by L. A. Boruff
Jacob comes around, his hand still on his cock and his eyes on me, and forces me to keep my eyes open and on him as Cole groans before exploding in my mouth. I swallow again and again as he pulls out and falls to the floor on his ass, looking pleased with himself.
Cooper takes that moment to remind me he’s there by gripping my hips and pulling my as he thrusts in hard. Moaning, I push back, my eyes wanting to shut since I feel like I’m on the edge of a cliff, but I can’t look away from Jacob.
Cooper swears, his hand leaving my hip and flicking my clit, sending me spiraling over the cliff as I scream my release, my pussy clamping down on him as he stills and yells behind me. He groans, collapsing on my back as we both pant, but he moves when Jacob speaks.
“My turn.”
I can’t help it, I drop to my front of the mattress and with a yelp, I’m flipped over and he kneels between my parted thighs.
“You’re not through yet,” he murmurs, leaning down and hovering over me. He kisses me hard, no doubt tasting Cole in my mouth. His hand strokes down my side before grabbing my thigh and throwing it over his hip. Leaning my heel on his ass, I kick him forward and he groans into my mouth.
Reaching between us he lines up and slowly presses inside me, stretching me, and when he reaches the hilt we both gasp and pull away. Leaning back, he pulls out slowly before ramming back in. I can’t help it, my eyes slide shut in ecstasy and the next thing I know he leans down and nips at my throat, making them fly back open.
“Eyes on me,” he grits out, his face straining as he thrusts again, each one more powerful than before until I’m moaning beneath him, struggling to keep my eyes open.
He tilts my hips up, hitting a spot deeper inside of me and I explode without warning, it even takes me by surprise as I wordlessly scream. His thrusts lose all control and he smashes inside of me before stilling, and coming inside me with a muted yell.
We both collapse and my eyes close, a smile curving my lips. “Someone pass the booze,” I joke, and they all laugh.
7
Day Nine
Rather than go back to our original rooms, we all start sleeping in the main area of the basement. It’s not like modesty or privacy even matters anymore. The next morning after our...bonding, I expected to be sore, but when I wake up and drag myself to the bathroom I burst into tears.
The welts and red marks on my skin are spreading and more of my hair is falling out whenever I touch it. Groaning, I grip my stomach just as Rob comes sprinting in and starts throwing up in the toilet.
Frowning, I shuffle over and pat his back, whispering comforting words to him. I look down at the toilet when he leans against the wall, perspiration dotting his head, and I freeze at the blood there. No, no, no. I thought we would have longer. I thought there would be something, anything I could do.
Maybe that was wishful thinking, because the evidence is lying here in the toilet and dotted across our skin. We are dying.
I took Rob back out, laid him down and sat, lost in my own thoughts, unsure how to tell them, but I have to, right? Surely they deserve to know?
“Toni,” comes a yell, and my head snaps up to see them all looking at me.
“Yeah?” I answer.
Jacob frowns and Cole leans forward, sweeping a hand over my forehead. “Are you okay? We’ve been shouting for you for a while,” he tells me, looking concerned.
Leaning into his touch, I nod and look at the floor.
“Why don’t you just spit it out, doc.” Rob grins, looking at me with a knowing expression.
I shake my head and his softens, he reaches out and twines our hands. “It’s okay, I already know. I did from the start, I guess I just didn't want it to be true. I guess no one ever does when faced with their mortality,” he jokes, but it falls flat.
“What’s he talking about?” Jacob asks, and Cooper loses his smile, looking from Rob to me as Cole sits back, fear like no other on his face.
“We are dying,” I blurt out and they all freeze, looking at me like I’m the grim reaper. “I’m sorry, I thought maybe we stood a chance being down here and not touching the contamination, but there must be a way it’s getting in or maybe it’s just too strong…” I babble before sucking in a breath. “I’m not sure, but we have radiation poisoning… and there's nothing I can do.” Getting to my feet, I start to pace but even that tires me. “There is nothing I can do!” I scream, grabbing my head but crying out when hair falls into my hand. “I can’t save us,” I sob, falling to the floor. “I’m so scared, I don’t want to die, I don’t,” I lament, curling into myself as I mumble nonsense, my head pounding from the constant headache that’s been plaguing me for the past three days.
