by A. J. Snyder
"I'd like that," he says with a small smile.
I let go of his hand and lean up on my tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight, Owen."
I turn to leave, but he suddenly grabs my hand and halts me in my tracks. "Trinity, wait." I watch as he walks over to the bookcase and grabs the copy of Wuthering Heights. He places the book in my hands, and I cradle it against my chest.
"Thanks, Owen," I tell him with a smile before walking out of the room.
Owen may think he's awkward and geeky, but what he doesn't know is that he's slowly stealing a piece of my heart.
CHAPTER 16
TRINITY
IT FEELS STRANGE to be back in the woods again, but I feel safe with Jack by my side. He may seem more like machine than man sometimes, but I know deep down he's a big, giant teddy bear with a good heart.
Our time alone allows him to share with me about the time he spent in the Marine Corps, how many lives he saved, and just how hard it was to survive on a daily basis. He's a hero in every sense of the word, but he's so humble about it that it makes me admire him even more.
"It was hard to return back to civilization," he confesses to me. "A car backfiring would set me off like no other. It took me a while to…adapt. And I don't know if I ever fully did."
His large palm is on the small of my back, leading me into the woods. "And now the world sort of adapted to you," I suggest.
He stops walking, and I stop too. He looks down at me with raised brows. "You know, you're right. I never really thought of it like that. But the world as it is today…it reminds me of my time over in Iraq. Always on my toes, looking for the next threat, and protecting my fellow soldiers with my life." A deep, bitter laugh escapes him. "Maybe that's why I feel so much more like myself nowadays. I'm in my element again I suppose." Then, his dark brows lower as he grows very serious once again. "Do you think it's wrong to feel like that?"
"Not at all," I tell him, putting my hand on his muscular biceps. "I think you're one of the bravest and kindest men I have ever met."
Sliding his hand into my hair, he tugs to the point of pain as he leans down and drags my mouth to meet his in an all-consuming kiss. The woods around us disappear as he takes me just how he wants, keeping his rough grip in my hair, as he kisses me into obscurity.
When he finally releases me, my knees are so weak that I actually wobble. "Wow," I gasp, not fully grasping what just happened between us. I knew the chemistry was always there; I just didn't know it would feel like…that.
"Fuck, I've been wanting to do that," he breathes against my lips. A squirrel scampering up a tree next to us has his connection to me snapping. He blinks and refocuses his gaze on the forest. "Let's go to the first trap and see if we caught anything."
Jack kneels by a small trap that he calls a simple spring pole snare and teaches me how to set it. It takes a lot of practice to learn how to set up the sticks just so, so that the trap will capture whatever sets off the trigger, but I'm slowly learning. Jack is a great teacher, just like he told me the first day we went fishing.
When I finally get it, he smiles and says, "That's my girl."
My teeth sink into my lower lip at his words, and I have to keep myself from breaking out into the biggest grin ever. Jack is very possessive when it comes to certain things in his life, and I love when he exerts his dominance over me.
We move to another trap; and Jack holds my hand, guiding me to make sure I don't trip or fall.
We're about twenty yards into the woods when Jack stops suddenly. When I glance up at his tight face, I know he's on high alert; and that scares me.
"Don't move," he whispers to me.
I'm not planning on moving. Hell, I'm barely even breathing at this point. I'm too frightened.
"There!" he hisses, pointing up ahead of us.
And there, in the thick brush by a small creek, I see a large buck. I let out a sigh of relief since I thought Jack had thought he heard something else, one of them.
I haven't seen a zombie since that fateful day when I ended up on the farm, and I don't want to see one ever again.
Jack readies his gun and aims it at the magnificent creature. I look away, not wanting to see him kill the animal. I know we need the food, though, so I can't condone him for killing the beautiful beast.
A shot rings out, and I look up to see the deer running in the opposite direction. Jack missed? He never misses. He told me so himself. He was the best sniper on his team.
Before I can even comprehend what's happening, Jack calmly tells me, "Trinity, run back to the house."
And that's when I see the group of creatures emerging from where the deer just ran from. There are at least three of them, maybe more. Jack must have taken one out, and now they're all coming towards us from hearing the gunshot.
"Go, Trinity! Now!" he demands.
I take off running towards the edge of the woods that meets the clearing just like that day when I got caught up in Jack's trap. I don't want to leave Jack behind, however, so I keep glancing back to make sure he's okay.
I hear three more shots ring out, and each one makes me jump. With tears building in my eyes, my vision is blurry, and I barely see what's in front of me before it's almost too late.
Skidding to a stop, I see a small group of zombies stumbling towards me from the clearing. They must have heard the gunshots.
"Jack!" I cry, turning and running back towards him.
"Trinity!" he roars.
Oh god, if anything happens to him, I don't know what I'll do. I run as fast as I can with the zombies close behind. I stumble, fall, pick myself back up again and run again.
"Trinity!" Jack calls.
He comes to my rescue, dispatching all three zombies with a large hunting knife, sticking the blade right into their brains. They fall into a messy heap at his feet.
I'm a sobbing mess by the time he's done. And then, he picks me up in his strong arms and carries me to the edge of the woods, setting me down beside a large oak tree.
