Page 19 of Her Shadow

“It’s like hell on earth sometimes, isn’t it? I know I go on about how great it is here at Fort Haven, but half the time, I’m trying to convince myself. I didn’t help my own mom and dad. Can you even believe that?”

“Shhhh,” Sam said quietly, stroking away the tears running down Kara’s cheeks. “You’re making yourself upset. We’ve all been through it. Who’s come out of all this with their families intact? My bet is nobody. Everyone’s lost someone. The whole of civilization has collapsed, honey. Who isn’t emotionally or physically scarred?”

Kara opened her eyes and stared at the worn floorboards beneath her. The memories of the outbreak, the day it had all happened, flooded her mind and started playing on a loop—running, bleeding, hearing the screams of her parents, friends, and neighbors as they fell one by one. She could still hear the sounds of their voices, the desperation in their final moments.

“I was supposed to protect them,” she said, her voice trembling. “I was supposed to get them out of there. And I didn’t. I let them down, Sam. I couldn’t even put them out of their misery when they turned.”

Sam’s hands slid up to cup Kara’s face, tilting her head gently until their eyes met. Kara’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the raw emotion in Sam’s gaze—compassion, understanding, but also something stronger. Something unbreakable.

“You didn’t let anyone down. You’re talking about the first day! You weren’t who you are today,” Sam said, her voice firm but gentle. “You fought to keep yourself alive, and who could ask you for anything more than that? It’s what your parents would have wanted.”

Kara leaned back slightly, wiping her eyes, shifting into a more comfortable position. “I can’t remember why we’re down here on the floor. Can you?”

“I think you wanted to make out with me or something like that,” Sam laughed. She reached up, cupping Kara’s face in her hands, her fingers brushing over her cheeks. “Thank you for communicating with me,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“For what? For wanting to make out with you?”

Sam’s smile was soft and genuine, her hands still resting on Kara’s waist. “Absolutely. You’re hot when you’re mad.”

Kara pressed her lips to Sam’s in a soft, lingering kiss. Sam’s hands slid up to Kara’s back, pulling her closer as their lips moved together in a slow and deliberate motion.

Kara’s fingers tangled in Sam’s hair, pulling her closer as their breaths quickened, the soft sounds of their lips smackingtogether turning her on more and more by the second. She traced the lines of Sam’s face, memorizing every curve.

“Take your clothes off. I want to see you,” Sam whispered.

Kara smiled as she started to unbutton her jeans. Anticipation thrummed through her veins, andshe couldn’t help but ache for what was to come. The heat between them had her body pulsing with pure desire. She wanted to feel Sam's hands on her— and in her—exploring, claiming. Every touch from Sam ignited something deeper in her, a desire she hadn't let herself fully embrace until now. Wetness built between her legs, her body practically begging for Sam to take control, to make her forget everything but the two of them. She wanted Sam to possess her completely, to make her surrender to the raw, urgent need between them.

“I need you to fuck me so hard that I forget about everything,” Kara whispered as she hastily removed her jeans.

Sam smiled at her, getting on top and pressing her body deeply onto Kara. Her lips made their way to her mouth. Their tongues entwined, rolling around in circles.

Sam’s hand slipped in between Kara’s legs. They parted instantly, exposing her hot wet folds. Two fingers slid inside with ease, thrusting harder and deeper. Fucking her as hard as she could. The gushing wetness dripped down to the floor.

“I need more of you. I want you to fill me up,” Kara moaned.

Sam adored how she moaned. Without another word, Sam pushed in a third finger, curling them up as she continued to fuck her harder and harder into the wooden floor.

The weight of her past still lingered in the back of her mind, but it was fading. Sam was here. She was solid and real. Kara felt safe.

8

SAM

“Come on in,” said Laeticia. “This way. Find a seat. Welcome to our council.”

Council? Seriously? This is all a bit much, isn’t it?

The stale air inside Fort Haven’s makeshift council chamber felt heavy.

“Jesus, Kara. What is this all about? Have we travelled back to the 1800s?” Sam muttered under her breath as her thumb rubbed against Kara’s palm.

Sam could feel the oppressive weight of suspicion pressed against her chest as she took a seat. All eyes in the room seemed to be on her. But she straightened her spine. Laeticia, otherwise known asthe captain, and the other so-calledcouncil membersappeared hardened. It certainly wasn’t what you’d call a warm welcome. But maybe they had a good reason. In this new world, trust was a scarce commodity. As scarce as food or water. And perhaps Sam hadn’t made the best first impression. But she also knew that if Fort Haven didn’t evolveor change the way they thought about the outside world, and the infected,everything they’d built would come crashing down. No fortress was impenetrable.

Sitting next to her, Kara exuded a quiet calm. Sam could sense her partner’s support like a steady pulse and felt grateful for it. The certainty of Kara’s closeness, her warmth in a world so cold, still felt strange. They had shared a great deal recently, and Sam was far from used to such a level of support. But today, this wasn’t about them. It was where they lived.

“So, I hear you’re a killer. Everything eventually gets back to me,” stated Laeticia in a cool, stern voice as she made direct eye contact with Sam.

“Oh, right? Riley, I imagine,” responded Sam with a confidence that surprised even herself.

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