Refugee Road (Freedom Fighters Series Book 1)

by Landis, Nikki

  I thought about her and then the image of her body came into my mind. I sighed, shaking my head.

  “I miss her. We were very close. She was the best friend I ever had. I wish she could have been here today…and my mom…especially my sister.”

  I glanced at Alec and the tears fell down my cheeks. I was powerless to stop them. He brushed them aside with his thumbs, his lips meeting mine gently.

  “What I wouldn’t give to have all of our families to be here. My parents and my brother. John would have loved you.” He smiled and cleared his throat. “They are with us in spirit. I feel content and happy. Surely they are smiling from heaven down upon us both.”

  Alec leaned in and kissed me softly. His lips lingered on mine, moving gently, until his tongue began to probe them apart. At first it was a gentle exploration. A tentative plunge inside an unknown cavern. But then he thrust his tongue into my mouth, more determined, claiming my surrender and I gladly gave it. He seemed to savor the taste, sucking on my tongue one second and then dueling with it the next.

  I felt breathless, taking air into my lungs and breathing through him, exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide inside each other, the most basic of needs, and the most intimate act of swapping life, our chests rising and falling, sustaining each other through the simple act.

  His fingers slid from my shoulders to my waist and then around my body to reach behind me. A soft sigh escaped my lips. Every touch was feather light. Gentle. My slip hit the ground in a soft whisper. I felt the straps of my bra come loose and then disappear altogether.

  Alec’s lips left my mouth and made a slow, intimate, heated descent down my neck. The wet trail was at once cool, the heat rising in the air, until he opened his mouth and blew, the hot air returning, branding my skin, marking me as his own. My flesh raised, little goosebumps on the skin, and he smiled, as heated as the scorching fire of his tongue.

  “Alec.” I whispered, a passion I did not recognize nor understand filling my voice.

  He smiled knowingly, lowering his head, his full mouth capturing that which he so desperately sought. The suction and sudden contact sent a shudder through my system, lighting up my nerves, tingling, burning, until my senses were hyper aware of his touch. My back bent of its own will, thrusting my breasts closer to his eager mouth.

  Thick hot waves of liquid desire pulsed in my veins, soaring through my body. His teeth nipped at the bud, sending a sharp shot of awareness into my fuzzy brain, then at once the pain was sucked away, leaving wave after wave of pleasure coursing through me, deeper in my belly and lower into my loins.

  My knees buckled beneath me. I had not the strength to stand. Alec picked me up, his lips claiming mine, our tongues beginning another dance, more sensual, more urgent, than moments ago. I felt the coverlet against my back and Alec’s body on mine. He gently parted my thighs with his hand, running his fingers up to my breast, playing at his leisure. A soft moan escaped my lips.

  “Do you seek to play with me, my love?” I asked, meeting the thrust of his tongue with my own.

  “No, my darling, only to make you weak, wet, and burning with desire.”

  His mouth began another descent, passing quickly over my breasts and placing a kiss on my belly. His fingers gently tugged on my panties, pulling them down and over my feet. For a moment he gazed at me, a deep resonating hunger naked in his eyes, and then he was above me.

  His touch was soft, loving and tender, and full of passion. He kissed me again, taking off his pants and then he was nude, skin to skin, his body pressed tightly to mine. We kissed, our hands roaming each other’s bodies, our touch igniting flames of desire that moved seamlessly back and forth, as if the flames could not decide where to rest.

  My breathing accelerated; the rise and fall of my chest brushing against his gently. Alec moaned and pulled my hips against his, making me gasp in surprise. I felt the raw strength of him, the hard and eager length against my belly.

  “Lizzie…I love you.”

  “I love you Alec.” I was not afraid. Every emotion I experienced in my body was apparent, each separate second immortalized in my head, until only pleasure, raw and carnal, took control.

