Finding Nova

by Belle Harper

  I tended to Noah, using the cloth to cool his body down. He was hot to touch. And mumbled in pain. His face twisted up and he would call out. I felt sick that I couldn’t do anything else for him. I was grateful when Colt returned.

  “Shit, man I’m so glad your back, he is burning up something bad. Nova said we need antibiotics. I thought he would be okay, but this fever isn’t breaking.”

  Colt just stood there, a dead rabbit in one hand. The other raking through his long hair. I saw a flicker in his eyes; he was scared. Hell, I was scared. We had been together too long for a stupid infection to take one of us out. This is not happening to Noah. To us.

  “I’m going to go to Lovell and get supplies,” I told him as he just stood there frozen and watched Noah. “You stay here with Noah. I know he would want it to be your face he sees when he wakes up. And I know he is going to wake up while I’m gone and my trip will all be for nothing.” I tried to be as positive as I could, even putting a fake smile on my face, but Colt wasn’t buying it. Shit, I didn’t buy it either.

  “I will take a few items to trade and return by tonight.” Well I hoped I would. But I didn’t tell him that. I leaned over and kissed Nova who slept so peacefully. I squeezed Colt’s shoulder as I looked over at Noah’s contorted face, I made a silent prayer he would be alive when I returned.

  “State your business,” the guard at the gate of Lovell requested in his gruff voice. I didn’t recognize him. I used to be here every other week with Colton, but I hadn’t been here in a long time.

  “What happened to Vince? He not working today?” I asked, curious more than anything.

  He nodded behind him. “Vince don’t work the wall no more. He got a promotion.”

  I nodded and showed him the pack of nails, a small plastic horse toy in decent condition, and a hairdryer. I knew there was no power, but some tech people loved this stuff and built things using the components.

  Lovell was a big walled city. Didn’t fully stop the Red Raiders from breaking in, but it stopped most others. Like the men who attacked us. Those men were just a group from Bakersfield. This wall would keep them out. But not the Raiders. No they were the most deadly group of men. No one was safe when they were around; they killed. Took men and woman and traded them as sex slaves. Their group was so big that no place could really defend itself against them or the weapons they had.

  But Lovell had a treaty with the Raiders so they were free to trade in the city. And by trade, I meant the women and men they prostituted out to anyone willing to pay. It was disgusting and no one stopped them; they couldn’t. Everyone who had tried was now dead.

  “What are you trading for?” the guard asked.

  “I need something for an infection.”

  He nodded and told me where the main trading area was. But I knew from the times I’d traded here with Colton where I was going.

  I walked through the main street, and there were traders everywhere. There was some fresh food for trade. It was grown here at Lovell. If I had anything left over, I was going to get Nova an apple. I bet she would love a fresh apple. I walked from there to the trading tent I knew.

  “Mark,” I called out and a short, graying old man popped his head up from under his table.

  “Fuck me. I thought I was hearing things. It is you. How you been, Ezra?”

  I shook his hand and showed him my goods. He nodded and pointed to the nails and hairdryer that were in my backpack.

  “Yeah, I’m great. Actually, I’m fucking more than great, but shit’s hit the fan. Noah is sick and I need to get him something for an infection. Can you help me out?”

  The smile was gone from his face, and a solemn look took up in his eyes. “Shit, that’s not good. Fuck yeah, I can help you. Daniel has some med shit. I’m not sure what, but I can see what he can do for you.”

  Mark called out to his son to watch the tent while he was gone. Mark was a good guy. Been trading with Colton for years. I was glad to see he was still here and alive and well.

  “Come here. He is just around here. There was no room for him on the main strip so not many people know he is around here.” Mark led me down a few streets until we ended up outside a faded pink door. You could tell it once was red, but that was so long ago that the sun and rain turned it to this strange pink color.

  Mark knocked and then pushed the door open. It was dark inside, and I hesitated before entering. But Mark had been good to us so I trusted him. Well as much as one could trust another in this fucked up world.

