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Chapter Forty-Four

O n the fifth afternoon a brief storm led them to shelter under a low hanging tree that was almost completely engulfed by a well-established strangler fig. The tree’s dense branches created a comfortable sanctuary from the rain and the flat dirt beneath, devoid of rocks, was pure bliss. Abigail checked for bugs and spiders before she nestled in a nook created by the tree’s giant exposed roots. She closed her eyes, listening to her surroundings.

Mackenzie’s dry, raspy breathing contrasted against the therapeutic sound of raindrops on the forest floor, but another sound caught her attention; a deep grunting noise that chanted to an odd rhythm. As it grew louder Mackenzie sat up and indicated to her to keep quiet as he removed the axe from the backpack.

Abi froze with anticipation and her heart skipped a beat when a pig entered their tree haven. It was as tall as a terrier dog and its dirty snout nudged the ground as it grunted in time to its movements. Coarse black hair covered its entire body and one long yellow tooth jutted from the left side of its snout. The pig’s backside was caked in thick red mud giving it a bizarre two-toned pattern.

Abi held her breath watching Mackenzie’s eyes as he readied for the kill.

She caught the glint of metal as the axe flew through the air and hit the pig in the middle of its rump. The pig released a shrill squeal and then dashed from their hideout without even a scratch on its back.

It darted into the underbrush with Mackenzie racing after it yelling obscenities, but a tangle of vines stopped his chase. He yanked at gnarled branches, snapped them off and tossed them in the direction of the escaping pig.

He returned to their hideout with sagging shoulders and a demeanour that admitted defeat. Abi followed behind him and eased herself back into the tree’s root system. They sat in silence for a long time, the tension as thick as the roots she leaned against.

“We’re fucked,” Mackenzie finally said without lifting his eyes from his knees.

Abi was determined to remain positive. “No, we’re not.”

“Our friggin’ dinner just ran away.” He flicked a speck of dirt from his knee. “You do realise we’re down to our last two cans of beans.”

“I know, Mack, but we’re going to be okay.”

Mackenzie juggled the axe in his hand and then slammed it into the ground. The blade wedged deep into the red earth, and he kicked the handle with his shoe. A slab of dirt released beside the blade and he picked up the chunk crumbling it in his hands.

Abi felt his despair and as she crawled towards him, she spied an irregular white shape next to the embedded axe.

“Look!” She pointed into the divot.

Small white creatures with distinctive scalloped bodies and tiny bent legs curled up in the dirt. One of them had been sliced in half by the axe and brown liquid oozed from its body.

“Holy shit!” Mackenzie flashed white teeth through his thick beard. “Looks like we’re eating witchetty grubs for dinner.”

“See? I told you we’d be all right.” Looking at the wriggling insects, she couldn’t believe she was prepared to eat one. Ever since their first discovery of the grubs while digging the grave, Mackenzie had joked that one day they’d have to eat them.

Together they dug out over two dozen of the plump white grubs and tossed the writhing creatures into a bowl. Mackenzie then snapped dry branches off the tree and, once the sun pierced the clouds again, he started a fire. Washing the grubs with a small ration of water, they tossed them into the hot pan. Their dinner initially curled into tight balls, but they flattened out when the pan began to sizzle.

“You found them. You go first.” Mackenzie flashed a sadistic grin.

“Okay.” Abi was full of bravado, but a dry knot wedged in her throat. She pinched one of the grubs between her fingers then, closing her eyes, she tossed it onto her tongue. Her teeth pierced the crisp outer skin, and she was surprised at how bland it was, just a slight nutty flavour. She tried to imagine eating a chicken drumstick as she chewed quickly and then swallowed. “It’s not too bad.”

“Of course it isn’t. Aborigines have been eating these forever.”

She pointed at the plate. “That’s because they don’t have lobster or lamb racks to choose from.”

“No, it’s because they’re free and also highly nutritious.”

She slapped him on the shoulder. “So shut up and eat one then.”

He tossed a couple of grubs into his mouth. “Mmm, tastes like chicken.”

That night one of the parachutes served as their bed. The ground beneath it was as hard as rock but, without an alternative, Abi crawled onto the fabric, lay flat on her back and allowed her aching muscles to unravel. She turned to face the fire and nestled her back against Mackenzie with her head resting in the crook of his shoulder. He pushed his free arm beneath her elbow, reached for her hand and squeezed it to her chest.

His hot breath on her neck was intoxicating and she nudged tighter to him. He released his grip and drew his finger over her palm in slow sensuous circles that tickled her hand and stirred another exquisite sensation deep within her. He smelled of sweat, dirt and full-blooded man. His scent stimulated a primal need within her. She rolled over to face him and glided her hands up under his T-shirt to help him remove it.

“What are you up to, Abi?” His voice was a sexy whisper close to her ear.

A shiver ran along her neck at the sound of her name. Her body tingled and her nipples hardened.

“Shhh.” She pressed her fingers to his lips, and he gently kissed them one by one. When she traced her finger over his thick beard and down his neck his hips began to move in slow rhythmic movements. She pushed her fingers through his coarse chest hair and tugged gently.

His nipples were hard pebbles and she circled them with her tongue, tasting his saltiness. She flicked her tongue and he gasped. A delightful tingle stirred within her at the control she held over him.

He lifted her leg over his hip and as his hand traced up her thigh, she savoured the tightening radiating through her. When he sucked on her earlobe, an acute shudder ran through her whole body.

She rolled to her knees, parted his legs, knelt between them and tugged his jeans to release him from the fraying denim. As she rose above him, she devoured the sight before her. His manhood was heavenly, his gaze heated and intense and his toned body glistened in the firelight. She removed her clothes allowing him a full view of the body she was now proud of.

Her chest rose and fell with deep burning want.

He reached up to her and his roughened hands clasped her hips and guided her down onto him. She gasped as he slid inside her.

His hands on her breasts were gentle yet firm, caressing, tugging, teasing. She rocked back and forth. Slowly at first. The flickering glow from the fire completed the exotic sensations running through her body. Their rhythm increased and the intensity clawed at her insides. When every nerve in her body was ready to explode, she cried out with a shattering climax and Mackenzie stiffened to release with her.

She collapsed onto his chest and sucked in ragged breaths as she listened to Mackenzie’s raging heartbeat. His fingers still trembled when he hugged her to his chest, and she snuggled into him.

After a while, she rolled off and pulled her slacks and T-shirt back on. Mackenzie tugged on a pair of shorts but when he decided to leave his shirt off, she curled up against his naked chest and he kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Goodnight.” With a warm glow coursing through her, she drifted into a fitful sleep.