier over here.” Ross stacked several pieces of wood in his arms and carried them to the fire pit. “But it has so many holes it might not be any good.”
“We’ll be fine.” Tripp walked with Cadmar toward the back of the restaurant. “Ready to fight the elements again?” He grinned down at the smaller young man.
“Always.”
“Wait,” Keera called out. She walked over and handed them one of the walkie talkies. “Stick it inside your jacket.”
Tripp took it. “We’re not going far.”
She just shrugged and walked over to help Ross and Dorian move firewood.
The creak of the back door was loud enough to be heard over the sound of the raging storm outside, but as soon as the door opened, wind and rain swept into the place, hard enough to sting Chase’s cheeks.
Tripp and Cadmar ran outside then turned instantly to work together to push the door closed.
Jenna knelt next to the fire pit and started to get the fire going. “Holy shit, it’s cold. You guys think that MacKenzie is out there in it? At the rate we were moving, she could have just walked behind the vehicles.”
Ross dropped an armful of wood. “She’s out there. I’m still not sure she’s alone, though. We’ll keep watch tonight.”
It didn’t take long to get a fire going. Cadmar and Tripp came back inside and disappeared briefly to change into dry clothes before huddling in front of the flames. Instead of trying to rig up a way to cook food, they filled up on flatbread and leftover cold crawfish. Chase found himself watching Keera a lot. She’d been different since last night. More standoffish.
Now, she rested in a sleeping bag a few feet from him.
Firelight flickered over her features and Chase’s heart picked up rhythm as he took in her wide, dark stare as she returned his look. She was chewing on a thumbnail, speculation burning in her gaze. Damn, everything about her called to him. It had nothing, absolutely nothing to do with her being one of the few women he’d seen in years—Jenna was a stunning woman and he felt nothing like that for her. But with Keera, his chest burned with the effort it took not to circle that fire, pick her up and carry her somewhere they could be alone.
Her eyes narrowed like she could pick up on his desire. A sensual, heavy cast came over her face as something snapped taut between them, something that made his cock go instantly hard. He sat perfectly still, willed it to go down, not wanting to spend another uncomfortable night sleeping on a log. He forced himself to look away only to find his gaze land on a very private exchange between Jenna and Dorian. The way they stared at each other filled him with even more heat. He wanted that.
Glancing at his brother, he smiled to see that Tripp and Cadmar had both passed out, barely a foot separating them. He wanted what Jenna, Dorian and Ross had for his brother too. But having a friend like Cadmar was a good start. Tripp hadn’t once wandered off in one of his weird silences since they’d met everyone.
But it had only been days. Seemed like longer.
Movement by the front window caught his attention and Chase turned to see Ross watching his lovers. An expression of such need crossed his face it embarrassed Chase to see it. It embarrassed Ross more when he caught Chase watching. He cleared his throat and turned away.
Smiling, Chase crawled out of his sleeping bag, picked up his gun and put it in the back of his jeans. He walked over to Ross. “I’ll take the watch for a while. There’s a door that actually works between this room and the kitchen. There’s even what used to be an office in the back.”
Ross lifted an eyebrow. “You didn’t see me scoping the place out?”
A grin tilted one corner of his mouth. “Yeah, I did. I was trying to be subtle here. I also know you three are on a kind of honeymoon and have been traveling with a teenager.”
Ross looked over at the sleeping young man, stepped closer to Chase and lowered his voice. “You see the way Cadmar looks? He’s as pretty as a girl. It’s made life hard for him.”
“So I’m guessing this trip has been a little less than honeymoon-like.”
Ross grimaced. “We’ve had to be careful around him. But it’s okay. We’re creative.” He looked away and suddenly straightened.
Chase turned to find Jenna and Dorian staring at Ross, both of them watching with somewhat predatory looks. Jenna suddenly smiled, stood and began gathering up the sleeping bags. Dorian came around the fire and walked up to Ross.
“I’ll take the next watch,” Chase repeated.
“Thanks,” Dorian murmured, holding out his hand to Ross. “Come on, Boss. Jenna and I have a great idea.”
“I’m sure you do.” Ross’s voice faded as he followed them through the door.
Chase leaned against the wall and took up watching the outside through the crack in the boards over one window. They’d barricaded the back door and all the windows were decently covered back there. This clear strip had probably been left on purpose. It gave him a good view of the truck and RV despite the still-heavy downpour.
