Savage: The End

by Snow, Jenika

  “We all need to rest,” Malachi said, removing Millie’s hand from Sasha’s shoulder. “Come on. If that army is onto us, we need to move.” He grabbed Sasha’s hand and started to push everyone ahead.

  The army he had seen was big, and the ammo they had would only defend them for a short time.

  He couldn’t have anyone hurt and right now, he was struggling every single step of the way.

  They had to get to the north.

  They had to.

  He couldn’t stop until then, and he only hoped that this north was as safe and loving as everyone seemed to think it was.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Sometimes the heat gets to you

  They’d set up camp several hours after they’d met Millie, and Sasha had managed to start a small fire. Tree Man and Malachi were periodically checking the perimeter, but they seemed confident they’d put enough space between them and the camp.

  Besides, everyone was exhausted so walking through the night wouldn’t have been feasible.

  She’d listened to Millie talk about up north, and for the first time since all of this had happened, Sasha was starting to feel optimistic.

  She listened to Millie’s story, how the camp was basically nothing more than a bunch of dictators using women as vessels, building up their own army to try and control the territory. That wasn’t unexpected, given the fact that the world and civilization had collapsed, so it was every man for himself. But to think about all those women in there, prisoners, helpless, unable to fight back because they had no power, was heartbreaking.

  And as much as Sasha wanted to go and help, as much as she wanted to storm into that camp and break all those assholes’ legs, realistically, they couldn’t. There was no chance for them, not even any hope that they could get across the bridge before they were shot down. And when she looked over at Lucy, the very thought of her little sister being subjected to that had her stomach twisting and disgust filling her.

  She moved closer to Lucy and wrapped her arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer and staring at the flames. Millie continued talking about her life before she was captured, how she had been a veterinarian’s assistant, how she loved her job, and how she was dating a guy who worked at a bar down the street.

  It was almost mesmerizing listening to her talk about how he’d treated her well, how they’d had plans to get married and have kids. But then he’d gotten sick, passed away from the virus, and she’d stayed at her house as long as she could, until her supplies were gone and she was forced to leave.

  And she lasted a while, longer than she thought she would before the men found her, before they promised her safety and security ... before they took her and raped her and abused her.

  Sasha didn’t want Lucy hearing this, but then again, she did. She wanted her to know the horrors out there, the ugly world they lived in.

  As the time ticked by, she could feel Lucy nodding off beside her, her little head bumping into Sasha’s shoulder before she righted it. Then the whole action repeating.

  “Come on, Lucy,” Sasha said softly and helped her up, taking her over to the tent and tucking her in just like their mom used to do. And Lucy was out before she even left the tent.

  She stood there for a moment just staring at her, thankful that she was here and safe and healthy, and telling herself that they would make sure to get to that safe place up north—if not for anything else, for Lucy.

  She left the tent and zipped it up, then walked back to the fire. Millie was still talking about life before all of this, and Tree Man was listening intently.

  “I’m going to clean up a bit,” she said softly and walked over to the little creek they’d set up camp beside. They’d been lucky in the respect there’d been water close to them during this trip.

  Or maybe it hadn’t been luck. Maybe Malachi had planned this, to stay close to running water. Either way, Sasha was thankful.

  The creek was within view of the tent, which Sasha was also thankful for. Although they’d been traveling with Tree Man for a while now, and she trusted him to a point, she didn’t trust anyone but Malachi with Lucy’s safety.

  She stepped over the little rocks that lined the creek until she was on the other side and now facing the tent. Sasha could see Tree Man and Millie still talking, Millie’s hands moving up and down as she spoke about all the things she missed; ice cream, hot, fresh pizza, and those little circular pieces of ice in her drink when she went to restaurants.

  Sasha focused on the water and scooped some up, splashing her face and running her hands over her neck and nape. It felt good, cleansing. She’d grabbed a small rag before she left the tent and dipped it into the water to clean under her arms, her upper chest, her breast, and her stomach. She worked around her clothes instead of just taking them off, still so shy of her nudity.

  And wasn’t that a little bit silly? Wasn’t it kind of crazy that she was shy about her nudity when her main focus these days should just be about surviving?

  She looked down at the rag, well, the scrap piece of material she’d torn off a shirt that had a few too many holes in it. She soaked it in the water and wrung it out, then placed on the back of her neck, just sitting on a rock and closing her eyes, letting the coolness move through her body.

  Sasha’s stomach growled, despite the fact they’d shared some beans, canned pears, and the rabbit Malachi had hunted and cooked over the fire. But she’d given half of her rations of Lucy, knowing her sister needed it more than she did.

  The sound of a twig snapping behind her had Sasha standing and looking over her shoulder, her heart racing. The dark figure that strode through the woods toward her looked intimidating, but she could see right away it was Malachi.

  She relaxed and exhaled slowly the closer he came. He was tall and lean, the T-shirt he wore as dark as the night that surrounded them, his muscles toned, the two rabbits he held in his hand lifeless. He stopped by the creek and just stared at her, then set the rabbits down and crouched so he could wash his hands in the water.

