Chapter Twenty-Nine

*Reggie*

The night air is cool outside the warehouse. After Ragnar snapped Elijah’s neck like a glow stick, he scooped me up and took off outside. We do not make it far before he sets me down, shifting so that he can wrap me up in his big arms. We are still within the human compound, but the darkness hides us as Ragnar holds on tight to me.

Letting our surroundings melt away, I grasp him to me. The comfort his arms bring is the best medicine and the flood gates open. Tears roll down my cheeks and I let all my emotions out in a storm. A storm that my mate holds me through. No questions, no demands for answers. He simply holds me. Steadfast and strong as ever.

Relief makes me cry harder. Relief that I didn’t lose him. Relief that our future is laid out before us, waiting to be shaped and molded. At least for the next six months. My fear returns marginally. Ragnar finally pulls away, tipped off by the change in my scent.

“What is wrong, my love? We are finally safe. I will get us to your sisters, we can decide what to do from there.” He tries to reassure me, pitching his voice low to pair with a vibration. Shaking my head I push away, needing to tell him everything the Gilgamites said.

“We have to return here in six months, Ragnar. The Gilgamites said they would kill all the humans if we didn’t.” A blip of darkness to dim the bright hope from a few moments ago.

“Let them. What do we care if they kill every single man?” The confusion in his eyes is real which calms some of my frustration. To him, humans are singular. Man, woman. He hasn’t seen enough to know the vulnerabilities we face. I wouldn’t be surprised if his people popped out fully grown monsters. A pang of envy hits me when I think about babies and his kind, about how I will most likely never know what a baby Ragnar would look like.

Guilt eats at me as well. Do I even want to bring a baby into this world? Poor Sutton is facing the harsh reality of parenting in an apocalypse right now. This world is fucked up, even more so than it was before the monsters. Children are so vulnerable and as a parent you are their source of everything. Is it the smartest thing to do, to bring a child into this dark world?

“There aren’t just men here Ragnar. There are women, children and elderly people. Innocents. We can’t let them be killed because we chose to love one another. The Gilgamites want me to be pregnant. We can’t escape that reality any more than we can let them all die.” I whine, needing him to see my point, to understand my reticence. With a hefty sigh he snatches me back into his arms.

“Then we do everything in our power to make sure you are carrying my offspring.” The purr in his words sends a shiver down my spine and makes my heart skip a beat. Desire flares between us, the flames fanned by our fear and need for one another. As welcome a distraction as it is, I need him to understand first.

“Doesn’t that scare you? To be parents in this fucked up world? What if they want to harm our child? An even bigger worry is that we can’t have a child together at all.” The words tumble out of me, even as I caress his scales, memorizing the feel of them. I am careful to avoid his fresh wounds and newer, softer scales.

“It does not. I fear losing you and by extension our offspring, but the thought of having one with you makes my heart sing with joy. Whatever happens, if you are there, I will be happy. We cannot live our lives in fear of the unknown. We will face the threats as they come. Until then, we live our lives to the best of our abilities. As for our ability to breed…we will simply have to try until we die.” He leans in to lick my throat, trailing his tongue to the neckline of my t-shirt. My core clenches hotly at the promise in his words. “I need you.” He moans, adding to the fire coursing through my veins. Damn, I need him too. I need the contact, the comfort of his touch. I need to forget it all for a little while.

Throwing my arms around his neck, I pull him closer. Gently, he pushes my shirt off my shoulders, baring my breasts to his ministrations. There is a sense of urgency though, driving me to writhe and buck against him. My body begs when my voice fails me, needing the solace only he can provide.

With a growl, he lifts me off my feet, pinning my back against the nearest building. Shouts can be heard in the distance, but we are in our own world where nothing can reach us. With quick, jerky motions he pulls my pants down and my shirt over my head and off.

The feel of his scales against my heated flesh is heavenly and I can’t help but moan at the sensation. My moan is echoed when his hands grab a handful of my ass, pulling me against the heat of his erection.

His cocks emerge and split, one hitting my clit and the other teasing at my entrance. Pre-cum eases the way, adding friction as he grinds against me. I am already slick with arousal, needing this more than I need air to breathe. A vibration rattles from his chest to mine, amping up my desire until I am practically weeping with it.

“Please. I need you now.” I beg, letting him see his effect on me. With a masculine chuckle, he trails a claw under my chin to tilt my gaze to his own.

