“I won’t pretend that I’m happy you brought all these people here,” he says as he snaps his attention back to me. “But I’m relieved that you returned yourselves and the women who were taken unscathed. Don’t make a habit of picking up more strays.” He turns and strides away.
While it’s not the glowing warmth and relief Elsa and Katherine had, it’s the best I’m going to get from him. The guy is more uptight and stoic than any military officer I’ve ever met; including myself.
“I see Charles still has that rod firmly inserted into his asshole,” Theo says drily from my right.
Alex snorts as he sidles up on my other side. “I thought the guy was going to burst a blood vessel when he saw all the newcomers out here.”
I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “At least he seems on board with beefing up our security here.”Eventually. I glance around, frowning when I don’t see the familiar chestnut hair. “Where’s Ollie?”
A shit-eating grin spreads across Theo’s lips. “Are you also in denial?”
I roll my eyes. This must have been what Ollie was complaining about earlier when she said people were ganging up on her. “No, but I also need to earn back the trust I lost when I was a massive prick to her.”
Theo’s eyebrows shoot upward, but Alex nods like he’s been expecting that answer.
“Good,” he says as he places a large hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “That’s the right thing to do.”
Theo huffs. “Fine. But don’t take too long. Fuck knows this relationship should have been solidified over a week ago.”
“None of this has answered my question,” I say, ignoring him. He’s just being his usual drama queen self. “Where’s Ollie?”
“Why do you want to know?” Theo asks, still pouting.
“Because I figured she’s moving in with us considering she’s fucking the two of you and, I don’t know about you, but I’m dying for a hot shower and food that doesn’t come from a tiny tin or needs to be rehydrated.”
“Oh.”
Alex shakes his head. “Last I saw her, she was talking with her brother off to the side.” He glances over his shoulder and frowns. “Although I only see him and I think that’s his wife.”
“Come on. Let’s go find her so we can show her where she’ll be living.”And so I can grab an actual shower. Just the thought of hot water cascading down my shoulders and back is enough to have me hurrying as I stride off in search of her.
It doesn’t take long for us to locate her. She’s standing next to a massive man who appears to be in his late fifties to early sixties, with greying hair and a tanned, weathered face. He has his hand on her shoulder, gazing down at her with a mixture of awe, relief, and joy as he talks to her. Harlow is still racing around her, kicking up mud and water as she zooms around like a bat out of hell.
“I still can’t thank you enough for bringing her back home alive and safe,” the large man says as he squeezes her shoulder.
Ollie waves his off. “It’s fine. I’m just glad we all made it back in one piece.” Her eyes flick past him to land on me and light up in a way that has warmth unfurling in my chest. “Hey, Rhys,” she says with a smile. “I’d like you to meet Rachel’s dad and our next-door neighbour, Andy. Andy, this is Rhys; he’s one of the guys who helped me, and I may have saved him a time or two.” Her smile turns mischievous. “Or three.”
“Good to meet you,” I say to Andy before turning to Ollie with a cocked eyebrow. “And I seem to remember saving your ass the first time we met, princess.”
Andy laughs and pats me on the back. “I can believe it. Did she tell you of how we first met?” His eyes twinkle with mirth. “This little thing had got bucked off her horse and had a zombie crawling around on top of her. And instead of using the knife she had, she grabs a bloody arrow and stabs the thing in the head with it. Then, instead of trying to get the creature off her, she just lies there and giggles her head off.”
Ollie makes an indignant noise. “Well,excuse mefor having a mental breakdown after killing my first zombie!” she shoots back as she crosses her arms over her chest. She looks like a pissed-off kitten.
That only makes Andy laugh more, and even I can’t stop my lips from twitching.
“Besides, I used a knife when—” She cuts herself off as the blood drains from her face and her eyes turn haunted. “Never mind.”
My amusement dies as I realise when she’d been about to say.She used a knife when she killed her first living person. For me. Guilt gnaws at my chest. Hesitantly, I curl my arm around her shoulder and pull her against me. “You did what you had to,” I remind her softly as I squeeze her gently.
She swallows hard and nods before burying her face into my chest.
I stand there, stunned for a moment. This is the first time I’ve actually touched her, held her, and it’s… nice. Better than nice, actually. It’s addictive. The way her body melts into me, how her head tucks perfectly beneath my chin, and how warm and soft andrightshe feels pressedagainst me. How have I survived this long without knowing how good she feels in my arms? It’s perfect.
She’sperfect.
And I’m fucked.
Andy gazes at the two of us, the amusement gone from his face and replaced with a knowing look in his eyes. He nods his head at me, content with how Ollie presses against me. “It was good getting to meet you, Rhys, and thank you for helping her,” he says softly before striding off, leaving me alone with Ollie.
