Apocalyptic Beginnings Box Set

by M. D. Massey

  The lemon verbena smell flooded me with memories of sitting on the countertop, chatting with her about everything while she washed the dinner dishes. Knowing I could never do that again, I sighed, walking back out and handing the knife to Henry.

  “Would you like to do the honors?” He tried to hand the knife back.

  I stepped back. “Not unless you want me to barf in your face.” Everyone laughed, but I didn’t think it was that funny.

  “Actually, we’ll use a smaller knife. This one is a little bit of overkill.” He smirked. I decided to go upstairs while they did what they had to do.

  Chapter 23

  Nick escorted Claire to his room. After he closed and locked the door, he motioned her toward the bed. She sat and rubbed the duvet cover with her palms. She smirked when she realized it was a floral print.

  “Are you into flowery décor, Nick?”

  “Of course. Every man enjoys a pretty floral print on his blankets.” He winked, then sat beside her on the bed. She fiddled with her fingers.

  “Listen,” he started. “Can we talk about what happened down there with the—”

  Claire interrupted him. “Wasn’t it awful?”

  Nick looked confused. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize my kissing was so awful. I suppose I could work on it.”

  Claire slapped her hands over her mouth. “No! No, I mean Henry. What happened with Henry.”

  “Oh.” Nick chuckled a little.

  “Your kissing was…nice.”

  Nick smiled with relief. He leaned close to her, but she backed off. “What’s wrong?”

  “I, um…” She wanted to form her words so she didn’t hurt or offend him in any way. “I’m afraid.”

  “I understand.” Nick got up and headed toward the door.

  “Wait!” He stopped, but didn’t turn around. She got up and grabbed his hand. “I don’t want you to leave.” She walked him back to the bed. “I’m just saying that I’m afraid. I’m afraid of loving and losing. I’m afraid of this world. I’m so afraid…” Claire’s voice cracked. Her throat tightened and she was on the verge of tears.

  “Shhh…” Nick pulled her close and held her. “I’m afraid, too,” he whispered.

  “I still can’t believe all of this is happening. One day, I’m happy as a clam. The next, my world as I knew it had fallen apart.”

  He made her look at him. “Claire, I want to make you happy again.”

  “Oh, Nick. I want to be happy again, too, but… How can any of us be happy in this madness? How is that possible?”

  “We’ll figure it out.” He played with her hair and touched her cheek.

  “What if we decide to make a go of this? What if we fall in love and something happens to one of us? What if we eventually decide to marry? And children? What about children?” Her questions came out rapidly.

  “Claire.” He positioned himself so he could look her in the eye. “Listen to me. We can’t live on ‘what ifs’. We have to live in the now. We just have to. There’s no other way. We can’t take a single day for granted, thinking we’ll wake up tomorrow. I don’t know what my future is, none of us do, but why not try to make the best of our situation? Why not try to live in the now?”

  She quickly realized what Nick said was true. No one knew what would happen in five minutes, let alone ten years. She was so used to having everything planned out, it was hard for her to live spontaneously. Nick was absolutely right. There was no other way to live right now.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered. He didn’t waste a second. He kissed her passionately, and Claire returned it. The chill of his lips and tongue as he stroked hers made her shudder.

  Nick pulled back. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, yes. Please, don’t stop…” She leaned into him for more. Nick kissed her neck.

  Then she thought of Marc. She gasped and jumped back. “What’s wrong? Did I do something?” Claire sat there stunned for a moment, staring at him. “Claire?” He touched her cheek.

  “Do you think they would have wanted us to move forward?”

  Nick took a deep breath. “I think they would want us to be happy. So, yeah, I think they would want us to move forward.” He frowned, but he knew Jenna would want him to move on.

  “I think you’re right.”

  Claire dove back into Nick’s embrace. He laid her down on the bed. Things between them heated up, even though Nick’s body stayed cool. Her body prickled with his every touch.

