by S. M. Shade
“Yeah, listen, we’re trapped in my basement. I heard the windows break and…” My hands drag through my hair. “Shit, I’m not sure the house is still standing. Something’s blocking the basement hatch.”
“Holy fuck! Are you hurt?”
“No, we’re fine.”
“Who is we?”
“Zoe’s here.”
“Okay, don’t worry. I’m calling 911 and letting them know where you are. I’ll try to get to your house and call you back. Just stay put.”
“Like I have a choice, asshole,” I snort, and he chuckles. “Let it ring until I answer. I have to leave the phone on the top step where it has a signal.”
“Understood. I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Let’s go back downstairs,” I suggest, disconnecting the call. We settle on the sofa and before she can resist, I pull her into my arms. Her head rests against my chest and I tighten my hold on her trembling body. It tears me up to see her so frightened. “It’s over. We just have to wait for rescuers to get to us. Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not. I just can’t stop shaking.” She cuddles into me, warm and soft.
“It’s the adrenaline. It’ll wear off.” We spend nearly an hour cuddled there, waiting.
“Sorry I freaked out,” Zoe says, breaking the silence.
“You didn’t freak out. We just survived a tornado. You’re allowed to be afraid.”
Her fingers trace my collarbone. “Were you scared?”
“Terrified, I knew you were here alone and I didn’t think I could make it in time.”
“You came back for me?” Her voice is incredulous.
God, she really has no idea. “Of course I did. I didn’t think you knew about the basement hatch.”
“I didn’t. I’d have stayed in the bathroom if I’d heard the siren.”
I thread my fingers through her hair, and she responds with a low hum. “No sirens here, they’re too far away to hear.”
“Oh.” She’s quiet as she considers what could’ve happened.
My ringtone shatters the silence and we rush up the stairs. “Jeremy, what’s the news?”
“Are you sitting down?” His voice is thick with emotion.
“Is the house gone?” Zoe sits beside me on the step and slides her arm around my waist.
“No, but most of your neighborhood is leveled. Only the kitchen of your home is destroyed. I’m in your office now. Other than broken windows and a little water damage, everything’s good.”
I let out a breath. “Can you see what’s blocking the basement door?”
“Landon…man…I can’t get into your kitchen at all. You know the big house across the street from yours, the one with the red roof? That’s what landed on you. Half that house is sitting in your kitchen. It’s going to take them a while to dig you out. Are you sure you two are okay?”
I swallow the lump trying to form in my throat. “The Simmons live across the street. They’re an elderly couple. Do you know if they’re okay?”
“No idea, sorry. It’s like a war zone out here. I’ve never seen anything like it. They’re trying to dig people out, look for survivors. National Guard is coming, and The Red Cross is setting up.”
“My neighbors on the right. They need to start there. Monica Wright and her baby. It’s just the two of them.”
“I’ll let them know.”
“Tell them we’re fine. We have supplies that will last a few days at least. They need to look for the others first.”
“I understand.”
“Jeremy, if it’s daylight when they get to us…”
“Already got you covered. I found your spaceman gear and I’ll make sure they give it to you first.”
“Thanks,” I breathe. It’s time to explain my condition to Zoe as much as I hate the thought.
“No problem. Listen, Frannie’s with me and wants to talk to Zoe. Put it on speaker, will you?”
I comply, and Zoe grins when Frannie cries, “Are you okay? You scared the ever loving shit out of me, hussy!”
“Relax, I’m fine,” Zoe laughs, shaking her head. “If you’re going to be trapped, a spoiled rich man’s basement is a great choice,” she teases, poking me in the ribs.
I can’t help but smile at her attempt to cheer me up. She doesn’t know what news I’ve received, but it’s obviously not good. “Do you have enough water?” Frannie asks.
“Yep. Water, food, a pool table if we get bored.”
Frannie laughs, sounding relieved. “I wish I could do something.”