Arms come around me from every angle and I feel more than one set of tears hit my skin and clothes. “Shhh, it’s okay,” Jacob soothes, his voice thick. “It’s not your job to save us Toni, it never was. I’m just glad I got to spend my final days with you—with all of you,” he admits and I sob harder, shaking violently.
“Me too, I never knew I could be this happy. Thank you for showing me what a true family looks like, even if it wasn't for long,” Cole adds, his voice choked.
“We’ll ride it through together, make the best of however long we have left. We might be dying, but we aren't dead yet,” Cooper declares, but none of his usual exuberance is in his voice.
“Toni, look at me,” Rob orders, and I lift my head to see him sitting before me. He wipes my face, drying my tears even as they fill his eyes. My skin burns from where he touches me, but I don’t say anything, the touch comforting. “You can’t stop death, no one can. It was coming when that first bomb hit. You made it bearable. Instead of spending our last few days scared, hungry, and alone...you brought us all together. You showed us love, laughter, and even a brotherhood I didn't know I was missing. This is not on you, we’ll face it together.” He pulls me into his arms and I press my face into his chest. “We’re all scared, but together maybe we can make that fear into something else. Death isn't the end, it’s a new beginning, because I refuse to believe this world could contain you or any of us. We’ll meet again, just not the way you were expecting,” he says strongly and I suck in a breath, his words calming me.
I don’t know how long we spend like that, wrapped around each other, but when I wake up we are all curled up together in a puppy pile on the mattresses. I look at the clock and frown. Three PM. I look over at the radio before turning to look at Jacob’s sleeping face next to me.
They are right—we choose how to spend our last few days and I refuse to do that gathered around a radio, praying for a miracle that will never come. No, I will spend that time in their arms, reaching for the happiness I didn’t know before them.
We die together, the way we might if we had a chance at life.
8
Day Ten
The next morning I wake up in their arms. Slipping and leaving them asleep, I find myself in the room I spent the first night. The walk is painful, my muscles screaming at me to rest, to lie down. My useless phone is still on the side and I perch on the bed, hesitating before unlocking it.
My one regret is not being able to say goodbye to my family—but maybe I can.
Pressing the video button, I turn it so I can see myself, and I grimace at my appearance but force in a breath. “Hi, I don’t know if anyone will ever see this or find this. I guess that’s not why I’m doing it. My name is Toni Adams. I was caught just outside one of the blasts. I found shelter in an old farm basement, this is…day ten, and I have radiation poisoning.
“Daddy, I just wanted to say goodbye. I don’t know if you’re alive, I pray that you aren't so that you don’t have to experience this horrible death, but if you are, if by some miracle you’ve survived, then I want you to know that I love you. I never said it enough and I never thanked you for raising me to be so strong and independent. Mommy, I love you too. I know I was away a lot and it broke your heart—for that I’m sorry. I love you both.” Licking my lips I lo
ok away as the tears start again, but this isn’t about sadness, it’s about closure. “I met someone.” I snort, wiping my nose on my arm. “More than one someone Daddy, you would hate them.” I laugh. “No, at first you would, but they would charm you. Jacob with his silent protectiveness, Rob with his sweet strong words, Cole with his mind and soft broken side, and Cooper. Cooper would have you laughing before you know it. I’m so glad I met them Daddy, I want you to know I’m not alone. That…that I didn’t die alone. I died happy, I found something in this basement I never knew I needed, I just wish I could survive to see it grow. I—” Looking away I breathe deeply, my voice is growing hoarse, but I carry on. “I found love, I guess all those stupid songs I used to laugh at were true. The strangest places, eh?” I joke, shaking my head when I see how low my battery is. “I have to go, my phone is about to die. I just needed you to know all that, and that...that I will see you again. I love you, always and forever in this world or the next.” Pressing the end record button, I drop my phone to my lap, a sad but satisfied smile curling my lips.
