Page 24 of Purgatory
“New York... as in The Big Apple... fucking Statue of Liberty, Times Square and all that shit... Are you meaning to tell me you walked fromthatNew York??”
She sighs and takes another turn of the reel.
“Yea...well...I mean, notthecity. When you say you’re from New York everyone instantly assumes New York City but no, I’m from further upstate. But let’s not talk about that. I made it this far and that’s all that matters.” Her gaze returns to where her line disappears beneath the water. Her eyebrows pulling in as she puts all of her focus on that spot.
I replay what she said because I still can’t fully believe it. New York to North Carolina. That’s … well that’s a fucking accomplishment. I’m at a loss for words. That’smonthsof travel. And on foot. Holy shit, how is this girl still alive? And what the fuck made her come all the way down here of all places? How bad has it gotten out there that she had to dothat. I can’t--
“Where, exactly, are we? What lake is this?” She cuts into my inner rant, pointing to the water in front of us. The sudden question is a jolt to my brain after trying to process her... I don’t know what the fuck to call it... migration? It takes me a second or two but then I answer.
“This...” I open my arms to the blue water in front of us, “Is Lake Waccamaw, not too far from Wilmington, if you’re looking for a big city to get your bearings.”
She ponders that for a second, “Not too far off then. It was getting too cold to stay in New York, especially when the power grid went down. No power means no heat and all for the winter. That’s when I thought about heading south to avoid the cold all together. I know, crazy right? The outbreak first started in Georgia so you’d think south would be the last direction I would think to go. But I figured, this long into everything, getting closer to ground zero might be safer? I don’t know if that makes sense but it did to me, at the time.
At first, I was looking towards Virginia but then I realized they still get snow so that idea went away quick. ThenI remembered North Carolina wasn’t too bad when I used to live out this way a long time ago. Eventually, I ended up aiming for Wilmington or better yet, Jacksonville or Fayetteville, bigger towns on the coast. Plus, the military is there so, I don’t know, I was hoping they might have some …" she shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders, “plan...something... anything, you know?”
I nod my head. “Yea, I gotcha.”
I know all too well. But unfortunately, even with the best intentions, the military’s plans were fucked from the start. As soon as word of the disease got out, the bases closed up tighter than a nun’s snatch. No one got in, nothing got out. All it took was one case and it flared up all over the installation. Jax tried to get there after we heard to see if they needed any help but it was too late. There wasn’t anyone left. Not anyone alive anyways. He cut tail and came back here to regroup just as Cole and I arrived. We tried contacting anyone within range of our CB since the phone lines all shit the bed within the first month of this nonsense. Nothing but dead air. We still keep it on, just in case, but it’s been quiet.
“I’d stay clear of there now. It’s been overrun. But, lucky for you, all three of us are prior military so, in a way, you sort of got your wish.”
She perks up at that. “Really? Well, that explains a lot.”
“What do you mean?” Call me intrigued.
“It just makes sense. The way you guys talk to each other. The language you use. How fit you all are. I just thought you guys used to play a lot of Call of Duty and liked to work out, but this is so much better.” She smiles at me. Oh my God that smile. It’s so relaxed and her eyes glitter with something that instantly makes me smile back.
“At your service, ma’am.”In any way that you might need... “And you’re not wrong, we are gym rats and used to playCall of Duty so, once again, not that far off...”
She bites her lip at that and it goes straight to my dick. Do girls know what that does to a guy or is it just a reflex that they subconsciously do because holy shit. Just as I was thinking of a way to inconspicuously rearrange myself, her line bolts.
“There you go!” I yell, pointing to her line.
She yanks up hard and the fight begins. The rod bows but she pulls it in like a champ. Turning the reel once, twice, three times, pull up then again one, two, three, pull. It must be a big one cause the rod is almost bent in half.
“Argh! Hahaha! Help! It's gonna break!” She shouts
I pull myself up onto the boulder right behind her, wrap my arms around her waist and grab the pole with her. “It’s ok. I gotcha.”
God, she smells amazing. Which is funny because she smells like our body wash in the guest bath but, hell, for some reason, that makes it even better. Maybe it’s because she smells like us. Ours.
The pull on the rod forces us to get even closer. Our bodies melding together. My arms around her tightening as her juicy ass presses against me.
Fuck, don’t get a boner now...
After a few more good pulls, out comes the biggest bass I've seen in a while. It has to be close to 20 pounds. And she just caught it.
Ah fuck me, yup, boner.... The girl knows how to fish and it made my dick all kinds of giddy. Like a damn teenager all over again. Alright, gotta be stealthy and rearrange this shit before I poke an eye out...
“Yes! I did it!” She jumps around happier than a seagullwith a french fry. I’ve successfully tamed the beast in my pants and set out to reach for the fish just as she does and end up getting it at the same time. Looking back in my direction she must not have realized I was that close and jerks back, almost losing her balance. Keeping my stance firm, I hold my arm around her and bring her closer to me so that she doesn’t fall. Chest to chest. Her heart is pounding, keeping pace with mine as she looks up into my eyes. My eyes have other plans and decide to take a quick peak at her lips. Those perfect lips that draw my eyes to them like sirens leading sailors to their end. I don’t know if she means to but she returns my look by licking her lips and I am sucked in. Drawn in like a moth to the flame and she is smoldering.
I take a chance and lean down, our breaths intermingling. We’re mere inches apart and I wait a second, giving her time to reject my advance. Thank the fucking stars she stays put and I take my chance, dropping the fishing pole on the shore.
Slowly, I press my lips to hers and it’s everything I didn’t know I wanted. Remember how I said I didn’t know if I believed in love at first sight? Well, fuck that. I can stay right here pressed tight against her and that sinful mouth for the rest of my days and die a happy man. She is perfect. Our lips glide against one another, giving and taking, molding to each other.
Her breath hitches and then, she surprises me, opening up, allowing my tongue to slide against hers and taste her. I take my time but place my hand behind her head, tilting to deepen the kiss and taking full command of it as she wraps her arms around my neck. My hands roam her body, taking extra time on her plump little ass and her gorgeous breasts. She rewards me with a little moan and, that’s it, I'm gone. I hear nothing, see nothing but this woman. My body goes feral as I move to persuade her body to unravel before me. The need toconsume and possess is overpowering.
Our breaths are heavy, panting as we fight for control of each other. The kiss turns into teeth clashing and wild frenzy as my hands descend to the hem of her shirt. I’m aching to rid her of the excessive garment, when the damn fish decides to flop all over the boulder and smacks into our legs, startling us both and almost making us lose our balance all over again. With our chests still heaving with excited breaths, we separate and climb down to the flat ground.