  “Hey, Daniel, I got my good friend Ezra here. He needs something for an infection. I told him you’re the guy to come to.”

  I saw a man with white hair. I wasn’t sure if it was by age or the NEX virus. He nodded and started gathering a few items from a cupboard. I moved forward when I heard a throat being cleared. I turned to find a large man in the corner holding a baseball bat. Yeah, I guessed if you were selling medical supplies, you needed security. I nodded to him and took a step back.

  “What is wrong with your friend?” Daniel asked. He had a strong accent, but I couldn’t pin down where he came from, somewhere down south I guessed.

  “He had a knife cut his head. It isn’t looking good. He has a fever. Has had it for days. Nova said we need antibiotics. But I will take anything you have to fix him.”

  Mark turned to me. “Huh, you got a new fella with you three?”

  I realized what I’d just said. Fuck. How did I slip up already? I just nodded to Mark, and Daniel started mixing a bunch of dry ingredients together and put it in a very used plastic bottle. The one thing we had plenty of after NEX.

  “Give him this to drink. Mix with water, warm is best to dissolve it. Only a capful, and only three times a day. Okay?”

  I nodded to him and then he told me the price. Fuck me. I shook my head and Mark nodded.

  “I got that for you, Daniel. No worries. Ezra here has traded with me, so I will get you paid up.” Mark told him.

  “This shit better work,” I told him as I left.

  When I made it back to the bunker, it was dark and I struggled to find the hatch. The moon wasn’t bright enough tonight, and I really should have brought a flashlight with me, but I also didn’t want to alert anyone our location. Finally, after banging around on the ground, I hit metal.

  I knocked three times, paused, and then knocked twice. The hatch unlocked from the inside and opened to me.

  23

  Nova

  When I woke up, Colton explained that Ezra had gone to the nearest city to buy medicine for Noah. And when Ezra returned he had a bottle with a strange-sandy brown colored power. We were supposed to heat water and get the now delirious Noah to drink it.

  It took a good twenty minutes for us to get down the first dose. I held onto Noah’s hand as the boys tried not to waste any, attempting to get him to swallow. Tears pricked my eyes as they kept begging him to swallow. The love I felt in that moment told me more than words could ever express. The guys really were a family. My family. And I knew things would never be the same if we lost Noah.

  That night Noah and Colton used the bed, and Ezra made us a pallet on the floor in the far corner. He said I needed to rest and that Colt would take care of Noah and wake us to take over when he was too tired. I fell asleep wrapped in his arms, something I will never get tired of. The way his arms were around my waist and shoulders, hugging me tightly was so comforting. I slept better than I ever had before.

  “Hey, sleepyheads.” I heard someone say from above us in a much too cheery tone.

  I covered my eyes from the flash of light. “Argh.” I moaned as I rolled over and hid my face into Ezra’s nice warm chest. I heard Ezra moan with the same protest.

  “It’s not time to get up,” he mumbled into my hair.

  I heard a chuckle and then Noah said, “Aww come on sleepyheads, I feel like now is a great time to wake up.”

  I giggled and then froze at what I just heard.

  Noah? “Noah?” I turned to see him s
itting up in the bed, he had a huge smile on his face, giving us all a glimpse of those dimples I had missed. Colton was perched on the ladder, looking out of the bunker, letting in all that bright sunlight. He had a smile on his face too. Noah was awake.

  I let out a sound between a whimper and a scream. I was so relieved. Ezra got up and strolled over to Noah and seized him in a huge bear hug as soon as he got to him.

  “Holy shit, Noah, don’t ever do that again to me,” Ezra said. The emotion in his voice made my heart beat faster.

  “To us,” I said as I approached and hesitated by Noah’s side.

  He reached over to me and pulled me into the hug. “I promise I won’t fall out of houses again.” Noah chuckled.

  I rolled my eyes and smiled. I looked over to Colton, his eyes rimmed with red. He looked like hell but relieved.

