As the World Ends (13 page)

Collapsing on the ground, Roan lay panting. Staring at the dead animal, he couldn’t figure out for the life of him why it had attacked him.
Normally, they ran away from humans. I wasn’t a threat. It must have scented my blood.
He should skin it and save its coat, but he wasn’t sure how to do that exactly.

It seemed like hours passed, but he was sure it was only minutes. In his weakened state he assessed his body and his new wounds. The neck wound was gonna be a problem, He couldn’t see it to treat it. Didn’t know how deeply the fox had sunk his teeth in. Would he bleed out? There was pain and blood though it didn’t seem to be an ungodly amount of either. The fox landing on his leg had reopened the wound causing it to throb and bleed steadily. He had no choice. Everything he needed was back at his cave to tend to the wounds and administer first-aid before his leg got totally infected. Dragging his body off the ground required all his strength as he bit down on his bottom lip to avoid screaming out. His breathing labored, his head dizzy, and his leg throbbing, he left the cave. A rustle in the bushes caught his attention. Letting out a loud growl in frustration Roan prayed it wasn’t something or someone bigger than him. To his relief, whatever was in the bushes scurried away.

“Good, I’m taking no more shit. Do you hear me?” he screamed into the night.

Lauren woke in a convoluted position with a stiff, achy back from being cramped up all night. Rob leaned against the other door snoring, his mouth wide open. At first disorientated, she couldn’t remember why they were in the truck, and then it hit her. Roan attacked Rob yesterday. He’d defended both of them by shooting Roan in the leg before leaving him there to fend for himself. Looking at Rob with love and confusion she didn’t understand how he could be such a contradiction. Normally such a compassionate man, something inside of him snapped yesterday. It not only scared her, she wondered how far he would go to protect them. The truck breaking down was a bad break. Lauren looked out the windows to make sure Roan hadn’t caught up to them. Though she wanted him to live, she wanted to reach town first and send help back. She didn’t want to be within ten feet of Roan. Her skin crawled every time he looked at her. At this pace, they’d never reach the town in time to save him. There seemed to be a lot of blood yesterday. Wounded, was he safe from the animals during the night? If he died would she be able to live with it? Would Rob?

“What are you staring at honey?” Rob asked.

“I thought you were sleeping,” Lauren said, watching Rob sit up.

“I was, but I felt you staring.”

“How do you feel a stare?” She laughed.

“I just do. Are you okay?” He reached out taking her hand in his. Her hand disappeared in his. Strong, capable hands, she thought. Hands he used to make love to her. Hands he used to shoot a man. Tears filled her eyes, but they didn’t fall.

“Yes, I am. Why do you ask?” She rubbed her thumb over his hand.

“Your expression says otherwise.”
He could always see inside me. What do I say? For the first time since I’ve known you, you scare me.

He reached over, touched her hair, with his other hand he ran it down her face, cupping her chin. She loved when he did that. This was her Rob. Why was she questioning him?
I love him. He loves me. Hasn’t he proven it so many times over the years?

“I’m still upset about the shooting,” she answered honestly.

“I am too. Do you think he would have just walked away from us and left us alone?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t...it’s just…oh, Rob.” She pushed to him, climbing into his lap as she snuggled into him.

Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her back. “I love you.”

“I love you back.” With all her strength she clung to him.

Neither spoke for awhile finding comfort in each other’s arms while they dealt with their own conscience, thoughts and feelings. Finally Lauren looked up into Rob’s eyes.

“I know we’ll survive and so will our love…” she hesitated, couldn’t find the words to express her feelings.

“But,” Rob questioned.

“No buts, Rob. I want you to know I also trust you completely. I’m coming to grips with what you did yesterday. I know it was for us.”

“Now, where did that come from?” He studied her. “I’m the same person I was yesterday and the day before that, Lauren. I haven’t changed. In fact, I’m more me than ever.”

“How so?” She frowned.

“You’re all that ever mattered to me. Yesterday it was tested to the limits. It proved what I would do to protect you. I’ve always wondered in a situation like this if I could. I’m glad to say, I can and will do anything…anything, Lauren.”

The simple truth in his statement settled her. To him it was black or white. She needed grey in her life. It often softened the bad and blended it with the good.

Lost for words, she questioned if she could be as strong as he was in the same situation. If it was reversed, could she protect him? Would she shoot another human being? Pushing off his chest she turned to face him, and then knelt over him. Leaning down, she gently kissed him. A sweet ‘I love you kiss.’ He parted his lips so she took it deeper, devouring his mouth, swallowing his breath, devouring him, and still she couldn’t get enough. As she plunged her tongue deeper into his mouth, his response excited her beyond reason. How could she love one person so deeply?

Awkwardly, Rob changed positions to kneel in front of her. Unbuttoning one button at a time, he placed kisses on each area he exposed. He pushed her shirt off her shoulders, leaning around her to search out the hook to her bra. Plain white, no fancy lace, just functional and yet, sexy as hell on her, though he loved it, it too needed to go. Sliding it down her arms he leaned forward to face her again.

“My Lauren, so beautiful. It’s true, good things come in small packages.” He smiled down at her, comforting her. This he could give her.

She reached for his t-shirt, grabbed the bottom edges and pulled it up over his head. Next, she worked on his belt. Rob lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed one and then the other.

“Let me make love to you.” Trailing kisses down the side of her neck, while maneuvering her onto her back, he slid her shorts off, and then her panties.

“What a sight you are in just your socks and boots.” Running his hand over her body, her skin burned under his touch. Parting her thighs, he brushed his fingers lightly up and down them until he landed right in the middle. Lauren tried to pull him down. Rob, used to her impatience, continued stroking her.

