Love at the End of the World

by Christiana Miller

  “Maybe, but they took you at your word and are lined up at the front door. Up and at it, Ms. Administrator. I’ll get you a tea while you dress.”

  Liam slid a kiss onto her lips, and for an instant she pondered about not only how right it felt to be with him, but how easily she’d made the transition.

  She dragged on jeans and t-shirt, wound her hair up into a loose bun, and brushed her teeth before descending the stairs.

  Liam was in the small hallway in jeans with bare feet and a half-buttoned shirt, and he offered her the hot drink.

  “I told them to wait until you’ve had your coffee, otherwise you won’t get a chance to stop.” Liam’s voice rasped, and she shivered, ricochets of last night’s sensuality threading through her.

  “You didn’t ask them to come in?”

  He cocked his head to one side and smiled. “It’s your home...our home. It’s nice outside, and there’s coffee and tea for them while they wait.”

  She snickered and ogled his chest for a moment then sighed. “I’d better get to work.” Then she headed for the door to find out what they needed.

  The morning passed with list making, and it was well after ten by the time she turned on the television.

  “This is the last broadcast of Channel One. The government has collapsed. Overnight the last senior politicians, their families, and staff were airlifted from the national base and moved to an undisclosed location. The police and all emergency services have disbanded. Pockets of armed services are patrolling, but there is now no official law. We have reports of mobs of zombies on the streets, and gangs as well. A gunfight taking place on the lawns of parliament house and rounding up of civilians. We have been advised to seek safety, as far away from heavily populated areas as possible. Arm yourselves, keep your children indoors, and stock up. This broadcast will be replayed on a loop. Alert friends and neighbors to prepare for the worst. Stay safe, and may God have mercy on our souls. This is Kadey Stainhouse signing off for the very last time.” The woman’s face faded away, but not before the white visage and the trail of tears hit Elaine like a ton of bricks.

  Elaine stood stock-still, shock and horror pounding at her brain. She wanted to yell it’s not true, but with everything that was going on, she very much feared this was their new reality. Liam entered the room, and she turned like an automaton.

  “What’s wrong?” He moved quickly to her side and rubbed her arms with a look of alarm on his face.

  “It’s all over. The government’s gone. Police and emergency services released, and gangs…zombies… What are we going to do?” She heard the rising tide of hysteria in her voice but couldn’t seem to control it.

  “We do what we’ve been doing, just faster. I need to get hold of Ramon and the teams out collecting, and tell them to get back here asap. We need that school reinforced now! I’ll check out front. Get onto Ramon and his team, Elaine.”

  With trembling hands, she did as he demanded, contacting Ramon on the cell, then stopped as men armed with rifles entered her tiny living area. “What… What’s going on?”

  “A gang headed this way. There’s got a man on a motorcycle leading them. We suspect he’s the one that tried to get in here.”

  It was too much. She simply stood up and left the room for the kitchen.

  * * * *

  After Liam talked with the assembled men, he joined Elaine in the kitchen. “You okay?”

  She turned and the expression on her face surprised him. “I didn’t expect this to be easy, not once we realized what was going on. But to be honest, I’ll be buggered if someone thinks they can take away from us what we’ve built already.” She dumped coffee into two cups and poured in boiled water.

  “They won’t. Our community is preparing themselves to protect what we made. They’ve started the process of patrolling, with Mickey finding a spot in one of the empty houses. He’ll ring us as soon as they see something we need to know about.”

  “All right.”

  “So, what do you want me to do?” he asked.

  “Grab me the milk first.”

  He took it out of the fridge and handed it over. “That wasn’t what I mean.”

  “I know.” Elaine sighed and measured some into the mugs. “I want to stop the world for a while, push the problems aside, and create a bubble, and I know that’s not going to happen. I want to know what’s going on with us, but it’s new and these things take time. I know that too.” She turned and leaned against the cupboards. “Liam, I know there’s something special about us, the relationship we’re growing, but—”

  The phone on his hip buzzed and she stopped, inhaling deeply as he answered.

