Ensnared (Brutes of Bristlebrook, #1)(10)
“I knew it!” Lucky grins, a godless glint in his eyes. “Eden could never resist temptation.”
Beau snorts at Lucky. “That’s Eve, idiot. Didn’t your mama ever send you to Sunday school?”
He helps me up and leads me over to the others.
“My mama had an upside-down cross hanging in her studio. Does that count?” Lucky waves off Beau’s rolled eyes. “Fine, I guess we’re going to plunder her secret gard—”
Beau smacks him lightly on the back of the head, and Lucky snickers. Then, eyeing Dom, he takes a cautious step behind Beau.
Dom’s expression is a thundercloud, dark and ready to spit lightning.
“I hope you know what you’re in for.” He stalks toward the south. “If she can’t keep up, she gets left behind.”
Beau ignores him and holds out his arm, his smile full of promises. I take it hesitantly. My head spins, and I can still feel the impression of his lips against me like a brand.
What on earth did I just agree to?
Chapter 5
Eden
SURVIVAL TIP #2
Don’t wait for the next bad thing to happen.
Move on before it does.
A fter traveling for several hard hours at a grueling pace, I’m worried. At this rate, I will need to be left behind. Darkness has bled through the forest, turning everything to cool shadows. Lucky hasn’t stopped whistling, and the lighthearted sound is beginning to grate.
I’m running on empty. Even the prospect of a bed isn’t enough to keep my shaking legs moving anymore. Or maybe they’re still shaking because of that kiss. I haven’t been able to look at Beau since we left the clearing. I’ve never behaved like that in my life. No kiss has ever made me feel like that. No, forget a kiss, full-blown sex has never made me feel like that.
It has to be my exhaustion. At breaking point, some people get furious, some cry—and I apparently become wildly aroused.
It definitely makes sense. It’s science. Added to the fact that I haven’t so much as spoken to another person for four years, and it’s no wonder I reacted that way.
My legs wobble, and I pause, resting against a tree. I need to stop, just for a moment. My eyelids droop.
“Ohhh, no you don’t.”
The whistling stops. Relieved, I drag my eyes back open.
Laughing baby blues meet mine. “You’re not getting away from us that easily. Come on, it’s really not much farther. Barely an hour.”
My shoulders slump. “I truly don’t think we have the same understanding of ‘not much farther,’ Lucky.”
He snorts softly. “All right, hop on up then.”
My mind flashes to the way my legs were wrapped around Beau. “Oh, that’s okay,” I say hastily. “I can walk.”
Did I say that too quickly?
Lucky laughs, then turns around. “Unlike Doctor Desirable over there, I’ll have you know that I have a little class. Only pure, Catholic, functional piggybacks for me, no matter what salacious siren spell you try to cast.” He looks over his shoulder, and my hanging mouth clicks shut. “I’m a respectable gentleman, you know. I need to be wined and dined.”
I huff a laugh, and he indicates for me to jump on. I wish I were strong enough to say no—I haven’t been carried since I was a child, and now twice in one day—but my damaged body won’t let me pass up the offer.
Resting my head against Lucky’s back, I let the easy rhythm of his steps lull me, ignoring the way the position jostles my glasses. He’s wonderfully warm, and I nestle in closer, hoping he won’t notice.
When he begins to whistle, I moan. “Please, no more, anything but that.”
“And here I was, composing a masterpiece just for you.” His voice is scandalized.
“I’m sure you’ll survive.”
Lucky tuts. “Fine, then we’re going to play a game.”
“Like . . . I spy?” Trees, trees, and more trees!
“More like twenty questions. Here’s how we play: I ask you twenty questions and you answer them.”
He’s caught up to the others quickly now I’m not dragging us back. At the last comment, Dom grimaces, pushing forward so he’s out of earshot. Beau drops back to stroll beside us. It’s not fair that they don’t even look tired. The fact that, between them, they just killed upwards of ten men doesn’t seem to faze them either.
I sigh. “How about five questions?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Why did you choose to become a librarian?”
“I like things to be organized,” I answer after a moment. “I like things neat and logical. I love to learn and helping others to learn. Knowledge is how our world grows, how people do, as well. You can never experience as much in your lifetime, or see through so many eyes, as you will by reading what others have to say. Books will glue our world back together, if anything can.”
“Hmm.” It’s a thoughtful sound. Then he adds, “See, I was never so good with books. To me, they just take so long to get to the point. It’s all information this, information that. Music fills your soul. Movies make you laugh. Books just seem so . . . I don’t know. Drab.”
“What!” I cry in disbelief. I shift so fast he has to readjust to stop me from slipping off his back.