Page 24

Chapter Twenty-four

I wake up in a déjà vu state, my body tangled and spread equally across two hard lumps, just like the day before in the tree hide. Only, there are a couple of differences. Significant differences. Like, the naked chest I am sprawled across definitely belongs to Chase and the smooth, rock hard abs my thigh is currently draped across undoubtedly belong to Hunter. And the bed is a lot softer than the hide floor. But, possibly, the biggest difference to yesterday’s awakening, is the fact that I’m naked.

Chase’s shirt has ridden up during the night, bunching around my breasts and leaving everything else bare. A fact that neither of the human mattresses I am currently sprawled across are unaware of, if their short breaths and lightly roaming hands are anything to go by.

I only just manage to stifle a gasp as Hunter lazily runs his hand up the back of my leg that’s draped over his torso, stopping just inches from the apex of my thighs, before dragging back down to do it all over again. Chase’s hand drifts across my shoulder blades absently, his strong hands warm against my bare skin. I debate the merits of pretending to still be asleep.

“We already know you're awake sweetheart.” Hunter rumbles underneath me. The sound of his voice sends a thrill through me and goose bumps shooting up and down my arms.

Down girl, you don’t want a repeat of last night, do you? As soon as the thought enters my head, I can feel my body tense. The guys feel it too and immediately they disentangle our bodies and slip from the bed, leaving me nestled in a sea of blankets while I chastise myself for being a wuss.

When I slowly sit up, tugging my borrowed shirt back into place, Hunter and Chase exchange a loaded glance across the bed. I give them both a wary look as they turn back to me with a smile.

“Well, meet you downstairs for breakfast Angel.” Is all Chase says in a far too chipper voice, before he and Hunter hustle themselves out of the room.

That was weird. I think, feeling my eyebrows dip in confusion at their retreating frames.

I try to shrug the oddity away as I dress quickly in an oversized blue shirt that stretches over the bandage on my shoulder and some men’s sleep shorts that I find in one of the dresser drawers in the room. The shorts fall to my knees and are a hideous shade of bright orange. I love them. Dark, drab colors are all I have been able to wear for so long, because running and hiding from anything becomes much harder when wearing bright orange. Wearing a colour so bold, it just makes me realise how safe I feel. How comfortable and secure the guys have made me.

I practically skip down to the dining room we used last night for my very first post-apocalyptic family dinner. The pop of color from my shorts keeps catching my gaze as I move and all my worry from last night clears away like a fog.

The guys are gathered at the table with breakfast spread out before them. My seat is waiting empty in the middle of them all and no one has begun eating yet. I cast my gaze hungrily over the food laid out, fresh apples and blueberries, strips of fried meat, powdery scrambled eggs that I suspect came from a packet, perfectly browned pancakes and more of the flat bread and spreads, including honey of all things. Once I am done ogling the food, I take a moment to ogle the men. Nate wears nothing but a pair of sweat pants, dangling low on his narrow hips, his mouth-watering abdominal muscles on clear display as he leans back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head as he smirks at my no doubt dumbstruck expression. After a few more moments of letting my eyes flit over every inch of him, I rip my gaze away, only to meet Hunter’s dark, knowing gaze.

He gives me a wicked grin that has my mind turning to mush and I drop my eyes to his black clad chest. His shirt is tight and showcases each and every one if his sculpted muscles. Honestly, he might as well be shirtless. I watch shamelessly as he flexes his arms, ever so slightly, letting me know he sees me looking. I don’t even care, I watch the shift and ripple of his arms as though they hold the cure to zombification.

“Come on, Angel.” Chase chuckles, “The food is getting cold. Though I’m pretty sure that’s the only thing that’s cold in here.” I don’t laugh at his joke, just wander forward in a mild daze. When he gets up to pull my chair out, I nearly can’t take it. He’s dressed in a white shirt the twin of Hunter’s, tightly sculpted to his body, and he’s paired it with a pair of soft blue jeans. He looks like every stereotypical add for a hot farmer that ever existed. All he needs is a big hat to turn him into the front cover of a cowboy romance. My brain stutters to a halt and it takes a long time for my gaze to reach his face again. When I do, I find both his eyebrows raised in amusement as he patiently holds my chair for me.

These men are going to kill me. I just know it.

Once I finally gain my seat the guys start heaping portions onto their plates and mine. I expect them to talk over the meal, or perhaps tell me whatever it is Chase and Hunter had a silent conversation about earlier, but instead, a comforting silence settles over us as we steadily make our way through the pile of food, none of us willing to waste anything.

Once we have finished, I stand and begin collecting the dirty plates. Nate eyes me from across the table his blue eyes flashing.

“Sit, Trouble. Leave the plates, they can wait.” He commands. I bristle at his authoritarian tone and stay standing for a few beats as I keep eye contact with him, wanting him to know that while I may sit, it’s only because I want to. Eventually, I sink back onto my chair and he gives me an amused smile, the spark in his eyes darkening to heat as he murmurs “Good girl.” So low I’m not sure he said it at all. I flush all the same. Not sure if the heat in my cheeks is from his audacity or the fact that I kind of liked that whole interaction. It felt like a preview… And I liked it.

