Page 11 of Deceptively Dead

“We could have killed you, idiot. Next time use the call.” He snaps at Chase. But I’m barely aware of that as I drop my backpack and stuff my gun back in its holster, already moving toward the smirking giant standing in the crumbling doorway. He sees me coming and opens his arms to me with a huge smile and I couldn’t stop myself from jumping into his comforting embrace even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. Chase scoops me up into his arms as I wrap my own arms around him as best I can, burying my face in the crook of his neck. I don’t let my tears fall but I can’t seem to stop the whole body shakes that have me in their grip. Now that Chase is back the whole days stress has suddenly set upon me once more and crushing disappointment in myself makes it hard to breathe. I just want to stay curled up in Chase’s warm embrace forever, but I doubt he will want to comfort me once he realises I could have gotten his friends killed by distracting them.

Chase seems to sense my distress, and he shifts his grip to be able to run his large hand over the back of my head and neck, pressing me even closer to him. I wrap my legs completely around his abdomen and just let myself drink in his comforting presence as his murmured words rumble through his entire body “It’s ok baby. It’s alright, I’m here, your safe. I got you.” His confusion is evident in the sound of his voice but he continues to comfort me none the less, until I finally stop shaking and can gather my thoughts again.

Once I start to wiggle, Chase puts me gently back on the ground. He peers down at my no doubt red face and a dark scowl marks his features as he looks deep into my glassy green gaze. I drop my eyes and try to move away from the anger on his face, thinking somehow, he already knows what I put the others through. But instead, he grabs me and pushes me somewhat behind him as he squares off with his teammates.

“What the hell did you do to her?!” he demands, staring straight at Hunters frowning face. Hunter just grunts and waves Chase’s comment away, as if it were nothing important. Which I guess it’s not to him. That kind of hurts. More than it should. I try to squish in between Chase’s back and the pack he’s carrying, wanting to disappear. I chance a quick look at Nate and find that he looks just as miserable as me, his eyes zeroed in on the contact between me and Chase.

“Nothing.” Hunter snaps in reply to Chase’s question, but his eyes are on me when I look back at him. “Make your report. What did you find?” Chase looks down at me with a frown and tucks me into him a little more tightly before answering Hunter in a clipped and formal tone.

“The initial count of the horde was off. Instead of the fifty we estimated there appears to be more than sixty. More seem to be joining the horde from the forests, likely drawn by the noise they are making.” Hunter nods curtly and Chase continues “I only got one hit in before I was distracted by a lurker.” Everyone looks sharply at Chase, but he just nods as he continues. “One male, unknown age, wearing the same clothing as those previously following Angie. He came from the run down chicken coop behind the barn. I am unsure how long he has been there. The last property patrol was yesterday morning and we found nothing out of the ordinary.” Nate nods at this and I assume they were out on patrol together. “With the horde closing in he had no choice but to break cover and run. I put a clean shot throughhis neck and watched to ensure the horde cleaned up after me.” I feel my eyes go wide at this, never really imagining that my gentle giant could be so ruthless. Honestly, it’s kind of a turn on.God, I’m so messed up.“There were no others in the area. I made sure of it before I left.” Chase concludes.

There’s a little silence as everyone contemplates Chase’s report. Except for me, I already know what it means. I start to shake violently against Chase and his hand comes around immediately to rub soothing lines up and down my side. The terror sets in so strongly that I can’t even think, can’t breathe. Because I know how the knight’s work and I know what one watching our house means.They’re coming for me.

Chapter Twelve

“Shit man, she’s shaking like a leaf. What exactly happened with you guys?” Chase asks again, his voice soft and concerned.

“It was just a misunderstanding, that’s all. So stop using it as an excuse to put your hands all over her.” Hunter’s voice comes out as a growl and I find myself trying to take a step back automatically, but Chase’s big hand clamps around my hip, stopping me in my tracks. The big man goes stiff as he turns on his team leader. I peek up at the two men facing off, Hunter having moved closer at some point and my mouth goes dry as Chase deliberately and slowly runs his hand all the way down my side again, sending goose-bumps up in his wake. Hunter’s eyes watch the motion and his jaw clenches tight, he takes another step forward. The tension in the clearing is so thick and combined with my fear of the Knights, it’s turning me into a big puddle of wobbly jelly.

Before things get worse, I manage a step away from the safety of Chase’s back, then another, until I am just within reaching distance for the big guy. For some reason I can’t seem to make myself move away completely, he feels too much like safety right now. My movements have brought me between the three guys, Nate having stayed where he was the whole time. It has also attracted all of their attention and the weight of their gazes has my face lighting up like a Christmas tree.