“You are so strong,” Cole says, and I look up to see him watching me from the doorway.
“I’m terrified,” I clarify, and laugh harshly.
“Good, it means you’re human. Come on, we are going to get drunk and play board games until we pass out. No sadness here today,” he orders, his lawyer voice on.
Grinning, I get to my feet, my phone still in my hand. “Yes, sir. Will the court allow me to pee first?” I tease and he grins.
“Yes, but hurry Miss Adams or you will have a punishment waiting.” He winks and leaves as I laugh, following after him but remembering my phone at the last moment. Looking down at it, I switch it off and place it on the made bed. My goodbyes and life stored in that device. I might not have made a huge difference in the world. I wasn't a president, I wasn't an Olympian, but I was alive and my story will live on. Even when I don’t, I made sure of it.
“No!” I yell, laughter in my voice as they shove another shot at me. It turns out I’m terrible at strip/drink/monopoly. Cooper made the game up and they are all ganging up on me. A wide smile stretches my face and I nearly fall from my chair laughing as Cooper climbs to his feet on the chair and starts thrusting his junk at Jacob, who just eyes him in disgust before looking over at me with a pleading look.
“I don’t know why you think he’s going to listen to me!” I say with a laugh. Cooper does what Cooper wants, and nothing me or Jacob says is going to stop him. He does it all out of love though, all to make us laugh, and he’s succeeding, even though our smiles get weaker by the day.
“Come on Toni, take it off,” Cole chimes in, reminding me that I just lost another round. Throwing back the shot, I grimace as the alcohol stings my sore gums before reaching behind me to undo my bra. Dropping it to the floor I look up to see four eyes glued on my body.
Jacob pushes up from his seat at the table, stalking toward me with a predatory look in his eyes. When he reaches my side he wraps his arms around me and picks me up, carrying me to the mattress where we all sleep. Rob and Cooper get up and follow us, kneeling down by my side. I glance over at Cole and see him leaning back in his chair, his hand already wrapped around his cock as he watches us. A hunger fills his tired eyes as he smiles at me, sensing my concerned look.
“I’m perfectly happy watching Toni, don’t worry about me,” he reassures me, and before I have time to respond Jacob presses hungry kisses to my mouth. I open my lips with a groan, welcoming him. I kneel up so I can wrap my arms around his neck, leaning into him as we kiss. Cooper and Rob start easing my underwear down, kissing down my hips and legs as they remove them.
Someone slides their hand up my inner thigh until it comes to my pussy, stroking my clit until I’m moaning into Jacob’s mouth. Another set of hands cups my breasts, tweaking at my nipples until they are stiff. A finger slides into my pussy just as a mouth closes over my nipples. The sensations are nearly overwhelming, and Jacob is keeping my gaze and my mouth occupied, so I don’t know who’s touching me where.
Someone moves away and I feel them positioning themselves behind me, lining their dick up against my entrance before pushing in with a groan. Our sex isn’t as rough and frantic as it was the first time, more gentle now but no less passionate. I feel like I’m being completely consumed by these guys. I can tell that it’s Cooper behind me from the noises he’s making, not quite words, but enough for me to know it’s him. His rhythm starts to falter and his thrusts become faster, driving me to an orgasm, but before I reach it I feel him stiffen as he comes inside me.
He pulls away, falling to my side, and Jacob finally pulls back just as I see Rob take his place before me. He kisses me softly, pulling me into his arms as we tumble to the mattress below us, me on top.
He smiles softly at me, his eyes entrapping me as he leans up, cupping my cheek and kissing me, showing me everything he can’t say.
