Afterglow: An Apocalypse Romance (8 page)

In the kitchen Creed found some cans of chicken and dumplings that looked like slop as he poured them into a pot. He opened a box of crackers, tossed some onto a plate, and brought everything into the living room. He stuck the pot into the edge of the fire to heat up, then sat on the couch to wait for Nina.

After a few minutes he heard her, then saw the glowing circle of her flashlight as she made her way into the room. She flicked it off, then sank into an armchair, dressed in her usual jeans and black tank top. She scooted the chair closer to the fire, shivering slightly.

“Cold?” asked Creed.

“A little. The fire feels good, though.”

“Didn’t find any pajamas?”

“No. Everything was men’s XXL.”

For some reason his mind began to imagine what she wore to bed
before
. His fantasy, of course, was her in some silky negligee, but probably she wore a T-shirt and panties. Or short shorts and a flimsy undershirt. Creed’s heart kicked up a notch. Why the hell was he even thinking about this?

A whiff of food refocused him, and he grasped the handle of the pot carefully and shook the contents about so it wouldn’t stick. He got bowls from the kitchen and served them both, and they ate in silence, both of them too hungry to spend time talking. Creed hadn’t realized how ravenous he was until he began to eat.

When he was finished, he set his bowl and spoon on the coffee table. “I cooked. You can clean, sweetheart.”

Nina’s eyes glinted at him in the firelight as she sent him a glare. Without speaking, she got up and disappeared into the kitchen with both bowls. Creed watched as she returned, moving slowly in the darkness.

“No dessert?” she asked, heading to the armchair.

“Got a sweet tooth?”

“I’d pretty much kill for a Kit Kat right about now.”

“Sorry,” he said, disappointment surprising him. He wished he’d found something sweet for her, and he didn’t understand why he even cared. It shouldn’t fucking matter. “You can sit on the couch,” he added before she sat down. “I’m not dangerous.”

She stood still, giving him a long look, then moved to the couch and curled up in the corner farthest from Creed. “How’s your arm?” she asked. “I forgot to check it after you showered.”

“Fine.”

“Does it hurt?”

“Nope.”

“It’s OK to admit it if it hurts, big boy.”

He felt like saying, “You have no idea how big I am, sweetheart,” but he knew that wouldn’t go over well. “I’m fine, Nina,” he said.

“And you’re taking your antibiotics?”

“Do you always nag like this?”

“Fine. Next time you get hurt, don’t expect me to help you out.”

“Next time don’t hurt me,” he countered with a smirk that she probably couldn’t see but could definitely hear in his voice.

“Next time don’t kick me in the head. Or tie me up.”

“You’re the one with the handcuffs in your bag,” he said. “Maybe you like being restrained.” He couldn’t help grinning, and he couldn’t help his cock from stiffening slightly. Just the banter with Nina did him in, not to mention how good she smelled right now, clean with just a hint of sweetness from the shampoo, like candy.

“Why is it that the person I’m traveling with is a total asshole?”

Creed laughed out loud. “I wouldn’t say I’m a
total
asshole.”

Nina made a “hmph” sound and grabbed a throw from the back of the couch, pulling it over her shoulders.

“How’s your eye?” he asked. The bruise around it had been fading, but it was still a colorful wound on her face.

“Fine.”

“I’m sorry, you know.” He was. He hated seeing it, hated knowing he was the one responsible for marring her otherwise perfect face.

“Good,” she teased. “But I guess I deserved it. I’d have done the same to you.”

“You did worse to me, sweetheart.”

“Yeah. I guess I did,” she said, raising one eyebrow.

Creed laughed. “Let’s not have a pissing contest. Tell me about your family, Nina. Who’s meeting you at your grandmother’s house?”

When she spoke, all the sarcasm and hardness was gone from her voice, replaced by softness. “Well, my grandmother, obviously. She’s seriously a cool old lady. Like, if I could be half as amazing as she is when I’m her age I’ll be lucky. When I was growing up, my parents always joked around about how she was kind of kooky, with all her prepper and survivalist tendencies. But I guess she knew what she was talking about. She’s so tough. She’s amazing.”

As Nina continued to talk about her parents and her younger brother Logan, Creed closed his eyes, enjoying the heat from the fire and Nina’s voice in the dark room. It was the first time since things had gone to shit that he felt relaxed, at least a little bit, that he felt comfortable, even if only for a few moments in time. It was nice, too, seeing Nina so happy for once, any sarcastic or angry edge erased the second she began speaking of her family.

