Ruined Between the Sheets: An Anthology of Dystopian Stories that Get to the Point

by L. A. Boruff

  Howie got there the quickest, and she hit the door release. The passenger door opened, and they scrambled in. An infected was clinging to the back of Maddox’s jacket, trying to drag him out. She grabbed the blade from her side, and clambering over Howie, she stuck the blade into the eye. It didn’t go deep and did no damage to the brain, but it was enough to make him let go for a second. Maddox kicked it off, struggled in and slammed the door.

  “Get us out of here, Lexi,” Maddox ordered.

  She scrambled back into the seat and put her foot on the accelerator, wincing as she drove over fallen bodies. Maddox scrambled into the back, and she figured he’d cut his ties. Shaking hard, she swerved all over the place, unable to keep the truck straight. Adrenaline thrummed through her, but so did the need to be sick.

  “Breathe, babe.” Howie was beside her, leaning forward to let Maddox cut the ropes now he was free. “You’re doing fantastic. Stop, leave it running, and we’ll swap out, yes?”

  “Yes, please.” She couldn’t stop shaking, and the cold sweat breaking out told her she’d vomit. She dragged in deep breaths, trying to ease the feeling.

  Howie swapped out with her, and she scrambled into the back grabbed an empty carrier bag and threw up.

  Q patted her head as he climbed over her to get to the hatch with Maddox. She heard them firing as she continued to vomit. They were probably picking off the men they saw as well as the infected. It was just a matter of priorities, and they had theirs right.

  7

  Corporal Cornish

  Howie didn’t stop until they were well on their way to Shrivenham. Lexi didn’t stop throwing up until Maddox got an anti-sickness tablet down her throat. It worked, but it also knocked her out, and she didn’t know a thing till long after they’d re-fuelled at an abandoned Shrivenham. They’d stopped at a greasy spoon cafe, taken care of the infected inside, and decided they’d stay in the truck that night but park there.

  She’d woken to the smell of tinned curry, her stomach rumbling. She was disorientated at first, but a look at their bruised faces and it came tumbling back.

  “God, I thought I’d lost you.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “You are real, aren’t you? Not ghosts?”

  “Real as they come, sugar,” Howie said, but there was none of his usual humour lacing his voice.

  “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Badly hurt? Did one of them get you?”

  Maddox shook his head and looked her straight in her eyes. “Lexi, we’d be dead if it hadn’t been for you.”

  “Well, let’s be honest. You probably wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for me—”

  “Shut the fuck up!” Maddox banged his tin down, and she jumped. “You just single-handedly saved our sorry arses. Don’t you dare dumb that down!”

  She took the curry Q offered her. Maddox was pissed, but she was starving and moaned as she ate her first mouthful.

  “We were caught out by the oldest trick in the book.” Howie grunted, unimpressed with himself. “We walked straight into traps. They must have hunted there regularly before the shit hit the fan. They knew that forest like the back of their hands. We didn’t last twenty minutes.”

  “But it was three hours before they contacted me.”

  “They were arguing amongst themselves about you and the truck. They weren’t united. It was the one saving grace we planned to use against them,” Maddox added. “But then we heard them talk to you. Heard you get ballsy. Good call with the Sprog.” He winked at her. “I am so fucking proud of you, Private.”

  “Private?” Q chuckled. “I reckon she deserves a promotion. Fucking brilliant plan.”

  “Corporal Cornish it is,” Maddox said, and she grinned.

  Warmth swept through her. She had saved them. She wasn’t useless, she’d cobbled together a plan, sort of. “I ought to admit that I didn’t actually plan it. When he threatened you, I saw my following in the screens and hoped it wasn’t suicidal.”

  “It wasn’t, it was inspired, and it was still a plan. A plan worked on the fly is still a plan,” Howie acknowledged.

  “He’s right,” Maddox agreed. “In fact, it’s a testament to good reasoning skills.”

  She grinned and punched the air. “I’m a corporal. Does that mean I get to order you all around?”

