Connor gently rubbed up and down her slickness, always returning to the sweet spot, setting her on fire again. He teased her with his fingers, finding his way inside her, filling her, sometimes leaving altogether until she ached for his touch. Throughout it all, they kissed. Her body arched with each stroke of his fingers, tension building until she thought she could take no more. And just when she thought she could bear it no longer, she went rigid in his arms, releasing with a loud moan. Connor held her tight until she finished.
“Oh, wow,” Juliet panted. “Where did you learn to do that?” She laid her head against the blanket, still panting for breath.
“Most of it was guesswork,” he laughed. “Haven’t had a lot of practice since the world went to hell.”
“We should do this again some time,” said Juliet. Connor thought he could go again right then, but it was already late.
“That’s sounds like a good idea.”
They sat beside each other for a moment, basking in the afterglow.
“I’m glad we found you, Juliet.”
“Me too, Connor.” She pulled him close to her, his warmth overtaking the night air. I think I might be falling for you.
CHAPTER SIX
Juliet pulled her jacket tighter in an attempt to keep out the icy chill that lingered in the morning air. She watched as Phil and Connor took supplies from the Jeep. The brothers had been getting along well. Phil seemed more in control of himself, even a bit friendlier towards her. They had even shared a few private conversations. Juliet had noticed a change in Connor as well; he was making an effort to let Phil know he was appreciated, and she was sure that made all the difference to his brother.
“I’m thinking we stay together, try to nab as many of these assholes as possible,” said Phil. “If the herd Rus saw is coming this way, it will be somewhere around here.” Phil handed her a catch pole.
As if on cue, a deathly smell embraced the area and Juliet knew the zombies were near. Her instincts told her to run, that danger approached. She fought for control of her body, feeling the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Her hands were shaking, but not entirely from fear, there was also excitement. She had begun to appreciate the rush of adrenaline, it made her feel alive.
“Okay, Juliet, you and Phil are catching them,” Connor ordered. “I’ll be the bait. Remember what I taught you.” She had practiced using the catch poles on the pigs at the farm. Connor said that if she could catch a pig, she could definitely catch a zombie. The pigs were faster, stronger, and smarter, and she had caught several over the course of the week.
They were vigilant as they approached the herd. Phil watched the left, Juliet the right, and Connor led the way. They began to see the slow shambling zombies in the distance, masked by the trees and the faint light of the dawn. The odor of death grew stronger and more nauseating with each step the silhouettes took in their direction.
Juliet had expected maybe a dozen zombies. The herd was twice that size. It was going to be dangerous to capture so many of them two at a time. She wasn’t even sure how to split them up. The thought of wrangling so many of them made her anxious. Her jacket felt hot as her blood pumped quicker.
“This is going to be tricky, but we got this,” said Connor. “Just let me work my magic, and you can pick them off one by one.”
The raspy breathing of the zombies reminded Juliet of a snake pit as they wheezed and hissed. The front runners had spotted Connor and were in pursuit, the zombies behind them following their lead. When Connor had their attention, he led them deeper into the woods. Connor zigged and zagged as they followed him, keeping the leaders on him and letting the pack fall behind. When they had enough distance, he put his hand in the air and waved for Juliet and Phil.
Juliet quickly wrapped the loop around the closest zombie’s neck and gave it a tight pull. The zombie was strong, but she had control. It wrestled against her, testing her strength. At the end of the pole, the zombie was her puppet, subject to her will and commands. Bones protruded from its shoulder, worn away by time or injury. The muscles surrounding it twitched as it focused its energy attempting to reach Juliet.
Connor disappeared with the remaining zombies deeper into the woods once more. The strategy was for Connor to keep them busy while Phil and Juliet deposited their two captives in the pit.
“It’s not so bad, right?” Phil asked as they guided the zombies along. “Once you get the hang of it, it goes pretty easy. Except for whoever runs around; cardio is the worst.” They were about a five-minute walk from the closest pit.
