Chapter 12
Infuriating Men
Olivia
It takes an hour for us to reach the nearest water source.
Theo is more alert by the time we reach the edge of the small river.
His eyes and nose have stopped streaming and he no longer sounds like he gargled gravel.
He’s still shaky and a little weak on his legs, probably because of exhaustion, but he’s alive.
Just. That was a close call, and if I hadn’t done what I did, both he and Rhys would have joined the walking dead.
Not that I care that much or anything. I was just doing the right thing and repaying the favour. That’s all.
I’m surprised that my plan worked as well as it did. My idea was to push a few of the cars using Bean and hope they would move enough to plough down some zombies attacking Rhys and Theo. But as one slammed into another and pulled on the chains, it caused a cascading domino effect.
And then I’d watched as oil and petrol leaked onto the tarmac and took a chance.
Before the apocalypse, fuel was expensive and in short supply, so I was worried there wouldn’t be enough.
Thankfully, there was and with enough flaming arrows, it ignited.
Thank God cars don’t explode like they do in films, otherwise I would have condemned us all to death.
It’s obvious that was a trap, one designed to kill anyone who stepped in it. Question is, who set it up? The Scourge or another gang? We’re hoping for the former because none of us want to fight another gang.
I sigh and slip from the saddle as we stop at the river’s edge.
Bean reaches down and greedily gulps at the cool water while Ketchup—who’s finally rejoined us—caws and perches on her favourite spot on the saddle.
Harlow sits by my side and watches around us.
She’s still tense after the fight with the horde, the fur on the back of her neck still standing on end.
I place a hand on her head and scratch behind her ear.
She relaxes a fraction and leans into my hand.
On the other side of Bean, Alex carefully places Theo back onto his feet and shrugs his pack from his shoulders.
“We should rest here for an hour or two. Regain some energy,” he says as he opens his bag and begins pulling out supplies.
“And I think we could all do with a wash and change of clothes.”
Rhys, who’s standing behind us with his hand on the butt of his rifle, grunts.
He and Theo are covered in gore and other bodily fluids, and the stench is almost unbearable.
Alex hasn’t fared much better, thanks to having to carry Theo for over an hour.
I’m the only one of the group that isn’t caked in blood, but I’m not about to pass up a chance to wash and change.
I grab Bean’s reins and lead her down the river bank, hoping to find some privacy.
Last thing I wanted to do was get naked in front of these three men with the scars marring my stomach and back.
It’ll only raise questions; ones I don’t want to answer.
The less we know about each other, the better. Distance will keep my heart safe.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Rhys demands.
I sigh. Of course, he’s going to be difficult. “Finding a more secluded spot so I don’t have to endure a sausage fest.”
Theo snorts behind me, and I just know he’s going to make some inappropriate joke. Thankfully, Rhys speaks before he can.
“Fine, but be back here in twenty minutes. If you’re not back by then, princess, I will go looking for you and drag you back.”
His message is clear; he’ll drag me back naked if he has to. My lips curl in frustration and I roll my eyes even though he can’t see it. “Yes, sir. Or would you prefer me to call you by another title? General or Captain, perhaps?”
There’s another snort, this time from Alex, while Theo chuckles.
“Sir is fine,” Rhys answers, and there’s something in his voice I’ve never heard before. Something deeper, darker, like a sinful promise whispered between bed sheets.
Nope. Not going there.
I swallow hard and suppress a shiver as I hurry down the river bank, not daring to look over my shoulder at him.
I don’t want to see if the look on his face matches his voice…
Okay, I do, but that’s the problem. After my last disaster of a relationship that ripped my heart to shreds, I’ve sworn off men.
The less I have to do with them, the better.
I can’t even do casual hookups because I get attached, and that always ends in pain.
Believe me, I’ve tried. So it’s best I keep my distance and don’t fuck any of them because I’m a hundred per cent sure that I won’t survive my next heartbreak.
Whoever said it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all is a fucking liar. Or someone who’s only had their heart broken once. Try loving and losing several times and then come back to me.
It only takes a few minutes of walking before I’m able to find a secluded spot away from the guys.
I slip the saddle from Bean’s back—much to Ketchup’s annoyance—and set it on the ground before taking off her bridle.
The mare snorts, turns and begins rooting for grass.
I’m not too worried about her running off; she’s got the recall of a well-trained dog.
With Bean taken care of, I grab my supplies and haul them to the river’s edge.
I grab the dirty clothes from my pack and place them on the ground next to me.
May as well clean them while I’m washing myself.
Clean clothes follow, along with my towel and a bar of soap.
With my supplies laid out, I strip, gritting my teeth as the chilly air bites against my flesh and causes goosebumps to explode across my skin.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as shivers wrack my body. I can only imagine how cold the water is going to be once I step foot in it.
Edging to the water’s edge, I place a toe into the lazily moving river and yelp. Oh shit, it’s so much worse than I thought. I’m in half a mind to forgo washing myself, but the need to feel clean overrides my reluctance.
“Ollie!” I hear someone shout, concern in their voice as footsteps echo in the forest.
I roll my eyes, knowing who it is as I crouch and cover my naked body as much as I can with my hands.
“I’m fine, Rhys! It’s just the cold as fuck water!
” I call back, not wanting him to come over.
