Page 6 of Ensnared

Themen set a quick pace, their long legs easily covering more ground thanIcould.Thecatcalls behind us make my stomach turn, but...I’mso tired.It’sgood to stop running.Maybethis will be the end.Thesemen around me are well armed and seem almost casual, if annoyed, at the prospect of a fight.ButI’veseen my hunters.They’redangerous, they’re patient, and they aren’t going to give up.

Ishift to touch the small knife at my waist.WouldIhave the courage to end it myself?Betterthat than to let them have me.Myfingers tremble on the worn hilt.

Beaugives my thigh a reassuring squeeze.Aftera moment,Irest my head against his chest; he smells clean, like soap and fresh, male sweat.Ican afford to wait a bit longer.Ifit looks like they’ll take me, thenI’lluse the knife.

Withina few minutes, we’re fronting a steep cliff face beside the water.There’sa small clearing between the trees and the rocks, butIcan’t see anywhere to hide.

“Lucky, trees.”

LuckygivesDoman exaggerated salute, tosses me a smile, and kicks off his shoes.Hetucks them behind a bush at the base of a large tree and begins climbing with easy confidence.Thoughhe’s leaner than the other two, his colorful, tattooed arms ripple with muscle, and he whistles cheerfully as he moves.Along rifle swings from the strap around his neck.

Beaumoves toward the cliff.Icrane my head up.

Domis climbing along a nearly invisible path up the cliff face, aiming for a ledgeIdidn’t notice from front-on.Ihave a great view of his tight ass as he pulls himself up.

No, badEden.Heisan ass.Youshouldn’t be noticing his.

Wait!Pullshimself up?

I’vechanged my mind.Tocall it a “path” is laughable.

It’sa rock-climbing route.

“I’mgoing to need my arms for this one, darlin’,”Beaumurmurs.

Myheart sinks.There’sno wayI’llbe able to get up there, not with my arm numb and useless as it currently is—not to mention my injured foot.Beausets me down, then calloused fingers tilt my chin up to look at him.

Ipull back from the intimate touch.Hemay have been kind to me, but that doesn’t entitle him to touch me any way he wants.

“Climbon.”

Iblink and raise an eyebrow at him.

Amusementdances in his pretty eyes. “Armsaround my neck, legs around my waist.Giveme the monkey hold.”

Mymouth drops open. “Youcan’t carry me while you climb,Beau.”

Somethingflashes in his eyes that makes me take a step back.

Aftera tense moment, he mutters, “Ilike the way you say my name, darlin’.”Idon’t know how to reply to that, but he saves me the trouble. “Now, you should stop telling me whatIcan’t do, orImight just get offended.Climbon, you’re no weight at all.”

Still,Ihesitate.

“Youdidn’t thinkI’dleave you behind, did you?”

Ishake my head.Notin disagreement, but... he doesn’t know me at all.WhyshouldIassume anything of him?

Aloud bang echoes through the trees too close to us, andIdecide now isn’t the best time for modesty.Islide my hands up around his neck, hissing at the hot stab of pain in my injured bicep, and shift so my other arm holds most of my weight.Hebends and lifts me, hands hot under my ass.Iwrap my legs around his toned waist, avoiding his eyes as my cheeks heat.We’reclose—closer thanI’vebeen to a man for years.Yearsbefore the strikes decimated our world, even.

“Holdon tight, darlin’.”HisSouthernaccent is thick and sweet as honey. “Don’twant you falling off halfway up.”

Inod against his neck and squeeze closer.

Beauscales the path surprisingly fast, despite my awkward weight.Whenwe reach the ledge, he stands long enough for me to drop my legs, but his hands linger on my hips, holding me close to him for a moment too long.I’munable to miss his interest—it presses insistently against me.

Istagger backwards, startled, and he gives me a rueful smile.

“Girl.”There’seven more snap toDom’srough voice than before.Hekneels behind a large boulder and peers down at the clearing.Hisheavy gun is nestled in his arms. “Getdown.Sitbehind this rock and don’t move.”

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