  When he pulled back enough to soak her in, his eyes dazzled her. “You are everything a man could ever want, and so damn beautiful. I don’t know why I never—”

  “Shhh…” She kissed him again, pulling him down. She loved the feel of his weight on her. He felt so much different than Marc. It wasn’t that she hadn’t enjoyed Marc, but being with Nick was something she had yearned for. She let out a moan as he reached down and pulled her leg up.

  “I want to kiss you all over.”

  “Please…,” she whispered.

  Nick placed a kiss on her forehead, then moved to her right ear, nipping her earlobe. Claire let out another soft moan. She held onto his hips as he ground them into her. He circled the outer edge of her ear with his tongue, then slowly worked his way down her neck, leaving a trail of kisses.

  The deep V-neck t-shirt Claire wore exposed what little cleavage she had. Nick was glad she hadn’t noticed him staring at her every chance he could. He kissed her collarbone and down to her chest, touching her shirt.

  “Baby…this needs to come off.”

  “Yours, too.” She wanted to see his fit chest, never imagining that she would be able to touch it.

  Nick pulled back, pulling his t-shirt over his head, as Claire wiggled out of hers. She had one of her only bras on, which just so happened to be emerald green lace that matched Nick’s eyes.

  “Jesus Christ, Claire.” She smiled as his eyes darted around her body. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  She laughed. “You are just saying that to get into my pants.”

  He smirked at her. “Baby, I don’t need to compliment you to get into your pants. My good looks do it for me.” Claire burst out laughing, Nick chuckling.

  “Keep going,” she said, grabbing his hair and pulling him back down to her lips. “I want more kisses.”

  “No problem, baby.” He kissed her lips, then nuzzled his way across her chest and pulled her right breast out of her bra. “Let’s just take this thing off, shall we?” She sat up. He reached around behind her and, in the snap of a finger, her bra came off. He dropped it to the floor.

  He ran his thumbs over her nipples. She let out another moan as he played with one and licked the other, then kissed his way down to her navel.

  “Nick…,” she moaned.

  “Yes, baby?” he breathed as he left another kiss on her abdomen.

  “I need you.”

  “I’m getting there. I want to savor this moment.” He nipped at her firm stomach. “Jesus, baby,” he spoke into her pale skin. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

  He unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, inching them down. He kissed her hips and across her lower abdomen, running his cool finger just under the edge of her lacy panties. He wondered if her hair was just as ginger south of the border. He closed his eyes, imagining what she looked like and what it would feel like to be deep inside of her. He climbed back up her body.

  She slid her hands down from his chest to the waist of his pants. Once she unfastened them, Claire pushed her hand inside. Nick threw his head back and groaned when she stroked him through the soft cotton of his boxers.

  “Oh god. I can’t wait to feel you around me.” He kicked off his pants, then pulled hers the rest of the way off. “Fuck me…,” he said, sitting back and gazing at her.

  “What?”

  “You. Holy fuck, look at you. So damn perfect.”

  “I am not.”

  “Yes, you are, and don’t you dare say you’re not in front of me. Don’t ever put
yourself down. You are absolutely perfect, Claire.”

  She glanced off to the side. Marc was never as generous with the compliments. He would say she was beautiful, but Nick made her feel beautiful. “Thank you.”

  He looked down and licked his lips. “Those need to go.” He reached down and yanked off her tiny panties.

  “Yours, too.”

  He shimmied out of his boxers and stood, his hard length standing out proudly. Nick grabbed Claire’s hand and pulled her up from the bed. After one twirl, she was in his arms again, his length rigid against her abdomen.

  “Would you let me taste you?” he asked. Claire nodded into his neck. He sat her on the edge of the bed. “Put your legs over my shoulders.” He kneeled in front of her. She held her knees together, looking at him with worry. “Don’t be shy. You’re beautiful. Do what I ask, and you won’t regret it. I promise you.”

  Claire allowed herself to relax. He kissed the top of her slit, making her moan. Then he went lower and dragged his tongue up, making him groan against her heated wetness. The vibration made her gasp.

  “Nick…,” she panted, his tongue repeatedly flicking at her swollen nub. He dipped into her wet folds. She felt her peak coming on, fast and furious. She tensed up.