“You can,” Zoe replies. “I can’t get a signal, and Landon’s phone cuts in and out. Call Ethan and let him know I’m fine, but the storms damaged some cell towers, and I’ll call when I can. He’s in Washington D.C. on a school trip. Don’t tell him what happened. There’s no need to ruin his fun.”
“You got it, girl. By the way, the tornado missed your side of town, so don’t worry about your apartment.”
“Great, thanks.”
The phone starts cutting out. “We’re losing you, so we’ll call back when we know more,” Jeremy promises.
“Don’t do anything I’d do while you’re trapped in the dark with Mr. Ocean Eyes,” Frannie adds with a giggle before the call drops. Ocean eyes? Zoe’s been talking about my eyes.
She turns to me. “What did he tell you? How bad is it?”
“Let’s go back downstairs and talk,” I reply, taking her hand. We’re buried beneath a landscape of total devastation. How do I sugarcoat that?
Chapter Seven
Zoe
Landon’s expression is grim as we settle on the couch again. I’m not sure I want to know, but I still ask, “What did Jeremy tell you?”
His large hands drag through his hair. “The whole neighborhood is destroyed. Cops and volunteers are digging through the rubble, looking for survivors. They know we’re here, but since we’re okay, they’ll look for the injured first. We’ll probably be here for a bit.”
“That’s okay. They should help them first.” He nods and grabs me by the waist, scooting me close to him. All the cuddling has been great. I don’t think I’ve ever been as afraid as I have in the last few hours, and he’s done his best to comfort me. At this moment, it feels like he’s seeking solace as well, so I take his hand and rest my head on his shoulder. “What’s blocking the door? A tree?”
“A house,” he murmurs, resting his chin on my head.
“Your house collapsed? Oh, Landon, is it completely destroyed?”
“Not my house. My neighbors. The tornado picked it up and slammed it into the kitchen.”
“Oh god.” There’s an entire house on top of us? I suddenly feel claustrophobic. “Buried alive,” I mutter, and he pinches my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“No, it’s just the kitchen. Once it’s our turn, they’ll have no problem getting to us.”
“I heard you mention a baby next door. Is it their house in the kitchen?”
“No, it belongs to the Simmons, an elderly couple across the street. I hope they weren’t home.”
My stomach cramps and he must feel me stiffen up. “What is it?”
“Mrs. Simmons, she knocked on the door right after you left. She wanted to borrow some ice.” My eyes start to burn at the thought of her smiling face. “Said Mr. Simmons broke her ice maker and she needed her nightly cocktail.”
He sighs. “Damn it.”
“Maybe they’re in their basement too,” I reply, wiping my eyes. I can’t seem to stop the tears from coming. Who knows how many are dead? That sweet lady could be lying in the rubble above our heads. The image of her broken body shatters me and a sob escapes.
“I know,” Landon croons, pulling me into his lap. Embarrassed, I bury my face in his neck until I get a hold of myself. His warm hands run through my hair and stroke my back.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I swear I never cry.”
“Sweetheart, some terrible shit has ha
ppened. Cry all you need to.”
My heart swells. I feel way too much for this man. “Your house, Landon. I’m so sorry.”
“The only thing I can’t replace is safe in my arms.”
Oh god. I can’t keep doing this. I can’t be friends with him. “I can’t keep working for you when this is over.”
He shifts so he can look me in the eye. “You pushing for a raise?” he asks with a small grin.
“I-I have feelings for you. I tried to ignore them, but…I can’t. I’ll stay until you can find someone to replace me.” I try to scoot off of his lap, but he pulls me back.
“You aren’t going anywhere,” he growls. “Now or later.”
“Landon…”
“Hush,” he interrupts, cupping my face in his hands. “I feel the same way, Zoe. You haunt me. I can’t get you out of my head. From the second I wake, I look forward to seeing you walk through my door. Hearing your latest insult.”
“I don’t share, and you said yourself you don’t do relationships.”
His chest rises and falls with a resigned sigh. “There’s a reason for that. I have a condition and most women find it too difficult to deal with. Too depressing.”
