Club Zombie 1-4

by Z. Allora

  Erick pressed his lips together and then sighed. “Um, yeah. I guess.”

  “I could arrange for protection at your school, if you insist, but we’d all sleep better if you come back here. This would give me time to put a few things into motion. And I promise the move won’t impact your studies all that much.”

  “Especially since you don’t want to be a lawyer,” Cassidy pointed out that fact to help Lafayette’s argument.

  Erick stared at the passenger window.

  “Thank you. We’ll be back a little before dark.”

  14

  Sun’s Out

  Only a few hours had passed since they ran out of the house he grew up in, but it felt like years. Erick let Cassidy guide him up the stairs to his apartment, and in the hallway, Ethan leaned against their door.

  His big brother yanked Erick into a hug. “Erick, are you okay? What did that fucker do to you?”

  Erick gave in to the nurturing embrace and absorbed his brother’s love as the life force felt like it was being pushed back into his body. Then he stepped back from Ethan and shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me about Father?”

  “What do you—”

  “Cut the bullshit. Did he threaten to hurt me if you didn’t keep me normal?” Erick added air quotes when he said normal.

  “What do you want me to say?” Ethan folded his arms across his chest.

  “You protected me again and again. Is that why you let me win his stupid challenges?”

  “Some you won on your own.” Ethan gave a little smile. “That was nothing. The real damage and what pisses me off the most is he poisoned me with his fucked-up ideas.”

  “What do you mean?” Erick leaned into Cassidy. His stability reminded him things were going to be all right.

  “Demon—”

  “Who?” Erick scrunched his face.

  “You know.” Ethan waved his hand in some secret sibling sign language.

  Got it! “Oh, right. That guy Keith from the support group. I’m glad you’re still going to those meetings.”

  Ethan straightened. “Yup, and I’m meeting with Demon… Keith… to work out my cognitive dissonance over coffee a couple times a week. He’s a good guy, very patient.”

  “Cognitive dissonance?” Erick tilted his head. Did his brother even know what that meant?

  “Yeah. I went along with some of Father’s transphobic bullshit, which meant some parts of my brain accepted the transphobia as true and my belief system got adjusted since I participated in it.”

  Erick was impressed Ethan totally understood not only the concept but how it related to his acceptance. “Right. If you didn’t think you liked peas but you were eating peas, your brain needs to reprocess that information to make you think you like peas. If you’re doing something contrary to your belief system, that can alter what you believe as true.”

  “Um, yeah. I guess so. Anyway, I’m also seeing a therapist.” He ducked his head as if he were expecting Erick to belittle him.

  “Good for you.” He was so proud of his brother.

  Ethan narrowed his gaze onto Erick. “Lafayette said you’d be back for a while… would you come with me?”

  “Um, I don’t—” Erick glanced at Cassidy.

  “Not to fix you or anything, but having you with me for some of the sessions might help my healing, and I want to know how I can earn your forgiveness,” his brother added in a rush of words.

  Erick pressed his lips together and tears gathered in his eyes. Love for his brother threatened to overwhelm him after this emotional day. He hugged Ethan. “I’d like that.”

  “I’m going to get out of your hair. You must be exhausted.” Ethan shook hands with Cassidy and squeezed Erick’s shoulder on his way out of the apartment.

  Erick was soul drained and weary.

  Cassidy said, “Now that you’re here and safe, let’s take a bath and get some sleep.

  “What about the exchange?” Even though a bath and sleeping for a week sounded like heaven, he wanted to solidify what was between him and Cassidy.

  “Tomorrow. I promise.”

  Excitement slithered through him. “Tomorrow? Really?”

  “Yes, I’m done postponing while I wait for the other shoe to boot in me in the head.” Cassidy shook his head.

  “I’m holding you to it.” Erick looped an arm around Cassidy’s waist. “Now would the shoe be a heel or flat?”

  15

  Somewhere Over the Rainbow

  Cassidy may have been dawdling over his burger. He was ready to do the exchange but….

  Erick kissed his cheek. “You love me. I love you. We’re mates, correct?”

  Joy coursed through Cassidy’s heart. No truer words were ever said. “Of course.”

