29. Emily

29

EMILY

M ax’s knees slam onto the ground next to me, sending dirt flying. Buddy is by his side, but I barely notice his tongue lapping at my face. Max pushes Buddy to the side until he’s directly beside me. “Emily, tell me what’s wrong.”

His voice sounds tight, almost choked. It’s a rare sound from him, and the urgency in his tone jolts me. When I turn my head, the first thing I see is the gaping hole in the fabric of his pants leg. It’s red. Bloody. It’s not supposed to be like that. Neither is Zoey. Why is everyone I care about getting covered in blood?

“Emily.”

I finally look up to see the rare, unadulterated fear in his eyes. Similar to the look of fear Zoey had in hers when she fell.

When I don’t respond, his hands grasp my face, holding my gaze. He struggles to speak, but after choking on the words, he finally succeeds. “God fucking damn it, Emily, tell me where you’re hurt!”

His unfiltered fear for me is heartbreaking and almost makes it difficult to speak, but it’s not me he should be worried about.

My eyes water. “Zoey was stabbed. I don’t think anything major was hit, but she’s lost blood. Moving her won’t be easy. It’ll be difficult for her to walk, if not impossible, and I don’t have time to help all of these people by myself.” A sob breaks out. “Everyone’s dying Max. We’re all dying.”

Without hesitation, Max slides his arms around Zoey and lifts her off the ground with ease. Her head rolls to rest against his shoulder, her eyes drooping shut. “We need to get away from here, all of us. A wooden wall surrounding a burning town—this place is a tinderbox waiting to go up. Anyone who can walk, follow me. Emily—and Josh, I see you back there—help someone who’s struggling but can still move. We’ll come back for the rest.”

Several more people run toward us, and I stiffen, trying to think of a plan to defend all these people. Then they get closer, and I realize they’re holding out their hands, not weapons. They’re survivors, townspeople, and they’ve come back to help. My knees want to give out with the relief that floods through me. Maybe we can save all of them after all.

I wrap my arm around the waist of a young woman whose leg is bloodied and swollen, and help her limp along after Max. Others follow us until we’ve formed a line of battered survivors.

Max leads us to a clear patch of grass on a nearby hill, a good distance from the flames but close enough to see the outlines of the walls and William’s distant figure while he continues luring rotters away with the steady rhythm of his guitar in the back of a pickup truck.

Once we settle the group, I stay with Zoey while the others run back and forth, helping and carrying the other survivors to join us .

Zoey’s eyes open. “What are you still doing here when you should be helping them?”

My lips curve into a strained smile. “I already left you once, Zo. I’m not leaving you again. Especially not for people who have turned their backs on me.”

“That’s something I wanted to talk to you about. It wasn’t exactly like that. After you left, people confronted Richard.”

“What are you talking about?”

“A lot of them challenged him. It started before you left but I didn’t realize it until you were gone. The whispers you heard, it was them talking among themselves about how crazy Richard was sounding. They didn’t blame you for Nathan’s betrayal. We all trusted him. Every single one of us was responsible.” Her eyes pinch closed with pain, then she opens them again a moment later.

My thoughts swarm with her words, and I struggle to process what she’s saying. Then I look around at all the surrounding survivors, and then back toward the colony where even more hurry over to us. “Are you sure?”

Zoey’s hand hovers over her bandaged wound. “These people were never against you, Em. They were miserable here. Richard punished people who tried to stand up for you.”

My nails dig into my palms when I clench my fists. “I can’t believe him.” I look back toward the burning town.

“You can still help save people. You were already doing it before you knew.” Her eyes squeeze shut, and she sucks in a breath.

“What is it?” I run my hands over her, but the bandage around the wound is still in place, and she’s not bleeding out. I feel helpless.

“Nothing, it’s nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“It hurts, okay? That’s all it is. ”

“Don’t you dare die on me,” I say in a stern warning.

“You don’t have to worry about that,” she says with a laugh that ends in a cough.

I raise an eyebrow. “Really? Wanna try that again?”

