Page 16 of Hunt Me (The Skulls #1)

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Ruaridh

M y little deer is following me and call me stupid because I ’ m all giddy about it.

Some alternate personality has taken over my body.

I still want to hunt her, to show her she is mine and no one else's, but I also want so much more than that.

Have I been so deprived of a real connection that I ’ m falling this quickly? It ’ s not even been twenty-four hours yet.

She ’ s hot. Even the way she looks right now makes me feel something.

Fauna ’ s all hungover and a general mess, but despite any of that, she ’ s the sexiest woman I ’ ve ever laid my eyes on.

The way her hair is all messed up, sticky in places and her face is smudged with dirt does nothing to take from her beauty.

The way her clothes cling to her curves when she moves is downright sinful and I ’ ve had to pull myself from my imagination of what her body looks like under those clothes a few too many times already.

Then she ’ d look up to me with those big brown eyes, a mixture of fear and excitement shining in their depths, and my legs would almost buckle each time. It ’ s like my body has a mind of its own and wants to be on my knees below her. To confess that I ’ m entirely hers.

I clench my teeth.

She will be mine .

My mischievous little deer is mine.

‘ Where are you staying? ’

She does not stop walking but instead turns to look at me whilst she answers. ‘ Do you seriously expect me to answer that? ’

‘ Yes. ’ It ’ s not like she ’ s going anywhere without me from now on, so she might as well tell me. ‘ I ’ ll find out when we eventually make our way back. ’

‘ You are not coming back with me. ’

‘ Whatever you say, little deer. ’ I almost singsong – I ’ m totally fucked.

A Skull that is all happy and cheery? The world's definitely ending.

I look up to check that the sky isn ’ t falling because that would be more expected than me acting like this .

‘ Stop calling me that, ’ she snaps.

So sassy about her nickname — I love it.

‘ Where are we going anyway? This feels like more than a little walk. ’ She says, changing the subject back to our current task.

I ’ ll admit that earlier, I had hoped I ’ d be able to keep her distracted for enough time before she ’ d catch on.

Technically, it ’ s a few miles away and in the completely wrong direction to where we first met yesterday, but who's keeping track? The city isn ’ t that big so we might as well make the most of the time we have together.

The more time we have to walk around getting to know each other the more time I have to convince her to be mine.

And a little fucked up lonely part of me wants her to see me as hers too.

Were people always this quickly caught off guard before the virus hit? Struck by these odd emotions that have the power to bring them to their knees?

I rub my hand over my chest. My heart is beating so fast I could be having a heart attack.

Or is this something unique to our new world, feelings created by the apocalypse? We live purely in the moment and know what it feels to lose everyone and everything. To be so alone for so long. So now, when we find the right person, we make them our own, our family, and we never let them go.

All in less than twenty-four hours.

Well, at least no one is complaining about efficiency anymore.

We – The Skulls – converted the stadium into a sanctuary to protect ourselves.

Somewhere that could keep the evil out. Only we had to become monsters to do it.

We became far worse than the nutters that survived the apocalypse, made sure that we were known as an entity to be feared and left alone.

And it has worked, but what does that mean Fauna has heard?

What does she think of me?

‘ It ’ s just around the corner, ’ I nod to the left.

As we round the side of a not-too-crumbly building, we enter the cornered-off street with barriers and cones. Most of them are knocked down and useless, but it is a clear sign of what once was a controlled place.

I notice her steps slow as she takes in the sight, and when I look back, her face is scrunched up, eyes looking around.

‘ It ’ s abandoned, ’ I say.

‘ For how long? ’ Fauna ’ s voice wobbles slightly before she clears it with a cough.

‘ A couple of years. Why? ’

‘ Let ’ s just say I ’ m not the biggest fan of army camps, ’ she states, her voice devoid of emotion.

I don ’ t move as I process what she ’ s said and fury bubbles up inside of me as I watch her begin to shut herself off from me again. Her shoulders pull back, and her spine straightens as if she is preparing herself for something.

I ’ d heard stories about how some camps weren ’ t the best, how they were full of corruption and violence.

Some far worse than others. The world was a fucked up place to start with — those closest to you betraying you with violence and deception never mind giving those scum free reign thanks to the absence of enforced laws.

‘ Even with that mask on, I can tell you ’ re driving yourself crazy with all the possibilities. ’ She laughs, looking around the deserted building.

I know there is nothing but empty supply cabinets and a few bags of blankets. The others and I decided to leave in case of emergencies, but I don ’ t try to stop her as she slowly makes her way around, inspecting her surroundings with purpose.

I clear my throat, unsure of how best to approach the subject. ‘ I ’ ve heard stories… if you want to talk about—’

‘ We mostly kept hidden and got out when it started to get really bad. ’ Her voice is uneven, and I quicken my pace to get to her side. ‘ So no need to worry about it, not that I ’ d expect sympathy from a Skull. ’

What Fauna says hits me deep in the gut; the feeling is still new to me but becoming more regular just like my other newfound emotions. I care for her, and it hurts to know she doesn ’ t see that.

‘ We ’ re not as bad as you ’ ve probably heard, you know. ’

I hope her being here with me shows that she's already starting to believe that too.

‘ That ’ s what every psycho says, then they go and prove just how bad they really are. ’ Fauna says, not bothering to look my way as she continues to inspect the room.

