Deathly Contagious (14 page)

“Possibly.”

“Don’t try to go off on your own anymore.”

“Ok,” I said simply.

“Really, Riss. I mean it. I-I can’t handle losing anyone else, especially you.”

“I won’t. Not anymore. I promise.”

He sat up and kissed me. I pushed myself up and onto him, kissing him back. My hand slid over his chest and abs and under the waistband of his boxers. It didn’t take long until he was hard again. The desperation wasn’t as intense this time, but the desire was just as great.

Our clothing came off in a matter of seconds. Hayden tried to get on top of me again. I forced him away, pushing him down onto the mattress and climbed on, guiding him into me. I started out slow, wanting to draw it out for Hayden. His hands explored my body and I had to cover my mouth to keep from being heard. I rocked my hips, gradually moving faster. Then I stopped, and Hayden desperately wanted more.

I took his hands from my chest and moved them up, wanting to pin them above his head, but stopped, afraid it might hurt his injured shoulder. Instead, I pushed them down on the mattress so he was unable to move them. He breathed loudly and rapidly as I started moving again. The headboard hit the wall. I let go of Hayden’s hands to shove a pillow behind it, which only muffled the sound a little bit.

Not caring, we didn’t stop. Hayden bent his knees up, hitting me at a different angle, which felt incredibly good. I leaned forward, my breasts in his face, bit his neck and lost control. Once my muscles started working again, I straightened up and moved faster than before. In just a few seconds, Hayden came as well.

Hayden fell asleep soon after we were done. He didn’t even put his clothes back on. I didn’t want to leave him, but I really had to pee. I pulled his shirt over my head; it was long enough to cover my ass so I quickly scuttled to the bathroom.

I got back under the covers, resting as close to Hayden as I could. Drowsily, he mumbled my name and put his arm around me. Feeling the happiest I had in a very long time, I drifted into the most peaceful sleep I’d ever gotten.

We slept through breakfast. Around ten AM, someone knocked on the door.

“Underwood, you alive in there?” Ivan’s muffled voice called.

“Yea,” Hayden sleepily answered. Then we both realized how close we were to getting caught. Hayden jumped out of bed. “Pretend you’re sleeping,” he whispered and frantically looked for his boxers. He moved to the door, reaching for the knob.

“Your bed!” I whispered, pointing to his neatly made bed. He threw back the covers and opened the door.

“Why’s the door locked?” Ivan asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “What—or who—are you doing?” he teased.

“Be quiet,” Hayden said softly. “She’s still sleeping.”

Ivan must have looked at me. “You’re right. She does sleep like a porn star.”

I wanted to sit up and immediately question Hayden. Instead, I didn’t move. I heard Hayden sink down onto his bed.

“Raeya was looking for Orissa and your girlfriend wants you. She didn’t like waking up with you not in bed next to her.”

“Shut up,” Hayden said, trying to sound serious but I could tell he was holding back laughter.

“Dr. Cara really was looking for you.”

“Is that all?” Hayden asked, wanting Ivan to leave. He was so obvious.

“Yea,” he replied. “Well, no. Raeya’s bringing Orissa breakfast. I guess I’ll tell her to bring up some for you. I’m glad you’re ok, Underwood. And I know how this is gonna sound since you’re half naked, but you look…good, like you’ve gotta clear head for once.”

“Thanks,” Hayden said awkwardly. When the door clicked shut, I opened my eyes.

“I sleep like a porn star?”

Hayden shrugged. “Yea, the way you put your arms above your head reminds me of one.”

“You watch me sleep. That is so creepy.”

He nodded. “Yup. Every night. I steal your underwear too.”

“I knew it.” I laughed. Hayden crossed the room laid next to me. He turned on his left side and flinched. “Hayden, you ok?”

“Yea,” he lied.

“The pain meds wore off,” I stated.

“They tend to do that. It’s fine. I don’t like taking them; they make me tired and confused.”

“How bad does it hurt? I don’t want you to be in pain.”

“It doesn’t feel good, but it’s not that bad,” he tried to convince me. “You’re a good distraction.”

