Page 43 of Hunt Me
I can’t help myself; my eyes clearly have a mind of their own because I look down. It’s like when one of my friends would tellme not to look, and well, you look because why wouldn’t you. You get the urge, the need to look and I have that need right now.
Without an ounce of shame, I allow my eyes to comb over his body. I didn’t get to appreciate what he looked like without his clothes on earlier, too focused on my own building pleasure. My lust hazed gaze not really taking in any details other than sexy and need to touch. It was like I was taken over by my primal urges and knew nothing else.
I remind myself it's been a while and it is perfectly normal to have reacted that way to an attractive man, especially when most men you encounter try to attack or kill you.
The bar is real low in the apocalypse.
Ruaridh’s body looks like it has been chiselled out of rock, some post-apocalyptic dream of a man. He is lean but appears well-fed, with an equal balance between defined muscles, yet not so much that he looks like they are rationing food wherever The Skulls' base may be.
A slight pang rings through me, wishing the girls had that luxury. We’ve done well, really well, all things considered, but there is only so much you can have being on the move so much. That’s why we’re here — to continue North and find somewhere to call home.
The Skull’s must have it nice somewhere because Ruaridh’s muscled body is also covered in various tattoo designs. Well done tattoo designs at that. The skull that looks like it has some sort of mist or maybe smoke coming from its mouth and eye holes dominates the others, but does not take away from their beauty. Dark flames lick up his left side, and someone who had never known loss or a significant amount of pain would maybe overlook the patterns to the flames. Perhaps they would think they are artistic and unique, but something deep inside of meknows that is not their purpose. I know they tell a story, one of pain and suffering.
Ruaridh’s tattoos are a graveyard, a permanent reminder of whom he has lost to this world. And the skull etched across his heart looks over them, guarding them forever.
It’s heartbreakingly beautiful.
I continue my perusal of his body because I simply can’t bring myself to stop. My line of sight drops to his dick. His large and hardening dick.
My gaze whips up to meet the searing look on his face, and I find him clenching his jaw, seeming like he is trying to hold himself back as if he wants to touch me but is stopping himself from reaching out. It’s almost as if it’s painful for him.
‘What?’I ask, a small bite to my tone.
Maybe I haven’t grown up that much since the world went to shit.
Feeling like a sex craved teenager – check.
Shit socialising skills with anyone other than my girls – check.
‘You’re beautiful,’Ruaridh rushes out, and he clenches his jaw so hard that I feel like I can hear the moment his teeth clamp together.
Out of everything he could have said, I hadn’t expected that.
Not seeming like he is waiting for a response. One thing he can probably see is that he won’t be getting any anytime soon. By the way my mind has suddenly stopped working. Ruaridh recovers from his outburst, the cocky smirk back in place as he pointedly looks at my cocooned appearance.
‘You were beautiful when you were covered in shit Fauna but now… now you are ethereal and if it weren’t for Vish acknowledging that you’re here with me I would be questioning if I’ve finally joined the crazies and made you up.’Ruaridh confesses, his voice determined.
Fuck if my knees don’t feel all weak and my heart all gooey at that candour.
‘Erm. Thanks.’I offer back,‘I like your tattoos.’
He laughs, shoulders relaxing a touch.‘Aye, I noticed a few times you were ogling me like I’m a piece of meat.’
He’s not wrong; food did come to mind when I looked at him. And as if my stomach is listening, it now takes a great opportunity to let out a massive growl of hunger.
I’ve become so accustomed to the pain of hunger that it barely even registers with me anymore. The last bit of food I ate was back with the girls before I left on the supply run. But this isn’t the longest I’ve been without food, not even close. It's funny how your body goes through all those hardships with you, and as soon as you let your guard down, it starts outing you to strangers.
‘Come on, there’s spare clothes, and I bet Vish has some food on him.’Ruaridh acknowledges my grumbling stomach but stops his steps to look back at me with a meaningful expression on his face.‘As long as you’re okay with him coming back up?’
The guy had shit timing but now that I’m over my fear I don’t hate the idea of him joining us and maybe I’m being naïve but Ruaridh doesn’t seem like he wants to hurt me, at the moment at least. So, there’s no harm in giving it a go, right? Plus, I’ll find my bat, take one of his axes, get some food and work out how to make the perfect hasty exit.
Sounds like a win to me.
I nod, and that seems to be enough to appease the raging Skull. I watch Ruaridh as he walks away, not an ounce of insecurity in him. He can feel my eyes on him, I know he can. The way he’s walking, full of confidence, is enough evidence but I can’t help but fall into this man’s trap, watching his muscles work as he fetches the change of clothes.
Once the change of clothes are gathered, he makes his way back over, and I don’t miss the clear decision he made not to wrap something around his waist in the process. I saw it, there was another towel he could have used.
‘I prefer to air dry,’he teases with a shit eating grin on his face.‘Better for the skin, eh.’
