Chapter 12 - Crossing the Lines
57 Days After the National Outbreak
BPOV:
His strong arms encompass my body, pulling me off the hard, bloodied ground. For a few moments, I believed I was dying. I believed that flesh was my own. I watched as they cannibalized a zombie, one of their own, on top of my body. With horror-filled eyes, I watched skin, muscles, and organs be torn away. That could have been me… that should have been me. It seems the only thing that saved me was pure luck. Pure luck and Edward. I look up at the man who's holding me, finding my heart overflowing with gratitude. He could have run away. Truly, he doesn't need me to find his girlfriend and yet, here I am.
I jump in his arms as he kicks open a door and quickly moves inside, kicking it shut and muffling the noise of them. Now that we're safe - well, as safe as we can be for now - my eyes begin to water. I could have died. Death was so close, I could practically taste it on my lips. Today could have very well been my last day on Earth. It would have been if Edward had not saved me. I don't think I would have been able to save myself. I was just so immobilized with fear and I worried that if I tried to fight back, things would have taken a violent turn for me.
"It's okay. Everything is okay now. I've got you," Edward whispers into my hair.
I bury my head into his shirt, ignoring the bloodstains as I close my eyes, allowing his steady heartbeat to comfort me. He walks further into the building, opens and shuts another door, and then lowers us gently to the ground, keeping me in his lap. He gently rocks me, as one would do with a child, and whispers comforting words into my ear. Nothing can help, though. The things I saw today… those are things that can never be unseen. Never have I been so close; never have I felt so much. I wonder if Edward can chase away my nightmares because I worry that I don't have that power.
"We're safe now, Bella. I promise you."
After a few more minutes, I open my eyes. His gaze is so intense, I shiver in response. His eyes are filled with relief and an emotion I cannot name. I feel my body soften in his arms and I look away, regarding the quiet room around us. It's dark and damp and filled with discarded food, drinks, and cigarettes. It takes me a moment in the darkness, but as my eyes adjust I realize this is an abandoned convenience store. Oh, thank God. Thank God. Our supplies have been dwindling lately. Focusing on that, something I can now control, helps to take my mind away from the horrors for a little bit. However, as soon as I close my eyes, gore and death is all I find. I shiver again, attempting to will the thoughts away.
"Bella," Edward whispers again. "You're safe now."
I nod, although my mind doesn't fully understand. I'm far too distracted. Suddenly, I notice my wet clothes and glance down to find I'm covered in blood that isn't my own. Little bits of flesh cover me and I cry out upon noticing them, tears coursing down my cheeks. My numb fingers immediately begin tearing at my clothes, knowing I won't feel sane until they're off of me. I tear at my shirt, breaking a nail in the process of tearing it from my equally dirty skin. Edward lets go of me in the process. I feel his stare, but I'm too determined to pay him any mind right now. I kick out of my shoes, pull off my pants, leaving me in my socks, sports bra, and underwear. Then, I pick up my shirt and begin scrubbing my skin. I rub and rub until my flesh becomes pink and irritated and then I rub some more. Tears course down my cheeks and fall onto the dried blood of my chest. Seeing this only makes my tears come quicker. I feel Edward pull me into his arms, and I try to fight him off. He's crying, too. Is he just as terrified as I am? With his jaw locked and his eyes dark with intensity, he looks like he wants to punch something, releasing all the emotions that are clearly bubbling within him. I stop scrubbing and reach out to touch his face, wiping away a few of his tears with my fingertips.
"You could have died," he states in a harsh monotone voice.
"I know," I whisper in return. "But we're both still here."
"For now," he says wistfully. "Who knows how much longer we have."
"I know. I thought I could survive this," I pause, gasping for air as I think of Seth and Jake waiting for my return. If they even realize I'm gone. "But now… now I don't know. I don't know if I'm strong enough. What if we don't make it out of this alive?"
"Everyone dies. That's always been the case. We live and then we die. But I think you're strong. I think we both are. We'll make it through this."
Light shines through the cracks of the boarded up windows, illuminating his angular face. Reaching out, I touch the skin of his face again. Not to wipe away tears this time, though. This time, my touch is one of admiration. He feels so good. He feels so alive. In a world of death and destruction, he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
"We'll make it through this," I repeat breathlessly.
We sit in silence, but it's far from comfortable. The energy coursing between our bodies is practically palpable, and before I know what I'm doing, I'm leaning forward, my face coming close to his. He sucks in a breath of air, his eyes darkening as his gaze drops to my lips.
"We can't," he murmurs, his voice tense.
"I want to feel something," I all but beg. "I want to feel something other than pain."
A shaky exhale pauses through his lips and his body tenses as if he were trying desperately to contain himself. He reaches out and cups my face, running his thumb along my chapped bottom lip as he studies me.
"Do you want this?"
I nod, feeling goosebumps form all over my exposed flesh. He doesn't kiss me, that would be far too intimate. I don't want him to kiss me; I want him to fuck me. I want him to plow into me until I don't remember who I am - until I don't remember what life on Earth has become. He flips me over so I'm on my hands and knees. I hear him remove his holster, unbuckle his pants, and unzip his fly. A shiver runs down my spine. Jake is the only man I've ever been with. Jake. Now, when I think of him, I only see what he's become. Tears fill my eyes and I push the thought of him away, focusing all my attention on Edward as he consumes my sense, erasing every thought from my brain with one harsh thrust of his hips.
I cry out and as I turn my head to stare back at him, I find my underwear torn on the floor. I was so lost in thought, I hadn't even realized he removed them. Not just removed, but tore them from my body. I moan in pleasure, finally looking up to meet his dark gaze as he thrusts into me. His thrusts would be harsh and unforgiving if I didn't relish in them. He fucks me like I'm the only thing tethering to him to life itself. He grips my hips until I can feel his rigid nails break the top layer of my skin. The only sounds filling the room are the sounds of our breathing and my ass slapping against his hips and thighs. I smile, feeling truly alive for the first time in weeks. I scream. It feels good to scream. I'm releasing every ounce of energy I've been repressing. It's been so long since my body felt pleasure. As I ride the waves of said pleasure, my mind forgets everything else. All I think of is my approaching orgasm, bucking my hips in an effort to reach it more quickly.
Neither of us say words of love or encouragement. In fact, neither of us utters a word. We don't need to. Our bodies speak for themselves. I don't need to be talked to, I need to be fucked senseless. My mind has been craving a distraction like this. Edward removes his right hand from my hip and reaches it between my legs. His calloused fingers begin to play with the folds of my pussy until they finally reach my clit. I don't last much longer. I come with a cry and after a few more harsh thrusts, Edward's quick to follow and falls apart himself, pulling out and coming on my back.
The sound of our panting fills the room as I drop to the floor on my belly and Edward lays down beside me, still fully clothed. We don't say a word and merely lay in the darkness. When my mind starts working properly again, I feel a wave of guilt wash over me. Jake…. Fuck. A tear runs down my dirty cheek as I stare off into the darkness, ignoring the man beside me. What on Earth have we done?
A/N: And…. finally. I love writing lemons! Please review!
