Page 90 of Waves of Fury

I spend the rest of the afternoon working to earn my keep and don’t end up seeing Kellen or my group until after dinner. Who knew cheap spaghetti and green beans could the best meal I’ve ever eaten? And, the best part, there was plenty of leftover spice cake to go around.

By the time we reach our motel room, I’m stuffed and content.

“Ready for our date?” Kellen asks, smirking at me as we enter our room. “If this weren’t the end of the world, I’d have done something much more impressive.”

The door closes behind me and I take in the space. There are a couple of battery-operated candles flickering on the end table near the bed. Next to the candles, an old battery-operated radio plays music. The beer I’d procured sits beside that.

“How?” I ask, walking over to the sweet sounds of Aerosmith playing from the raspy speaker.

When we checked the car radio a while back, we were met with lots of static and just that one station broadcasting Stovepipe Wells as a safe haven.

“I’m resourceful,” Kellen says, coming up behind me to wrap me in his arms. “While you were out working, I was too. Jared asked me to deliver some meals and medicine to the homebound elderly folks. They were just as eager as Jared to trade information for stuff.” He gestures toward the candles and radio. “One old man had that CD player and a whole case of CDs that belonged to his son who’s now grown and lives in Maryland. Said he was happy for it to go to a good home.”

I turn in Kellen’s arms, resting my head on his shoulder. We both lazily sway to the music, hands teasing at one another.

“This is nice,” I murmur, my lips finding his neck. “It’d be even nicer if you were naked.”

His rich laughter makes me laugh too. Then the two of us are pawing at each other like we’re desperate for this moment.

Wearedesperate for this moment.

Kellen undresses before I do and as soon as my boxers are kicked away, he pushes me onto the bed. His lips meet mine hungrily as he settles his weight on my body. I’m aching for his touch and kisses. We both want…more. So much more.

He’s in no hurry, though. His kisses are eager and passionate, but he teases me with slow thrusts of his hips. He bites at my bottom lip and whispers filthy words that drive me closer and closer to the edge of sanity. Without warning, he pulls back, panting heavily.

“Why’d you stop?” I complain, reaching for him. “Come back to me.”

Kellen’s grin is crooked and almost boyish. “I’m only getting started, Ty. And I’ll keep coming back to you as long as you’ll have me.”

I like that answer.

“I’d wanted this date to be romantic,” he says, smile falling. “Drink a beer or two. Talk. But I can’t seem to keep my hands off you long enough to carry on a conversation.”

“I don’t want beer or to chat right now, Kell, I want you. We can talk later.”

I claw at his shoulders, drawing him closer to me. I need to kiss him. Kellen senses my desires and crashes his lips to mine, desperately—like this might be our one and only time.

I hope to hell it’s not.

After a heated, blissful moment together where we’re both fully satisfied in the end, I bask in his comforting presence, my heart rate finally slowing to a more regular cadence.

“That,” Kellen murmurs against the shell of my ear, “was the single best moment of my entire life. Thank you, Ty. Thank you for being you.”

I revel in his words, letting them soothe over every pain inside and out that I’ve felt since that wave first took my city. Kellen is the light in this dark world. Now that I’ve finally had him so intimately, there’s no way in hell I’ll ever let him go.

This may be a “date” for a fairly new relationship, but I feel one vow thrumming through my veins. It’s animalistic and unstoppable, raging through me like an out-of-control forest fire.

He’s mine. ’Til death do us part.

Unfortunately, in our new world, that could mean as early as tomorrow.

Until then, I’m going to appreciate every damn second with him.

Kellen

It’s been a blissful few days in St. George and I’m hesitant to leave our safe little bubble. I’m not even sure if it’s wise. We’ve finally found someplace to rest without our people dying. Why should we leave?

Knox.

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