“A condition? You’re sick?”
“Not exactly. It’s an inherited condition called Xeroderma Pigmentosum.” He chuckles at the confusion on my face, but I’m not laughing. What if he’s terminal? I’ve come to care so much for him so quickly.
“It’s a mouthful, I know. XP for short. My body lacks the enzyme that repairs DNA damage caused by sun exposure. It means I burn almost instantly. I can’t be in the sun, even for a minute or two without a major risk for skin cancer.”
“So, you always have to wear sunblock?” I ask. That’s not so bad.
“Sunblock isn’t enough. I can’t go outside in the daylight. Ever.”
“You yelled at me for opening the drapes,” I murmur, thinking out loud.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I sort of panicked.” His expression is devastating. “I didn’t want you to know. You’re the only person who doesn’t look at me and see a freak.”
My arms tighten around him. “You’re not a freak. Don’t say that.” Silence falls between us for a moment before I ask, “You have to stay in the dark?”
“Not exactly. I have to avoid natural light.”
“So, if it’s cloudy or raining?”
“Doesn’t matter. Ultraviolet rays still filter through. I can’t leave the house between dawn and sundown. It makes it impossible to have a normal life. I want you, Zoe. I want a relationship with you, but believe me, I understand if you don’t want a boyfriend who’s basically nocturnal.”
My heart shatters, not because I can’t be with him, but for the way he’s suffered. No wonder each girl was temporary. Gone before sunrise. I adore the sunlight. Even though I know it’s bad for me, sunbathing is one of my favorite past times in summer. To live your whole life without feeling the sun on your skin. Shit. I’m going to cry again.
“Have you ever been able to go outside?” I ask, swallowing my tears.
“No. I was diagnosed as a baby when the doctor noticed I was getting freckles. Babies don’t usually develop freckles.”
I run a fingertip across his cheek and down his nose. “I like your freckles. They’re adorable.”
“I believe you mean masculine and sexy.”
“Nope, adorable. Your body is masculine and sexy.”
His hands wander up my sides. “And yours is soft and curvy…perfect. I’m dying to see your tits.”
“What a romantic,” I snort.
“I don’t know much about romance, but I can make you feel good. I can make you the center of my world, worship you and this sexy little body.”
Fire races through my veins and I’m sure he can hear my heartbeat. “I can live with that,” I breathe, and his lips land on mine. They’re soft and insistent, and a little moan escapes me when his tongue slips between my lips. I run my hands through his soft hair, tilting my head to give him better access when he kisses my neck. He shifts me until my back is against his chest and rests his chin on my shoulder.
“Damn, I’ve wanted to do that again since you turned up at my door,” he says, wrapping an arm around my waist. I can tell he’s restraining himself because of the situation. It’s a good thing, because if he kisses me like that again, I’m going to attack him with my vagina. “I don’t want to take you here, with tragedy surrounding us, but be warned, the first time I get you alone I’m going to fuck you ragged.”
His words and his hot breath on my ear make me squirm in his lap, and he chuckles. “You like me talking dirty to you.” It’s a statement, not a question, and after my reaction there’s no denying it. “You’re all worked up. I’ll bet you’re wet, aren’t you?”
My face heats, but I can’t stop the words from escaping. “See for yourself.”
A low groan rumbles his chest, and he slides his hand down the front of my jeans, into my panties. “Christ, you’re so ready. Now I have to make you come.”
No arguments here.
Maybe it’s not right. I shouldn’t be turned on with all that’s happened, but my body doesn’t care. “Spread’em sweetheart,” he orders, using his other hand to undo my jeans.
A thick finger slides inside me, finding that perfect spot other men fumble around for. His thumb lands on my clit and rubs gentle circles. My head falls back against his shoulder and I’m almost embarrassed about how fast I come. I’m barely aware of his voice in my ear as I gasp his name.
“Fuck, I love to hear that. Next time you’re going to scream my name.”