‘ We need people to fear us so that they will leave us alone, or else they will just take and take until you have nothing left to give. ’ I confess.

‘ Yeah, I guess so. ’

I ’ ll show her just how trustworthy I can be. How we aren ’ t the masks we wear but instead what we choose to hide underneath.

I step to the side, allowing Fauna the time she needs to fully inspect the building, waiting until she gets her baring and feels as comfortable as she can considering the circumstances.

‘ The showers are on this floor, ’ I point out, following Fauna as she approaches the metal staircase to the second floor.

When the other Skulls and I first discovered this place, we took most of the remaining supplies, leaving only a hidden stash for emergencies.

Liam and I had come across this place while scouting a few years ago.

I ’ d been having a particularly hard time without my sister after yet another winter without her.

As soon as the frost started to thaw, we went out searching for anything.

I ’ d forgotten the memory of us both holed up in a back cupboard we ’ d converted into a makeshift fort when a snowstorm came barrelling in, stopping us from an easy route home.

We ’ d wandered for hours until we found this place, but it was no wonder no one else had really thought to look here, given its abandoned state.

Plus, we were some of the first to venture out in the gap between the fierce weather.

The unlucky ones who hadn ’ t frozen to death looked half-starved when we eventually began to bump into them.

I consider how, after every winter, other survivors tend to forget what the Skull mask represents.

The long months without others for company sends them mad and reckless.

Not long ago, a group of us decided it would be necessary to display the bodies of those who had challenged us, serving as a warning to others who might consider doing the same.

Some have forgotten what our masks represent, and like this year, we reminded the city who we are by tying up a few of the ones that tried their luck attacking us for the rest of them to see.

My mind wanders back to Isla, remembering that now winter is over, it has been another year without my headstrong little sister's laughter and constant jabs my way. Fauna ’ s unwavering strength reminds me of her in so many ways.

A whispered ‘ no way ’ pulls me back to the present, and Fauna moves out ahead towards the remaining showers on the wall.

Then the sweet sound of running water echoes in the open space as she doesn ’ t wait to turn on the tap.

Fauna ’ s smile beams from her face, happiness radiating from her and I can ’ t help but let it infect my own.

‘ If you wait, I ’ ll see if the heater still works. ’

‘ Heater? ’ She squeaks, ‘ as in for hot water? ’

The hopeful tint to her question has the protective provider side of me stirring up a desire to give her anything and everything she has ever wanted, and in this case, it seems to be warm water to wash with.

I could go out to see if there are any nice soaps around for her to use.

I ’ m sure there ’ s an old shop a little way back that might have something…

The supply bag Liam and I left has to have something that ’ ll do for now.

‘ Yes. Nothing but the best for you, my girl. ’ I wink, moving to turn the tap off in an effort to conserve what might be the last of what is left.

Fauna ’ s head tips back, angling to the ceiling, looking for something. I tilt my head back to copy her, but I see nothing but metal and half-finished wiring.

I squint, trying to look harder for whatever she has found. I must be missing something.

Beside me, Fauna let ’ s out an audible breath, shaking her head left to right before snapping forwards to look my way. I drop my gaze to meet hers and almost let out a groan at the fight blazing behind her eyes.

Oh, my little deer has some fire stored away, and all I can hope for is that she ’ ll be kind enough to share it with me.

Her soft steps are the only sound in the open space as she approaches where I am standing – my feet are placed wide beneath me, and at some point, I moved to cross my arms over my chest.

Every step I expect to be her last, for her to decide this is close enough, but no, she continues until her chest is lightly brushing up against my forearms.

My mind spirals at the contact. Images of my hands exploring her body, would she shiver in pleasure at the contact. How would it feel for the soft flesh of her breasts to fill my palm?

She leans in, and fireworks go off in my mind – this is it.

This is fucking it.

I shift forward, intending to meet her halfway, my lips puckering as I prepare to taste her finally.

Only her stern voice has my eyes snap up from her lips to meet her narrowed scowl. ‘ I ’ m not yours, so why don ’ t you get that into your thick skull. ’ She flicks my head, and I realise I ’ m still wearing my mask.

I ’ m not a man that ’ s ever embarrassed and definitely not one that gets flustered but fuck me thank you apocalyptic Jesus for having me keep my mask on because that would have been awkward .

A shudder runs up my back at the thought of Fauna having seen me puckering up to kiss her only for her not to be leaning in for a kiss in the first place.

And what would make it a whole lot worse is if she could see how red my face must be right now.

So I might have read the room a little wrong, but I ’ m sure she still wants me. The way her cheeks are flushed red as she turns on her heels, the soles of her taped black boots squeaking against the flooring as she strides away, hips swaying as she goes.

The way her body moves is hypnotic and her lean, muscular legs that lead up to her rounded ass, an ass that I want bite into, is perfect.

I groan at her perfection, growing hard at the sight of this strong woman walking away.

I decide to take the long game, letting her have this win as I shout after her. ‘ Was the skull a little joke? ’

I only just make out her ‘ fucking idiot ’ as she moves around the corner, out of sight and the familiar smile I have been wearing since I came across this woman is back. I try to stifle it a little by biting my tongue and keeping busy with the water heater, but nothing seems to make it budge.

My mischievous little deer might be getting away this time but I ’ ll hunt her down once I ’ m ready… With her shower and a little basket of soaps on the side of the freshly heated hot water.