by S. M. Shade
“I thought you might be thirsty,” I remark.
“Thank you, darlin’.” He takes the pitcher and glasses from me and places them on a makeshift table he’s created between two sawhorses.
“Isn’t she thoughtful?” Mandy asks.
I give her a “why are you still here” look, and she grins again.
“And sweet,” Airen agrees, downing a glass of tea in three gulps before sweeping me up in a hug.
“Ugh, you’re all sweaty!” I laugh.
“You know you like it,” he teases, nipping at my neck. “Amanda, would you tell Joseph I’ll be back in an hour or so? He’s inside showing Walker the new paints.” He puts his arm around me and leads me away before she can answer.
“Where are we going?”
“I want to show you something.” A sweet smile graces his lips, the one that’s reserved just for me. I’m led to the adjacent property where a small trailer sits, shaded by oak trees, and I look at him curiously as he opens the door. The windows are open, and it’s cool and clean inside. A couch rests against one wall along with a small tank of fresh water.
“You plan on kicking me out?”
“It’s for us, whenever we want to get away from the house and have some privacy. I know it’s crowded, and it’s hard for us to be alone.”
I smile from ear to ear. “We’re alone now.”
His carnal, sideways smile steals my breath and sends a wave of heat to flush my skin. He growls and tosses me over his shoulder, carrying me back to a small bedroom furnished with a full size bed and night stand. “When did you do all this?”
“I wanted to surprise you. Did I?”
His expression is uncertain. It’s so cute, like a young child asking if he’s done well. “Yes.” I hug him. “It’s a wonderful idea.”
“Our summer home.” His playful demeanor makes me giggle. “I like that sound. I haven’t heard enough of that lately.” His rough palm traces my cheek and cups my jaw. “I know you don’t like having Amanda around. We’re working on the house as fast as we can.”
“She wants you,” I pout.
“But I want you,” he replies, pulling my shirt over my head.
We’re both naked in seconds and desperate for one another. I push him against the wall, kissing him hard, tasting every inch of his delicious mouth, and he squeezes my ass until it hurts. I groan, and he lifts me and carries me to the bed, falling on top of me. He enters me in one hard thrust, and I cry out, trying to muffle it in his arm. Sweet, gentle Airen is nowhere to be found, and I’m loving this rough aggressive side of him.
“There’s nobody here but us. I want to hear you.” When he speeds up, plunging deeper, I moan, not attempting to hide it. His hips swivel, changing directions often, sending streaks of pleasure racing through me.
“Harder,” I order. Inflamed by my demand, he sits back on his heels and yanks me toward him, my legs draped over his thighs, my shoulders against the bed. I fall apart as he drives upward, hitting the spot inside of me that drives me wild, over and over again.
“Right there, huh?” His voice is thick and husky.
“Airen,” I whimper. “Oh, I can’t.” It’s too good. I’m drowning in sensation, wound so tightly I can’t bear any more. I’m burning alive.
“Oh, girl, I know you can,” he growls. One more rotation of his hips, and I erupt into a mind shattering orgasm, screaming his name in absolute ecstasy. Fuck. What this man does to me is phenomenal, extraordinary, and utterly terrifying. I can’t imagine my life without him now. He has consumed me. I’m his.
I’m lying with my head in his lap, my muscles still jumping from the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever had. He plays with my hair and gives me an arrogant, gloating smile as I glance up at him. “What?”
“You screamed.”
“Shut up. It wasn’t a scream.” Blushing, I avert my eyes while he gazes at me with a self-satisfied grin stretched across his face.
“You screamed my name,” he brags, thoroughly pleased with himself.
“It won’t happen again,” I swear, petulantly.
“I’ll make sure it does. I love to hear it.”
“You love to hear your own name. I’m shocked.”
“I love it when you say it.”
Okay, that one was a winner. I grin up at him and whisper, “You’re too good to be true. I love you.”
His face lights up, and he bends to place a soft kiss on my lips. “I love to hear that, too.”
