The Three (3 page)

Eventually, the army turned on the White House and deposed the administration, and a series of generals attempted to run the country and combat the militias. But the army and the National Guard were decimated by illness and had no hope of winning the guerilla wars that followed. Uncle Roberto often said he wasn’t sure who the lucky ones were: those who lived through the sickness and the factional warfare, or those who never had to adapt to this barren new world.

“I was lucky,” Elin said. “My father survived the sickness and the troubles. I was only two years old at the time, so I barely remember my mother.”

“I remember my family. Not as much as I’d like. One of my uncles survived. I always thought I was really lucky for that. He’s the one who took me with him to the tribe.”

“We were both lucky.” Elin took Anna’s hand and walked them to shore. For a moment, her eyes looked haunted. “There are much worse ways to grow up.”

Anna nodded. She trailed behind Elin, trying not to stare at her shapely bottom as they reached shallow water. “So how long have you been traveling with Kael?”

Elin gave her a serene smile. “Well, I guess it would be just over two years now. My father died just before that—natural causes, I think—and I set out on my own. I wanted to explore the world, see new things. I found Kael, or we found each other, a couple of months later.”

Anna grew bashful as they emerged from the water and stepped onto the shore. She covered her breasts with one arm, desperate to hide the ugly white scars on the left one, and dropped an awkward hand to conceal the curly triangle of hair between her thighs. “You must feel really safe with him.”

Elin knelt to collect their clothing from the ground. “Kael makes me feel safe, yes. In every way.”

Anna blushed at the obvious adoration in Elin’s voice and cast her eyes to the grassy shore. Feeling shy, and not knowing how to talk about love, she stayed quiet, looking up only when Elin thrust her soiled clothing at her.

“I’m sorry you’ve got to put these things on again. Unless you have something clean with your stuff?”

“No.” Anna accepted her dirty clothes, with red-tinged cheeks. She had nothing now.

“I guess it’s time for some new clothes, huh?” Elin pulled on her tank top. “I’ve got a shirt you can borrow for now, back at camp.”

Anna tried not to stare at erect nipples outlined against the cotton of Elin’s top. “Thanks.”

When they were both dressed, Elin asked, “Where’d you leave your stuff?”

Anna’s face grew hot with shame. “I don’t have anything.”

“Nothing?”

“Not since I was attacked last week. The men who jumped me…I left my bags behind when I escaped them. My weapon. Everything I had—” She stopped, not wanting to dwell on the thought of all that she had lost. After Garrett was killed, nothing had mattered anymore. Not even what little she had left in life.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Elin breathed, and rubbed her thumb along the back of Anna’s hand. “I’m so glad you found us.”

Anna allowed herself to be pulled into another spontaneous hug. This time she pressed her nose into Elin’s neck and inhaled, soaking up the comfort. Despite her reservations about Kael, she found herself agreeing with the soft words. “Me, too.”

“Are you hungry?” Elin slid her hands casually down Anna’s sides, sending a rush of shivered pleasure through her body. “You feel like you could use a good meal.”

“I’m starving.” A simple statement, and Elin would never know how true it was.

“Come on, then,” Elin said. “I saw some fresh cuts on your back when we were bathing. I want to look at those when we get to camp, okay?”

Anna followed the chattering redhead with a dazed smile on her face. For the first time since Garrett had drawn his last breath—perhaps for the first time since the attack last year—she felt a tingling of something deep in her belly. It was a feeling she thought she’d never know again. It was hope.

Kael was lounging in front of a crackling fire when they got back to camp. He leaned against a log, long legs stretched out in front of him and lean, muscled arms folded across his chest. Tearing his intense gaze away from the flames, he gave them a friendly nod. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

Now that she was out of danger and had seen the depth of Elin’s love for Kael in her bright hazel eyes, Anna studied him as if for the first time. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, he was an attractive guy.

His face was smooth and defined, almost beautiful, even despite the darkness he exuded.

“Two rabbits!” Elin’s exclamation pulled Anna’s attention to the fire, where two skinned rabbits cooked on spits. “You’ve been busy.”

“It’s not every day we have a dinner guest.”

