Zombie Romance

Chapter 3

My God, what was happening? Lexi had clawed at the man, tried to force him to free her. But as he bent closer, lowered his head toward her, she found herself clinging to him, instead. Her heart beat as if it might fly from her chest. Her instincts shrieked danger, but her body defied all the warnings. Her knees bent, pushing her even closer to the man she’d seen attack Mitchell, until she could feel his breath dance over her skin and her breasts flatten against him.
"What…what are you doing?" The words were no more than a whisper. She stared up at the strange man who was making her body react in an even stranger manner.
His eyes were dark…dilated to the point she couldn’t tell their real color. His black hair was tousled, falling over his forehead and brushing one cheek. She wanted to push the strands back so she could see him more clearly. She straightened her head, trying to see his whole face; his lips and chin weren’t visible at this angle.
He stared back at her and something clicked in his eyes. A circle of gray appeared, telling her their color. Then with a curse, he shoved her to the side. For the second time that night, she hit the ground. Her phone, which she’d tucked in the pocket of her slacks, fell too.
She dove toward it, but the man reached it first. He lifted one foot and stomped her lifeline to others into nothing but tiny bits of plastic and wires.
Then he kicked the remnants across the ground and spun toward her. "Stay away from me." And with those words, little more than a growl, he raced down the street.
Away from her and toward Mitchell.
No phone. No way to call for help.
She had no choice but to follow.
…
Bryce cast the woman aside, cursing himself for what he had almost done. He’d lost focus, forgotten his hunt and become ensnared by the scent and feel of her.
It had never happened before.
He couldn’t let it happen again.
With that thought pounding in his head, he took off after the zombie. Within seconds, the undead teen was back in sight. The boy was squatting in the middle of the street. He seemed to be prying the lid off a manhole.
Bryce slowed his steps. The zombie slipped from view, disappeared beneath the street. The only sign he’d been near was the clang of the manhole cover falling back into place.
Bryce didn’t pause. He jerked at the manhole cover, but the thing wouldn’t budge.
He glanced over his shoulder. The woman was kneeling in the road, holding the remnants of her phone. Her gaze was on him, but even from here he could see her hands shaking. With the death of her cell, she’d lost her bravada.
Not that her cell would have done her any good where he was going. Another sharp tug and the cover pulled free. He slipped through the opening and pulled the cover back down into place.
Even if the female’s bravery hadn’t been false, she wouldn’t follow him here.