e. She took Cade to the local market just outside the base to stock up on real

down on the dirt road leading bac

wo large, brown paper grocery bags filled to the brim with potatoes, flour,

de him, her hands

t expanded with each breath, the way a bead of sweat rolled dow

them. She needed him to stop treating her like

enly stopp

d loudly, grabbin

ned his head, his brow furrowing

nto a pitiful grimace. "The one I scraped thi

d and leaned her back against the rough bark, looking up a

He let out a heavy sigh. He shifted both bags into his left hand, grippin

," he instructed.

l with my arm, it will tear the muscle." She blinke

d up and down the dirt road. Two other milita

oice dropping to a harsh whisper.

h to ensure the women down the street might hear. "My h

ought his teeth might shatter. He gl

the two large grocery bags down on the dusty road,

," he g

rapped her arms loosely around his neck and her legs around his thick waist. Cade hooked h

," he instructed,

y into the sturdy paper handles. She pulled them up to rest ag

his pace noticeabl

He smelled like sunshine, sweat, and clean soap. She leane

ed softly, her breath tickling his

ecovered instantly, but his entire body went rigid.

ng," he ord

a circle on his shoulder muscle with her index

lamped his mouth shut and walked even faster,

their street when a shrill voic

e! C

came sprinting down the sidewalk toward

. Clara lift

toward the alley behind the housing units. "He's i