  Three bland faces looked at her, and she laughed. “Oh, your faces.”

  “Eat your curry, Shorty. We’ve got something for you before you go to sleep.”

  “Yeah? Can I eat it?”

  Howie choked on a mouthful of curry, and Q banged his back not very helpfully.

  She rose, and he held up his hand, his eyes streaming, but filled with humour as he coughed and spluttered.

  “No, you can’t eat it,” Maddox deadpanned.

  She tucked into her curry. Surviving was more than just staying alive. It was having a reason to stay alive, and her reasons weren’t only sitting opposite her. No, she was a reason to stay alive. She’d always be their weakest link, but that didn’t mean she was useless or a liability. She’d grow stronger every day, learn from them, and create a new world with them. One worth living in.

  “It’s your corporal insignia. You’ve leap-frogged lance bombardier,” Howie said as she studied the two chevrons they’d drawn in marker pen on the arm of her jacket.

  “What’s next?”

  “Sergeant.” Maddox tapped his three chevrons on his breast pocket.

  “And then?”

  “Staff sergeant. Three chevrons and a crown above it,” Q drawled, checking the screens before coming into the back.

  “So that’s the one I need to aim for,” she said, stroking the chevrons. It touched her they’d done this. It wasn’t official if there was even an official army left, but it told her they regarded her as an equal. Or at least in brains, she was equal. Physically, she’d never get to their level, but that didn’t matter.

  “I don’t think I should ask, but why staff sergeant?” asked Maddox.

  “So I can tell you what to do.”

  “Is that so, Corporal?” Maddox's eyebrow arched.

  Maybe she'd poked the bear too much. But with any luck, she’d get poked back.

  “Initiation, Sarge?” Q asked, smirking at her.

  “Oh, that’s long overdue,” he replied.

  “Initiation?”

  “You missed your initiation as a recruit, so it’s only fair you get it now.”

  “And what does it entail? Because if there’s any running around naked, greased and covered in chicken feathers? Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “She got one word right.” Q took the jacket from her hands and threw it onto the front seats.

  “I did? Which one?” Her stomach flipped at the way they were watching her. “Running? Also not happening.”

  “Howie, what’s the best way to stop a girl from talking?”

  “In my limited experience, I’d say put something in her mouth.”

  Her cheeks flooded with heat and her stomach flipped again.

  “Good idea, but this is her initiation, not ours.”

  Maddox’s words confused her.

  “A gag?” Q offered.

  “She is rather loud when she comes, isn’t she?” Maddox mused.

  The three of them were discussing her as if she wasn’t there, and they were doing it deliberately. She folded her arms and faked a yawn. “I’m beat, I think sleep is the only initiation I need at present.”

  “Gag it is,” Maddox said, and she gasped, catching his gaze. “Cloth or our hands?”

  She swallowed as lust flipped through her. Her toes curled in her boots, and she shifted on the seat. A movement that was seen by them.

  “Choose.” Maddox’s voice was honey over chocolate, and she melted into the seat, turned on.

  “Either,” she whispered.

  “You will follow orders, Corporal. If you follow them to a satisfactory level, you’ll be rewarded. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?” />
  Shit, she never knew that would turn her on either. “Yes, sir.”

  “Not even Shorty can stand up in here,” Q said.

  She sent him a narrowed eyed look. She may be several inches shorter than them, but she wasn’t a dwarf either.

  “Bilbo Baggins would bang his head in here,” she said.

  Maddox shook his head. “I wish you’d been under me in basics, such a sassy mouth.”

  “I wish I was under you too, but all you’re doing is talking.”

  Howie hooted with laughter and high-fived Q over Maddox’s head.

  “On your knees, Cornish,” Maddox barked.

  “Finally.” She sank to her knees in front of them and folded her arms.

  “Unfold those arms,” Q ordered, and she looked at him.

  “Oy, we’re the same rank, you can’t order me around”—she looked at Maddox—“can he?”

