Page 159 of Darling Wildfire
I actually gasped. I didn’t know where to look first. The firearms were backlit on the walls in various models and calibers. It looked like a scene out of a spy movie. Atlas made a beeline to the sniper rifles lining one wall.
“Damn, Pyro,” I said, throwing my arm around Knight. “Holding out for an apocalypse?”
“Can never be too prepared,” he chuckled. “Help yourselves to anything. Ammo is through that door.”
I couldn’t help rushing towards the far door. I pushed it open to reveal an equally large room with pallets of all different caliber of ammo.
“Fuck,” I exclaimed.
“Like kids in a candy shop,” North chuckled.
“Don’t act like your trigger finger didn’t just get real itchy,” Knight laughed.
North walked over to the handguns and picked up two .45s. Checking them over, he grabbed an AR and a few knives for good measure before heading in to stock up on ammo. Atlas was already gathering up rounds for his rifle and other selections.
But I’d seen something even more enticing.
I was hoisting up the RPG when I heard North from the other room.
“We’re not taking that with us,” he said loudly, not even looking up from the box he was rifling through.
“There is always a use for one of these,” I insisted.
“No,” North stated.
“Party pooper,” I frowned and reluctantly put it down.
Knight walked past me and hit my arm. “Check this out.”
He pushed open another panel.
“Holy shit,” I breathed. Knight pulled out a freakin’ flame thrower. I knew I liked this guy.
“This is my baby,” Knight said.
“You’re not bringing that either,” North called.
“Don’t listen to him,” I whispered loudly.
“You’ll light the entire forest on fire,” North insisted.
“I will not,” Knight argued. “I managed not to set this one on fire.”
“That’s not what I saw,” North chuckled.
“Fine, I didn’t burn theentirething down,” Knight amended.
We spent the next few minutes packing duffle bags with additional weapons and ammo before heading back upstairs—sans grenade launcher and flamethrower—amidst complaints from me and Knight. I looked over at Atlas who looked just as happy as I did lugging a duffle of firepower up the stairs. We deposited the bags near the door. I watched his muscles bunch and ripple under the t-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders.
This entire week I’d been stepping carefully around him because I didn’t know what to do. I was attracted to him—there was no denying he was one hot viking piece of ass—but I still had to get used to the fact that if I wanted to touch him…I could. No one was watching, well besides North and he’d probably enjoy it.
We could be intimate. But for the first time in my life I was terrified. More terrified than if a gun was pointed at me. This was different and yes, it’s definitely fucked up to not be afraid of death but terrified of intimacy—I know that.
It was alsofearof the unknown. I was afraid of what could change if I crossed the line. What if we tried to be something and it didn’t work? We had a plan to execute and I didn’t want anything to get in the way of that.
My eyes traveled up his chest and clashed with a pair of intense green eyes glimmering with humor. I could feel a blush creeping up my neck.
Fuck me—how come he always made me feel like a teenager with a crush?
