Chương 106

Louis woke to sunlight. For the first time since the incident, he did not wake in pain. His wrist was still bandaged, but the throbbing had faded to a dull ache. Even his knee felt better. He pushed the blankets aside and sat up slowly, testing his balance. He felt weak but steady. And he wanted to piss. Gladice came in carrying a glass of water. She saw him sitting up and smiled.

"Look who's up. How are you feeling?"

"Better," he said.

"And I need to use the bathroom."

"Can you walk?"

"I will try."

"Let me help you." She put an arm around his waist. He leaned on her and stood. His knee held. He took a step, then another. He was wobbly but walking. She helped him to the bathroom and unbuttoned his pants.

"Want me to hold it for you too?" she asked. He laughed.

"Why not?"

"I figure I owe you one after Austin." She grinned and took his cock in her hand.

"Ready?" He leaned against her, and she pointed. The stream started strong. He had not realized how badly he needed to go. She aimed carefully, her fingers warm against him.

"It's like a fire hose," she said as he finished. She grabbed a piece of toilet paper and wiped him clean.

"Good cock."

"I'm glad you think so." She tucked him back in and buttoned his pants.

"Let's get you back to bed."

"I want to take a shower." She frowned.

"Are you sure you're up for that?"

"I feel disgusting."

"You still had a fever last night."

"I'll take my chances."

"No." She put an arm around his waist again.

"I can wipe you down with a warm towel. That's the best you're getting right now." He made a face.

"Fine." She helped him back to the bed. He sat down, and she came back with a basin of warm water and a washcloth. She pulled the blankets aside and washed his chest and arms. He watched her hands move over him.

"You're getting good at this," he said.

"Someone's got to take care of you." She rinsed the washcloth.

"Besides, it's kind of fun. Like playing nurse."

"I bet it is." She smiled and washed the inside of his thighs. She took his boxers off without asking. His cock stirred as she washed it gently.

"See?" she said.

"You're feeling better already."

"I am. Can you finish me off?" She laughed.

"What would you like?"

"I want you to grind on me until I come." He grinned.

"Naughty boy." She put the basin on the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. She leaned forward and kissed him. Then she stood and pulled her panties off. She climbed onto the bed and straddled him, positioning her pussy over his cock.

"You sure you're good for this?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," he said. She lowered herself over him. His cock slid between her thighs, pressed against the wet heat of her pussy. He groaned as she closed her legs around him and began to move her hips, slow at first, finding the rhythm. He reached up and cupped her breasts through her tank top, feeling the weight of them in his hands.

"I miss you," he said.

"I miss you too, baby." She leaned down and kissed him.

"Now lie back and enjoy the ride." She started to grind against him, moving in slow circles. He closed his eyes and focused on the feeling of her around him, the friction of her movements, the warmth of her body against his. His breath grew uneven. His hips rose to meet hers.

"Like that?" she whispered.

"Yes," he breathed. She increased her pace, her hips moving faster. He could feel the heat building in him, the pressure rising in his balls. He gripped her hips with both hands, pulling her harder against him. Then the door opened. Angelique stood in the doorway. She looked from Gladice's face to the movement between their bodies. She raised an eyebrow.

"Am I interrupting?" Gladice didn't stop moving.

"No. We're just having some fun. Want to join?" Angelique smiled and closed the door.

"Maybe later." She came to the bed and sat on the edge, watching them. Louis met her eyes.

"You look better," she said.

"I feel better." His breath hitched as Gladice ground down hard.

"Good," Angelique stroked his hair.

"Because I missed you." Gladice kept moving, her rhythm steady. Angelique watched them for a moment longer, then leaned down and kissed Louis. Her tongue met his, hot and possessive. He groaned into her mouth as Gladice's movements grew more urgent. Angelique broke the kiss and looked at Gladice.

"Make him come," she said. Gladice smiled.

"With pleasure." She moved faster, grinding against him in quick, hard circles. Louis's hips bucked. He was close. Angelique took his hand and brought it to her breast, holding it there. He squeezed, and she gasped. He looked from her face to Gladice's, then back again. That was all it took. He came with a cry, his cock pulsing under the pressure of her pussy. Wet and slick sound filled the room. She kept moving for a few more strokes, then stilled, panting.

"Good boy," she whispered. She leaned down and kissed him.

"Now that's a welcome back." She climbed off him. Angelique grabbed some tissue from the nightstand. She gave some to Gladice and cleaned him gently.

"You're very horny for someone who was dying two days ago," Angelique said.

"Blame the fever," he said, smiling.

"It makes me hot."

"He's always hot," Gladice said, wiping her thighs.

"Even when he's unconscious." She put her panties back on. Louis laughed. Angelique did too.

"I can see that." Angelique tossed the used tissue into the wastebasket.

"Now, get some rest. You need to recover your strength."

"Alright." He let her pull the blankets up to his chin.

