Mine to Protect: A Dark MM Age Gap Romance by E.V. Olsen

Author:E.V. Olsen [Olsen, E.V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

The next morning, I trek alongside Rex with my head down, avoiding his gaze. I can't stop thinking about that kiss. My first kiss. I press my fingers to my lips, remembering the thrill of his mouth claiming mine.

And that feeling of wanting to belong to him, almost needing it, grows by the minute.

Rex glances over occasionally, eyes questioning, but he doesn't push, just gives me space like he promised.

By mid-morning, he releases a harsh, bone-rattling cough that makes us both flinch. My eyes snap to his face, narrowing. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” He waves me off, trudging along.

But the hacking coughs become more frequent as we walk, a fine sweat now covering his face. I stop, my arms crossed and mouth thinning into a grim line. “Rex.”

"Christ, Devon. It's just a cold. Stop brooding."

I stare holes into the back of his skull as he shuffles on. My hands clench and unclench at the uneasy memories of my father insisting "it's just a cold" too.

Right before he died.

I hover close as we walk and Rex huffs. “Christ, kid. Said I’m okay.”

“You’re lying.”

He shakes his head once, a brief, dismissive jerk.

My hands ball into fists at my side, nostrils flaring. “You’re not invincible.”

“No shit. But it’s a cold. Just need to find somewhere to get some sleep. It’ll pass.”

He’s right. We need to find shelter. The longer he’s out here the worse it could get.

Two hours later, we come across a small city. Not ideal. Carrionites could be lurking. But Rex is deteriorating.

“No scouting. Just stay on the outskirts and see what we can find.”

I nod.

Shortly after, we find a small warehouse and bunk on a cot in the manager's office. It’s not the warmest, or the safest, but it’ll do.

We crawl into the same sleeping bag as we’ve been doing. Mostly to keep me warm. But Rex tosses and turns throughout the night, his coughing getting worse, and neither of us end up getting much sleep.

Dim sunlight soon filters under the door and I crawl out of the sleeping bag, shivering instantly.

Rex shifts, clearing his throat. "We should get moving.”

“No. You’re getting worse. Let me scout some. Find us a house to hole up in for one more day."

When he nods without protesting, my stomach drops, throat tightening. This is bad. Real bad.

"You should rest here a bit more." I squeeze his shoulder. "I'll be back soon."

He lays back down, his glassy eyes closing.

Reluctantly, I creep away, quickly glancing back to find Rex passed out. He looks like death warmed over.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Outside, the cold wind slices through my jacket like fucking knives. I have to find medicine and shelter. Fast. There ain’t nothing in this shithole world taking Rex from me.

Not after letting him get close.

I leave the warehouse district and head toward the burbs with all the cookie-cutter houses. It's dead quiet, but I stay alert. I can’t let my guard down, not even for a second.

I sweep through a few houses, scoping out food, water, and insulation. I also ransack the kitchens and bathrooms, digging through cabinets for anything useful.

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