The Last Legacy (Season 1): Episodes 1-10

by Lavati, Taylor

  A dusting of dark hair painted his firm chest, his muscles rippling with each movement he made. I dragged my nails down his chest to his slightly contoured abs, memorizing the way he felt.

  I looked up and found his eyes focused on me. The lids dipped low. He had a dazed expression, full of lust. I licked my lower lip then bit it, trying to flirt with him. I wasn’t a forward person in my other life—the real one. But here, I felt empowered, in control. Jim changed me without even meaning to. I craved more.

  He pulled me up with him so we were kneeling face to face. His gaze flicked to my chest and back up again. His fingers danced on the bare skin of my stomach. My head lolled to the side as I savored his gentle caresses. In one swift movement he pulled my top over my head. I gasped.

  The sports bra I stole from the Sports Authority did nothing to make my average-sized breasts appealing. But I doubted Jim cared right now. And the way he stared at me like he wanted to devour me made me shudder.

  He sucked on my collar bone, his lips pressed against the dirty skin. I arched my back, giving him more access to my neck. I sighed, moaning as I grabbed him, holding him close.

  I scratched down his back with my nails and dove my fingers into the waistband of his pants. His ass was firm in my palms. I needed to show him how thankful I was that he took me in, how much I had come to like him. He deserved to be cherished.

  His hand dug under my bra, and I paused. My hands stilled on his lower back as I enjoyed this one moment. Sex had never been this good before, and we weren’t even having sex yet. Jim’s passionate touches were a whole new caliber. I felt addicted to him.

  He squeezed my nipple, twisting it and pinching. I moaned aloud, as I dipped my hands lower into his pants. All of my nerves exploded at once, vibrations of pure ecstasy pulsing down to the tips of my toes.

  His zipper came down fast, but my fingers stumbled with the button. The way he rolled his fingers around my nipples and massaged my breasts distracted me. I wanted to fall back and let him ravage me. Yet at the same time, I had a need to make him feel just as good as he was making me. I wanted it all. I was selfish with these moments.

  Leaning back to help me out, he quickly shed his pants, kicking them off the bed and onto the floor. I took a second to admire him in all his nakedness. He wasn’t a perfect man by any standards. His nose bent to the side, and his lips were a bit too big. A scar tainted his eyebrow that looked like it needed stitches but never got them.

  But every aspect of him appealed to me. His rugged attitude and overwhelming possessiveness made me want to let him take me and do whatever he wanted. I could feel my wetness, smell my arousal, and he had barely done a thing. I didn’t understand the innate attraction between us, but I loved it. I stroked his cheek with the back of my hand and reached into his tight gray underwear. My breath got caught in my throat as I grabbed him, slowly pumping my hand up and down.

  He felt right in my hand—like this was fated. He lay down beside me pulled me with him. I continued to stroke him as his hand found its way into my pants. I pulled back a bit.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked, his voice breathy.

  “I just—I don’t want you to touch me there.” My face burned hot, my ears on fire. I buried my head under the pillow. It had been two weeks now, and I hadn’t shaved or showered. Truthfully, it was stupid that I was embarrassed by it, but I couldn’t help my emotions.

  “Did something happen?” he asked. “My brother?” He reached over and pulled the cover off of me. His wide eyes bore into me as he sat up in the bed.

  “No!” I grabbed his shoulders and made him look at me. “I just haven’t, like, cleaned much. You know?” I widened my eyes, cocking my head to the side so I didn’t have to say it aloud. I sounded like a pre-teen.

  “So?” he asked back almost immediately.

  “It’s just kind of embarrassing.”

  “I don’t care, Lana.” He leaned forward and kissed me. The kiss was soft, caressing my lips with his own. His hand cradled my cheek gently as his thumb brushed against my lower lip.

  “Can I come in now?” he asked with a smile in his voice. I glared and nodded as his fingers crawled their way down my chest to my stomach and then broke the barrier of my yoga pants.

  The second his fingers circled me, my insecurities washed away. I arched into his touch, his lips kissing my cheek down to my neck. I moaned as he played with me. I squeezed hard, making his breath falter.

