I roll my eyes at him. “I’m pretty sure if this place was up to anyone’s, their standards would be in hell, pookie.”
This is the first town we’ve approached since I joined the guys three days ago, and it’s not filling me with confidence.Especiallysince I’m in dire need of supplies. The town—if you could even call it that—is nothing but a mass of rubble, crumbling buildings and burned-out cars. Glass, debris and gore litter the street, painting a horrific picture of panic and chaos in the wake of the apocalypse. I can’t see any bodies, butthat could be because they’re hidden underneath one of the collapsed buildings.
“Hey, don’t mock Rhys’s standards. He worked very hard for those,” Theo quips, earning a scowl from the man in question.
“Still higher than yours, Theo,” Alex shoots back with a smirk. He’s crouched next to Harlow, rubbing her belly while the dog wriggles on her back and pants. I’m pretty sure she prefers him to me now with how often he pets her.
Theo playfully narrows his eyes at him, but before he can snark back, Rhys interjects.
“Alright kids, before you start arguing, we need to find a place to spend the night and I’m afraid you’re going to have to slum it, princess.” He shoots me a look.
I resist the urge to flip him off and instead eye the crumbling ruins of the town. “Are thereanybuildings left standing for us to hole up in that won’t collapse and crush us all to death?”
It’s Rhys’s turn to roll his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. There’s got to be at least one place here.” He strides off into the ruins, giving me an amazing view of his back and the way he fills out his trousers.
“Prick,” I mutter, jerking my gaze away from his ass.
Theo throws me a wink as he and Alex snort with laughter before moving after him. Harlow eagerly trots after Alex, no doubt vying for some more pets.
Sighing, I urge Bean to follow and pick our way through the debris and cars lining the street. A part of me hopes it’ll get better the deeper we get into the town, but no. If anything, the buildings in the town centre are in even worse shape.
Fuck.
I was hoping there’d be at least one corner shop left untouched I could search, but every one we find is either burned or ransacked. This won’t help my rapidly dwindling food supply. I’m sure the guys are more than willing to share some of theirs, but I don’t want to be reliant on them. I need to be independent; especially out here in this brutal world, where anything could happen. Besides, if I dip into their supply, they won’t have enough food for the journey home.
Something I’m trying to avoid thinking about because I don’t know if I’m going to be alive to make one. Teaming up with Rhys, Theo, and Alex may have increased my survival odds, but this is still dangerous as hell.
We walk the entire length of the town before Rhys finally stops with a huff. “Alright, so maybe this town isn’t the greatest place to bed down for the night.”
“Told you it was a shithole,” I say, unable to resist as I grin smugly at him. Only for that smile to widen as a clock tower catches my attention just behind a ruined block of flats. “Wait, I think there’s aTescoover there.” I point toward the vague outline of the supermarket’s clock tower in the distance. Excitement bubbles in my chest. This could be just the place I need, as long as it’s not a burned out husk like every other building in this town.
“You’re a little over a year late to do your weekly shop,” Theo says drily as the three of them eye the clock tower.
I shoot him a droll look. “Not shit. I was thinking about it being a safe place for us to spend the night.”
Rhys grimaces and peers up at the sunset painting the sky. “I’m not sure we have the time to clear out an entire supermarket for the night, not with how close it is to nightfall.”
“It might be our only option.” Especially since, if the clock tower is intact, it’s reasonable to assume that the roof is too.
“A risky option, but not ouronlyoption,” he shoots back, still not convinced.
“Alright fine. It’s ourbestoption.”
“She’s right,” Alex says as he casts a dubious glance around the crumbling ruins. “We either clear the supermarket or we hole up in a building that may or may not fall in on us during the night.”
Theo voices his agreement, leaving Rhys as the only holdout.
He glares at the surrounding ruins with a clenched jaw for a moment before sighing heavily. “Fine. If it’s intact, we’ll clear it out.” He turns his glare in my direction and points at me. “You’ll stay outside the building until it’s cleared.” It’s not a request.
My eyes narrow as irritation bubbles up inside me. I’m not completely useless in a fight against zombies. I thought I’d already shown that, but apparently not.
“Remember what I said the other day. Don’t think I won’t break out the rope, princess,” he threatens before I can snap at him.
I tighten my hands on the reins and grind my jaw.
Theo whistles. “Rope? I didn’t realise things had got kinky between you two.” His eyes sparkle as he glances between Rhys and me. “Don’t worry, Ollie. He’s very experienced with them.” He winks.
Images of Rhys using ropes in averydifferent scenario flash in my mind. Rough material wrapped around my wrists, binding them behind my back as I’m bent over a bed. My body quivering with anticipation as calloused hands smooth down my naked back and ass. If those fingers dipped lower, they’d find me hot, slick and desperate.
