Love at the End of the World Read online

  “I’ll see you inside,” she said, exiting the small confines of the camper quickly.

  The practical side of her brain told her she shouldn’t have kissed him, but the pleasure side of her psyche knew it wouldn’t take much to do it again. Hell, one little urge and she’d be crawling into his bed for a night of much needed sex.

  Still, she knew she had to be cautious. Keep her wits intact. The last thing she wanted to do was fall for the man, because the apocalypse wasn’t a place where happy ever after was a guarantee.

  Chapter 6

  They spent the rest of the afternoon turning the vacation lodge into a habitable space. Casey concentrated upstairs, cleaning the bedrooms and finding clothes in the closets and drawers, although most of it was designed for winter weather. Jo dusted the downstairs, opening the doors to let the fresh air circulate and chase the musty smell away.

  Once upon a time, she wouldn’t have minded owning a cabin just like this one. Someplace cozy with a significant other in front of the fireplace, making love and cuddling afterward. Luke immediately came to mind, and she pushed that thought aside as she moved into the kitchen to survey what food was on hand. She was old enough and honest enough with herself to admit that she wanted him. In fact, she figured sex was inevitable. Two grown people wanting to find comfort in each other’s arms wasn’t that unusual or uncommon.

  But she had to remind herself that she would absolutely not fall in love with the man. She had an end game in mind, a destination, to find a place that was safe for women, and she was determined to find it. Her past still lingered on her psyche, as well as the bitterness and heartbreak that type of life gave. It wasn’t that she was misandristic, but she knew how men took without thought, and she wanted no part of reliving that life.

  Maybe she should ask Casey if she wanted to go with her. Lord knew, being alone out here in the world wasn’t the safest place for females. Would Luke let his daughter go?

  Despite her warning to take it easy, Luke went to the shed and got the generator and water heater working. It might have been against her wishes, but she had to admit that having hot water to wash was heavenly. When evening finally came, a sense of accomplishment had descended. They all sat down at the table, with hot food on actual dishes, silverware on napkins, and glasses with water in them. The place settings gave the illusion that they were a normal family.

  “Wow,” Casey said, eyes wide. “It’s been a long time since this has happened.”

  “I know what you mean,” Luke replied as he reached for some corn. “This cabin is the answer to our prayers. Electricity, hot water, and food. What more could a person ask for?”

  “A functioning society,” Jo said dryly.

  Luke shrugged. “When in Rome...”

  They ate in silence, eating the vegetables and canned meat Jo had come across in the cupboard. She’d fried it up with some canned potatoes, and it tasted like a delicate feast.

  “I’ll wash up,” Casey announced after they’d eaten everything.

  “You sure?” Jo asked.

  “You cooked, I can clean.”

  Jo smiled at her. “Thanks, Casey.”

  “Shall we retire to the den?” Luke asked, then snickered. “We sound like fucking royalty.”

  “I can’t imagine royalty feeling this great,” Jo replied, patting her belly. “Let’s make sure all the windows are covered and the doors are locked. I’m exhausted.”

  After making sure they were secure, Luke glanced at the kitchen before pulling Jo into his arms.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  “I’ve been thinking about our kisses all day,” he murmured. “Don’t tell me you haven’t.”

  She took a deep breath. “I have.”

  “Why does that sound like you regret it?”

  She cupped his face. “I don’t. But Casey can walk in any minute.”

  “Join me in my bedroom tonight. After she goes to sleep.”

  It never even occurred to her to say no. She wanted him. Why deny herself a moment of blissful passion? In this world, it was difficult to find someone to trust, let alone trust enough to share her body.

  “All right,” she said.

  He grinned and leaned down to give her a quick kiss. Casey walked in at that moment, paused as she took them in, and with a level of dignity she was far from feeling, Jo disentangled herself from Luke.

  “It’s cool,” Casey said with a wave of her hand. “You’re both old, so I’m assuming I don’t need to talk about birth control.”