Elin strode over to a pile of supplies and searched through a duffel bag. “Anna, here’s that shirt I promised.”

Anna accepted the T-shirt with a shy nod. It looked like it would fit. She glanced over her shoulder into the woods.

“Kael, turn your head.”

Anna’s cheeks flushed in embarrassed horror at Elin’s command. “No, I…I can just—”

“No, you can stay right there. Kael will look away.”

“Sure,” he said, and faced away from Anna.

Elin also averted her eyes, though Anna wasn’t nearly as self-conscious with her as she had been before their naked swim. She moved quickly, eager to release her hosts from their forced inattention.

“We’ll have to figure something out,” Elin said once Anna had pulled on the T-shirt and given the okay. She gave Kael a meaningful look. “She doesn’t have any supplies. She lost everything after she was attacked about a week ago.”

“Attacked?” His eyes were full of concern. “Are you hurt?”

Anna was touched by the change in his demeanor and understood the underlying question. “Just some cuts and bruises, and I think my ankle’s sprained. I was lucky to get away.”

Kael held her gaze for a few moments. “Elin’s a wonderful healer. She’ll see to your injuries.”

“Yes, she told me she’ll be taking a look at them after dinner.” Anna glanced over at Elin and blushed when she saw her smoothing out two sleeping bags that had been zipped together to make a double bed.

“We can unzip these and give you one,” the lovely redhead said. “Kael has an extra blanket we can use, and next time we have the chance, we’ll find something you can use to sleep. We’ll also get you new clothes.”

Anna blinked rapidly at Elin’s words and the promise in them. She peeked over at Kael, who had a similarly stunned look on his face.

Elin gave him a beatific smile. “Right, Kael?”

Anna watched an entire conversation unfold in their shared gaze. She shifted where she stood, almost uncomfortable at the intimacy of the exchange. After a long moment, Kael and Elin both wore smiles that spoke of a mutual understanding.

“Right,” Kael rumbled. Without a word to Anna, he looked back at the fire. “Rabbits are done.”

Anna couldn’t sleep. Lying on her side in Elin’s thick sleeping bag, she stared out at the shadowy forest that surrounded their campsite. Despite her utter exhaustion, she couldn’t turn her brain off.

Maybe I should sneak away while they’re sleeping. She wiped at the dampness under one eye with the fingers that lay curled near her face. I may have nowhere else to go, but I’m not sure I should stay here.

Kael didn’t want her. She saw it in his eyes, though he treated her with quiet respect. He didn’t trust her, and she couldn’t blame him a bit. She didn’t trust him, either. But Elin wanted her to stay. And suddenly that was what Anna wanted, deep down, so badly it hurt. Thinking about leaving Elin so soon after finding her made her chest ache. To have that light in her life when she’d been so certain that there was nothing but darkness in a future without Garrett…she sighed and eased onto her back. It would be amazing.

If she stayed, she would just have to deal with Kael. And how bad could he be? If a woman like Elin loved him, was there any reason for Anna not to trust him? Her body tensed at the thought, and it took some deep breathing to relax again. Not all men are bad men.

She couldn’t leave. She had nothing and no one. Twenty-four hours ago, she had been wondering why she was still alive. Since then, she’d been held by the most beautiful woman she’d ever met, and made to feel cared for. It was as good a reason to live as any. And she didn’t really want to die.

So I’ll learn to live with Kael, for now. And who knows? Maybe he can teach me how to fight like him.

Decision made, she relaxed. Just as she began to drift to sleep, she was pulled back to awareness by a whispered conversation across the campfire. Cracking one eyelid open, she spotted Elin propped up on her side, leaning over Kael and murmuring under her breath. A moment later, the low sound of Kael’s quiet voice floated through the air.

She wondered if they were talking about her. I’m not causing tension between them, am I?

Unable to rein in her curiosity, she peeked over with half-closed eyes. She couldn’t hear their words, but she could see Elin smiling down on Kael as she spoke. At first his demeanor was distant, reserved, but soon he began to run his fingers through her red hair as they spoke. Then they were chuckling quietly, Elin wearing a wide grin and Kael nodding his head with a peaceful smile.