"Any news?" Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"Nothing yet," Angelique said.

"Your father hasn't called. The state hasn't found us. And Barlow is still pacing the floor like a caged animal."

"He thinks we should move?"

"Yes." Angelique sat on the edge of the bed.

"But we don't have a route. And you can't walk for long yet. So we stay." Louis looked at her.

"What if he's right? What if waiting is the wrong choice?" Angelique took his good hand.

"Your father said to hold position. We will hold position. End of discussion."

"Listen to Angel, Louis," Gladice walked toward the door.

"She's the boss when you're out of commission." He nodded.

"Alright." She gave him a wink and left.

"Good." Angelique squeezed his hand.

"Now, sleep."

"Can you tell me a story?" She smiled.

"What kind of story?"

"Bedtime story."

"Alright." She thought for a moment.

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived in a castle by the sea. She was bored. Very bored. So she ran away to the city and made friends with a prince. The end." He laughed.

"That's a terrible story."

"But it's true."

"So it is." He squeezed her hand.

"Angi?"

"Yes?"

"I love you." She leaned down and kissed him.

"I love you too, Louis." She straightened up.

"Now sleep." He closed his eyes and did. This time, he slept deeply. When he woke, sunlight filled the room. Willa sat in the armchair with the phone in her hand.

"Hi," he said. She looked up.

"Good afternoon." He sat up.

"Did you watch me sleep in shifts?" She smiled.

"Something like that."

"Any news?"

"The Collective launched a counterattack in Florida." She held up the phone.

"They took back Tallahassee this morning."

"Good."

"Barlow is arguing we should use the chaos to move. He wanted us to cross the warzone in Florida." Willa made a face.

"No one agreed."

"Where is he?"

"Outside. Pacing. Smoking. Glaring at birds."

"Sounds like him." Louis pushed the blankets aside and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"I'm hungry."

"Good." Willa put the phone in her pocket.

"I'll help you with the stairs." He stood on his own this time, testing his knee. The pain was almost gone. He walked to the door and opened it. He looked at the stairs, then back at Willa.

"Alright," he said.

"I'm not going to fall on my ass, am I?" She smiled.

"I'll catch you if you do."

"Somehow that's less comforting than you think." They went down together, her arm looped through his. He took the steps slowly, but he did them all. He felt stronger with each one. When he reached the bottom floor, he smelled coffee. Gladice stood at the counter, making a sandwich.

"The prince rises! And he has brought his own support staff."

"I am not his support staff," Willa said.

"I am his girlfriend." Louis felt his heart jump a little. He looked at her. She met his eyes and smiled.

"Is that what you are?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"It is." He leaned in and kissed her.

"Good."

"Now that we have that settled," Gladice said, "anyone want a sandwich?"

"Starving," Louis said. Gladice handed him the plate.

"Ham and cheese. Bon appétit." He took it and sat at the table. Gladice made another one for Willa. She ate it standing up, leaning against the counter.

"Where is everyone?" Louis asked between bites.

"Donya's upstairs sleeping. She's been tired lately." Gladice looked at him.

"And Angel is with Savannah in her room, trying to figure out if the road south is passable." Louis nodded.

"Good." He finished the sandwich, then drank the coffee Gladice handed him. He felt stronger. The food helped. He looked out the window. The sky was clear. The sun was bright.

"What's the plan for today?" he asked.

"Recover," Gladice said.

"Join me in the lounge chairs out back later."

"Sounds good." He went to the deck with Gladice and Willa and settled into one of the lounge chairs. The sun warmed him. Gladice lay on the chair beside him, hands laced behind her head. Willa sat with her legs folded, watching the woods.

"It's peaceful," Louis said.

"Too peaceful," Gladice said.

"I keep expecting a tank to roll out of the trees."

"Let's not think about that," Willa said. They sat in silence. After a while, Angelique joined them, bringing a book. She sat at the end of Louis's chair and put his feet in her lap.

"How's the planning?" he asked.

"Nothing useful yet." She opened her book.

"All the highways are watched. All the backways have their own risks."

"We will find a way," Gladice said.

"I know," Angelique said.

"But it's taking too long." Louis closed his eyes and let the sun warm him. He dozed off for a while. When he woke, Gladice and Willa were asleep beside him, snoring softly. Angelique was reading.

"What are you reading?" he asked.

"The Art of War." She showed him the page.

"The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy."

"Makes sense," he said.

"It does. The safest thing we can do right now is stay where we are and make ourselves hard to find." She turned a page.

"Which is what we are doing."

"Barlow won't like it."

"Barlow can go fuck himself," she said without looking up.

"You are our priority. Not his ego." He smiled.

"I love it when you get protective." She looked up and smiled back.

"I know." They were quiet for a while. Then he said, "I need to tell you something." She closed the book and set it aside.

"What?"

"I asked Donya to touch me yesterday morning. Before you all came in." He looked at her.

"She did." Angelique studied his face.