“Angie,” Hunter’s voice pulls my attention away from the smirking, shirtless doctor, “about what happened last night, what you said…” and now he has all of my attention as I slide forward on my chair and straighten out my shoulders, preparing for a swift exit should I need it. “After you fell asleep and we had a chance to calm down… we just want to let you know, we think you are amazing.” Oh. That’s… not where I thought this was going. Chase takes over from Hunter as I stare at him with a confused expression.

“We can’t even begin to imagine what you have been through Angel. And for you to be here, with us, trusting us like you do. It’s incredible. It is more than incredible, it’s an absolute honor for each of us that you find us worthy of that trust. From the first moment you opened your eyes and reached for you weapons, we knew you were fierce. But not just fierce, strong too. To survive what you did and come out swinging? Sweetheart that takes a strength not many people find in themselves.” At this point he pauses to reach up and swipe the traitorous tear from my cheek as I pinball my eyes between each of them, finding that both Nate and Hunter are nodding along with serious expressions. “That’s why, Angel, it’s now up to us to take care of you” he continues, holding up a hand when I open my mouth to protest, “you have been through so much, more than you should have, so let us be the ones to care for you now. We want you to know that, no matter what, you are our partner. You belong to us, with us. And we belong to you. Whatever you need, that’s what we do, okay?” he bends down to peer into my damp eyes, waiting until I give a little nod.

“That’s why,” Nate cuts in, “we decided…” he tails off as I cut him a sharp look, knowing how I feel about things being ‘decided’ about me while I’m not part of the conversation. “That is to say we thought it might be best if you take the lead when it comes to… progressing our physical relationship?” The last part comes out like a question and Chase snorts from beside me, throwing a mocking look at Nate over the table. Nate runs a hand through his hair, making his arm muscles flex and ripple beneath his tan skin. And just like that I am completely distracted. “Shut up.” Nate snarls at Chase, “It was the best I could come up with.” Chase opens his mouth to respond but I hold up a hand, wanting Nate to finish explaining this new bizarreness they have come up with. “We know that you want us, Trouble, it’s obvious. Just like it’s obvious how much we want you. But we can also see how you struggle. How initiating contact makes you uncomfortable. We think you just need… proper incentive.”

“Wait. So, you guys mean you won’t like, touch me or anything, anymore?” I ask, allowing my disappointment to leak through into my voice.

“No, Angel. Fuck, to be honest I think that would be God damn impossible at this point. No. What we mean is that – “

“We are going to do our best to drive you crazy, sweetheart. We are going to push you to the edge until all you can think of is us. Then we are going to let you decide exactly how far it goes. Once we reach that edge, it’s up to you when you fall.” Hunter drawls, smiling a cocky grin at my disbelieving stare. I open and close my mouth like a fish out of water.

“Yeah. That about sums it up.” Chase deadpans. He throws me a bright smile that tells me he’s laughing at me on the inside then he stands and begins to clear the table, jolting the other two into movement as well.

“Come on, Trouble, let me give you a more in-depth tour of the house.” Nate comes to stand next to my chair, holding out his hand for me to take.

“Only if you put a shirt on.” I grouch, eyeing the smooth stretch of muscles over his athletic frame hungrily. “And if the tour ends in the library?”

“As the lady wishes.” Nate drawls, sliding me a wink as he holds his hand out to Hunter. Who immediately removes his shirt and tosses it to Nate. Fuck. My. Life. I watch with drooling fascination as Hunter’s muscles ripple and bunch with the movement, his tan skin showcasing a swirling tattoo inked into his left shoulder. Showcasing each and every divot and bulge, he grins wickedly as he brings a hand up to run through his hair deliberately.

“Something on your mind sweetheart?” he asks me innocently. I flush an ugly shade of red as I rip my stare away from his corded abdominal muscles and inked skin, to meet his dark gaze.

I want to end this game they think they can play with me right now. Simply by walking to Hunter, or hell any of them, and letting my hands trail over their bodies, like I am itching to do. I know I could break their resolve, make them forget this agreement they have come to, and have them bend me over the table with nothing more than a few light touches. But damn it they are right. There’s always something holding me back. I know these guys aren’t like the others, I know I’m safe and protected, I know this is what I want. But still. Something stops me. I’m not sure if it’s all fear or something that is broken inside of me. Because I want these guys, but everything I know tells me I shouldn’t. Not after what I’ve been through. I shouldn’t want anyone. And they shouldn’t want me.

Mutely, I shake my head at Hunter, taking a step back as I do. He gives me a sad smile and nods his head once. “That’s what I thought.” He murmurs gently, before crossing over to me in three long strides and cupping the back of my neck in one large hand, using it to tip my head back, he plants a sweet, gentle kiss on my forehead. “Relax beautiful. We’ve got all the time in the world.” He whispers in a husky voice. Then he releases me and heads into the kitchen with Chase.

I stand there staring after him, having completely forgotten about Nate for a moment, because Hunter’s wrong. Time is the one thing we can never be guaranteed.