The Withered Series (Book 1): Wither (24 page)

“I
think that Moaner came from around here.”

He
stuffs his hands in his pockets as he pauses.  I can’t
help but wonder if he’s got his knife hidden there. It wouldn’t
surprise me. “Ok, let’s say that you are right. That
somehow one of those things had the capability of thought and reason.
 What makes you think it’s from around here?”

“Because
he was wearing a camouflage jacket, just like the one I found inside
the cabin for you.”

“This
area is bound to have a lot of hunters. There are rednecks
everywhere!  It might not mean anything.”

“Or
it could.  We should warn Alex, either way.”

Tugging
the towel from my shoulder, I bend over and wrap it around my head.
 Cable’s stern expression cracks when I rise back up and
twirl it around my head.  “Not a word,” I growl and
begin tromping back through the woods.

Cable
follows close behind but not so close that I feel as if he’s
invading my personal space.
Ha.
It’s kinda hard not to when the guy just saw me naked!

I
glance back over my shoulder. Cable has grown quiet, introspective
during the five minute hike back.  I wonder what he’s
thinking about.  Surely it can’t be me.  At least I
hope seeing me naked wouldn’t put that sort of sour expression
on his face.

Why
the heck do I care what he thinks about seeing me naked? It was a
mistake. One I’m not about to repeat any time soon!

As
the light from the cabin finally comes into view I pause and turn,
placing my hand on his chest to stop him.  He stares at my hand.
Through the thin layers of his shirt I can feel the thumping of his
heart, feel the heat trapped within.  “Look, before we go
back in there I just want to say thank you for coming after me.  I
don’t blame you for seeing me naked.  I mean, it happens,
right?”

“Sure.”
 He shifts his weight to his right foot and looks away.  “Though
that’s not quite how I imagined it happening.”

My
lips part in surprise.  Did he just say he imagined seeing me
naked?

I
clear my throat and try to gather my frantic thoughts. Raising my
hand from his chest, I place it against his cheek until he looks back
to me.  “You’re the only friend I’ve got now,
Cable.  I don’t want things to be weird between us.”

But
I know they will just by the look in his eye.  Cable wants me
and I’m starting to think that the feeling is far more mutual
than I would like to admit.

I
listen to the steady rise and fall of breathing coming from the lower
floor. The door to Alex and Victoria’s room is partially open,
per her request.  Alex humors the old lady, simply so he won’t
have to hear her ranting about how it’s not safe to sleep near
strange men, apparently even at her age.  Sal is sacked out in
the recliner, no doubt drooling on himself again.

There’s
no way to tell time but I feel as if I’ve lain awake most of
the night.  The heat of Cable’s back presses against mine
but for once, it feels suffocating instead of inviting.  Every
time I inch away from him I feel emptiness and sink back.  

I’m
messed up. That’s the only explanation
.
I punch at my pillow in frustration that only comes from hours of
staring blankly at the ceiling.  When I do, Cable stirs.  I
hold perfectly still as he rolls over and presses up against me.  His
arm winds around my waist.

My
lungs go through a temporary paralysis as he pulls me closer to him.
 I am hyper aware of every part of his body that brushes against
me as he shifts: the feel of his hand curling around my hip, the
weight of his arm along my side and the gentle breath against my neck
that makes me shiver.

His
legs curl in around behind mine, molding perfectly to me.  I
suck in only tiny breaths, terrified of waking him, of shifting
enough to bring him out of his dream.  His fingers tense against
my hip and I bite my lip, trying desperately not to think about how
good it feels to be touched.  It’s been a long time since
I let anyone get close like this.

Sure
there were guys along the way, but I hardly remember their faces.
 They were needs that were met, nothing more.  Cable is
different, no matter how much I wish he weren’t.

Would
it really be so wrong to encourage him?  Just once?

I
press back into him and close my eyes, imagining what it would be
like for his arms to wrap around me, to hold me.  The feel of
his hands on my bare skin, his lips trailing down my neck.  My
pulse jumps at the thought of feeling him above me, moving together
in unison.  

