by C. D. Gorri
“Wouldn’t he be with her if they were an item?”
“Dunno, maybe? Humans are strange creatures with shortcomings, but we’re going to need them if we’re to survive. It’s just a matter of when and not if.” I placed the items in her backpack, zipped it closed, and slung it over my shoulder. “Let’s get out of here.” I glanced at the site one last time, but we’d picked everything up. “Let’s head down there. She said she went this way when she needed to… you know. I want to ensure she dropped nothing someone could find.”
We traversed through rough terrain and doubted she’d come this way down. She would’ve stumbled and knocked herself out long before she’d found her way to me. We headed down a slope, passed an area where one could see the river, and headed home. I couldn’t see any disturbance apart from our footsteps.
I didn’t know how Ava wound up so lost and so far from her camp. At least we had her stuff and nobody would be looking for her.
We hoped.
Chapter Eight
Ava
The air inside the hut was stifling, and I fanned my face. The dark wooden walls seemed to breathe as they closed in on me. I wiped sweat from my brow and tried to focus on my breathing.
One… two… breathe… three… four… breathe…
There was no way I could stay cooped up inside this tiny hut while I recovered. I craved the freedom to sit and rest somewhere else and at least have a view of the outside world. Staring at these four walls, and the tiny bathroom, was not entertaining but bland and depressing. The bed had become uncomfortable and my body ached. And I couldn’t sleep.
The walls crept closer as the dark shadows moved.
Five… six… breathe…
I needed out.
Slowly, I dropped to my knees on the ground and winced. I rested my injured foot on my left ankle and crawled on the floor. They made the hut of wood and on short stilts. I wondered if they did that for the rainy season; the last thing I wanted was mud through my hut. I took another slow creep toward the door and my hip ached from leaning on my right knee. Every part of my right-hand side hurt, and I wondered what I’d hit when I fell. A rock?
The swollen egg on my forehead throbbed as I stared down at the floor, taking one slow crawl at a time. My right shoulder felt like it was being pulled out of the socket and my elbow strained to keep my upper body from crashing to the ground.
I felt silly but the dark colors in the hut were depressing; I needed to see some greens and blues. Maybe some orange.
Finally, when I reached the door, I pulled myself up and opened it. The man who’d given me breakfast stood like a security guard. He twisted his body and stared down at me. His blond hair hung in his youthful face, his narrowed green eyes the color of fresh grass with flecks of bright yellow; reminding me of a cat I once owned as a kid. His eyes were a beautiful color and strangely mesmerizing. It took willpower not to gawk at the guy, his honed body hard and beautiful. But I felt nothing for him. I tried to peek around his broad shoulders at the rest of the area, but he blocked my view.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his deep baritone made me swallow my words.
I sucked in a breath of the fresh air and smiled, hopefully I’d put him at ease and myself. “I need fresh air. Please, I’m begging you. Can I sit over there?” I pointed at the chair against the side of the hut. “There’s even a chair for me to use.”
The man glanced around nervously. When he turned to face me his dark demeanor left my blood chilled.
“No. If my chieftain finds out you are outside the hut and looking around, he will ask me to bury your corpse. Do you want to die today?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m sorry I’m a pest, but that room,” — I thumbed behind me, — “is depressing. I need to see something else. Do you think if you asked permission from your chieftain I could sit somewhere I won’t see anyone? You can even blindfold me and lead me out to an area I can sit by myself. I promise I don’t mean anyone any harm.” My voice broke at the last few words, surprising me. I wasn’t usually emotional and rarely cried, but somehow I felt a little teary today. I blamed the injury and that I couldn’t do what I wanted to do. I felt frustrated and caged.
My eyes stung from the moisture, but I didn’t want to bring that fact to his attention. Hopefully, he would just ignore it.
He exhaled audibly and shook his head. “Go inside and I will find out, but I can’t leave you unattended. I need to wait for Tyler.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it. I really do. And, sorry again.” I turned back onto my hands and knees and crawled back to the bed.
“Let me help you.”
I yelped when powerful hands picked me off the floor and carried me like a sleeping child to the bed. He did it with ease, which was a relief. No woman wanted a man picking her up, carrying her like a child, grunting as he complained about her weight.
I giggled as he set me gently onto the bed. “Thanks. What’s your name?”
“Miles.”
“I’m Ava, and nice to meet you, and sorry again.” I groaned inwardly, I had to stop apologizing.
“Stay here.”
“I will, but please don’t forget to ask. My body hurts from lying all the time. I’m very active and sitting still kills me.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“That’s all I ask. Thank you.”
After my ex had used me as a punching bag, I vowed not to let that happen again. I attended self-defense classes, built enough muscle to defend myself, and kept active and healthy. I attended gym classes every day and on my off days I snapped shots of animals. I preferred the company of wild creatures to humans. Some people were cruel while some animals loved you, regardless. When approaching an animal, one had to first assess the situation before closing the distance. An animal was still wild and might hurt you. If you thought you were in danger, it was best to leave the beast alone. One couldn’t do that with humans. If you sensed danger and tried to get away, the human would still pounce and hurt you.