  “Jesus, Lana.” I smiled as I kissed his salty neck, unable to hide the overwhelming sense of joy inside me. I ground against his hand, pressure building inside of me. He pumped his hips to the pace of my hand. It moved so fast. I didn’t want this to end yet; I needed more. I didn’t know when we’d be together again. He circled me, and all my thoughts faded. The feel of him took over.

  “More,” I panted out, begging. “More.”

  “I don’t know if we can.” Jim withdrew his hand from me, and I nearly fainted. The loss hurt. He pulled his underwear over himself and jumped off the bed. I heard drawers opening and then slamming shut, way too loud in the quiet room. But I didn’t want to look up. I was still riding a wave of bliss.

  “Score.” He flashed the square metallic wrapper as he jumped back onto the bed and hovered over me. I smiled and nodded.

  He pulled his briefs down and ripped the foil open with his mouth. I laid below him, completely vulnerable. His eyes roamed over me as he smiled. The condom stretched over him. His fingers rolled it to his base.

  He grabbed the folded over part of my yoga pants and dragged them down my legs. I bucked upwards, hurrying him since he took too long. He threw them over his shoulder, greedily taking my hips in both of his hands and pulling me up towards his mouth.

  His teeth nipped at my hip bones as his hands squeezed my ass. His fingers dug into my flesh so hard it hurt. When he released, it was like all of the blood in my body rushed to the surface of my skin. I grabbed his arm and tugged him towards my face, wanting more right that very second.

  He positioned his hips in line with mine. His hardness pushed against my stomach, just sitting between us like a whispered promise. My heart fluttered. Excitement throbbed through my whole body. I practically panted as I waited for him to push inside.

  “Please,” I begged him, our eyes clashing together. He raised his eyebrows. I nodded in response. I grabbed his back and tugged him against me. Our naked chests pressed, his heart erratic like mine.

  He reached his hand between us and grabbed himself. I bucked my hips upwards, pressing him inside of me. I gasped when he slid all of the way in. I was so wet, yet it still hurt as it stretched me.

  He circled his hips. I moved with him, lifting my butt so he was as deep as he could get. My entire body ignited, burning from my core to all of my extremities. I grabbed his shoulders, pulling him closer, and kissed him. I shut my eyes and drank in the moment.

  One of his hands reached between us and massaged my breast. His other hand palmed my ass as he guided me, our movements in sync. I shut my eyes, letting my head fall back as I let only emotions fuel me.

  “Oh my God,” I told him as he buried his head in my neck. He panted loudly, his chest pressing against mine again. I swirled my hips, loving the feel of him grinding against me. He made a sound that drove me nuts, filling me with accomplishment.

  I did it again, grinding against him and squeezing his shoulders to make it deeper. He moaned—no, growled, against my ear, his voice gravelly.

  “That’s fucking amazing, Lana. You feel so good around me.”

  Three loud knocks on our door made Jim jump off of me. In a second, I was empty. My heart leapt out of my chest, and I grabbed the comforter, quickly wrapping it around my bare body.

  “Hi, um, sorry. I have an infected people problem near the back window. Would you mind sending someone to help me?” the old man asked from the other side of the door. Jim looked at me with a frown on his face and then at the door.

  “Sure. Can you give us a se
cond?” Jim’s voice sounded like he was in the middle of working out.

  “No problem. Just, uh, kind of fast, all right? I’m no good at holding them off alone.” Jim shook his head and then looked back at me with his eyebrows pinched together.

  “It’s okay,” I told him as I tugged the blanket around me. The eaters were a bigger issue than my lack of sexual completion. I wasn’t so selfish that I’d force him to finish me off. “Just come back to me.”

  “I will.”

  He walked towards the bed. I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he leaned forward and grabbed his shirt from within the tangle of sheets. He pulled it over his head, then put on his pants and shoes, holstering his gun and knife in the belt.

  “Don’t get hurt.” I smiled despite the strange sense of sadness in my gut.

