next to the
contraption then primed the line and hit the auto-ignite switch.
“Wait here just a sec,
Zoe. I’m just going to grab a towel.”
I sat in the chair patiently,
enjoying the fresh air. I watched the old trailer, wondering what had
happened to cause the dwellers inside to die their first deaths. Boggs
returned quickly, a fluffy white towel in hand. He hung it on a nail and
held his hand out for me. I took it and slowly stood.
“Zoe, I can come in and help if
you want?” he offered. I must have worn a look of shock. “You’re so
weak. I just thought…”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine,
Boggs. Just stay close?”
“Always.”
He kissed my forehead and turned around.
Someone had dressed me in a men’s
button-up shirt. I struggled with the first button, my arms weaker than I
had realized. He heard me sigh in frustration and turned to face me,
trying to hide an ‘ I told you so’ smile.
“Fine,” I said in frustration.
He took a step toward me and
gently unfastened the top button. He reached the second, starting to bare
my chest. He leaned in and whispered near my neck. “It’s ok, Zoe,
I’ve seen you before. Just let me help you, ok?” His breathing was
becoming heavy and instinctively I knew this was difficult for him. His
voice held a degree of longing that had never been between us before.
“When I thought I might lose you, Zo, I realized I’d rather die myself.”
I could feel his lips brushing my neck, and I backed away just enough for him
to perceive my discomfort. He hesitated, only briefly, and his lips
brushed my neck again as his fingers were now working on a button near my
waist. “I can’t lose you, Zoe Kate,” he whispered between breaths.
The buttons all free, he slid the long sleeved shirt down my shoulders and let
it fall to the ground. I was naked beneath and could feel his body close.
“Boggs,” I breathed, intending for
him to stop. His lips found my earlobe and his hands reached behind me,
pulling my body to his. My heart now pounding, I tried again to speak but his
mouth found mine and hushed me as he tasted me deeply. His passion flowed
through me and my already weak muscles gave in to his strong embrace. He
held me against him, his hands searching me wildly and finding my bare bottom
while he pressed himself against me, his desire obvious by the hardness I could
feel through his pants.
The moment of unexpected passion
was interrupted by the sound of Gus clearing his throat. “I don’t mean to
interrupt you two young lovebirds, but Zoe’s in no shape to exercise right
now.” Boggs continued to hold me to him, his body hiding mine
protectively from Gus’ view. “Get cleaned up, Zoe, and you two get back
inside. I need to check on that hip of yours.”
Gus had lingered a few moments
longer than necessary, but made his point. Boggs kept his grip on me, and
placed his forehead against mine. No more words were spoken.
Instead, Boggs lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he
carried me into the makeshift shower. He set me down on my feet and
turned me to face away from him. He gently sprayed me with the warm water
while I stood in front of him. The warmth from the water and his hands
soothed my tense muscles. He gently shampooed my hair, rinsed it clean
and washed it a second time. He used his fingers to comb conditioner
through the tangles, and then gently caressed my cheek with the back of his
hand. His arms encircled me, a bar of soap in his hand. He started
at my belly button and used his hands to lather up to my bare breasts, where he
used his thumbs and forefingers to gently pinch my erect nipples while he
sucked wildly at my neck. His caress felt wrong, yet safe at the same
time. Although I had known him my entire life, this touch was so
new. His hands found my waist, and then moved down to my most private of
parts. He studied my body with his
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