show.”
She really didn’t care. Her whole body screamed to continue, to feel his touch, the heat of his body. They were supposed to be married after all. But she understood he needed to keep some respect.
“I don’t want us to be that vulnerable. I don’t know what to expect out here. I don’t want you to take your boots off to sleep even. All right?”
How had they gone from kissing to talking about keeping her boots on when she slept? Damn reality. She shifted, rising on her elbows.
“You don’t really think someone will have the balls to attack three armed trucks?”
“Depends on how desperate they are.”
He sat back then, discreetly adjusting himself, which gave her a little thrill at having such an effect on such a controlled man. Then, unexpectedly, he cupped his hand around the back of her head and kissed her, hard and quick, before resuming his position at the back of the truck.
***
The camp in Oregon was more crowded than the one in Washington had been, but still newcomers drew attention, especially those who arrived in a convoy. Aaron kept Eden close, and after they helped unload supplies, they moved through the camp with the National Guardsmen.
“Jodie went out of her way to get us this ride,” he said, his mouth close to her ear as they moved toward the mess hall. “It wouldn’t be good if people started seeing these convoys as regular conveyance.”
She supposed she understood that, but why not, if there was room? It might be a step in getting the country back to normal.
So they ate alone, but Eden’s attention focused on the people milling around them in the mess hall. This place was more organized, it seemed, more strict, but with more people it probably had to be. The portions were smaller, and the food didn’t taste as good as in Washington. Yet the place was packed. What caused some people to move on and some to stay? Did they hope, like she had, that life would return to normal soon, and the camp would be the place to start over? Were they just afraid to go beyond the borders of the camps?
When she finished her meal, she returned the tray as instructed and met Aaron near the door. He linked his fingers with hers and they returned to the truck. Tension ran between her shoulders, and she was fairly certain it came from Aaron’s own caution. He patted her ass as he helped her into the back of the truck and motioned for her to sit toward the front of the vehicle. He gave a last glance over his shoulder before he joined her.
“What is it?” she asked when they were out of the gates.
“Just instinct, but it saved my ass more than once. I got a bad feeling about that place. Glad we’re on our way out.”
Night had fallen while they were eating, and the full stomach and idleness added to her lethargy. He noticed, apparently.
“Go ahead and sleep. I’ll join you in a little while, after we get some distance from this place.”
She climbed up into her nest, reluctant and alone, and wondered if he really would join her.
***
Aaron jolted awake at the alien sound over the rumble of the truck engines and banging of the crates. A sound he hadn’t heard in months. Gunfire?
The truck slammed to a halt, sending Aaron and Eden sliding forward on the blankets. He tightened one arm around her and put his other hand out to brace them before they hit the frame of the cargo bed.
She came awake then, and turned to look at him, but he didn’t have time to explain.
“Stay here, stay down,” he snapped, and slid from their perch to creep toward the opening of the truck.
Another rattle outside had him ducking. Closer this time. He peeked out to see muzzle flashes over a rise. Shit. Automatic weapons. Just from that he could tell they were outnumbered, and he felt outgunned, even though he’d managed to retrieve their guns from the culvert in Tacoma. He fished his automatic out of his pack and checked the magazine, then jolted when Eden slid up to
She really didn’t care. Her whole body screamed to continue, to feel his touch, the heat of his body. They were supposed to be married after all. But she understood he needed to keep some respect.
“I don’t want us to be that vulnerable. I don’t know what to expect out here. I don’t want you to take your boots off to sleep even. All right?”
How had they gone from kissing to talking about keeping her boots on when she slept? Damn reality. She shifted, rising on her elbows.
“You don’t really think someone will have the balls to attack three armed trucks?”
“Depends on how desperate they are.”
He sat back then, discreetly adjusting himself, which gave her a little thrill at having such an effect on such a controlled man. Then, unexpectedly, he cupped his hand around the back of her head and kissed her, hard and quick, before resuming his position at the back of the truck.
***
The camp in Oregon was more crowded than the one in Washington had been, but still newcomers drew attention, especially those who arrived in a convoy. Aaron kept Eden close, and after they helped unload supplies, they moved through the camp with the National Guardsmen.
“Jodie went out of her way to get us this ride,” he said, his mouth close to her ear as they moved toward the mess hall. “It wouldn’t be good if people started seeing these convoys as regular conveyance.”
She supposed she understood that, but why not, if there was room? It might be a step in getting the country back to normal.
So they ate alone, but Eden’s attention focused on the people milling around them in the mess hall. This place was more organized, it seemed, more strict, but with more people it probably had to be. The portions were smaller, and the food didn’t taste as good as in Washington. Yet the place was packed. What caused some people to move on and some to stay? Did they hope, like she had, that life would return to normal soon, and the camp would be the place to start over? Were they just afraid to go beyond the borders of the camps?
When she finished her meal, she returned the tray as instructed and met Aaron near the door. He linked his fingers with hers and they returned to the truck. Tension ran between her shoulders, and she was fairly certain it came from Aaron’s own caution. He patted her ass as he helped her into the back of the truck and motioned for her to sit toward the front of the vehicle. He gave a last glance over his shoulder before he joined her.
“What is it?” she asked when they were out of the gates.
“Just instinct, but it saved my ass more than once. I got a bad feeling about that place. Glad we’re on our way out.”
Night had fallen while they were eating, and the full stomach and idleness added to her lethargy. He noticed, apparently.
“Go ahead and sleep. I’ll join you in a little while, after we get some distance from this place.”
She climbed up into her nest, reluctant and alone, and wondered if he really would join her.
***
Aaron jolted awake at the alien sound over the rumble of the truck engines and banging of the crates. A sound he hadn’t heard in months. Gunfire?
The truck slammed to a halt, sending Aaron and Eden sliding forward on the blankets. He tightened one arm around her and put his other hand out to brace them before they hit the frame of the cargo bed.
She came awake then, and turned to look at him, but he didn’t have time to explain.
“Stay here, stay down,” he snapped, and slid from their perch to creep toward the opening of the truck.
Another rattle outside had him ducking. Closer this time. He peeked out to see muzzle flashes over a rise. Shit. Automatic weapons. Just from that he could tell they were outnumbered, and he felt outgunned, even though he’d managed to retrieve their guns from the culvert in Tacoma. He fished his automatic out of his pack and checked the magazine, then jolted when Eden slid up to
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