“I’ll come find you after I’m done here.” Sam picked up a bowl filled it for the next person.
Megan nodded and left the line to find a place to eat close to the fire, all the while looking for Vanessa or her pants. No sign of either, of course. Megan pushed the stew around trying to identify the meat for a good couple of minutes before she decided maybe it was best she didn’t know. At least she knew where the potatoes and carrots came from—probably picked them herself that very morning.
Tiny clusters of families ate together. Parents sat on logs while children sat in the dirt by their feet. The men who prepared the meal had joined their families, as well as those who were tasked with clean up later. Only the servers were still tied up at this point and would eat last.
Every time Megan moved, Sam’s musky scent engulfed her. She found herself wiggling around unnecessarily to feel close to him.
Even after she washed her bowl and put it with all the others in the dish bin, neither Sam nor her pants had turned up. As she searched the camp for some sign of either one, Megan couldn’t quite fathom why she’d bothered to hand Vanessa anything to hide behind in the first place. The woman obviously enjoyed putting on a show and had no qualms about people wandering the camp half-naked. Otherwise, she would have returned Megan’s pants by now. Dollars to doughnuts she hadn’t even bothered to go get her shirt, and the sun had set so it wasn’t gonna happen now. At this point, Megan would probably have to go the entire night without her pants. At least it wasn’t chilly, but that wasn’t the point.
Megan finally gave up the search and made her way back toward the fire. She turned around the nose of an RV and stumbled upon her darn pants. They hung from Sam’s shoulder while he stood like a rooster with his arms folded across his expansive chest, listening to Vanessa clamor on about her harrowing experience.
All the blood rushed to Megan’s’ ears in a ridiculous surge of jealousy. Vanessa reached out and put her hand on Sam’s arm and Megan wanted to rip her lovely locks out by the roots. Instead, she squared her shoulders and marched right up to the two of them.
“Can I have my pants?” She put her hand out, waiting.
Vanessa put on the appropriate show, acting flustered and guilty, as if Megan had caught them doing something unexpected.
“Oh relax. I just want my pants.”
Megan turned on Sam, who didn’t move or say a word. He just tilted his head and watched her without losing his cool. Him and his damn…composure.
“Well?” Megan demanded.
He nodded at the harlot. “Goodnight.”
Then Sam took Megan by the elbow, none to gently, and marched her back to the Suburban, leaving a stammering Vanessa behind, alone in the dark. Megan fought to keep in step with him and she would have lost her balance if not for his iron grip to keep her upright.
Once they reached the car, he spun her round in front of him. “What was that?”
Megan yanked her arm out of his grasp.
“Nothing,” she lied. “I just want my pants.”
“Really?” His voice dripped with disbelief and he folded his arms.
Megan cut loose. “I can’t believe you stood around flirting with her while I am wandering the camp half-naked.”
“You have my shirt on and I told you, your legs look great.” He spoke as if that made everything okay.
“Just give me my damn pants back.”
“Oh, so now you swear?” He pointed back toward the fire over his shoulder. “Just what do you think you caught me doing back there?”
Megan felt tears building behind her eyes. Not now, not in front of him. “It doesn’t matter. Go do whatever you want with her, just give me my pants.”
A storm that spelled danger flashed across Sam’s face. He advanced on Megan so fast, she backed up against the side of the Suburban. He planted a hand firmly on each side of her, pinning her with his arms as well as his gaze.
“What I want? Are you so hard-headed you can’t tell what I want?” That said, he covered her mouth with his and crushed her clever comeback with a passionate assault on her senses. Megan pushed him, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he continued to kiss her with his soft, strong lips until her resistance melted away and she succumbed to his ministrations. Her arms wound around his neck of their own accord pulling him closer and her tongue sought out his in a passionate dance regardless of what her heart wanted.
When Sam finally broke away leaving her breathless and wanting more, he pressed his forehead to hers and watched her mouth like a drunk watches amber liquid being poured into a glass.
“You,” he rasped. “I’ve wanted you since I found you hanging from that damn roof and our little encounter in the river just stoked the fire.” He captured her mouth again and wrapped both arms around her. Sam pressed his warm body against every part of her.
Megan melted into him, savoring the contrast of his hard against her soft. When she sighed into his kiss, he responded with a guttural growl.
Sam pulled away and fished his keys out of his pocket, leaving Megan bereft from the loss of his touch. Without a word spoken between them, she followed Sam to the back of the car and climbed in when he opened the door. He knelt on his knees and pulled the door closed behind them. His large frame filled the tiny space and the warmth radiating from him gave off a charge that filled her senses. Sam reached up and cradled the back of her head, drawing her in to drink from his lips again. His fingers tangled in her hair and Megan’s world began to spin while his lips worked hers masterfully. She steadied herself with her hands on his strong thighs, which moved under the fabric of his jeans while he kept balance for both of them. His free arm wrapped around her middle and he tipped her back gently to rest on the blanket. He settled above her.
Megan gazed at him and he brushed his mouth across hers in a teasing caress…once, twice, then a third time, leaving her lips quivering in anticipation. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her mouth to capture his in a demanding kiss, then ventured even further to explore his mouth with her tongue. When Megan pulled away, her head spun with emotions too tender to name, and she put her free hand on his massive chest to steady herself.
