The Badass Protector

COLT

FROST DUCKED and crawled down the moment we spotted the campers’ location. He took off the nocs to scout the distance.

The stream water in a slow current separated us from them. A few trees hanging out over the water mainly blocked the other side’s views.

Tension rode in me as I positioned myself. I rested the muzzle of my rifle on the log that hid us from the campers.

I looked through the scope. A small hidden tent under the vines, and they seemed to be there for a couple of days now based on the ashes of firewood, plastics, and cans littered on the ground, leaves fragments, and the grass bank already covered with mud.

“Affirmative. They’re campers,” Frost muttered. He was vigilant. He informed me that Iris was not what I thought she was and just needed shelter.

“Agree.”

“They must be scouting for a safer place. By the look of it, in a few days, their group will follow them here.”

“Have you seen anyone?”

“Nah. Hiding or away, or someone must have spotted us first?”

“If you’re not a son of a billionaire, you could be working your ass off at the CIA.”

He chuckled, cocking his brow cockily. “When I was a kid, I wanted to be in the military, but I knew that’s not gonna happen, and I like the perks of being undercover, you know.”

My brows lifted. “Which perk exactly are you trying to tell me? Sleeping with women to gather Intel?”

He patted my shoulder. “Exactly my thought.”

I laid down on my back while Frost waited for someone to appear. “How long are we gonna stay here?”

“Just wanna spot one. I want to confirm if they’re only campers.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Hmm.” I closed my eyes.

“Don’t sleep, asshole. You should be the one spying out.”

I opened an eye. “I’m not sleeping, just resting and listening to the birds.”

“Listening to the birds or thinking of Iris? You are the police officer here, remember? You swore an oath.”

“That was pre-virus, and I trust your instinct. Just making your dream come true, man.”

“Lately, you’re not so helpful, Colt. Your Blue Iris is plaguing your brain.”

I hit his side. “You’re a dick.”

“I’m just stating the fact, dickhead, and what was that hug all about?” He softly laughed.

“I don’t know. I’m as surprised as you by my actions. Lately, I keep thinking about her.”

“I know you like her. That’s so obvious, by the way, and everyone knows it. The way you look at her?” He whistled. “And damn if she’s not getting hotter every day.”

I groaned and wanted to punch him if I didn’t know he was messing with me.

“I know you agree with me, but you better be in a hurry.”

“For what?” I raised my head, supporting my body with my elbows.

“Before we bleed out and die.”

“We’re not gonna die because of the damn virus.”

“Maybe from a hard-on?”

I looked at him, inwardly amused because he was probably right. “Can you forget your dick for a moment?”

“Sure, when I am in your position. I mean, you just solved your problem.”

“And if you’re not so dick yourself, you have a woman with a soft and warm body that prevents you from dying with a raging hard-on, but you choose life just to sway your dick to every woman in the fucking globe.”

“That was months ago. I can’t even remember the feeling of my cock balls deep in a woman’s pussy.”

“Jesus,” I muttered, shaking my head with amusement.

“So, do we have a deal?”

“What deal?”

“That you’re willing to share Iris with me?”

I cocked my head and shook. “If I don’t know you well, I already punch you till your eyes pop out from your head.”

He smiled. “Thank you for the heads up, man. By the way, Heloisa is right. I’m out of Iris’ league.”

“Good. Now, keep her away from your shitty head.” I took a deep breath. “It’s been years since I liked someone. It’s weird how I wanted to see her eyes, her smile, and hear her voice. She’s like my needs, my-”

“Okay, stop right there. Now, who sounds like a romance novel? You’re in deep shit!” His face turned red, trying hard not to laugh out loud.

“Fuck you.”

“Later, man. Seriously though, you become less scary. I even saw you smile. If I know the little thing you call twig can make you smile, I should’ve searched for her before you scare the hell out of our group.”

“I don’t have a reason to feel bad, asswipe.”

“What I mean is, you’re still the tough and broody who barks around, but I’m truly happy for you. I’m not complaining, though, because we care about you and trust you that you would do everything for us, but please, also think about yourself and your needs, Colt. You can’t just focus on protecting everyone. Look at the world right now. If you die as a hero for keeping us alive, it won’t get back to the way it was.”

“Your point?”

“Enjoy your life while protecting us. Make a move on Iris. If there are scientists out there creating a cure, I know they have time to jerk off. You know what I mean?”

“Jesus. This is not just about sex.”

“I didn’t say what’s going on between you and Iris is just about sex, but orgasm is not bad.” He smirked. “You can’t just love or cocoon her without a couple of orgasms.”

The word love was like a sucker punch to my stomach. I lost the people I loved, but was I ready to love or for another heartache, if in case? I didn’t know. On the other hand, life was too short not to enjoy each second of it.

“Enough talking about it,” I said through gritted teeth.

It was normal for us to talk about sex, but talking about love, Iris, and orgasms at the same time was a bad combination. And I couldn’t watch the campers with a raging hard-on, could I?

“Fine.”

“So, is there anyone who broke your heart? I mean, there must be a reason why you became a complete asshole?”Now, it’s my turn.

He shrugged. Frost’s expression suddenly changed into hard and sour. I must have initiated something very sensitive topic.

“Yeah, there was one, but she was too good for me.” His voice almost cracked.

“I’m sorry.”

Frost glanced at my side. “It doesn’t suit you, Colt. Don’t be softie on me now.”

“She must be something special,” I poked.

He shook his head in amusement. “You won’t let it go, will you?”

“Nah, I’m bored.”

“Not gonna tell you shit.” He paused. “It’s just… I hurt her.”

“You mean you broke her heart.”

“Worse than that.”

“Shit, Frost. What did you do?”

“I also broke my heart in the end, but she didn’t have any idea. Lately, I have realized what I’ve lost. I wish I could go back to that time and make it up to her, but I think it’s too late now. I don’t even know if she’s still alive. I was going to see her before meeting you guys, but things went out of control. It was harder to get back home, and besides, I doubted if she was still there. I don’t know if my dad is still alive either.”

“We’ll find her, Frost. When things are a little under control, I’ll help you find her and your dad.”

“What if she moves on? What if she doesn’t want me in her life anymore? What if-”

I squeezed his shoulder and shook my head. “Frost, no more what-ifs. You know why we are still alive because we never lose hope, and you can’t just live with what-ifs. How will you know if you won’t even try?”

“Look at you, man. You have all these shits in you.”

My chest constricted. “I’ve been there, so I knew shits. When Colton died, I thought I had no reason to live anymore. He was the only family I had left besides Gael, but he made me promise that I wouldn’t mourn for him, that I was alive because I had a purpose, and I had to look for that purpose. If he was alive, and I was the one in his position, I would tell him the same thing.”

“Thanks, man.”

A few hours later, the camp still had no movements. We had to change our position to the west. We found two small tents behind the trees. Good distraction.

And the moment we scouted, we looked at each other in shock. Frost groaned and shook his head in disbelief.

“What the fuck?”

“Sonofa-“