“Is it our anniversary or something? Are we gonna celebrate every few months by jumping through a window together?” Nick asked. Kate suppressed a laugh.
“Shut up, and look at the stars with me.”
Nick wrapped his arm around her shoulder and lifted his head to the sky.
“Nick, do you think if the disease hadn’t happened, we would still be together?” Kate asked. Nick's brows furrowed at her question. He did not need to consider it to know the answer. The chances of them ending up together would have been nonexistent. Nick had no way of knowing how their story would have played out, but Kate would likely still be locked in a cage, enduring her captor’s torture.
And Nick? Nick had been so close to taking his own life, recalling the mental preparation he had undergone just before the disease broke out. He had been working through the escape routes, deciding which method would inflict the least amount of pain. Sometimes, the more agonizing ways seemed the best option as Nick felt he deserved every ounce of hurt.
The stars sparkled in her eyes. The way she gazed at the night sky told him that she was not looking for a logical answer. Kate was enjoying a moment of respite in the company of someone she cared for, and she wanted beautiful words to fill the silence.
“I think our souls were always tethered together. Our lives on this earth were destined to end so that we could unite in the afterlife. Except somehow, the world worked itself out so that we could enjoy each other in this life, on this mortal plane.”
Kate cut Nick a sideways glance before bursting into laughter.
“That’s the cheesiest shit I have ever heard.”
“Hey, you can’t prove it’s not true,” Nick laughed and pulled Kate closer. “As fucked up and selfish as it might sound, despite all the death and disease and horrible things this world hasbecome, I’m thankful for it. I just wish I could give you a real life.”
“What’s more real than this life we’re living? We live in a world with zero consequences. Either of us, at any turn, could’ve run or killed each other or moved on and started a new life. But we’re here. Together. Fighting just to be alive. If that doesn’t make this a life worth living, I don’t know what does.”
Nick kissed the top of Kate’s head. “It is definitely worth it.”
After a while, the chill of the night air overwhelmed them. They climbed back through the bathroom window, Loko lifting his head only a moment before closing his sleepy eyes once more.
“If we were together in a world different from this one, I would marry the shit out of you,” Nick said. Kate had been about to climb into the bed, and she paused, turning to face him. She rested her arms on his shoulders, locking her eyes with his.
“Oh, yeah? How hard would you marry me?” Kate asked. Storms danced in her eyes. Instead of seething rage or nervous fear, Nick saw a lightning strike of desire. Clouds of lust rained down on her features, and a gale of temptation nearly knocked Nick off of his feet. His eyes darkened, and he took hold of her waist, moving his lips slowly across her cheek until his warm breath reached her ear.
“I’d marry you so hard it would attract every Infected in the tri-state area to our location.” Nick’s low tone and the need in his voice ignited an ache in Kate that threatened to destroy her from the inside out.
“Let’s get married now, then.” Kate slid her fingers beneath Nick’s shirt, drinking in the sight of his tattooed skin and brawny stature. She pulled the shirt over his head and braced her hands on his arms of stone. Leaning forward, Kate placed kisses along the middle of his chest. Nick’s eyes rolled back at the soft warmth of her lips.
Kate pulled away from him, shimmying out of her clothes and crawling onto the bed. Her movement roused Loko from the pillows. The dog shot her an annoyed glance and stood up. Nick dropped his clothing onto the floor and placed his hands on the bed, ready to climb in.
Loko took several steps toward him and growled, baring his teeth. Nick paused. Face to face with the angry animal, Nick’s surprise turned to aggravation.
“Seriously?” Nick asked. Kate giggled as the dog maintained his protective stance. “Go! Move!” Nick shouted. The dog only inched closer, its growl deepening. Nick backed away from the bed and crossed his arms. “Sweetheart, can you please order your mangy guard dog to allow me into the bed?”
“Loko, go!” Kate shouted. The lab glanced at her, and his eyes returned to Nick, resuming a gravelly snarl. “Let’s try this.” Kate got up from the bed and gestured for Nick to get in. Nick cast her a wary look before moving onto the bed with caution. Though Loko eyed Nick, he relaxed, and his growls ended. Nick sat up and gestured for Kate to join him. He readied his hands in case Loko lunged at her.
Kate positioned her hands on the mattress, then used her knee to hoist herself onto the bed. Once in, Loko’s tail wagged, and he licked her face, making Kate laugh.
“Really, asshole?” Nick groaned. Kate climbed on top of Nick, her legs straddling his waist, and pressed her center against his.
Their body heat collided into a night of sweat, pleasure, and desire. Once Kate’s screams reached a maximum volume, Nick had to lure Loko from the room as the animal had taken to barking at them. They spent hours exploring and trusting each other with their bodies. And just as Nick promised, by dawn, the feral scratching and knocking of the Infected surrounded the house. Without the scent of ripe humans, they did not act on a hollow instinct to break in. Rather, they were curious about thesounds and fumbled around to inspect what noisy occurrences lay within.
Kate collapsed beside Nick in the bed, panting and drained. Nick opened the bedroom door to allow Loko back in, being sure to enter the bed before the dog. Loko circled around a few times before curling up at Kate’s feet. After lying apart for a while to cool off, Nick and Kate’s bodies reunited in a clumsy embrace.
“I love you.” Nick kissed the top of Kate’s head as he held her. She smiled against the dark lines of the Viking emblem on his chest.
“I love you more,” Kate whispered as her eyes closed, and she fell into a peaceful sleep.
Nick followed suit, closing his eyes and leaning into the peace falling like a blanket over his world. Even with the sounds of the undead traipsing around the property, he stamped this moment into his mind. It was one he did not want to let go of. The woman of his dreams lay in his arms, numbing him to the nightmare life had become.
The thought of nightmares kicked an unruly barrage of thoughts into Nick’s mind. Phoenix and Ryan were dead, and he had not told Kate a word of it. The news of their demise was going to crush her, and she would probably hate Nick for not telling her sooner. He guessed he had been waiting for the right time, and there never seemed to be one.
Nick drew in a deep breath, inhaling the scent of Kate’s hair and gripping her body close. Their conversation from hours ago reminded him that their night spent together recreated wedlock in that strange way the new world had about reshaping societal norms. If tonight had been their wedding night, then this would be considered their honeymoon. A groom would be remiss to deliver bad news to his bride during their honeymoon. First thing when they awoke, Nick would tell her that their friends were no more. Until then, he would savor Kate’s arms wrappedaround him. He would allow the sweet sound of her blissful breaths to lull him to sleep, letting reality wait to slither its intrusive tendrils around them until later.