It’s true I don’t say it very often. Airen tells me he loves me every day, but there is a part of me, an inner voice, that loves to whisper it’s not true, that I’m deluding and making a fool of myself if I believe it for even one second. He needs to hear it though, and I vow silently to say it more often.
Dark, sexy stubble prickles my fingertips as I caress his jaw. “I do, Air. I love you so much it scares me sometimes. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He slides me up his body until I’m sitting on his lap, my face hidden in his neck, reveling in his sweaty masculine scent. “You’ll never have to worry about that, sweetheart. I’m keeping you. You better just accept it now. You’re stuck with me.”
“I’ll just have to suffer through it. Are you going back to work on the house?”
“I’m considering playing hooky, maybe taking Carson on the lake for a couple of hours, see if the fish are biting.”
“I’m sure he’d like that.”
Airen keeps his arm around my neck while we walk back to Mandy and Sara’s house to tell Joseph he’s done for the day. He’s so affectionate sometimes. I love it.
“What have you two been up to?” Joseph remarks with a knowing grin. I feel my cheeks heat, and Airen cocks an eyebrow at him.
“Just showing Abby our summer home.”
“Did you like it?” Joseph smirks.
I smile and nod, embarrassed at the double entendre. “It’s perfect.” Mandy is listening instead of talking for a change.
“I’m going to take Carson out on the lake and catch us some dinner,” Airen informs him.
Before Joseph can answer, Mandy pipes up. “I’d like to learn to fish! Give me a minute and I’ll go with you,”she invites herself. The nerve of this bitch!
“Sorry,” Airen says, sounding anything but sorry. “Carson and I need some father-son time.” He tucks his hand in the back pocket of my shorts as we walk away. I turn back and smile, waving goodbye, and the look of scorn on Mandy’s face makes my day.
“Have I mentioned I love you?” I ask happily.
“Twice in one day.” Airen beams. “It’s a record.”
Troy
This little trip has been a monumental waste of time and energy. After weeks on the road, we haven’t found any other survivors. Herrin appears to be a ghost town like all the rest. Micah grumbles while he siphons gas for the RV. I can’t make out what he’s saying, but I’m confident my name is being combined with some wonderful swear words. This was all my idea, after all.
“Lighten up,” I say cheerfully. “You’ll be at home, losing to me at poker in less than a week.”
He shoots me a thunderous look. “Just get in, start the damn thing, and turn the heater up as far as it’ll go.”
Fifteen minutes later we’re rolling, heading out of another small, dead town. I’m driving, and his majesty is stretched out on a bunk when I see her.
“Holy shit! Micah!” My foot slams against the brake pedal and we squeal to a stop. We step out onto the street and stare at the young girl walking toward us along the side of the road. She’s thin and pale with dark curls. She waves uncertainly while we continue to gape at her.
It takes a second for the link between my brain and mouth to reconnect. “Hello. I’m Troy, and this is Micah.”
“My name’s Diane.” Her eyes dart back and forth. “Do you have any water?”
“Sure.” I return to the RV and pull a water bottle from the cooler. Poor girl, I can’t imagine how long she’s been on her own
. “We have plenty of food if you’re hungry,” I announce as I return, pulling the door shut behind me and holding the bottle of water out to her. She looks like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes as big as dinner plates as she stumbles back from me.
It’s then I notice Micah lying face down in the frost covered grass. A hand descends on each of my arms, pulling them behind me and my wrists are bound together with plastic zip ties before I’ve even seen my attackers.
“L-look,” I stammer, “you can have our food and supplies. Hell, take the RV.”
“We don’t want it,” a gruff voice answers from behind me. When the man steps in front of me, I’m dismayed to see how large he is, even bigger than Micah.
“Then what do you want? I don’t have my license and registration, but if you let us go with a warning, I’ll take you to the nearest bank and give you a hundred-thousand dollars.” I’m terrified, and my smart mouth takes over. I tend to babble when I’m nervous. At least I can see Micah’s breath fogging the air, so I know he’s alive.