Sam covered her hand, entwining his long fingers with hers while his gaze delved deep into her soul. There, under her palm, she felt the steady thumping of his heart. The pounding echoed through her and filled her senses, until her own heart matched the rhythm. He kissed her again, encouraging her lips open, and she complied granting him the access he sought. When he flicked her tongue with his own, warmth spread through her until it pooled deep in her core leaving her hungry for more…for him. He pulled back and pushed her loose hair out of the way with his free hand, then cradled her face softly as he continued to kiss her breathless.
The proof of his desire pressed into her hip, and she wiggled against him to get closer, to let him know she wanted the same thing. Sam growled in response, but when Megan reached down with the intention of freeing him from his pants, he captured her wrist.
“I don’t think so.” He lifted her hand up over her head and pinned it there. “This time we’re going to do it right. I’m going to set the pace, and drive you as crazy as you’ve been driving me.” He smoothed his hand down the length of her body, examining every curve with those long fingers and causing ripples of pleasure wherever he roamed. Megan closed her eyes and let the sensation wash over her.
When she opened her eyes, again he was smiling at her. She leaned in to kiss him and take charge of the situation, but it backfired. Instead of slating her hunger, it only made her need greater as he met her tongue, every thrust and parry. Soon it was he doing the plundering, and Megan lost control of the kiss as he overtook her.
His hands wandered under her shirt, and Megan arched, longing for his touch. He chuckled in her ear so Megan bit his neck. When his hand closed around her breast, her nipple reached for him through the lace of her bra. He slid the fabric down exposing the sensitive flesh. When he caressed it with the rough skin of
his palm, she gasped. Sam pushed the shirt up and captured her other nipple between his lips. Her breath came in small short bursts. She felt him smile against her skin. At first, her skin just burned where he touched her. Soon it became a slow burn everywhere.
He must have sensed her need, because Sam reached down and slipped his hand under the fabric barrier of her underpants. He found her ready for his touch. He teased her to the point that she broke out in perspiration. Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it any longer, he pushed her over the edge in a white hot burst of pleasure so intense, she clung to him in an effort not to spin off into space.
When she opened her eyes again, Megan realized she had a wad of Sam’s shirt gripped in her hand. She let go and looked up into the depths of his blue gaze, which glowed with hunger for her. Sam dipped down and feasted on her lips, swallowing the moan she let escape.
He managed to pull her clothes off without breaking contact with her mouth. When he stopped kissing her long enough to pull his own shirt over his head, she helped him out of his pants. Once there were no barriers left between them, he settled over her so his staff hovered just at the edge of her dewy flesh. His eyes held her gaze as he lowered himself inch by inch filling her body with every bit of him. She didn’t move. She didn’t blink. His gaze commanded her without a word, and she obeyed.
Then slowly, Sam began to rock and the world around them splintered. All that was left was the point where they were joined, and the sensation building with each stroke, rippling through her to an ecstasy she’d never imagined before. All the while, his gaze penetrating her, captivating her, holding her there until she screamed out, no longer able to hold back her shouts of pleasure. Then he tensed and shuddered against her, never looking away. Never allowing her to look away. It was the most intimate thing she’d ever experienced, leaving her vulnerable and open to him in a way that shook her very being. Sam held her gaze while they both tried to catch their breath. Her heart still raced as he dipped low and kissed her, then slid behind her and pulled her close.
Once Megan’s heartbeat returned to normal, the chill of the evening mixed with the light perspiration on her skin made her shiver.
Sam kissed her nose before reaching down and handing her their clothes. She sorted through them and handed his back. Once they were dressed again, Sam pulled the single blanket over the top of them.
Megan smiled against his chest and wondered what she was going to do when they reached Vegas in a few days.
She really wanted to tell him the truth. Lying left a bad taste in her mouth. But she couldn’t seem to get the words past her lips. The thought of his eyes filled with disgust and hatred was more than she could bear. Better to just quietly go their separate ways and miss him… quite possibly, for the rest of her life.
Chapter Eight
“I appreciate your help, Allan.” Sam shook his hand. It was day three of their agreement, and Sam had worked out the details of his departure early the next morning.
“I have a feeling she is going to have something to say about it, but she is welcome to stay here of course.”
“I expect she will.” Sam knew damn well Allan was right. Megan was not going to like the arrangements he’d made for her. But it was going to be a hell of a lot safer for her to wait here with what he had planned. “And the woman from Vegas, what’s her name?”
“Linda. I believe I saw her on the kitchen crew this morning.” Allan folded his arms and sized Sam up. “What do you plan to do?”
“Get my sister out.”
Sam found Linda under the strung up blue tarp used as a makeshift kitchen, cleaning dishes from the morning meal. When she looked up and saw him, she tried to excuse herself from the tent, but he blocked her path.
“What do you want from me?” Her tired eyes and weary expression spoke volumes.
Sam half felt sorry for her but he couldn’t let that stop him. “Information.”