“I’m sorry.” I manage to stutter out as I stare pointedly at the ground. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” I chance a quick glance up at Hunter, making sure he knows that I’m talking to him for that part, then I look to Chase as I say “I’m ok. I just… I’m sorry… excuse me.” I manage a quick, wobbly imitation of a smile for Chase as I back away from them all, moving to the tree line so I can hide away for a little while. I keep them in my sights until I hit the trees then I turn and tuck behind the nearest trunk. Not one of them moved to stop me as I backed into the trees, like a deer caught in a predator’s gaze, and I am so grateful for that but also strangely saddened.Basically, I’m just one big mess right now.

I lean my back against the bark of the tree trunk and focus on taking a few deep, quelling breaths, willing my racing heart to slow down and the lingering fear to clear away. I listen as Hunter swears up a storm, sounding like he’s pacing the clearing. I don’t turn around, I stare blankly out at the forest, quietly absorbing each word and directing them at my ridiculous emotions. Eventually, he stops swearing and tries to tell Chase what happened.

“I just told them to focus. They were distracting me and I just… it came out harsher than I expected. Honestly, I didn’t think it would be that big a deal. We needed to be focused, you know? I can’t have her put at risk because we can't keep our hands to ourselves.”

“That’s it? That’s all you said to her?” Chase sounds a little skeptical.

“Yeah. I mean at least I think so? I told Nate to get away from her. She’s just so… they were holding hands the whole way, and the way she was looking up at him… Fuck. A body could have walked up and slapped me in that moment and I wouldn’t have cared. But her face after I snapped at Nate… man, she looked devastated. Then she wouldn’t talk or touch us or anything. It’s like she became a robot and I just… I don’t know how to fix it!” Hunter sounds so distressed that I have to close my eyes against the pain in his voice.

“You fucking idiot! Of course she’s sensitive around us! Don’t you remember what she said her life was like? What do you think they did to her? Don’t you remember what she looked like when we found her? It’s a god damn miracle she lets us anywhere near her! If she wants to touch us, freaking let her!” Chase, on the other hand sounds cold and angry, giving his leader no sympathy.

“Of course, I remember what she looked like, idiot. It's been barely a week since you brought her back.”A week! I Must have been out for days!“Besides, how the hell could anyone forget? I just… forgot. She’s so strong and she fits with us so well, soeasy,I just… didn’t think.” He lets out a frustrated sigh and I can imagine him running a hand through his hair in frustration, then says quietly “I never meant to hurt her. You know that. I just don’t know how to make it better. She looks like she’s terrified of me now.” His voice is raw and pain filled and I heave my own sigh, straitening a little from my slumped position. I can’t let him continue to beat himself up for my failings.

I turn to move back into the clearing and freeze, my heart leaping into my throat at the sight of a man leaning against the tree next to mine, watching me intently. I let out a shaky breath as my green eyes snag in Nate’s piercing blue gaze.

“You scared the shit out of me.” I whisper as I sag against the tree, my wobbly legs near giving out on me and holding my hand to my heart like I can physically stop it from bursting through my chest.

“I told you that you need to watch your surroundings, Trouble.” Nate replies smoothly as he stalks silently over to me. He looks a little wary as he approaches, still watching me intently. I give him a reassuring smile, just to let him know I’m not mad that he nearly gave me a heart attack. I watch as his face changes from wary to determined and he steps deliberately into my space, his eyes flickering over my face, cataloguing each and every twitch and micro-expression. Before I can think about what that might mean, Nate scoops me up into his arms and presses me back into the tree trunk with a soft thunk that has my blood heating immediately. I suck in a sharp breath and look up at him through lowered lashes, even as my legs snake around his waist, completely of their own accord.Traitors.

Nate groans and lowers his head to mine as he whispers against my lips “I’m so sorry, Trouble”, but before I can ask why he’s sorry, when I’m the one acting like a fool, he closes the distance and presses his incredibly soft lips firmly against my own. The kiss effectively cuts off all thoughts and I gasp against him, arching my back off the tree and tightening my legs to draw him closer. Nate growls an approving sound in the back of his throat and deepens the kiss, his tongue sliding between my parted lips to tangle with my own. His kiss is perfect and unlike anything I have felt before, strong and dominating but with a gentleness that allows me to completely surrender to him. He leads me in searing sensations, and I follow him happily, pressing closer each time the pressure of his lips seems to lessen, teasing me into being bolder than I thought I was capable of. A feminine little moan works its way up my throat, and I honestly had no idea I could even make that kind of noise. Nate seemsto like it though, and his mouth gets more urgent as he grinds his hips into me. My entire world stutters to a halt at the feel of his hard body moving against mine. I freeze as I try to figure out how I feel about it, the memories pressing in against my subconscious as the hard length of him rocks into me. But I firmly push those memories away, they have no place here, with Nate.This feels… good.I decide.Too good.I wiggle my hips encouragingly, but he must have felt my brief hesitation, because he breaks off our kiss and puts a fraction of space between us. He blows out a ragged breath before resting his forehead against mine for a moment.

