Page 37 of Zinnia and the Zombie
The corner of his mouth quirked upward—that subtle almost-smile that she’d come to treasure. “I am… getting better at it.”
It was true. The hyper-vigilance that had dominated his behavior during their first days had gradually eased. He stillperformed perimeter checks, still insisted on testing all new food sources before allowing her to try them, but the desperate edge had softened.
“You are,” she agreed, leaning forward to brush her lips against his.
What began as a gentle good morning kiss quickly deepened. He rolled onto his back, bringing her with him so she straddled his hips, her hair falling around them like a curtain. His hands slid up her thighs, fingers leaving trails of heat against her skin.
“I had plans for today,” he murmured against her throat.
“Did they include staying in bed a little longer?” She rocked against him, delighting in the way his eyes darkened.
“They do now.” He nipped her ear, making her shiver. “I’ll need to hunt more avians later. Our stores are low.”
“Mmm. Later.” She ran her tongue along his throat, tasting salt and his unique musky flavor.
His body shuddered, the glow beneath his skin flaring, and then his hands were moving again, stroking her hips, sliding up her spine, sending sparks of sensation across her body.
She reached down, grasping the thick length rising between them. She stroked him firmly, enjoying the way he groaned and arched into her touch.
“Zinnia,” he groaned, his hands flexing against her waist.
“I love the way you say my name,” she whispered, rising onto her knees. “Say it again.”
“My Zinnia.” The words came out hoarse, needy.
She positioned him at her entrance, teasing him by rubbing his swollen head against her slick folds. He made a strangled sound, his fingers digging into her flesh. She smiled, slowly taking the tip of him inside her.
His grip tightened as he struggled not to thrust deeper, letting her control the pace. She rewarded him by sinking down, inch by glorious inch. When he was fully seated within her, she paused, reveling in the feeling of him inside her, the exquisite fullness, the delicious pressure.
He moaned, his hands moving from her waist to her breasts, cupping the sensitive flesh, pinching her aching nipples. Heat rushed through her and she began to move, rocking her hips in a steady, slow rhythm. His thumb teased her clit, adding a sharp edge to her pleasure.
“My Zinnia,” he whispered again, and the raw need in his voice was too much.
With a gasp, she climaxed, her inner muscles clenching around him. He roared, the sound filling their bedroom as his body shuddered beneath her. His release flooded her, hot and slick.
They lay tangled together afterwards, hearts pounding and bodies damp with sweat. His cock slid free, and his seed trickled between her legs. He pulled her close, tucking her head beneath his chin, their pulses synchronizing until they breathed as one.
“I’ll always call your name,” he whispered. “For as long as I have left.”
The promise, spoken with such tenderness, was almost too much for her heart to bear.
“And I’ll always be with you,” she promised back, her voice a little shaky.
“I should check the water filtration system,” he said eventually, though he made no move to get up.
“Mmm. And I was going to try fermenting some of those purple berries.” She propped her chin on his chest. “But that can wait too.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his expression softening in a way that made her heart flip. “You’re happy here.”
It wasn’t quite a question, but she answered anyway. “I am.” She paused, suddenly concerned. “Aren’t you?”
“I’m with you,” he said simply, as if that explained everything. Perhaps for him, it did.
She understood what he didn’t say. He still thought about his people, still harbored hopes of finding a way off this planet, of continuing his search. She didn’t begrudge him that—how could she? But a selfish part of her treasured these quiet weeks together, just the two of them in their own private world.
“I’m going to open the balcony doors,” she said, pressing a kiss to his chest before sliding off him. “It’s going to be warm today.”
She pulled on a loose dress she’d fashioned from fabric found in another apartment, enjoying the feel of the silky material against her skin. Their own clothes had been washed and mended repeatedly but were showing signs of wear.
