Chapter 2Hell

Chapter 2

Hell

I knocked on the trailer door before I let myself in. It was a camping RV that was newly fortified with barbed wire wrapped around the outer shell of it and metal bars that were welded onto the windows. In other words, it was completely zombie-proof.

"How many today?" A deep voice came from the darkness as my eyes started to adjust to the dim lighting inside the RV.

I saw a head of dark blond hair and made my way towards Wyatt, noticing that he was sitting on the fold-down sofa, lacing up his boots. Pulling off my respirator mask, I set it aside on the kitchenette counter.

"Just one. I think a hoard is coming in the next couple days, though."

I went to sit down next to him, but he grabbed me around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. Our faces were inches apart, and his eyes were dark in the shadows. He wore a smirk that was barely visible under his beard. "What makes you say that, oh zombie whisperer?"

I rolled my eyes. The guys had started teasing me since we got here because I had a lucky streak in predicting when and where a horde would come in from, much to my brother's dismay.

"Call it a hunch," I said cryptically with a shrug.

Really, it wasn't a hunch. Much like hunting herd animals, it was easy to predict movement if you paid attention. I noticed that zoms tended to gather into massive hordes, which was already strange.

Zombies were nothing but dead shells of what used to be human beings that were somehow up and walking around, feasting on the flesh of the living. I was no scientist, so fuck if I knew the biology behind it, but something in the chemical agent that rained down over the US that day must have altered the brain stem. It's the only logical thing I can think of.

I paid attention to the way they moved over the last year and a half. I'd grown accustomed to avoiding hordes and sometimes skirting around them entirely. Lately, one or two lone zoms would amble up onto the property, but they always seemed to be coming from the same direction, telling me there were probably more than a few not too far behind them.

I wasn't going to share my theories with the guys just yet because I kind of enjoyed making them wonder.

His hand tightened on my hips as he leaned in, pressing his nose to the nape of my neck and inhaling deeply. "Fine, keep your secrets. I'll figure it out one way or another." His lips grazed my earlobe before he closed his eyes, cuddling me into the crook of his arm. "Fuck, you smell amazing."

I felt myself flush as warmth flooded through me, and for a moment, all thoughts of zombie hoards evaporated from my mind.

"A daily shower will do that to a girl," I teased. I still wasn't used to feeling clean after nearly a whole year of taking sponge baths with tepid water bottles.

His hand ran up my thigh, fingers squeezing as he pulled me closer to him. "Nah, I think it's just you. You smell like rain and..." He sniffed my neck again, making me shiver. "And a freshly mowed lawn."

Pulling back, I raised a skeptical brow. "I haven't seen a freshly mowed lawn in a year." Those didn't even exist anymore, which was weird to think about.

He hummed under his breath, sounding more like a rumble. "I don't understand it; I simply get to enjoy it."

I could feel his hardness pressing against me as I sat perched in his lap. I hadn't come here to do anything but ask if either he, Alex, or Dante felt like helping me with a special project I started working on three days ago. Not that Alex would be the first to offer his help. Ever since we arrived and the ghost from his past showed her ugly face, he'd been withdrawn and sulky.

"The guys went to the hangar to grab some breakfast. They'll be gone for a while," Wyatt said, a double meaning as plain as day in his tone. His eyes dipped to my lips as he licked his, and I felt his cock twitch beneath me.

The hangar used to be a workshop my brothers used for carpentry projects and working on old cars. Scottie and I used to tinker back in high school. Apparently, when the apocalypse hit, they turned it into a communal area for people to eat and relax in. It was smart because it brought everyone together as a community.

The guys and I never had a chance to pick up where we'd left off back at the store we'd been hiding in. I missed that place sometimes. Ever since finding my farm, we've been all business and no play. It was starting to grate on my nerves. I swiveled in his lap, rubbing against him, making him suck in a sharp breath.

"You're playing with fire, baby girl," he whispered roughly. He sunk his fingers into my hair, holding me in place by my braid as his other hand continued to grip my thigh. "I haven't tasted you in weeks, and I don't know how much longer I can keep my hands off you."

His words sent heat rushing through my body. "Then don't." And I meant it. What was the point of holding back when you never knew if you were going to be alive the next day, hour, or minute?