“Perfect. A comedian,” a second man remarks.
Everyone’s a critic.
“We want to save you,” the giant states.
“That’s sweet of you, and I appreciate the gesture, truly, but we were doing fine until you attacked us. What did you do to him?” I nod toward Micah. They have sat him upright and tied his hands.
“Tased him. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. My name is Cole, and this is Steve.”
“I’d be lying if I said it’s nice to meet you.”
Cole laughs, grabbing my arm and pulling me along. “You’ll thank us eventually. Is this man your boyfriend?” That was the last question I expected.
“No, you’re in luck. He’s single.”
“We aren’t queers,” Steve snaps.
Uh-Oh. “Neither are we. Where are you taking us?” They load us into the back of a maroon van. Micah moans as he starts to come around.
“To see Abraham,” Cole replies.
“Who is Abraham?”
“You’ll see. Now shut up or I’ll duct tape your mouth,” Steve threatens.
I can take a hint. I lean back against the wall of the van and try not to panic as we pull away.
Abraham
I’m not sure which man is going to be more trouble. I suspect Troy is a homosexual, but Micah is combative and unruly. He must be brought to heel. I’ve decided to house them with Jennifer. I’ll be able to observe whether they’re attracted to women and see if they’ll attempt to fornicate with her.
I kneel at the end of my bed to pray. “Thank you, Lord, for bringing these lost sheep to us. We’ll teach them your word and guide them to the path of righteousness and salvation. Please, grant me the strength to do what needs to be done, no matter how unpleasant the task may be. Amen.”
Yes, thank you God, for tasers and loyal, easily led, scared people. The next few months should prove entertaining.
CHAPTER FIVE
Walker and Carson’s birthdays are one day apart, on the last day of May and the first of June. Carson agrees to celebrate with Walker on the thirty-first.
What do you boys want to do?” I ask. We usually play games or barbecue on a birthday, but Walker has another idea.
“I want to dress up and dance again,” he announces.
I laugh out loud. It’s the last thing I expected to hear, and I know Carson wants no part of it. After some discussion and compromising, we decide to have a little party, outdoors this time, and dressing up is optional. They’re both happy. Joseph strings lights around the yard, and we set up a table and chairs. I bake a huge chocolate cake with six candles on one end and thirteen on the other.
Airen plays his guitar, and we all sing happy birthday to them. After pigging out on cake, we watch the kids catch fireflies. It’s a beautiful night, clear and warm with stars shining. The moon is full, and it’s bright enough to see each other even without the lights. I take a deep breath, drinking in the fragrant air and basking in the warmth and joy of my surroundings. It’s not often I feel this good.
We connect Jayla’s iPod to the speakers, and she and Walker start dancing. It’s so sweet, I have to hurry to snap a picture. She drags Carson into the yard and makes him dance with her too. Airen produces a bottle of bourbon, pouring shots for me, Joseph, Mandy, and himself.
Mandy has evidently had a few already, and it makes her louder and more abrasive. “Sara can drink,” she crows. “C’mon, honey, get ya a shot!”
“Isn’t she a little young?” Joseph asks.
“I ain’t her mama. She can do what she wants.”
I don’t like it, but I’m not sure I have the right to tell her no. Fortunately, I don’t have to.
“I’d rather have a soda,” Sara says, speaking up for herself. As I hand her a bottle from the cooler, she adds in a whisper, “I don’t drink.”
“Smart girl.” For the first time I wonder about her living with Mandy when she’s obviously intimidated by her. This isn’t the time to dwell on it, though. I don’t want to ruin a rare night of fun.
Joseph asks Sara to dance with him, and after turning three different shades of scarlet, she follows him into the yard.
Airen offers me his hand with a cocky smile. “May I?”
As if I could ever say no to that face. I follow him out to the yard and slip my arms around his neck. The Cure is singing I Will Always Love You, and he’s singing along under his breath in a smooth deep voice that makes me ache for him. He holds me tight, and I relax against his warm body.
“You feel good,” he murmurs.