I sat up and gently touched the bullet wound. As if it triggered something, the horrific scene flashed through my mind. Where had those guys come from? Why did they want us dead? I rested my head on Hayden’s chest. It didn’t matter now, Hayden was alive and well and the guys that shot him were dead and gone.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” he said, getting up. “I wish you could join me.”

“Me too,” I agreed, already thinking of ways we could sneak it. Once Hayden left, I got up and put my pajama pants on. A minute later, Raeya appeared in the doorway, carrying a very full tray.

“I hope you’re hungry!” she said.

“Starving!” I exclaimed. “Ohmigod, is that butter?”

“Yes! Jordan figured out how to make it from the cows’ milk,” she told me excitedly. I didn’t know who Jordan was but at that moment I wanted to give him or her a huge hug. I dug into the pancakes. “Your room is a mess,” Raeya observed. “Well, only your side is. How does Hayden put up with you?”

With my mouth full, I shrugged. I finished my plate when Hayden came back into the room. I chatted with Ray while he ate and promised her I’d watch the Friday night movie with her. Hayden accompanied us downstairs, grumbling about going to see Dr. Cara.

Argos was in the game room, chasing the ball Lisa was throwing for him. He snapped his head up at the sound of my voice and raced over. His butt wiggled with excitement as I cooed over him. When he calmed down, Lisa ran over and hugged me.

“Everyone said you were dead!” she cried. “I was so sad, Orissa. I told them that if anyone could make it, you could. I’ve seen you. You saved us, remember?”

I hugged her back. “Thanks for having faith in me, Lisa.”

“You’re welcome, Orissa!”

Ray and I sat at a table where half a puzzle had been put together. I picked up a piece and looked for its counterpart. I knew who came into the room by the clicking of heels on the tile floor. She dramatically gasped and the clicks got faster as she rushed over.

“Orissa! Bless your heart, you’re alive! I just didn’t believe it! And here you are and you look…well!” Scarlett, the self appointed gossip queen, gushed. I half smiled. My hair was no doubt a mess and I was still wearing Hayden’s tee shirt and my yellow and orange stripped pajama pants. “You
have
to tell me everything! How did you feel when you realized they had left? Do you really think they thought you were dead?” she asked seriously. Maybe she really had been a TV news anchor; she definitely dressed the part.

“It was a pretty rough situation,” I vaguely summed up. “I’m sure the guys assumed the zombies were ripping me apart and feasting on my fresh, warm, internal organs.”

“Oh,” she grimaced. She pulled up a chair and sat next to me. “And then what? How did you feel when you realized that you were all alone?”

“Pretty pissed,” I went on. “And then all I wanted to do was get back here. And I did. It’s not an interesting story,” I lied.

“What about that girl you brought back with you? How did you find her?”

I abruptly stood. “Olivia,” I said, feeling horrible I hadn’t thought about her. “Uh, sorry. I’m going to go find her.” Raeya followed me down the hall.

“Who are you and what have you done to Orissa?” she teased.

“What are you talking about, Ray?”

“You were polite to Scarlett.”

“I can be from time to time.”

“I know that,” she said, shaking her head. “The woman even annoys me. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

I shrugged. I was in a good mood, thanks to Hayden. I felt blood rush to my cheeks when I thought of him. We walked down the hall, though one of the heavy, security doors and into another hall. I punched in the pass code and opened the door to the soldier’s quarantine. Olivia wasn’t in there.

Right as the anger was building, Rider came through the door. He beamed at me and gave me a friendly hug. “Glad you’re back, Penwell. We were all devastated to lose such a good teammate.”

“Aw, thanks,” I said sincerely. “Hey, do you know where the civilian is that came in with me yesterday?”

“Yea. She’s in the hospital ward, but don’t worry, she’s ok, well mostly. I heard what happened to her. I would have beaten the shit out of the guy too. You’re kinda my hero,” he joked.

“Yep. I’m awesome,” I joked back.

 Rider walked with us to the B level staircase. I was a little disappointed to see that Hayden wasn’t in the hospital ward anymore. Karen smiled warmly at me.

“It’s a miracle,” she said softly. “I remember what it’s like out there…and you found your way home.”

I looked at Raeya. “I had good motivation. Is Olivia here?”

“Yes, she’s asleep. Poor thing.” She shook her head. “She thinks the world of you; you’re all she talks about.”