"How do you feel about it?"

"Conflicted," he admitted.

"She feels guilty about it. But I enjoyed it. And I think she did too."

"Did you sleep with her?"

"No. She just… used her hand. And then she changed my bandage. After that, she said it was a sin." He shook his head.

"It seemed I just keep adding to the list."

"Do you love her?"

"Not in the same way I love you." He paused.

"But I feel something for her. A connection. A need to protect her."

"Then maybe it's enough." Angelique took his hand.

"We can figure out the rest later."

"Will you be okay with it?" She smiled a little.

"I will be okay if you are honest with me. Besides, she's one of us. And she saved your life. That gives her some points in my book." He squeezed her fingers.

"Thank you."

"I'm not saying I won't be jealous," she said.

"But I'll handle it."

"I'm sorry to put you through this."

"Don't be." She leaned down and kissed him.

"I know what we have been through. It's not easy, but we are still here. Together. That's what matters." He closed his eyes and rested in her touch. The sun beat down on them. The pine needles cast long shadows across the deck. He fell asleep again, his head resting against the arm of the chair. Gladice woke him with a kiss. He opened his eyes to her face inches from his. She smiled.

"Come on, sleepyhead," she said.

"Time for dinner." He stood up, surprised at how steady he felt. Even the pain of his hand was gone. The others were already inside, sitting around the table. Savannah brought in plates of mac and cheese. Barlow sat at the head of the table, a bottle of bourbon in front of him. He poured some into a glass and drank it without looking at anyone.

"This is good," Louis said after a few bites.

"Thank you," Savannah said.

"I can cook when I want to."

"Then we should be nicer to you more often," Gladice said. Savannah smiled.

"That's a start." Donya was quiet. She picked at her food, her eyes downcast. She looked up once and met Louis's eyes. He smiled at her. She blushed and looked away. Willa cleared her throat.

"I was checking the news. There's a rumor the Collective is pushing toward Little Rock." Barlow scoffed.

"Rumors ain't gonna get us out of this state."

"Neither is drinking," Willa shot back. Barlow glared at her.

"You wanna try me, girl?"

"Enough," Angelique said.

"We are not fighting." Barlow looked at her.

"We ain't getting anywhere sitting here either."

"Then you are welcome to leave," Angelique said, her voice cold. Barlow stared at her for a long moment, then took another drink.

"Fine," he said.

"Sit here and rot. See if I care." Willa was about to reply, but her expression changed as she took out the phone.

"He's calling." Everyone looked at it. She turned on the speaker. His father's voice came through the room.

"Louis. Are you there?"

"I am here."

"Good. How are you?"

"Better." Louis glanced at the others.

"I was bitten by a snake." Silence for a beat. Then Constantine sighed.

"Of course you were. Are you alright?"

"Non-venomous. Dirty bite. Had a fever. Willa took care of it."

"Thank you, Willa."

"You're welcome." She folded her arms.

"He should be fine."

"Good." Constantine sounded tired.

"I have news. Tomorrow at twenty-one hundred hours, you need to be on the coast south of Georgetown, South Carolina. A special operations team will pick you up. I will send you the coordinates later."

"Pick us up? How?" Louis asked.

"Low-signature boats for the shore approach, and a submarine waiting offshore for extraction," his father said.

"They are a Dominion special operations team. If there is contact, they can cover you. But you need to be close to the shore. We can't risk a gunfight inland." Louis nodded.

"Alright. What's the plan after that?"

"You will be taken aboard the DMS Hawaii with the Second Fleet. From there you will receive medication and proper medical care. Then we will decide the next step."

"Okay." Louis looked around the table.

"What about Barlow?"

"Bring him," Constantine said.

"He helped you. We owe him. And we can use people like him."

"I will let him know." Louis paused.

"Thank you, Dad."

"Stay alive until tomorrow night," his father said.

"And don't do anything stupid."

"No promises." Constantine laughed once, short and tired.

"I love you, son."

"I love you too." The call ended. Willa set the phone down. Gladice said, "Stealth boats? A submarine? A carrier? Is he invading?"

"Maybe." Louis shook his head.

"Or maybe it's the only way to get us out without starting a war." He looked at Barlow.

"You heard the man. You are coming with us." Barlow nodded once.

"Right." Willa picked up the phone and opened the map.

"The coast near Georgetown is nearly three hundred miles from here."

"Can we make it?" Angelique asked.

"With a little luck, yeah," Barlow said.

"We leave tomorrow morning. Take the back roads most of the way. Best chance we got."

"Alright." Louis put one hand on the table and stood carefully.

"Then we have one night left. Let's make the most of it." Gladice grinned.

"I was hoping you would say that." Donya looked down at her hands. Savannah looked toward the window and stayed quiet. Willa exchanged a look with Gladice and smiled. Angelique came to his side and slid her arm around his waist.

"Together," she said.

"Yes," he said.

"Together."