“Yeah. You don’t have to worry about that,” she repeats, this time without issue. “Believe me. I would tell you if I was.”

“But you said it hurts really bad.”

“Well, if someone cuts off my finger, then that would hurt really bad, too, but doesn’t mean I’ll bleed out.”

I stare at her for a moment, dumbfounded. “Really? Is that the best you got? Should I cut off your finger, then?”

She lifts a hand from the ground and weakly waves it at me. “Whatever. Point is, I think I’m going to be alright. He could have gotten me worse, but he didn’t. I’m pretty sure the bleeding is under control now. Want to check?”

I shake my head. “No, because I think we’re out of bandages, so I can’t wrap you back up.” I grasp her hand between mine and squeeze. “I love you, but you really need to use some better analogies.”

“Noted. If we’re done with this love fest, shouldn’t you go help your guys?”

“They have it under control. William’s driving away the rotters. Max is helping the injured survivors. And Griffin—” My eyes widen when I realize he isn’t here. “Oh no. He’s still in there.”

I push to my feet and prepare to run back into the town, but before I can even turn around, my heart leaps.

“Emily.” Griffin’s arms wrap around me, and I’m pulled from Zoey and into a tight, fierce hug.

I turn into him, and he buries his face into the crook of my neck, while I wrap my arms around his. “I was so worried about you.”

“Me?” His breath is warm on my neck. “I’ve been out of my fucking mind worrying about you. I searched for you everywhere until someone told me all the survivors were gathering out here. Otherwise, I would still be inside that town, searching for you until I burned to the ground with it.”

I tighten my hold around him and pull myself closer. “You’re insane,” I whisper into his ear.

His lips press against the sensitive part of my neck, sending a light tremor through my body. “Only for you, princess. Always for you.”

“I was about to run back in there and find you.” My gaze hovers on the burning town behind him. Every building there is in flames. “I can’t believe you were still in there for me. I’m so sorry, Griffin. Putting you in danger is never something I want to do.”

His arms tighten around me. “I’m the only one who can willingly put myself in danger. Nothing can keep me from you. Not rotter, dregs, or even fire. I’ll always find you, princess.”

My lips find his. “There are still more wounded over there. We should help.”

His fingers curl, pressing into my back. “I passed them. Max, Josh, and the other survivors have it covered.”

I scratch my nails along his back. “People are hurt. People are dying.”

He wraps a chunk of my hair around his finger and pulls so it tugs at my scalp. “The only one I care about is you. Those people mean nothing to me, but I will help them if you want me to. Just say the word.”

I bite his lip and then devour his mouth with a kiss. “Please, Griffin. I know how things turned out with them, but not everyone is awful. They don’t deserve to be abandoned.”

He kisses me once more before pulling back and looking me dead in the eye. “Even though they abandoned you?”

I nod. “Yes. This apocalypse has brought out the worst in people, but I’d rather be part of the little bit of humanity still left in the world. If we do the same to them, then we’d be no better.”

His eyes close for a moment, and he breathes out, resting his forehead against mine. “I know exactly what you mean, princess. Do I ever.” He lifts his head enough to rest his lips against my forehead. His chest expands when he inhales. “Alright. I’ll help, as long as you stay here.”

After one more kiss that makes me second guess myself, he hurries off after Max, and I settle in next to Zoey, who insists on sitting up despite my best protests.

The fires have reached the walls by the time Max and Griffin carry over the last wounded survivors, with Buddy trotting alongside them as their own personal guard dog.

The flames crackle and spit as they consume the wooden barricade that once felt like the safest place on earth.

Flames dance in Zoey’s sad eyes while she watches our world burn. “We worked for weeks gathering supplies, trying to build a new fence. We planned for metal this time…something that wouldn’t go up in flames so easily. I guess none of that really mattered in the end.”

I wrap an arm around her shoulders and lean my head against her while we watch the flames leap higher, devouring the place we’d called home. The only home we’ve known since the dead rose.

