“Is it cool enough to get into?”
“Of course, and just warm enough to relax you.”
“Adam, thank you for dragging me away from the village.” Her eyes stared up into his and he moved closer to her.
Putting his hands on the side of her face he leaned in further, paused for a brief second, and then placed his lips gently on hers. He stopped and leaned back to make sure that she welcomed his kiss. She took the opportunity to fully embrace him and passionately return his kiss. Her fingers wound into his messy locks. His thin beard and mustache tickled her lips as they moved together. She was still able to taste the blood left on his tongue.
He backed up a few inches and she thought perhaps she had made a mistake. That was until he bent down and unlaced her boots and pulled them off. He placed each sock near the water so she could wash them later. Their lantern lights reflected from the water causing ripples to dance on the surrounding cave walls. As she looked up at the glistening mirage he popped the button of her jeans and slipped his fingers inside the waist sliding them down, and they too were laid out by the water. He seemed to be in no hurry, and the way he navigated her clothes and body confirmed his sexual experience.
Bending slightly, his fingertips ran up the length of her legs and she felt her face go red. She hadn’t been able to find a decent razor to shave for days. Hair stubbled legs weren’t exactly sexy material. When he stood and slipped her tank top over her head she felt the same embarrassment for her underarms. She didn’t look like a female gorilla by any means, but she would have preferred it if his hand had felt a baby smooth body.
He paused and looked at her facial expression. “Do you want me to stop?”
Phoenix giggled a little. “No, it’s just that I’m not exactly groomed for this.”
When his eyebrow furrowed she lifted her arm and pointed to her armpit. He took the pointing finger and lowered it. “I’m very aware of the conditions we live in. You take what you can find. In no way does that take away from how beautiful you are.” He moved his mouth to her ear and whispered. “I have another reason for stalking you despite your survival skills, you know.”
“And what is that?” she whispered back.
“From the first time I saw you I couldn’t get you out of my mind. I watched you kick and kill men twice your size. Of course I would want to team up with you for that fact alone, but you captivated me. No matter what I did I couldn’t shake the thought of you. I had to know you and then I had to make you mine.”
Before she could say anything he stepped back and removed his clothes and boots placing them beside hers for washing. While he left her undergarments on, Adam had no scruples about stripping himself down naked. He walked to one of the backpacks and gathered his bathroom necessities, and set them on a rock that hung out over the water like a shelf.
Phoenix watched every move he made. Chills filled her body as she took in every inch of him. It had been years since a man had touched her. That was Kevin, but she would keep that to herself. Even in this low light she could see that Adam also had many tattoos, but she already knew that, but to her surprise he had a Phoenix on his back.
She wanted Adam and she wanted him badly and this was a completely different feeling than anything she had felt before. It’s like her hormones were on overdrive just watching him. It was like a craving that wouldn’t be satisfied until he finally took her, and he was amply supplied to do it well.
Adam leaped into the water and the splash that followed brought her out of her thoughts. “Are you coming in or not?” he said moving into the center of the pool.
Not yet, she thought to herself, turning his question into a sexual pun. Quickly ditching her underwear and bra onto the pile of dirty clothes, she let Adam take in her body with his eyes before she jumped into the water. He moved quickly taking her around the waist and pulling her close. He kissed her again, but stopped now and then to nibble on her lower lip or suck her tongue into his mouth.
He took her by the hand and swam over to the ledge grabbing the soap. He worked it into lather and applied it to her short hair. She missed the luxury shampoos of her past life, but bar soap was better than nothing. She went under the surface to rinse and let her hand run over his body from his thighs up. When she surfaced Adam’s mouth was open and he took in a couple deep breaths. His emerald eyes blazed. His face looked like an animal ready to pounce. Closing his eyes, he breathed in and out slowly as if in meditation. When he finally opened them, she bit down on her lip wondering what the problem was.
He pointed at her and let out a puff of air. “Hold that thought.” When he turned to wash his hair her forehead crinkled. He would rather scrub his scalp than get it on?
When he went under the water to rinse she expected him to pop right back up, instead his mouth latched between her legs. She gasped and instantly knotted her fingers in his floating hair. Never had she thought something sexual could feel so intense, but then again she had never had sex with a vamp. All the way up and down her body she felt sparks and a growing pressure between her legs. He was only down there for a moment, but she couldn’t control herself. Phoenix’s body exploded and her fingers gripped his hair tight enough to yank it out. When he rose out of the water she was still screaming.
As her breathing returned to normal Adam rested his forehead against hers. “I’m trying so hard to be a gentleman and take my time with you, but honestly I’m about to lose it.”
The animal instinct she felt back in the village hit her again and all she wanted to do was throw him on the ground and climb on top. Their eyes glowed like bright beacons, filled with passion.
Adam spun her around and pressed her back to his chest. Without another word he swam them over to the waterfall. The pressure from the falling water was just enough to be enjoyable. Just behind the fall was a flat ledge smoothed out long ago from water running across it. He picked her up and placed her there. There would be no more waiting in her mind. Phoenix’s knees dropped to the side inviting him. He needed no invitation. From the pressure she could see throbbing in his penis, he wasn’t going to wait either.
