„They lay together. He, dark on alabaster white. A forbidden fruit. A box of chocolates waiting to be opened."
She giggles, casting the book aside. The silliest erotic novel she's ever read. The silliest one ever written, most likely.
Her gaze wanders to Preston, stretched on the couch beside her.
"Are you my piece of chocolate waiting to be unwrapped?" she asks.
The words make her giggle all over again. Why this book—of all the possible items—survived the fallout?
He laughs, "I think that's enough Dirty Wastelander for you, General."
"You're no fun!" she protests, but then he sweeps her into his arms and all she can do is squeal as he carries her to their bedroom and lays her down on the worn-out mattress.
"That is to show you I can be fun." He says.
Afterwards, he slides into the bed next to her, leaning in closer he whispers, "And as for your question… I'll let you find that out." and before she can speak, he silences her lips with his.
They lay together. He, dark on alabaster white of her skin.
In his arms she feels warmer—she senses a brighter future awaits her at his side. A more hopeful future for all. The Commonwealth. One day, maybe even the Wasteland as a whole.
… or maybe it's just all the Dirty Wastelander.