Half Past Dead

by Zoë Archer

  “You love my kinky imagination, Mari. Come on, admit it.” He nipped her earlobe and she squirmed in his arms. Damn, the man still knew just how to touch her to make her burn.

  “I plead the Fifth.” She reached back to tangle her hands in the short hairs at the back of his neck, pushing her breasts more fully into his grasp. His hands went up under her T-shirt and right to the front clasp of her bra, parting it so he could touch her skin. Mariana whimpered and moaned.

  “Then admit this, Mari. Admit you want me.” He whispered in her ear, his warm breath sliding past her defenses to fan the flame of arousal in her blood.

  “Yes, Simon. I want you. I always want you.”

  His low chuckle made her squirm. “Now that’s the kind of thing I like to hear.”

  He turned with her in his arms and walked them both out of the kitchen toward the bedroom. Her shirt was tossed off along the way, as was her bra. Her jeans ended up in a heap next to his at the door to her bedroom.

  She pushed at his shirt until he, too, was naked and they tumbled onto the bed together. Their limbs tangled and twined as he sought and captured her mouth with his. The kiss was tempestuous, like nothing that had come before. They rolled until she was on top, her thighs spread on either side of his hips, ready in an instant to take him and ride him to oblivion. Simon had always been able to flip her switch with a single touch. Mariana slowed down, a moment of sanity prevailing. Protection first.

  Reaching for her nightstand drawer, she fished out a condom from her dwindling emergency supply and ripped the package open. Sliding down his thighs, she took her time about covering him, enjoying the way he watched her, his eyes half lidded and oh so sexy.

  “Don’t tease, Mari. Come back up here.”

  “In good time.” She leaned in closer to use her tongue on his exposed skin. She liked the way he twitched in her hands.

  “No time like the present.” His words were strained and his fists were clenched at his sides. Oh yeah, she was getting to him.

  A grin spread across her face as she prowled up his body, trailing her lips and tongue over his abdomen and chest. He was hot, hard, and ridged in all the right places and she relished the opportunity to discover him all over again. It had been years since they’d been together and the previous day had been a blur of urgent need. There hadn’t really been a chance for her to study him in detail.

  “You’ve aged well, Simon. I think you’re even more muscular than you were before. Have you been working out?”

  The half-teasing question startled a laugh out of him. He reached for her, sliding his hands under her arms and lifting her over him. Yes, indeed, he must have been working out. At least, he was a lot stronger than she remembered.

  “I’ve lived in interesting times since I last saw you, Mari.” His expression clouded just for a second and she realized there was more truth to his words than he wanted to let on. “It makes a man hard.” He realized his double entendre and gave her a lopsided grin. “Scratch that. You make me hard. You always have, sweetheart. Now what are you going to do about it?”

  She straddled him, sliding over his hardness with teasing intensity. His eyes followed her movements, half lidded and sexy.

  “I believe you deserve a reward for all that hard living.” She teased as she took the tip of him inside. Little by little, she lowered over him, enjoying the feel of him stretching her. She was still just a little sore from the marathon they’d engaged in the day before but she went at a slow pace, allowing her body time to adjust.

  “I like your rewards, ma’am.” Simon lifted his hips gently, joining them fully.

  “If you’re good, I may have to reward you again, soldier.” She gasped as she settled over him, taking him fully. She loved the way he felt inside her. For just a moment, she held position, cataloging the feel of him, the width and breadth of him, the way they fit so perfectly together. Nothing and no one had ever felt as right as Simon did.

  “Oh, I plan to be very, very good.” His teasing tone made her laugh and the moment was lost. She had to move. It was a biological and spiritual imperative.

  Mariana repositioned herself, arranging her legs to give her better purchase, then began a slow, sliding rhythm. She shimmied her hips to get his full attention and his sleepy gaze rose from watching the place where they joined, pausing at her bouncing breasts momentarily and then finally to meet her gaze. She licked her lips, offering him a sinful smile.