She didn’t need more foreplay to be ready. Just the thought of him touching her could do that. Taking hold of him she put him in the right spot and he plunged inside her. Phoenix’s hips moved up and down with each thrust he made.
He stopped for a second and looked at her. “Do you feel this?”
“Yeah my body is firing every nerve right now. I’m on sensory overload,” she panted back.
His fingertips ran down her breast. “It’s more than that. I can feel you; every part of you.”
She grinned softly at him. “I feel it too; I just didn’t want to freak you out. It’s like you’re a part of me and I’m a part of you. Is this always what vamp sex feels like?”
“No, it’s just sex. This is different.”
Not wanting to hear about his sexual trysts with anyone else she grabbed onto his ass urging him to continue.
Adam slammed into her hard two times and they both cried out, the sound reverberating around the cave and echoing back to them. Both burst into laughter.
“That was a first,” he said fighting to compose himself.
“What is?”
“That feeling, hot girl, that I have fantasize about for months, and having my orgasm shouted back at me.”
“Yeah, that was funny.” She was still smiling at the thought of the echoes of their pleasure bouncing back at them when he kissed her gently.
“Have you never fantasized about someone before?” she asked.
“Sorry to admit it, but I was quite the prick when it came to chicks. It’s easy when they only want you for the fame.” There was sadness in his voice as he spoke.
Phoenix moved herself over and sat on his lap. The waterfall was just catching the back of her head. “I promise, that yes I know very well who you were and I always thought you were hot, but that has nothing to do with what just happened.”
“And I will tell y
ou that if there is a thing called love at first sight, you are that to me,” he replied without giving her a chance to say anything and kissing her again.
“Sorry for the stubble,” she said biting her lower lip.
“We’ll find some razors. I think my face is in for a cut as well. Maybe an antique store would have a straight razor that we can sharpen all the time?”
“Or cut the hell out of ourselves,” she giggled.
“You’ll get the hang of it. And it will be of more use than just primping.” He moved the wet hair from her face.
“We should get our clothes washed and laid out,” Phoenix replied smiling back at him while she swam away.
“You know if we are going to find an antique store to scavenge, we should get one of those old fashioned washboard things,” he said helping her scrub soap into the clothes and rub them against the rocks.
“Good thinking.”
After the washing was done, Adam helped her out of the water. “Let’s let this stuff dry overnight. Come on, I have a makeshift bed set up.” He led her to another cavern.
Phoenix smiled as she looked at the bed. “Makeshift? This is an entire mattress and sleeping bags.”
“Don’t forget the pillows,” he replied pointing.
“You’ve been down here for a while haven’t you?”
“When the bombs first dropped I ran. Finding this place by accident turned out to be a blessing. Nobody else has found it.”
“But you left it to find me?”
“Yes.” He sat down on the mattress. “I dreamt of you. I saw your face and it’s like I had known you my entire life. I knew you would be the one to help me find my father.”
Adam bent over and pulled back the double size sleeping bag and motioned for her to get in.
As soon as he settled beside her she nestled her head against his chest. Wrapping his arm around her he sighed, then yawned.
“You’re the one,” he whispered.
“We need to go back to the village tomorrow so I can apologize,” she whispered rubbing his chest with her index finger.
“Okay, I can take the hint.”
“Adam, I feel it too and it scares the shit out of me. I’ve lost everyone and that means I will lose you too.”
“Hey.” He moved away from her and propped himself up on his elbow. “I’m not going anywhere. Ex-rock star or not I know when an angel has landed in my lap.” He ran his index finger down her forehead and nose, and then kissed her. “Life starts now,” he whispered
Tears flooded her eyes and she nodded, not able to reply.
Adam smiled and changed the subject. “Let’s get a look at that miracle cure tomorrow.” He lay back and pulled her close.
Phoenix grinned when he began snoring right away. He must be one of those people who fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, she thought to herself. She was always one to lie there for a while before dreams would come.
PHOENIX WOKE TO Adam caressing her face. Keeping her eyes closed, she groaned and stretched, and then her tummy rumbled. “We need to find food,” she said groggily.
“I know the feeling. Want to hit McDonalds on our way to see Ben?” he laughed.
“Very funny,” she replied sitting up.
“I do miss those Egg McMuffins.”
“Stop talking about food when I’m starving.” She hit him in the arm playfully.
“Well, we didn’t get to trade our medical stash for canned food, so maybe Ben’s people will be willing to trade a little today,” Adam said hopefully.
Phoenix slid into her stiff jeans and tank top. Her boots were also stiff and the leather protested as her feet slid inside. She dug through her bag until she found her small mirror and comb. She fixed her hair and smiled as she sprayed the hairspray she had stolen to style it.
Adam got dressed and stuck his hands in the pool and wetting his hair and pulling it straight through his clinched hands to straighten it. His disheveled look was complete.
“Okay, where do you pee? My bladder is going to explode,” Phoenix asked.
“Come with me. I hope you can climb.”