  He cleaned off his face and neck, beads dripping from his beard. The longer she started him, the more she felt that familiar heat move through her.

  Ever since back at the dentist’s office when she’d given herself to him, all she wanted was to be with Malachi again.

  Sasha glanced at the tent, could still see Millie and Tree Man talking animatedly. When she faced Malachi again, she saw that he was standing just a couple feet from her now, his focus trained right on her, the shadows obscuring him even more.

  He took another step forward and she took one back. They did the dance of movements until she felt a tree stop her retreat. She reached behind her and curled her fingers against the bark, the texture rough yet calming all in the same breath.

  He stopped and placed his hands on the trunk beside her head, leaning closely so she was forced to tip her head back to really look at him.

  “I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Sasha,” he said in his gruff, deep voice, the one that always had her aroused instantly.

  “Me too,” she whispered and looked at his mouth, wanting his kiss, wanting … everything. “Take me, Malachi,” Sasha whispered. “I need you. I’ve needed you since I first saw you.” The truth spilled out of her.

  “You want me, baby?” His voice was a deep rumble that had chills racing up her body.

  All she could do was nod.

  “Then you’ll get all of me.” And then he had his mouth on her lips and had his body pressed against hers.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Stolen moments

  Malachi knew he should be back at camp, watching Lucy, keeping a protective eye on everyone, but instead he wanted to be with this amazing woman, and the only way to do that was to be with her here.

  “Tell me you want me,” he said.

  “I want you, Malachi.”

  “You want my cock inside you?”

  “Yes.”

  He cupped her cheek and took possession of her lips. He
was so damn hungry for her that he bit her lip to deepen the kiss. He needed her so badly. His dick was already rock hard and ready.

  Screw the risk of pregnancy.

  He didn’t care.

  All he knew was he had to have her. Breaking from her lips, he trailed them down to her neck, biting down, sucking on her pulse. He heard her moan and thrash against him just a little, and it was intoxicating to him.

  “Fuck, you feel so good,” he said.

  “Please, Malachi,” she said.

  “What do you want?”

  “Everything.”

  He let go of her cheek, sliding his hands down her body, cupping her tit, feeling the weight in his palm. She was so amazing to touch, to hold, to fuck. He couldn’t get enough of her.

  Running his hands down her body, he let out a little growl of appreciation. Pressing both of her tits together, he trailed his tongue from her neck down to her puckered nipples. They were calling to him to be sucked, licked, and tasted.

  This could possibly be the last time they were together until they made camp, and he wanted to take advantage of every single moment.

  “Please, Malachi.”

  Her thighs were pressed together. She was struggling to keep herself in check.

  He knew what she wanted.

  Letting go of her tits, he teased down her body, stroking across her legs, and ignoring her pussy.

  “Please,” she begged again.

  He loved hearing the sound of her pleas.

  And before anything else could be said, could be done, they were tearing at each other’s clothing until fabric rendering echoed through the air.

  Sinking to his knees on the ground in front of her, he spread her legs and stared up at her. “You better watch me. Don’t look away. Don’t close your eyes. Your gaze has to be on me at all times.”

  She nodded, her gaze looking almost wild as she did.

  Stroking through the fine hairs of her pussy, he slid them open and ran his tongue across her swollen clit. She gasped and he took the bud between his teeth, creating just enough pain for it to be almost unbearable, but not enough to make her come. The fine line between pleasure and pain that he couldn’t wait to explore more of with her.

  When he saw she was close to the edge, he used his tongue to stroke her, flicking back and forth, taking her close to the edge of bliss but not letting her fall over.

  Her hands were clenched at her thighs, but he didn’t want her to come without his cock deep within her.

  Getting to his feet, he saw how upset she was. “I know you want to come and don’t worry, I’m going to let you come but I’m going to feel every single ripple.” He lifted her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Bracing her against the tree, he reached between them and lined the tip of his cock to her entrance.

  Staring into her eyes, he felt her sink onto him, inch by glorious inch until he was deep inside her.

  For several seconds he didn’t move, just basked in the feel of her rippling pussy. She was … everything.

  He couldn’t believe he’d waited so long to claim her. He’d never felt this way about anyone and deep down, he knew this wasn’t because of the world turning to chaos. His feelings for her were true.

  She was more than just a woman to him.

  She was his very reason for existing.

  There was only so much he could fight and Sasha gave him a reason to keep on fighting, to keep on trying. To do everything they could to stay together and to make a life with each other.

  Slowly, he lifted her up on his cock until only the tip remained and brought her back down.

  She moaned.

  “How does it feel?” he asked.

  She was still so new to sex and he didn’t want her to hurt.

  “Please, don’t stop. I love it. I don’t want you to stop. Please.”

  “You don’t have to beg me.” He gripped her ass and began to fuck her as best he could against the tree without hurting her.