  “Relax, baby. Just relax.” His cool breath tickled her heat. She inhaled deeply and exhaled at length. “That’s it.” He ran his tongue around her once more before he crawled up her body. He shifted both of them so they were lying on the pillows. She panted when pressed his tip onto her entrance. He kissed her gently, looking into her beautiful blue eyes.

  “Are you sure?” he asked, a sexy grit in his voice.

  “Yes. I want this.”

  Nick closed his eyes as he pushed himself into her an inch at a time. Her body opened to him as he entered her. He took her away, making her feel like nothing was wrong in her world. Their bodies moved as one.

  Never had sex felt that way to him. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was making love, not just having sex. It was more than just physical. It became secure in his mind that Claire was the one for him. At that moment, he made the decision to never be with another. She was all he ever needed.

  They looked deep into one another’s eyes, studying each other’s face. He ran his hand down her side, slowly passing over her breast. She moaned in pleasure. He nuzzled her ear, planting soft kisses down her neck and over her jaw.

  “God, baby… You’re so fucking beautiful.”

  She smiled as he picked up his pace, making sure to fill her completely each time. She gasped as he touched her inner limits. She loved the feeling of him inside her.

  “Faster, Nick…”

  “Anything for you.”

  He picked up the pace, making her moan in ecstasy. She dug her nails into his back. The sounds coming from her turned Nick on more than he thought possible. When her muscles tighten around him, it nearly pushed him over the edge.

  “Oh fuck, baby.” He was breathless. The stirring in her core intensified. She shifted her hips as her body was ready to explode.

  Claire’s eyes rolled as she reached her peak and drenched Nick in her silky moisture. He watched her face as she enjoyed her moment. It thrilled him that he could make her feel so good. He kissed her again, working one long stroke at a time.

  “Oh fuuuuck…,” he groaned in pure pleasure, bracing himself above her.

  With he closed his eyes, Nick pounded his hips into her. Suddenly, he stopped moving and breathing. Then he dropped his head, his body shuddering from head to toe. He inhaled sharply. He moaned her name as he filled her, pulsing a few more times before he collapsed. He lay on top of her for a minute, trying to catch his breath. She smiled, rubbing his back with her fingertips.

  They lay there, quiet and still, entangled in one another’s arms. That was the most relaxed Claire had felt in a long time. She felt safe in Nick’s arms, even if he was only partially alive.

  The darkness of the night crept in. While looking into her eyes, Nick drifted off to sleep. Claire listened to his deep breaths, enjoying every moment.

  She wasn’t ready to sleep, even though she knew she should, but Sophie, Thomas, and she would be traveling back to Henry’s apartment soon. Claire untangled herself from Nick’s lean, muscled arms. She covered him up, then dressed.

  Before she left the room, she looked back at him in his quiet slumber and smiled. She felt at peace with what they did, feeling the love for him building inside her. She knew he would be all she ever wanted.

  Chapter 24

  As I lay in bed, I heard a string of obscenities from both Henry and Sophie as they cut out the tracking devices. When Claire walked past my door, she stopped and backed up, stepping into the doorway.

  “What’s going on down there?” she asked.

  “They’re cutting the tracking devices out.”

  “Maybe I should go down there and see if I can help.”

  I shrugged. “Yeah, probably. Where’s Nick?”

  “Oh. He fell asleep. Are you all right?” Claire didn’t make eye contact. She played with the hem of her shirt. I narrowed my eyes at her. I had a feeling that they had sex, but I parked that thought for the moment.

  “Yeah. I just feel so bad for Henry. He’s gone through so much. I hope what Kellan said about Henry’s mother weren’t true. It breaks my heart. How could a mother do that to her son?”

  “It’s awful.”

  I needed to change the subject before I cried again. “Claire, what’s going on between you and Nick?” She shrugged, then walked out of the room. I knew it.

  I lay there for a moment, thinking about Henry’s situation, thinking about Nick and Claire, thinking about Sophie’s children. I was spent. I felt my exhaustion taking over, so I curled up into a ball and drifted off.