  “As soon as you finish your burger we’re going back to the apartment and we will do the exchange.” The determination in Erick’s expression brooked no space for disagreement.

  “Um, okay.” Fear tried to wind around Cassidy’s heart but Erick snapped the terror in two. The only thing he was afraid of was being without Erick, and after the exchange, that would no longer be a possibility.

  Storm appeared out of nowhere, flanked by his mates. He twirled a chair around and straddled the seat. “Sorry, I don’t want to barge in.”

  Erick rolled his eyes and laughed. “Have a seat.”

  “I did.” Storm grinned.

  Ulrich grinned. Cut smacked Storm on the back of the head.

  “Storm.”

  Alex’s voice must have torn through Storm’s nonsense. Storm sat straighter. He pushed a bundle of newspaper and twine toward Erick. “I wanted to give you this…. Um, sorry. I wrapped it myself.”

  Erick stared at the package and then at Storm.

  “Open it,” Storm growled.

  Erick undid the knots from the string and unwound the paper. “A penknife?”

  Storm’s smile made his eyes shine with goodness and light. “It’s the one I used for my… our exchanges. I thought… I don’t know, you might—”

  “Ethan! I love it. Thank you.” Erick grabbed his brother into a hug and sniffed. “I’m so glad you’re not dead. I love you.”

  Storm squirmed in his chair. “Look, I don’t need to threaten Cassidy. He’s a great guy, and he’ll make you very happy.”

  Erick gave everyone a cute pout. “That is, if he’ll do the exchange with me.”

  Storm glared at Cassidy with the anger of a thousand protesters.

  Cassidy held his hands in front of him. “We’re going back to the apartment right now to do the deed.”

  Erick nodded enthusiastically.

  Cassidy tried not to feel stupid. “It was dumb to wait, but I wanted to make sure Erick was ready.”

  “He is more than.” Storm smirked and slapped his brother on the back.

  Ulrich and Cutter got on either side of Erick and hugged him while fist-bumping with Cassidy.

  Alex gave him a warm smile.

  Storm took over the hugging of Erick and then pulled Cassidy out of his chair and into their embrace. “Cassidy, be happy, man. You deserve it.”

  Cassidy caught himself wanting to state how unworthy he was, but not wanting to distress Erick, he focused on how he would work on being the best mate ever. “Thanks, man. Thanks.”

  On the walk back to the apartment, Erick tipped his face to gaze at the full moon. “The moon is so beautiful.”

  “It’s nothing compared to you.” Cassidy guided him inside his building and up the stairs. He went to put the key in the lock—

  Beau opened the door for them.

  “What are—”

  “Erick’s brother let me know, and his mates confirmed it. You’ll find everything you need in your bedroom.” Beau patted Erick’s cheek. “Welcome.”

  “Thank you,” Erick replied.

  Beau winked at Cassidy. “Oh, by the way, over-twenty-one-year-old spouses can share alcohol with their under-twenty-one-year-old spouses in their home in South Carolina.”<
br />
  “What?” Cassidy wasn’t sure why that law would be important.

  “I turned down the bed and such… but I’ll let you handle everything from here.” Beau stopped at the doorway. “Oh, remember you don’t need to use condoms since zombies can’t get or pass the usual diseases.”

  Cassidy mumbled, “Thank you, Beau.” He ushered a lava-flushed Erick into the apartment and shut the door.

  The door to the bedroom had been left open, and a soft glow spilled into the living room. He followed Erick into the candlelit room.

  Erick inhaled. “There must be fifty rose-scented candles. Look, next to the bed, a tray with massage oil, champagne, chocolate… and Astroglide.”

  “Beau doesn’t believe in half measures.” Cassidy popped the cork on the champagne and poured some into the two crystal flutes.

  “Thanks.” Erick accepted his. “I guess this is why Beau mentioned the alcohol law.”

  “To our future.” Cassidy clinked their glasses together.

  Erick took a sip and wrinkled his nose. “Tickles.”

  “You’re my mate. Mine.” The knowledge slammed into Cassidy hard. The more times he said Erick was his mate, the more real and solid his reality became. He may not be worthy but he was going to spend an eternity making Erick happy.