  “They’re on their way. Three vehicles and a motorbike. I can see a couple of rifles. There’s seven people I can see. They’re turning the corner now.” Mickey Evans gave his brief report.

  He pierced her with his gaze. “We’ll finish this later.”

  Elaine simply nodded. There wasn’t anything else to say.

  “Thanks, Mickey. Head on over, remember to come up the back and use the automatic door.”

  “Will do.”

  Liam turned to Elaine. “Would you consider staying in here?”

  “No.” Elaine answered as he expected, though he’d hoped she’d answer differently.

  “All right then. Follow me.”

  She shadowed him to the door where he waited, hand on the butt of his pistol, behind the barrier of their quickly thrown up eight-foot-high fencing.

  The vehicles came to a sharp stop next to the motorcycle, and the thug who’d tried to break in clambered off the bike. “I want the woman,” the man bellowed, and Liam opened the security door to step outside, glad they’d made such speed erecting chain link fence around the community.

  He nearly hissed when he heard Elaine. “I make my own decisions, and you aren’t what I want.”

  The man bared his teeth and raised his rifle. “Don’t much care, girl.”

  Liam smiled as the windows of the house opened upstairs and down, along with the ones next door.

  The metal barrels of the rifles his men pointed out at the intruders stayed still, trained on the vehicles. Liam took a step closer to the fence. “You don’t get a say, friend. Walk or drive away now and we won’t take offense. Push off or face the consequences.”

  “Screw you.” Motorcycle Man spat on the asphalt.

  Above Liam, the click of an engaged barrel sounded, and then there was a boom, and asphalt flew beside Motorcycle Man’s feet.

  Liam grinned. “That’s your warning. Leave. Now.” He raised his pistol.

  The man wavered. Liam pulled back on the hammer of his pistol, and the man climbed onto the motorbike. “I’ll be back, and I’ll take what I want.”

  He wasn’t fast enough though as Jeff screamed a warning from the house next door. “Shufflers incoming. At least thirty. Lock down the community!”

  The man laughed. “You’re full of shit!”

  Motorcycle Man revved the engine. Elaine gulped loudly as if the massacre that was pending was already running through her mind like a video. Liam had no intention of watching on as they attacked. He’d order everyone to head inside in a moment, he just needed to make the point that they were on their home ground.

  “Liam?” she said.

  “They’re still alive. They can get away if they leave now.” Liam felt her hand burrow into his grip as they waited, the man watching them, his face turning beet red as he noted their connection.

  The sound grew, the moan and shuffle of numerous feet.

  “I can’t stay.” Elaine released his fingers and headed inside. Before he followed her, he turned. “We could save you, if you promise to leave as soon as it’s safe and not return.”

  The man scoffed. “I don’t think so. I take what I want, and I want her and this.” Motorcycle Man waved his hands, and Liam simply shrugged and headed into the house.

  “Shut the doors and windows. Close the shutters and curtains. Keep the chil
dren in the back, away from what’s happening, and alert the school,” Liam demanded.

  People moved, phones to ears relaying his orders. Elaine turned and retreated into the house.

  The screech of one car then another told him some had gone, but the revving of the bike continued. Liam trudged into the kitchen, sending Elaine to the backyard and away from the sounds that he knew would echo, hoping the trees would offer a sound buffer.

  Then he heard the sound he’d hoped not to hear. The strident scream that told of pain and fear. The stomach-curdling sound stopped, ending abruptly. He grabbed the coffee she’d made him earlier and they’d abandoned, and sipped it even though he felt decidedly ill. He felt no pleasure in what had transpired, only a sense of relief that the man wouldn’t come after Elaine again. It answered the question that had rolled around in his mind. Did he love Elaine? Yes, he did. So now he needed to tell her.

  He slid out the back door and found her sitting in a chair, tears in her eyes. “He’s dead, right?”