I sighed. I still couldn’t believe I was in this mess. That’s what I got for taking a stroll, getting lost, and spying on a couple having sex.
Chapter Nine
Tyler
We’d just reached the edge of the village when Miles ran up to us. Something in his face made me uneasy.
“Tyler!” he yelled as he jogged. “She wants to sit outside—”
“What? I hope you told her no.”
“Yes, but she asked for permission. We can blindfold her and take her to a spot away from the village.”
My brows furrowed. It was a strange request. “Did you ask Ash?”
Miles closed his mouth and averted his eyes.
Chicken.
“Fine, let me speak with her first before I go to him.”
“Thank you.”
I stormed into the hut. She shrieked. I dropped her backpack on the bed. She stared with wide eyes but without fear. Her gaze penetrating me—inside me. An uneasiness spread throughout as my beast rippled, trying to get out.
“Why do you want to sit outside?” The words sounded harsh, I only did it for my beast. He wasn’t listening to me and needed to understand who was in control. Easy kitty, we didn’t know her.
“I don’t want anyone getting into trouble. It’s just I can’t stay here all the time. My body aches from lying and I need to be outside.” She pleaded with misty eyes. “You can blindfold me and lead me somewhere away from your people. I have no clue where I am.” She sounded defeated. “I don’t know who you are or why you’re here, nor am I interested in telling anyone. Please.” Her honey-colored eyes silently begging. It was hard to resist her as I pictured her blindfolded, naked, and on me.
I snapped out of it, pushing my beast where he belonged.
“I can’t promise anything.”
I left before she answered while Miles stood guard. I didn’t want to speak with Ash, but I felt for her. I understood. I needed to be in nature and hated the claustrophobia of w
alls and the concrete jungle. I needed to surround myself with the outside world. As much as I didn’t want to, I related to her need.
*.*.*.*
I found Ash cleaning fish he’d caught in the river.
Who said cats didn’t like water? Technically, we weren’t cats in today’s sense, like leopards or lions, even though we were much bigger than them. We closely related to different families of cat-like carnivores, comprising hyenas and mongoose. It’s strange but true. Our bulkier sizes shadowed were-leopards and were-lions; even in our human form, we were bigger than our human counterparts.
“What now?” he asked without looking at me.
He had such a way with words, it still amazed me he was our chieftain.
I cleared my throat. “If I blindfold and carry her a distance away from the clan, would you approve?”
Ash turned and stared at me through irritated and bushy eyebrows. He knew nobody appreciated this look, and I fought the urge to laugh. “What are you talking about?”
“She wants to sit outside for a bit. She prefers the company of nature to four wooden walls.” I raised my hand to stop him from interrupting me. “I will watch her myself.”
“You’re too soft, Tyler. I don’t know how you’re ever going to take over,” he grunted, turned around and continued scaling the fish. “If I wasn’t your chieftain, they would slaughter everybody because you’re too kind. Perhaps someone else needs to take over when I’m gone.”
A growl tore from my lips, and my teeth elongated. My saber was as sick as I was of his taunting. He ignored us and continued cleaning his fish.
“Sometimes kindness is a sign of strength.”
Father made a strange strangling noise from the base of his throat. “It’s your hide if she escapes and blubbers her big mouth to the others about our existence and whereabouts. Then everybody will know how weak you truly are.”
I didn’t bother answering him; he knew I was right but would never admit it. He, much like me, loved nature and would stop no one from going outside. Yes, she was human, and yes we risked her dashing off to tell the others about us, but she didn’t know our species nor did she know exactly where we were.
“Why didn’t you take Claw with you?” he asked as I started walking away.
I’d forgotten about him. I should’ve known he’d complain to my dad.
“I looked for him, but he must’ve been hiding away, again.”
“Next time, look harder. The poor boy was in tears because you didn’t fetch him.”
I didn’t respond. It was a moot point—and no matter what I said, I’d lose.
Chapter Ten
Tyler
I approached Ava’s hut, but Blaze intercepted me. He wore an expression I’d seen before and without words I knew what had happened.
He pointed, I nodded, and we walked in silence.
Once we were outside the perimeter, Blaze spoke. “It happened again.” He pointed to a bush. “While you with speaking with Ash, I came across this.”
We rounded the bush to a grisly site; two severed deer heads, their guts gouged out, and their eyes and tongues missing.
“What’s this white stuff?” I pointed at the hole in one head. It looked like… “Christ, is that what I think it is?”
“Someone masturbated in it. Yeah, I thought the same.”
I glanced at the huts and my shoulders tensed. I jerked my chin in that one particular hut’s direction, and Blaze followed my line of sight.
“Do you really think it’s him?”
“Unfortunately, we didn’t take him with us—”
“To fetch the girl’s stuff?”
“Yeah.”
“So it’s true?”
I gave Blaze a curt nod.
“We need to monitor him and Darla, I want to know where they are at all times. And Ash cannot know.”