Griffin, Max, and William settle in behind us, letting us have our moment. I realize then that I feel more secure here, in the middle of ruin, because they’re with me. They’re the safest place I’ve ever been, no matter our location.

The thought brings on a cascade of new thoughts until I can’t control it any longer. Leaving Zoey’s side, I move back toward Griffin and turn around until I’m sitting in his lap. William’s and Max’s eyes blaze with desire, their full attention on me. I keep my voice low, speaking so only the three of them can hear .

“I can’t abandon them. Not now, not like this. They need me. Zoey needs me.”

Understanding fills his eyes. I don’t know what I expected his reaction to be, but he listens. He really listens.

“I understand if you guys want to leave and go back somewhere else. Maybe even get started on making another area more secure.” My fingers tangle in the worn fabric of his shirt. “I will come back to you, I promise you that, but I can’t leave now.”

He doesn’t hesitate to pull me close, his arms wrapping around me before pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. Then his hand tilts my chin up, and he leans down, touching his lips softly to mine. “You belong with me—with us. I know where we belong, too. Remember the town I told you about turning into a colony? It’s waiting. We can turn it into a place where anyone can find safety. Even all these people, because I’m not in the business of turning people away. The four of us will stay together, even if we have to be a group of hundreds.”

My mind swarms with the meaning of his words, and a tear collects in the corner of my eye, which William reaches over to wipe away with a soft smile, letting me know he agrees.

“You really mean it?” I ask.

Griffin smiles. “Of course I mean it. I’m keeping my promise to you, princess. I won’t leave you again. Not ever.”

My heart pounds so hard it hurts, only this time it’s in a good way. I’m speechless.

Griffin’s thumb traces slow circles on my back, keeping me close, his voice lifting so others can hear. He clears his throat. “We have a town a little way from here. It isn’t much yet. It’s not as grand or as developed as this one was, but it has promise. We had plans to really turn it into something before we ended up here. ”

With a gasp, I look up at the realization of what he’s offering. The gift he’s giving to dozens of strangers.

“It’ll take a lot of work to build up, and I can’t guarantee anything, but it has buildings and some supplies and materials. We can figure out the rest along the way. The only problem is getting there. It’s some distance away, and with no cars, or very few cars. It’ll be a journey, especially for the injured, but we’ll find a way and get there together. Whoever wants to join is welcome to.”

I close my eyes, breathing in the smell of increasing smoke, and wait.

This will be hard, I know that. I did much of it on foot alone in the dark, and I wasn’t even hurt like most of these survivors are. But no one will be alone this time.

Silence holds for a beat, then the first voice rings out, followed by a chorus. “Let’s do it.”

The air conditioner blasts in my face, a welcome in the otherwise blistering heat. I’m in the passenger seat of the first car in a long line of cars we strung together, each packed with survivors. Griffin’s at the wheel, maneuvering around abandoned cars and the occasional rotter while leading us back to the old town we’re about to call home. My fingers interlock with his, resting atop the center console. He lifts our joined hands, his gaze flashing hot when he locks onto mine. Heat flows through my body when he presses his lips against the back of my hand.

Zoey sits in the back, drifting in and out of sleep, while an exhausted Josh naps with his head resting on her shoulder, his sister dozing next to him.

We’ve filled the trunk of every vehicle with bags salvaged from the decimated town—medical supplies, Zoey’s stash of insulin which rests on the floor between her feet, what little food we could find, among random other belongings. The insulin is the most important of all. I didn’t realize she had already packed a bag and stashed it on the outside of the wall, intending to leave with the four of us as soon as we got back from rescuing Josh. I underestimated her. She wasn’t going to make me choose. She was going to leave with me whether or not I wanted her to.

William drives the car in the middle of the line behind us, while max is in a truck at the end, watching over the group to make sure no one falls behind.

When we’d made the plan to leave the colony, the reality of walking seemed impossible. Thankfully, when we made it to the lot where my colony had moved all the cars off the road outside the walls, we found enough working cars to carry the entire group.