  “I think so, Elaine.” When she sniffled, he sighed and settled down beside her. “I want to talk to you.”

  “You’re revolted that I’m a wimp?”

  He couldn’t help but laugh, but she’d sounded so glum, and he took her hand in his. “No. Actually, you’re amazing, and I love you, Elaine.” Shock filled her face and he laughed again. “Needing to protect you from that man? That made me face the fact that I was hedging and ignoring the truth. We could easily lose sight of anything positive. But you and what we’ve built in a really short time, and not just the intimacy—though that’s absolutely outstanding and amazing, by the way—it’s more about hope. We’re building a community and a family, but that’s extraneous when it comes to what I feel about you.” He grabbed her hand, thudded it against his chest. “Inside me there’s this bubble of hope and love, and it’s growing because you make me happy. You stand beside me, not behind, and that’s what I’ve wanted all my life. I love you, Elaine, and if we can find a way to make it official, I’ll take it with both hands, when you’re ready.”

  Elaine’s shock gave way to tears as she launched into his embrace, plastering herself against him. “I can’t believe that in all this mess, I met you. I’m not sure just yet that I love you, but I feel this connection.” Her balled fist settled against her chest as if she released some bubble of frustration from inside her. He knew she was cautious, but clearly she knew and accepted there was potential for the future growing between them.

  Liam would accept that for now and hope for the future.

  “There aren’t enough words to explain the confusion and everything I feel, Liam. I want this so badly, but I haven’t got the experience to know. I’m going to need time but not space, okay? Because I need you, and I don’t yet understand that either.”

  She hiccupped and snuggled in and he took the moment and the opportunity offered.

  Chapter 7

  Elaine rubbed her hands over the back of her neck. Summer had set in with a vengeance, and here she was three days before Christmas, trying to ensure the kids had some sense of festivity.

  Ten of the young cockerels would be roasted, and she thanked Mrs. Garmin for her foresight in setting up a breeding program. There was a bevy of women taking turns to run the spit they’d fashioned for these kinds of occasions. Fluffy feathers seemed to have adhered themselves to Elaine’s clothes and hands from assisting with the plucking.

  The salad would be picked fresh on Christmas morning, and while there wouldn’t be a huge number of presents, Liam had arranged a surprise for the children—a piñata filled with new items from a store they’d visited several weeks before. There would even be a new book for every child, including a range of board books for the newly-born addition and the nearly-there one who was due any day.

  Liam. Now he made her smile day after day. Each night was a wonderland of erotic sensuality, and during the day he took every opportunity to show her just how caring he was—no mean feat as he’d become the leader of the community, democratically elected.

  The coffee in her cup had turned cold as she sat looking at it. “So why haven’t I told him I love him yet?” Initially she’d had concerns about Ramon, well aware he wasn’t as keen on her. But he was thawing and that certainly was a help.

  The walkie-talkie beside her sqwarked. “Elaine? Nina’s in labor, and we need Ramon at the surgery.”

  “Okay. He’s out back with Liam. I’ll get him and send him down.”

  She placed the device face-down and headed to what had once been her backyard. Now it was a mass of green and red, planted with tomatoes, corn, and lettuce. The two men were weeding, a task shared equally by all members of the community.

  “Ramon? Nina’s in labor, and they need you.”

  He indicated with a wave that he’d heard and she moved down the yard as he set off at an amble.

  “He looks happy and rested. Really different from what he was like when I first met him.”

  “He met someone in the latest intake. A girl called Sarah who is a refugee from Sydney. She’d been biking down here when the epidemic took hold and a family kind of adopted her. He’s thinking they should take it slow, like us.”

  Elaine searched Liam’s gaze, watching as he brushed the dirt off his hands.

  “I think that’s looking good.” He motioned to the garden. “I never expected to like gardening half this much.”

  His words stopped her in her tracks. Never expected… “Liam? I’ve not been fair to you, have I? I mean here you are, working at making a life for all of us, while I’ve been hiding from the truth.”