  “Like what you see?” Her head tilted to one side playfully.

  “More than like, as I’m sure you can tell.” He winked at her and moved his hands to her hips, guiding her into a faster rhythm. “Lean down here and I’ll show you how much.”

  She did as he asked and his hands rose to cup her breasts. He knew just how to touch her to make her whimper with need. Just how much pressure to use to draw out her most explosive response.

  “That much, eh?” She leaned into him, trying for a sexy grin. She must’ve succeeded because his fingers contracted, just slightly, and she saw his eyes darken with even deeper desire.

  “Play time’s over.” In a split second, he moved his hands to her back, supporting her as he rolled them over so that she was flat on her back on the bed and he rose over her. “Now let me show you just how good I can be.” He nipped her neck before drawing back, kneeling between her spread thighs as he began a rough, urgent pace that grew in intensity with each long stroke.

  All coherent thought fled as he possessed her, pushed her higher, lost all control in the glorious union of their bodies. She surrendered all to him and felt his surrender in return. At least, that’s what it felt like. That’s what she thought she read in his eyes. What she felt in every touch of his body, every stroke that claimed her, pleasured her and turned her inside out.

  “Come for me now, Mari. Come with me.” His deep voice spurred her on, ordering her desire, commanding her pleasure. She could do nothing but comply, her body responding to his mastery as she had never responded to any other man.

  Mariana shuddered as he pounded into her in short digs. Her climax hit her all at once, rocketing her to the sky and back down, only to climb even higher on the next wave. She screamed his name as he groaned. She felt him surge into her one last time as they both came hard. Together.

  Dare she hope it could last forever?

  Chapter Eight

  Simon realized he must’ve slept far longer than he had intended. The sun was low in the sky, but there was still time to eat and make love to his woman once more before he had to go out and hunt.

  His woman. Man, that sounded right, though it was a problem all the way around. He hadn’t intended to get mixed up with Mari again. He knew he’d hurt her the last time. In fact, it was kind of amazing she had forgiven him so easily. Regardless of her reasons, he was thankful for the past two days spent with her. It was a glimpse of Eden. Of what could have been if circumstances were different.

  Mariana was such a special woman. If he had the luxury of planning for a lifetime, he would want to spend it with someone just like her. Who was he fooling? He wanted to spend it with her. No one else. Only Mariana.

  She was the perfect woman for him. She matched him in every way. In fact, she far outclassed him in many ways. If she could put up with some of his more barbaric inclinations—which she had already demonstrated she could—then as a life partner, she would be perfect.

  Too bad his life was totally fucked up at present. The zombie attack had changed him in fundamental ways. He didn’t know how long the changes would last or if at some point in the future, they’d become fatal to him. He shouldn’t be thinking about the lonely decades possibly to come. He shouldn’t be dreaming about a life with Mariana in it. Not even a little.

  But he couldn’t help himself. Just like he couldn’t help touching her, wanting her, making love to her. When she was near, all his best intentions went right out the window. And when she was in danger, all his protective instincts went on high alert. Nothing would happen to he
r on his watch. Nothing.

  What happened after this crisis was over, well, that was up in the air. Right now, he would enjoy the days in her company and keep watch by night. He’d left her once and it had almost destroyed him. Only the thought that he’d done it for her own good had allowed him to stay away after his miraculous recovery from the zombie bite.

  He didn’t even have a scar to show for that horrific attack. In fact, he hadn’t scarred since, and the scars he’d already carried on his body from his life before, faded more with each passing day. He’d become like something out of a comic book and the only doctor he trusted, aside from Mariana, didn’t know how long the effect would last, or even if it wouldn’t somehow turn dangerous later.

  There were too many questions surrounding his condition. Too many variables in his life. Too much danger to drag Mariana into it again. No matter how badly he wanted her there, next to him, in his home and in his bed. For as long as he lived. However long that might be.

  “What time is it?” Mariana’s morning-rough voice greeted him from the other side of her bed.