Griffin’s voice breaks through the hum of the engine. “Looks like there’s a spot up ahead to pull over for the night, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s next to a running stream, so we’ll have fresh water.”

I nod in agreement, grateful for a chance to rest. Since we’re not running aimlessly through the woods, it’s taking longer to drive around than expected. Especially with the additional stops to treat the wounded.

Griffin pulls off the exit, and we lead the convoy to a flat clearing beside the stream, the cars lining up along the edge of the road.

Setting up camp is a whirlwind of movement and murmurs. The dozen tents we grabbed form a circle around a central clearing where we’ll keep a fire for warmth and safety.

Sleeping bags and blankets fill the spaces in between the tents, makeshift beds for those without tents.

The fire crackles to life, casting a soft glow over the weary faces of everyone gathered around. We lost some good people back there, and though we mourn the dead, we’re all grateful to be alive.

All three of my guys seem to be more attentive than usual. Their touches lingering, their smiles softer. While I know they’re still trying to make it up to me for making me leave in the first place, it’s working.

Max and William and I have already patched things up. We’ve forgiven each other and made peace with our hurts. So have Griffin and me, but he’s not aware of it yet. He doesn’t realize that accepting my former colony into this new town he’s been dreaming of is the most selfless thing he could have done for me. It’s far more than I ever would have asked from him. Still, I want to make sure he’s okay with it, because I understand how much this truly means to him and the sacrifice he’s making. Rather than forming a small safe place for the four of us, he’s invited roughly thirty people he doesn’t even know. It’s a tremendous risk for him, and he did it without hesitation. He welcomed in a large group of people who we thought turned their backs on me and shunned him, and I appreciate him for it more than he may ever know. I so badly want to show him that.

I help Zoey set up our shared tent, placing blankets down and arranging the little space we have. With so many people and so few tents, we’ll have to double or triple up. It’s not the coziest setup, but it works. Max isn’t happy about me not sleeping in their tent. I’d explained that the tent is too small for four people, and they’ll be lucky if it will fit the three of them. And I wasn’t going to leave Zoey’s side, who is too stubborn to remain resting while I do all the work on our tent, but I’m just happy she’s going to be okay. Buddy has taken to her well. He keeps poking his nose against her bandaged wound, as if checking on her status.

When I finish adjusting my sleeping bag, I step backward out of the tent and a pair of muscular arms wrap around me from behind. I let out a small squeal before melting into the embrace.

Lips brush my neck, his breath tickling my ear. A smile spreads across my face at the familiarity, and I let my eyes close, feeling even safer than I did moments ago. “Finally,” William murmurs, his voice rough, sending shivers up my spine. “I get a moment with you.”

I giggle, leaning back into him. “I’ve been here all along.”

“Around Griffin and Max is one thing, but a few dozen strangers?” He spins me around in his arms to face him, and I wrap my arms around his neck. “That makes it a little harder to do what I want.”

I raise an eyebrow, feigning innocence while I press my lips close to his and murmur, “And what exactly is it you want to do with me?”

William’s hand slips down my back and beneath the waistband of my jeans, his fingers squeezing my ass with a possessive warmth. “You know, when I played that guitar, all I could think about was you and that first night I saw you. Blasting music in the middle of an overrun city and then dancing away while killing rotters? Only a maniac would do something like that.”

“Unfortunately, I never thought to try,” Max says, walking past.

I let out a giggle and lean into William. “Some might call it strategy.” I give the guitar strap over his shoulder a gentle tug, nodding toward it. “But look who’s got a new instrument.”

His grin is wide and beams with pride. “It felt good to hold a guitar in my hands again, but not as good as holding you.”

“You’re going to make me blush so much I catch on fire.” I lift onto my toes and give him a gentle kiss.

“Then I’ll have to go down with you because there’s no way I’ll ever let go. ”

The heat creeping up my neck is hot and intense. “I’m sorry you lost your harmonica, though.”

