Page 53 of Hunted

Hearing my real name on his tongue sends a shudder through my body, my eyes flicking to his mouth as I lick my lips in anticipation. He slowly leans forward until he brushes the softest kiss across my lips, quickly pulling back as he assesses my face.

I grab his shirt and try to pull him closer, making him grin. Luckily, he takes pity on me and kisses me again. This time, it’s firmer, each press of his lips is languid and controlled, like he has all the time in the world to do this, and it drives me wild.

I try to speed it up, but he pulls back, chuckling. “Zee, baby, we can’t do anything more right now, you’re still healing.”

Feeling desperate, I pout a little. “I bet you could make me come without hurting me.”

Dropping his head back, he releases a loud groan. “You’re killing me, Tink!”

He steps back and narrows his eyes, wagging his finger at me in warning. “You’re playing dirty!”

Before I can respond, he gently picks me up and carries me to the bed, placing me in the middle before he strips down to his boxers.

I take the opportunity to admire him in the soft light of the bedroom. “You look more at home here,” I say, watching him climb into bed.

“Yeah? I’m better suited to this than the treehouse, huh?” He snuggles into my side, resting a hand on my stomach.

“Yeah, you all are. Not like me.”

“What do you mean? You don’t feel comfortable here?”

“It’s… just strange. Uncomfortable isn’t the right word. Unfamiliar, maybe?”

“It’ll take time.”

“What will take time?” Weston asks as he steps into the room carrying something, eyeing us snuggling on the bed.

“Zee getting used to being off the island.” He grunts in response, then steps up to the side of the bed.

“I thought you might want this. King brought it for you.” He passes me what I now realize is my bag, from the island. My eyes widen in surprise, I thought it got left behind.

I quickly look into it and my eyes instantly fill with tears. “Steve! McStabby!” I pull out my knife and rock and hug them to my chest as Bower rubs my back.

“Thank you,” I whisper, looking up at Weston as I blink away the tears of relief.

“Don't thank me, thank King.” He turns away and heads into the bathroom.

“Let’s put this somewhere safe, huh?” Bower suggests, taking McStabby and placing it on my nightstand. “You want to hold on to that?” He points down at the rock I’m clutching tightly.

I turn it in my hands and run my finger along his name as I consider it. It would be a little weird to sleep with a rock when Bower’s sleeping with me.

“You know, I only slept with him because I was lonely.”

“It’s okay if you aren’t ready to let him go yet.” He lifts his hand up to the side of my head, playing with a few loose strands of hair.

Maybe I don’t need him anymore. It’ll be strange to sleep without him, but now I’m not on the island, maybe it’s time for change. I need to relearn how to live in the real world again and it wasn’t like I had to sleep alone.

I turn my head to Bower, feeling a little nervous. “You’ll stay with me all night?”

“Of course.”

I nod, glance down at Steve, then pass him over. “Can you put him with McStabby, please?” He looks momentarily surprised before he wipes that expression away and smiles at me, taking Steve and placing him on the nightstand.

“I’m proud of you, Zee.”

I smile at him, and we lay back down, staring at each other silently as we listen to Weston brushing his teeth. When he’s finished, he steps back into the bedroom and just stands there, staring at us.

When he doesn’t move, I flip the blanket up on the empty side of me and pat the mattress. “Are you coming to bed, big guy?”