  Jo laughed.

  “Old?” Luke growled. “I’m only forty-five.”

  “Yeah,” Casey said, grinning. “But in dog years you’re dead.”

  * * * *

  Jo sat on the edge of the bed in the room she confiscated for her own and towel-dried her hair. She stared at the door and waited, mentally ticking off the minutes before she thought it prudent to join Luke in his room.

  After Casey had cleaned up in the kitchen, Jo had found a deck of cards and they’d played Go Fish until Luke had faked a yawn. Casey had winked at her before saying goodnight and heading to her bedroom.

  An hour had passed, and Jo had taken advantage of the wait to wash her hair and relax. It had been a long time since she’d been able to let down her guard. Even sleeping in the haven sanctuaries she’d had to keep one eye open. Just in case had become her mantra over the past year.

  Walking silently, she left her room and headed toward Luke’s. As if he knew she was there, he opened the door and held out his hand. She took a deep breath, placed her hand in his, and he pulled her inside, closing the door.

  No words were needed. Their lips met, an equal hunger that consumed them both. She was mindful of his wounds, so when he led her to the bed, she paused and placed a finger on his mouth. Then she proceeded to undress him, first helping him with his shirt and then unzipping his jeans. His body was big, all hard muscles over smooth skin.

  His cock jutted proudly, and she couldn’t help but trace the lines and contours, learning how it responded to her touch. She captured some of his pre-come with a finger and brought it to her lips, tasting him.

  “Lay down,” she ordered softly.

  He took care to scoot on the bed and she undressed before pretend-stalking him. She straddled his hips, the position bringing her breasts in direct line with his mouth. He accepted the invitation and his lips and teeth began a delicious torment, sucking on each nipple until they stood raw and turgid. Her nipples were her erogenous zone, and it made her ache for more.

  He buried his hand in her short hair, gathering enough of the strands to tilt her head back. The grab did not cause pain but it allowed him better access to nibble his way up her neck, licking over the tiny bites he took along the way until his mouth met hers. His tongue swept in to duel with hers, as if he were trying to exert some type of dominance, but for once, Jo was more than happy to surrender to such bliss.

  He trailed his fingers over her tummy and then across her thighs to find the warm wetness. Jo shuddered as he explored deeper to find her special spot. Her hips rocked and she could feel his hard cock pressing against her, wanting inside, while he teased her clit.

  “I don’t have condoms,” he said in a raspy voice.

  “I can’t get pregnant,” she said. “Hysterectomy years ago.”

  “I’m clean.”

  “Figured you would be. So am I.”

  She raised herself up a little, just enough to position his cock at her entrance. Excitement gripped her stomach as she sank down, her pussy practically grabbing and pulling him inside. He held her still for a moment, to allow her to adjust to his girth, before his hands urged her to move. Back and forth, very tenderly and slowly, until her passageway eased.

  Needing to move, she rocked her hips. Luke made a moaning-hissing noise that she took as a good sign, so she ground against him again and leaned over to nip his earlobe. Slowly, their tempo increased, the pleasure building quickly. In and out they hammer
ed each other, and Jo wasn’t sure if it was him who was out of control or her; all she knew was how incredible it felt to be with him.

  “Ah, Luke,” she breathed just as her climax hit, coursing through her body with exquisite pleasure.

  “Jo,” he gasped, and his body surged against hers, shuddering with each spill inside her. After a moment, he relaxed back down, pulling her body with him. She could feel both their hearts beating frantically, in tune with one another.

  There was a brief thought that she should move and go back to her own room, but a euphoric languor stole into her limbs and she closed her eyes, succumbing to slumber.