I still have just over fifteen minutes of my time left and I’ll be damned if I let him drag me back to them naked.
He grunts and his footsteps retreat.
Once I’m sure he’s gone back, I turn my attention back to the water and grimace. Standing on the bank and staring at the river won’t get me clean. I need to woman up and get in. Gritting my teeth, I decide it’s best to just go for it and all but throw myself into the water.
And promptly let out a slew of colourful curses that would make a sailor blush as the icy cold water presses against my skin.
I’m instantly chilled to the bone and I shiver violently as I grab the bar of soap and scrub my hair and body.
Once I’m clean, I rush out of the water and wrap myself in the towel while standing on my dirty clothes to keep my feet out of the dirt.
After drying myself, I don my clean clothes, sighing as I warm up.
Since I still have a few minutes left, I use the time to wash my dirty clothes in the frigid river. I’m just finishing scrubbing a pair of jeans clean from blood when the cracking of twigs and leaves announces Rhys’s arrival.
“You’re over time,” he says gruffly from behind me.
“And yet I’m not dead,” I say as I wring the water from the denim before standing and turning to face him.
He’s changed into clean clothes, his body clear of gore and his short brown hair a shade darker from the water still clinging to the silky strands.
A water droplet runs down the side of his thick, scarred neck and my eyes follow it.
I have the biggest urge to lick it from his skin and feel the roughness of the scars beneath my tongue.
Nope.
I turn away and pack away my supplies. “Are the others done washing?”
“They should be. Why?” He pauses. “Are you afraid of seeing a bit of cock, princess?” I can hear the amusement in his voice.
“No,” I scoff, though the word doesn’t quite ring true. “I just figured you guys would prefer privacy over being ogled by a stranger.”
He chuckles and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever heard him laugh because damn, is it sexy. It’s deep and rich, almost decadent, causing a shiver to race down my spine. “Ogled, huh?”
I pause and close my eyes for a moment. Shit. Why the fuck did I say that? Why couldn’t I have just left it with a ‘no’ and just moved on like a normal person? I shove the last thing into my pack and stand with my wet clean clothes in one hand and my bag in the other.
Play it cool, Ollie. No need for him to know how much he’s affecting you. I shrug nonchalantly. “Well, if you guys are going to whip them out, I can’t be held responsible for looking.”
I make the mistake of looking at Rhys and almost immediately regret it because he’s looking at me with a smirk brimming with masculine smugness. “I didn’t realise our cocks would be so interesting to you.”
Do not blush, Ollie. Don’t you dare—dammit!
My cheeks burn and I tear my gaze away from him. Time for a change of topic. “Can you grab Bean’s tack since my hands are full and you’re determined to drag me back?” I whistle to Bean and Harlow and turn to walk away, not waiting to see if he does what I ask.
“Don’t walk off, princess. We need to talk.” All the amusement is gone from Rhys’s voice and has been replaced with his usual gruffness.
I don’t want to stop, but he’ll only become an even bigger prick than usual, and I’m not in the mood to deal with that.
Then again, when am I ever in the mood to deal with his shitty attitude?
I stop with a sigh and turn to face him, relieved that annoyance has replaced my earlier mortification. “What is it?”
Rhys bends down to grab the saddle and bridle and strides over to me. “You disobeyed my orders earlier,” he says, his voice taking a dangerous edge. “I told you to stay away from us and get to the top of the embankment and not only did you ignore that order, you did the complete opposite.”
I just stare at him, jaw dropped. “Really? You’re pissed I ignored your order to leave you and Theo to die and instead saved your asses?” I shake my head. Unbelievable. He has to be one of the most infuriating men I’ve ever met and I’ve dated some real shit bags.
“Yes, I am.” He takes a threatening step toward me, but I don’t cower. “You put yourself in danger.”
“I saved your life! You should be thanking me, asshole!”
“No fucking way am I thanking you for that shit! Not when you could have ended up trapped in the horde with us!” he snarls, honey eyes alight with anger.
“But I didn’t,” I shoot back, my own anger sparking as I bare my teeth at him.
“That’s not the point. You deliberately put yourself at risk after I told you not to.
What would have happened if you’d died? Who’s going to save your brother if you turn into a walking corpse, huh?
” He’s in my face now, the heat from his body battering against me as he towers above me with his large, intimidating frame.
I refuse to be cowed by him, no matter how big and scary looking he is, as he glares down at me with fire in his eyes.
His comment about my brother is a low blow, but I ignore the pang of hurt in my chest and focus on the anger simmering in my blood.
“I stand by my decision, Rhys. I don’t regret it and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Just like you did earlier, and like Alex and Theo would have if needed. ”
His mouth twists and I know I have him there. He risked his life to save Theo, just like the other two would risk their lives to save him. It’s easy to see that these three men have known each other for a long time and their bond is strong.
Rhys rakes a hand through his hair as his chest rumbles with a frustrated growl and the muscle in his jaw flutters. “You disobey me like that again and I’ll hogtie you to your horse,” he threatens with a dark look.
I nod, even though I know I’m going to ignore one of his orders again.
It’s inevitable. Just like I know the sun is going to rise tomorrow morning.
Which means at some point I’m going to be tied to my horse like a criminal because that’s no idle threat.
Rhys is a man of his word and won’t hesitate to break out the rope.
I’ll have to make sure I have a knife close by.