  Erick set his champagne flute aside. He opened the massage oil and inhaled. “Mmmm, roses.”

  “Would you enjoy a massage?”

  “Really?” Erick appeared surprised.

  “Yes.” A massage would put them both in the right frame of mind.

  “Um, yeah. Okay. I guess I should….” He toyed with the hem of his shirt.

  Sensing his nerves, Cassidy decided to return to their game of questions. “So, question.”

  “What?” Erick shucked his clothing. He slipped onto bed, lying on his stomach.

  Cassidy stripped to his underwear. His were pink jersey fitted boxers with black hearts around the waistband. “What do you think about when you masturbate?”

  “Oh… um. Well, I imagine I’m being taken.” Erick giggled. “Even though I’m totally willing.”

  “Ah, playing hard to get?” Cassidy rubbed some rose oil across Erick’s shoulders and started massaging. This was totally going to stain his sheets, but he didn’t give a shit.

  “That’s nice. I don’t know. I used to sneak my grandmother’s romance novels.”

  “Vintage romance?” That explained a lot. Cassidy didn’t know how a back could be pretty, but Erick had a lovely back. He loved the soft sounds of pleasure escaping from Erick.

  Erick glanced at him and shrugged. “I guess my sexuality got hardwired at an early age.”

  “What else?” Cassidy encouraged. He wanted to know everything he could about Erick.

  “I imagine myself laid on a cozy bed.” His words were soft as he shifted under Cassidy’s hands.

  Cassidy mentally X-ed that box. “How are you feeling?”

  “Relaxed and kind of horny,” Erick purred.

  Check and check. “And what happens when you’re in this fantasy bed?”

  “My butt is being massaged.” Erick’s laughter evolved into a moan.

  Cassidy started to knead Erick’s ass ever so slowly. He massaged Erick’s cheeks apart as he rubbed his thumbs closer to Erick’s opening.

  Erick spread his thighs, pushing his ass up and increasing the angle. Cassidy RSVP’d to the invitation Erick issued and deepened his exploration.

  “Fingers teasing across… yeah, like—” Erick’s voice had dropped to a whisper and then disappeared in a gasp.

  Cassidy had never needed to slide inside someone more. But he hadn’t fucked in decades. He rubbed more oil into Erick’s sweet ass and rededicated himself to following Erick’s rhythm, ’cause, damn, those were some pretty sounds he made.

  Changing to Astroglide, Cassidy warmed the slick between his fingers. He circled Erick’s opening and then ran a finger directly over his entrance. “Then what?”

  “Um, oh, then I would be made ready to accept—oh, yeah.” Erick thrust back.

  He added some more lube. Dipping his finger inside Erick about an inch, Cassidy waited.

  Erick wiggled. “Please.”

  The demand caught Cassidy by surprise, though he was more than happy to comply. “Let me finish preparing you.”

  “Hurry.” Erick ground his hips into the mattress.

  Cassidy swallowed hard and pressed another finger into Erick. Adding more lube, he pushed in deeper.

  Erick moaned. “I need you inside of me.”

  “I can’t rush this.” Cassidy didn’t want to hurt him, but he tested the whole immortal zombie thing, because he was dying for sure. Cassidy, author of everyone else’s mating story, had just begun writing his own, and he wanted to ensure Erick’s story was perfect.

  “Yes, you can.” Erick thrust back, taking both fingers. He shifted and groaned, “More.”

  Astroglide became Cassidy’s new best friend. He squeezed more out and gave Erick three fingers, which were about as wide as Cassidy’s cock. This was Erick’s first time, so he couldn’t muck this up. “How would they do it in a romance novel?”

  “I want to be on my back so I can watch you thrust into me.” Erick had a clear image of what he wanted, and Cassidy would do everything he could to meet his expectations.

  Cassidy helped Erick roll onto his back. He peppered kisses on his cheeks and on his lightly shadowed eyelids. “You’re gorgeous. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

  The dim candlelight made it difficult to tell, but Erick might have been blushing. “Kiss me.”