Something flashes in his eyes that I can’t decipher. His eyes drop to the compass hanging around my neck. “I’m not. It was worth it. Besides, now I can teach you to play the guitar until I can teach you the harmonica. I’ll have to whisk you away for some private lessons, though. Especially since I’m sure Griffin will work us to the bone at the new place.”

“Damn right I will,” Griffin says, walking past.

“Can’t get any privacy around here as it is,” William mutters, making me laugh. I pull him down for another searing kiss. He tastes of something warm and familiar, and when I release him, he’s grinning. His pale blue eyes sparkle when he looks at me, and they no longer carry the sorrow they had when I first met him. This right here is my favorite look on him.

“We’ll figure it out. I promise. Besides,” I press my lips to his again, I can’t seem to stop tasting him, “I’m looking forward to being alone with you.”

A low growl rises in his throat, and for a second, I think he might whisk me off into the woods for some alone time, but then Max shoves him to the side, grinning. “Move it, Willie boy. My pet needs to eat.” Max shoves something into my hands. Looking down, I realize it’s a pouch of freeze-dried chili that’s already been heated over the fire, and a plastic fork. He presents it like it’s the finest meal on earth, which it likely could be.

Shaking my head, I try to give it back to him. “We should save this for someone who really needs it.”

Max’s brows lift, and he crosses his arms, daring me. “You skip eating, and Griffin will have my head, and then your ass. I can guarantee it’ll be a lot more fun for you than it will be for me. Believe me when I say we’ve sorted out food for everyone for the night, and you’re included in that. Plus, a small group went foraging. Now eat, or else I’ll kill whoever you try to give that to instead.”

My eyes narrow. “You will not.”

He grins. “Care to test that theory?”

I eye him, but I know he’s not the one to make fake threats. So, I give in and take a bite. It’s rich, and even tastes like actual food from the “before” times. I savor every single bite, knowing how rare it is and that pretty soon there won’t be any more left on the planet.

“Atta girl.” Max kisses my cheek and walks off, whistling.

Looking around, I spot Zoey. She’s sitting with two other girls from the colony, with Buddy eating something out of a bowl. I’m glad to see Zoey also has her own food pouch in hand. She laughs, and I smile. She’s doing better than I thought she would be. Her wound wasn’t as serious as I had feared, which is an immense relief. I don’t know what I would do if I lost her. At least she should have an easier time healing than Griffin did. I don’t think anyone here is as stubborn as he is.

“What’s going through your mind?” As if summoned by my thoughts, Griffin wraps his arms around me. Ever since we left the colony ruins, my guys have done a good job making sure I’m not alone.

When I turn around in his arms to face him, a flash of purple catches my attention. I stop and stare at the woman weaving in and out of the tree line, her eyes on our campsite. As if she’s studying it. “Hey, I know her.”

Griffin follows my line of sight. “Is she from the colony, too?”

I shake my head. “No. She was in the rest area we stopped at on the way to the colony. Max and I talked to her, then she ran away. I wonder what she’s doing here.”

Griffin’s chest rumbles. “The way she’s watching the camp doesn’t feel right. ”

I place a hand on his chest. “Let me go talk to her.” I glance up at him. “Alone. I’ll make sure to stay in sight, though. I don’t want to scare her off.”

“You think I might scare her away?”

“Absolutely.” I lift onto my toes, give him a kiss, and then head for the woman with the purple hair.

She doesn’t notice me approaching until I’m only a few feet away. I step on a twig, cracking it, and she startles. Her eyes widen and she moves like she’s going to dart, but then she stops. “You.”

“Hey. Fancy seeing you here.”

Her eyes dart around, then settle on me. “I was passing by.”

“Do you want to join us?” I offer.

She thinks it over for a moment, then shakes her head. “No, I can’t. I have to get back.”

“What’s your name?”

“Autumn,” she says after hesitation.

“Emily. I promise I’m not as scary as I look.” I give her a soft smile.

“What are all of you doing over there? Are you…are you in trouble?”