  Alec suspended his weight above mine, continuing his delicious torture, his tongue thrusting against mine. I ran my fingers up his strong and hard chest, tracing the muscles, and then wound them in his hair. We rolled back and forth, completely lost in a passion that promoted a throbbing need, the sheets tangling around us. His fingers intertwined with mine. Of their own volition my thighs parted wider, eager for this new experience, hungry for a release only he could give me.

  Alec was inside me.

  “Lizzie, I love you.” His eyes met mine, a turbulent ocean wave of misty gray, at once startling and at the same time deeply loving.

  “I love you.” I gasped, tears springing to my eyes at the sudden burst of pain.

  “I’m sorry, my love, it will go away. I promise.”

  Alec’s mouth met mine, then his tongue, in a delicious rhythm matching the thrust of his tongue to the movement of his hips. They were simultaneous, a wet friction that matched each perfect plunge. My hips rose to meet his, needing the contact, refusing to separate for even a second. Our bodies clung to each other, two hearts, two souls, merging into one.

  My body felt weightless, carried away on a cloud, propelled by a terrific need, a building and tightening of my loins, an exhilarating rush of pressure, building ever higher, layer after layer, carrying me ever closer to that unknown destination. The pounding of my heart thudded in my ears, fast, thick, heavy in my veins. I felt his racing heart with every thrust, felt it in his fingertips as he squeezed my hand, saw the vein in his neck pulsing every time he drew near.

  “Lizzie, my God, my sweet wife…”

  I was unprepared for the crescendo, the launch of fulfillment, the crashing wave of total bliss that burst inside me, like a rocket launch, it catapulted my body, sending my consciousness into oblivion, where my body joined his in a final journey of completion.

  “Alec.” I called his name and he answered, his voice ragged and thick.

  “Lizzie!”

  In the aftermath, I stared at him, astonished at the connection we shared. He held me close to his chest, smiling, his forehead lowering to mine, as his breathing became more normal. There was something new in his eyes, awe mixed with amazement.

  “I love you Lizzie. I love you my beautiful darling wife.”

  His lips met mine in a tender kiss, dissolving any shyness I might have felt.

  “I love you Alec.”

  We made love a second time that night, sleeping off and on. His arms never let go of me, not even once. It was the first time I felt safe and loved in years, not in the passing moment kind of safe, but the forever kind. I didn’t remember being this happy since I was a little girl and my father was still alive. My throat tightened as I turned my head into Alec’s shoulder and cried.

  He was immediately concerned. “Are you all right my Lizzie?”

  “Yes, I’m so happy. I haven’t felt this loved and safe in a very long time, not since…my father. Thank you Alec.”

  He hugged my body close, pressing a soft kiss on my forehead. “And you always will be my love. Count on it.”

  I lay my head on his chest, right over his heart, listening to the beautiful beat that was so familiar now it was my own. I yawned sleepily. The consistent and even rise and fall of his chest told me he was already out. As my eyelids fluttered I smiled into the darkness.

  We were one now, one heart, one soul, one entity. I had no idea where one of us ended and the other began, so close and seamless was our bond that I felt certain it would be impossible to ever separate us. Our marriage had cemented that bond. Blessed it. As long as I lived, I could imagine sharing that with no other. His very breath was inside me, giving me life, and for the first time since my birth, I felt I supplied the same for someone else.

  Alec surprised me again the next morning with a suitcase full of cl
othing and shoes. It contained dresses, hosiery, heels, and more. I showered again and put on one of the new dresses, a pretty navy print that buttoned from the collar to the hem with a wide white belt. Then I pulled on the nude hose and a pair of black Cuban heeled oxfords. Such luxury was unimaginable. Lydia would have been gaga over this wardrobe.

  Lastly, I curled my hair and added one of the large fresh flowers from the vase in our room, pulling it back from my face and rolling the waves, framing with my face with soft curls. I added a pair of white gloves and turned to look at Alec, a huge smile on my face.

  “You are so beautiful my Lizzie. Come here love.”

  He kissed me, his eyes dancing in the light, then glancing at the cross around my neck. I knew it made him happy that I always wore it. Since he had placed it over my head, I had yet to remove it.