His mouth crashed down on mine before I could collect my thoughts. His fingers gripped my braid tightly as he angled his head for a deeper connection. My hands splayed over his hard chest, and our tongues explored each other hungrily until we were both breathless and panting against each other's lips.

"I think you might be more dangerous than the zombies," he said with a dark chuckle. "Even surrounded by death, all I fucking think about is touching you. It's fucked up how obsessed I am..."

We didn't have long before the guys would return—not that I would mind if they did anyway. I had no secrets, and neither did they. At least, I hoped they didn't.

I moved from his lap, but before he could protest, I was pushing him backwards, letting his thighs spread, caging me between them. In seconds, I had his belt undone, then his pants.

"Fuck..." he gritted through clenched teeth as I pulled his cock free, wrapping my fingers around his girth and giving a gentle squeeze.

"You said it, not me," I teased wickedly.

With eyes darker than the night sky, Wyatt pulled me towards him, his fingers expertly undoing my own pants before pulling them down my thighs. I struggled for a second to get my boots off, but I managed before shucking my pants off to the side.

Wyatt gripped his cock, stroking himself as he watched me. His eyes didn't even bother flickering at the door; they were solely focused on me. "Get on my dick, Helana, before I fucking burst." His voice was rough and full of desperation.

I didn't hesitate to climb into his lap, straddling his hips. He gripped his cock as I slid my panties to the side, groaning when I rubbed myself against his warm, swollen tip. "Make it hard and fast, Wyatt. I want it rough."

Not just want . I needed it rough. I wanted to be filled up and used. These three men were the only ones I'd ever allow to use my body that way. Beretta's face flashed through my head, and my pussy throbbed. Okay, so maybe not the only three.

He thrust into me fast and hard, both of us moaning at the same time. His hands latched onto my hips, pulling me down onto him and controlling my momentum completely. I let him take what he wanted, knowing I would get exactly the same in return. His hips moved as mine did, thrusts getting faster and more desperate with each passing second.

I held onto his shoulder, my fingernails digging into the muscle as he fucked me from below, his hips thrusting hard and fast as our grunts and moans filled the RV. It was the first time I was glad that the air outside was filled with toxic fog. It meant that there wouldn't be anyone hanging around nearby to listen, because I couldn't control my moans if I tried.

"Holy shit, baby girl, you fuck like a demon," he gritted out roughly. "Give me that pretty pussy, baby..."

I slammed myself down, meeting him halfway. He was so thick and long that I felt stretched to the max, my throbbing, swollen clit slapping against his pelvis every time he bottomed out.

The pleasure was indescribable, and as my body rocked against his, a primal need arose inside me. I wanted to stay here forever, in this time where nothing else mattered but our lust-filled desires.

Wyatt claimed my mouth with his own as he increased the speed of his thrusts, the friction setting us on fire from within. Our tongues danced together as I clung to him, our movements turning even more frantic.

"That's it, baby," he whispered in my ear. "Let go; let me feel your pussy choke my dick."

My body trembled and quaked around his pulsing shaft until finally I exploded into a million pleasure-filled pieces, riding out the wave of ecstasy washing over us both with delirious abandon as Wyatt growled deep in his throat and followed suit behind me.

Our bodies were slick with sweat as we clung to each other. Wyatt's arms tightened around me possessively, his face buried in the crook of my neck as his heart thundered against my chest. For a few precious moments, the world outside ceased to exist. There were no zombies, no toxic fog, no constant fight for survival. Just us.

Reluctantly, I pulled back, meeting Wyatt's hooded gaze. His eyes were still dark with desire, but a hint of tenderness softened their depths. He brushed a stray lock of pale white hair from my forehead, his calloused fingers lingering on my flushed skin.

"We should probably get dressed before the others get back," I murmured, even as my body protested the loss of his warmth.

Wyatt's lips quirked into a lopsided grin. "Probably. Though I wouldn't mind an audience."

I swatted his chest playfully as I disentangled myself from his embrace. "You're a freak."

"Only for you, darlin'." His voice was a low rumble that sent shivers of warm pleasure down my spine.

We dressed quickly, straightening our clothes and trying to erase the evidence of our tryst. I was just tying my boots when the sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears. Moments later, the RV door swung open, and Wyatt and I backed away as a fan kicked on in the doorway, pushing the noxious fog in the other direction.

