Page 7 of The Last of Love

But as quickly as it happened, Lena jerked back. “I’m sorry. I don’t?—”

Before she could finish, Fleur reached up, grabbed the back of Lena’s neck, and kissed her again. This time it was deliberate, hungry. Fleur bit Lena’s lip, and the heat between them grew,their breaths mingling as they lost themselves in the moment. The world outside, the zombies, the danger, all of it faded. Lena's hands moved with an urgency she hadn’t felt in a long time, pulling Fleur on top of her with a need that bordered on desperation. Their bodies pressed together, and Lena felt an intense, primal connection surge through her. She wanted to lose herself in the kiss, to explore every sensation, every whisper of warmth that Fleur’s body provided. The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more animalistic, as though they were trying to merge into one entity.

Fleur’s fingers tangled in Lena’s hair, tugging gently as she moaned softly against Lena’s lips. The sound was like a spark igniting Lena’s desire, fueling her need to explore every inch of Fleur. She trailed kisses along Fleur’s neck, feeling the warmth and softness of her skin under her lips. Each touch elicited a shiver from Fleur, her body responding eagerly to Lena’s touch.

Lena’s hands roamed over Fleur’s back, pulling her closer as if she could sink into her. She could feel Fleur’s heartbeat against her own, a steady rhythm that matched the pounding in her chest. It was a beautiful, intoxicating chaos, a dance of passion that Lena didn’t want to end.

The room seemed to disappear around them, leaving only the two of them wrapped in a cocoon of desire. Lena’s kiss was insistent, demanding, and Fleur responded in kind, her own hands gripping Lena’s shoulders as if she were afraid to let go. The intimacy of the moment was overwhelming, and Lena’s mind raced with the intensity of it all. She had never felt so alive, so raw, so entirely connected to another person. She had forgotten this feeling was possible in a world so broken and fucked up.

Lena’s heart was pounding. She knew they were both on the edge of something dangerous, something beautiful and fraught with complications. But right now, in this moment, all she caredabout was the sensation of Fleur’s body against hers, the taste of her lips.

There was no room for hesitation or second-guessing. Only the need to savor this connection. Lena’s hands roamed over Fleur’s body, feeling the heat and softness, and she kissed her deeper, harder. Every part of her was consumed by the need to hold on to this feeling, to keep it from slipping away into the chaos of their world.

But as things intensified, reality crashed back into Lena’s mind. She pulled away, catching her breath. This was too much, too fast. They were on a mission, and things needed to stay professional.

Lena cleared her throat, standing up awkwardly. “We should get some rest. I’ll sleep on the couch, and you can take the bed. I’m sorry—I don’t know what came over me.”

Her head was spinning, an emotional whirlwind that left her breathless and disoriented. She had to be cold. She had to shut this down and protect her heart and the mission ahead. The kiss had opened a door she wasn’t sure she was ready to walk through, exposing a raw, unguarded part of herself that had long been shielded by the harsh realities of their world.

Fleur nodded, her face a mask of composure, as though nothing had just happened. “Oh, okay. Yes that… sounds good. We’ll leave at first light. We’ve got to make up for today’s lost time. I’m sorry too. My head is a… mess.”

Lena forced a smile, trying to shake the tension that lingered between them. “Agreed. Let’s stay focused.”

As Fleur disappeared into the bedroom, Lena lay back on the old, ripped couch, staring at the ceiling. She’d been through hell and back today, but this... this was something she wasn’t sure how to handle.

4

FLEUR

The kiss lingered in Fleur’s mind like a persistent, seductive whisper. Her mind kept going back to the feeling of Lena’s strong arms pushing against her, the firmness of Lena’s grip igniting something primal within her. The way Lena had stared at her, as if looking straight through to her soul, left Fleur breathless. It wasn’t just physical; there was something between them, something electric that left her body humming. She loved the feeling of Lena's weight, the strength of her presence, the way their bodies fit together so naturally. Fleur’s thoughts swirled, replaying that kiss over and over. She could still taste Lena on her lips, the intensity of their connection burning like an imprint on her skin. The hunger she felt hadn’t diminished; it had only grown.

She didn’t want their night to end on just that fleeting moment. Nor did she want to think about the daunting journey ahead. After tossing and turning in her sleeping bag in the old rickety bed, she started replaying their kiss over and over, and decided to take matters into her own hands.

Fleur pushed the door open quietly, hoping Lena was still awake. She was relieved to see that Lena hadn’t drifted offyet. Instead, Lena was sitting up on the couch, reading some old book she’d found lying around, her face etched with deep thought. The sight of Lena looking so lost in her own world made Fleur smile.

Fleur tiptoed to the kitchen, her footsteps barely making a sound on the creaky floor. She wasn’t sure why, but she found herself yearning for a bit of normalcy, even in this chaotic world. She rifled through the cabinets and finally spotted a dusty bottle of red wine. It wasn’t exactly practical in their current situation, but nothing about their world felt practical these days. Sometimes, she thought, you had to cling to the little luxuries just to remind yourself of what life used to be.

She grabbed two glasses, blowing away the dust, their delicate clinking the only sound in the otherwise still cabin, and fished out a corkscrew from a drawer. The old, heavy bottle seemed almost out of place among the rustic surroundings. Fleur paused for a moment, her fingers tracing the label as she contemplated the comfort it might bring.

Lena was still lost in thought as Fleur made her way back to the living room. As she approached Lena, Fleur noticed how her presence startled her.

“Hope I didn’t scare you,” Fleur teased softly as she stepped closer. “I can’t sleep.”

Lena looked up, her eyes wide and slightly disoriented, as if she had been jolted out of a trance. The flustered look on Lena’s face was almost endearing to Fleur, a stark contrast to the usually cold, business-like demeanor Lena projected.

Fleur sauntered over to the edge of the bed, her smile widening. “You looked like you were a million miles away. Mind if I join you?”

Lena’s cheeks flushed slightly as she fumbled for a response. “Uh, sure. I guess.”

She quietly set the glasses and the bottle on the coffee table. She took a deep breath and opened the bottle with a practiced twist. The pop of the cork was surprisingly loud in the stillness of the room, making her wince slightly. Fleur eased herself onto the couch beside Lena, trying to suppress a grin.

“I hope you like red. It’s all there was. I mean anything you find these days is a win, right?”

“I suppose so. I’m more of a beer person, but I guess I’d say red wine would have to come in second,” Lena admitted with a hint of playfulness.

Fleur raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Good to know. I’m always curious about what people like to drink when they’re not thinking about saving the world or fighting off zombies.”

There was a pause, and a slight tension lingered in the air before Lena asked thoughtfully, “So tell me, what do you miss most about the world before this virus took over?”

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