  As she was about to launch into her spiel, Jeff came through the gate. “Liam? When you’ve got five can I talk to you about an idea for water saving?”

  Liam nodded distractedly, his gaze on hers. “Elaine, what do you mean hiding from the truth?” There it was, the tiny chink of uncertainty that she’d avoided and ignored for all these months.

  “Well, you told me months ago that you love me. You still do, right? Even though I haven’t said the words.”

  He grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I know you love me just as much as I love you.”

  That floored her. “You know?”

  “Of course, and so does everyone else.” He swooped in and kissed her hard on the mouth, the way he always did before a big decision was made. It had become their trademark Mrs. Garmin had told her a couple of weeks ago.

  Elaine groaned. “See, that’s the problem. You make it too easy for me. I need to say the words, Liam.”

  He laughed as Mrs. Garmin appeared around the gate. “Elaine, dear, we need toilet paper and the store is in your shed.”

  There was never any privacy, she thought with a growl. “Go ahead, Mrs. Garmin. Just make sure you note down how many rolls you’re taking.” The little woman disappeared, and Elaine grabbed Liam’s hand. “Come with me.”

  Now it was his turn to laugh. “I remember the first time you said that to me.”

  Memories of that night filtered through her brain and she tugged harder, urging him to a little more speed, because the hit of passion had pleasure spiking through her again. They rushed inside the house.

  “Latch the door,” she ordered. “Otherwise they’ll come looking for us.”

  At the base of the stairs, their lips met and clung. “I need to shower,” he groused.

  “I’ll join you, but first, let me say this. I’ve been an idiot for months, hiding from the truth. I love you. I love who you are, what you do for everyone. Every day I’m thankful for that chance meeting at the grocery store. I’m thankful for Ramon and everyone around us, but you...” Her eyes burned from unshed tears. “You complete me, Liam. No one else could do that.”

  “Good then. Now we can make it official.”

  “What? How are we going to do that?” He shocked her with the ferocity of his demand.

  “In Scotland they used to marry by making the declaration in front of everyone. I can’t think of an
y people more important than our large community family. Christmas Day, let’s make the declaration.”

  “That’s not quite how I imagined it. I wanted flowers and a dress, photographs and—”

  “Already taken care of,” Liam said with a grin. When she frowned, he slid his hand under her chin. “Mrs. Garmin has been altering her wedding gown for the last month, Ramon has his digital camera, and the flowers? We’ll pick them from the gardens you had us plant for the bees.”

  Just like that, it was planned. “I can’t think of anything better.”

  Liam winked. “Well, there’s this one thing. Let’s put those pregnancy tests you stashed to good use.”

  They rushed up the steps to the shower, but only a small portion of their time in there was spent washing. As he lathered her, he whispered encouraging words that heated her from the inside out until she was wanting and starving for his touch.

  Lifting her up, he settled her on his very hard cock, sliding in without the barrier she’d come to hate. His skin rubbed against her intimately, and she moved up and down, her body breaking apart with an orgasm that stole her very breath, and he jetted deep within her body.

  Afterward, he toweled her down and laid her gently on the bed before climbing in beside her. “I hope that takes, but if it doesn’t, we’ll try again and again.” His hands turned in slow, arousing circles that dipped into every hollow while kissing her, his tongue sliding into her mouth.

  Elaine’s hands twined in his damp hair as he settled himself once more before sliding home. “Fill me, Liam.”

  He rocked his hips, nudging at her with exquisite care, one hand cradling her breast. “When you’re big and full, your breasts larger than they are now, and I’m inside you, we’ll remember this. Me loving you and promising you to be here forever, Elaine. Because I love you.”

  She moved, suddenly unable to settle for the long, slow loving, and needing him with every ounce of her being.

  Liam pounded her, the rhythm wild and hungry, until they exploded in each other’s arms.

  She lay back, her gaze on the ceiling as he rolled to his side, and she frowned until he returned. “I found this a couple of weeks ago and wondered if you’d wear it for me?”