Freezing air snaked through the slats. Chase shivered and started to get his coat, stopping when Keera came toward him with it.
“Thanks,” he said, taking it and slipping it o
n. He walked back to the windows, looked outside and chuckled. “Don’t know why I keep staring out there. Not sure what I’m going to see with this rain.”
“It’s still good to have some of us alert.” She nodded toward the door to the kitchen. “That was a nice thing you did.”
He shrugged. “It was either that or deal with all the heat Dorian and Jenna were seeping into the room. It was pretty obvious they wanted to all be together tonight.”
She stepped next to him, peeked through a slat. She was tense, like she had something to say that made her nervous.
He waited, wondering if she’d share why she’d been sort of distant today. Relationships like this were foreign to him—if this was a relationship. It felt like one. They had a strong connection despite barely knowing each other. As the silence drew out, he looked around and noticed a sort of nook on the far wall. It had boarded windows in front of it and would give them a little bit of privacy. He glanced over to make sure Tripp and Cadmar were still asleep. Tripp snored. Yeah, his brother was out.
“Hey,” he whispered. “Come over here with me.” He nodded toward the shadowed corner.
She bit her lip, firelight playing over her features softly as she turned those big, dark eyes on him. Then she nodded.
“There’s actually a better view of the RV and truck from this window.” He squinted through the opening. “Still too much rain. Everything will be flooded. We’ll be lucky to get the vehicles out in the morning.”
He pulled her into the nook, put his back against the wall and tugged her between his legs. She slid her arms under his open jacket and around his waist. Laid her cheek on his chest.
“You seem sad tonight,” he murmured against her hair.
“It’s more like scared. We don’t know what we’re going to come up against at this farm.” She pulled away, looked around the corner to check on the others, then came right back against him. “I fought raiders before. There were just two of them, but they surprised us.”
Chase rubbed her side where she had the scar. “Did you kill them?” He knew they’d taken her husband’s life.
“I did.” She squeezed her arms. “Dax was lying there, bleeding out and I could tell he knew he was dying and that he was too weak to save me. He was this huge, teddy bear of a man and so gentle and in the end, he died with guilt being the last emotion he felt.” She stepped back again.
“I’m sorry.”
“He was a good man, a good friend to me.” She hugged her arms to herself, stared up at him. “It’s possible we’re walking into some sort of trap, possible that boy’s family isn’t even alive anymore.”
“It is.”
She took a deep breath. “I don’t know what I’m trying to say exactly. I’m not sure what you’re after here—”
“After?” he broke in.
She pursed her lips. “Probably not the right word either. Remember, rusty social skills here. The thing is, I loved my husband, but we were more friends than lovers and you and me yesterday…well, it was good.”
“It was a hell of a lot more than good,” he murmured.
“Yeah, it was.” She placed her palm on his chest. “I’m really hoping we get a chance to do that again.”
“Of course we will.” He slid his hands onto either side of her face, stared down at her, his heart racing suddenly like he’d just stopped running. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “We’ll have the chance to do a lot more. I’ve got years of fantasies to try out.”
“Me too,” she breathed. She stood on her toes, pressed her mouth to his, and opened her lips.
He pushed his tongue deep into her mouth, wanting to taste her, everything of her. He felt a primitive need to input his own taste and scent on her to mark her. He pulled back slightly.
“What?” she asked.
He shook his head, feeling his mouth curl in a rueful smile. “The things you make me feel. It’s this crazy kind of Cro-Magnon ‘me man, you woman’ litany playing through my head.” He took a deep breath, raked his hands through his hair. “It’s just that this feels—”
“Powerful?” She smiled, her dark eyes glittering in the moonlight. “Hot?”
He nodded. “Hot yes. And kind of…I don’t know…primitive.”
Her eyes widened and he wasn’t sure if it was from his adjective or from the low, gravelly tone his voice had taken on.
“Primitive,” she whispered. “The basic need for human touch, the desire to…mate.”
His heart started racing, his palms sweating as that desire rose quick and powerful. “To possess,” he murmured, unable to take his gaze off hers.
She pressed against him. “Do you want to possess me, Chase?”
“So much.” It was all he could force past his lips. He wanted to ravage, to thrust inside her until it felt like they were one person. He wanted to breathe the air she released from her lungs, wanted to lie curled around her deep into the night. These things, these gut-wrenching feelings and needs ripped through him like wildfire and he knew that if he let them out, let them break the air, he’d scare her away.
“Chase, what if we just go with what we’re feeling here?”