  Taking possession of her lips, he bit down, growling as she kissed him back. Her nails sank into his flesh as she scored his back with the passion building within her. He was so close already, he felt like a fucking teenage boy. But he didn’t want to come without feeling her reach her peak first.

  Sliding his hand between them, he found her pussy and continued to kiss her as he played with her. She was so close as she gasped, cried his name, and when she came, her pussy was like a vice wrapped around his length and he didn’t have a single problem with that.

  “Fuck,” he said.

  Holding on to her hips, he pounded inside her, fucking her harder, finding the peak of his own orgasm.

  He didn’t pull out, even though he probably should have, but as he came, he pushed deep inside her, making her take every single drop.

  Afterward, he wrapped his arms around her and collapsed onto the ground, keeping her close.

  “I don’t want to let you go,” he said.

  “Then don’t. I don’t want to go anywhere,” she said. “So long as I’ve got you and Lucy, I don’t need anything else.”

  She held him tightly and her body shook.

  “Malachi,” she said.

  “Yeah.”

  “I don’t want you to freak out but I have something I have to tell you.”

  “Then tell me.”

  “I think I’m falling in love with you too.”

  Malachi smiled. “Why would that freak me out?”

  “I don’t know. We just had sex in the forest up against the tree, with a potential army chasing after us. We’re heading up to a camp we know nothing about, and well, I’m scared.”

  He pulled away so he could look into her eyes. “I know it all sounds overwhelming and scary, but so long as I’ve got you, I know we can handle everything that is thrown at us. If this camp up north isn’t right for us, we’ll leave, and we’ll try it your way. What we’re doing is trying to make sure that we can all survive this and attempt to live a life together.”

  “I know why we’re doing it,” she said. “I just … trusting people is hard right now. A place we can all be together and happy, it seems too good to be real.”

  “I know.” He pulled her down and kissed her. “I could stay with you like this for the rest of my life.”

  “We’re going to have to get dressed and head back to camp.”

  He saw the pout on her lips. “I know. One night, I’m going to have you and a bed, and you’re not going to be leaving it for a really, really long time.”

  “That sounds like a promise.”

  “It’s more than a promise, baby. It is a plan.” He pulled her close, kissing her hard. The temptation to say fuck it and just have her again was strong. Would it be so bad? He knew it wouldn’t be bad to have her again, but her sister, Tree Man, and Millie were all counting on him.

  He had to lead them, take care of them, even if he didn’t want to.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  And then there was hope

  The day was an especially hot one, and as they trudged through the forest, sweat beading on Sasha’s brow, her feet aching, and exhaustion settling in, she kept telling herself to keep moving. That’s all they could do at this point.

  Millie had grown quiet over the last hour, and it was clear she felt the weight of their trip as well. For days, they’d been on the move, heading up north, farther from the camp and the dangers that followed them. And hope was thick in Sasha.

  With no issues for days now, no one following, no threat of an attack, the prospect of getting closer to a safe place they could call home became a heavier presence in her. In them all.

  And then Malachi stopped, raising his hand for them to do the same. According to the map, they should’ve been coming up to the edge of the lake. Sasha knew nothing about wildlife or mountains, or anything like that. She didn’t even know how all of this would work. But what she did know was that she trusted Malachi with her life. With Lucy’s.

  Although going in a
straight shot would’ve been a lot faster, even with the dangers of the camp, she was glad Malachi had taken the lead and that they’d taken the long way. Sasha would rather be tired and sore than dead.

  Malachi started walking again and they all followed. She took Lucy’s hand and squeezed it in comfort.

  Malachi turned and everyone stopped again. “We’ve reached the lake’s edge. I’d say another day’s trek without stopping and we should reach the safe zone, or the area where it should be.”

  Instant relief filled Sasha, but she didn’t let that consume her. She didn’t want to be fully happy, as they weren’t there yet. Because anything could happen.

  “We can camp for the night, and start again early in the morning. It’s a straight shot until we get there.” He looked at each of them. “Everyone think they can handle one more full day of walking?” There was a collective murmur of agreement.

  They started moving again, the time seeming to mesh together as Tree Man told one of his stories. It didn’t make any sense, but it was entertaining, and that’s all that mattered.

  Lucy chuckled at the change of Tree Man’s voice during certain parts of the story, how he’d make it sound exciting and dangerous, scary and lighthearted. That was the thing about Tree Man. He might’ve been insane, but he helped to keep Lucy’s mind off other things, and that’s all that mattered to Sasha.

  She was starting to trust him, not like she trusted Malachi, of course, but in the way that she knew he wouldn’t hurt them, that he’d even protect them if need be.

  They walked for a while more, then stopped for the night to set up camp, the sun starting to set. She helped Malachi pitch the tents they had while Tree Man and Millie started a fire. Lucy sat off to the side on a fallen log, a couple of twigs in her hand and some twine she’d found on their long trip. She was making little sculptures out of them, little people. She hummed while she did it and Sasha was glad she’d found something to occupy her time.