CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

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          THE MUSCLES OF HIS BACK WERE PROMINENT AS HE STALKED TOWARD THE HOTEL WITH LONG STRIDES. He might have gotten her out of there, but he was the one who got her into that situation in the first place and he was livid at himself. And at her, he was furious with her and he didn't even know why.

Joel had never felt this anger before and he didn't know what to do with it as they reached the lobby. He turned, blocking the door with a metal pipe in case the couple wanted revenge, which wasn't likely at all.

Ellie pulled a face behind his back as they followed after the smuggler and toward the first floor where their rooms were located.

"Jesus Christ, Joel." breathed Lucia, rolling her eyes as he roughly pushed a desk against the door that led toward the stairs. "What has gotten into you?"

He acted as if the brunette could have done anything to have prevented the situation they had been in moments ago. Joel had always been quite glum from the moment she had met him but he had never had such a quick change in attitude before and she knew exactly what was on his mind.

"What has gotten into me?" he retorted, turning around and narrowing his eyes at her. "You went and got yourself caught by a group of savages. You put us in jeopardy and you don't even seem to be affected by it."

Lucia pulled a face at him, genuinely confused and Ellie mirrored her as she looked up at Joel. Lucia didn't know why or how it happened but a laugh escaped from between her lips as she looked at his enraged face. The woman shook her head in disbelief and stalked toward the room she had occupied that morning.

"That was uncalled for." said Ellie, grimacing at the man. "You better apologise or I won't talk to you ever again."

The teenager slammed the door shut of her own room and Joel heaved a sigh, closing his eyes as he rubbed at his face with the palms of his hands. Shit. He braced himself against the wall as he tried to calm himself down. The moment the words escaped him, he had regretted them. Of course it hadn't been her fault.

Joel wished he had never met her. He did not want to go through this again but after today he knew that it was too late and he was too far gone. Ellie had been right.

The smuggler took his time to collect himself in the hallway, chewing on the skin around his lips. He took a step toward her door and knocked on the fraying wood. He heard her small 'come on' from the other side and pushed it open.

"Look," he cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "I didn't mean for -"

"No," she shot, narrowing her eyes at him and taking quick strides to reach him. "you don't talk to me like that again. Not now, not ever. You can be angry at me all you want for reasons that I cannot fathom, but you will treat me with respect. Do you understand?"

Joel kept his mouth shut, lips set in a thin line as he followed her with his eyes as she stood before him.

"Are you angry because we fell asleep in the same bed, is that it? Is that why you've been acting strange?" she demanded. "Is it that any different than sleeping beside each other on the fucking ground? Is it worse than being crammed together in a small car for shelter? Huh? What is it? What did I do -"

Lucia stumbled back when he grabbed hold of her shoulders and smacked his lips against her own. Her eyes widened and she grabbed onto his biceps to steady herself. His mouth was surprisingly soft and when she didn't move her lips with his own pulled back, abruptly.

"Sorry," he stammered, letting go of her. "I shouldn't have -"

Joel wasn't able to finish his sentence when Lucia pressed herself up against him, bringing him down by the collar of his flannel to reattach their lips together. He melted into her, lips moulding together in a kiss he very much needed. They both needed it.

"You have a very ..." another kiss as she breathed against his mouth. "strange way of showing you care, Joel Miller."

"I've been told that before." he murmured, attaching his lips to her jaw and peppering it with open mouthed kisses. Lucia let him, closing her eyes as she leaned into his touch. 

Joel Miller was a very attractive man and it wasn't as if she hadn't thought about being in this situation before, she just never expected it to actually happen. Joel was rough around the edges, kept to himself mostly, but he had grown to care for the woman and so had she for him. They had been through a lot in the few months they had known each other and this felt right.

"I thought I was going to lose you." he confessed, bringing his lips back to her own. "I wasn't angry with you. I was angry at myself. Sorry for taking it out on you. You didn't deserve that."

"No, I didn't." she muttered, bringing her hand up toward his cheek and brushing her thumb along his salt and pepper beard. "But I understand now. Just don't do that again. You need to work on your communication quite a bit, Miller."

"I'll try to remember that next time." he nodded, offering her a smile. 

"I care about you, too." she reassured, seeing the uncertainty behind his dark eyes. Closing her eyes, their noses touched as she pulled him closer once again.

There was a loud squeal coming from the entrance and the two jumped apart, staring wide eyed at a bouncing Ellie. The teen clapped her hands together happily. "I fucking knew it! I told you, Joel. But no, you kept denying it. Admit that I was right!"

"Ellie, I swear to god." grumbled Joel, giving her a glare.

"I came here to see if the two of you hadn't murdered each other." she laughed to herself. "But I can see that all is well and I shall take my leave now. Joel and Lucia, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G -"

The door slammed shut once more and Lucia snorted at her departure, entirely amused by the Williams girl whereas Joel just heaved an annoyed sigh. That kid was going to be the death of him.

"Insufferable." he muttered, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Like you haven't been the most annoying teenager." she smiled, sitting down beside him. "You were probably worse. When we find your brother, i'm going to ask him all about your shenanigans from back in the day."

"You will do no such thing." he looked affronted as he faced her.

Lucia let out another snort and Joel's lips twitched at the sound, amusement shining behind his eyes as they fell into a comfortable silence. The woman rubbed at her wrists absentmindedly, peering down at the raw skin from the ropes.

Joel took them gingerly and frowned at the marks, crease appearing between his brows. He brought one of them to his lips and planted a soft kiss on her skin, the hairs of his beard tickling her wrist.

"I am very sorry, Lucia."

"It's not your fault." she shrugged, meeting his gaze. "I promise."

i had to give you something! i desperately needed for this to happen and i am quite happy with how it turned out. they're not together  together but they've come to an understanding that they care quite a bit for each other and i am excited to see what the following chapters bring. i won't be able to update for a few days probably because of my busy work shedule till the weekend so i wanted to give you something cute till then.