“I told you all I know about Summer, besides maybe it’s not even the same girl.” She rested her hands on her hips.
He’d seen that look before in his business dealings. It was the face of someone who’d given up.
“I want information about Vegas, not Summer.”
Her hands slid from her hips and she folded her arms across her chest, gripping her own shoulders while she stared out toward the highway. Sam recognized she wanted to talk about that even less, maybe even contemplated running from him.
“I know this is difficult for you, but I plan to get her out and I can’t do it without your help. Tell me everything you can.”
She turned and faced him, her lips pressed in a tight line.
He smiled gently. “Please help me.”
To his relief, she nodded. “As you can imagine, Vegas had a huge infestation. So, they burned most of the town to the ground to get control of it.” A tear slipped down her cheek.
“You were there for that?”
She nodded again. “It was horrible. Fire doesn’t kill them, but it destroyed their ability to hide.”
“My experience has been that they have no cognitive thought, how would they hide?”
“They stay in one place until there is a reason to move. To me, that’s the same thing as hiding. Three hotels were left standing. Two for people to live in and try to go about a normal life. The third served as a hospital and laboratory.” She looked away from him and added, “The basement had cells to cage the infected until—”
“They are keeping zombies captive within the population?” he interrupted.
“We needed subjects for our experiments.” She met his gaze.
“I’m surprised anyone would allow that.”
“Only the doctors and we scientists knew about the basement. It was sealed off and the only way in was the elevator.”
“You said ‘they.’ Who’s in charge? The government?”
“No government officials ever showed up. The scientists took over and established martial law using the local police and the town council to govern as best they could. But the police look to the scientists to tell them what needs to be done to survive.”
“Who has my sister?” His voice caught in his throat, and he cleared it.
She shook her head. “Last I knew she was locked in her quarters at the hospital building. She and I arrived about the same time, but I’ve been gone three months now. I imagine security is tighter now than it was three months ago.”
“Your living quarters were in the same building as the cages?” Of all the stupid, idiotic ideas…
“Less chance for cross contamination.” Her tone grew frustrated. “I told you, the rest of the population didn’t know a thing about it, they come and go as they please. It’s only a problem if you get sick and are taken to the hospital, then you can’t go back. It’s the only building where the entrance and exit are controlled. Monitored. That’s really all I can tell you.”
“Thank you for your help.” Sam patted her shoulder.
“I hope you find your sister.” She turned and went back over to her dishes without waiting for a response from him.
“You had no right.” Sam turned at Megan’s voice. Her red, blotchy cheeks and accusing eyes told him all he needed to know.
Megan nearly shook with rage. She’d trusted him.
“Allan’s wife just told me, she and her family would be happy to share their shelter with me while you go on to Vegas without me.” Her voice reached a pitch she didn’t think possible with the last two words.
“Can we discuss this somewhere else?” He looked over at the entire kitchen patrol, who had stopped what they were doing to stare.
Megan didn’t care. All she cared about was the fact that he thought he was going to decide her future for her.
“How about Las Vegas? We can ‘discuss’ it there.” Megan folded her arms over her chest.
He took her by the elbow and led her out of earshot from the others.
Megan still didn’t care. “I’m going, Sam.”
He rounded on her. “Megan, be reasonable.”
“I am being reasonable. This is my plan, not yours. You don’t get to just come along and change my plans willy-nilly.”
“I don’t know what I’ll be up against. You’ll be safe here. I don’t know if I can protect you there.”
Megan looked him dead in the eyes. “You can leave me here, but I won’t stay. I was walking when I met you.”
His face turned red, and he seethed. “Maybe I am just the driver here. I thought I was more than that, but why don’t you explain why you are so hell bent on going to Vegas?”
“To build a future.” Megan refused to back down. Maybe if he knew the truth, he would understand. “Sam, the scientist from Vegas said there are people who are immune—” Megan began to explain. He cut her off.
“No Megan. No one is immune.” He shouted over the top of her head. “Once you’ve been bitten that’s it. No exception. Otherwise, why would I have shot that girl? What would that make me? Once you’re bitten, you’re worm feed.” Sam shoved a hand through his hair, uncompromising.
Megan just stared at him unable to speak…unable to blink. That was it then.
“It’s safe here, now.” Sam continued to shout. “You don’t know what’s waiting for you in Vegas. The whole damn place could be a nest, or worse.”
Megan refused to resort to shouting back at him…again. She considered his words, then chose her own very carefully. When she spoke her voice was calm, her decision made.
“It’s a chance I have to take. And at some point, Sam, you are going to have to take a chance on the future as well.” Megan turned and walked away.
“You are staying here, Megan,” he said one last time to her back.
She returned to the woodpile, her feet as heavy as her heart. She had no right to be angry with Sam. He was just trying to do the right thing. And now, there was no way she could tell him she’d been bitten. He would hate her. If she were honest with herself, after all they’d shared, some little corner of her heart dared to hope he’d grown as fond of her as she’d become of him. A ridiculous sentiment after only five days. Nonetheless, she would not be able to withstand the look in his eyes once he knew the truth.
Only Love Survives (Love and Zombies) Page 8