His hands roam over my body, looking for cuts, scrapes, bites.
"Are you okay?" he asks, his dark brown eyes searching my face.
"I am now," I cry.
He kisses my cheeks, tasting my tears. "Fuck, I thought something happened. I thought I lost you," he whispers in anguish, kissing every inch of my face. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Jack is the strong, silent type. So, for him to be voicing his true feelings for me is something new and wonderful.
"Oh, Jack," I gasp. My palms grasp his face, my fingertips digging into his beard and strong jaw as I pull his mouth to mine. His lips are soft in comparison to the rough beard scraping against my face, and I can't get enough of the combination of sensations.
Jack's hand moves to my nape, pulling me impossibly closer as he consumes me, owning me completely. His tongue battles with mine, but he wins, of course, taking total control.
His other hand skims down my body, slipping underneath my jeans and stopping at the apex between my thighs. His fingers swipe along my already wet slit, and he groans into my mouth.
His thumb presses against my clit as he pumps a finger in and out of me, and he swallows down my cries as I writhe under him. Everything he does feels like heaven, and I can't get enough.
"Please, Jack," I beg him. "I want you inside of me."
He pulls back with a growl and stares at me with a feral look on his face. "Fuck, Trinity. I want that too," he whispers.
Leaning down, he yanks my jeans, along with my panties, down my legs. My boots, which are too big for me, easily go with them as he throws everything down on the ground beside us.
Next, he unbuttons his jeans and pulls them down over his hips, letting his long erection bob up to his stomach.
My eyes widen at the sight. Oh my god, he's huge. Just like I imagined he would be.
He smirks at my reaction and fists his large cock in his hand, pumping once, twice, three times as my mouth practically waters at the sight
.
Hooking my right leg under his arm, he positions himself between my legs, moving the head of his cock back and forth along my slit until he's completely covered in my arousal.
"Try to stay quiet," he warns as he lines his thick length up with my entrance and impales me in one, swift stroke.
My teeth sink into his muscular shoulder, clamping down through his shirt as I try to muffle my scream.
"Fuck, this is exactly how I imagined you would feel wrapped around my cock," he whispers against my neck, his breath tickling my skin. "I'm gonna move now, Trinity. We don't have much time out here."
I nod in agreement against his chest. But I don't think I realized just what I was agreeing to. Because as he starts to move inside, I feel like I'm going to split in two.
"Oh, shit!" I hiss against him as he ravages me with his cock.
His adept fingertips move to my clit and rub while he fucks me unhurriedly, rocking in and out of me. After a few minutes, the pain begins to subside, and it feels like pure ecstasy with my walls clamping down on his driving length.
With a growl, he picks up my other leg so that both of them are cradled in his arms as he fucks me raw against the tree, the bark digging into my back. It's dirty and raw and exciting and crazy…and all of those things combined, but I wouldn't trade this moment for anything else in the world right now.
Jack leans in, devouring my mouth, hungrily, without mercy and swallowing my moans and cries that I can't seem to contain. His arms vibrate with strength and power as he takes me.
Unable to hold back anymore, he sends me straight over the edge, and I whimper against his mouth as the orgasm detonates within me, completely destroying me.
Jack pulls back and stares into my eyes as he grits his teeth. "Fuck, you feel so good, Trinity," he growls in a heady whisper that's deep and primal. Gently, he lowers my legs so that my feet are once again planted on the ground.
Then, he spins me around and enters me from behind. I thrust back against him, taking it all and wanting everything he wants to give. I can feel another orgasm building up inside of me, and I have to sink my teeth into my arm to keep from screaming out as pleasure rips through me.
"That's it. That's my girl," he barks possessively.
His thrusts become erratic the closer he gets. And then finally, he pulls out of me and lets out a feral roar that makes me shiver as his come shoots out in stripes against my backside.
"Fuck," he hisses, leaning over me to catch his breath. His mouth finds my neck, and he suckles gently at my skin, wrapping his one arm around my waist to hold me close.
After we calm our rapidly beating hearts, Jack steps back. "Don't move," he tells me.
I look over my shoulder at him in awe as I watch him rub his release into my skin, effectively marking me. Damn, he is possessive.
He slaps my ass for good measure when he's done and gives me a panty-melting smirk. "Mine," he whispers.
I can't help the giddy feeling building up inside of me as we get dressed and walk back to the house. My legs feel like Jell-O, and Jack holds my hand the entire way.
When we reach the house, Carter, Owen and Lucas are all standing there with worried looks on their faces.
"We heard the gunshots," Lucas says.
"Everything okay?" Owen asks.
Jack gives them a nod. "Oh yeah. More than okay. Just seen a few creatures, but I took them all out."
Lucas and Owen look relieved, but Carter has a mischievous grin on his face. "And then you took something else, didn't you?"
Jack smiles an actual smile as he looks down at me and says, "Yeah. And it was good. So fucking good."
CHAPTER 17
LUCAS
WHEN JACK AND Trinity come back from their hunting trip, I instantly notice a change between the two of them. Jack is looking at Trinity like she's good enough to eat, and she's gazing up at him like he's her protector from everything bad in the world.
