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I sat on a rock on the edge of camp, sipping coffee and letting my mind wander as the camp came to life before me. The rising sun met the mist settled in our small clearing, casting everything in a hue of hazy orange, my fellow gang members no more than misty apparitions in the morning light.
The smell of Pearson's stew being prepared wafted over to me on the breeze and my stomach roared with impatience. Sighing, I wrapped myself tighter in the blanket I cloaked myself with and stifled my hunger with another long sip of coffee. A splash sounded beside me and I whipped my head around to see Micah Bell, dripping with water as he leaned over the washing basin.
“Isn’t that freezing?” I asked, raising my brows at him when he met my gaze. He brought another handful of water to his neck, letting it fall down his back and chest, his red shirt darkening with the moisture. Wordlessly, he walked over to where I sat, taking out a cigarette and lighting it as his eyes raked over me.
“Cold, darlin’?” He drawled, “Need some help warmin’ up?”
“What do you propose? I crooned, instantly matching his playful tone. A mischievous smirk played on his lips and in a flash he had his arms around me, lifting me up over his shoulder with a theatrical grunt, my blanket and coffee thrown to the ground.
“Shit doll, you’re heavier than you look.” He teased while I swatted and squirmed against his hold on me.
“Ugh, you’re all wet!” I yelped as he began carrying me off toward the water, “Damnit Micah put me down!”
“Would ya calm down!” He shot back at me in his usual sharp, gravely tone. “We aint goin’ far.” Another thirty seconds of me bobbing on his shoulder and I was being lowered onto another rock. Though this one was much bigger, a proper boulder that had been basking in the sun all morning. Away from the shelter of trees back at camp, it had gotten surprisingly warm.
I let out a surprised gasp at the temperature and instantly sank back against its warmth, the comfort of my blanket fully forgotten. Micah stood watching me warily as he puffed at his cig, his stance torn between sitting with me or walking away, the expression on his face almost… shy. I patted the empty space beside me, inviting him to lay with me. Clearing his throat, he stomped out his cigarette before sitting on the boulder with a groan.
Peeking an eye at him sat hunched awkwardly beside me, I asked “You wanna take your shirt off?” His head whipped around to face me, eyes wide when they met mine. I chuckled at the shock that riddled his expression. “You’re all wet!” I clarified, “Take it off, it will dry faster.”
Micah narrowed his eyes at me and with a begrudging sigh, began unbuttoning his shirt. My gaze lingered on him as the damp cloth fell away. I knew he was strong, the way he carried me just moments before proof of that much. Though his muscles were understated, covered by soft skin that seemed to collect in his midsection. It wasn’t quite a full-on beer belly, like that of Uncles or Pearson, but a soft pouch nonetheless. He even had love handles that puffed out over his jeans. I reached out, unable to resist, and poked at the one nearest me. He jumped as if I’d electrocuted him and snatched my assaulting hand in an iron grip.
“The hell are you doing?” He grumbled, furrowing his brow at me as he waited for an answer. I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me at how offended he looked by the innocent touch.
“Just admiring…” I hummed, letting my eyes trail greedily over his body as he held my hand captive. He’d obviously put on some weight over the last few months, and I wasn’t complaining. He had been surprisingly scrawny after our time in Colter and the month he’d spent hiding away in the mountains after. The softness, it fit him.
“Stop teasin’” He muttered, releasing his grip on me.
“I aint!” I shot back, defensive. He was always such a flirt, I’d never seen him get so butt-hurt when it was thrown back at him before… We usually had an easy back and forth with that sort of thing. He just narrowed his eyes at me. “Would you just relax?” I huffed, pulling at his shoulder so he’d lay down, he let me, letting out an annoyed huff of his own.
We laid in silence for a few minutes, soaking up the warmth of the sun like lizards. I peeked sidelong at him to find Micah so relaxed he looked as if he’d fallen asleep, something I’d so rarely seen him do I propped myself up on an elbow and took in the sight of him so blissfully at peace like a cat asleep in a ray of sunshine. He had that same kind of feral beauty, soft yet sharp.
Reaching out a tentative finger, I traced over the contours of his chest. Feeling the gentle slope of his pecs, the soft golden hair that covered them like the rolling hills of a wheat field. He made a soft sigh and I froze, his body shifting a bit under my touch until he relaxed once more.
My hand trailed down to his stomach, a large, soft cushion that rose and fell with each deep breath. He was so damn warm. Warmer than the rock we laid upon, than the unrelenting bayou sun that shone down on us. My palm splayed out over his belly, soaking in the heat there, gently squeezing at the softness of his sides, the love handles that peeked out above his jeans.
A strong hand shot up, seizing mine and pulling it away from his warmth. I looked up to find Micah staring down at me, brows knitted over the steely blue eyes that bored into me, examining, questioning. He opened his mouth but the words I’d been holding back spilled out before he could berate me.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re beautiful?” His eyes widened first, shock at my admission washing over the skepticism on his face before he reined his expression, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Stop pullin’ my leg.” He grumbled, but I persisted. “I’m serious.” His eyes searched mine, looking for any glint of teasing lingering there.
“I aint beautiful.” He scoffed, releasing my hand. “Ruggedly handsome, maybe” He retorted, a smirk curling at his lips. I just rolled my eyes.
“You can be both…” I said softly, forcing my hand back to my side, the urge to touch him so overpowering I had to actively tell myself not to, though my eyes still hungrily raked over his torso. The sun igniting his skin like sculpted amber. He watched me closely and when I met his gaze I blurted out, “You got pretty eyes too.”
He chuckled, though there was no humor in his expression. ”I ain't no pretty-eyed pansy, doll.”
“I ain't the one calling you a pansy, that's all you.” I shot back. A little annoyed he couldn't take the genuine compliment. He just huffed a sigh in reply.
Slowly, I reached a hand up to his face. He watched me skeptically, but didn’t bat my hand away as I cupped his cheek, softly stroking at the facial hair that adorned it. Despite the hard, steely look on his face, he nuzzled into my touch. “Pretty eyes…” I whispered, my hand trailing down to brush over the scar on his chin, “Handsome face…” A faint moan escaped his lips at my touch, vibrating against my fingers. I continued tracing over the soft contours of his jaw, his neck, his chest...
When he kept quiet, allowing me to lazily explore his torso I added, “I like you like this, all soft…” I squeezed at his sides in emphasis, those fatty little pouches quickly becoming my favorite part of him. He inhaled sharply, but didnt stop me. When I met his gaze again his face had relaxed, the only emotion in his eyes something akin to… adoration.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I chided playfully, “I’m just sayin’ the truth.” A soft smile curved at his mouth. Without a word he took my wandering hand, gently this time, and brought it to his lips. He kissed my knuckles, once, twice, unraveling my hand to kiss at the finger that had trailed over his skin, his eyes never leaving mine. He hummed, keeping my hand in his as he pulled me closer, wrapping a strong arm around my back as he lowered me against his chest, a deep, rumbling sigh vibrating against my cheek as I curled into him.
Breaking through the peaceful silence, my stomach erupted once more in a growl, my forgotten hunger making itself known. Micah let out a genuine laugh at the sound, “Damn darlin’, if I didn’t know any better I’d think there was a wild animal wrapped around me.” He groaned as he sat up, not allowing me to unravel myself from him before he took me in his arms once more, rising from the rock. I didn’t protest this time, wrapping my arms around him and letting him carry me back to camp for breakfast, warm and content.