Page 74 of Uprising

The sudden realization that I could have lost him hits me out of nowhere. I heard the gunshot, but Reed didn’t react like he had been shot. He was more worried about me, and I hate that.

“Stop thinking so hard over there,” Reed mumbles.

“I could have lost you.”

“You didn’t.”

Tears form in my eyes, vision blurring. My gut clenches at the thought. I would’ve died back there?—

“Noah, get in the bed,” Reed growls.

Kicking my shoes off, I ease myself down next to him. It’s not until his arm wraps around me that I finally break. I cry for Molly, Jake, Sara, and Anglea. I might not have known them, but it doesn’t hurt any less. I cry for Mallory and Rue.

“Sleep, love, I’m not going anywhere,” Reed whispers against the top of my head. And it’s not until then that I let myself slip off to sleep.

CHAPTER44

Noah

The sun was poking through the closed curtains when I finally woke up. I was no longer wrapped around Reed, but I could still feel him beside me. I reach up to rub my eyes, letting out a yawn.

“How are you feeling?” His voice was rough.

“Like I’ve been hit by a truck,” I mumble sleepily.

“You’ve been asleep for a long time.”

Peeking up at Reed, his back sits against the bed, a smirk playing at his lips. I smile at him, cringing when I’m hit with morning breath.

“I’m used to sleeping at least twelve hours. Used to drive Mallory crazy.” I chuckle, thinking back to how mad she would get.

“Tell me about them.”

I gaze up, rolling my head to the side so I can see him better. He reaches over, tucking a piece of my blond curly hair behind my ear.

“Rue and I used to take naps together. I didn’t like being alone, and while she was a hardass, she didn’t either. It drove Mallory crazy; she was always telling us we were wasting daylight. But neither of us liked to party much, especially Rue. We always had to drag her out. Mallory, man, she was the typical popular girl. Or so I thought until me and Rue found her crying because she hated keeping the facade of being perfect.”

“You’ll see them soon.”

Blowing out a breath, I squeeze my eyes shut before turning my focus to the far wall of the bedroom. I didn’t want to cry, not after falling apart yesterday. I didn’t want to think about not seeing them again.

“I texted our group chat when the outbreak started. I told them to go to Oasis, my parents, they own the island. My father works in security, owns the company. There’s no way zombies can get across the water to them. I–I’m just hoping they got it before their phone died or the power stopped.”

Reed shifts down the bed so he’s lying next to me. Reaching over, he cups my throat, giving me a little squeeze. My cock jumps at the sudden touch.

“We’ll find them, love, even if we have to search the entire country; I’ll find them for you.” Reed vows.

Tears gather in my eyes, threatening to fall. Blinking, I will them to go away; I’m tired of crying.

“Noah.” His voice was low and heavy with emotion. “Kiss me.”

I sit up on my elbows. “I–I, let me brush my teeth.”

“I don’t care about your morning breath. Kiss me.”

I open my mouth to argue, but one look from him tells me it’s better not to argue. Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I roll to my side. Fire burns in my stomach as I lean forward, capturing his lips in mine. Our mouths open immediately, tongues meeting like magnets. My cock twitches, hardening in a rush against my jeans. His long fingers slip into my hair, pulling me against him. Reed hisses against my mouth, reminding me of his gun wound.

I rip my mouth away from him, “We shouldn’t. You’re hurt and I don’t want to?—”

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