Page 10 of His to Take

“How long do we plan on staying here? I want to get to the town, find out if anyone else survived,” Rex said as he headed for the steps. He tested the first pine step and then stepped up onto the porch. “The wood seems alright.”

“Good. I guess we’ll stay the night, right?” John asked and looked around at the rest of the group. “I think we’re all in a hurry to find out what’s going on out there.”

“No, I don’t want to stay here long,” Amanda added and stepped up the six steps to stand beside her son. “Let’s find out what’s inside and settle in for the night. Even with the exercise we got on the track on the lower level, I doubt most of us are ready for more walking today.”

Ann walked into the cabin and noticed first that everything was dry, even with the windows open. The air didn’t smell musty either, as she’d expected it too. Now, how had that happened? Surely the snow would have got in, damaged the floors and walls, and caused mold to grow? There wasn’t a single sign of water damage, however, no matter which room she went into.

“That’s just weird,” she said out loud, without actually meaning to.

“What’s that, baby?” her father asked as he came into the kitchen behind her.

“There’s no mold or mildew, it’s all dry. Shouldn’t it be damp after all those years of snow?”

“It is strange, now that I think about it,” John mused and looked around the room. “I don’t understand what’s happened, and I won’t pretend to, but yeah, it’s strange. I guess we just have to get used to it.”

“To the strangeness or being outside again?” she prompted and watched as he thought about it. His face revealed how tired he was, and she worried about him because of that. Yet he seemed energized, despite the way his shoulders sagged. Hope could do that to you, she figured.

“Both, I think. We don’t know what’s caused this shift, or how long it will last, so we’ll just have to deal with it all as we go along. Come on, let’s get some hot water going so we can eat.”

Her father had been the one to remember the small camp stove they could use on their expedition and he took it out of his pack now. He set up the gas cylinder, connected the part that made the cylinder a stove, and set a pot on top to boil water in.

They all ate from the bags, gathered around the long, unfinished top of the kitchen table, and discussed what they needed to do. John and Rex worked to get the plywood up on the windows while Amanda, Mary, and Ann made sure each bedroom had sheets and covers. The lack of a musty odor struck Ann all over again.

“I don’t know how the bedding smells so clean,” she noted as she threw a pillow on the bed she’d sleep on.

“I don’t understand it either, honey, but I’m glad for it. I hate sleeping in a room that stinks of mildew.” Her mother smoothed down the quilt they’d put on her bed, and sat down. “I could stay here forever if there were windows in the place.”

“It is nice, isn’t it?” Ann looked around, her gaze falling on little bits of personality. A statue of Buddha, a mandala print on the wall, beads that she knew were prayer beads in a dish on top of the wide dresser. They all spoke of the person that came before her. Or at least of the beliefs of the person that owned the place. It might have been a rental cabin for all she knew.

The hours passed, and soon enough they were at the table again. The surface was rough but serviceable, and Ann decided she liked the unfinished table. It had character, like the rest of the house. She dug into her food, hungrier than she’d been in a long time. Exhaustion sank into her muscles as she finished the tasteless food she’d long ago become accustomed to. Her head turned in the direction of the living room behind her, and she stood up to make her way to the couch.

Stephan had been busy earlier, too, and had gathered up some wood to put in the fireplace. It wasn’t really cold, but the fire provided light and its own kind of comfort. Ann went to sit on the pristine leather wing-backed couch and almost fell asleep slumped against the protrusion at the end of the couch.

She sat up and wiped at her face when her parents and Rex’s parents went up to bed.

“Goodnight,” she called after them.

Somehow, the hours since noon had slipped away, and it was dark now. She didn’t think it had been that long since they’d stopped there, but maybe time had just passed her by. They’d spent some time exploring the house, done some work to make sure they were all safe and comfortable, all after a long walk. In fresh air.

Ann smiled and went to get up. Rex came out of the kitchen and his eyes zeroed in on her. He’d kissed her earlier and said something that made her heart skip again as she remembered it.

“You know, you might be the only woman my age left in the world, Ann, but you sure are pretty.” He held his hand out to her, and she took it without question. He led her out onto the porch and let the door close softly behind them.

His blond head tilted to look up at the stars and she followed his example. “The beauty of those sparkling gems up there can’t match the wonder of your eyes, Ann.”

“Oh, but I have plain old brown eyes…” but his lips were pressed against hers before she could finish, and she moaned in surprise.

Her hands went up to clutch at his shoulders, strong from the weight-lifting he’d kept up in the bunker. She stepped back when his legs nudged at hers until she was pressed up against the uneven wall of the log cabin.

“Oh, we’re going to make such lovely babies, Ann. Please let me have you.” She heard him whisper into her ear and felt something deep inside her abdomen clutch in excitement. “I want you so much. Please, Ann.”

His lips trailed down her neck, and his hands wandered from her waist, up to touch her ample breasts. “Please, Ann.”

Her head had started to spin, and her eyes felt as if they would never open again. She wanted to say yes, she wanted to finally give him what she’d waited so long to give, but something held her back. She pulled away, out of his embrace, but she kept her fingers locked with his.

“Not yet, Rex. Wait until we’re settled, when we’re not on the move and can do it all properly. Then you can have me.”

With that, she slipped into the house and up to her room. She’d heard the groan of frustration he’d given when she stepped through the door. That sound made her smile all over again. She’d always wanted this, and now that she had his attention, well, she’d make sure he knew he better work to keep hers. She didn’t want some quick coupling against a rough wall. She wanted the bed, the rose petals, the romance for her first time with him. With anyone.

And she’d push the memory of that man that haunted her dreams last night, the man that had her on her hands and knees as she begged for more, far, far away from her mind.