“What. Am I boring you?” Nina asked abruptly, the softness of a moment ago definitely gone.

“Huh?”

“You were sleeping. I’m not telling you bedtime stories, Creed. I was talking about my family. And, I should remind you, you’re the one who asked me to talk about them.”

“I wasn’t sleeping. I was relaxing.”

“It’s dark, so you can’t see me rolling my eyes, but that’s what I’m doing right now,” said Nina.

Creed chuckled. “You’re funny, Nina. Did you know that?”

“I’m not trying to be funny.”

“Guess it comes naturally to you,” he replied.

“Like being a dick comes naturally to you?”

“And here I thought we were finally getting along! Sharing dinner, enjoying a fire...”

“Just because we’re traveling together doesn’t mean we have to be besties,” said Nina.

“Not a lot of choices out there anymore, sweetheart. You got to take what you can get.”

“I’m rolling my eyes again.”

Creed laughed, until Nina leaned down to idly scratch her ankle. Her perfect breasts, smooth and golden in the firelight, rose above the black fabric of her top. As she moved, they bounced slightly, and he had to bite back a snarl. He felt like a goddamn animal, barely able to contain himself. Strands of flaming hair fell down, grazing her milky skin, and it took all his self-control not to reach out and brush them away.

He cleared his throat. “Look, Nina. I wasn’t sleeping when you were talking about your family, all right? I was listening. I know how important they are to you, and I’m going to do everything possible to make sure you get there quickly and safely, OK?”

“Uh, OK. But why are you being so solicitous all of a sudden?”

“Can’t you just say
thanks
and be done with it?”

“I
could
, but that’s not much fun.” He could see her smile as she reached out to punch him playfully on his good arm.

“It’s sweet how much you like fucking with me,” he said. He’d meant it as a joke, but the words came out low, like a growl, and besides, Nina wasn’t smiling anymore. Instead, she was gazing at him, and he swore he saw desire in her eyes. Interest, at the very least. He’d been around the block enough fucking times to know that look when he saw it.

But he didn’t want to start something they couldn’t finish.

“So.” He cleared his throat and looked away, breaking the tension. “You’ve got a kick-ass granny and you like ‘80s music. Tell me something else about you, Nina.”

–Nina–

“Eighties music?” asked Nina.

“Yeah. The whole Trigger thing?”

“Right. That. But I think you know more about me than I do about you,” said Nina. Her skin was warm from the fire. And it was just the fire, of course. Not the way Creed had looked at her only a few moments ago. It definitely wasn’t that.

“You keeping score again, sweetheart?”

“No,” she replied, blowing out her breath and scowling.

“Like a game? Two truths and a lie? Truth or dare? We have to take turns to make sure we’re even?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that! You’re so frustrating, Creed!”

“Yeah? I’ve been called worse.”

“No doubt,” muttered Nina, but she couldn’t help her mind from thinking about Truth or Dare with Creed. What kind of questions she’d ask him. What kind of dares he’d give her. It was like despite every good intention she had to stay unaffected by him, her body just wouldn’t cooperate.

The fire crackled and spit, and Nina and Creed were silent for a few minutes.

Creed broke the silence. “So if we were playing, what would it be, Nina? Truth or dare?”

“No. I’m not playing that with you. What are we, twelve?”

“Hypothetically, Nina. That’s all I’m asking,” he responded, his voice low and teasing. “Do you generally prefer answering uncomfortable questions or doing uncomfortable things?”

Oh my god
. Nina forced a scoff out of her mouth, but she felt frozen in place, pinned to the couch by Creed’s words and her response to them. This was an inane conversation, and Creed was nothing to her except a ride, so why was her whole body tingling right now?

“I prefer dares,” said Creed casually.

“Why’s that?” She knew she shouldn’t engage in this conversation, but something drove her on.

He shrugged. “More fun.”

Nina stared into the fire, determined not to look at Creed.

“I think you’d choose dare too,” he continued. “You don’t strike me as someone who would ever avoid a challenge.”

“Yeah, except you’ll never find out,” she countered. “This isn’t junior high, and in case you hadn’t noticed, we’re in the middle of an apocalypse.”

“So no Seven Minutes in Heaven?” He lifted an eyebrow and grinned at her.

Despite herself, Nina laughed. “You’re the worst, Creed.” But she loved his sense of humor, loved that he could crack her up, even in the midst of a situation that, as bad situations went, was pretty freaking horrible.