“You’re drunk.” I drag my lips across his jaw to feel his stubble.
“Not even close, sweetheart. What about you? Am I going to have to carry you to bed tonight?”
“No.” He thinks I’m embarrassed about passing out last time, but he doesn’t know I saw our drunken conversation on the camera.
“You can get drunk, and I’ll keep an eye on you,” I offer, grinning.
“I may take you up on that.”
When the song ends, Mandy taps me on the shoulder. “Can I cut in? You don’t mind, do you?” She smiles, daring me to refuse.
“It’s up to Airen.” I step back and nod at him as he glances at me warily. I don’t want him to think I’m jealous or don’t trust him. If he wants to say no, it needs to come from him, not me.
Jayla stares at me, her jaw on the table as I grab a drink and sit down beside her.
“You let her dance with him?” she hisses.
“Calm down. It’s one dance, and then you can cut in.”
“I don’t like her. She’s a skank.”
I choke on my drink and splutter, “Jayla!”
“Well, she is. I’ll bet she was a stripper or a hooker before. I know her type.” She glares at her. “She’s trying to get to you.”
“And I’m trying to show her she can’t.”
“What if she tries to kiss him or something?”
“I’ll break her nose,” I reply matter-of-factly, and Jayla beams.
The song changes to Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran, the song Airen and I danced to when he first kissed me, on the first night we made love. When I glance up, he’s pushing Mandy away from him.
“Thanks for the dance,” he says stiffly, “but this is our song.” He scoops me up before I can stand and carries me to the yard, setting me on my feet.
“You remembered.” I lay my head on his shoulder.
“Kind of hard to forget.”
He slides his hands down to my behind and smiles salaciously. Goddamn, he’s gorgeous. His brooding look burrows into me, and he knows exactly what he’s doing, scorching me with those black eyes. Soft lips nuzzle my jaw. “You smell so good,” he murmurs, and his tongue slides up my neck, tasting me.
God, I want him. When the song ends, I pull him toward the house. “Watch the kids,” I mumble to Joseph before tugging Airen into our bedroom and locking the doors.
“Abby.” He laughs at me. “We can’t
do this now.” I ignore him and unbutton his pants.
“I just want to taste you,” I whisper, backing him against the wall.
“Abby! Fuck!” he cries out as I wrap my lips around him. A moan rattles his chest, and his hand slides into my hair. Instead of beginning slowly and letting him adjust to the sensation, I attack him. Stumbling, he braces himself. “Abby! Easy.”
I ignore his plea. Maybe this isn’t the healthiest way to react to my jealousy over watching Mandy with him, but I don’t care. I want him to remember this, to look back on this night and see nothing but me, on my knees, making him feel good.
His groan when I tighten around him and continue my ruthless pace spurs me on. He convulses as he comes, but it’s the yelp he lets out that makes me smile. I pull his boxers and slacks up while he’s still recovering, standing there panting, completely undone.
“I believe that counts as a scream,” I gloat, kissing his earlobe, before I leave to rejoin the party.
As I have a seat at the table and pour myself a shot, Joseph shakes his head at me, thoroughly amused by our disappearance. Mandy doesn’t find it humorous. She’s staring daggers at me. I smile at her when Joseph asks me to dance with him. Her eyes blaze, and she stalks into the house.
“You didn’t want to dance with her?” I ask him.
“She doesn’t like to be turned down.”
The kids are back to catching fireflies when Airen returns looking flushed and thoroughly satisfied. He catches my eye while I’m dancing with Joseph and winks at me, pouring another shot.
“I’d better get Walker to bed. It’s late,” Joseph states.
“Let me do it. You go have a drink with Airen. I’ve been hogging him all night, and you got stuck with Mandy.”
“That girl can drink.” He shakes his head.
“Does she come onto you?” I ask, lowering my voice, and he looks down at me, surprised.
“She flirts with me once in a while.”
“Do you want to?” I ask, widening my eyes. I know I shouldn’t care who he sleeps with, but he can do so much better than her.