It was necessary in every single building where people stayed long-term. The fog was dense enough that it moved slowly and didn't dissipate easily. Unless there was a strong wind, it mostly stayed in place and didn't filter indoors, but we could never be too careful.

Two figures appeared, wearing their masks and full gear: heavy boots, black fatigues, and gloves. The door slammed shut behind them, allowing Dante and Alex to safely rip off their masks.

Dante was already grinning, his hazel eyes roaming over me from head to toe as he set his gear aside and moved toward me.

"Hey, beautiful," he said. "Your guilty face tells me you guys have been busy in the thirty minutes we were gone." His dark brows wiggled at Wyatt teasingly. "You always get to go first, don't you, brother?"

Wyatt shook his head, stepping around Dante, clapping his friend on the shoulder as he took a styrofoam container and bottle of juice from Alex.

Dante swept me into a hug, sweeping me right off of my feet and crushing me to his broad chest. "I fucking missed you," he said into my hair.

"You saw me last night," I said with a chuckle, closing my eyes and allowing his smoky scent to wash over me. "Please tell me you have coffee."

He set me down, placing a chaste peck on my lips. "You know I do." He pivoted, reaching for a thermos he had set down on the kitchenette counter, and then passed it to me.

I groaned as I pulled it to my chest, popping open the lid and taking a healthy drink of the delicious brew. "Oh fuck, that's the shit..."

The guys chuckled as I downed half the thermos. We'd been without regular coffee for a year, surviving off of instant crap when we could find it, which wasn't very often. My dad had a healthy stash of the stuff in his stockpile, and I'd pretty much been drinking coffee exclusively since we got here.

The guys settled on the couch and two armchairs that circled the small room. When I was done with my coffee, I took a seat on Dante's lap and let Wyatt dig into his breakfast of what looked like powdered eggs and jerky of some kind.

This right here. This was the life I craved. Simple. No drama. Just fucking, laughing, patrolling, and…living.

My eyes drifted to Alex, who sat silently in the armchair, his gaze fixed on some distant point out the window. He'd barely said two words since entering, his demeanor as cold and withdrawn as it had been for days. I knew seeing Jessa again after all this time had shaken him, reopened old wounds he thought long healed.

I stood from Dante's lap and crossed over to Alex, perching on the arm of his chair. He tensed slightly at my proximity but didn't pull away. Progress, at least.

"Hey," I said softly, nudging his shoulder. "Earth to Alex. You with us?"

His pale blue eyes flicked to mine, guarded and wary. "Yeah. I'm here."

I studied his face, the hard lines and shadows that seemed to have deepened over the past week. "Are you okay? Really okay?"

He let out a humorless chuckle. "Is anyone okay these days? We might get eaten at any moment."

"You know what I mean." I placed a hand on his arm, feeling the coiled tension thrumming beneath his skin. "Seeing her again... I know it couldn't have been easy..."

"I'm fine," he bit out, shrugging off my touch and abruptly standing. "Ancient history. It doesn't matter anymore. Alex crossed the small space and began rummaging through a stack of supplies, his back turned to us. "We should focus on fortifying this place further, not dwelling on bitches who put bullet holes in their friends."

I exchanged a worried glance with Wyatt and Dante. They both looked as concerned as I felt. Clearly, Jessa's reappearance had affected Alex more than he wanted to let on. But pushing him now would only make him withdraw further into himself.

She'd betrayed him in a way I could never understand. She was supposed to love him, and yet she chose to nearly kill him and run off with some random men. I couldn't imagine the kind of damage that could do to someone.

With a sigh, I changed the subject. "Speaking of fortifying, we could use some help with a project Scottie has been working on. The fence on the south side needs reinforcing and he's been welding some metal panels to shore it up. Any takers?"

Dante raised his hand eagerly. "Count me in, beautiful. You know I'm always down to get my hands dirty with you." His grin was pure mischief.

Wyatt swallowed a mouthful of food and nodded.

I glanced hopefully at Alex's rigid back. "Alex? How about you?"

He tensed, shoulders tightening. Then he turned, his expression carefully blank. "You guys go ahead. I've got some other things to take care of."