  “I won’t.” This time when he came towards me, I expected nothing, knowing he had to rush to help the old guy. But he surprised me and grabbed my neck. He pulled me forward, kissing me like he’d actually miss me, not leaving any questions in my head. I smiled as his lips left mine, my head spinning.

  The door shut with a subtle click behind him, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I held in. I glanced around the room and then down at myself. Holy shit. We had sex. His hands were on me, exploring me. Neither of us finished, but that still counted, right?

  God. The stupid old guy had to come ruin it. A dull ache remained in the depths of me. I squeezed my legs together and fell back into the pillows. I imagined Jim’s face, full of need. I had wanted him so bad. I still did. I couldn’t pause the world around me, so there was nothing more to be said. It was over.

  I left my sports bra on the floor and pulled a shirt back over my head. I found my pants behind the headboard and put them on as well. I lay down in the bed, my head on the pillows, my body tucked into the fluffy comforter and under the sheets.

  In my real life, I’d probably flip on the TV to some late night comedy show or old nineties show reruns. But that wasn’t possible. So I fished around the bedside table for something to read or do.

  Luckily, whoever lived here before liked puzzles because there was a shelf full of crosswords, Sudoku, and maze workbooks. I picked up the Sudoku book and found a pen in the drawer.

  Two puzzles later, Jim still hadn’t returned. The ink dried out of the pen, and I couldn’t find another one. My eyelids drooped, my mind fuzzing. I couldn’t even remember what number I tried to fill in. I wanted to stay awake until Jim returned, but I struggled with my hold.

  I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remembered was waking up to Jim climbing into the bed. I jolted up, staring around the foreign room that was no longer lit by the moon.

  “Hello?” I asked as I rolled over.

  “It’s just me.” Jim’s arms wrapped around my mid-section and tugged me towards him so my ass pressed against his front. I relaxed at his touch.

  “Do you want to—”

  “Just go back to sleep.” He kissed the back of my head, and I fell back asleep in a blissful, warm peace.

  I awakened to the foreign smell of burning bacon. My stomach gurgled so loud, maybe that was what woke me up. Sun streamed in through the white curtains in the dark blue bedroom. I turned over onto my stomach and stretched out like a kitten. I reached for the other side of the bed, only to find it vacant.

  Jim had left. I squashed the rejection in my gut and hopped down from the bed. I dressed fast and trekked down to find a bathroom. After checking two doors, only to reveal a closet and bedroom, I opened the next. Scarlet sat on the ground in front of the toilet, her hands resting on the rim.

  “What’s wrong?” I ran in and kneeled beside her. Worry clouded all my other thoughts. Had she been sick?

  “It’s so stupid, right? I mean, I hardly knew him, yet I feel so shitty. I’m a fucking idiot. Right?” She dropped her head in her hands, her body shaking as she sobbed. I reached over her and shut the toilet, waste making the room unbearable to breathe in.

  “You liked him. You’re not an idiot.” I rubbed her back as I bent down beside her.

  “I didn’t even know him. How can you justify your relationship with Jim? I mean, you can’t love him. That’s insane. I know I didn’t love Kev, but it still hurts.” She looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot like she’d been crying for hours.

  “You don’t have to know someone for a long time to care.” I recoiled away from her. Her words personally attacked me. Like she called me out for liking Jim or something. Maybe I was being stupid for caring, but I didn’t know what she expected. I cared about her, too.

  “Can you just leave me alone?” she said as she lowered her head, dismissing me.

  “Sure.” I nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind me. I still had to go to the bathroom. After searching nearly the entire upper floor, I found a bathroom attached to the master bedroom. It was small, just a sink and toilet. I locked myself inside.

  An oval mirror hung above a pedestal sink. I didn’t look at myself before I used the toilet. I couldn’t avoid my reflection as I went to wash my hands, but as I turned the handle, I remembered that it didn’t work.

  My skin looked horrible. Red splotches and blemishes dotted my face from not having any face wash. Dark circles under my eyes contrasted my greenish pale skin. I had gotten a decent amount of sleep, so the exhausted look on my face surprised me. My cheeks sunk in.