A
warm tingle begins in my abdomen and grows, expanding outward as my
thoughts turn to things best left to the dark.  My fingers curl
around the covers as I bite my lower lip.  My breath catches as
I imagine the feel of his hands on my breasts, kneading and teasing.

I
turn my head and rock my hips back into him.  I pause, waiting
for a reaction.  My skin is warm, sensitive to each breath that
washes over my bare shoulder.  My tank top suddenly feels
restrictive and I long to be free. To let the cold night air soothe
the fire raging within.

Cable
breathes heavily behind me as I grind my hips against him.  He
stirs in his sleep, his fingers curling against my hip.  A
breathy groan escape between his lips and I nearly lose it.  

There’s
no going back now.  Not now that I’m consumed with need.

I
reach back and grasp his hand, slowly drawing it over my hip and down
between my legs.  I press his fingers against me and turn my
head to stifle a moan into my pillow.  

The
muscles in his forearm go rigid and I know he’s awake.  He
angles his hips away from my ass, obviously aware of how tightly he
was pressed against me.  “Avery, what are you doing?”

“I
can’t sleep,” I whisper, rolling my face so that his
mouth is beside my ear.  

“I
can see that.”

“Am
I bothering you?”  I bite on my lower lip and he
hesitates.  His fingers flinch against me and a shiver trickles
down my spine.

“I
wouldn’t call it bothering.” I clench my legs around his
hand and his breath grows haggard.  “Stop.”

“Why?”

“Because
I’m trying to be a nice guy right now and you’re making
me forgot my reasons for doing that!”

I
smile into the dark.  “Maybe I don’t want you to be
a nice guy right now.”

He
goes completely still behind me.  “Avery, I don't think
this is such a good—”

“No.”
 I release his hand from between my legs and push away so that I
can roll over and face him.  I place a finger against his lips
to silence him when he starts to speak. “Hear me out.”

I
wait for him to protest, to pull away and try to stop me again, but
he doesn’t.  Maybe I’ve affected him more than I
thought.

“I
get that you care for me and you know me well enough to know that I
don’t let people in.  Not people that I could feel for.
 I’ve lost a lot of people in my life and I’ve dealt
with it, but sometimes I just need to be held.  Not because it
means something or that I’m looking for some deep bullshit
connection, but because it’s what I need.  Just one night
of not caring, of not worrying about how long I have to fight to
survive in this god forsaken world.  One night to feel something
other than this blasted cold or endless hunger. I need this.”

The
darkness is so complete that I can’t see his expression, read
the fear or doubt in his eyes.  I know it’s there. He’s
always trying to find ways to protect me, even from himself I’d
imagine, if the situation called for it.  Cable wants me. I saw
it plainly etched into his face earlier tonight and felt the evidence
pressed against my backside only a moment ago, but there is another
emotion that I saw lingering in his gaze and
that
something needs to stay buried tonight.

I
push on his shoulder until he sinks onto his back.  I rise
beside him and extend my leg over his waist, my movements slow and
cautious.  His skin feels blistering hot as I settle down on
him.  His abdominal muscles are taut, his arms rigid on either
side of my legs as I run my hands over the hard contours of his chest
to hold his shoulders  I wait for him to push me away, to tell
me no, but he doesn’t.  

“Say
something.” I lean down and whisper into his ear.  The dry
strands of my hair tickle his chest.

He
doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak.  I can practically hear
the battle raging in his mind and start to pull away, knowing that
his honorable side will win out, but he stops me with two little
words.

“One
night,” he vows as he reaches up and cups the back of my neck,
crushing his lips against mine. My fingers curl around his shoulders
as I press into him.  My mess of curls spills around his face.

His
hand rises from my neck and winds through my hair, holding me in
place.  His free hands squeezes my thigh, his fingers achingly
close to where I long most to be touched.  Cable’s kiss is
long and deep, breaking apart only when he’s forced to gasp for
breath.  His chest heaves as I hover over him.  I smile as
he lifts his head to stroke my bruised lips with the tip of his
tongue.

