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 becausedamn,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 amI 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.”
“Isaved your life!You should bethankingme, asshole!”
“No fucking way am Ithankingyou 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 focuson 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.
