Bound as the World Burns

by Alexis Abbott

  She rapped it out, her knuckles knocking against the wall as she stared up at him. His harsh, authoritative orders had caused her eyes to widen and she looked so serious, even as his cum dribbled down her thighs.

  With an approving smile he took hold of the door, “Good girl,” he complimented again. Then as the door began to swing to he paused, “I’ll just be a few hours. Do your chores, tidy up, oh and,” he looked her over, “don’t bother with the panties and bra anymore. Not while you’re inside,” he told her. “Save ‘em for the future,” he instructed before shutting the first door.

  She could hear the next one whirr into action beyond as he headed out, and she stepped up, peering through the glass window to watch as he vanished out, the door clanging shut. The seal showed as safe again, the inner door unlocking.

  She was all alone. Again.

  5

  By the time she’d finished inventorying every little thing in the bunker, then went over it to check again, then went over it a third time, he still wasn’t back. Cassidy was, to say the least, quite worried. Had he left her? Had something happened? Would he ever be back?

  She tried to concentrate, to focus on prettying herself up as he requested, but that just brought up new conundrums. She’d not thought much about her looks in school, aside from trying to look proper at all times, and now she scrutinized herself in the mirror.

  Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent, with a light speckle of freckles across her nose and upper cheeks. Her strawberry blonde hair was a lovely contrast against her skin, and her blue eyes were wide and expressive. Her full cheeks made her look a bit younger than she’d like, and she practiced sucking them in, experimenting with the different angles in the mirror, trying to assess her attractiveness.

  It was strange. She’d reached the end of the world, and now she was preening in the bathroom for her lover to return. She had removed her bra before even starting her inventory, placing it aside with her panties, and the way her large breasts rubbed against her clothes made her focus more on her body, on the sensations that it had and craved. She could feel herself grow a bit wet just with the sway of those heavy orbs against the tight blouse, and it made waiting for him worse.

  Was what she was doing wrong? She kept trying to push the thoughts away, reassuring herself that this was what God intended. Surely if there was still a world, he’d marry her, and even if her parents wouldn’t have agreed with her marrying a rough military man, he was religious as well. They shared the same God, and he’d pledged himself to her security in His name.

  There was no iconic ring, but in the wastes of civilization, how much could she expect? It was enough for him to love and protect her from the terrifying reality of the apocalypse.

  Once she was convinced she looked as good as possible, and Leon still hadn’t returned, she determined that he’d be hungry when he did. A good wife always knew to have food ready for their husband when they came home from a long day, she told herself remembering her mother’s words, and she quickly set to work, trying to teach herself to cook some easy pasta, warming it slowly so that it wouldn’t burn. She’d known that much, anyways.

  The humidity of the boiling noodles left to simmer for so very long made the closed off bunker even warmer. There was some circulation of air from the reactivate ventilation system, of course, but it seemed minimal, just enough for the sake of keeping their breathing fresh and not for the purposes of alleviating the heat and humidity that built beyond a certain point.

  The waiting dragged on until nearly the eighth hour mark when at last a sound came. It was lighter than she expected at first, and she wasn’t certain she’d heard it. Especially when it didn’t repeat for several minutes, but with her ears perked she heard it again, the rhythm of that knock he’d taught her, loud and distinct this time.

  She was so eager for it she almost ran to the inner barrier. She wanted him home, to enjoy his dinner and her company and for him to just be safe and well. She bypassed the inner door, and as she unlocked the outer one she heard the hiss of the prior one locking behind her. Both of them could not be open at once by design, but as the outer door swung slowly open by the hydraulics mechanism she saw nothing outside.

  The light of the airlock she was in spilled out into a narrow corridor that led in either direction along the underground tunnel beneath the building above. And it was too dark beyond that spill of light to see much but some stacked boxes marked with some cereal brand.

  The sound of scraping along concrete greeted her first, approaching eerily, and only the familiar sound of Leon’s harsh voice drew her from her fright. “Get back inside,” he said, his voice harder, raspier than she recalled it as he came up to her, pulling a stack of goods with him as he took her shoulder and moved her back inside with him. “It’s not safe out here!” he said in that same voice, sounding agitated but definitely concerned for her safety.

  She skittered back in, her eyes wide with alarm. A constant worrier, she was definitely assuming the worst as they moved into the airlock, her gaze upon him. “Let me help,” she reached out like a child grabbing at something just out of their reach, trying to help him with the bag that likely weighed more than her. She was so relieved to have him home to her, she just couldn’t help that delight beneath the concern, and it danced in her eyes.

  Leon, however, looked and sounded exhausted. His brown leather jacket was scuffed and dirty, worse than when she first met him. He didn’t say anything more right away, but he put down the crate he was dragging then went outside, returning with the pack, then made another trip for the final box of cereal goods.

  Certainly, the backpack was bulging and weighted down with more than she could possibly carry. Just budging the thing took more strength than she could muster.

  When he got the last box and gas canister inside he shut the door, and almost visibly deflated in front of her, exhausted and weary as the lock confirmed they were safe. “Dammit,” he cursed, resting his back to the wall wearily.