I sit down on the ground in front of her and get comfortable. “No. Well, not anymore. My old colony burned to the ground, so we’re traveling to another one to start new.”

“Hey, what’s going on over here?” Zoey joins us and sits next to me. “Are you a friend of Emily’s, too? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“I met her on the way to the colony this morning. Wow. It’s hard to believe all that’s happened in a day.” I shake my head. Maybe tomorrow will be easier.

“Oh yeah? Are you going to join us? We’re headed to a new town to start over. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.” Zoey wraps her arm around my shoulders and grins at me.

“No, I already have a home,” Autumn says .

“What are you doing out here, then?” I ask. Something feels off. “Is there something we have that you need?”

Autumn chews on her lip for a moment, then breathes out a heavy sigh. “Okay. I was going to wait for an opportunity to check out your medical supplies.”

Her honesty catches me off guard. “We really don’t have a lot.”

“What sort of medical supplies?” Zoey asks.

Autumn shakes her head. “I don’t know. Anything.”

I lock my gaze with Zoey’s, and we have one of our unspoken conversations. We must be really out of sync, because I don’t expect her to pull her back from her back and open it up in her lap. “I have a few things. We’re out of bandages, but there are Band-Aids, some ointment, gauze…and a few other things.”

Autumn’s eyes light up. “Can I have some of it?”

Zoey shrugs and holds out her bag. “Sure.”

Autumn picks out a few items. She smiles and opens her mouth to say something, but then she looks at something behind me and disappears into the trees.

“What was that about?” Griffin asks, kneeling next to me. His gaze is fixed on the forest in front of us.

“She wanted some medical supplies, then she ran when she saw you,” I explained.

“She seems nice, but something felt off,” Zoey says, still watching the spot where the girl disappeared. “I hope she’s alright.”

“Maybe you’ll see her again,” Griffin says. “Give her some time. Did you eat?”

“Yes, Max made sure I ate.”

Zoey laughs when I roll my eyes, then rests her hand over her wound and whines. “Oh, laughing hurts. No laughing for a while.”

The look on Griffin’s face can only be described as eager when he looks at the wrapped wound on her side. “Be careful. If you make a wound worse, Emily will never let you live it down.”

“Yes, I will,” I huff, then I reach out my hands and let Griffin pull me to my feet.

When everyone’s finished eating, we gather around the fires, sharing stories of the past and imagining the future in the new town. There’s something in the air that I never experienced before. We all feel hopeful here. I can feel it more strongly than I ever did before inside the colony. They’re actually…happy.

I squeeze Griffin’s hand where he sits beside me, his excitement contagious when everyone talks about plans, sharing ideas and dreams.

Nestled against William’s chest in between his legs, with his arms wrapped around me, I feel Max’s warmth when he leans against my other arm.

Surrounded by my guys in the dark in the middle of nowhere, I feel safe. More than I ever have before.

Griffin’s pride is palpable. I can feel it without even looking at him. He’s finally getting the colony that he’s always wanted.

Someone tells a story about Richard, one of the more ridiculous rumors he used to spread, and laughter erupts around the camp. It’s still odd experiencing this and realizing these people weren’t entirely his little minions, like I had thought. The ways I thought they were making my life miserable, were actually orchestrated by Richard. It’s still going to take some getting used to, but I think I can do it.

When I glance at Griffin, I catch the tightness in his jaw when his face turns to stone. I only found out a little bit ago that he saved Richard. Or, at least, he tried to, but Nathan got to him in the end. Nobody else here seems to be disappointed that Richard and his closest allies are gone, but I’m proud of Griffin for the choice he made. He’s not the monster so many people in the past have tried to make him out to be. He’s fought for his humanity in a world that’s tried so hard to take it from him.

I reach up my free hand to trace the beautiful scar on his face, and he leans into my touch, his eyes closing and his lips parting.

Lost in my thoughts, I don’t notice everyone’s looking at me until Juliet, one of the other parentless teenagers Josh has been staying with, asks, “What about you, Emily? Are you really with all three guys?”

