by Sam Crescent
“Now we have to go back to reality and the fact we have no food,” she said.
He kept quiet, pulling on his shirt and grabbing his gun.
The sunlight warmed her skin once they were back outside. It felt good after days of rain and cloud cover. They returned to the wagon. She saw Luanna and Luke waiting.
“Any luck?” asked Luke.
“We still need to check the warehouse I came to see,” said Draven. “Get the horses ready.”
She sat up front with Draven again. Ashley noticed that Luanna and Luke were getting very friendly. She pretended to be oblivious to their flirting.
The wagon ride was bumpy. They rode all the way down the main street, turning right after passing the last store. One of those salt storage sheds was ahead. It looked like a pyramid.
“There it is,” said Draven.
“Road salt?” asked Luanna. “I don’t get it.”
Draven hopped down from the wagon, grabbing a crowbar before heading to the oversized doors of the building. All three of them followed behind him. Ashley was curious what he was up to, and obviously Luke and Luanna were, too.
“When things started going to shit, some people were ahead of the game. They prepared, stockpiled, hoarded supplies. Most of them didn’t make it, but what they left behind has proved a benefit to us. It’s just a matter of finding the goods.”
Draven bashed the lock off the door, the metal clanging until it broke apart. He took a breath and stepped back, stretching out his arm in greeting.
“Go ahead.”
Luke opened the doors. Ashley and Luanna peered into the dark space as the sunlight filtered into the room.
“Oh my God,” Luanna whispered.
Ashley covered her mouth with both hands. The salt storage was filled with food—boxes, sacks, and containers full. She began to cry, hot tears streaking down her cheeks. Food supplies meant they wouldn’t have to worry or venture out into the world for a very long time. It felt like a miracle.
Chapter Nine
With careful planning, Draven knew they were going to be well set for the next two years. Not only did they have canned food, but also seeds ready to get started on planting. Luanna surprised him by revealing she was once a keen gardener and was more than happy to take the lead on growing crops and doing what needed to be done to ensure their kingdom survived.
He put her in charge of that and made sure she had everyone at her disposal to prepare, plant, and plan all the necessary items she’d need to keep them all well fed. She thrived with purpose, and now she had it.
Glancing across the field, he gritted his teeth. Ashley knelt down in the dirt. Her long hair was pulled back into a baseball cap, one from his room, and she was getting her hands dirty. Just yesterday she admitted to him she’d not gotten her period, so they were waiting another couple days for her to take the test. He needed to know if she was pregnant with his child.
Running fingers through his hair, he felt ready to punch someone for allowing her outside. Since the attack, he’d granted her more freedom. Of course, Luanna had also proven herself to be a fierce protector, which was another reason he didn’t have a problem with her being around the others.
The men knew to keep their hands off. Ashley belonged to him, and no one else. He didn’t fucking share.
Storming across the field, he ignored the greetings he was getting. Hands on his hips, he glared down at her, stepping directly into her light so she couldn’t see.
“Hey, you’re in the way.” She sat back on her knees and looked up at him. “Oh, hey you,” she said, offering him the sweet, sexy smile he absolutely loved but didn’t want to get involved with right now.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m helping. What does it look like I’m doing?” she asked, dusting her hands off as she did so.
“You’re not supposed to be out here, messing around in the dirt.”
“Draven, I want to do my bit to help. I like messing around in the dirt.” She reached down, picking up a handful of soil and letting it fall through her fingers. “See, fun.”
He crouched down, reaching out to cup her cheek. “Babe, I want you back in the house. You’re doing too much.”
“Draven, I was locked up for a short time because of this stupid thing.” She held up her wrist. “You kept me locked up because of your men. We’re all finding our way now. Please, don’t take this from me. I want to help. We’re all a family. I want to be part of this.” She cupped his hand, and he saw the sadness in her eyes.
“I’m not going to lock you back up even though I want to. I’ve got to protect you, always.” He slowly slid his fingers down her body. He wanted to linger on her tits, but he didn’t. Cupping her stomach, he looked at her. “You could be pregnant.”
Again, she covered his hand with her own. “And if I’m pregnant, I’ll still be out here attending plants. Everyone is doing something. Pregnancy does not mean incapable.”
“Women can get sick.”
“I’m going to be doing exactly what I do now until I’m close to giving birth. Unless I’m not capable of doing it.”
“You’re pregnant?” Luanna asked, coming to stand beside them. She held a chart in her hand, and Draven saw the concern in the other woman’s face.
“She could be.”
“What he said. It’s not official. I’ve skipped my period. It happens. We don’t know if I’m pregnant yet.”
“I’ve been doing a lot to make sure you get pregnant.”
Ashley growled. “Please tell the insane man, I can do my chores here and have a healthy pregnancy.”
Luanna held her hands up. “I don’t know anything about pregnancy.”
“So I can send her in?”
“I know about pregnancy,” a man said, coming toward them. He was one of the latest recruits, and Draven knew he was once a doctor. The man had been thorough showing off all of his documentation at the gate. He wanted to survive, to live, and to be useful.
