He pulled back before walking me back into a tree, hands on my hips as he guided me. “I know.”
His blue eyes searched mine before he lowered his head and kissed me softly. His hand slipped under my shirt, and I jumped as his cold fingers glided up and down my waist as he slowly worked his lips on mine.
My hands fisted into his coat, pulling him closer.
A rustling sound broke us apart, and we snapped our heads toward the sound to see Micah with his arms crossed and an amused smirk pulling at his lips.
“Gotta be more careful out here, darlin’. Don’t want anythin’ sneaking up on you.”
“My fault,” Nathan claimed as we caught our breath, my heart drumming in my chest.
“Figured.”
“I can help you guys carry the deer,” I offered, and they both shook their heads.
“No need, killer.” Nathan nudged my shoulder with his before he and Micah went over to the deer. “Let’s gut it before we head back.”
“We need to be quick to be able to have it in time for dinner.” Micah pulled a hunter’s knife out.
After they gutted the deer, we made our way back to the Oasis, and I couldn’t be more grateful when I saw the treehouses come into sight. There was a large bonfire going in the middle of the clearing, and the warmth from it seemed to settle around it.
Calix stood beside it, warming up with everyone else, and I went to stand beside him. I was caught a little off guard when he moved to rest his shoulder against mine, and I smiled up at him.
“You okay?” he murmured, and I nodded.
“Just cold.”
“Thankfully, Benjamin had the idea of the fire.” He nodded toward Benjamin, who was talking with my dad on the other side of the fire.
Sally and my mom were also deep in conversation, while Spencer was over by the shed with Ava and her men, chatting away.
Micah and Nathan took the deer toward an old metal table they had out in the open, closer to the woods than anything else, and then they came back to warm up with us.
“It’s fucking cold.” Nathan rubbed his hands together near the flames. “Can’t wait to get back in bed with you, killer. You’ll warm us up, right?”
My face went hot with embarrassment, but I nodded. “Sure, handsome. I can do that.”
He shot me a cheesy grin and wiggled his brows suggestively, making Calix clear his throat.
“Ugh,” Daisy groaned, wrapping her arms tightly around Jay’s waist and burying her face into his chest. “I just want to go home.”
“We’re heading out tomorrow,” Jay reminded her, rubbing his hand up and down her back.
Daisy shot a glare my way before rolling her eyes. “I bet the house is just fine. It was silly to leave.”
“Did you not see the horde come through?” Jay asked, disbelief leaking into his tone as he pulled back and looked down at her. “We should be grateful we weren’t ground level with it.”
“You know I didn’t want to see them. It’s morbid that you kept looking out at them anyway. It scares me.” Her voice wobbled as she pouted her lips. “Besides, I need a shower so bad.”
“We only have one shower, but we also have a river,” Nathan told her.
“A river?” she practically sputtered, eyes going wide and mouth dropping in horror. “It’s freezing! Don’t tell me you don’t have a water heater for the shower?”
“Of course we do.” Micah rolled his eyes, crossing his arms.
“Can we wash up soon?” I asked, glancing at Micah.
“I called dibs on the shower!” Daisy pushed.