Lifting my hips I feel between us, and when I wrap my hand around his cock, he groans into my mouth. Lining him up, I slowly sink down his length. We both groan, our mouths parting as he hits that spot inside of me. Still allowing myself to adjust to his size, I start to rock slowly back and forth. He grabs my hips and helps me along before a second set of hands land on my hips from behind.
Rob’s hands leave my waist and travel up my body until he cups my swaying breasts, tweaking my nipples. I groan, sitting up and throwing my head back, my eyes closed in pleasure. Jacob’s hands help lift and drop me onto Rob’s cock until I’m moaning between them. They soon work me back up again and with a scream, I come hard, seeing stars. Rob groans, following me as we both still, shaking from the force of the orgasm rippling through us like we’re connected.
Falling to Rob’s chest, he holds my head, whispering sweet nothings to me as he pulls out of my still pulsing pussy. I scream when another cock replaces his, Jacob thrusting into me without a warning. My pussy throbs, clamping on him as I whine into Rob’s chest.
He holds me there as Jacob fucks me from behind, his hands massaging my ass cheeks before slapping them lightly. The stinging, mixed with the pleasure of his cock dragging over my nerves with each thrust, has me soon pushing back into him. I can hear Cole’s moans of pleasure and when I glance over, I see him pumping his cock, his eyes glued to us. When he notices me watching him, it pushes him over the edge as he finds release. A slap to my ass makes me yelp, Jacob pulling my attention back to him as he continues to pound into me. He rains down punishing slaps that have me melting into Rob’s chest, the mix of pain and pleasure doing things to me until noises are leaving my mouth continually of their own accord.
He pulls his hand from my ass and when he slaps my clit, I come with a scream, my pussy clamping down on him and making him yell as his hips stutter and still. Once the pleasure has been wrung from my orgasm, we drop down onto the mattress, curled around each other.
At some point Cole joins us, all of them touching some part of my body. We fall asleep that way, curled around each other, blissfully ignorant at that moment of what was happening to our bodies.
9
Day Thirteen
I wake up to the noise of hacking coughs and someone gasping. My training kicks in and my eyes fly open as I bolt upright, searching the room. Cole is over to the side, where he obviously crawled away from the mattress. His chest is red and raw, like an open wound, but his face is turning blue as blood splatters on the floor while he coughs, and it’s obvious he can’t catch his breath. I rush over, patting his back and turning him to the side as I press my hand to his back, feeling useless. I talk to him, whispering nothings until finally he manages to catch his breath, the coughing leaving him gasping in my arms.
Holding him to my chest, tears fill my eyes. We’re deteriorating and fast. I look over at the others before laying Cole down gently on the floor. Crawling over, I gasp at the raw and painful feeling of my skin. It feels like I have a burn all over and it's too tight for my body. I’m struggling to catch my breath, and
just moving back over to the mattress has me tired.
I shake Cooper’s shoulder, who is the closest, but he doesn't react. “Cooper,” I gasp, my voice rough and painful to use. He doesn’t even flinch and I shake him harder, my breathing seesawing into my damaged lungs.
“Cooper,” I cry out and he groans, and my heart stops racing as he cracks open his eyes. They are bloodshot and slightly yellow, it has me freezing next to him as he finds me, and a watered down, pain filled smile curling his lips.
“Everything okay, doc?” he slurs and I nod, smiling even as I choke back tears. I check on Jacob and Rob next. They aren’t much better, and as soon as Rob wakes up he’s vomiting blood again.
We don’t have much time. I can almost feel it moving through my body, killing me. I’m shutting down and we don’t have that long left. I’m used to seeing death in my line of work, almost to the point where I can sense when someone is about to die, and right now I know that it’s nearly our time to go. I find myself contemplating this. I’m not as scared to die as I thought I would be, even compared to a few days ago, I’m more afraid for the guys than I am for me. Looking around the basement I find that I don’t want to die down here. Mind made up, all I have to do is convince the others. I will see the world once again, I will face it on my own terms.