  Without waiting another second, Cassidy pressed his mouth onto Erick’s petal-soft lips. He traced his tongue around Erick’s mouth, licking the faint taste of champagne.

  Erick wrapped his arms around Cassidy’s neck and pulled him close, reminding them both they belonged to each other. He parted his lips, inviting Cassidy in.

  Sparks burst behind his eyelids. This man was his. All his!

  Erick tangled his tongue with Cassidy’s, encouraging toe-curling to zip right on to sizzling. He broke off and demanded, “Take me.”

  Cassidy added more Astroglide to his cock.

  Pulling his legs to his chest, Erick begged. “Please, Cassidy.”

  He teased Erick’s opening with the tip.

  “Don’t make me wait,” Erick whimpered.

  Cassidy slid in slowly, inch by inch, letting Erick adjust until he had everything Cassidy had to give him.

  Erick shivered as his eyelashes fluttered and he shut his eyes for a moment. “Oh, that’s… you’re inside me.”

  “All the way in.” Leaning, Cassidy captured his mouth and kissed. He tried to block out the physical pleasure of being inside, but the mental aspect of being truly connected with Erick was almost too much.

  Erick snaked his hands onto Cassidy’s ass, pulling him closer. He shifted beneath him, moaning, “You burn, but it’s so good.”

  That admission did nothing to pull Cassidy back from the edge he already teetered on. Maybe they should have exchanged blowjobs first. Cassidy squeezed his eyes shut to try to keep control. “Yeah, it is.”

  “I… um….” Erick fumbled under the pillow. He pulled out the pocketknife Storm had gifted him. “I want to do this while you’re inside of me.”

  Cassidy loved that idea. “Yes.”

  Erick squirmed around, reminding Cassidy how they were deeply attached. He used the pocketknife to cut his finger, letting a big drop of red pool on his fingertip.

  Cassidy offered his finger to Erick’s blade. Erick winced as he sliced into Cassidy’s flesh. “Sorry.”

  “I’m not.” He held his finger to Erick’s lips as Erick did the same with his cut.

  “Ready. One, two—”

  They each sucked the other’s finger into their mouths.

  Cassidy could feel their lifelines being lashed together. Their souls tethered tightly, allowing healing before they merged completely.

&
nbsp; “Mine,” Erick stated.

  “Without a doubt. You’re mine and I’m yours. Now and for always.”

  Erick stretched his neck to claim a kiss and then fell back onto the bed giggling. “Take me.”

  “As you wish.” Cassidy wrapped his hand around Erick’s erection, and stroked him in time with his achingly slow thrusts.

  “Faster,” Erick demanded.

  His mate’s command shook Cassidy to the core. “I’m not going to be able to last.”

  Erick gasped and arched his back. “Good. I’m coming.”

  Cassidy thrust only a few more strokes before Erick’s muscles ripped the orgasm from him. Relief poured from him as he came inside his mate.

  “How do you feel?” Erick asked, as if this wasn’t his first time.

  “Complete. You?”

  “Well and truly mated. But we should do it again to make sure.”

  “Um, maybe we should enjoy a bit more champagne first.” Cassidy took a sip and kissed some into Erick’s mouth.

  “That’s even sweeter. More.”

  Cassidy took another sip and fed Erick some more.

  Erick snorted. “I love that you’re mine.”

  Cassidy grinned at his triumphant mate. “I am. I totally for sure am.”

  “I love when you speak ’80s to me. But tell me, do I?” Erick held out his arm and rotated it.

  “Do you what?”

  Batting his eyelashes, Erick asked, “Do I sparkle?”

  “Always.”

  Epilogue

  Several months later….

  Erick sighed dramatically. “I don’t know why we left our bed.”

  “You need food and I don’t want to test whether zombies can fuck each other to death.” Cassidy tried to keep a straight face but failed.

  Erick snorted. “Hey, we have to make sure the exchange sticks. And okay, I find it funny how a simple ‘take me, Cassidy’ is enough to get you in the mood.”

  Cassidy groaned and ignored his semi. He shook his head, refusing to look at Erick’s overly pleased and possibly smug expression. “I’ve created a beautiful incubus mate.”