Page 35 of Anton

Eventually, her breathing steadied, her body growing heavier against mine as sleep settled over her. I lay awake, every nerve on edge—not just from her teasing or my unruly cock, but from the dangers still lurking out there.

The hunters would’ve followed the false trail I’d left until they lost it, but that could’ve been hours ago. With any luck, they’d camped for the night or were still searching the area where I’d led them astray. Doubling back had bought us time, but how much?

I tightened my hold on Marcie, the steady rise and fall of her breathing grounding me. For now, the forest was quiet, the faint crackle of the fire our only company. We’d rest as best we could, gather strength, and be ready to move again at first light.

A little snore, followed by another, made me smile.

She snorted next, startling herself almost awake. Grumbling, she huffed out a breath and grew silent again. I wanted to laugh but reined it in, unwilling to wake her. I’d tease her about it tomorrow.

A lightness I shouldn’t feel under the circumstances filled me. Marcie just made everything, even a dire situation like this, more bearable.

This was the worst position anyone could be in, and while I hated that Marcie was here with me, I couldn’t help but also be glad. If there was anyone I wanted by my side in this bloody nightmare, it was the woman I was rapidly coming to need, like my next breath. That thought should have sobered me, but it didn’t. Instead, I was suffused with a rightness at having her in my arms that I’d never felt before.

‘I’ll get us out of this, honey,’I silently vowed. And when I did? I had a feeling the future I’d resigned myself to—the one of singledom and burying myself in work—might actually hold something brighter than anything I could’ve imagined. If I could just allow it to.

As dawn broke, the first light of day spilled into the cramped space where we had spent the night, the shadows of darkness receding to reveal the dense forest around us. It had been a long night, and I’d only allowed myself to doze lightly. The fire had died out a few hours ago, but the forest was already warming up. Promising to be a very hot day.

Marcie was fast asleep in my embrace, her back still pressed against my chest, and although the arm she was using as a pillow was numb, I was reluctant to wake her. Unfortunately, there was no choice. With the dawn came danger, and we had to get moving again.

“Marcie, wake up, honey,” I whispered, my breath brushing against her ear as I gently ran my fingers over her bare arm, because I couldn’t resist it.

She grumbled, a small sound of irritation, but didn’t awaken as I shifted out from behind her.

“Come on, lazy, time to get up,” I said a bit louder, giving her a light nudge.

This time she stirred, her eyes flickering open slowly, confusion giving way to awareness as she scrambled to sit up, brushing her messy hair out of her face with both hands.

“What time is it?” she muttered, still half-dazed.

“Dawn,” I replied, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions within me at the sight of her rumpled, her skin flushedfrom sleep, and her lips parted in a way that made my pulse quicken.

I shook my head, forcing my thoughts away from a direction I couldn’t afford them to go. My focus had to be on getting us somewhere we could find help, not on the unruly member that kept twitching in Marcie’s direction.

“Here, eat this,” I told her, handing her the remaining fish I’d cooked last night and set aside for breakfast. I reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face as I did, letting my fingers linger for a second too long.

Little Miss Sassy smiled, and I felt myself getting lost in those baby blues of hers.

“You snore,” I stated, deliberately trying to break the spell.

“I do not!” The look of horror on her face was priceless, and I laughed.

“Yes, you do. It was cute,” I teased, unable to stop myself.

“Cute, huh? Well, I’m glad you think so,” she replied with mock indignation, her lips twitching in amusement. “Although, I don’t snore,” she mumbled more quietly, making me chuckle.

“Eat your fish,” I commanded.

“Yes, sir,” she smirked, and I rolled my eyes.

“Eat. It’ll give you some energy for what’s ahead. We’ll need to move in a few minutes. They’ll be out looking for us again soon. By now, they’ll have realised we doubled back, and it probably won’t take them long to find our trail again. Hopefully, we still have a few hours’ head start,” I told her, my tone more serious as I attempted to clear the makeshift campsite of all trace of us.

“Clothes are dry,” I said, handing over her dress. I took a step back as she pulled it on, my gaze following the movement of her hands as she dressed. When she bent to pull on her socks and those destroyed boots, I gulped at the sight of the biteable curve of her backside.

Fuck. I turned away, my mind scrambling for something—anything—to focus on other than the tempting sight. I silently recited the best way to quickly gut a fish, fighting to regain control.

Focus!

“I need to pee,” Marcie said with an apologetic grimace as she stood, shifting from foot to foot in a funny little dance that made me grin despite the situation. She turned away in embarrassment when she saw me looking.

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