Page 43 of Anton

CHAPTER 17

MARCIE

DAY 2 – THAT NIGHT – A STORM THAT RAGES

The first spits of rain splattered against the small windows just as Anton returned, his arms full of wood.

“Storm’s here,” he said, his voice deep and steady, like he was unfazed by the chaos bearing down on us. He moved to the small burner in the corner, crouching to stack the wood inside.

The damp air clung to him, accentuating the sharp line of his jaw and the way his shirt pulled across his broad shoulders. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. Even after everything we’d been through, or maybe because of it, I couldn’t seem to stop noticing him.

His presence filled the room, each movement of his hands deliberate, like he was always in control, and somehow, it made me feel… on edge.

Anton unbuckled his belt and opened the back with practised ease, revealing more compartments hidden within the leather. My eyes snagged on his hands, strong yet somehow so sensual. I licked my lips, thinking about how good it would feel to have those hands on me.

“So, what’s all in there?” I asked, my voice wavering slightly as I attempted to shake myself out of my lust-filled daze.

Mr Sexy Soldier glanced up, his smirk slow and knowing. “Not much you can fit in a standard belt, this one only has a Swiss army knife, flint, and compass. However, it does have a cool buckle too.”

He flipped open the rectangular buckle to reveal a small switch blade.

“Oh, that is cool,” I cooed, leaning in closer to examine it, my shoulder almost brushing his.

“But not very big,” I added with a smirk and a teasing lift of my brows.

“Size isn’t everything, Marcie. It’s what you do with it that counts,” he replied, the innuendo not lost on me. My heart thumped against my chest, and I gulped hard, shifting uncomfortably at the rush of wetness his words evoked.

With a smirk, he continued, “There are similar belts out there, but nothing quite like ours will be. We’ve been testing designs, combining features, and working on prototypes of items to include inside, making them more compact without sacrificing function. The military’s always looking to shave weight off their kits, and survivalists…” He shrugged, the motion pulling my focus back to his chest before I could stop myself. “They’ll love this.”

“It’s a brilliant idea,” I said, forcing myself to focus on his words instead of the way his mouth moved as he spoke. His closeness was intoxicating. “I hope you’ve patented it. You’re going to make a fortune.”

“We have.” He smiled. “Let’s hope so. Be nice to have something for the retirement fund…” His voice dipped as his gaze held mine. “Or starting a family.”

My pulse skittered at the words. Starting a family? What the hell did that mean?

I blinked, the air between us suddenly thick with unspoken tension. His eyes were unwavering, seeming to hold mine captive, and my cheeks burned under the intensity of his gaze.

If he kept staring at me like this, I was going to end up throwing myself at him. Again. Would he reject me this time? The heat in his eyes suggested he wouldn’t, but what if he did?

“I, um… I need to pee,” I stammered. “I’ll just step outside.” I turned and practically ran for the door.

“Don’t go far,” he called after me. “It’s dark, and the rain’s picking up.”

I nodded and slipped outside, the cool air biting at my flushed skin.

The rain was coming down harder now, soaking through my dress almost immediately. My teeth chattered as I shivered against the cold, my whole body trembling. Wind whipped at my hair as I wrapped my arms around myself and hurried across the muddy ground, squinting through the gloomy wetness. The sky was heavy with clouds, but the faintest sliver of moonlight broke through, just enough to guide my way. Ahead, the crumbling remains of a shed loomed, offering some small shelter from the worsening storm.

Stepping inside, I sighed in momentary relief as the roof held up enough to shield me from the worst of the rain. I quickly found a corner and squatted, the wind howling through the gaps in the wooden slats. That brief comfort did little to calm the jarring edge of my nerves.

“What was I going to do?

The bloody man was driving me insane.

What was going on with him? He was definitely flirting with me, but was that all it was? We’d kissed in the back of the truck this morning, but did it really mean anything? God, I wished I knew if this was real.

Should I try to kiss him again? Take things further? Could I handle another rejection?

I huffed, chuckling to myself. Well, it wasn’t like I hadn’t been there before. The difference was that Anton seemed far more receptive to the idea now.

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