“My desire for you is too great. I cannot go slowly.” Raw desire leaves his jaws split, panting with each breath. Little moans and growls escape him as he positions his cocks at my entrance, finding me slick and ready.

With a shallow thrust, he claims my body one inch at a time. My own cries threaten to wake the entire compound. Biting my lip to hold them in, I dig my nails into his back, holding on for dear life. The incredible fullness is almost too much for my over sensitized mind, taking me over until I can only throw my head back and hang onto his shoulders, my legs tight around his waist as he begins to thrust faster, deeper.

The feelings are far from just sexual, so much so that I can’t even comprehend it all. It feels like I am being consumed, his presence and body taking me over until I am his to do with as he wishes. My soul rises to meet his as our bodies collide. His big hands grip my hips, pulling me in to meet his thrusts when the speed becomes too much for me, overwhelmed by it all. My body is putty in his hands, my heart and soul are his to hold.

“Fuck. Ragnar, I’m going to come.” I whine, leaning forward to bite at his shoulder, trying to stifle my moans.

“Such a pretty little mate. I could taste you forever, savor the way your body hungers for mine.” He growls, leaning forward to lick and suck at my mate mark. My inner muscles clench, my orgasm building so that implosion is imminent.

When he bites my mark, I am lost. He strikes hard and fast and just like that, I come. His growl is muffled against my shoulder, but I feel him tense, his thrusts picking up speed. Right before he comes, he pulls out. I bite back my cry of denial when his come hits the dirt at our feet. We are not safe here. To be locked together for hours isn't an option. Even my desire fogged mind understands this.

For a few moments we catch our breath, living within the bubble of our love before it is burst by the growing chaos. We escaped the warehouse, but we haven’t made it to safety yet. Our lovemaking was quick but even still, the men can be heard moving closer. Searching. Never one to skirt danger, Ragnar gives me a few more licks and kisses before running off into the dark, to keep me safe.

While Ragnar scouts around, I quickly pull my clothes back on. The shouts are getting louder, spreading throughout the compound. Sam and his men are on our trail and the last thing I want is to be found with my ass out. Sadness pulls at my heart, that we can’t be allies. His hatred of my mate for being different puts us at odds. I will always side with Ragnar.

As if my thoughts have summoned him, he appears out the night like a wraith. His big arms wrap me up tightly, holding me to his chest. It is a short embrace, but I bask in his love and devotion, squeezing him back before stepping away.

“The men aren’t close, but they are looking for us. We need to leave.” The worry in his voice is enough for me not to argue, but then I remember Sutton. My earlier worry for her baby rushes back now that lust isn’t fogging my brain. Blanching, I wonder how I can possibly broach the subject with Ragnar. Opting for honesty, I just spit it out.

“Wait! We need find someone! A human woman with a child. I promised her we would take her away from here.” My mate’s eyes are sharp with disapproval.

“You are my priority. I will not risk your safety for another’s.” His head swivels to scan the darkness. A darkness that is even now lightening, the threat of discovery growing.

“Please! She was so scared! She has a little baby that is in danger here. We can’t leave her.” I’m not above begging, using her baby as a bargaining chip, especially after our earlier conversation. It is Ragnar’s weakness. As expected, he folds like a house of cards.

“Where will we find her? We must be quick.” My breath wooshes out of me when I realize I do not know where she is. Despair threatens to overwhelm me, but I take deep breaths to steady myself, thinking back to what she told me earlier. If she helps in the warehouse, she must live close by.

“Can you go back to the warehouse? See if you can scent her?” Frustration twists his face but he only nods.

“Stay here, I will be back if I cannot. We will not wait any longer than a few more minutes.” I don’t argue because I get my way, but the wait is agonizing. It seems like hours before Ragnar returns. The sun is starting to rise in the sky, pink fingers of light spiderwebbing in the strips visible between the buildings. When I see that he isn’t alone, I want to cry with relief.

Rushing forward, I gather Sutton up in my arms, careful not to crush the sleeping baby that is secured in a sling across her chest. She returns my gesture before moving back a few steps.

“You lived.” She remarks, a smirk on her face.

“We did. Are you going to come with us?” When she nods, I feel a rush of relief. We can finally leave this hell hole.

“You mean she wasn’t sure she was coming?” Ragnar asks, annoyed. For just a moment I feel guilty but then I see his eyes covertly staring at the baby and all my worry and fear is gone. For some reason, I think that this tiny little girl just gained herself an entire pack of protectors.