As the World Ends (8 page)

This time he cut the time in half and made it to Rob’s cave in less than two hours, but there still wasn’t any sign of the guy. He wondered if the grey mist had anything to do with Rob’s disappearance.

Stop being ridiculous,
how could the air have anything to do with Rob
?
The environmental changes probably had something to do with the explosions and fires in the cities.

Rob removed his arm from around Lauren’s waist so he could grab the binoculars to canvas the area one more time. Still nothing to see, the absence of sound spooked him more.

Maybe that’s why the radios didn’t work? The cloud of grey was blocking all the signals.

“I think it’s time to head back to the cave, Lauren.”

“Okay. Do you think we should pack up everything in the cave and head down off the mountain?”

“I wish I knew,” Rob grunted.

“Rob, the stuff is just hanging there. Maybe if we get under it, we’ll be able to contact someone on the radio,” Lauren pressed.

“It makes sense. Let’s think about it on the way back to the cave.”

Lauren sighed.
Stubborn bastard. When Rob got a bug up his ass about something there was no changing his mind
. Most times, she introduced her ideas to him slowly, letting them simmer and then they became his ideas. She didn’t do it this time because she didn’t think they had the time.

“Sounds like a plan,” she responded. Either way, she was going to head down the mountain after she collected her stuff. No use arguing about it now.

For two and a half hours they hiked before arriving back at their cave, hungry and exhausted. Rob pulled at Lauren’s arm when she started to enter the cave.

He whispered, “Someone’s been here or still is. Go wait in the woods. Make sure your gun is loaded and ready. I’ll come out if it’s clear.”

“My gun’s been loaded and ready for days. I’m going in with you,” she whispered back.

“No you’re not. It’s probably that guy, Roan,” Rob said, pushing her away.

She shook herself free of his grip. “I don’t care. I’m going in.”

Rob stared at her and nodded. “Be careful where you aim that thing.” Rob took a deep breath as he inched his way around the opening to the cave. He looked back to make sure Lauren hugged the walls. At the same time, he made sure his body covered hers. They both heard the noise at the same time and reacted. Rob turned, pushing Lauren to the ground, he raised a finger to his lips, then turned back to listen. A quick glance back over his shoulder broke his heart. Lauren had her gun out, but was shaking like a washing machine on the spin cycle. He gave her a reassuring smile while pushing the gun away from his direction.

“It’s going to be alright. Just don’t point it at me. Okay?”

“Son of a bitch,” Roan cursed. “I’m coming out, Rob, don’t shoot.”

“Okay, Roan, I’ll wait here,” Rob said, motioning to Lauren to hide.

She shook her head no. Rob wanted to rush in and fight. Instead he watched the cave’s entrance with his gun aimed waist high at the opening. When Roan appeared, Rob wasn’t happy with his reaction to Lauren. She had on a pair of hiking shorts, heavy socks, a t-shirt with a windbreaker tied around her waist, all emphasizing her figure. Rob instinctively stepped in front of her.

Damn, he might as well go outside and explain to Rob what he was doing in his cave. So much for the element of surprise—the only one surprised was him.

Oh my God
,
she’s prettier in person than on the video.
Roan groaned. He had trouble forming words. His gaze swept over Lauren, starting at her feet and climbing to her head, pausing at her breasts a little too long. Enough to be socially unacceptable then back again. What magnificent breasts, he mused. Rob’s voice penetrated his thoughts.

“I said, Roan, what were you doing in our cave?”

“I came looking for you yesterday and discovered the cave. I waited a couple of hours. When you didn’t show I came back today. I got worried that something had happened to you.”

Roan studied Rob.
Damn, his stance broadcasted his anger. The man was itching for a fight.
Not today, Rob
. Roan wasn’t in the mood for trouble today. All he wanted was a chance to visit with the woman.

“You guys okay?” he asked, pretending concern.

“Yeah,” Rob responded.

Okay, he’s not gonna offer any information or introduce me to his wife. I wouldn’t either.
Roan reflected. She had stepped out from behind Rob, turned slightly towards him, giving him a very nice view. Sweeping his gaze over her again, his cock hardened. Those shorts displayed strong, shapely, muscular legs and draped tightly over a firm round ass. Not one word had she spoken, she looked content to let her husband handle him. Not for long video girl, he thought, not for long.

Lauren’s skin crawled as Roan’s gaze swept over her like icy fingers undressing her. An expression of pure lust on his face had it hitting home hard why Rob thought this guy was creepy. Damn it, she should have listened to Rob and hid. Why did she pick that moment to be stubborn? The thought of even talking with this guy skeeved her out, she stepped back behind Rob hoping to stop the guy’s ogling.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your wife, Rob?” he smiled.

“Lauren, Roan. Roan, Lauren,” Rob barked.

“Nice to meet you, Lauren,” Roan said, holding out his hand.

Lauren held up her gun with both her hands resting on it. Roan laughed, dropping his hands back down to his sides.

“Well now, I guess we won’t shake. That gun looks heavy,” he joked.

“It’s not,” Lauren said looking directly into Roan’s eyes.

“I took some of your food. I was about to head back to my cave, but it would be nice to visit with other people for awhile. I’m getting a little tired of hearing my own voice.”

He couldn’t tell if she was afraid of him or just didn’t like him. It didn’t matter one way or the other to him. Soon she’d be his.

Feeling a little guilty, Rob nodded. “I’m sorry for our manners. Please join us for a drink.” Rob felt Lauren’s knuckles dig into his back.

“Thanks, I’d like that.”

Rob poured and handed Roan a paper cup of wine. Lauren excused herself and left the cave. Rob hoped she was heading to the truck to put on more clothes.
If Roan keeps looking at her like she’s his next meal, I’ll have to kill him.

“Are you alone, Roan?” Rob asked him the question again, and would keep asking until he got an answer.

“Yes.” Roan sipped his wine.

“Why?”

“Why…because my soon to be ex-wife thought I was nuts planning for whatever was going to happen on the twenty-first.”

“You really believed something was going to happen?” Rob asked.

“Yeah, I did. Obviously, you did also.”

“No, we weren’t prepared. When the explosions started we packed what we could and headed up here.”

“You look prepared.” Rob noticed the way Roan took inventory.

“I’m always prepared for an outing. We like to hunt and hike, that kind of thing.”

He emphasized the word hunt. In his own way Rob was warning Roan off. Looking for a reaction, he was disappointed when Roan showed none. Lauren had quietly slipped back in the cave and gave no reaction to his statement either. Good girl, Rob thought. Looking back at Roan, Rob saw he had turned his undivided attention to Lauren. With his blood boiling, Rob noticed the man’s disappointment in her change of clothes. An immense hatred filled his heart.
Touch her and I’ll kill you
.