  “I gave him the meds three times while you two lovebirds were sleeping. That stuff really does work. I think we just need to clean the wound again, and if needed we can stitch it up finally.”

  I nodded at him and gestured for him to come back and join our group hug.

  Colton looked outside one more time before closing the hatch. The way he walked towards us gave my body tingles. God, he is hot. He was topless, which I have noticed is theme with Colton.

  “Gee, if all I had to do was get sick to have all you loving on me, I would have done it sooner.” We laughed and Colton playfully smacked Noah’s arm.

  “Don’t you ever scare me like that again. Ever.” Colton wrapped his arm around Noah’s shoulder and kissed his head.

  After another day in the bunker and Noah was finally able to move around and feel like himself, he pulled out his game of Trouble.

  “You packed this?” I asked, surprised as he handed it to me. I sat down on the floor and crossed my legs. Noah sat down in front of me.

  He nodded with a big dimpled grin. “It always lives in my emergency bag. I don’t ever want to lose it. It’s all I have left of my family.”

  I nodded in understanding. I didn’t have anything from my childhood. When the solar flare hit, we were at Kevin’s house. We were told to stay indoors. Then Mom got sick and we never went back home. All I had were the clothes on my back and my iPad. Which wasn’t much use when there was no power to charge it. I wish I had known that day would be the last day in our house. I would have brought a teddy with me, or even my favorite barbie. But it was what it was, and I hadn’t really thought about that until now. I wished I had something left that was from my mom. From my dad.

  “Hey, Nova, I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” The concern on Noah’s face had me shaking my head to get rid of the thoughts. No point on dwelling on things I can't change.

  I shook my head and smiled. “No, just thinking. Sorry.” “Let’s play, because it can get boring down here.”

  Colton laughed “If you’re bored, sweetheart, I have some ideas in how to pass the time.”

  Everyone laughed but then all eyes were on me. And they didn’t look playful in the way Noah just looked with his game. No these eyes looked heated. I felt my body grow hot and my heart started to flutter. I glanced up to Noah, who was looking at my lips. His tongue flicked out and ran along his lower lip. That move alone had my teeth grazing the bottom of my lip. He made a sound, like a moan as he shifted his body closer to me. I flicked my eyes to Colton, who tilted his head toward the bed with a smirk.

  “Let’s play your game,” I teased Colton. I stood up and threw Noah a wink over my shoulder. That spurred him to his feet lightening fast. Colton chuckled at the move as Noah pulled me in for a kiss. His tongue stroked my bottom lip as I opened for him, reaching up to hold the back of his head. I was lost in the way my body responded to him. Someone cleared their throat and I pulled back. Slowly opened my eyes to see Ezra and Colt had moved next to us. I couldn’t stop the grin on my face as Noah stood up straight and laughed.

  “I guess we all want to play.” Colton said as he winked at me.

  24

  Noah

  When those words came out of her mouth, everything happened so fast. I couldn’t believe I just kissed her. And wow, that kiss was so…arousing. Colt picked her up and she squealed as he lifted her up to cradle her into his arms. He grinned and whispered something into her ear that made her giggle and squirm as he walked towards the bed.

  “Noah, come on,” Ezra called out to me. I was standing in the same spot with my hand now on my cock rubbing it through the fabric of my pants. I headed slowly over to the bed. My head still wasn’t feeling the best, and it throbbed a little where I had been cut. But that won't stop me from joining in.

  “Lie down, Noah. You’re looking a little pale.” Colt pushed me down next to where Nova was now laying, and she pulled herself up and rolled on top of me and straddled my waist.

  “Hey, puppy. Are you feeling up to this?” she whispered into my ear. I almost laughed. If that was her idea of a nickname, then I would keep it. She then brought her mouth to mine and kissed me again and she moaned. It went straight to my balls. I groaned into her mouth as I used her body against mine to gain friction against my hard cock. When she pulled away we were both panting, her face was flush. And I was hot all over. In a good way.