He doesn’t seem too upset. Anna didn’t dare move and kept her breathing deep and even. Seeing Kael unguarded like this, interacting with Elin, she felt her anxiety about him ease even further. She must be one hell of a communicator. He almost looks happy. Anna studied their tender looks and touches. I hope she’s convincing him that I’m not so bad, after all.

She was shocked when, moments later, Elin bent down and captured Kael’s mouth in a passionate kiss.

She nearly slammed her eyes shut on instinct, but her curiosity won out and she remained still, watching.

Kael released a muffled groan, and Elin pulled back with a soft giggle. She held a finger on her lips, urging him to be silent.

Then Elin sat up on their sleeping bag, and the extra blanket that was draped over their bodies fell down around her lap. She was still wearing her light tank top, but her upper thighs were bare. She reached down and pulled off her panties, tossing them on top of her bag with a mischievous smile. Anna watched Kael’s answering smile grow wide as Elin moved over to straddle his hips and settle on top of him. Elin leaned down and kissed him again as Anna lay frozen in awe.

Anna had never made love with anybody. She had never even seen two people making love. She knew sex, and she knew violence, but she was a stranger to the intimate dance that was happening across the fire. As much as she knew that she should close her eyes, she was riveted to the scene.

Kael reached down between their bodies, grinning up at Elin. The firelight played off the muscles of his arm as he worked his hand between her legs. Elin squeezed her eyes closed, and her breathing hitched loud enough for Anna to hear.

Anna flexed her thigh muscles, and her own breathing became erratic for just a moment before she brought it under control. She lay, unmoving, feeling a familiar ache between her legs, made almost unfamiliar by its strength. The look on Elin’s face was intense and sensual. Kael’s eyes were glued to her, flashing with heat that Anna could see as clear as day.

Then he withdrew his hand, drawing a quiet groan of protest from Elin. He gripped Elin’s bare hips with both hands and whispered something up at her, and she nodded in response. Elin reached down between them and planted her knees farther apart, shifting on top of Kael. Her eyes grew wide, and her mouth opened in a soundless cry.

My God, Anna thought. She watched Kael slide a hand up the middle of Elin’s back to encourage her to lean down and meet him in a hungry kiss. Elin’s hips continued to move as they got lost in the joining of lips and tongues, and she rode Kael in a steady rhythm. One of Kael’s hands twined in Elin’s hair, while the other slid down her back to grip her pale bottom. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life.

Anna told herself again that she should close her eyes, but she was rapt. She couldn’t tear her attention away from the lovemaking any more than she could stop breathing. Her heart pounded so hard that she was afraid that Kael and Elin would hear it and discover her watching.

Elin broke their kiss and sat up, riding Kael’s hips with increasing urgency. She leaned back a little and smiled down at Kael from beneath hooded eyes. Anna’s mouth fell open at the pure heat of that look, and she listened to Kael’s soft moan float out into the cool night air. Elin broke into a wide grin that quickly turned into a grimace of pleasure.

As though he knew just what she needed, Kael reached between their bodies again, and Anna watched in amazement as Elin tipped back her head, opened her mouth, and arched her back in silent release. Kael kept his other hand pressed against her lower back and supported her trembling body. Elin continued a slow, erotic grinding against Kael until he seemed to stiffen beneath her, and the two lovers sent a mutual silent cry out into the night.

Anna’s body was alive with feeling. She worried that her hosts would know she was awake because she was so out of control; she was shaking, and she couldn’t get her heartbeat to slow back to normal. Across the campfire, Elin whispered a quiet I love you down to Kael, who mouthed a reverent response in reply and pulled Elin down into a full-body hug, turning his face toward Anna and squinting hard in an expression of pure bliss.

She knew she shouldn’t have watched, but it had been the most incredible thing she’d ever seen. They were so beautiful together. Even Kael, who had frightened and enraged her earlier that day, had been transformed into something entirely different by their lovemaking. Suddenly, powerfully, Anna trusted these two strangers with her life. To find love out here in such a cold, hard world was a clear sign that these were people who could become a home. Homeless for over a year, and alone for a month, Anna couldn’t think of anything she wanted more. A family. A place where she belonged.