I've seen that look in her eyes before. She used to look at me like that.
Fuck.
"Yeah, and it was good. So fucking good," Jack says, breaking through my thoughts.
His words go through me like a dagger straight to the heart. It suddenly feels like I was punched in the gut, and I feel physically ill.
Jack had his way with Trinity in the woods after their near-death experience. I knew he was attracted to her. He'd said as much when we'd been alone. But I could also see it in the way he looked at her. I could see the infatuation there. Hell, I think we're all quite infatuated with her.
Sharing her with Carter was bad enough, but now to share her with Jack too…my ego is completely bruised.
I didn't think I'd be this jealous, but I've fallen for Trinity. Hard. I just didn't want to admit it until now.
You know the saying about love making you foolish? Well, that must be true. Because next thing I know, I'm tackling Jack to the ground and my fist is flying towards his face.
I can hear Trinity screaming for us to break it up, but I keep pummeling him. That is, until Jack gets the upper hand.
Grabbing my waist in a hold, my world suddenly turns upside down as Jack twists us and I end up under him. My face gets the brunt of his anger, and his fists feel like steel hitting bone.
I put my hands up to shield myself as Carter and Owen finally manage to pry Jack off of me. Jack stands there like a mad bull, pacing and snorting with anger. "Just remember who started it," he grits out angrily before storming off with Owen close on his heels.
I expect Trinity to run after him, but she doesn't. She falls to her knees beside me with tears in her eyes. "Lucas. Why did you do that?" she asks, her voice trembling.
"Because you're mine, Trinity."
Anger laces her features. "I'm not an object that you can just claim," she says, throwing our number one rule back in my face.
"I've fallen in love with you, and my jealousy got the best of me."
My words seem to stun her, and she sits quietly next to me for a long time while tears trickle down her beautiful face. "I've fallen for you too," she finally confesses.
I pull her to me, kissing her deeply and ignoring the pain that I feel…everywhere at the moment.
"Let's go get you cleaned up," she suggests before standing.
Carter helps me up and throws my arm around his shoulder for support as we walk up the porch steps and into the house. He settles me into one of the kitchen chairs and steps back, watching Trinity as she goes to the sink to get a wet washcloth.
Gingerly, she wipes away the blood and dirt from my face. I grimace from her ministrations, but don't say a word. I deserve the pain. I acted like a complete jealous idiot out there.
"I'll give you guys some alone time," Carter says before walking out the door.
"I'm sorry, Trinity," I tell her, grabbing her hand to halt her movement and staring into her beautiful grays.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," she mutters with a small smile that tells me she's no longer totally pissed at me.
"You're right," I tell her with a nod. Then, I let go of her hand and allow her to continue cleaning me up. "I don't know what the hell got into me."
Tears fill her eyes as she bites her lower lip, and I can tell she's holding back something big.
"What is it? Tell me," I practically beg.
"Maybe this isn't going to work out between all of us," she blurts out in confession.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I shake my head slowly. "It can work. I just need to…get over my internal shit." I open my eyes and gaze up at her. Placing my palm against her soft cheek, I tell her, "If you want someone other than me, there's nothing I can do to stop you."
She leans into my touch. "I want you, Lucas." Then she says, "I was never like this before…everything happened. But this situation isn't like anything I've ever been in before. I like all of you for different and unique reasons, and I can see myself eventually falling for each one of you. I know it sounds weird…or maybe I'm just a slut —."
/>
I cut her words off by running the pad of my thumb over her full lips. "You're not a slut, Trinity. I get it. I do. Things are different now. You're attracted to all of us?" I ask.
She gives me a nod.
"Then I'll just have to get over my internal bullshit, because I want you to be happy." I run my thumb along her soft jawline. "I just have one request."
"What's that?"
"I want you to sleep with me in my room every night. I don't want that to ever change."
She looks up at the ceiling with a thoughtful look on her face. "Well, Carter does talk in his sleep…and Jack snores pretty loud…"
I chuckle at her words and pull her close to me. "You already know I'm a good cuddle buddy."
"The best," she answers, giving me a sweet kiss.
CHAPTER 18
TRINITY
THE NEXT MORNING at breakfast is awkward, to say the least. Both Jack and Lucas are sporting bruises on their face, and neither one has said a single word to one another. In fact, the entire table is quiet.
Feeling beyond frustrated, I slam my fork down on the table and stand. "I don't know how much time I have left here, but I know this much — I don't want to be the cause of breaking up a great friendship." I point to Jack and then to Lucas. "You two need to squash whatever beef you have between you two and get it over with, so we can all move on."
Jack and Lucas stare at me and then look at each other before quickly looking away.
Carter stands up and says, "Trinity is right. You both threw punches, so you both need to man up and apologize."
Lucas clears his throat and nods as Carter sits back down. "I'm sorry, Jack. I don't know what the hell got into me yesterday, but I should have never attacked you."
Jack says, "And I'm sorry for breaking that beautiful face of yours."
That gets everyone around the table laughing, because Lucas looks like he was hit by a Mack truck, while Jack looks like he got away with barely a scrape.