I
love his scent. The taste of his lips.  I don’t pull away
as he claims my mouth once more.  I wind my hands down from his
neck, tracing the muscles that flex as he pushes upright and settles
me firmly around his lap.

I
explore freely, savoring the rise and fall of the muscles lining his
arms and across his defined chest and abdomen as his tongue explores
mine.  His skin pimples beneath my touch as I trail my fingers
down to the path of hair leading beneath me.

I
can feel him pressing urgently against me and bite my lip as he
thrusts his hips.  I shake my head, breaking the kiss, wanting
to lengthen the moment yet desperate for release.  I grind back
against him and enjoy each flinch and groan that he makes.

“Shit,
Avery” He rolls his head to the side as I dip my hand down
between my legs and grab hold of him.  “You’re going
to be the death of me.”

I
lean down and nibble on his lower lip.  “At least you will
enjoy it.”

“More
than you know.”  He wraps his arms around me, sealing me
into his embrace.  He is scorching against my chilled skin.

I’ve
always known Cable was strong, but observing it before and feeling it
now are two very different experiences.  I melt against his
touch as his hand rises to my waist, pushing my hips to create
friction.  My hips grind against him until I’m desperate
for more.  I break off the kiss and grasp the hem of my shirt,
tugging it over my head.

“I
can’t see you,” he growls, his fingers digging into my
side.

Curling
my back, I lean down and nip at his ear.  My breasts graze along
his chest and he arches up into me. The sensation of his bare skin
against my swollen nipples wrenches a moan from my lips as I rock.
  “You saw me earlier.”

“It’s
not the same.”  His hands move restlessly along my bare
back, tugging and pushing.

Grasping
his hands, I place them on my chest, filling his palms. I lean into
him, resting my head atop his as he begins kneading my breasts.
 “Then memorize me with your hands.”

My
skin aches with sensitivity as his thumbs swirl around my tender
flesh, pinching and tugging me into oblivion.  My breath catches
as he lowers his head and sucks my nipple into his mouth.  My
hips buck as I hold his head, begging him not to stop.  

A
groan rises from deep in his chest as I push back into him, grinding
then pulling away.  A flush grips me as I roll off him and rise
from the bed, shedding the last of my clothes in a rush.  I
can’t wait any longer.

The
bedsprings squeak and I smile, knowing that he’s in no mood to
linger either.

Kneeling
on the bed, I prepare to straddle him again but he grasps my arms and
rolls on top of me, pinning me down.  The scent of his skin is
heady as I bite at his neck, my nails raking down his back.  His
growl echoes in my ear as he spreads my leg with his knee and buries
himself inside me.  I wrap my arms possessively around him.

The
bed squeaks and groans as Cable finds a rhythm that leaves me
breathless and wanting. I rock with him, whispering in his ear,
urging him on.  He follows every command, every plea for him to
speed up or slow down.  He draws himself back, taking me to the
edge of frustration them slams hard, stealing my breath away.

Raising
my hands overhead, I grip the wooden bars of the bed and bury my face
in my arm.  Small whimpers escape my throat, fueling his
thrusts.  Sweat clings to my body as I wrap my legs around him,
arching upward so that he sinks deep.

“Look
at me,” he demands.

I
roll my head and stare up at him, startled to realize that I can make
out the contours of his face.  I release my grip on the bed and
wrap my arms around his neck, drawing him close.  “I see
you.”

The
headboard beats against the wall with increasing speed.  I buck
my hips up into him, increasing the friction between us.  His
head arches back and the muscles along his neck pull taut as he
thrusts one final time.  Goosebumps rise along his arms.  His
arms strain with exertion before he collapses, nestling his head
against my cheek.  

I
hold him, feeling a tingling warmth spreading through my body.  His
chest rises and falls rapidly.  He gulps in breath, wrapping his
arms around me.

“Thank
you,” I whisper as his breathing slows.

He
raises his head.  His skin is clammy, sensitive to the touch as
I glide my fingers over his arms.  He flinches as I reach his
side and trail down to his waist.  “For what?”

I
smile and brush the matted hair back from his forehead.  “For
giving me what I need.”