Tainted Grace by M. Lauryl Lewis Page B

should load supplies toward the rear,” said Bill in his smooth, deep voice.
    “Let’s tackle it in stages. First make sure the van still fires up. It’s been about a week. Next, plot a route on the map. We keep one in the glove box, so I’ll bring that in,” said Gus. “Girls, if you could round up the food we have left, blankets, some of the lighter items that’d be a big help. Set things by the front door, but make sure there’s room for us to get the mattresses through. If there’s something you feel you have to keep, make sure it gets brought down here. Pack light, and dress in layers.”
    “Boggs?” I asked quietly.
    “Hmm?”
    “Can I talk to you upstairs for a minute?”
    Emilie looked at me funny.
    “I just need to ask you about something personal. I’ll get you back down to help in five minutes.”
    “Sure, Zo.”
    He held his hand out to me, and I took it eagerly. We walked the stairs together and I pulled him into our room. He shut the door behind us.
    “What’s up, kid?” he asked.
    “I just had a bad thought. Figured I’d run it by you before we actually do this whole thing.”
    “Ok, shoot.”
    “We don’t know these guys. They seem nice. Genuine. But with what just happened out there yesterday…well…what if they’re trying to get us all out of the cabin to take it over for themselves?”
    “I actually talked to Gus about a scenario like that last night. He agrees it’s worth the risk. We still have their weapons, and should be fine unless there’s an ambush. Gus thinks it seems unlikely. Plus, if they intended to take us over they could have made a try for it last night.”
    “I trust you guys. And I do like them both so far. It’s just hard to leave this place, and hard to trust others.”
    “Everything else ok?”
    “Yes. I want to add baby stuff to the scavenging list. Blankets, diapers, bottles, formula.”
    “You’ll probably want to breast feed, Zo.”
    “Probably, but…”
    “But what?”
    “We need to prepare in case I can’t. If I die, Boggs.”
    “Shush. Right now. Don’t even talk like that.”
    He walked toward me and took my head in his hands, looking me straight in the eyes. I knew this look. It was fear.
    “We have to be realistic, Adam,” I said. “Life is so fragile now. We have to watch our fronts, our backs, our sides, and there are absolutely no guarantees.”
    He placed his forehead against mine and gripped my hair in his hands. Our noses were touching lightly. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Zoe, or our baby. I promise.”
    “I know you won’t, but things can still happen. We have to prepare the best we can.”
    He tilted my face up toward his and kissed me deeply, his tongue finding mine and moving in a slow rhythm. He moved his hands to the back of my head, tangling his fingers into my loose braid. I could feel his tears on my face.
    I broke our kiss and leaned my head back just far enough to speak. “No tears, Boggs. We don’t have time for them. Not anymore, not in this life.”
    “I love you,” he whispered.
    Before I knew it, my feet were no longer touching the ground and I was in his arms. Within seconds, I was on the bed with him halfway on top of me, his hands frantically reaching up my shirt. I could tell by his touch that he craved the feeling of my flesh. His motions were desperate.
    “I love you too, Boggs.”
    He pulled my shirt over my head, exposing my pale blue bra. I watched as he took me in with his eyes. I reached up to unbutton his flannel shirt, now craving his flesh as well. He sat up, undid his own buttons, and let the shirt fall onto the bed beside us. He pulled his t-shirt over his head. I traced the cross tattoo on his pectoral with my index finger. His skin was warm and welcoming.
    “I want to be inside of you, Zoe, so badly,” he mumbled. “If I could live there, I would.”
    I halfway rolled onto my side and reached behind my back, struggling to unclasp my bra. The weight of Boggs sitting on my