“Yeah, not so bad. It just seems kind of dangerous. Do you think you are really going to need all of these zombies some day?” The massive amount already surrounding the wall seemed like enough to Juliet.
“You never know. When the bullets and the guns run out, they may be our greatest form of protection. We could toss in something for the zombies to climb out over and then this place would be swarming. Imagine trying to get to our house through all of that.”
The thought of a thousand zombies roaming through the forest made the hair on her neck stand on end.
“But why not put your energy towards something else?” The zombie continued to struggle, testing her grip.
“Like what? We have a wall that we built, we have a storage of supplies, we have a garden, our livestock are beginning to multiply. I have the plans for the greenhouse in order, but aside from that, we have what we need to live. The farther we go out, the more danger we risk, but if we stay here, fortify what we have, then what more do we need?”
Phil pushed his zombie towards the pit and loosened the loop, sending it tumbling into the mob below. Juliet followed suit. She thought she heard something crack when the zombie hit the ground, making her stomach turn.
“What about civilization? Don’t you want that again?” she asked
Phil held the pole over his shoulder as they walked. “We don’t need civilization, we need community. Civilization is full of things that tear people apart. Classes and discrimination. What we are creating is a foundation to sustain ourselves on a small scale, where everyone is taken care of and people work to their strengths, but aren’t defined by them.” It was interesting to Juliet. Connor definitely had the personality, the natural charisma that made a leader, but Phil had the understanding of how society worked. Together, they could be an unstoppable force if civilization did come back.
When they returned to Connor, they found him skipping along as the zombies chased him through the woods. Juliet and Phil both laughed at the contrast of a grown man skipping while an undead troupe followed closely behind.
“This would make a great postcard,” joked Phil.
“Wish you were here,” Juliet offered the tag line.
It took most of the day, but they eventually had all of the zombies accounted for and put away. Phil offered high-fives to Connor and Juliet as the last of the zombies fell into the pit. Juliet was tired, her muscles sore, but it had been great to actually do some of the heavy hitting for once.
“Way to go! That is actually the biggest herd we have ever done in one go before,” said Connor. He gave Juliet a quick kiss on the lips.
“Glad I could be here to make history,” she said. It had been a good day so far. She had joked with Phil, overcame most of her fear of zombies, or at least turned it into a functional fear, and most of all, she felt proud of the work she had put in. “What do we do now?”
“I was going to go check on the pits on the north side. Just to make sure every thing looks in order. You two keep yourselves busy.”
“You need a hand?” asked Connor.
Phil took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow. “Nah, I’m good. Have some fun out there.” He winked. Was Phil willingly giving them alone time? Maybe I’m starting to rub off on him. The thought that she might finally be fitting in put an extra spring in her step.
Juliet and Connor strolled through the forest with no destination in mind. Connor carried the catch pole in one h
and, tossed over his shoulder like a fishing rod, and held Juliet’s hand tight in the other. The afternoon heat was intense and humid. The jacket had become unbearable as the day went on, so Juliet tied it around her waist. She felt the sweat sticking to the back of her shirt. Fall was only a few months away and she longed for the changing of leaves. This time, I’ll actually be able to go out and watch the seasons change. The thought filled her with hope.
Without the threat of the zombies, the forest reminded Juliet of being a kid. Of playing in the leaves and chasing her friends down trodden trails. She leaped on Connor’s back, causing him to stagger. He gripped her legs as they wrapped around his waist and took off running. Their laughter echoed off the trees. When Connor put her down, Juliet pretended to fall, pulling Connor down with her. His face hovered inches from hers. Leaves caught in her hair. The forest floor was cool against her skin. Connor leaned over Juliet, his gaze piercing.
She squeezed Connor’s arm, relishing the feel of his skin against her own. She felt his strength, his power. He looked down at her, a cool passion burning in his eyes, and her insides melted. A slow, devilish grin began to creep across his face as he leaned in closer. He took a deep breath, as if she was the air he needed to survive.
