Ch - XVI The Unexpected

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Macy? Macy. You have to wake up.” Finn tried to wake her.

Problem was that she didn’t want to. Really, honest to god, she did not want to.

And they couldn’t make her awake.

Screw them it means.

Her face pounded when she got hurt, and her brain ached like a rusty nail had been embedded deep. The worst of hangovers didn’t measure up to this.

“Macy?” Finn tried to wake her again.

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 would she move.

“Come on, Macy. Time to make a move.” Earnest turned edgy, not at all in keeping with her sound sleep. Best if she ignored it. But a hand gripped her chin, tilting it upward, and the voice went Macy hard-assed and demanding. “MACY, Wake up. Now.”

She huffed, but did as directed. Pale blue eyes set in a breathtaking face watched her determinedly in the pre-dawn light. Holy s**t.

“Finn?” she said.

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,” Finn said calmly.

“Hi,” she croaked.

“You had me worried, I didn’t wanted to shock 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 searching on the ground for her gun. Her gun. S**t. Her shotgun had been lost yesterday. She had loved her gun, stupidly enough. The rabbity heart squirmed in her chest.

“Here.” Adrams pressed a pistol into her hand before planting a kiss on her forehead. Reading her right. He was magic. “Good to go?” he asked.

“Absolutely.” She grabbed onto him, the human rock that he was. Used his greater weight to pull herself onto her knees and off away from Finn, whom she had no business being plastered over with. “What’s the plan?” she asked.

“We run.” Adrams informed her with all due sincerity.

Right before she could tell him how full of it he was Adrams grinned and slide his hand behind her head. He drew her forward and sealed his lips to hers. *kiss*

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 a very high degree, right when she needed it most.

God, I needed that. She said without notice.

“Anytime, anyplace,” Adrams 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, carefully setting the strap on his shoulder alongside the dressing covering his wound. The ripped neck of his t-shirt hung with dried blood.

He was a mess. Sandy hair all untidy and lining of his elegant jaw took her breath away. Women attempting to cozy up to him would be no new thing.

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.” She said.

“Thanks, but no. Pack’s pretty heavy. You keep yourself upright and moving. We’ll do great.” Finn made no eye contact, checked over his gun, his tone little rudely intense, and mostly professional.

That told her. She pushed back her shoulders and drew a deep breath. Embarrassment felt out of her pores.

“Finn, I’m really sorry I was all over you.” Macy said.

“Relax, Macy. I knew I was signing on as a third wheel.” He replied.

Good. Great. So long as he wasn’t feeling used and abused because of her treating him like a couch. How had that come about anyway? The events of last night were fuzzy and distant in her battered head.

Finn glanced up, found her watching. His blank facial expression never changed. There was no chance of reading his thoughts. “How’s your headache?” he asked.

“It’s fine,” she replied coolly.

One brow rose. Perfectly.

She gave him a double thumbs-up, full of cheerfulness. “Upright and moving, no problem.”

“Really? Because you look like Tokyo after going a few rounds with Godzilla.” The lovely jawline tensed, cop eyes staring her down.

“No offense intended.” She said.

“None taken.” He replied.

Her face throbbed and tingled and was numb all at once. Managing a smile was an exercise in slow and awkward.

“Interesting reference though with Godzilla and … I don’t think we can be friends, after all.” Finn said.

A brow rose again questionable. It was a neat trick. “You always run from a challenge?” she said.

“Really? You failed to notice that?” he said.

A grin split on his face and her belly tumbled, the traitor. He was heavenly. Angels wished they could be so cool. “Why don’t we both make use of some of those pain killers?” he said.

Finn eased the pack back off his bad shoulder, rifled around until he found aspirin and a bottle of water. He picked up two tablets with careful fingers. “Open.” He asked and she did. He popped them on her tongue, then unscrewed the bottle of water and held it out to her.

“Drink.”

She did. “Thanks.”

He gave a nod. “You’re welcome. Don’t worry about last night.”

“Then thank you, again.” She replied.

“Why are we always stopping and chatting when we should be moving our asses?” Adrams made a sharp sound from the front of the house.

“Let’s go.” Finn urged her forward with a hand. “Do your new friend a favor and try not to get shot crossing that bridge out there, okay?”

Her rabbit heart stuttered again. “Yeah. Sure.” She said.

 

TO BE CONTINUED IN ~ CHAPTER XVII