The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  “Sorry, Jenny,” he whispered as she climbed into the bed and began getting comfortable under the heavy quilts. “I’ll try harder.”

  Jennifer rolled onto her side, facing him. She saw his eyes flick to her gaping top and then find her face. He was ready. Was she?

  She rolled onto her back and placed her arms above her head, face going pale. “Go on.”

  Kyle frowned. Must be the position Caesar required, he thought, hating the man.

  “We’re never going to do this if you think that way,” Jennifer warned him, willingness sinking a bit.

  Kyle went to the next step of the plan he’d made for this moment. “That’s not how it works with me, Jen. I like the woman to get things rolling. It helps me to know for sure she wants me. I don’t do pity moments.”

  Jennifer flushed. Could she do that? The thought of leaning over Kyle, kissing him, touching him, brought fear, but also interest. She chose to try being brave again. She quickly rose up and sealed their lips before he could react.

  Kyle hadn’t been given time to brace and he groaned in need, hands coming up to twist in her curls.

  Kyle’s kiss was all man with no holding back and he tasted every inch of the mouth he’d been lusting for. He kissed her urgently, demanding a response, and felt her shiver. He slid his hand along her neck, deepening the kiss to feel her breath catch. He extended the moment by sliding his free hand down her arm to twine their hands together.

  Kyle drew back and ever so slowly put his hands on her hips He lifted her on top of him, aware of how she’d froze. He cradled her close, not doing anything else as he whispered in her ear, “Move around on me, Jen, see if you like that.”

  He bucked gently under her, rubbing their bodies together.

  A moan flew out of her lips that sent Kyle’s ego to the roof.

  “Again?”

  Jennifer nodded, breathing increasing. She closed her lids as a sharp, sweet bolt of pleasure shot through her at the contact.

  Kyle thrust again and then kept repeating the movement, breaking into a sweat.

  “This way, we both cum,” he gasped out, hand in her hair, eyes on the front of her shirt where he could see her bra and the tops of those beautiful breasts he’d been dreaming of.

  Jennifer was lost. She thrust against him, loving the way his eyes continued to get darker. Every time she responded, he grew hotter.

  Jennifer smiled, trying to let him know he wasn’t scaring her.

  “Ready for a little more, baby?” he asked, thrusting faster.

  She nodded and Kyle rolled them over with a fast movement that sent tension into the chilly room.

  Kyle didn’t give things time to cool down. He slid between those long legs, picturing her without the shorts as he rubbed against her heat. “How’s that?”

  Jennifer knew she needed to be scared now, but like before, her body took control and she arched in response, aware of his big arms on either side of her shoulders. It was a flash of the past.

  Kyle seemed to know that. He leaned down and kissed her, softly.

  Jennifer’s lids flew open, locking with his. Caesar had never kissed her!

  Kyle used his mouth to shower her with affection, moving from the corner of her lips, to her jawline and then her neck. His hips kept a steady rhythm.

  The sight of Kyle’s face flushing with need and control was an erotic addition that distracted her from her ghosts. Jennifer lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek, connecting them. For an instant, she was terrified of the images there. Again, Kyle knew and placed a gentle kiss on her palm.

  “Touch me if you want,” he groaned, increasing the pace a bit as sweat rolled down his spine.

  Jennifer let her hand go where it wanted…straight to his hair.

  Kyle gasped at the sharp, sweet sensation. His hips thrust harder of their own violation and he felt Jennifer suck in a breath, surprised that harder could be good.

  Kyle knew he was near his limit and reluctantly stopped, sliding onto his side.

  “What are you doing?” Jennifer question roughly, breathing hard. “We’re not done, right?”

  Kyle laughed. “Just need a man minute, baby.”

  Jennifer listened to him talk himself down, not getting all the words, but the general tone. That’s the difference, she realized. Caesar could never keep from hurting me.

  Kyle blew out a deep breath. “Okay, we’re good. What’s next?”

  Jennifer flushed, but didn’t hesitate. “More kissing?”

