Page 21 of Wraith
Wraith couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone camping. But he figured it was the best alternative to getting a hotel. Hotels came with cameras, cameras could be hacked and the more he could stay off the radar, the better. When he suggested it, Wraith braced himself for Amelia to argue. He knew a woman like her couldn’t be used to roughing it. And to make matters worse, winter wasn’t the ideal time of year to be out in the woods in a tent.
She hadn’t complained—not about the temperature or the fact they weren’t using a hotel. She’d merely asked him to get her coffee and a chocolate bar. He watched the way she tackled everything. They shared a tent—it couldn’t have been easy for her. As she slept, he left her alone to pee, rinse his hand from a bottle of water, then took a look around the area. He didn’t go far but when he came back, she was sitting up in the tent.
“You left me!” She said, softly, almost like a child who thought her mother wasn’t coming back.
“I’m sorry,” Wraith said, sitting on his section of their makeshift bed. “I had to go.”
“Go? Where?”
“Um—to take a…”
“Oh!” She averted her eyes. “Sorry. I thought you left me.”
“I would never leave you, Amelia.” He told her simply. “Get some sleep.”
She eyed him but shifted back down and pulled the blanket up to her neck. But she didn’t sleep. Wraith watched as she stared up at the ceiling of the tent, listened as the wind blew through the tent. Amelia’s teeth chattered.
“Come here,” Wraith said. He lifted the edge of his blanket and scooted closer.
“What?”
“You’re freezing. Come.”
She hesitated—eyed him then gave in and moved into his chest. After bringing his blankets down against her, he tucked her head under his chin and pulled her closer. Her closeness posed a whole new set of issues.
Having her body so close to him drove him insane. She smelled like soap and winter, but she aroused him. To not wake her, he suffered through the throbbing in his body, the urge to brush his lips against her forehead, to feel her as intimately as humanly possible.
Wraith dosed from time to time but didn’t get any worthwhile sleep. When morning came, he dreaded and relished letting her go.
They spent a little while getting ready.
“I’d kill for a warm bath,” Amelia said as they gathered everything for disposal. “Just the thought of warm water makes me very happy.”
“How about I make you a deal?”
“A deal?” She cocked a hip. “Okay?”
“The moment we can, I’ll make sure you can have a hot bath.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Wraith smiled, and they finished up. He dumped the camping gear in the woods then they were on their way to get something to eat. They found a mom and pop diner with cameras pointing to the cashier. He was pretty sure there weren’t any other in the place.
The waitress told them to sit anywhere and Wraith looked around to take in the place. Eventually, they parked it at a table close to the emergency exit in the back. In no time, the server arrived, poured them some coffee and took their orders.
Wraith pulled out his laptop and headphones and tapped away. Soon, Tex’s face appeared with a man who should be familiar to Wraith, but he couldn’t place him.
“Wraith,” Tex said. “You remember Beast?”
“Yeah. How are you?” Wraith asked.
“Good.” Beast offered a mock salute. “I’m gonna leave you to talk. I’m performing god-parents duties with Fleur tonight. If you need anything.”
“I’ll call.” Tex promised.
Beast offered a wave then was gone. Tex’s expression turned grim as he faced the camera again.
“Okay, gimme an update.”