Before I could press further, he grabbed his gear and swept out of the RV, leaving an awkward silence in his wake.

I stared at the door as it closed behind Alex, my heart heavy. I hated seeing him like this, so closed off and hurting. But I knew from experience that I couldn't force him to open up before he was ready.

Dante's hand settled on my shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Give him time. He'll come around when he's processed things."

"I know." I leaned into his touch, drawing strength from his steady presence. "I just wish there was more I could do."

"You're doing plenty by being here for him, for all of us." Wyatt's voice was gentle as he stood and began clearing away the remnants of his breakfast. "We're lucky to have you."

A small smile tugged at my lips. "I think I'm the lucky one. I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

"Oh, I have no doubt you'd do just fine," Dante quipped, lightening the mood. "Now, I believe you mentioned something about Scottie needing our rippling muscles for manual labor?"

I laughed and smacked his chest. "Yes, you oaf. Let's go before he comes looking for us."

The three of us geared up, double checking our weapons and supplies before venturing out into the misty yard. The fog swirled around our ankles as we made our way to the south fence line where Scottie was already hard at work.

He glanced up as we approached, his face streaked with sweat and grime from the welding. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Dante and Wyatt accompanying me.

"Well, well, look who decided to show up and actually contribute," he called out teasingly. "And here I thought you boys were too busy comparing the size of your peckers to do any real work."

Dante let out a bark of laughter as we reached Scottie. "Who says we can't multitask? Besides, we all know I'd win that contest hands down." He made a crude gesture at his crotch.

Scottie snorted and shook his head. "In your dreams, casanova. Now make yourself useful and help me hold this panel in place while I weld."

"Aye aye, captain!" Dante gave an exaggerated salute before crouching down to grip one end of a large metal sheet.

Wyatt moved to take the other side without prompting. Together, the two men strained to lift the heavy panel into position against the fence posts as Scottie flipped down his welding mask and sparked the torch to life.

I stood back and watched them work, a sense of pride swelling in my chest. My eyes drifted to the tree line in the distance, scanning for any signs of movement. The guys may tease me about my "zombie whisperer" abilities, but I knew my instincts had kept us alive more times than I could count. And right now, those instincts were prickling, warning me that danger lurked just beyond the fence.

As if summoned by my thoughts, a lone figure shambled out from the fog. Its gait was uneven, lurching, unmistakably undead. My hand automatically went to the machete strapped to my thigh.

"We've got company," I called out, my voice carrying across the misty yard.

Scottie, Dante, and Wyatt's heads snapped up in unison, following my gaze to the approaching threat. Scottie cursed under his breath, setting down his welding torch.

"Just one for now," I said, already moving forward, unsheathing my blade. "I've got this. Keep working."

Dante made a noise of protest. "Like hell you're going out there alone."

I shot him a look over my shoulder. "I can handle one zom, D. Besides, that fence needs to get done. I'll holler if I need backup."

He looked like he wanted to argue, but a sharp headshake from Wyatt silenced him. They knew I could take care of myself. I'd lasted this long.

I stalked across the yard just outside the fencing, my boots squishing in the damp grass as the fog swirled around me. The zombie lurched closer, its milky eyes fixating on me with single-minded hunger. Rotting flesh hung off its face in strips, exposing yellowed teeth in a permanent snarl.

Fifteen feet. Ten. Five. I tightened my grip on the machete handle, adrenaline thrumming through my veins. Just as the creature lunged, arms outstretched and jaws snapping, I pivoted to the side. The blade flashed, slicing through decaying neck muscles and bone with a sickening crunch.

The severed head hit the ground with a dull thud, followed a second later by the collapsing body. Black blood oozed from the stump, staining the earth. I flicked gore from my machete before sheathing it again at my hip. One down. Who knew how many more to come.

A low whistle sounded behind me. I turned to see Dante grinning, even as he held the metal panel steady for Scottie.

"Damn, beautiful, that was hot as hell," he called. "Watching you work really gets my motor running, you know what I mean?"

"Shut up and hold that straight," Wyatt grunted, straining under the weight on his end. But I caught the heated glance he threw my way, his blue eyes glinting with unmistakable want.

Damn these men were insatiable…