“You do things to me no one ever has,” he told her as he gazed into her eyes.
Juliet looked up into his fiery blue eyes and they threatened to consume her. Blue is the hottest flame, she thought. Juliet opened her mouth to tell Connor how she was feeling, that she thought she was falling for him, but his lips pressed against hers, cutting off the words. His tongue touched hers, igniting a blaze of passion throughout her body. Her stomach clenched and as their tongues danced, she felt herself go moist. Every touch sent tingles down her body and as Connor pulled himself closer, his manhood pressed into her thigh, hard and wanting. She blushed at the thought and Connor kissed her deeper. For such a strong man, his kiss was gentle, his tongue tender as it ran along hers. He ran his fingers through her hair, pulling her closer and closer until they threatened to meld together. Connor took both her hands in his, pressing them into the cool earth as he nibbled her neck.
Juliet’s heart pounded against Connor’s chest. She straddled him and his hand slowly slipped beneath her shirt. The barely audible gasp as he ran his hand down her side had Connor throbbing. Gripping her bottom, Connor stood up, lifting her into the air and pressing her firmly against the large oak tree. Juliet massaged his head and neck as they kissed. Their heavy breathing overtook the sounds of the forest. In that moment, all Connor had ears for was Juliet.
Connor slowly released her to the ground. They stared into each other’s eyes, questioning each other without words as to what would happen next. Connor made the first move, and inched Juliet’s shirt over her head. Her black, lacy bra cupped her small breasts. He had never wanted anything as much as he wanted her right then.
“You’re so sexy,” he whispered in her ear.
Juliet kissed his neck and Connor felt her begin to loosen his belt. His bulge pressed firmly against his pants. Air rushed between his legs as his pants dropped to the ground. Connor pulled off his shirt, tossing it into the forest. He unclasped her bra, admiring her lean figure. Her nipples were soft in the midday heat and as pink the sunset. With one hand, he cupped her breast, caressing her nipple with his finger while attempting to unbutton her pants with his other hand.
He found the space between her legs wet. Juliet let out a moan of pleasure as he stroked her. She gripped his manhood and Connor had a hard time containing himself. Her touch nearly sent him into release. Juliet pulled him closer until his shaft rested between her legs, her slickness gently gliding along the top of his manhood.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Connor asked.
“More than anything,” she answered. “Do you have a condom?”
Connor had carried one in his pocket ever since the night they spent watching the stars. The time had finally come. He pulled the condom from his pants pocket, slipping it on with anticipation.
Connor took himself in his hand and searched for her opening. When he found it, his knees buckled as her tightness engulfed him, taking all his strength away. Her body slowly gave way as he inserted himself inside her. A sharp pain rushed through Connor’s shoulders as Juliet dug her nails into him the farther inside he went. He had never felt anything as pleasurable in his entire life. With slow rhythm, Connor began to thrust himself in an out. Juliet’s breath quickened with his own as he moved up and down. She kissed Connor’s neck and nibbled his ear as the pace quickened.
Birds chirped and leaves shook as they made love. Connor felt the pain fade away as he drifted deeper and deeper into her. Juliet arched her head back, accepting the release. She was so sexy as she leaned back, gasping for air that Connor exploded inside of her, euphoria washing over his body. He pressed his arms against the tree, leaning over Juliet. His legs felt weak when he leaned in to kiss her.
Juliet bit her lip, looking into Connor’s gaze.
“No matter what my dad does, I’m staying here.”
When they arrived back at the Jeep, Phil was not there. They waited for a while, making small talk and listening to the afternoon raucous of locusts and mockingbird calls. Two squirrels made a game of chasing each other from tree to tree. When Connor tired of waiting, he found the walkie-talkie in the Jeep and attempted to reach Phil.