  Chapter 7

  Consciousness came back to Jo in an instant, and she opened her eyes, blinking rapidly in the dim light to focus. Had the curtains not been drawn, the sunlight would no doubt have woken her up earlier, so all she could do now was hope Luke still slept and stayed that way until she was out of his room. Luckily, she’d had some practice sneaking out of men’s beds due to her inability to trust long enough to form a lasting relationship with anyone. She didn’t have that many one-night stands, but when the need for company hit her, she liked to keep things short and sweet.

  Once she was safely out of his room, she hurried to her own bedroom, doing the dash of shame just in case Casey decided to appear. Good fortune was on her side, and while father and daughter slept, Jo decided to do a little reconnaissance of the nearby homes to see if supplies could be found. From the way Greenway, Idaho looked, Jo guessed most people had simply left, probably deciding that finding a cure in the cities would be best.

  Through her travels she’d met many people who had confessed they’d left their homes for that reason, but little did they realize that the exact opposite had been a better option. Less people meant less panic. Panicked people did horrible things.

  She took a few minutes to clean herself, and as she slid the washcloth over her tender vagina she mentally cursed herself for allowing him to come inside her. Although she’d told him the truth, that pregnancy was off the table and she had no STD, judgments made in the heat of passion rarely were a good idea. They usually held a consequence, and Jo hoped that none would come back to bite her in the ass.

  With her gun fully loaded and secured at her ankle, she slipped her butterfly knife into her pocket, ready for anything. She left the cabin quietly and headed down the road. They’d passed by a few nicer homes and she wanted to check them out first. The walking she was used to, and the slight breeze through the trees calmed her. She breathed deep, inhaling the unique smell of the mountains, earthy yet sweet. She had lived all her life in the city, surrounded by smog and noise, not even realizing how oppressive that environment had been.

  The walk gave her the opportunity to let her mind wander, and of course, it went right back to the man she’d left sleeping in bed. The question she had was if or when she should say goodbye to Luke. Mostly when, because of course she had to say goodbye to him. They didn’t even know each other, and having sex didn’t really count.

  She wanted to make sure Luke’s stitches were out before she left him, so that meant about six or seven days, providing he stopped moving around so much. Had the stitches been in his chest or back, it would’ve taken longer since those muscles never really rested because of the in and out motion made when breathing.

  Or she could simply teach Casey how to remove stitches and she could leave immediately. All she’d have to do was find a vehicle, preferably one with good gas mileage, and head back toward the interstate. She could continue her quest to find that all-women’s sanctuary.

  The idea should have filled her with a renewed sense of purpose, but instead, her heart pained a little at the mental picture of having Luke in her rearview mirror. Damn him for being such a nice guy!

  A large, beautiful house stopped her train of disturbing thoughts. She remembered passing this place yesterday when she’d vetoed it because of the huge windows that graced the front of it. Too much glass to cover during the night. She approached the front door, and much to her surprise, it was unlocked.

  Entering warily, she glanced inside, making sure there wasn’t anyone waiting to pounce. She whistled, and when no one came running, she figured whoever left just didn’t care if the door was locked or not. Closing it behind her, she marveled at the grandiose beauty of the interior. Vaulted ceilings, crown molding...the owners had spent a pretty penny on a home they eventually abandoned.

  Shaking her head with sadness, she headed for the modern, state-of-the-art kitchen. Canned goods were scarce in the cupboards, but she collected a few items and then headed up the curving banister to the second floor.

  As neat and sparse as the downstairs had been, the upstairs looked like a tornado tore through the rooms. Clothes strewn about, bedsheets pulled off mattresses, paraphernalia tossed here and there. Jo figured whatever good stuff might have been there once was already picked clean.

  Then she heard the front door swish open, faint but unmistakable. Remembering what had happened the day before, Jo pulled the gun from its holster, waiting to hear any more noise. Soft footsteps tread across the living room carpet, muffled but easy enough to track. Following her own path, they went to the kitchen first before coming up the stairs.

  Jo flattened against the wall and braced herself. As soon as the footsteps drew close enough, Jo swung out with her gun pointed. Casey screamed, jumped back, and held her hands in the air.