  “Yes, they both outrank you in order.” Maddox smiled, and it was just short of devilish. “They have longer service than you. Obey him, Cornish.”

  She unfolded her arms, so turned on her knickers were soaked, and they hadn’t even touched her yet.

  “Take off your kit, one piece at a time,” Maddox ordered.

  “Yes, sir.” Her voice was husky, and she heard Howie groan as he palmed himself.

  With shaky fingers, she undid her buttons, pushing the shirt off her shoulders and leaving her in the standard vest. She pulled it off and dropped it onto the floor.

  “Keep going,” Maddox ordered.

  She undid her trousers before undoing her bra and letting it fall to the floor.

  “Fucking perfect,” Q breathed out as if praying.

  She pulled her trousers to her knees and sat on the seat to kick them off. Going to her knees, she tucked her fingers into the sides of her knickers and stopped.

  Her breathing hitched at their visible reaction to her. “Aren’t you a tad over-dressed?” she asked, eyeing Q as he rubbed the bulge in his trousers.

  “It’s not our initiation,” Maddox said, his gaze focused on her breasts.

  “Is there a reason you’re disobeying a direct order?” Howie asked. “Get them off.”

  She couldn’t stop the moan leaving her lips, and her cheeks heated. If they hadn’t already guessed, they’d know now orders turned her on.

  She tugged her knickers to her knees and drew them off. A wave of uncertainty had her covering her breasts and between her legs.

  “You can stop this anytime you want,” Q whispered, going to his knees beside her. “Permission to arouse the recruit, sir?”

  “Granted. Don’t let her come.”

  Lexi clamped her thighs together, throbbing at his words.

  “She likes it,” Howie murmured, his eyes roving over her.

  “She loves it,” Maddox corrected him. “Almost as much as we love her.”

  “And I fucking love you,” Q whispered before sticking his tongue into her ear and making her squeal with laughter.

  He gripped her around the waist and buried his face in her neck. “Spread those beautiful thighs, gorgeous.”

  She did as he asked and cried out as he cupped her.

  “Fuck, so fucking wet.” He groaned, massaging her slick folds until she was clinging to his arm, trying to get more stimulation from him.

  “Show us,” Howie said; his tone was husky and thick with lust.

  Q drew his hand out, and Howie knelt, leaning to get a better look. It sent a strange sensation through her. There was no fear. She trusted them with her life, but it was still… she had no name for it. And then Howie stuck his tongue into her, and she almost convulsed on the spot.

  “Don’t make her come.” Maddox’s voice was dark with lust.

  She dragged open her heavy eyelids to see he was stroking his hard cock, his eyes on her face. He held her gaze and winked at her.

  She tried to keep her eyes open, but Howie’s tongue was drifting up and down her folds and it was sending every nerve into tight coils of need.

  “Hey, my turn.” Q tapped him, and they swapped out. Howie kissed her, and she could taste herself on him. It wasn’t her favourite taste, but she didn’t care.

  Q worked her to the edge with his tongue before easing her back repeatedly.

  Sweat dripped down her, and her head went back as Howie worked down her throat to her breasts. She cried out as he bit her nipple and a hand slid over her mouth. Her eyes flew open, and she saw Maddox sitting beside her, one hand on her mouth, the other on his cock.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Q sat back and undid his trousers. “So fucking hard it hurts.”

  Howie thrust a finger into her, and the scream that left her mouth was muffled behind Maddox’s palm.

  “What do you want?” Maddox’s voice was in her ear, slinking through her veins like thick honey. “Do you want to fuck Q?”

  “Yes!”

  “Make him come, Lexi, but don’t come yourself. Understand?”

  “I can’t… I can’t… I need…”

  “You can. Straddle him.”

  Howie must have been listening because he helped Q position her on his lap, and she sank onto him. Her need was relentless, and she held still, her face in his shoulder. If she moved, or if he did, she’d come.

  “Shh.” He kissed the side of her head, stroking her back. “It’s okay, it’ll be worth it, baby, we promise.”

