Airborne

09. Fire Flies

Chloe

Brody picks at the bark between us, yet he remains focused on me. "To be honest, I'm happy to help you with your goal. I'm going where I can help whoever I can; like I said before, I'm going to do what I can for people and take the company I can get, even if it's not long term."

I'm not sure if I can decide if he's planning to stick with me after we reach sector seven or not. Would he offer to tag along when her realises I'm passing through after I've got what I'm coming for? Should I even be concerned by that? I was trying to get rid of him not too long ago.

Damn it, this is what I didn't want. There's so much confusion.

"I'm going to scout the area; we may need your trap expertise for when night falls. If nothing's in the area, then we may eat, relax, and sleep here for the time being to strategies for when we reach sector seven."

After a nod, my feet carry me away from the water and the scene altogether. Scouting is the best thing for me when I get like this, it clears my head, stretches my limbs, and allows me the time to warm up before anything happens or if there's something lurking nearby. Right now, it's good for breathing space.

By the time I get back, the sun is setting, and I'm pleased with the notion of not needing to worry about any infected coming our way. Any nearby animals are tucking themselves into bed for the night, and the sunset makes everything more beautiful.

When my feet stop at the log, my eyes finally lift to look at the water and a part of me wishes I didn't while the natural woman instinct is holding my gaze there. Spikey brown hair from the combination of water and fingers dragging through it, and a strong tanned body greets me. Beads of liquid trail down his defined chest, one trickling over the ridges of muscle as the other follows the creases of his abdominals and back into the water.

Brody's eyes are shut, unaware of my arrival. Or was he?

Gritting my teeth, I clear my throat and turn my back to him. A small splash signals the noise startled him, and that makes me more curious.

"You're back? Honestly, I thought you ditched me, it's been a handful of hours," he greets, voice unsure.

"Yes," I start as I set my weapons and satchel down by the log. "Scouting clears my mind, and I wanted to make sure we weren't going to be disturbed by an infected in the middle of the night."

"Most of them are stupid, I doubt they would come through what looks like a closed off hedge, the rest won't sniff us—at least me out because I'm about to get clean."

"Were you waiting for me?" I nearly bite out but keep the doubt under control.

"If you're asking me if I purposely waited for you to come back so I can show off my body and try to sleep with you, then no." The patter of water signals he's lifting an arm or hand from the water to do something before finishing, "I waited for you, then when I thought you weren't coming back, I decided to have a bath. Either way, I was trying to be decent."

Either way, I saw a majority of your body.

"Can you get out; I need to have one too."

"I just got in," he whines. "You can get in or wait a few more minutes."

I fold my arms. "I want a bath now."

An audible sigh comes from Brody, and it softens my stubbornness for a friction.

"Look darling, you can either wait out there for me, or you can come in; I promise I'm not going to look. We may be in a ruined world, but privacy and consent are still a thing in my book. The choice is yours, and there is enough room for the two of us."