  “Jesus fucking Christ, Casey!” Jo yelled. “I could’ve shot you!”

  “I’m sorry!” Casey cried. “I just… You left, and I… I was afraid you were going to leave leave.”

  “So you followed me?”

  “When I saw you come in this house I realized you were just scavenging,” Casey explained. “Without me.”

  Jo sighed. “I needed time to think.”

  “About what?”

  “About…things.”

  “Like my dad?”

  Jo shook her head. “I’m not going there with you.”

  Casey bit her bottom lip. “But you slept with him last night.”

  For the first time in a very long time, Jo didn’t know what to say, and on top of that was the urge to squirm away as quickly as possible. Usually she wasn’t uncomfortable talking about her sex life, but she’d never had a teenage daughter of the man she’d just had an intimate moment with staring her down.

  She opened her mouth to try to form some type of rebuttal, but at that moment the front door opened again and two male voices echoed through the house, clearly arguing with each other. Jo put her finger up to her mouth, urging Casey to stay silent. The girl nodded her head in understanding.

  “If we’re going to choose any, this is the one I want.”

  “How do we know it’s deserted?”

  “Will you just chill out? Damn it, Kyle, this doesn’t have to be complicated!”

  “People are depending on us, Tyler.”

  “You think I actually forgot why we’re here? Come on, look at this place. It’s a dream come true. And there’s a basement! I bet it’s a mancave filled with mancave items.”

  “Like what? A huge flatscreen that’s completely worthless?”

  “Sometimes you’re such a sour puss. Come on, I bet it has games and darts and…”

  When the voices faded somewhat, Jo grabbed Casey’s hand and led her back downstairs. She looked around the corner to make sure Kyle and Tyler weren’t there before hurrying outside. Jo quickly assessed the situation, noticing a hybrid car of all things, but not the other people Kyle had spoken of.

  “Follow me,” Jo said. “Over here.”

  She ran across the road and darted behind a tree, with Casey hot on her heels. Jo held the gun up and watched the front of the house.

  “What are we doing?” Casey asked.

  “We’re making sure that Kyle and Tyler don’t head to our cabin,” she replied softly.

  Casey blinked once, glancing from her gun to the house and back again. “You’re going
to shoot them?”

  “Only if they give me a reason to.”

  “I thought you were a nurse. Don’t you have to take a humanitarian oath or something?”

  “You mean the Hippocratic Oath, and for nurses it’s called the Nightingale Pledge.”

  “To do no harm, right?”

  “That world is gone, Casey.”

  “But these two men aren’t like the men in Helena.”

  “If you put them in the right situation, all men are capable of wicked and awful things,” Jo said firmly. She really hated to be the person who crushed Casey’s rose-glasses view of the world.

  “Not my dad.”

  Jo didn’t remind her of the savage way her father had killed the last man who had tried to abduct her. Perhaps Casey hadn’t seen what he’d done with the hammer, but she couldn’t have missed the blood splatter that had covered him. Or the way brain matter had clung to the iron head.

  “Always protect yourself, even if you don’t like how that may be accomplished,” she said instead. “If you put your faith in other people, they’ll always let you down.”

  “Is that lesson one of the apocalypse?”

  Jo threw her an exasperated look. “Lesson one in life.”

  “Do you dislike everyone or only men?” Casey asked. “Because I thought you liked me and my dad.”

  “Of course I don’t dislike you or your dad,” Jo said, with a bit of exasperation leaking out of her tone. “I just don’t trust people in this world.”

  “You trusted me, otherwise you wouldn’t have rescued me.”

  Jo had to give her credit for that one. “All right,” she amended. “I don’t trust easily.”

  At that moment the two men came out of the house, each carrying an armload of clothes, no doubt from the ramshackled bedrooms upstairs. Jo was glad she had gotten Casey out of there when she did. She waited for the men to make the decision of where they were going next, because their next move determined their fate.