Griffin’s hand squeezes mine, and he answers for me. “Yes, she’s with all three of us—if she’ll still have us.”

“Why wouldn’t she?” Juliet asks, wide-eyed.

“Because we did something stupid. All three of us,” he says, brushing a soft kiss over my knuckles. “We fucked up, and we’re lucky she’s even talking to us. We deserve to spend the rest of our lives begging for her forgiveness, but she’s too kind to let us.”

A playful scoff from someone across the fire calls out, “Why don’t two of you find another woman? There are plenty to get to know here.” The woman gives a flirty bat of her lashes.

Buddy lifts his head from my legs and glares at the woman, as though he senses my unease.

My nails sink into Griffin’s hand that’s still holding mine, and I see the small grin on his face when he recognizes my jealousy. Maybe I’m greedy, but these three are mine and I’ll fight a bitch for them.

Griffin’s gaze locks onto mine, and it feels as though all the oxygen is being sucked out of the surrounding air. What I see in his eyes turns me into a puddle at his feet, even before he speaks. “Because she’s worth it.”

The night air is thick and silent, save for the crickets. Stars spill across the dark sky in a rare, peaceful moment. It’s beautiful. Perfect.

Griffin’s grip is warm when he leads me away from the tent I’m sharing with Zoey, redirecting us quietly toward the one he’s sharing with Max and William.

“What are you doing? This isn’t my tent,” I whisper, looking up at him while he pulls me closer.

He raises my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles that warms me to my toes. “It is tonight, princess.”

His words send a shiver through me. Then he’s lifting me, carrying me effortlessly inside the tent, laying me down over the layered blankets and sleeping bags like they’re a makeshift bed built only for us.

“They’ll be a little while,” he says, settling in beside me. “They promised to give us some time.”

“Time for what?” I lean into the soft blankets, my heart racing, yet I’m still oddly calm.

Griffin brushes a stray strand of hair back from my face, his fingers lingering, tracing a path that feels like fire beneath his touch. “That’s up to you, princess. I only need a chance to show you how serious and insanely wild I am about you. I meant it when I said you belong with us, with me, in any town you choose.” One corner of his mouth quirks up into a smile. “Even if you want to live in the trees, then I’ll build a treehouse big enough for all of us. If you want the ocean, then I’ll build a boat.”

“You’ll really do all that?” I ask.

He nods, his gaze like fire. “And I’ll keep begging for your forgiveness for as long as I have to because I know how much of an idiot I was, and probably still am.”

Laying on my side, I face him, running my finger along the scar on his face that’s plagued him for so long, but I think it’s the one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. “ I’ve already forgiven you, Griffin. With everything going on, I haven’t had a chance to tell you.”

His whole face relaxes beneath my fingertips as though a weight has lifted, and I wish I would have pulled him to the side earlier. “You have?”

“Mhm.” I lean forward, closing the space between us to kiss him. “You took in everyone I care about, and even more. You opened up your home—your life—to my people, people you barely know. People we once thought were cruel.”

He licks his lips. “Well, I know now that it was all of Richard’s doing. These people never hated or blamed you. If anything, they were victims, too.”

“Yet you still tried to help him. The monster you’ve always been told you are isn’t real. You never were one. You’re fierce only when it comes to protecting others. That’s a strength, Griffin. Not a flaw.”

“I only want to protect the ones I care about, Emily. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“You already do that, and so much more.”

His eyes flutter closed, and he leans into my touch like it’s a balm. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

Dropping my hand from his face, I swing one leg over his hips and straddle his waist. His eyes shoot open, and his hands rest on my hips before I lean down to kiss him again. He’s instantly hard for me. “Yeah, I know. So, are we going to make up or what?”

His eyes darken with lust. “What about all the people out there?”

My lips brush against his when I respond. “We can try to be quiet, but I really don’t care if they hear us. Besides, I kind of want everyone to know that you’re mine, and mine alone,” I whisper, then lift his shirt off his body.