  “About six, I think.” He pulled her into his arms, spooning her from behind and gave her a smacking kiss on the temple. “You can sleep in, if you want.”

  She turned in his embrace, nibbling her way down his jaw to a particularly sensitive spot on his neck. “What if I don’t want to sleep?”

  “Well then, my mother taught me never to argue with a lady.” He let his hands roam, cupping her softness and exploring the wet heat between her legs.

  “What if I’m not a lady?” One of his hands tightened on her breast, rubbing the nipple between thumb and forefinger until she squirmed in pleasure.

  “You’re always a lady, Mari, even when you’re a siren, luring men to your bed.” He dipped his head and licked her nipple, soothing her and driving her higher. Sucking her in deep, he didn’t let up until he heard her moan.

  “Men?” Her voice was a breathy, teasing taunt. “There’s only one man I’m interested in.”

  “Good thing.” He lifted his head and turned her so she lay on her stomach. He then raised her hips and stuffed a pillow beneath to support her. Leaning close, he whispered in her ear. “Because I don’t share.” Finishing his possessive statement with a playful nip to her earlobe, he drew back, hovering over her, admiring the line of her sinuous back. Her skin glowed, enticing him. She truly was the siren he’d named her.

  “Is that a promise?” She grinned at him over her shoulder, ever the coquette, and he felt his body tighten even more. She knew just what to say, just what to do, to make him want to explode.

  The thing was, if he had his way, she would never know another man’s touch again. He would never share her. He would keep her all to himself. But that was a dream for another time.

  One hand drifted down her spine to her core, testing her readiness. She was warm, wet, and if her wiggling was any indication, more than willing.

  Reaching into the open drawer in her nightstand, he fished out another condom and made short work of slipping it on. Then he bent over her, surrounding her with his larger frame to whisper in her ear.

  “Do you want me, Mari?”

  “Yes.” Her breath caught as he moved into position behind her. He liked that. Oh, yes, he liked that very much, indeed.

  “How much?” He teased her wet folds with the tip of his cock. She was quivering, just slightly, around him.

  “Simon! I want you more than anything. Please. Oh, please.” She gasped as he slid into her from behind. She was morning soft and wet with arousal, making his way easy.

  “That’s my girl.” He tried to keep his rhythm slow and easy but she was too much for him. She always had been. No other woman could make him so hot so fast or keep him on the knife’s edge longer. Only his Mari.

  He stroked into her deep, hard, and long, just the way he knew she liked it. He guided her hips as she began to move back against him, urging him onward, into an ever increasing rhythm.

  “Faster, Simon!” Her voice became hoarse with reaction as her head thrashed.

  “Your wish,” he panted as he sped his thrusts, “is my command.”

  Before long, she was making those little sounds of arousal on every inward glide and he felt her inner muscles clench around him. The grip of her body gave him that little extra edge of sensation that only she had ever given him.

  “Are you with me, baby?” His hands cupped her hips, gripping hard as he pressed within her.

  “Simon.” His name was drawn from her lips as two separate, long syllables. Yeah, his little tigress was with him. “Simon! I’m so close.”

  So was he. It wouldn’t take much more. All he wanted was for her to come hard, and she would take him with her. Reaching under her with one hand, he teased her clit with his fingers. She clenched hotly around him and screamed his name. Music to his ears.

  Oh yeah. She was coming and he wasn’t far behind.

  “Do it, baby. Do it for me.”

  She cried out and her body shook beautifully around him. A second later, he followed her over, into the void where only pleasure existed. The two of them and the greatest pleasure he’d ever known, or would ever know. The pleasure of Mari. His Mari. His woman.

  It took a long time for them to recover. Eventually the glow of the setting sun, just visible around the edges of Mariana’s bedroom curtains, roused them both to action. Simon got up and grabbed a five-minute shower, then left the bathroom to Mariana while he put together a simple meal in her kitchen for them to share.