  We grabbed all of our belongings and left, taking a cab this time. Alec sold the horses to a farmer, making a nice profit. We traveled by train with our own private room with a window that overlooked the river. We were going to visit main cities for our honeymoon and anywhere else I wanted to go. Alec offered to take me anywhere I wanted.

  I haven’t been on a train since I was ten. We used to go and visit my dad when he worked at the steel factory. Sometimes we took the train across town to visit some of my other relatives. I had forgotten the way it felt, the gentle rocking motion and the whistle. Everyone traveled by train now. Commercial flying was too expensive. Since the war started, only the very rich could afford to fly. The car we were in was crowded, full of people traveling all over Ohio.

  We were journeying to Columbus to see the state capital and then to Lake Eerie. Alec and I sat in our private room, side by side, watching the scenery flash by the large window. The blur of colors ran together, like the strokes of an artist on canvas. It was beautiful in a way, streaking in the sunlight, reflecting inside the room in a quiet kaleidoscope.

  I turned to look at him, still in surprise at the turn of events. Alec was my husband now. Mine, as much as I was his. The bond, the irrefutable link that connected us, was forged now like fine steel, unbreakable.

  Alec looked very dashing in his militia uniform. The navy brought out the gray and silver shine in his eyes, or perhaps, maybe, I had a little something to do with that. I smiled at him as he met my gaze.

  His hand reached for mine and held it. “What are you thinking about? You’ve been very quiet.”

  I ran my fingers across our joined hands. “I was thinking how handsome you are in your uniform and how happy I am to be married to you. I never would have thought it possible. I never thought I would be happy ever again…” I admitted honestly.

  He squeezed my hand. “I know. I had almost given up hope of finding you. I worried about you and what could go wrong. This world has gotten nasty since the war started…people are not what they used to be. Desperation and fear cause chaos now. I was afraid someone would take advantage of you or hurt you.” A shiver ran through him and his hand trembled in mine. “I’m so glad I can take care of you, the way you deserve.”

  “I’m glad you found me too. Things were getting very bad in the refugee camp. I didn’t realize it at the time but people were starting to become desperate. If I hadn’t gotten out when I did…I might not have survived.” I realized with my words it was true, knowing who would be responsible for that.

  Darren. The very thought of him sent icy chills of fear trickling along my spine.

  “That’s why I planned on the relocation. I had a sneaking suspicion your people were going to attack again. It wasn’t going to go well. The militia has increased their forces and patrols. The refugees are going to be hunted down and destroyed, more than ever. I had to get you out of there.”

  “Alec, what is going to happen now? What happens when we return to your base?” I asked, concern and apprehension mixed with the uncertainty of the unknown.

  “Are you worried about your new role? In all outward appearances, you will be my new wife. You’ll have to attend parties, teas, and other social functions but mostly you will be attending to our home…and me,” he paused to take a grin and wink at me, “and of course any children we may have.”

  I gulped. Children? I hadn’t thought of that.

  “Do you want children Alec?” I blushed, slightly embarrassed.

  I never thought to ask him. Not once.

  “Oh yes, with you my love, I want as many as God will give us. But don’t concern yourself, when it happens I will be the happiest man on earth.” His lips kissed the spot on my neck beneath my ear and I shuddered. “The other thing I want you to consider is that I may have need of your services from time to time. You are an excellent soldier. This may be useful later on, perhaps when we need to run. I have no idea how long the charade will last. You have to understand this is only temporary,” I nodded and he continued, “My first priority is to keep you from danger and that is what I will do,” he promised me.

  “I want to help. Please promise me that you will let me when the time is right,” I begged him.

  “Yes, I promise but remember that I love you and I am not going to let you do anything too dangerous, all right?” His arm held me tighter against him. I knew the thought frightened him.

  “Agreed. I hate the militia for what they did to my family Alec. I don’t want to be helpless to fight. I want to help, in any way possible,” I explained.

  He nodded, lost in thought for a while. Then he spoke up again.