Her forehead crinkled “I can just go back out the entrance,” she said pointing over her shoulder.
Adam took her hand, grabbed a lantern, and led her deeper into the cave. She followed as he took hold of rocks and pulled himself up through a tunnel. The climb was tough in some places with very little to hold on to and the opening stretched up half the length of a football field. A few times she really had to watch her grip because water was running over the rocks in a steady trickle. When they finally reached the top there was another passage in front of them.
“This seems a bit excessive just to pee,” she said as she continued to follow.
“There is more back here that I need to show you, but right over there is a small water fall. It’s a nice drain to get rid of waste. It comes from somewhere under the pool. That way it’s out of here and so is the smell of shit.” Adam pointed in the direction and handed her the lantern. “I’ll wait over here.”
Phoenix walked a few feet into an opening and was confronted with a ledge she could sit on to take care of business. A dim light coming from outside could be seen. The opening was about the size of a basketball. Looking down and through the hole she could see that the small waterfall landed in a marshy area.
She shook her head. “He’s a lot smarter than he gives himself credit for.”
“I heard that,” he yelled back.
She did her business, and grabbed at the toilet paper sitting on a dry rock near the opening which she assumed he must have stolen.
“My turn.”
Phoenix walked back a few feet, but couldn’t help but watch him. He stood there with his feet apart, cracking his neck, while emptying his bladder. She had no idea why she thought this was hot. When he zipped his pants she pretended to dig dirt out from under her nails.
Adam took her hand leading her further back into the cave. They walked and climbed for over an hour. Sweat was beading on her head and she could smell the perspiration under her arms.
Adam stopped and pointed, but he didn’t need to. Shining on the rock floor was a tiny stream of golden light. Phoenix stood there staring with wonder. The pinhole of sunlight shone down like a laser beam and she started to walk toward it, hand outstretched. Before she could get two steps in Adam took her by the shoulders and stood in front of her. “Careful, this isn’t as grand as you think it is.” His tone was dead serious. “I just wanted to show it to you. I found it while exploring.”
“I just want to feel it.” Phoenix felt a tear pool in her eyes. She was laying eyes on a miracle.
“I know you do, and so do I, but anything that involves sunlight also involves the military. We need to stay quiet.”
Silently they crept up to the beam of light and Phoenix for the first time in years felt the sun on her skin. Though the beam was no wider than a quarter she could feel it warming her skin. It reminded her of long winters when the sun would shine through a window on a cold day but it felt as warm as summer when you laid in it. Her room at her parent’s house had a bench-seat built into the window. She would sit there all day reading, watching snowflakes fall, and reveling in the warm sun when the clouds would break. Moving her hand in and out of the beam felt like heaven had just descended into the cave. Dust particles swirled around with every twirl of her hand and danced up toward the opening.
Too soon Adam pulled her back. The ray of light was blocked out for a second then came back.
“What are you not telling me?” she whispered. “Do you know what parts of the country they kept pristine?”
“Some.”
“Then why aren’t we going there?” As soon as the words were out she knew why and looked down. “If they wanted to kill us then, they will do it now without blinking, right?”
“Exactly.”
Phoenix nodded. “Do you really think that’s part of an un-bombed area up there?”
“I’
m not sure yet, but until we find out we need to lay low. The fact that there are people walking above us probably means a military base.”
Reluctantly she walked away from the beautiful beam, but kept looking over her shoulder, wanting, and longing to stay there.
When they got back to the pool they both washed the sweat from their bodies.
“How many miles away do you think that is?” she asked.
“Quite a few, but I have no idea if that’s just the outer edge of a military base or what is up there.”
“If it’s not that far from us maybe Ben has seen it.”
“Hey, we’re not sure we’re even welcome back, let alone ask the man questions about where the sun shines.”
Phoenix frowned. “You’re right. Let go see and get this over with.”
Taking only their guns and knives they hiked back to the village. As usual guards awaited them. They walked forward with their hands in the air.
“Could we speak to Ben?” Adam asked.
One guard walked away without saying a word. The other stared them down. His eyes drifted to Phoenix and she watched them go up and down her figure with a mixture of lust and disgust.
The other guard returned and spoke. “You’ll be leaving your weapons.”
Phoenix figured this would be the case. Slowly they disarmed themselves and sat the weapons on the ground.
“You first,” the guard pointed to from Adam to Phoenix and grinned.
Phoenix looked over her shoulder and saw that he had his shotgun pointed at their backs as they walked. She took note of the boy who had previously had a broken leg. It was set with boards, and he walked with an old set of wood crutches. Others they had noticed in the village that had appeared to be sick, tired, and hungry, now had a glow to their skin. No longer were their eyes sunken in or dark. Everyone still looked quite dirty though.
At the end of the street they walked across the threshold of Ben’s home. As before he sat at the large table.
“You came back, why?” He rested his arms on the table and looked up at them waiting for an answer.
“We wanted to see for ourselves the healing you spoke of. And I wanted to apologize for my reaction,” Phoenix said.
Rise of the Phoenix (The Phoenix Trilogy Book 1) Page 6
