Page 23 of Demon Shock

“Yes.”

“You don’t have to answer anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. I’m just curious how far you’ve gone with a woman.”

I could imagine his blink in the silence that followed.

“How far?” he said finally.

“Yeah.”

“Several have gone on supplies runs with us. We never stay out longer than a single day, though. So, I think maybe twenty miles.”

I ducked my face into Pete’s back to smother my humor. When I knew I wouldn’t laugh, I lifted my head and clarified.

“Have you ever held a woman’s hand?”

“No.”

“Hugged one?”

“I hugged you.”

“Anyone before me?”

“I’ve carried one. Does that count?”

“Not really.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Don’t be. Those are great answers. Good night, Gyrik.”

“Good night, Ava. Sleep well. You are safe. I promise.”

I closed my eyes and listened to Pete and Repeat's low purrs, grateful they weren’t my only companions tonight.

At some pointduring the night, the meager heat the house had accumulated from the few hours the furnace had run slowly bled away. The sleeping bag, which had started out uncomfortably warm, wasn’t enough to keep me warm, thanks to how I’d unzipped it to sprawl out.

I reached back to pull my underwear out of my crack then tugged the sleeping bag out from under Pete and Repeat.

“Are you cold?” Gyrik asked from the darkness.

I jumped, having forgotten for a moment where I was and that I wasn’t alone. Thankfully, it was dark, and he hadn’t witnessed me de-thonging my underwear.

“Yeah,” I said. “Sorry for waking you up.”

“I wasn’t sleeping.”

I heard him move, and I was plucked off the bed a second later. Startled, I grabbed onto Gyrik’s shoulders as he supported all my weight with one arm and used the other to straighten out the sleeping bag on the bed.

Gyrik radiated heat as he set me down again. His hands skimmed over my legs, tucking them into the sleeping bag before zipping me up. It happened so fast that I didn’t even register his touch until it was gone.

Shivering, I huddled in the sleeping bag, rubbing my legs together to warm them.

“Better?” he asked.

“Not really. I should probably put my pants on again.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

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