Draven readily accepted him, knowing his skills could come in useful, especially for Ashley.
“Really, what do you know?”
“You can continue to work, so long as you’re healthy. Have you taken a test?”
“No.”
“Then it’s something we need to consider doing right away. She’ll need to take folic acid, as well. I’ll have to check the medical supplies.”
“We emptied out a pharmacy on our last raid,” Draven said.
“The name’s Miller. If you would allow me to, I’d love to be able to help your woman,” he said.
Ashley smiled as she glanced over at him, and he knew she thought she’d won. They were just getting started.
Bending down, he lifted Ashley over his shoulder, being careful in case she was pregnant.
“Draven, put me down.”
“We’re going to see if we’ve got any of those tests,” Draven said, rubbing his hand over her curvy ass.
“Damn it, I thought we were going to wait.”
“I changed my mind. The sooner we know, the sooner we can make sure this is going to be a healthy baby.”
Several of his men burst out laughing as he passed. Ashley stopped wriggling on his shoulder, and he mourned the loss of her fight. Entering the house, he took her straight toward the storage of the medical supplies. Miller and Luanna had followed them.
“See if you can find what you’re looking for,” he said, pointing to the assortment of medicines. Draven found the pregnancy test and held it up for her to see. “We’re going to find out if we’ve been lucky or not.”
Ashley didn’t make it easy, so he had no choice but to carry her to a bathroom.
Opening up the test, he held it out to her. “Come on, baby, it’s not that hard. You pee on this piece here.”
“Draven … I’m scared.”
“You’ve got nothing to be afraid of.”
“But what if it says no?”
“Do you want it to say no?”
&n
bsp; She shook her head.
“It’s not going to say no.”
“But what if it does and the doctors got it all wrong? I’m not fertile. Would you still want me?” She pulled away from him, holding her hands up as if to ward him off.
Draven stared at her, a little shocked. “You think I only want you because … you’re fertile?”
“It’s the truth.”
Draven rubbed at his eyes. “I did when you first arrived here, Ashley. But not anymore and not for a long time. If anything, I’ve been worried that I won’t be able to get you pregnant.”
He saw tears in her eyes and wondered if she was struggling with her hormones already. He wasn’t used to having to deal with hormonal women. He ran his fingers through his hair and released a breath.
“I just … I don’t want to disappoint you.”
He put down the test, cupping her face. “There’s no way on this earth you could ever disappoint me. Fuck, when you first arrived here, I wanted you because you were fertile, but that changed. You changed me. I don’t just want you because of your body. I want so much more, and I know only you can give it to me.”
“What do you want?” she asked.
“All of you. Every single part of you, and I don’t want you to hold back from me. Not ever.” He couldn’t resist taking possession of her lips, and as he slammed his down on hers, he felt her relent to him. All he wanted to do was show her how he felt. Draven was a soldier, a warrior, and he wasn’t good with flowery words or expressing himself. There was no doubt in his mind that he loved her and would always love her. Breaking off from the kiss, he stroked her cheek, watching as she licked her lips. “Ashley, I love you. I fell in love with you against all the odds. Not because you’re going to have my baby, but because after all you’d gone through, it didn’t stop you from fighting nor did you lose your sweetness. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman and in my life. I can’t give you up. I won’t. I want this to be a safe haven for you and for our children. I will fight until my last dying breath to make you happy. To protect you. You own my heart, all of it. This is all yours.”
The tears in her eyes started to fall. “You mean it?”
“How can you doubt it? I’m right here, with you. I’ll always be here. I’m the kind of guy who makes everyone pull their weight around here, but with you, I let you take a break.”
She chuckled.
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes. I mean, I should know. I’m sorry. I’m just feeling all over the place. Luanna told me I planted some of the seeding potatoes wrong, and I burst into tears. I’m not usually this emotional.” He watched her take a breath. “I think we both know what it means though, don’t we? For me to be this emotional.”
“I’m ready to find out,” he said. “Together.” Locking their fingers together, with his free hand, he grabbed the test again.
“Let’s do this.”
****
Pregnant!
The test confirmed it, and Ashley stared at the stick even after six hours of originally peeing on the test. The doctors hadn’t been wrong about her. This was unprecedented. A child would be born in their crazy new world.
She sat in the library, legs crossed, staring at the test, feeling a little sick, consumed with worry, and with a real craving for chocolate mint ice cream. She could dream.
Biting her lip, she tried to think of everything and anything to keep her mind out of panic mode.
This wasn’t the end of the world. Women had been having babies since the beginning of time. Pioneers had much less than they did now, and they did fine, too.
Draven was excited about it. He announced it for all to hear, and throughout dinner, she had people hugging her, touching her stomach, congratulating her.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Luanna said. “I know you can’t have wine or anything, but I got you some soda to celebrate.”
Ashley smiled. “I wish I could have had the wine.”
Luanna placed a hand on her wrist. “You’re still looking at that thing?”