It would be my fault if Ava got hurt. I’d brought her here instead of taking her back to her camp. I could’ve walked with her in my arms looking for her tent, yet I didn’t, I brought her here. Somehow I wanted her with me, my beast wanted her, without understanding why. The moment I saw her standing beside the tree I knew I wanted her. We wanted her. When I caught her scent, it was a shot of adrenaline, something I hadn’t felt before.
And I would protect her. If Claw approached Ava, I’d kill him.
Chapter Eleven
Ava
The door flew open, hitting the wall. I flinched, almost falling off the bed. I’d been going through the shots I’d taken on my hike yesterday and noted I’d taken a few great shots of trees and birds. I managed not to drop my camera and winced from the sudden movement; wanting to scream, instead I stared daggers at Tyler. His hair hung in his eyes. His naked chest rose and fell as if he was running or trying to control his anger. Either way, I was nervous seeing him like that. I didn’t know him or his moods, and perhaps he’d decided he’d had enough of me and was here to kill me.
Yet, something within me wasn’t afraid of him. I trusted him to care for me. I was most likely concussed and feeling emotions that weren’t real. I’d only just met him, there was no chance I had any feelings for him.
But, every time I saw him, I pictured his naked body and wondered what he felt like as he pumped into me. To have his powerful hands roam over my body. The mere thought of him made me burn with desire.
These thoughts were wrong, obviously, but I couldn’t help it. His magnetism pulled me toward him like no other. It wasn’t only his physique and demanding tone, but how I felt when he was near. Or perhaps how my body reacted, like I was about to burst into desirable flames.
I had to get these thoughts out of my head. He was not the person for me.
He had said the woman from last night was not his girlfriend, that told me he played around and unfortunately I was not a toy. If he only liked me that way, I would not give in to him.
I stared at his muscular body, then my eyes flitted to his face; to his piercing blue eyes that held concern. I realized he’d done nothing but care for me. And it wasn’t as if I could blurt out my thoughts, he’d think I’d lost my marbles. That didn’t mean I couldn’t fantasize about the forbidden fruit.
His steady gaze raked up my body from my legs then back to my eyes, unsettling me.
Again sensing a shift in his demeanor, I shuffled to the top of the bed and waited.
We stared at each other. The silence thundered in my ears. He didn’t move.
I flinched when Tyler raised his fist; something dangled from it. Material?
“Can you stand here,” — he pointed to where he stood, — “or do you need help?”
His deep voice warmed my body and shot straight to my core. I shifted uncomfortably.
“I can try.” I climbed off the bed and carefully tested my ankle. Pain shot up my shin and I quickly lifted it.
His hands abruptly gripped my upper body and carried me to the middle of the room. Tyler let go, I tried to stand still but swayed slightly. It was then I realized I was inches away from his chest. I felt heat radiate from him and it was oddly comforting. His dark gaze a heavy blanket against my chest. I glanced up to meet his deep-blue eyes. They were so pretty, yet I couldn’t help but think he was warning me—to stay away from him.
He cleared his throat, and I averted my gaze… to his chest—which was also wrong. I stood so close I smelled him; he had an earthy undertone, a hint of sweat and something else I couldn’t distinguish. He smelled so good I wanted to lean forward and press my cheek against his hot skin.
Snap out of it! I blinked and pushed the desire away.
His naked body flashed before me and my neck heated, followed by my face—not just my cheeks, my entire face was fiery. I saw his body rock into that woman and I craved it was me beneath him; feeling his strength and impaled by him, repeatedly. I wanted to touch every inch of his body, and he to touch me.
Stop it.
I had to control myself.
I needed to remember I didn’t know this man
. He most likely had a new woman every night at his disposal. I needed to remind myself I would not be that person. I wanted something meaningful. Something permanent.
If I had to compare myself to the beauty from last night, I was the complete opposite. My hair was dark and naturally curly, my skin pale and my eyes dark. She was tanned, toned, and sexy. I wore cotton underwear, and I doubted she wore any.
“Can you stand still?” he asked with amusement.
“Uh-huh.” My eyes raked up his body and met his eyes again, I smiled.
He moved to stand behind me; I felt the loss of heat from my front and felt it beat against my back. I wondered if I could lean back into his front and stick my ass out.
What is wrong with you? I bit my lip to stop the wanton thoughts.
There was something wrong with me. I’d never had these thoughts about anyone before, let alone a man I’d just met and lived in the forest. It was strange they did that, and I surmised they were shifters, hiding from everyone.
Without warning, the soft material touched my face as he tied it over my eyes, rendering me sightless.
The action was erotic and left me a quivering puddle. My heart thundered in my chest. I couldn’t see but felt his heat envelope me. It was uncomfortable, yet strangely alluring. With my senses muddled, I tried to stand on my injured ankle without falling over. But what threw me was the need to touch him, to feel him beneath me.
Gods, something’s wrong with me. I had hit my head extremely hard to think of him this way.
“I can smell your desire, Ava,” he breathed near the shell of my left ear and I loved how my name rolled off his tongue.
A shudder ran through. Yes, my underwear soaked with my juices. I dared not move and suspected I’d already given myself away. His sense of smell was highly acute—whichever animal he was. I clenched my ass cheeks, but it didn’t help either; I ached for his touch.