“Now, Rob.”

“Shush, don’t rush me. Enjoy what I have to give you. Only you,” he whispered in her ear.

He trailed kisses where his hand had been as her body vibrated under him. Spreading her legs wider, teasing her center with his tongue, he was rewarded with her pressing harder against his face. Unable to lie still, she writhed under him, moaning loudly and begging for release. He stopped short of her orgasm, sat up quickly, stripping off his shorts. He climbed on top of her, into her, slowly pushed in then out, until he felt her tighten around him. Then he quickened his pace as she screamed his name.

Smiling down at her, his breath ragged, he said, “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” She smiled back, wrapping her legs around him, locking them together.

He lowered his body to hers and lay there in the warmth of their lovemaking. He started to nod off when he felt her push at him.

“Rob, don’t fall asleep, you’ll crush me. Plus, this isn’t a comfortable position.”

“I guess we should get this day started. What time is it?” He grabbed his watch, “Shit, it’s after eight. We need to get going, it’s going to be a long hike. I’m not familiar with the lower part of the mountain. We’ll need to find shelter for tonight. Let’s eat, and then hit the road.”

“What do you mean for tonight?”

“We’ll never make it down the mountain before the sun starts to set.”

“I just want to be off the mountain, Rob. Don’t baby me.”

“I’m not. I’m being realistic. Walking down hill is dangerous. You have to control your speed and watch out for uneven terrain. I don’t think we’re even half way down the mountain at this point.”

Rob sat up and offered her his hand. She ignored it, staying where she lifting her arms up and placing them behind her head. God, that move always got to him and she knew it. It lifted her breasts up high causing him to lose all reason. He liked her like that, all naked and warm from lovemaking. Rock hard, he shook his head to clear it. It was imperative that they get down off the mountain soon. No time to lounge around.

“Lauren, you stay like that and we won’t be going anywhere. Get up,” he said, trying very hard to be responsible, but she wasn’t helping the cause.

“Who said I want to go anywhere?” she purred, eyes raised innocently to him.
God, she owns my heart and everything else. One of us has to be reasonable and it looks like it has to be me. Damn!

“Sorry, hon, we have to get a move on it. This isn’t the suburbs. We’re in the woods, running from some crazed out, survivalist bastard, remember?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to.”

“You’re killing me, Lauren, get up and put some clothes on or I won’t be responsible for what I do next.” He gave her a good yank. Her body was so relaxed, he only managed to drag her upper half off the seat.

“Now, Lauren. We don’t have time to jerk around.”

“God, Rob, you’re no fun anymore.”

“Shush.”

At the same time, they both heard it and froze. The windows fogged over from their steamy lovemaking session, blocked Rob’s view. He wiped the window with yesterday’s dirty t-shirt.

“Shit. Shit, Shit.”

“What?” Lauren pushed up to her knees to look out. Her eyes widened in terror as Rob put a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream.

He spoke into her ear, “Keep quiet and stay very still. This isn’t good. He should be hibernating now. Something or someone disturbed him.” Did Roan disturb the sucker?

A black bear stood about a hundred yards from the truck, almost hidden in the tree line. Rob guessed his weight around five hundred pounds. It stood about five feet tall. Small it must be young. Hitting the locks on the door, he studied the bear’s face looking for signs of agitation. The bear wasn’t opening and closing his mouth, nor was he snarling or showing his teeth. A good sign, Rob thought.

“Who do you think pulled him from hibernation?” Lauren asked.

“Don’t know, don’t care. But I wouldn’t put it past that idiot, Roan,” Rob spit out.

“Rob, the guy couldn’t even walk yesterday. You shot him, for God’s sake. Remember?”

“God damn it, of course I remember. I don’t need you constantly reminding me of that fact. And right now our only concern is the bear and what he does next.”

“I’m just saying…” Rob grabbed her shoulder with one hand and put the other hand over her mouth, interrupting her as the bear moved toward them.

Christ, the gun’s under the front seat
. He had to reach over the driver’s seat and then under it to grab the gun. Next, he straightened, leaned forward to the steering column and turned the key in the ignition. With the engine running he pressed the window buttons to close all of them. The gun in his hand, he sat back in the seat resting it on his naked lap. A grin spread across his face when he looked over at his naked wife.

“What’s so funny?” she whispered.

“We’re still naked.” He smiled as he reached for her.

She looked down. “Oh, it might hurt if it gets in here now.”

“It’s going to hurt either way, but at least my last vision will be of you naked,” he quietly joked.

“You’re really a pervert. We could be bear food in a couple of minutes and all you can think about is sex.”

“Not just sex, sex with you, babe.” Though he was joking with her, his eyes never left the bear. After assessing the situation, he felt they were screwed. Where there was baby bear, there was a mother bear. Hopefully he’d lose interest in them before she arrived.

“Fuck!”

His eyes widened as the bear reached the SUV. Bringing a finger to his lips he made sure Lauren understood. They both stilled. The bear stared at them for what seemed like hours. After a few minutes he pushed at the truck’s side a couple of times, rocking it. The truck lifted in the air on the driver’s side throwing them to the right, Rob crushed Lauren under him. He prayed the doors and windows held. Trying to push off of Lauren, he heard her suck in her breath. A low growl filled the air, as the bear’s frustration grew. Placing his hand on her wrist, Rob felt around for her pulse. It raced in his hand. The bear walked around the truck and pushed on the door on the other side. Then he stood tall, growled again before walking away.