Keeping you warm

Emily’s POV

I opened my eyes to find my hand under his shirt, warmth jolting through me. I froze, cheeks burning at our closeness. His arm was around me, steady, as if the world might fall apart if he let go. The comfort was overwhelming. Why did it feel so good to be held by him? Did he feel the same, or was he just keeping a promise to Hunter? My heart raced as I melted into him, both grateful and unsure.

My eyes found him. Hunter ordered Nolan to take me to the meet point, but he promised to get me to the settlement. We passed the meeting point, but Hunter will never come. Needing comfort, I kissed Nolan. Did he feel what I did, or was he just honoring Hunter’s promise? Something between us was changing. What truth did Hunter want Nolan to share?

I dropped my forehead on his chest. "Guilt?" he asked softly.

I shook my head. "Just kissed my best friend," I admitted.

He chuckled. "I’ll take the best friend title," he said, and I didn’t lift my head, afraid to look him in the eyes.

His fingers lifted my chin. I closed my eyes, feeling my cheeks red. Then he kissed me softly, then pulled away. "Just paying back the…" he murmured.

I let out a breathy laugh. Then I sat up and took Jay while he gathered the stuff. "Okay, let’s go," he said, looking at Henry. "How long until the settlement?"

"One more day, we can walk during the daytime…" Henry replied.

"No, I won’t take that chance," Nolan replied. "Soon we have to find shelter, and it looks like it's going to rain too."

We moved through the wooded area, passing some farms along the way. Eventually, something caught my eye. I pulled his arm, and he looked at me.

I pointed to the fruit-bearing trees. We walked there, and he picked an apple for me. I bit into it while he watched me, then handed it to him, literally shoving it in his mouth. He bit on it with a laugh.

"More," I said with a mouth full.

"Come here," he said, chuckling. His tongue licked the side of my mouth, and I stopped chewing. His eye glowed. I forgot to breathe.

He picked four more, placed them in the backpack, and handed me another as we were eating, watching us.

Nolan decided to climb the tree to get more, and Henry came next to me. "You do know he’s in love with you," Henry said quietly.

I snorted. Nolan? We’re best friends, I almost said. But the words suddenly felt small. I tried to suppress the flutter in my chest and the ache in my stomach. Friendship isn’t supposed to feel this intense. Nolan’s always been there for me—but if I want more, do I risk everything we have? I wished things were simple. Are these real feelings, or just because of what we’ve been through? I couldn’t tell.

Well, what is he to you, Emily? Henry asked

Good question, I thought. While chasing something with Hunter, I missed what was right in front of me.

He dropped the apples and startled me. I saw lightning.

 "We need to move, now," he said. He picked up his backpack and took my hand.

"Keep your eyes open, for shelter will be needed soon. Do you know the area?" Nolan asked.

We hurried in the direction he suggested. Minutes later, the sky fell loose. Rain came in torrents, cold and relentless, soaking us to the bone as we ran, splashing through mud and tangled roots. Lightning flashed through the trees, illuminating the gray haze for split seconds. Soon, we spotted a shelter—an old, battered house hunched in the thick of the woods. The paint was long gone, the wood swollen and dark from years of storms. We dashed up the steps as thunder rattled the air, water sloshing around our shoes. Inside, the place smelled of damp earth and mold. The rain beat hard against the broken windows, droplets streaking in through cracks and dripping onto the warped floorboards. The air was chilly and thick with the must of old fabric and dust. Henry yanked back a faded, dirty rug, revealing a trapdoor underneath. When he opened it, the metallic hinges creaked loudly over the rush of rain. He lit the lantern and climbed down the ladder first. Nolan went next, holding out his hand to help me descend. Below, the space was cramped but safe, dim lantern light flickering over the walls. The shelter must have once been carefully arranged. One end had a sagging couch surrounded by shelves lined with rusted cans and chipped mugs. The other side was taken up by a battered bed with a ripped mattress, piled with threadbare blankets that still looked inviting after the storm outside.

"Undress now," Nolan said as he took his shirt off, then his pants, and I just watched. He smiled. Then he undid the buttons to the shirt, and I didn’t even notice that I shivered. Jay was dry. We held Nolan’s jacket on him.

"Do you want me to take the rest, or will you do it?" he asked, his eyes glowing again.

"I will do it," I said. He took a blanket from inside the backpack.

"Come here," he said as he pulled me against him, wrapping the blanket around us. My cheek was on his warm chest, his arms tightened around me, and my body relaxed.

"Henry, latch the door, and turn in. Let’s get some rest," Nolan said.

"See you tonight," Henry said, laughing.

"Nolan," I said, my teeth chattering, "thank you." "Try to sleep," he said. I took Jay in my arms, and Nolan’s arms had me against him, his chest warm against my back.

"Can you unhook the... I need to feed him," I said. It was dark, and the only noise was Jay sucking on motion. I drifted to sleep.

When I woke up, the world felt still and unfamiliar. Nolan's arms were coiled around me possessively, one across my bare chest, one in the middle. Jay, my baby, was lying beside us, sucking his fist.

I turned my head slightly. "Nolan," I whispered. His eyes opened, glowing amber. "Hmmm?" he mumbled. "I need to feed him," I said. Then he realized his arm was across my chest. I felt his arousal behind me. Good thing he doesn’t feel mine.

"I’m not sorry, I was just keeping you warm," he whispered in my ear.