Damn it. The man just owned me. I’ve never come so fast. “Of course you love to hear your name,” I tease, relaxing against his chest.
“Are you implying I’m arrogant?” He scrapes his teeth across my neck.
“Does extremely self-confident sound better?”
“But I can back it up,” he claims.
A yawn interrupts my giggle, and he pulls a blanket off of the back of the couch. “It’s almost morning. We should get some sleep.” We stretch out on the couch, and he turns off the lantern. The room is plunged into darkness, but with his arms around me, I feel safe and content as I drift off.
* * * *
It’s disorienting to wake up in solid blackness, like I didn’t even open my eyes. I like to sleep in the dark, but even with all the lights out in my apartment, light filters through from the street. This is different. The sound of a steady heartbeat beneath my ear is calming, and the events of the night before come back to me.
We’re trapped in the basement. I made out with Landon and let him finger me to orgasm. Let him? If memory serves, I begged him not to stop at one point. Shit.
Landon sits up when I fumble around the couch for the lantern and finally turn it on. “You okay?” he murmurs, tucking a wild lock of hair behind my ear. I must look like a mess, and he’s perfect as always. Okay, maybe his hair is a bit mussed and his face creased with sleep, but on him, it just looks sexy. I don’t think he’s capable of being unattractive.
“Yeah, I’m good.” My stomach picks that moment to give a loud growl, and he chuckles.
“Let’s find something to eat.” He picks up his phone to check the time. “No wonder we’re starving. It’s four in the afternoon.”
“Will you call Jeremy and see if he has any news?” I ask, yawning.
“Sick of being trapped with me already?” he teases.
“I’d rather be trapped with some pancakes and sausage.”
“Go see what’s in the fridge, and I’ll call Jeremy.” He smacks my ass before grabbing his phone and heading up the stairs.
The food choices leave no doubt this is a man cave. I grab a box of toaster pastries from the top of the fridge and a soft drink from inside. It’s still cool even though the electric has been out all night. After a few minutes, Landon joins me as I’m perched on the edge of the pool table, munching a pastry. “Any news?”
&nb
sp; “We’re next on the list. They expect to get to us in about four hours or so.”
“That’s good.” He leans over and takes a bite of my pastry, a grin on his face. “Beast,” I scold, handing him his own.
“Better you know now.”
“So, it’ll be dark when they get to us?”
“Most likely.”
“What would you have done if it was daylight?” I mean, there has to be times when he can’t avoid the sun. When he has to go somewhere. What if there’s an emergency and he has to go to the hospital?
Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, he sits on the couch. “I have a suit that covers me head to toe.” His voice is reluctant.
“Like one of those hazmat suits?”
“Yeah, a yellow monstrosity. Makes me look like a Teletubby. I only wear it for emergencies.”
He pulls me close when I join him, and I curl up against his side. “You’re not going to be able to stay here. Where are you going to go?” I’m tempted to offer my apartment, but I just can’t. It’s so far below what he’s used to, I’m just too embarrassed.
“Jeremy just told me he’s made arrangements at a hotel. They’ll prepare a room for me with blackout curtains.”
“You’re going to owe him one,” I tease.
“We owe each other so many we’ve lost count.” His lips find my forehead with a soft kiss. “Come to the hotel with me.”
“What? I…my apartment’s okay.”
“I know, but Ethan’s still out of town, right? I still need to get you alone and finish what we started.”
“Not going to argue with that.”
We spend the next few hours talking and playing a word game on my phone. It’s not useful for anything else at the moment. A sudden bang, following by the cracking sound of splintering wood makes me jump. A few seconds later, a voice calls down to us. We’re saved.
Moonlight illuminates the catastrophic scene surrounding us when we’re pulled to safety. The houses around us are demolished, in some cases down to the foundation. The few remaining trees are stripped of branches and leaves, many lying haphazardly about like piles of matchsticks. It hits me how lucky we were, how lucky I was Landon came back. My body starts to shake at the thought, and Landon wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into a hug.