  “Mmm, what did you cook? It smells good.” Mariana took him by storm, coming up behind him and enveloping him in that wonderful scent that was hers alone. He turned and took her into his arms for a lazy kiss. She was warm and her hair was still a bit damp from her shower. She felt like heaven to him.

  “I raided your cupboards. Hope you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind a bit. What’s mine is yours.”

  Including her heart? He wasn’t sure he really wanted to know. One part of him wanted her love, another part—the more sensible part—knew no good could come of it. He’d hurt her before and would likely hurt her again. He hoped, for her sake, she hadn’t fallen in love with him. It was bad enough to leave her hurt. He would hate to leave her heartbroken as well.

  “Let’s eat, then I have to get out there. I want you safely locked in before dark.”

  They ate, making easy conversation. She told him about her life since they’d parted and amused him with funny stories from the research project she had been involved with until a few months ago.

  “So you continued in research? I knew that’s what you’d hoped to do.”

  “It took some time, but eventually a space opened up for me on a more advanced project. I was working on a live trial of dietary supplements, charting how different natural substances like vitamins and certain enzymes affected the performance of soldiers in the field. It was interesting work and the leader of the project, Doctor Amelia Jones, is a brilliant scientist. She promised to give me a sterling recommendation should I decide to try for a research post in civilian life. She doesn’t do that often, so I guess I impressed her. She has a bit of a hardnosed reputation, but she’s a truly gifted scientist. That grants her a lot of leeway.”

  “I have no doubt you wowed her with your brilliance.” He meant every word. Mariana possessed one of the brightest minds he had ever encountered. “So how did you end up manning the clinic?”

  “Since I’m leaving the Navy shortly, they wanted to give me time to train my replacement on the research team. They managed to get him early, so I wound up with a little overlapping time. The clinic needed staffing after the last rotation. I’ve been here for a few months working out the rest of my time. Lucky for you.”

  “Very lucky for me, indeed.” He toasted her with his water glass as they finished their meal of canned soup, vegetables, and salad from Mariana’s refrigerator.

  Simon would have said more, but just then his phone ca
me to life, vibrating urgently in his pocket.

  He stood and moved into the living room for a few minutes to take the call. When he returned, he had his pack over his shoulder and was fishing out a clip of darts. He handed it to Mariana with a grim twist to his lips.

  “Sykes was doing a flyover and spotted the mailman walking out in the open on Webster Road. He didn’t look good.” His expression darkened. “I’m going over there. You stay here and hunker down. I’ll be back to check on you after I take care of this, before I go out again. That Marine is still out there and he gets cleverer by the day.”

  He drew her in for a quick hug and she kissed him with all the emotion she couldn’t put into words. “Be careful, Simon.”

  “Always. You know how to reload the pistol, right?” He pressed the clip of darts into her hand as she nodded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Lock the door after me and stay out of sight.”

  He paused for one last kiss at the door and then he was gone, melting into the woods in the direction of Webster Road. He could’ve taken her SUV, but she knew Simon could get there in half the time by cutting through the woods, rather than taking the meandering backcountry roads.

  Mariana reloaded the pistol first thing. She would have the full six shots if anything tried to get in. She had already barricaded the largest of the windows and locked the dead bolts on both doors. She decided to close off the bedroom and spare room and spend her time in the kitchen and living room. Those were the largest rooms in the house and both had doors to the outside. If anything sent her into retreat, she could always get out of the house and make a run for it, barring unforeseen circumstances.

  About fifteen minutes after Simon left, she heard a noise outside, on the far side of the house. Tiptoeing into the spare room she took a look out the window. That room had a good vantage point for that side of the house.

  Her skittering pulse pounded in her ears when she saw the shape of a man walking steadily toward the house from the woods. His face was intact, but his skin looked a ghastly gray and his eyes were menacingly vacant. He was wearing blood spattered fatigues. This was the last missing Marine and he was heading straight for her house.