Love Among The Ruins Chapter 15

NADINE'S P.O.V

When I woke up, it was to a heavy weight slung over my stomach. I felt the warmth of a body behind and soft breathing by my ears. I never thought that safety would be a word I would use to describe how I felt outside considering that my life was in danger every second I was in these woods but I felt weirdly safe.

There was sothing about Caine- his presence and the feel of him behind that had feeling safe. Before I knew what I was doing, I nuzzled closer to him and to that source of heat but stopped short when I felt sothing press into my ass. My mouth dried up and every thought flew out of my head as his hands gripped tighter and a groan left his lips.

I wasn't sure if my stillness was because I couldn't move or because I didn't want to. I shut my eyes, hoping that it would be enough to pretend like it never happened but the evidence was pressed up to and it was huge.

"You're a fucking tease, even when you're asleep," I heard him groan but he didn't move.

I couldn't help but wonder if maybe I had accidentally done this before while asleep. My cheeks ward and still, I didn't make an effort to let him know that I was awake. He didn't seem inclined to move either so we stayed there for what felt like hours but in reality was only a full minute.

He pulled back first and dragged himself out of the sleeping bag. I heard him moving around quietly for a mont but I still didn't move.

"I know you're awake," he drawled and I finally snapped my eyes open. I turned to find him seated on a rock, an apple in his hands. "When you're ready to get up, let know and we can keep moving."

My cheeks burned a bright red. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"You were too busy feeling up, I couldn't deny you the privilege, now could I?"

My mouth dropped open. "I didn't feel you up. You were the one that was-"

I couldn't say the word. I had laid in bed with him, almost seen him naked and I still couldn't say the word. I tried to tell myself that it had little to do with the fact that he was grinning at and waiting for to say it but even I knew that was a lie.

"It's called morning wood, princess," he pushed to his feet. "Roll up the sleeping bag. We have a long way to go."

I mumbled a few curses under my breath at him and dragged myself out. I shrugged my jacket off, trying to hand it over to him but he shook his head.

"Keep it, it may be cold today."

We spent the rest of the day in silence, mainly because I was too embarrassed to say anything. He brushed it off like it was nothing and I couldn't help but wonder if he had ever done anything like this before. There weren't a lot of female guards but they existed. Most of the females worked in the kitchens but there were the exempt few who would go out with the other soldiers.

I had no idea why I was concerned about his sex life but seeing as he was the only other human for a few miles, I cleared my throat.

"Did you ever sleep with any of the other guards?"

He stopped walking so fast that I barely had ti to hit the breaks myself and collided into his back. "Ouch."

"What the fuck kind of question is that?"

"I'm curious. You're a man and you have needs. You don't expect to believe that you have been celibate for so long."

He narrowed his eyes at for a second before turning away from and heading forward. I should have let it go then but there was no way I was going the rest of the way in silence. I quickened my steps until I was in step with him.

"I'm curious, Caine, humor ."

"Have you fucked any of the people in the bunker?"

My cheeks flushed but I shook my head. "None of them ever caught my eye. Now, you answer."

"I have one rule, princess, I don't fuck with won who have knives."

"What about the won without?"

I could have sworn the corner of his lips pulled up into a smirk. "Maybe. I'm not discussing sex with you."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to, now shut up."

That was how the rest of the day went. It was pestering him and him ignoring . Even though he shot annoyed looks from ti to ti, I could tell that he didn't mind. If for even a mont I thought he did, I would have gone silent.

Besides, it was a good way for to ignore the hunger in my belly. We managed to find a few fruits to forage but nothing big enough to sustain us.

"Are we going to eat fruits forever?" I asked, hating how small my voice sounded. "Where do you all find normal food?"

"There may be food stashed in the second hideout. We sotis keep things there in case we return. Another animal may have gotten to it first but if we are lucky-"

He trailed off, clearly not wanting to give false hope but I could already feel that bubble in my chest. It had been a while since I had a proper al and I would kill for one right now.

We stopped moving soti as the sun began to set. Caine found a decently sized cave and walked over to it. There was a small stream in front of it, but it wasn't anything huge that needed to be swam in. The water only reached up to our torsos. Still, I found myself pulling off my pants and shirt before going in.

"Look at you being comfortable getting naked in front of ," he drawled and I flipped him off.

He laughed.

In all the ti I had known him, I didn't think I had heard him laugh once. The sound caught off guard, freezing in place as I stared at him. His head tipped back, his eyes scrunched up and a single dimple evident on his cheeks. He looked like a completely different person.

I had to remind myself that it was wrong to stare and looked away but I still couldn't get the sound out of my head.

I stayed in the cave while he went out to forage for more food. I made a ntal note to go with him next ti. I needed to learn what was edible and what wasn't just in case. I set up the sleeping mat and waited for him to return.

The sun was setting and it was getting late but he wasn't back. I knew he could handle himself but I found myself getting worried. I had half a mind to go looking for him when I heard sothing like a twig snapping.

I shot to my feet imdiately thinking it was Caine and made my way over to the mouth of the cave but I couldn't see him. I listened hard, waiting to hear a sound, anything to tell who was out there but there was nothing, rely rustling trees and wind that seed to be coming from everywhere.

"Caine?" I called out softly but I was t with silence. "Rowan Caine if this is so sort of sick prank, I swear-"

A low growl filled the air and fear paralyzed . I wanted to scream but no words would co out.

I heard the growl again and I could tell that it was closer this ti. I turned to run when I felt a hand wrap around my mouth and I was pulled into a hard chest.

"What the fuck did I say about using my first na?"