Page 23 of Beyond the Storm
“No. Too tired.”
“Listen here, Slothy boy. I ain’t losing this game. We can nap after.”
My lids briefly closed despite my determination to stay awake. When they opened again, Mason was gone. My gaze darted around the area as I scouted the nearby buildings and potential hiding spots. It was quiet in paintball land. Too quiet.
I rolled to my back and stared up at the sky. The spring day was a bit chilly with the breeze, but the sun was out. It warmed my cheeks—the rest of me was covered in gear. I could totally fall asleep right there. My eyelids got heavier and closed again.
A small nap wouldn’t hurt. Just five minutes, and then I’d be ready to kick Mason’s butt.
A familiar scent tickled my nose. Instantly, I turned to butter and melted more against the rooftop, my muscles relaxing more and more. It was my favorite smell in the whole world. And with my favorite smell? A warm caress to my cheek.
“Bang,” a sexy voice whispered in my ear. Today was awesome. I had my favorite smell, touch, and sound at the same time. All belonging to—
“Mason.” My eyes snapped open.
He hovered over me, his cognac eyes twinkling with a smile. Those sexy muscled arms rested on each side of my body. “Hey, angel.”
“Oh no,” I said before yawning. “My location’s been compromised. Must abort mission.”
“There’s only one way this ends.” Mason played with a piece of my hair that stuck out from beneath my protective goggles. “You wearing my mark.”
“You can’t shoot me,” I challenged him. “Not when I’m so vulnerable. I’m also too cute.”
“Yeah? You think you’re too cute to lose?”
I nodded. “I think you should forfeit the match. It’s the only logical solution.”
“Let you win? That wouldn’t be a true victory.” Amusement rang in Mason’s voice. “Then again, you’ve never played fair. All it takes is you batting those big brown eyes at me and I turn to putty in your hands.”
“It’s not my fault you can’t resist my cuteness.” I smiled up at him before my eyelids fluttered shut. I couldn’t keep them open any longer.
“Damn you. How can I shoot you when Sloth has you in his grasp?”
“You can’t. Gotta let… me win.”
Mason laughed. “You’re right about one thing. I definitely can’t resist you, angel.” I still couldn’t open my eyes, but I felt him grab my hand. I’d lost the grip on my gun earlier, and he placed it back. “Which is why I’m going to let you shoot me, you little cheater.”
“Don’t wanna.”
Another laugh, this one raspy.
“Sleep now?”Sloth asked.
I was out like a light before I could answer him.
***
The light rumble of an engine. The cushion of nylon seats beneath me and the familiar smell of the truck’s cab. I became aware of these things before I even opened my eyes. A song played on the radio, though the volume was turned low.
“You and Scar got it handled?” Mason quietly asked. I cracked open my eyelids to see him with a phone to his ear and one arm resting on the steering wheel. He wore sunglasses and had changed out of the paintball gear and into a blue tee with a dark gray jacket over it. “Good. These fuckers don’t know when to quit, do they? Be careful out there.” A short pause. “Yeah, we’ll do the same. Talk to you later, man.”
“Everything okay?”
“Look who’s awake.” He smiled over at me. “Yeah, they’re okay. Some ghouls attacked a small town in Oklahoma and killed some high school kids who were partying in the woods. News said it was an animal attack, but we know better. Storm and Scar scouted their nest last night.”
I sat up a bit more in the seat and rubbed my eyes. “Do we need to go help them?”
“Nah. They’re on their way to meet up with another group of hunters at the local café to fill them in, so they’ll have more than enough people to help tonight. Storm will check in with me later once they’re done.”