  “It’s already worth it,” she grumbled, as her need eased a little.

  “Just wait and see,” Howie promised her and kissed her shoulder. “Ride him, Lex.” He put his hands on her hips and lifted her. She cried out and her body took over, even as her mind tried hard to keep up. Her hands went to his shoulders as Maddox moved in behind her.

  “It’s clean,” he murmured into her ear and tapped her chin. She opened her mouth and let him put the handkerchief in, tying it behind her head. “Ride him, Lexi.”

  She looked into Q’s eyes and saw the lust tempered with love. His hands went to her hips, and she rocked on him. Her own lust was undeniable, but the need to see him come apart under her was overwhelming. She moved faster, holding his gaze, her moans muffled in the gag.

  He was close, she could see it. But so was she, and Maddox knew it.

  His hot breath washed over her ear, “Do not come—that is an order.”

  She was struggling to breathe, and shook her head, lifting her hand to the gag.

  He removed it straight away, and she sucked in air, grinding down on Q. He growled and went rigid as his release took him.

  Shifting, she tried to get to the edge and fall with him, but Maddox distracted her by tickling her sides.

  Q lifted her and removed the condom she hadn’t even known he’d put on. It was sobering to know they turned her on so much she forgot basic protection.

  “I didn’t think,” she murmured as he secured the end and hid it under the seat to dispose of later.

  “We protect you,” Maddox murmured. “Besides, we discussed this while you were asleep, and Howie got the condoms ready in the hopes this would happen.”

  “Oh.” She was turned on, but the urgency was waning.

  “Why are we talking?” Howie asked. “She deserves her reward, and I really need to come watching her.”

  Maddox laughed, and it was husky with desire. “Quite right, Howie. Shall we?”

  The smile Howie gave her was nothing short of wicked, and when Q shuffled into view, she knew she was in trouble. The best kind of trouble.

  Howie laid out a sleeping bag and helped her lie on her back. It was cramped in the truck, but it didn’t stop them. Q sat by her head, his hands on her shoulders.

  “Why does this look like you’re about to put my shoulder back into joint?” she asked as Howie gripped her ankles and spread her legs.

  “Much more pleasurable.” Maddox had something in his hand that caused her to do a double-take.

  “Is that… what is that?”

  “It’s a”—he picked up the box beside him—�
��a Rabbit 2000. Last one on the shelf in the chemist.”

  “A rabbit… oh, fuck!” Her back arched as he gave her no warning before switching it on and placing it above her clit before removing it straight away.

  “If it gets too much on your clit, say. Not all women are hot on it.” Howie looked at Q. “That’s right, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, according to the mag anyway.”

  “Gentlemen, less talk, more concentration.” Maddox husked. “It’s not you I want to hear.”

  She giggled, partly from nerves, but then he placed it back onto her sensitive skin, and she jerked, crying out.

  “Your reaction is promising,” Maddox murmured and trailed the end down her folds slowly before pushing it inside her inch by inch.

  It drove her insane; her internal muscles clenched and unclenched around it as he pushed it in and out of her. The vibrations were almost too much, and when he angled it and something connected with her clit, she was almost howling.

  Howie moved between her legs, and he let go of her ankles. She tried to close her legs against the intensity, but he was in the way. She tried to see what he was doing, but a flick of Maddox’s wrist, and she was slumping back in silent pleasure. Sweat covered her, and she was so close, so damn close. She clenched her butt cheeks, and it pulled it deeper inside. He upped the vibration. She did howl as it pushed her over the edge of oblivion. It was an off the charts, sky high, heart-stopping orgasm that sent her blind, deaf, and into spirals of intense pleasure. Pleasure that was showing no signs of easing off. She was panting, clutching Q’s hands, her body arching into a bow as Maddox used it to tease another orgasm from her until she was sobbing and begging for him to stop.

  He lowered the vibrations, bringing her down, and with one swipe of the tip across her folds, he switched it off.

  “Fuck me,” Howie breathed out. “She’s a fucking goddess.”