“Just eat it.” She turned and walked into the living room. “It looks like somebody lived in here.” She kicked a few empty liquor bottles then gave him the stink eye. “I’m guessing that ‘somebody’ was you?”
He shrugged. “I told you. I wasn’t a good person.”
She studied him for a moment then shook her head. “I have to call bullshit.” She unzipped the faux leather jacket and draped it over the back of a chair. “Since we both woke up, you haven’t…” she looked down at the clothes she wore, “tried anything.” She walked toward him seductively, putting a little extra swing into her thin hips. “You’ve seen me au natural and didn’t make a single move.”
He shrugged. “I scrubbed your back.”
She nodded. “Just my back.” She stepped closer and nuzzled his neck. “You tell me that you’re bad, but I don’t see it.”
Simon swallowed the cracker slowly, his eyes following her. “You’re testing me, aren’t you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Am I?”
He sidestepped her and sat down at the dining table. “Look, Lana…I—”
She cut him off by straddling his legs and sitting in his lap. “I remember almost everything from when you led the pack.” Her eyes glimmered with mischief as she scooted farther up into his lap. “I remember you taking what you wanted, when you wanted.”
Simon’s face seemed to flush and he cleared his throat. “Yeah, about that…”
“Shh.” She leaned close and kissed the tip of his nose. “It’s you and me now, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “Of course,” he responded hoarsely.
“Then why haven’t you claimed what’s yours?”
He looked away and slowly shook his head. “I want us to be more than that.”
She kissed his earlobe and he felt his breath catch in his throat. “We’re already lovers.”
He nodded nervously. “That was then. I’m not sure that either of us really had a choice.”
She leaned back and stared into his eyes. “What do you mean by ‘more?’”
He could feel his arm throb and it made it increasingly difficult to think of the right words. “I don’t…” He swallowed hard and closed his eyes as she kissed along his neck. “I don’t want to screw this up.”
She paused and let his words soak in for a moment, not sure what she’d actually heard. Slowly she pulled back and saw the fear on his face. “What are you saying?”
Simon was lost in her eyes as she probed his mind. He gave her a weak smile. “I’m saying that I don’t want to push you away.”
Her face hardened and she sat back. “I’m not a china doll. I don’t break easy.”
“I’m not talking about breaking you.” He reached out with his good hand and pulled her gently closer. “I’m talking about hurting you. Your feelings matter.”
Lana wasn’t sure how to respond. She cupped his face and pulled him to a kiss. “I think you earned your pain meds,” she chuckled.
“I hope you don’t plan to do this every time I’m hurting.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “I’m not smart enough to find the right words every time.”
“Sometimes you only have to say something right the first time.”
18
“I just feel helpless,” Hatcher stated softly. He held the same glass of whiskey in his hands while Vicky listened patiently. “If I’d had a clue what he was going to do…” He set the glass on the edge of her desk and held his head in his hands.
“If someone decides to do what Nick did, there’s little that you can do to stop them.” She reached out and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Not if they’re serious.”
Hatcher nodded slowly and sat up, his eyes swollen from unshed tears. “I don’t know why this old geezer has gotten to me. I barely knew him.”
Vicky rolled her chair closer and lowered her voice. “He represented hope, Danny, and then he took it away. You fear that more of the Zulus will react the same way once they’re cured.” She gave him a soft smile and patted his arm. “It’s an understandable worry.”
“I knew that coming back from this would be tough, but I didn’t really give much thought to the mental state of people afterwards.” He sat back and lay his head on the back of the couch, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. “I’m not sure what to do.”
“What you’ve been doing.” Vicky’s voice sounded stronger as she spoke. “You’ve kept these people alive this long by sheer will and smart thinking.” She scooted closer and gripped his hand. “Keep following your gut.”
Hatcher nodded and sat forward again. “That works for us.” He gave her a frown. “But if this is all that’s left? The human race is doomed.”
“Danny, you can’t save all of humanity.” Vicky couldn’t keep the emotion from her voice. “It’s pure vanity to think that you could.” She saw the look on his face and she lowered her voice again. “Look, there are people offshore on the military flotilla. There has to be more settlements similar to ours out there. Maybe even bands of roving survivors.”
“Like the Marauders?”
“Maybe. Or maybe they’re just regular folks, moving around to avoid the risky areas.” She sighed and hung her head. “The point is, even if we are all that’s left of the human race…” She met his gaze and smiled. “And I don’t think we are, but if we are, there’s still hope. As long as there’s one man and one woman, there’s still a chance that we’ll pull through this.”
He looked up and thought of Candy. “How’s Roger doing?”
“He’s woken a few times. Ate a bit earlier.” She reached for his chart and looked over it. “Honestly, I think he’s past the worst of it. His vitals are all strong and other than waiting for his wounds to heal, I think he’ll make a full recovery.”
“Has he told