  She looked at him with a curious, sad sort of gaze, as if seeing him so exhausted wasn’t registering in her mind. He was so strong and, surely, capable. It didn’t make sense.

  “You were gone a really long time,” she said simply. “I made supper.”

  A smile formed on his exhausted face and he lifted an arm in invitation to her, so that as she came to him he put it around her and held her close. “Damn, that’s good work, girl,” he complimented, resting his head to her curly red locks and kissing her head. “Sorry I kept you waitin’,” he said softly, “hope you didn’t worry too much.”

  “Is it really scary out there?” she asked as she curled her body into his, cuddling into the larger man. It was almost familial, like a daughter hugging a father, using him for the comfort and strength he represented, and for her, that’s how it was in part. She didn’t see them as equals. He was her protector, the person who would help her through this catastrophe.

  He nodded weakly to that, “Yeah sweetie, it sure as hell is,” he said on an exhale, kissing her again. It was so jarring to see that massive, commanding man so weary and exhausted, but even still he managed to pull himself up, “Gonna leave this shit here for now,” he explained shuffling into the room beyond and beginning to take his jacket off haltingly.

  “It’s safe in here,” she said, though a lingering ‘right?’ remained unsaid. She wasn’t entirely certain how the bunker worked other than wanting to stay inside near her bed as often as possible. She trailed after him and served him up the meal, looking so proud of herself even if it was only from a prepared meal kit. Right next to his bowl lay the clipboard with all the items lovingly detailed on top of it.

  Sat down, it was only as Leon reached for the bowl that she noticed there was blood soaked into his sweater and running down along his hand beneath his pinky. Seeing her eyes move to it he seemed to recognize it for the first time, “Dammit,” he said, that shoulder and arm moving so stiffly. “Help me out of this,” he instructed, awkwardly try
ing to lift his arms and get the turtleneck sweater up over himself.

  It was difficult for him alone, and it took her help to get the garment off over his head. She saw then, his skin broken open at the shoulder blade. It didn’t look like a cut; it was swollen and bruised, like he’d been hit by something very heavy and hard that split the skin with its force of impact. The lack of a slash or cut in his clothes attested to that.

  Her eyes widened in such fright, and her hands trembled as she tried to dab off the blood, only stopping when she realized she was probably hurting him more. “What happened?” she asked, her voice rising with a bit of shrillness, panic eking into her tone. She was worried for him, and the shock of seeing her immovable protector so injured was a terror she didn’t know how to deal with.

  As ever, though, Leon was calm and collected.

  “Get the medical kit,” he instructed, gesturing across the room to the white box strapped to the wall. He didn’t want to tell her about what had happened above, but with the wound it appeared something unavoidable.

  “It’s a long story,” he said, though even he knew it wouldn’t be enough of an explanation. “The last quake shook everything to hell. The grocery mart was collapsing, and I knew if I didn’t loot it now, we’d not have another opportunity. Ahh,” he winced a bit as he tested the tender flesh, the man having somehow managed to lug several loads worth of foodstuffs back with such a badly injured shoulder and arm.

  She knew where the kit was. She’d inventoried it three times already, and knew it contained gauze and antiseptic cream and a lot of other things she didn’t really know what they were until she read the package and brought it to him.

  “Tell me what to do?” she pleaded, opening the kit for him.

  Leon didn’t need to be instructed in that though, for he was already reaching in and preparing to do just that. As he told her about how to apply the anti-bacterial swab, he went back to his story, “I had to make a few trips. Taking a load of the food each time, bringing it back to the building above, then going for more.”

  “You were so close so many times...” she whimpered, as if disappointed he hadn’t dropped in and said hello or something. She was so gentle on his back, though, as her doting fingers rubbed on the swab, her brows furrowing as she stared at his darker skinned back. It was harder to see than a scrape or wound on her own pale flesh.

  Leon managed not to flinch at the stinging application though, continuing in his gruff tale, “Couldn’t risk alerting anyone or anything to you being here until I was done,” he explained. “On the last trip I made for the crate of dried cereal goods, I... well, someone came across me I guess. Very nearly,” he explained tentatively. “I had to hide out in one of the buildings as they... it searched for me.” Licking his lips he added, “Okay, now apply the antiseptic gauze.”

  “It?” her face pinched as she did as instructed to the best of her abilities, her hands so tender and soothing on his broad back. It was the first time she’d really had a chance to look at his back, and her gaze trailed over the hard lines of muscle, bulging and thick. She knew that some of her classmates would find him quite attractive, and she couldn’t say she disagreed. She swallowed, trying to contain her emotions.

  As the broad, strong man guided her through the gauze application, he continued explaining the tale. “I never saw it... or them, or whatever. I heard them and I hid. And before I could catch sight of them—they moved so damn fast—they were in the building. They were banging around, breaking things, pillars even, and... the roof came in.” He shook his head in some disbelief, “Must’ve been loosened by the quake earlier, but it crashed down on me, and I got hit on the shoulder,” he stated as if a roof collapsing on him was not particularly startling.