For a second, he worried that she’d read his wild thoughts. “What are you feeling?”
Big, dark eyes stared up into his and her full, soft lips trembled briefly before she took a deep breath. “I want you. I want you naked and on top of me or under me or behind me.”
The visual nearly sent him to his knees.
“I want all of those things,” she continued. “I want to feel you inside me, feel your big hands touching my skin.” She cupped his aching dick, her palm warm through his still-damp jeans. “I want to put this in my mouth and feel skin I can only imagine would be silky and hot on my tongue…to see how far I can get you into my throat.”
At that moment, her hand and the wall behind him were the only things keeping him on his feet. Stark images of her kneeling to take him in her mouth filled his head and made his gut clench with a need he’d never felt. “Have you done that before?”
She shook her head, her smile suddenly more hesitant, shy. “Have you?”
“No. Got close once when I was fifteen. Had a girlfriend then. She tried.”
“Tried?”
“It was awkward and awful and we both stopped it.” Old pain reared its ugly head. “She was my first and only girlfriend. Months later we tried sex. We were better at that.”
Keera reached up to stroke his cheek. “How much time did you have with her after that?”
“Three weeks. We got a lot of sex into those three weeks…before she got sick.”
“Everything about our world is based on loss. Loss and survival.” She stroked her hand over his cock. “I’m ready to experience something more.”
He held his breath, then jumped when he heard a voice out in the room. Closing his eyes, he rested his head back against the wall, held back a curse.
Keera chuckled, stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. “Maybe we shouldn’t try experiencing more right now, though.”
Chapter Eleven
“There should be cows in this pasture.”
Cadmar’s quiet words held such a mix of shock and grief, Chase saw Keera flinch and close her eyes. She sat in the passenger seat next to him and had spent so much time staring at him as he drove, he’d nearly run the RV off what bits of road they’d been able to find. Every time he glanced at her, he remembered the things she’d said last night and knew she replayed them too.
“Surely the raiders didn’t go through all our cows that fast.” He walked to the front of the RV and stood between Chase and Keera. “There has to be more of them.” He pointed to the right. “Let’s take this road. There used to be a chicken farm with four huge buildings. The chickens ran wild after the Crux and the place smells horrible. I doubt the raiders go anywhere near it, so it’ll be a good place to park the vehicles.”
“Good idea,” Chase agreed as he slowed to eye the road. Luckily the land aroun
d it was mostly flat. He turned the steering wheel. “Call Ross on the CB and tell him the plan.”
Cadmar reached for the CB, knowing exactly what to do because he’d spent half the trip checking in with them. The boy had grown deeply attached to the triad during their weeks of travel before they’d arrived here—that was obvious. He filled Ross in quickly and signed off.
Tripp groaned from where he was sprawled on the couch in the back. “I smell it already.”
Cadmar grimaced. “My parents said it was kept really clean before and it only smelled at certain times, but when the chickens were allowed to go wild, it got pretty bad for a time. So many wandered off later, it got better.”
“Too bad,” Tripp murmured. “It’s been a long time since I had chicken.”
In the mirror, Chase caught Cadmar beaming at his brother. “Oh, there are still plenty. As you can guess by the smell. I even know how to cut one up just right for frying.”
“Me too,” Keera said as she turned in her seat to watch for the buildings. “Too bad we don’t have oil. But between all the food we loaded in here and in their truck, we could throw something good together.”
“Aw, food, food, food. Keera, you have my love. Totally and completely. Hey Chase,” Tripp yelled. “Have I thanked you for bringing me out here yet?”
Chase grinned. “Feel free to repeat as much as you like.” Damn, his heart swelled. Seeing real life returning to his brother made all this worthwhile. Leaving their home and their family’s graves—spending months on the road in some of the worst conditions imaginable. The enthusiasm in Tripp’s voice made even the growing ammonia-like smell tolerable.
Maybe.
Didn’t take long for Chase to slap a hand over his nose. Keera turned watery eyes his way and shook her head.
“Oh damn,” she breathed, covering her mouth and nose with both hands, mumbling from behind them. “Hope we get used to this fast.”
He spotted four long blue-roofed buildings that sat in rows and turned the RV. The entire area had been asphalt at one time and though quite a few weeds and even a few trees had broken through, most of the space seemed surprisingly free of heavy grass. Chase parked the RV. “Hold off on getting out. It looks like someone is doing upkeep around here. The dead grass should be taller.”