Page 29 of Demon Shock

We continued through Elk River at a steady pace without incident, and I breathed a little sigh of relief when we reached open road. After a few miles, we stopped so Gyrik could wash up.

Not wanting to test my stomach, I didn’t look to see why he needed to wash. But I had an imagination and could guess that he was probably covered in the blood of the people he’d beheaded. Rather than be sickened by the thought of it, I was sad for the role he had to play just because he was stronger and immune. I’d glimpsed how he’d had to run from one infected to the next, non-stop, while keeping up with the vehicles. He had to be tired.

“I’ll grab his clothes and do a sweep,” Zach said over the radio.

“Watch your feet,” Bram said in return.

“Stay here,” Zach said, handing me the radio.

I kept the cats close so they wouldn’t bolt and watched Zach withdraw a handgun I hadn’t known he’d been carrying inside his jacket. He glanced at me.

“Sometimes they get caught under the vehicles. Someone died that way. Bitten as they got out. Always make sure someone checks before you get out or jump clear so they can’t grab you if they're there.”

Without waiting for me to acknowledge the warning, he opened the door and jumped out like he was trying to avoid a puddle. Once he shut the door again, he slowly circled my truck from a safe distance. He did the same to the other two vehicles before climbing into the back of the main one.

I had so much to learn if I wanted to stay alive.

I glanced at Gyrik, who was standing in the middle of a snowy area beside the road. He was shirtless now and using handfuls of snow to clean his skin. Steam rose around him, proof of his warmer body temperature.

Mesmerized, I watched the play of his muscles as he moved, and Pete made another inquisitive sound.

“My thoughts exactly,” I said softly.

What exactly was Gyrik? Protector? Alien? Bodybuilder stud muffin? He checked so many boxes that it was hard to tell.

He bent down and pulled off his boots. Barefoot in the snow and completely unbothered by it.

Unable to look away, I watched him reach for his waist. I’d bet my bonus that he wasn’t wearing anything else under those leather pants. Did I want him to turn around so I could see? Should I shut my eyes in case he did?

The waistband loosened.

Repeat grumbled, and Pete made little questioning meeps.

Gyrik hooked his fingers in the material at his hips and tugged the molded material down. Inch by sculpted inch, he revealed his glutes.

I think I might be a biter. A nibbler at the bare minimum.

When the leather reached his knees, Gyrik bent slightly to grab the cuff of the pant leg clinging to his calf. The move revealed what hung low between his massively muscular thighs.

He was large all over.

I averted my gaze, and it collided with Zach’s, who was watching me from the back of the truck in front of us. He winked at me and hopped down from the truck.

Embarrassed that I was caught perving, a flush ignited in my cheeks.

“Hey, Gyrik. I’ve got some new clothes for you,” he called.

I closed my eyes and rested my head against the back of my seat. Could anyone really blame me for looking? Gyrik wasn’t human. Of course, I was curious. It was only natural.

Opening my eyes, I peeked again.

He was still turned away from me. This time, Zach stood beside him, saying things I probably wouldn’t like. And Gyrik was listening attentively.

I looked down at Pete and pulled him off my lap to hug him close to my chest.

Will Gyrik be mad that I’d looked? Offended because he just got done killing dozens of people?

Without a doubt, I was the worst person on the planet.

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