Page 33 of Demon Shock

“Any questions?” Bram asked.

She shook her head, and he looked at me.

“Watch for anyone following our tracks,” I said. “You’re in the open. If you need to leave, leave. I’ll track you.”

“We will. Hurry up so we don’t worry.” Bram clapped me on the back then got into Ava’s truck.

Ava turned toward me, and my palms started to sweat.

Since leaving her bed this morning, I’d been looking forward to holding her soft body against mine again. I imagined her naked against me. No shirt and no underwear. Just skin against skin.

“Are you okay?” Ava asked.

I blinked myself back to the moment and her pretty, amused smile.

“It looked like I lost you there for a second.”

“You will never lose me. I promise.”

Her smile grew. “You might if we have to run. I saw how fast you can move. There’s no way I could keep up with you. Are you ready to start walking?”

I wiped my palms against my legs. “Can I carry you? It will be faster.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I know you’re strong enough, but it’s eight miles.”

“I’m sure.”

She stretched her arms out from her sides. “Have at it, then.”

I had her in my arms a second later and fought not to rub against her like Pete did.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

AVA

Being lifted so quickly startleda squeak out of me, and I grabbed onto Gyrik.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” I said, looking up at him.

He blinked at me.

Bram’s warning that people would shoot Gyrik at first sight made his blink of confusion more endearing. Gyrik didn’t look scary enough to shoot at. In fact, he didn’t look scary anymore, not even with his cat-like eyes, which were slowly dilating as he studied me.

“You picked me up faster than I’d expected,” I explained. “It wasn’t bad. Just surprised me.”

He grunted and held me more securely as I looked at Bram and gave him a thumbs-up through the windshield.

“You will want to tuck your face against me before I start running,” Gyrik said, drawing my attention again.

I looked up at him. “You’re going to run with me?”

“Yes. It’s faster.”

I thought about how he’d run around the vehicles, killing infected, and made a face.

“It’s going to be really fast, isn't it?”

“Yes. Tell me if you get cold, and I will stop to warm you.”

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