  The gash. Oh my God. I leaned close to the mirror to examine the cut on my face that Jim had to stitch up a few days ago. I pressed my finger against it, the thread rough. It had completely scabbed over in yellowish brown flakes. The actual cut was outlined with puffy, red skin. I knew it would leave a nasty scar.

  “Hello?” Someone knocked hard on the bathroom door. I jumped and bashed my head against the mirror. I groaned and reached for the door, opening it a crack. “You okay?” Jim asked as he stepped in towards me.

  “Fine. Just, you know.” I sounded like a moron. I ran my hand through my mess of hair and threw it up into a pony tail that more resembled an overused broom.

  “This guy has food.” Jim’s eyes lit up as he wiggled his eyebrows. I contained my emotions over whatever we did last night. I reached towards him and pulled him into a hug, squeezing his middle. He laughed and hugged me back. But the smell pulled us down the stairs.

  We walked into the now lit-up kitchen. Warm accents and pictures covered the walls, making the place feel homey. All the floors were wood, the walls darker colors yet barn-like. The kitchen had yellow walls with white fixtures. It screamed Country Home and Garden.

  The older man, Gavin, stood in front of the stove as he shook a skillet with still sizzling bacon. My stomach ached as my mouth watered. My saliva tasted like dirt. I could taste the bacon in the air. Gavin glanced over his shoulder as we entered.

  “Take a seat.” He gestured to the table. It fit six people and had white chairs around it. There were napkins laid out and silverware on top of placemats that all matched and looked fairly clean. I felt like I was at a bed and breakfast being served.

  “Where’d you get the food?” I asked as I sat next to Jim. Jim’s plate was already full, half eaten bacon on the edge.

  “Stock piled it from the houses around here,” Gavin said.

  “Is this your home?” I asked as he walked over to me. He slid some bacon off the pan and right onto the plate in front of me. He shook his head as he turned and walked back towards the stove.

  “Not mine. I lived two doors down but my house was overrun early on. Came to stay with my neighbor MaryAnne, but she didn’t make it long. It’s just me.”

  “How are you surviving alone?” I bit the inside of my cheek. That was kind of rude of me to ask but fair. I truly wanted to know how he’d been able to do it. He should’ve been proud.

  “Dumb luck?” He chuckled as he stabbed another slice. “Truthfully, don’t know. I have a knife to kill if I have to. But I spend most of my time in the basement reading. Not many peop
le want to kill me, I guess.”

  “Trust me, people would kill for this place,” Jim said under his breath.

  “I guess you guys could stay here, if you want. You’d probably only help me. After last night, I realize how much it takes to fight some of the monsters. You saved my life, Jim.” The two men stared at each other in silent agreement.

  “Won’t be necessary,” Scarlet said as she waltzed into the room. I frowned while biting a piece of bacon. Salt flooded my senses, and I leaned back in the chair, savoring the flavor. Her mood had done a one-eighty from when I found her hunched over in the bathroom. She was perky, her steps bouncy. It looked like she had brushed her hair, too.

  “Got plans?” Gavin asked as he gave her some food.

  “My sister lives near Long Island Sound. We’re going to get her.” She bit the bacon and smiled across the table at me. I placed my hand on Jim’s knee under the table, squeezing it to get his attention.

  He looked over at me and frowned. I widened my eyes so he’d get the message, but he just went back to eating, shoving bacon and eggs into his mouth. Something was off with her. I didn’t understand it, but I’d make sure to talk to her later.

  “So, you guys dealt with the eaters last night?” I asked as I leaned back in the chair.

  “Sure did,” Gavin said. “Your leader here helped me take care of a whole herd of ‘em. How many would you say showed up at the back door?”

  “Probably about ten in all,” Jim mumbled.

  “Ten at once?” I questioned. They said the place was safe, but I seriously doubted that now. How did they get so close? The house had a fence near the road that provided at least some security.

  “I know you all are leaving, but would you mind helping me before you go? I have to get some more supplies and the more hands, the better chance I have of surviving. I don’t expect much, just some food.” Gavin turned off the propane stove and sat down beside Scarlet. His wrinkled forehead rose as he smiled at her—I could tell it was genuine.