  Kyle snickered, rising up on one arm to deliver what she’d asked for. It allowed a free hand and Kyle kept it securely on the bed next to her. He tasted her again, deep and sensual, and curled his fingers into the blanket to keep from touching.

  “You can,” Jennifer gave her permission and then jumped when his big hand settled onto her knee. His breath against her neck gave her chills.

  “I won’t hurt you. Try to relax.”

  Kyle slid a hand up her tense thigh, groaning at the feel of her. He cupped that alluring heat with his palm.

  Jennifer felt him push inward and then her entire body arched upward at the delicious contact.

  “Mmm!”

  Kyle swiveled his palm, being sure to mash that nub on each rotation as he leaned down to kiss her again, loving the instant wiggling and panting. No woman would ever be this hot for him.

  Jennifer felt his lips on her neck, then the top of her shirt, and she arched again as he kept going and settled over a taut nipple through her shirt.

  Kyle moaned, rocking against her hip and Jennifer gasped as he tightened his lips. The noise sent Kyle to the edge, but he didn’t take a moment this time. He rocked faster, swiveled a little harder, and let his tongue slide inside her shirt. Warm milk sprayed his tongue and Kyle growled, sucking in a sexual haze of need.

  “Ohhh…Mm. Kyle!”

  Jennifer went over the edge with his hot tongue swirling around her soaked breast. She was vaguely aware of him jerking furiously against her, grunting and moaning.

  Their sounds mingled into a short chorus of pleasure that snapped Kyle awake to hear Becky and Seth still at it across the hall. He’d fallen asleep to that noise.

  He glanced over to find Jennifer sleeping next to him and realized he’d been dreaming. Kyle winced at the blue balls and carefully rolled over, putting his back to her for privacy, but also to avoid the temptation of touching her.

  Jennifer listened in curiosity to Kyle’s muffled sounds and movements, scanning his thoughts. They’d had most of that conversation before going to sleep.

  The dream kept her cheeks red and her mind protesting, but her body lit up. She was forced to admit that she would be willing to act out that fantasy with him. If it went even half as well as his dream, it would be a safe start to their physical relationship.

  So you’ve chosen to stay? the voice inside asked curiously.

  Jennifer listened to Kyle making sure he wasn’t a danger to her and felt her heart fill with more caring than she’d ever planned on. Kyle was supposed to be a means to an end, but he’d turned out to be so much more.

  Yes, for now, I’ll stay.

  Next to her, Kyle groaned lowly, mind filled only with soft kisses and sweet rocking. It would have terrified her before, but now, she could do that with him and probably not even flinch.

  Jennifer wondered if that new coldness inside was from the killing she’d done. Not only had she fought in the war, she delighted in each moment, savored it.

  I’m just as damned as Angela said I would be, Jennifer realized. Before she’d left on her run, Jennifer hadn’t been bothered by the thought of what she was about to do. During the battles and while waiting for the next one, she’d controlled those thoughts with exhaustion and sleep. Now that was over. The crash had come and it was heavy.

  I did what I had to, she tried to defend, but that voice in her mind was relentless.

  You enjoyed it. You want more. It wasn’t justified.

  Jennifer shoved those t
houghts from her mind and rolled over, forcing contact between her and the steadily grunting Kyle instead of facing those horrible accusations.

  Kyle froze for a moment and then assumed she was shifting in her sleep. His movements gradually resumed until he was rocking the bed.

  Jennifer let it put her to sleep.

  7

  On the couch alone, Shawn groaned in annoyance and rolled over to stare at the material instead of the empty fireplace and the mud-tracks on the floor. Daryl would have gone in there and broken things up with his fists, but Shawn could hear that Becky wasn’t being abused.

  “Whole damn place can,” he griped.

  Shawn wondered if Marc and Angela might be expecting him to handle Seth, and then shrugged. If he heard her yell, he’d go in.

  Becky’s loud squeal and giggle echoed, and Shawn sighed, putting the pillow over his head. “Maybe I’ll sleep next year.”

