Same old, same old.
When the view from the front got dul he meandered over to the side, followed soon thereafter by the back. He skulked about, not letting himself catch too much of the two bodies entwined.
Yep, he didn’t see Finn’s hand kneading the muscles of his girl’s neck. He also didn’t see her sleeping like a baby, curled up and draped over him, out like a light.
And he especially didn’t need to see what the kid was packing behind his zipper. No matter how pronounced it might be.
“I hate you, man,” Finn bitched, somehow making everything better.
Daniel smiled.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Al? Al. You have to wake up.”
Problem was she didn’t want to. Really, honest to God, did not want to.
And they couldn’t make her.
Screw them.
Her face pounded, and her brain ached like a rusty nail had been embedded deep. The worst of hangovers didn’t measure up to this.
“Al?”
Despite it all, he had a really nice voice. Low, smooth, and … earnest, that was what it was. Earnest was the word for the day, earnest and sleep. Besides, her bed smelt nice. The sort of warm, male scent her hormones cried out to curl up to. No way she’d move.
“Come on, Al. Time to make a move.” Earnest turned edgy, not at all in keeping with her mellow, no-moving frame of mind. Best if she ignored it. But a hand gripped her chin, tilting it upward, and the voice went al hard-assed and demanding. “Al, wake up. Now.”
She huffed, but did as directed. Pale green eyes set in a breathtaking face watched her determinedly in the pre-dawn light. Holy shit.
“Finn?”
The hows and wheres of her situation took a moment to hit home. When they did, the embarrassment floored her. She stopped breathing for a moment. No morning after walk of shame could measure up to this.
“Hey,” he said calmly.
“Hi,” she croaked.
“You had me worried, I couldn’t rouse you. Come on, we’re making a move.” He sat up, taking her with him on account of her being wrapped around him like melted plastic. “We think they drank themselves unconscious. There hasn’t been any noise for over an hour.
The infected have dispersed with dawn coming. Streets are clear.”
“Okay.” Business. Right. She could talk business and peel herself off him at the same time. Hurrah for multi-tasking.
“Could it be a trap?” she asked, hand fumbling on the ground for her gun. Her gun. Shit. Her shotgun had been lost yesterday. She had loved her gun, stupidly enough. The rabbity heart squirmed in her chest.
“Here.” Daniel pressed a pistol into her hand before planting a kiss on her forehead. Reading her right. He was magic. “Good to go?”
“Absolutely.” She grabbed onto him, the human rock that he was. Used his greater weight to pull herself onto her knees and off Finn, whom she had no business being plastered over. “What’s the plan?”
“We run.” Daniel informed her with al due sincerity.
“Huh. One day soon can the plan involve a touch more complexity? Not that I’m complaining or anything.”
“Complain, you? Never. You’re a constant delight.”
Right before she could tel him how ful of it he was Daniel grinned and slid his hand behind her head. He drew her forward and sealed his lips to hers.
Firm lips and a wet warm mouth setting her head to spinning. The best medicine in the world.
He really was magic. And he still wanted her, his hunger right there, open and honest. A part of her had forgotten in all the confusion and fear of yesterday, but he was giving it back to her in spades, right when she needed it most.
God, I needed that.
“Anytime, anyplace,” Daniel murmured before letting her go, smirk firm on his face.
“I said that out loud?” she asked.
“Yes,” Finn confirmed. “You did.”
The man pulled on his pack, careful y setting the mended strap on his shoulder alongside the dressing covering his wound. The ripped neck of his t-shirt hung caked with dried blood.
He was a sublime mess. Sandy hair all untidy and stubble lining his elegant jaw took her breath away. Women attempting to cozy up to him would be no new thing, but she hadn’t woken up smeared over a stranger for years.
Or at least a couple of days.
Looking at him, it was easy to forget what he was capable of. The killing he had done had saved their lives. The debt she owed him was massive.
“I can take it for you.” She pointed at his backpack, tried for a smile of competence, though it probably fell short. “You should be careful with your shoulder.”
“Thanks, no. Pack’s pretty heavy. You keep yourself upright and moving. We’ll do great.” Finn made no eye contact, checked over his gun, tone curt, professional.
That told her. She pushed back her shoulders and drew a deep breath. Embarrassment oozed out of her pores.
“Finn, I’m really sorry I was all over you.”