  It was, however, to her, and the way she gasped and fawned over him was so affectionate. “You could have died,” she protested, resisting the urge to hug him and risk making him hurt more. She couldn’t stand the thought of that, but she did bring her lips to his flesh just above the wound, kissing it softly.

  Leon shut his eyes and gave a husky exhale at that soothing gesture, an obvious show of approval. “I kept my spot. Didn’t move for... hours I guess. I wasn’t convinced they’d left,” he hesitated a moment, “I was right, it seemed. For after the longest span of time I heard something like a howl, and with a clatter they took off. I stayed put a while longer still, before daring to come back and collect the things to bring here.”

  With the wound bandaged up, he tested his shoulder and arm, seeming resilient to the last as he then put it around her to hold her. “Glad I played it safe. Couldn’t bear to bring something back on you,” he said with a special softness as he made her sit back upon his knee and thigh, kissing her lips.

  She hated to see him hurt, and it wasn’t for entirely selfish reasons. She had only known him a little over a day, yet she had put such faith in him, and in what he was. A protector, a blessed man. When even someone as strong and as brave—for she figured him to be both—could be so injured, she wondered what hope she’d have out there.

  “What were they? Wolves?” she asked curiously.

  Beginning to shake his head and refute that he instead forced a smile, “Yeah maybe,” he said, kissing her lips again. “Clever girl,” he remarked then looked to the pasta she prepared for him. “How about you play good nurse and feed me some of that food you cooked us up, huh?” he directed with a smile, his good hand upon her bare knee, squeezing the pale skin firmly.

  She didn’t question it, just moved to the bowl and started feeding him with such diligence. She just wanted him to feel better. “You’re going to have to sleep. That always makes my wounds heal faster,” she said, though he could likely have guessed by now she just enjoyed it. Only her worry and the fact that he’d given her such strict orders had kept her from napping while he was gone.

  With a hearty chuckle he rubbed her thigh and hip, eating each offered morsel of overcooked pasta hungrily, having been away for most of the waking day already. “We’re gonna cuddle up and take a nice long rest together once we eat and drag that stuff in,” he explained reassuringly, the commanding man so at ease with her after only a day. “Bet you must be exhausted? You’ve been up extra-long,” he pointed out, reminding her she’d been up all the night before thanks to her irregular sleep schedule.

  It hadn’t even really dawned on her. Sure, she was tired, but she had things to do. Things he’d told her to do, and she wanted to do them well. As soon as he said that, though, her eyes started to grow heavy and she leaned against him a bit more readily, “Yea.” She still fed the man, even through her overtired state, her eyes glued to him, “Does it hurt real bad?”

  It didn’t take him long to finish eating what she’d made for him, the large man devouring food at an alarming rate to sustain his bulk and activity. “Don’t you worry about me,” he said to her with such confidence, “There’s nothin’ out there that can take me down. Not when I’ve got a pretty little dame like you countin’ on me.” The words sounded like absolute truth off his charming, authoritative voice.

  He kissed her again, partly on the cheek, partly on her lips, “You look damn good too,” he complimented more softly, looking down over her, unable to avoid seeing the absence of her bra upon those sizable mounds, and the way it made her nipples visible through the white blouse.

  She was thrilled with his compliment and moved in to give him a light hug, careful of the wound on his back. “How much food do you think we have? Enough for you to stay here for a long time?”

  His eyes trailed to the door where the new stuff still lingered, pondering a moment. Then looking back to her he smiled broadly, “Damn right,” he said. “We’re good for a nice while,” he stated confidently before rising at a slow pace, letting her slip from his lap.

  “Go eat up,” he told her. ”I’m gonna drag that stuff in then we’re callin’ it a night, Cass.” The broad man headed to the door with just a bit of a weary hunch.

  She wanted t
o help, but she knew she wouldn’t have the strength. Besides, as soon as he told her to eat, her stomach growled in response and she remembered that she hadn’t eaten anything since that morning.

  She was tired, and hungry, and quickly wolfed down her meal as he brought in the crates and bag, her eyes growing wide. He had carried so much back. It was apparent why it’d taken so long. Even with his tale of having to avoid some apparent ‘wolves’ above, it would’ve taken two healthy, strong men a while to tote that much back.

  “Clean up now,” he told her, as he brought in the last things, “then strip down and go wait in bed.” His tone was firm as he made sure she tended to every little detail of her new life.

  It was easier for her this way. Better. She could just do as he said, and not worry about making the right choices. She just obeyed and trusted that he would look out for and protect her, and as she slipped those sheets over her naked body, she felt so secure.

  How Leon managed to lift and pull those heavy crates and boxes with only one arm, she couldn’t fathom, but by the time he was done, he wearily dragged himself to the bed with her and stripped down as well. The whole of his physique rippled with bulging muscle as he curled into her. She even felt that swell of that hard member against her as he pulled her against him closely, but seemed too weary to act on it after his tumultuous day.

  It was enough to be near him, to feel him pressed safe against her, but she wondered at her body’s heated response. Something in her had been awakened by the man, and she didn’t have a name for it. She barely understood it, she just accepted all he gave her and didn’t question it. She had no way to voice her own needs and desires, so instead she curled against him, singing a short lullaby before slumber gripped her.