  “Did you see Angela? What happened that night Lizzie? I only found the graves, thanking God yours was not among them. It kept me going when the despair was almost too much. That’s when I made the pledge to join the militia and find you,” he explained.

  “I was running toward the shelter that night when the bomb hit my house. My mother was killed instantly, her body exploding next to my sister. Luckily, I didn’t see that but Lydia told me. We were both hit by shrapnel. I was thrown into a tree where I broke some ribs, cut my leg, got a concussion and some other injuries.” He sucked in a breath and I felt him shiver. “The shrapnel hit my sister’s abdomen and ripped her stomach open. I…I stayed with her all night. I was devastated that I could not save her Alec. She died early in the morning, her last breath my dying promise to avenge her death. It’s all I thought of except you for the last three years,” I whispered, unable to talk louder.

  The emotion of the memory crushed my chest and tears came to my eyes. Alec was watching my face. When I got to the part about my sister, his mouth opened in surprise and he looked upset and angry.

  “Oh Lizzie, I am so sorry you had to watch her die. I’m so sorry you were all alone. I wish I could have been there for you.” He meant it. I wish he could have been there too. It would have changed everything.

  “I know. It’s ok. I found Angela’s body after I buried my sister. I believe she died instantly, probably thrown by a bomb. I doubt she felt any pain. It’s the only consolation that I have. I cried when I found her. I had hoped she survived but it wasn’t the case. I’m sorry Alec. I buried her too. At least they are both at rest now.”

  “It was very brave of you, Lizzie. My family was killed by the bombing that night too. My younger brother John and both of my parents, gone in an instant, blown up by a bomb that barely missed me. It’s been very tragic for me too. I understand how you feel.” He kissed me and rested his chin on my shoulder, his eyes focused on some faraway point. “That’s why I joined the militia. I wanted revenge, blood for blood, vengeance. I figured if I infiltrated I not only stood a better chance of finding you but I could also get close to those who are in leadership at the top. When the time is right, I will be assassinating those in charge. I plan on killing the president.”

  I was in shock. Did he just say what I thought he did?

  “It’s too dangerous Alec. You’ll be killed. You can’t do that now. What if I get pregnant? We are married. I don’t want to survive without you. Promise me you won’t do this. Please, Alec, consider what I am saying.”
My voice rose with every word until I was almost screeching the words at him.

  His face looked determined. “I can’t promise that Lizzie and you know it. They can’t get away with what they have done. They can’t kill innocent people and not suffer any consequences for it. They have to be shown…people are not going to stand by and let this happen again.”

  I was close to panicking, partially because he was right and partially because I loved him so much. We just found each other. It would kill me to lose him, especially now.

  He was watching my face. The horror of his words had me in a near panic. I shook my head, smacking him in the shoulder.

  “No! You can’t Alec. You can’t.”

  He grabbed my wrists and yanked my body hard against his. The force of his mouth on mine left no room for indecision. He kissed me, gently at first, but stronger and more urgent when I clung to him. “Don’t leave me Alec, don’t leave me like that.”

  “Oh God Lizzie, my love, I would not leave you for the world.”

  I pushed him back against the bed, the golden chain around my neck dangling between us, brushing his coat, shining in the beams of effervescent light. He gazed at the cross, his strong lean fingers pulling it slightly toward his chest, and then looked into my eyes.

  “Make love to me Alec.” I lowered my head and bit his lip, running my tongue along the length, savoring the touch of his warmth and the heavenly taste of him, like warm sunshine mixed with aftershave. “Make love to me like you mean it, because I won’t ever let you go.”

  His mouth captured mine, his tongue thrusting inside, and I moaned, needing the feel of our skin as it touched, our spirits climbing as one. Moments later our naked bodies joined, the delicious rhythm spiraling higher, the touch of our hands as they intertwined above his head gripping tighter together, the feel of him inside me as he filled both my heart and soul, and the gentle swaying of the train beneath us adding to the motion as it raced along.