“Hey, it’s late,” he said. “We’ve got a long drive ahead of us tomorrow. Let’s get some sleep.”

Disappointment hit Nina, though she knew it was for the best. What did she want, anyway? To sit up all night making jokes that verged on the inappropriate? “Yup,” she said, getting up quickly. “Good night, then.”

“You take the bedroom. I’ll be good on the couch.”

“Fine,” she said, relieved. Where they’d sleep in the one-bedroom house had been on her mind, and she was glad he’d settled it without the need for a conversation.

* * *

Sleep was elusive. For what felt like hours, Nina lay under a mound of covers, her mind whirling in endless thought. There was fear and the need to be vigilant. Concern about what her family was doing right now, where they were, if they were safe. Anxiety about the unknowns, about what, exactly, was going on in the world. And of course, though she didn’t really want to admit it, there was Creed.

Before all this, she’d have played on her phone if she couldn’t sleep, or read on her Kindle. Now, the only options were books, though wasting flashlight batteries on that was foolish. Still, just for a little while…

She’d seen some books in the living room on a shelf with dusty knickknacks and an old wooden clock, and she slipped out from under her covers, shivering in the cold air, and shone her flashlight along the floor to the door. The wood was cold under her feet as she tiptoed down the hall and into the living room.

In the fireplace, the embers flickered and flashed, orange and red and strangely beautiful. The fire, though, was mostly out. Creed’s large frame was cramped on the couch, and guilt flooded her that she had the big bed while he was suffering on the sofa, but his even breathing was that of someone deep in sleep.
Good. At least one of them was getting rest.

She shone the flashlight over the books on the shelf, looking for something to read. There was a Bible, a Time-Life book on classical Greece, a guide to freshwater aquariums, and, the most promising of the bunch, a worn copy of Stephen King’s
It
. She loved Stephen King, but she wasn’t sure now was the best time to read a horror novel. Still, she silently pulled it off the shelf.

She took one last look at Creed’s sleeping form, and sighed when she saw the thin thread-worn blanket covering him. With the fire almost out, he’d surely get cold. He could take care of himself. She knew that. Still, she headed to the pile of wood next to the fireplace. She’d just put a few logs on and get the fire going again.

“Ah!” Nina let out a whisper of pain as she stubbed her toe on the edge of the hearth, and the book slipped from her hand.

In an instant she was crushed against the hardwood floor, the breath knocked out of her as she hit the floor on her stomach, her hands fiercely twisted and held tight behind her back. Instincts kicked in, and she jerked her body to bring her legs up behind her and kick her assailant.

The low growl registered in her mind. Creed.

“Creed! It’s me. Nina,” she urged.

He released her hands, and she flipped over beneath him so he could see her face.

“Jesus Christ, Nina. I could have killed you!”

Even in the dark room she could see his eyes flash with anger.

“I’m sorry.” Nina massaged her right wrist, then her left, both rubbed raw from his firm grip. “Calm down. I was just going to put some more wood on the fire.”

“You can’t go skulking around at night like that.”

“Should I have woken you up first?” she asked, starting to feel pissed off.

“No, you should have stayed in the goddamn bedroom.”

“So what? I’m not allowed to be in the rest of the house unless you say so?”

Creed ran a hand through his hair.

He was still on top of her, and Nina was suddenly aware of his strong thighs on either side of hers, the fact that their position would, in another situation, be intimate rather than intimidating. Her breath came quicker, her pulse stronger. Faster. She was glad it was dark so he couldn’t see the flush that warmed her cheeks and neck.

He looked down at her, and in the firelight his eyes flickered. “Nina,” he said, his voice low and quiet. “I almost hurt you. Again. Bad. That’s not what I want to do.”

“No?” Nina’s voice was quiet.

“No.” He shifted on top of her slightly, but even that small movement sent thrills up and down her spine.

What do you want to do?
The words played in her head, but of course she couldn’t say them out loud. Yet as they continued to stare into each other’s eyes, she almost felt like she’d actually asked the question, like he was actually answering it, even though neither of them said a word.

The embers from the fireplace warmed her right arm, but it was nothing compared to the heat she felt where her body met Creed’s.

She wanted this moment to last, this feeling of possibility to continue. But it felt dangerous. Fear—of what, exactly, she wasn’t sure—filled her. “I need to get back to bed,” she murmured.

“Right. Sorry.” Abruptly Creed stood.