My hands fall against his strong chest and trail along the planes of his abs to the fading redness of his wound. I’m so relieved to see it healing. It’s amazing what having proper supplies can do.

His hips thrust against me. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

“I think I do…”

His fingertips dig into my hips with a raw possessiveness, even as he looks up at me with something raw in his eyes. A smile tugs at my lips, and he slides his hands under my shirt, fingers tracing a line up my spine before slipping around to squeeze my breasts until he finally unbuttons my jeans. Together, we have a hell of a time sliding them down my legs and dropping them to the ground, and then getting rid of his next.

His hands find my hips again, squeezing with a hunger that matches my own. With his chest bare to me, I let my fingers graze over the taut muscles. His lips find mine, urgent yet reverent.

“Do you know how many times I wanted to kiss you but didn’t?” He mutters against my skin, breath warm at my collarbone. “I’ve lost track of how many times.”

“Why didn’t you?” I breathe out, pressing him down against the blankets. My fingers map out the hard lines of his strong, broad chest before I kiss a path downward.

He pauses, his voice thick with emotion, breathing heavy. “You were so perfect. I didn’t want to taint you.”

The sincerity in his words catches me off guard. I let my response be in the touch of my hands, in the way I kiss him, in every press of my lips, letting him know how he’s wrong, oh so very wrong. I continue proving him wrong by sucking his dick into my mouth. He reaches down and tangles his fingers in my hair. “Emily,” he gasps.

I can’t respond on account of dick mouth, but I use my tongue and humming to bring him to the edge. His breathing picks up and his abs contract. What a beautiful view .

He’s about to soar over the edge until he ruins it by tugging my hair until he pops out of my mouth. “Not like this. I need you—here,” he whispers, pulling me up his body until I’m positioned directly over him. One hand falls to my hips while the other rests along my jawline, holding my gaze to his. “Like this,” he whispers more quietly, helping to guide me.

I let out a whimper, and he pauses. “Emily, we don’t have to?—”

“No, I want to.” With one palm pressing against his shoulder and my other hand clasping around his forearm of the hand that’s touching my face, I continue sinking down onto him until he’s filling me completely. I let out a small whine.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” His eyes are soft and caring. No one has ever looked at me that way before until I met them.

“Well, I want you to. In this way, I mean,” I rush to add on the part at the end. He’s so caring, so concerned for me.

“You’re perfect. It’s like you were fucking made for me,” he breathes out and rolls his hips.

A gasp slips from me, and he flips us in one smooth motion, his lips catching my whimper with a kiss, his hands keeping me anchored beneath him as we fall into each other, our bodies communicating more than words ever could.

My hair fans out around me. Our bodies mold together, moving in a smooth rhythm that drives me wild.

“You’re everything, Emily,” he breathes, his voice breaking.

“You’re a good man, Griffin,” I say, my words a soft plea. It’s the truth I need him to know, because he’s so much more incredible than he realizes, and I’m willing to make it my personal mission to remind him of that as much as possible.

I want so badly to devour his mouth, but we sweet talk each other, healing our internal wounds with our words and our bodies. When my voice rises with the release, he places a soft hand over my mouth to stifle my moans.

His lips tease a line down my neck and across my collarbone, kissing their way to my nipples until I’m squeezing his cock so hard that he explodes, biting my shoulder as he rides out the orgasm.

Stars fill my vision. We hold on to each other through wave after wave.

In the tranquil silence after, we remain wrapped around each other, his breath warm against my shoulder while I lay halfway on his chest. His fingers are light when they stroke up and down my back and I drift off.

We fall asleep wrapped in each other’s arms, stirring slightly when two more warm bodies enter the tent and nestle in around us. Someone kisses my forehead, while another runs the pad of his finger along my bare arm.

“Are you happy, pet?” he asks softly, with a smile in his voice.

“Very,” I whisper, and snuggle deeper into them, falling asleep once more, surrounded by the three best things to have ever happened to me.

This must be what happiness feels like, even at the end of the world.