Page 21 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

ARKON

Iwoke to the soft dawn filtering through the jungle canopy, casting dappled light over us. Samira was nestled against me, her warm body pressed close, her steady breathing brushing my skin. Her scent wrapped around me, warm and familiar, and I savored the moment, remembering how she’d clung to me in her sleep, desperate for comfort against her nightmares.

But the reality of it crept in, breaking the spell. I was a Vinduthi bounty hunter, and she was… what? A target? An asset? None of those labels felt right, but I forced myself to ease away from her, careful not to wake her. She stirred, her brow furrowing, lips parting in a faint whisper of my name. My fingers twitched, tempted to smooth the crease from her forehead, to ease her back into peaceful sleep, but I stopped myself. Instead, I grabbed my pack, busying myself with our meager supplies.

A few minutes later, Samira sat up, rubbing her eyes, looking so disoriented and soft that it made my chest ache. She caught me watching her and gave a small, sleepy smile. “Morning.”

I straightened up, suddenly tense. “We should… uh, we should move soon,” I said, voice gruffer than intended.

She blinked, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Good morning to you, too.” She shifted to her feet, hermovements fluid as she adjusted her pack. I watched her hands, noting the way her fingers moved with a quiet confidence. When had I started noticing those details?

“Did you… sleep well?” I asked, clearing my throat, trying to keep my voice casual.

Her gaze flicked up to meet mine, then darted away just as quickly. “Better than I thought I would.” She paused, glancing at me from beneath her lashes. “Thanks to you.”

The tension between us was thick and tangled, and it only seemed to grow in the silence. I nodded, trying to ignore the heat crawling up my neck. “Good. That’s… good.”

She tilted her head, watching me with a curious intensity, like she was searching for something in my expression. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice soft. “For last night. For… being there.”

Our eyes met, and the words lodged in my throat. A simple nod was all I managed, too aware of how close we stood, of how her hand hovered near mine, almost, but not quite, brushing my fingers.

After a beat, she turned away, resuming her work, though her cheeks were flushed, and I could tell she was just as rattled. We packed in silence, both of us stealing glances, both pretending not to notice the other’s gaze. The unspoken tension simmered between us, an electric current we couldn’t acknowledge but couldn’t ignore.

We set out, me taking point. But my mind kept drifting back to last night. Samira’s vulnerability as she’d described her nightmares. The trust in her eyes as she’d allowed me to hold her.

I shook myself out of it. We had a mission. Stopping the Consortium’s mind-control scheme was more important than... whatever this thing between us was becoming.

A steep incline loomed ahead. I held out a hand to help Samira up the treacherous slope. She took it without hesitation, her fingers intertwining with mine. The simple touch sent a fire coursing through me.

At the top, I pulled her up perhaps a bit too forcefully. She stumbled against my chest. For a heartbeat, we stood there, bodies pressed close. I could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breathing.

“Thanks,” Samira murmured, not quite meeting my eyes as she stepped back.

This was getting dangerous. I needed to maintain professional distance. But with every passing hour, that resolve weakened.

We pressed on through the dense foliage. I constantly scanned for threats, both to our safety and to my rapidly crumbling emotional walls.

The midday sun beat down on us as we found a small clearing to rest. I pulled out our meager rations, dividing them equally. Samira settled beside me, close enough that her arm brushed mine as she reached for her share. We ate in silence, the jungle’s constant hum of life surrounding us.

I caught myself staring at Samira, watching the way she delicately picked apart a piece of dried fruit. A stray lock of hair fell across her face, and I had to fight the urge to brush it back. She glanced up, catching me looking. I quickly averted my gaze, focusing intently on my own food.

“How much farther do you think?” Samira asked, breaking the silence.

I rubbed the back of my neck, my skin prickling with a heat I couldn’t shake. “If we maintain this pace, we should reach the abandoned outpost by nightfall tomorrow.”

She nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. “And then?”

“And then we synthesize your counteragent,” I nodded. “And hope it works.”

Samira’s hand found mine, squeezing gently. “It will work. It has to.”

I looked down at our joined hands, my gray skin a stark contrast to her warm brown. When had this become so... comfortable? I should pull away, maintain that professional distance. But I didn’t. Instead, I squeezed back.

“We’ll figure it out,” I said, surprising myself with the softness in my voice. “Together.”

A twig snapped nearby, shattering the moment. I was on my feet in an instant, positioning myself between Samira and the sound. The bushes to our left rustled violently, and then they burst forth.

Six monstrous creatures burst from the undergrowth, their chitinous bodies gleaming in the dappled sunlight. They were like nothing I’d ever seen. Each beast had six legs tipped with wicked claws, and serrated mandibles that clicked menacingly as they advanced.

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