“I’m waiting to see if it will change back.” She put the test down on the coffee table, beside Luanna.
“Come on, talk to me. What’s going on?” Luanna asked. “This isn’t like you. I can see you’re stressing out, and it’s not good for you or the baby.”
She rolled her eyes; she couldn’t help it.
“You’re worried?” Luanna asked.
“Yes. No. Of course not. What do I have to be worried about? It’s all fine. Of course, it’s all fine.”
Luanna took both of her hands. “I’m not just anyone. I can see you’re stressing. Talk to me.”
Staring down at her friend’s hands, she sighed. “What if I’m not cut out for this?”
“In what way?”
“Being a mother? Half of the world population is gone. Women like me, we’re … different. I don’t know. I never thought I’d get pregnant.”
“You always figured the doctors were lying?”
“Yes.” Ashley pulled away from her friend. “I must sound awful.”
“No. You sound like a woman who is trying not to freak out and failing.”
Ashley groaned. “I should be ready for this. Repopulating the planet and all that. Why am I terrified?”
“Before you, you don’t think women were scared?”
“They were?”
“Absolutely. Of course, they were. Why wouldn’t they be? They’re bringing in another life, and babies have the way of complicating everything. Especially in the old world. Marriages, relationships, quite a few were set up purely because a baby was involved.” Luanna touched her stomach. “You have a gift.”
“I feel so guilty.” She swiped at the tears. “What if I’m a bad mom?”
“I won’t let you. We’re all in this together.”
She let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talking about this.”
“You should totally be talking about this. I think you need to talk to Draven. It’s his child as well, and you both have to be in this together.” Luanna squeezed her hand. “You will always have me and everyone here. We all love and care for you. We all want to help bring this baby into the world. You’re going to have so much love and support, you’ll be begging for some space.”
Ashley smiled. Her fears hadn’t disappeared.
“I’ve got to head back. You’re going to be okay?”
“Yeah, of course. I’m totally fine. You know me.” She waved her hand in the air in an attempt to ward off her friend’s concern.
Luanna kissed her head, leaving her alone.
Leaning her head back on the sofa, Ashley closed her eyes. What if she was the worst mother in the world?
“You’re going to be the best mother in the world.”
She gasped, turning to see Draven standing near the back of the library. She hadn’t heard him come in.
“Draven,” she said.
He walked around the furniture, moving to sit beside her. Without asking for permission, he pulled her into his arms. “You’re scared?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to lie to him. Staring into his eyes, she knew it would be a mistake.
“I’ve never been so afraid of anything else in my life. I want to have this baby with you so much.” She rested his hands on her stomach, and she closed her eyes, feeling him surround her. Whenever he did this, she felt safe, warm, whole. He was the only one to ever make her feel this way, and she didn’t want to lose it. Not him, not ever again. “What makes you think I’m going to be a good mom?” she asked. “We don’t know what it’s going to be like having a child here?”
He kissed her neck as he chuckled. “I guess, I know you. I know how good and pure you are. I’ve watched you with the others here. You’re sweet and kind. Considerate. I also believe you’ve got what it takes to mother our child.”
“Why am I so afraid?”
“It’s new. We’re in a war zone. There’s no getting away from what we�
��re all fighting. I have no doubt we’re going to encounter men and women who want to take from us, but I’m not going to let them.” He took hold of her hands in his. “Relax, Ashley. You don’t have to fight anymore.”
Leaning back against him, she released a breath.
“You know what I see?” he asked.
“What?”
“I see the summer time when our son or daughter is, like, five. They’re laughing and giggling as we run around the apple tree. The one just out near the orchard. It has some delicious apples, and I can see us all there, having a picnic from food we’ve harvested.”
“You see a future.”
“I see our future together. This world, it’s shit, I’m not going to lie to you. You’re never going to be able to walk down the street alone, nor will you walk with our children to school to meet other kids. No sleepovers, no baby classes. Nothing. We’re going to have each other, and the men and women who choose to settle here.”
She opened her eyes. The picture he painted was both sweet and sad. Moving out of his arms, she straddled his body, wrapping her arms around his neck. His hands moved to grab her butt, gripping her tightly.
“I love you like this,” he said, thrusting his cock up against her. She was surprised to feel him hard already.
“Do you ever think of anything else?”
“When I’m with you, nothing.” He rocked against her, and she couldn’t help but smile. “I know you don’t see it right now, but it’s going to be okay.”
“You can’t predict the future.”
“I know, but I can make sure you’re taken care of. I love you, Ashley. My love for you will never change, and I’m going to make sure you will laugh and smile at every single turn.” He slid his hands up her body, going to her tits. He cupped them, and his thumbs gently caressed over her erect nipples. “They’re going to be so full and ripe soon, to feed our child.”
She moaned, biting her lip as he pinched the hardened buds.
“Draven?”
“Have you stopped worrying yet?”
“No.”
His hands moved to her skirt, and he began to pull it up her body. She didn’t fight him.