  8

  In the rear bedroom, Becky shifted on top of Seth’s sweaty chest and got comfortable.

  “It scared me, hearing that you didn’t expect to survive.”

  Becky wasn’t sure what he meant until he repeated her words.

  “I won’t be here then. Not my problem.”

  “That was the last of my innocence dying, Seth.” Becky hugged him tighter. “That girl is gone.”

  Becky drifted to sleep, sore and satisfied.

  Seth didn’t. Her words had brought up worrisome images that refused to leave him alone. She wasn’t still dangerous to herself, was she?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The Flock

  1

  “Come, my children,” Everett directed, holding the end of the rope. “Come on down. We have the Lord’s work to do.”

  The group of stoners went down the knotted rope in silence, other than the occasional grunt of effort, but each of them wanted to protest. Monsters lived below ground. Everyone knew that.

  “What work are we doing down here?” Simon asked, bringing up the rear.

  Everett lit a torch and motioned for the others to do the same. “We are going to make sure those government men can’t bother the Chosen People anymore,” he answered firmly. “You saw what shape they were in when they came from the hole. We have to help them.”

  “Safe Haven helps those who help themselves,” the group chanted.

  Everett was satisfied that his people understood. “Come, pick up a weapon when you find one, but never forget that the stones under our shoes are the givers and takers of life.”

  “Respect the stone,” the group responded obediently. “Love the stone.”

  As they moved into the darkness with their torches, all of this group occasionally bent down and grabbed a pretty rock that caught their eye. Within a short time, their pockets were bulging.

  “Did you hear that?”

  Adrian’s head barely came up. “More of my lost ones. Don’t shoot.”

  Kenn still drew his gun while they waited. Light flashed, gradually growing brighter as it came closer.

  Kenn didn’t like the feeling he was getting even though Adrian was doing a little better after a few hours of rest and a hot meal. Kenn hadn’t told him the food had been a dog or that the bed he was on had mold on the other side of the cardboard. Adrian already knew those things. This wasn’t the first time the blond had been abandoned for his sins. Kenn had confirmed that while they walked. Adrian hadn’t held anything back. Kenn now knew more about Adrian’s mental state than he wanted to.

  “Sorry,” Adrian muttered. “Wasn’t our plan to make that call.”

  Kenn understood the revelations that had come from the Maker’s Call had caused Marc’s snap, but it wouldn’t have mattered. At some point, he would have done it anyway.

  “I agree,” Adrian gave, struggling to sit up straight as the lights neared them and the low grumble of worried voices reached their ears. “I’ll try not to do this again.”

  Kenn didn’t laugh. He and Tonya would go off with Adrian and restart Safe Haven. Angela and Marc would control their island and he and Adrian would find somewhere else to go. Or maybe stay here, Kenn thought.

  “I’m going back to Safe Haven!” Adrian growled, angered that Kenn still didn’t understand it was never okay to walk. “They need me and she knows that.”

  “But Marc hates you, and you’re…”

  “Still the leader of Safe Haven refugee camp!” Adrian bellowed, putting on a show for their audience. He would play this role to the very bitter end. “Do not underestimate me!”

  Kenn shrugged. “I go where you go. That hasn’t changed.” Inside, Kenn was concerned for Adrian and also glad of the choice. Leaving that camp hadn’t been in his plans yet.

  “It’s not in mine at all,” Adrian said, calming. “Looks like we drew trouble. You want to shoot them or use knives?”

  “You could use your gifts,” Kenn suggested, surprising Adrian. Kenn shrugged. “You’re right. You’re the leader of Safe Haven. Why should you hide who you are? There’s no reason for it now.”

  That was absolutely true, Adrian realized. If Angela let him live, he could be himself now.

  “We want to know who you two are and what you’re doing down here. Right now!” Everett demanded, stepping forward to stop the men from their planning and bickering. “The leader of Safe Haven is…”

  “Adrian Mitchel,” Kenn finished coolly in warning. He flashed a grim smile. “You can be our friend or our enemy, but make the choice quickly.”