  Henry padded into the dark bedroom. He was glad to hear Elaina’s soft, deep breathing. He had no energy to even say hello, let alone talk about anything, especially what had happened with Kellan.

  After setting a bottle of whisky he had found while rummaging through the cabinets in the kitchen, he tugged off his t-shirt and stripped out of his pants. Quietly, and with extra care so he didn’t wake her up, Henry crawled into bed next to the love of his life. Exhaling at length, he resisted the urge to touch her. He wanted her, but she needed to rest, as well.

  Henry put his arms behind his head and stared into the blackness. Memories of his past rolled in. He sat up and grabbed the bottle, took a few long pulls, then set it back on the floor next to the bed. He figured if he was going to reminisce about the good ol’ days, he was going to do it with one of his best friends, Mr. Walker.

  The first memory that came roaring back was of the last time he remembered seeing his mother alive.

  -May 1991-

  Luke sat on the threadbare throw rug at the end of the couch. “Mummy, thank you! I love it.” He held up the new car his mother bought him for his fifth birthday.

  She smiled at him while she cleaned up the kitchen. She had baked him a cake. Her silky brown hair was loosely tied back, and her tattered apron covered her worn clothing. “You are very welcome, my beautiful boy.”

  The side door slammed open. His mother screamed. A man Luke only remembered seeing a few times ran over and grabbed him by the arm, dragging him toward the door.

  “No! You leave him alone!” His mother ran toward the man.

  “He’s a whiny little prat! He needs to be turned into a man!” the man screamed while Luke flailed around, trying to escape his harsh grip.

  “He has done nothing wrong! Leave him be! He’s just a boy!” His mother fought off the man.

  “I told you that if you didn’t take care of what I needed, I would take him away! I’m here to collect what I’m owed.”

  “No! Please. Please leave him alone. He’s an innocent boy!”

  Luke cried hysterically, trying hard to pull away.

  “I’m going to turn him into a man! Listen to him crying like a girl! Shut up, you little
lass!”

  His mother grabbed at Luke, but the man backhanded her. Blood splattered across Luke’s face and torso.

  “Mum!” When the man pushed him away, Luke crawled under the kitchen table.

  “You whore! You could never obey, so now you will pay!” Luke watched as the man punched his mother over and over again as she lay on the floor, trying to fight him off. When she finally stopped fighting, he kicked her in the back. Luke was so terrified, he wet himself.

  The man rolled her over, yanked up her skirt, then unzipped his pants. Luke didn’t know what was happening, but he knew his mother was being hurt. He found enough courage in his tiny five-year-old body to run out the door and into the woods behind their shack.

  Luke stayed out there tucked, between two large trees, through the night, terrified the man would find him. He didn’t sleep, but listened to every sound around him.

  When dawn came, he walked back to the house, hoping to see his mum making eggs and toast for him, like she did every morning.

  The shack was empty. There was a large bloodstain on the rug where he saw the man hurt his mother. Luke sat in the chair at the small, beat-up dinette set. He saw his new car broken into pieces on the floor. The tears flowed from his eyes, thick and heavy. He was alone and didn’t know what to do. There was no family or friends for him to go to.

  There was a soft knock on the door. Luke was terrified, but when he looked through the window and saw it wasn’t the man from the night before, he decided to answer the door.

  “Hullo, sweet boy. I heard I might be able to find you here. Are you alone?” Luke nodded at the gentle woman, wiping his face. “Why don’t you come with me? I have a nice place where you can live. We have nice soft beds, clothes, and lots toys for boys like you.”

  “But my mum…”

  “Oh, sweet boy, she isn’t coming back.” The woman held out her hand, and Luke looked around the shack. “Come on now. We don’t want to miss out on that nice soft bed, do we?” He looked at the woman, then back at the kitchen. With his mother gone, there was nothing left for him. Before he left with the woman, he grabbed the only picture he had of him and his mom off of the refrigerator. He jammed it into his pocket as he grabbed the woman’s hand.