“Phil, you there? Over.” He waited for a response. Several minutes passed. “We’re back at the Jeep. Phil, come in, over.” Nothing but a slight static filled the airwaves. After half an hour passed, Connor grew restless. This isn’t like Phil, thought Connor. His brother never left him hanging. If he wasn’t answering, it meant he was in trouble.
Connor felt Juliet’s eyes burning into him. He fought for composure against the sudden tightness in his chest. He paced back and forth, debating what to do.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Phil always answers his walkie-talkie. I think we should go check on him.” Concern registered on Juliet’s face and they set off together in search of Phil. They went to the north pits, where Phil said he would be, but there was no sign of him. They called his name until it echoed off the trees, but to no avail. Connor began to panic. It was an unfamiliar feeling. His whole life since the world ended had been devoted to keeping his brother and mother safe.
A zombie appeared from behind a tree, its arms extended toward Connor. The zombie reeked of rotten flesh, it’s tattered shirt exposing a gaunt ribcage. Its teeth chattered as it gnashed at the air. Connor stabbed it in the head in a swift motion, throwing the body to the ground. He didn’t have time to deal with zombies when his brother might be missing.
“Maybe he went home?” offered Juliet.
It was unlikely that Phil went home without taking the Jeep or checking in with Connor, but it was the best idea they had at the moment.
Connor raced home. The sky had started to darken as evening approached. There would only be an hour before nightfall. At home, Connor found his mother and Cedric in the kitchen, cooking dinner. They hadn’t seen or heard from Phil.
“It’s probably nothing,” said Connor, attempting to sound normal. The last thing he needed was his mother in a panic. “We split up and I haven’t heard from him in a few hours. He probably just sat his walkie-talkie down and didn’t hear it. We’re gonna go back and find him and then we’ll be back for dinner. It smells delicious.” Connor gave his mother a kiss on the head as he left.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Juliet and her father, Cedric, had headed north when things went bad. They lost her mom to the plague in the first few days. Her dying wish had been for them to tell her parents the news. With the phone lines down, that meant the only option was driving.
Juliet’s grandparents lived in a small trailer park a couple hours north of Anderson. With traffic practically at a standstill, it had taken half a day to make the drive, but in the end, they arrived at the gates to Meadow Valley Trailer Pa
rk. It was surrounded by a small chain-link fence. Inside were a few dozen mobile homes aligned in neat little lines. When they arrived, Juliet’s grandmother and grandfather had already passed. Not daring to make the drive home, they stayed in her grandparents’ trailer for the night. They had intended only to stay for a short while and then head home, but a year later, they still found themselves there.
Juliet was walking home from the administrative building that had been converted into a cafeteria when she overheard someone say “tonight is the night.” She was not the type to eavesdrop on people’s conversations, but in Meadow Valley, it was not often that one overheard secret meetings. Her curiosity for what this could mean drove her to hide behind the nearest mobile home, ear cocked, listening intently to the conversation.
“You sure?” asked another man. “I don’t want any hiccups. If we do this, we do it right.”
“I promise you, they will never see it coming,” said the first voice.
Juliet gave a quick peek around the corner for a glimpse of the two men. One wore a dirty cowboy hat; his name was Greg. The hat covered his balding head. His jeans were stained with oil and blood, his shirt full of holes. Juliet had always found him especially creepy, with his beady eyes and the way he would lick his lips any time a woman walked past him. If he was planning something, it was trouble. The other man wore denim overalls, one strap tossed over his shoulder. His pot belly hung low and protruded like a badge of honor. Juliet hadn’t had many dealings with him, but she knew his name was Bill. He chewed tobacco and spat it out any time someone got too close for his liking. Bill and Greg always seemed to be together and were a nuisance to most of the group, but they had been a source of supplies and food. Her dad said that Clarence, the closest thing they had to a leader, only put up with them because they could always find food. They were like rats that way. Their requirement for services was that they kept half the booze they took in. They were always willing to go on runs. As of late, though, they came back with less and less. This had everyone on edge as supplies began to dwindle and clean drinking water was running low.
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