Wandering into the room, I admire the way the floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the apple tree and the dark, towering forest just beyond. But just to myself, I admit that the better view is behind me. I take a seat at the breakfast bar in front of Lucky, watching his forearms flex as he stirs the contents in the pan. With a wink, he goes to the fridge and pulls out a wedge of cheese, and he grates it over the steaming meal.
Sinful, decadent, it melts through the sauce like liquid gold.
My stomach growls a demand. Loudly.
“Ah, damn,” he curses, giving me a guilty look. It pulls the firm swells of his lips into an almost-pout that I have the insane urge to nibble on. “Should have done this first.”
He spins to the flick the burner off and pours steaming liquid from the kettle into the mugs. The scent of coffee floats through the room, and I close my eyes for a moment against a sinful rush of pleasure almost on par with my earlier orgasm.
Coffee. For real, actual coffee. I mean, it must be instant, but still.
I can’t help the smile that blooms across my face and, as Lucky catches sight of it, the worry that made little lines in his forehead eases.
A few minutes later, he sets the meal down in front of me.
Coffee and cheese. Maybe I’m wrong about all of it. Maybe I wasted away from sadness and exposure out in those woods, and I’ve somehow found my way to heaven.
“Don’t eat too fast,” he cautions firmly. “Your body won’t be used to it.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oh, sure, now that’s a consideration.”
Lucky’s eyes lighten to sunny skies. “Always a consideration. We’re very considerate people.” The dimple flirts with his cheek again. “’Specially me.”
Shaking my head, I huff a laugh. I’ve never been a playful person, but it’s impossible not to warm to Lucky. He’s pure sunshine.
Unable to resist any longer, I drive my spoon into the fragrant, savory mixture and bring it to my lips, only just remembering to blow on it before shoveling it in. Garlic, melted cheese, and tomato explode on my tongue. I moan, eyes rolling back slightly.
It has been so long since I tasted anything this good.
My embarrassment vanishes under my appetite and, despite Lucky’s warnings, I make quick work of the bowl. Grasping for the coffee mug, I drink deeply. The rich, once-familiar flavor makes me grin.
God. Yes.
Draining the last delicious drops, I remember myself and glance up at Lucky. He’s watching me intently, an amused smile peeking through his short beard.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
Damn it. What am I doing? We might have lived in a dingy, beaten trailer, but my grandmother brought me up with impeccable table manners; she would be appalled. I can imagine her now— low cash doesn’t mean low class, Eden!
“Been a while, huh?” he deadpans.
I narrow my eyes at him but decide against commenting on that. Getting up, I take my bowl to the sink and flick the tap on.
“Just stick it in the dishwasher,” he calls casually.
After a pause, I open the wooden panel under the sink and find the dishwasher. Unbelievable. They have a working dishwasher? How on earth did they manage that?
Lucky grins. “Whole-house generator. Jasper’s parents had it built so it’s completely self-sufficient.”
I stare for a moment, then put it in, shaking my head. When I straighten, I bite my lip, at a loss.
“What’s up?” he asks.
I spread my hands over the cool marble countertop. “What now?”
His head cants to one side questioningly. Strands of hair have escaped from his messy bun and slip along his neck in long, traceable lines.
“Is there something I can do to help? What do you all do all day? Do we need to go hunting or something?”
Understanding dawns on his features, then he laughs. “You don’t need to do anything. You have your daily chore ticked off.”
His tone is teasing but the way his eyes light with blue fire leaves no doubt in my mind he’s replaying the scene from earlier.
My cheeks heat, but only partially from embarrassment. I’m worth more than just sex.
Irritation makes my voice crisp when I say, “Well I’m hardly going to spend all of my day walking around and parceling out orgasms. I need something to do.”
“Shame.” Lucky smirks, then stands and wanders over. “What did you do before, when you were alone?”
What did I do? The days and months are blurred together, a hazy mix of hunger and fear and boredom. I shrug.
“I usually checked and re-set my traps. If I was lucky, I might have caught something. I wasn’t usually lucky. I’d collect my herbs and vegetables for the day. I’d wash my clothes. Very rarely, I had to go into a town for supplies.” I grimace, remembering the throat-closing fear that all but paralyzed me with every trip. “Mostly, I read. I’d bring books back from the library. I’d take some non-fiction—on topics that would help me stay alive, of course—and some fiction, so I wouldn’t go stir crazy. Whatever I could get my hands on, really.”
Horror tightens Lucky’s features. “I’d put a bullet in myself before living like that.”
“Not all of us had these luxuries,” I tell him quietly.
His eyes widen and he shakes his head. “I didn’t mean it like that; it’s amazing you stayed alive. I just can’t deal with being alone. I’m a people person. Even these idiots are better than nothing. You’re tougher than I am, is all I meant.”
His voice is so earnest, I relent. I give him a rueful look, very aware of what a hot mess I look like right now. “I don’t feel very tough.”
Lucky tugs me into his arms before I can protest, like he did after Jaykob kissed me. I should have known he’d be a hugger.
My instinct is to tense, but there’s nothing loaded or suggestive in the way he holds me. It’s more like he’s drinking in the sensation, and I can’t help but want to take a sip as well.
I rest my head in the nook of his neck and, after a moment, tentatively wind my arms around his waist. His short beard tickles my forehead, and I find myself enjoying the unfamiliar sensation.
After a moment, he says, “Jasper has a lot of books. I’m sure he’ll share if you ask nicely. As for jobs around Bristlebrook, we kind of split tasks. Dom and Beau do most of the recon and raids for parts and essentials; sometimes I sub in, but there’s always at least two of us out together at a time. We try to keep Beau there in case anything goes south. He’s handy with a rifle as well as the med kit. If I’m not with the others, I’m usually out hunting. The three of us are gone on and off about half the week.”
“Hm. And Jasper and Jaykob?”
His hands trail over my hair, twining through the strands and stroking them between his fingers. “Jayk is extra muscle, if needed, but he’s pretty handy, so he mostly works on getting shi— Uh, stuff, up to scratch. Handles most of the mechanics, wiring, weapons, that kind of thing. And Jasper is our housemaid. He cleans the place, monitors security for Bristlebrook and surrounds, takes care of the farm, fixes our heads, and does most of the cooking. He’s not as good as me, obviously, but even he can’t have everything.”
I don’t crack a smile; my mind is caught on something he said. “Did you say ‘farm?’”