  Ezra was standing beside us, she reached over to him. Pulling him down to meet her lips she kissed him while still straddling my waist. He skimmed his hands under the hem of her top then pulled it up, breaking their kiss to take it off. He took her mouth again but with her breasts exposed to me I reached up and palmed them both, running my thumbs over her nipples. Colton was at her ear again, nibbling and whispering something to her. She glanced down at me, I could see a hint of a smile as she grabbed the back of Ezra’s head and deepened their kiss. Holy shit, this was hot.

  “What are you saying to her?” I asked him, a little worried. He just gave me a huge grin and winked. Fuck, he is sexy. My cock ached for release, I could feel the stickiness of the pre-cum against my pants. I wanted to touch myself, to finished. But then my mind started to race. What if I wasn’t any good at this? Nova made me excited but she also made me nervous. I didn’t want to look stupid in front of everyone, Colton wasn’t a virgin when I met him. Ezra sure wasn’t one anymore. That just left me, and the tightness I felt in the pit of my stomach had me feeling very out of my element, so I gently pushed her off my lap and sat up against the headboard.

  “Um, I can move over for you two” I suggested and pointed to Ezra. He shook his head. I looked to Colt as he moved over to me and right into my personal space.

  “Noah, you wanted to play with her first. And I can see the tent in your pants.” He crawled up my body, running his hand up my thigh then palmed my cock through the fabric. I opened my mouth and he caught my moan in a heated kiss. He opened his mouth to me, sweeping his tongue inside, the same way Nova had kissed me before, yet it was different. Where Nova was soft, sweet even. Colton was hard, demanding. I opened my eyes to see Nova and Ezra. Nova was watching us, her mouth was open, her lids heavy as Ezra sucked and teased her nipples. My breathing sped up at the sight.

  Colt slowly tugged my pants open and I moved allowing him to pull them off. I tugged on the back of my shirt and drew it over my head, avoiding the bandage there.

  “Do you want her?” Colt brought her hand over and placed it on my cock. She moaned as wrapped her small hand around it.

  “Shit,” I hissed out. She made me feel huge in her small hand. She stroked me slowly as Ezra continued to suck her nipple. She arched herself into him and she started to stroke me faster.

  Colt grabbed my chin, pulling me to look into his eyes. “I wanna watch you fuck Nova,” he growled out. His eyes were dark and heady. He was stroking himself now, the shorts he wore were gone. I could see Ezra had now lost most his clothes. I wanted this. I wanted Nova.

  I grabbed Nova’s hand to stop her. Not because I wanted to. No, because with Nova and the way Colt just spoke to me, I was going to blow my load. I didn’t want this to end yet, not like t
his. I nodded to Colt. “Yes, yes I want to fuck Nova”

  Ezra stepped back, allowing her to come over to me. She lost her pants as she crawled up my body and I waited for her. She kissed me softly as she ran her hands down my chest and found my cock again. She swirled her thumb around the pre-cum that was still leaking from me and stroked me slowly from tip to base. My body shuddered at the feeling. Fuck, I’m not going to last.

  “Touch me,” she uttered as she sat back on my lap and touched herself with her free hand. I watched as she ran her fingers over her nipples then between her legs. She hitched herself up a little and I watched as her fingers disappeared into her sex. I grabbed the head of my cock and squeezed it tight. Fighting off the orgasm that was just under the surface.

  “Touch her, Noah,” Colt demanded.

  I ran my hands up her body and cradled her breasts in my hands again. I moved in and sucked on each nipple until they were hard. She moaned as she grabbed onto the back of my neck, avoiding my head but wanting me closer. She pulled my hand down to where I had never been before. My fingers lightly touching the hair between her legs as she pushed my fingers between her wet folds.

  “Put your fingers inside me.” She arched her back, giving me room. I fumbled around. I was nervous. Colt was watching me. Ezra was watching Nova. I glanced down, watching my fingers move, looking for where she wanted me. Finally, I found it as my finger all but sucked up into the heat of her sex.