“Sorry, Trouble.” He murmurs “I nearly got carried away.” He drops a quick kiss against my lips, still making no move to put me down “You’re amazing.” Kiss. “Beautiful.” Kiss. “You’re killing me.” He groans as he lets my legs go and I slowly slide down his body. Once my feet hit the ground, he presses his lips to mine again, almost as if he can’t help it. He straightens up and blows out another breath, looking down at me he runs his hand through his tousled hair and grins, “We’ll take things slow” he promises, then adds quietly “Even if it kills me.” I return his grin through my blush and nod slowly, wanting nothing more than to jump him right then and there and prove to myself I could do it. Instead, I let him take me by the hand and lead me back out into the clearing.

My kiss induced haze clears away quickly when I see Chase and Hunter sitting outside of the little cabin.Oh my god! What am I doing? I just kissed Nate! After I pretty much kissed Chase at the house this morning! Oh god, they are going to hate me. How could I? I feel for Chase, the big giant makes me feels so safe, but I also feel for Nate, the controlling Doctor who saved me. Hell, I even like Hunter the creeping jerk. What kind of person does that make me?I can’t look at any of them when Nate pulls me to a stop in front of the others and I barely hearwhat they are talking about as I drown myself in a sea of guilt. Nate squeezes my hand and bends down to look into my eyes, “Angie, what’s wrong?” he asks in a low voice, but it’s so quiet I know the others are listening. I shake my head and then blurt out the only other thing I can think of because I amnotgoing to have a conversation about how I’m freaking out because I just kissed Nate with these guys all listening right now.

“The Knights work in teams of two or more, it is really rare to just find one. Usually, that means the other one is dead or has gone back to report to Jacob. My guess in this situation would be the latter.” I look up and scan their beautiful, grim faces. Hunter nods at me and I swallow, this next part hard to get out. “You should leave me here. With my arm how it is I’m only slowing you down. I’m too much of a distraction,” Hunter makes an angry noise, and I go on hurriedly “with Jacob’s men after me I’m too much of a liability. Once you ditch me, they will stop looking for you.” I’m speaking rapidly, trying to get my point across quickly, because I can see the guys are getting agitated. I suddenly need to convince them that I can’t stay with them. It puts them in danger, and I can’t have that. “I can take care of myself; I’ve done it before. I’ll be able to lose myself in the forest more easily without you three.” I finish my argument and look around at them as the silence stretches, each of them looking at me intently as I hunch in on myself. My emotions are running out of control after the unexpected kiss with Nate and the barrage of guilt and foreign sensation of need that followed.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Hunter starts to laugh. He submits to actual, full belly laughs as he bends forwards with his hands on his knees. He seems to set the others off and soon they are all keeled over in hysterics. I plant my hands on my hips and glare at them, content to wait out their fit of idiocy.

Eventually, Hunter straightens, seemingly getting himself under control, he strolls up to me and places both hands onmy shoulders so he can look into my eyes as he smirks at me. I even forget to flinch from him I’m so busy glaring daggers at him. “Look, princess,” he starts, and I growl at him “I knew you were a little nuts but, I never knew you were fucking crazy.” He huffs out another laugh before his whole demeanor changes and he gives my shoulders a little shake, not enough to hurt me but enough that I’m giving him all my attention when he says “We are not leaving you. You are not leaving us. This is not negotiable. You belong with us; you just don’t seem to realise it yet. But you will, soon. Now grab your shit, we’re moving. We’ll find another camp before full dark sets in.” The last part is directed at the guys as well as me and Hunter lets me go with another gentle squeeze, to move over to shoulder his own pack.

I’m still glowering at Hunter when Chase stops next to me. “That was a very sweet thing to say, Angel. But please, never try to convince us to leave you behind again. Next time, I’ll spank you.” He winks at me as Nate pipes up from somewhere behind me with “Me too!” I blush crimson again and put my head down to hustle over to my bag.

“Bunch of stubborn jackasses.” I mutter darkly. My earlier fear and distress completely disappearing as if it were never there at all.

Chapter Thirteen

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