  Everett broke into a gaff of laughter and coughing. He had to be slapped on the back so that he could continue.

  “We hit the jackpot, boys!”

  The entire group was smiling.

  Kenn tensed to fight until he realized they were dropping to their knees. “What the…

  Adrian stood up and raised his hands, thanking fate for sending him what he needed, even though he hadn’t begged for it like he should have needed to. “Safe Haven has to be protected. You’ve been doing that. I know your actions, your reasons and ripples. Come sit with me. We’ll talk of things.”

  Everett took the place across from Adrian with the feeling that big changes were coming.

  Kenn listened to the odd, fanatical conversation, but only as much as he had to. This was the type of people that Adrian would usually have Kyle take care of after he culled the few innocent ones from among them. Kenn assumed they would use these grimy people for protection and then handle them later.

  Adrian disabused him of that notion quickly. “You’ve been watching the camp long enough to know they won’t have you. That’s why you won’t join.”

  Everett wasn’t pleased to have his secret out, but didn’t lie or offer excuses. “I’m keeping my people alive.”

  Adrian waved at the area around him. “You don’t belong in her camp, but there is a place for you.”

  “The one we have now,” Everett guessed.

  “Yes,” Adrian confirmed. “There will always be a need for your kind. Evil will follow Safe Haven. There must be more of us than them, but only the worthy can truly enter.”

  Kenn didn’t think any of these people would be found worthy. Their faces were different, far beyond the normalcy that a camp setup would require, even one as forgiving as Safe Haven. Kenn accepted that Adrian was already up to no good, meddling with things he shouldn’t be. The Marine stood up, heading for the darkness.

  “Kenn.”

  Kenn stopped, but didn’t turn. “Yes?”

  “I forgive you.”

  Kenn rage spewed forth at that. “Me?! You forgive me? How dare you!”

  Adrian didn’t reply.

  Kenn stomped off, grumbling, kicking objects from his path. He was quickly out of sight and then hearing.

  Adrian covered the pain with conversation. Letting go of his bond to Kenn was the second hardest thing he’d had to do for this run, but Angela had been right. Kenn had the chance to be a new person now. That would only happen if he could view people for who they were, including his
idol.

  Adrian leaned against the damp tunnel wall, dying inside. The plan was a success. Everything Angela had setup had fallen their way. She’d adjusted on the fly with Donner and managed to use it to her advantage. Other than a few dozen precious fighters, the only thing she sacrificed, was me.

  2

  “What is that?”

  Jeff was grumbling like he’d been doing since they left camp. Kevin’s question took a minute to sink in.

  “What is what?”

  “Over there.”

  Jeff looked toward the west and saw a nasty sky about to shit all over them. “Damn. Pick a spot.”

  Kevin didn’t like it that they’d been stopped only a few hours into their trip north. He pointed at a crumbling office building. “It’s either there or the hospital.”

  The area was separated because of being medical. Jeff steered them toward the hospital, making Kevin frown again. “Really?”

  “Yeah, we’re gonna need things for this trip. Might as well start scavenging now.”

  Kevin couldn’t argue with that and dutifully began checking his weapon like he always did before a run.

  Jeff caught it and felt that voice inside complain, but he didn’t allow it to trigger his grief. He would have a different life now. “We’ll go in the front doors,” he chose, observing no signs of life. “If anyone’s in there, we’ll talk first.”

  “Sounds good,” Kevin agreed. He had no problem with Jeff being the lead between the two of them. Jeff’s attitude was laid back and fun loving, not snotty. Or at least it had been, Kevin remembered. Losing Crista would change him, as death was supposed to.

  Jeff pulled them straight up to the doors and checked his own weapon. “Ready?”

  “Sure,” Kevin lied. He suddenly had an awful feeling about this place.

  Jeff caught that thought too. He passed it off as rookie nerves, forgetting Kevin hadn’t displayed those even when he’d first joined the Eagles. It was why he’d been chosen as Angela’s right hand over so many others. “Let’s go.”