Dani shifted until they were flush. “Sleep well.”
Lynn nuzzled against the back of her neck, into Dani’s hair. “You too.” She had no idea when Dani fell asleep, but Lynn was out like a light within seconds.
Lynn jolted awake. Something pressed against her back, and a weight around her waist held her down. A fleeting pressure and hot breath tickled along her shoulder, moving toward her neck. She gasped and bucked, trying to kick her way to freedom and wakefulness.
The pressure around her waist turned into a firm grip. It kept Lynn from twisting enough to grab a weapon. Shit, shit, shit!
“Lynn, it’s me! Dani!”
“Wha—?” Lynn blinked but stopped moving. Her mind clawed to wakefulness enough to remember where she was and with whom. She went limp.
Dani relaxed behind her and scooted back a bit.
Lynn took a deep breath to steady her racing heart. Fucking hell! This was not her favorite way to wake up. The whole night had been filled with nightmares of grave digging, being buried alive while maggots crawled over and under her skin, and hauling corpses from one location to the other. Being chewed on fitted right in. After a few seconds, she had herself under control enough to turn. She smiled apologetically and wrapped her arm around Dani’s waist to show she was okay with physical contact now. “S-Sorry. Habit.”
The pale morning light streamed in and revealed the worry in Dani’s eyes. “Sorry. I really didn’t mean to startle you. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Lynn nodded. “That was all on me. I’m used to waking up to things trying to take a bite out of me. I don’t usually sleep this deep, so I got all—” She made a gesture to indicate whatever it was she’d turned into upon waking.
“That’s okay. I get it.” Dani hesitated, then her gaze flickered to Lynn’s lips and she crossed the few inches between them to kiss her softly. “I’ll remember.”
Lynn relaxed and hummed into the soft contact. “Thanks.” Subject change. “Did you sleep well?”
Dani lay back down and nodded. She ran her fingers along Lynn’s arm, all the way from her shoulder to where Lynn had a loose hold of her waist. “Lots of dreams.”
Lynn sympathized. “About Richard?”
Dani shrugged. “About a lot of things. Mostly the deadly kind.”
Lynn squeezed her side. “Sorry. Do you know what always makes me feel better?”
“What?” Dani met her eyes curiously.
“Breakfast.”
Dani slapped her arm. “Impossible.” Her shoulders relaxed, though, and her newly acquired smile held.
“Sorry, I’m just that kind of girl.” Seeing Dani happier made Lynn feel better in turn. Her brain still felt sluggish, and her body was sore from all the heavy work she’d done yesterday, but once she got moving, she’d be fine.
Dani shook her head but cupped her cheek and kissed her again.
Lynn’s eyes fluttered shut. I could get used to this. The second the thought hit, reality crashed down again. Getting used to this was dangerous business. She pulled back and cleared her throat. “Could you find us something to eat? I’ll check around and get the fire going.” She sat up.
“I don’t want to get up. Once we get up, everything changes.”
Another nervous flutter filled Lynn’s belly. She met Dani’s gaze. “You can still reconsider. If we don’t go back to the Homestead, nothing changes. It’ll just be you, me, and Skeever.”
Dani groaned and turned her head so she could push her face into the bedding. “I can’t.”
Lynn ran her hand through her tangled hair and shook it out. “I know, but I had to try.”
“I understand.” Dani sat up too. “Ready to go?”
Lynn nodded slowly. “Let’s do it.” With great reluctance, she got up.
Skeever stood from the one blanket Lynn had left behind, wagging his tail.
“Morning, sneaky mutt.” Lynn gave him a quick cuddle before she put her boots on and secured her weapons. She opened the door to the showroom and let Skeever search it for danger as she looked back. Dani was putting on her own boots. “I’ll see you outside, okay?”
Dani nodded. Lynn caught a glimmer of guilt and worry in her eyes before they faded to blank. “I’ll be right out. I’m going to pack our stuff first.”
“Sounds good.” Fresh air poured past her and washed away the cozy atmosphere in the room. The change had started; the distance between them grew. They were both already preparing for life outside of this building and for the potential threats that came with it. The walls they’d need to survive the Wilds would only become thicker as the day progressed. Lynn had never realized just how heavy those layers of emotional armor were, but she felt its weight settle on her like a yoke, threatening to pull her down. She squared her shoulders and pushed through the showroom and toward the door. She’d always been able to bear it; today wouldn’t be any different.
She didn’t get attacked the moment she stepped into the pale sunlight. It was always a good morning when she didn’t get attacked right out of the gates. Lynn scanned the world around her, then closed the door behind her and Skeever and headed out. She gripped her tomahawk lightly, ready for anything.
Skeever headed for the bushes in a zig-zag pattern as he followed his nose. He made it there safely.
Lynn took her time to adjust to the outdoors again. A few hares hopped across the road, birds flew overhead, but nothing else moved. The sun was just barely up and cast a diffuse glow over the world. The coals showed signs of heat when she poked them with a stick.
A lengthy perimeter check only gave her a single scare as a deer burst from the bushes. Nothing with sharp teeth jumped at her, and the presence of deer was a clear indicator that she was the most dangerous thing around these parts. Well, she and Dani.
“All right, fire.” Lynn mumbled the words even as she beelined back to the pit. She blew on the coals, fed them dry leafy material, and coaxed them back into a flame with the patience and nonchalance only someone who did it on a near-daily basis could. Its familiar warmth was soothing and Lynn’s focus shifted to the day ahead and what it would entail, offering temporary reprieve from her conflicting emotions.
When Dani came out with both their backpacks, that focus crumbled like a badly stacked woodpile.
Dani had changed into a fresh pair of light leather pants and a dark leather top that left her arms exposed. The well-defined muscles in her arms stood taut under the weight.
Desire sparked hotly in her gut. Lynn swallowed and looked back at the fire. “The, um, tea’s almost done.”
Dani plopped down next to her and ducked under the strap of her spear before laying it by her feet. “Thanks.” She sent her a smile and opened her pack. “Quick meal?”
Lynn nodded.
“Quick meal it is.” It was so hard to distance herself from last night. Lynn ate and drank quietly, watching Skeever dart around, chasing his own food, just so she could avoid looking at Dani. The urge to move grew inside of her. The familiarity of walking and the dangers of travel would hopefully put thoughts of Dani out of her mind, at least for a little while. She pushed the last bit of cheese into her mouth, squashed it against her palate, and swallowed. “Ready?”
Dani’s head shot up. She looked around dazed, then her focus returned and she nodded. “Ready.” She stood right away and pushed the strips of jerky she had left into her mouth. The muscles in her jaw had to work hard to get through the food.
Preparing to leave was worse than leaving. Now that her mind was made up to go, Lynn just wanted to get going, but there was a fire to put out, things to pack, a dog to wrangle, clothes and gear to get on. Every step closer to departing also reminded her that once they arrived at their destination, she might be doing these chores on her own again.