Her body cooled the second his heavy heat was removed, and she shivered as she stood.

“Look, Creed. The couch is too small for you. I’ll sleep here. You take the bed.”

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“Only an asshole would do that.”

“So what’s stopping you then?” Nina teased.

Creed chuckled. “Always on my case, sweetheart.”

“Only because I think you kind of like it when I’m mean to you. Anyway, I don’t mind the couch. For real. We both need a good night of sleep.”

“Nah. Even it wasn’t a dick move, it’d just give you something to hold over me later.”

“You’re such a jerk.”

“So you’ve said,” he laughed.

“Do you want to share the bed with me?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
Oh god
. She hadn’t meant it that way, not really at least, but she cringed in embarrassment.

“Only if you still got those handcuffs,” he drawled.

“I’m not coming on to you, Creed,” she shot back. “But it’s big.”

“How would you know?” he smirked.

“The bed. The
bed
is big, asshole.”

His jaw twitched, like he was holding back a laugh.

“Look. I was trying to be polite, OK? And I want both of us to be comfortable. How are you supposed to drive tomorrow if you’re tired?” Why was she still having this conversation, when he clearly was just making fun of her?

“No fucking way.” Creed lay back on the couch and crossed his legs.

“Scared?” taunted Nina. She should shut up. She knew it. But for some reason she couldn’t. Or wouldn’t.

“Me? No. But you—you’d be like a kitten curling up to a mountain lion and thinking it was safe.”

“First of all, I wouldn’t curl up with you. And second, I’m not a kitten,” said Nina. She felt embarrassed, like she’d been throwing herself at him. But she hadn’t meant it that way. She’d felt bad about him all cramped on the couch, and he’d turned it into an offer of sex.
Whatever
, she whispered to herself.

“If you’ve got an extra blanket in there, though, I’ll take it,” Creed called out to her.

Nina rolled her eyes and headed to the bedroom, where she pulled one of the blankets off the bed. Back in the living room she tossed it to Creed.

“Good night,” she muttered.

“Thanks.
Kitten
,” he smirked.

She swore under her breath as she went back to the bedroom, but she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.

* * *

Nina awoke to the sound of hard rain pummeling the roof. Pulling on her jacket to combat the cold, she headed into the living room, where Creed stood up from a crouch next to the fireplace and awarded her with a cocky grin.

“Getting your beauty sleep this morning?” he asked.

“Looks like you didn’t get yours,” she shot back at him.

“Easy, tiger. I mean
kitten
.”

Nina glared at him, but she couldn’t help smiling all the same. “Coffee ready?” she asked.

Creed poured from the camp coffee brewer into two mugs he’d set on the coffee table, and Nina took one, her hands warming as she cupped them around the hot mug.

“Looks like today’s scenic drive is postponed,” he said, gesturing to the windows, where sheets of rain poured down.

Nina sighed in frustration that she had to sit around and wait for better weather to get closer to her family. “So what are we going to do all day? Sit around and be bored?”

“You up for Seven Minutes in Heaven yet?” asked Creed with a wink. “Looks like we have some time to kill.”

For a second, Nina’s breath was caught in her throat. The way he looked at her when he teased sent electricity throughout her, even though she was determined not to give him her complete trust. She barely knew him, and in this sort of situation, everyone needed to be kept at arm’s length.

“You wish,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Creed raised an eyebrow at her. “Another game, then? There’s a chess set on that shelf over there. You play?”

“No. Do
you
?”

“Surprised?”

“No… I…” stammered Nina, realizing too late how snobby she’d sounded.

“There’s a lot about me that would surprise you, sweetheart.” Creed’s tone was light, but his abrupt departure from the room let Nina know he was at least a little pissed.

Shit
. Nina curled up in the armchair with her book and attempted to read, but a few moments later Creed returned. Jeans covered his muscular legs, but what her eyes were drawn to was his chest. Bare, except for the tattoos that crawled over it. His stomach was muscled, his arms broad. In the daylight she could see the scars on his side, the flesh there raised, bumpy.

He headed to the front door.

“What are you doing, Creed?”

“Staying strong.” The door shut behind him.

From her chair, Nina saw him drop to the wooden porch, and then she had to stand to see his body through the window, to watch it ripple under a quick set of pushups.

He flipped to his back, his stomach contracting with sit-ups. The hard floor of the porch didn’t seem to bother him, but Nina found it difficult to imagine anything really hurting Creed. He seemed indestructible, somehow.