Page 87 of Hunt Me
‘I’ll never let anyone hurt you ever again,’he promises, kissing away a tear that has burst free.‘I promise always to protect you, Fauna.’
I let in a shaky breath, unable to get any words out. I settle for a watery smile. And because it feels so right I lean into him searching for a kiss.
Our lips crash against each other, hungry for the contact and intimacy of one another. The urgency between my movements is like I can’t get enough of him, like I will crumble without him. Ipull his head closer, and he matches my demands by tightening his grip on me.
I moan as his tongue tangles with my own, the taste of him electrifying.
‘Fuck me, this hole is one tight fucker.’
We break apart, panting as Ruaridh turns our bodies to look at a red-faced Liam struggling to pull his massive body from the tunnel.
Not able to help myself, I burst out into laughter. Liam is far too big for such a tight space, which, when I think about it, it is an absolute mystery how Ruaridh managed to get him and me up here without so much as one complaint. Sweat beads on his brow, his blonde shaggy hair clumping together with dampness as he plants his palms flat against the ground and pushes.
Ruaridh’s eyes volley between my own and Liam’s struggling body for a second before I feel his torso shake with laughter. A small snort comes from him, and it only causes me to laugh harder.
‘Maybe you should lay off the roasties, seems like you’ve gained a wee bit—’
‘Don’t,’Liam pants,‘you dare finish that sentence. I could never break Pam’s heart like that. You know how much she loves feeding me her roasties. Plus, it’s my winter weight. No need to be mean about it.’He pouts as he dumps himself on the floor, putting as much space between him and the small hole he just climbed from.
‘Winter weight,’Ruaridh scoffs.‘So what are you going to do now that it's spring?’
Liam gazes up at the sky, now a light blue with the early morning sun.‘Fuck if a na, be a spring chicken. That’s a thing, right?’
‘Spring chicken means you’re young, dafty.’
He gasps,‘I am young.’
I look over his appearance. His ragged blonde hair gives him a cheeky look about him like he’s a troublemaker of sorts. His face is weather-worn, and the short beard he’s growing doesn’t make him look like the spring chicken he’s on about, but his smile and kind eyes all hold the youth and hope he exudes.
‘I’m twenty-one, you cheeky fucker.’
Ruaridh folds forward in laughter and, in doing so, makes me squeal as my head feels like it is inches from hitting the ground.‘You were twenty-one when the virus hit — seven years ago.’
Liam clucks his tongue at Ruaridh,‘Everyone knows these apocalypse years don’t count. We’re in limbo, sweet pea. We don’t age.’
He gets up and brushes his hands on his camouflage-coloured trousers. I’m inclined to agree with him on that one. It doesn’t feel fair that I missed out on so many milestones in my life — getting a driver’s license and buying my first legal drink.
‘I told you not to fucking call me that,’Ruaridh seethes, his jaw clenched tight.
I giggle.
‘You find that funny, baby?’He asks, his face softening at my amusement.
Liam snorts,‘Never thought I’d see the day that you, of all people, would turn into a soft shite.’
Ruaridh ignores Liam’s taunts. His attention is wholly focused on me, and I feel my cheeks redden at the heat of his gaze. I could get lost in his eyes, their promises of sanctuary and home.
‘You came for me,’I whisper.
‘I will always come for you, little deer. I told you, you’re mine.’
Butterflies dance around my stomach, and a genuine smile, one I haven’t given anyone but this man — not even the girls — invades my face, and I can’t find a single reason for it to leave.
A weird croaking noise comes from behind me — like someone’s half gagging, half choking. Ruaridh’s eyes darken as they flick behind me, and I follow their direction instantly. Looking over my shoulder, Liam is dramatically fake heaving as he mimes throwing up.
‘Ru, you need to stop before you kill me with your soppiness. I swear I can’t handle any more of it.’Liam begs, wiping away fake tears.
‘Fuck off before I shove you back down that hole.’
