Hoping the outer building didn’t have a camera pointed at it or was wired, he left the cover of the hedge to reach the rear door. He jimmied the electronic lock, then slid inside.
Luckily it was empty except for a few tools and a pile of grass seed bags. Unfortunately, it was so bare that it offered them no cover whatsoever should anyone come in. Damn. Glancing around, he finally saw a small loft area over his head that would give them a tiny bit of cover.
Grateful for small favors, he went to the door and motioned Desideria forward.
She’d just left the cover of the trees when a light danced across the yard.
Caillen cursed.
Desideria hit the deck and flattened herself against the ground. For several seconds neither of them moved as they waited for discovery.
But the light didn’t return.
He listened with his amp and heard nothing. Assuming it was safe, he waved her toward him again.
She sprang to her feet and ran so fast that he barely saw her before she launched herself at him. The impact of her body sent them both tumbling into the building. It gave him a new appreciation for what it would take to defeat her in battle. She might be short, but she was strong and sturdy.
He lay on his back, staring up at her. “You know this would be infinitely better if we were both naked.”
She screwed her nose up at him. “You’re a pig.”
“Not really, Princess. Just a man. If you’d ever been around a real one and not the whelps who dote on your women, you’d understd that better. See what you’ve missed by drowning in the estrogen pool?”
She scoffed at him. “I happen to like the way the water there feels.”
He arched a taunting brow. “Is that why you have yet to climb off me?”
Desideria was horrified as she realized she hadn’t moved. Every bit of her body was lying against his hard, muscled one. And honestly, it felt good. Real good. Her face heating, she practically jumped away.
“Ah now that’s just rude,” he groused. “You know I did take a bath and everything. Several hours ago, but still.” He flipped to his feet, then grimaced as if he’d struck his leg the wrong way before he limped over to secure the door.
Even though she felt bad for his new ache, she didn’t respond as she looked around the stark interior of their new shelter. “How safe do you think this is?”
“Not very since the owners could walk in on us at any second.” He pointed up to the loft. “That shouldn’t be too bad though. It ought to keep us hidden until morning.”
“Do you really think the house is occupied?”
He gestured to a stack of boxes in the corner of the shed. “Yeah, it looks like someone’s been using it. Not to mention there’s no rodents or spiderwebs. Someone’s been keeping it clean.”
Figured.
He indicated the loft with a jerk of his chin. “I’ll help you up.”
Part of her was thrilled by his offer, but her pride wouldn’t let him think her weak. If he could move and act like he wasn’t in pain, so could she. “Thanks, but I don’t need help.”
Caillen watched her jump up, grab the rope and lift herself to the small opening, then climb through so that he couldn’t see her. Not one to be shown up for anything, he shot his grappling hook into the top crossbeam and let it jerk him from the ground to the loft, where he swung in next to her.
She tsked at him. “Show-off.”
He laughed as he recoiled his hook. “When you got it, baby. Flaunt it.”
Desideria pressed her lips together to keep from smiling at him. The last thing he needed was encouragement. But she had to admit he was adorable when he was being aggravating.
I must be high on pain. Only that would explain the bizarreness of her last thought.
Shrugging the backpack from his shoulder, he set it down and pulled out a small metal envelope of dehydrated food. “It’s not the best tasting, but it’ll keep us going.”
“I’m too hungry to even taste it.”
“Good. That’ll help.” He handed her a small foil pack of wine. “Save this to the end and then use it to kill the taste of the other.”
She arched a brow at his serious tone. “Done this a lot, have you?”
When he didn’t respond, she realized he had a habit of that whenever she brought up his past. Something about it really bothered him. He’d talk about his sisters, but not anything else.
What was back there that he was hiding?
She’d ask, but she knew it wouldn’t do her any good. So she tore into the foil and took a hesitant bite. Before she could stop herself, she shuddered.
“Yeah,” he breathed. “Soldiers affectionately call this S.S.”
“S.S.?”
“Shit shingles. And for more entertainment, they then try to say it three times fast.”
She laughed. “I would accuse you of lying, but I doubt that you are.”
“I’m not creative enough to make that up.” He took a bite and swallowed without the grimace she couldn’t help making at the mere thought of tasting it again.
All of a sudden, his comlink buzzed.
They exchanged a happy, stunned stare.
Caillen quickly jerked it out of his pack, put it in his ear and answered it. “Dagan here.”