“Is she alright?”

“She’s pretty torn up ‘down there’, and just covered with bruises. Physically, she’ll heal. Mentally…” she trailed off, becoming emotional. “She’s on antibiotics to keep an infection from forming. And I put in a request for her to not be roomed with or near a male.” She shook her head again. “I can’t help but ask, is everything she said true?”

Raeya, who had patiently been listening in the dark, stepped closer. We moved out of the sick ward, closing the door. Karen recapped what Olivia had told her about Beau. Raeya covered her face with her hands, horrified when I confirmed the truth.

“You really are that girl’s hero,” Raeya told me, looking at me with admiration. I shrugged it off. We slowly walked back to her room. Several C’s stopped me, telling me how happy they were I was back. I smiled and thanked them, sharing only minor details about my time spent elsewhere.

I turned on the little CD player that sat neatly centered on the dresser in Ray’s room, tapping my foot to music.

“I like you being in a good mood,” she commented. “I haven’t been around the old, carefree Orissa in a long time. I miss her.”

“I do too,” I said with a sigh. “Hey, remember that time I tried my grandpa’s moonshine?”

She laughed. “How could I forget? I spent the rest of the night holding your hair back as you barfed.”

“Oh yea. I’m never doing that again,” I laughed too. Raeya looked at the clock and frowned.

“I have to go over inventory. I haven’t done it since you…you didn’t come home.”

“Want me to come with?”

Raeya raised an eyebrow incredulously. “I’d love that.” We went into the supplies room. Raeya picked up a clipboard and sat on the edge of a table. “We’re running low on sweets, which I guess isn’t a top priority,” she spoke out loud. She jotted down items that needed be gathered on the next mission.

“You have a pretty serious job. Thanks for keeping this place in order, Ray,” I told her.

“Thanks, Rissy,” she said with a smile. I sat on the table next to her, swinging my feet. “What else do you need to do?”

“Luckily, Lupe already counted everything, all we have to do is decide what is the most important and write up a list of what we need and give it to Fuller.

“You should put oranges on the list.”

“Oranges?”

“Yea, so we can go to Florida to get them. I’d kill for a day on the beach,” I joked.

“If you go to Florida, you’re taking me!” Raeya laughed. “And Riss…are you really thinking about going on missions already?”

I shrugged. “Not anytime soon. Hayden’s better, but not good enough to go out on one. He’s a good partner; I don’t want to go out without him. Especially since the last time I did, I got ditched. Hayden would never leave me. Ivan, Brock, Wade or Rider wouldn’t either...I hope.”

“Ivan and Brock wouldn’t, I know for sure,” she said seriously. “They were both really upset when you didn’t come back.”

I sighed. “I feel bad; I didn’t want anyone to worry.”

“Trust me, plenty of people did.”

“So,” I started, trying to suppress a smile. “How many tears were shed over me? I’m assuming gallons, if not more.”

Raeya laughed. “Oh, definitely buckets.”

The door slowly creaked open, and we looked up to see Lauren poke her head in.

“Hi, Orissa,” she said with the slightest smile.

“Hello, Lauren,” I said with complete indifference.

“It’s, uh, nice to see you again. I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Thanks,” I told her with a smile.

“Yea, everyone said you were dead. Maybe you’ll stop trying to be such a dramatic hero now. You wouldn’t want to actually die. And you’re luck will run out someday” she said as if she was giving me legit advice and then looked at Raeya. “The bathroom in my hall is out of toilet paper.”

“Oh,” Raeya exclaimed and jumped up. She grabbed two rolls and handed them to Lauren. She took them, turned to leave and stopped.

“Orissa?” she asked.

“Yea?”

“When you, uh, go out on your next mission, do you think you could get hair dye? I hate my roots showing.”

I shrugged. “Maybe, if I remember to.”

Without thanking me, she nodded and left.

Raeya closed the door and hopped back up on the table next to me. She set the clipboard down and folded her arms. “What has gotten into you, Rissy? Lauren annoys the crap out of me, was rude to you and you’re being nice to her. You either got into Hayden’s candy stash or his pants, ‘cuz you are in a freakishly good mood.”

I bit my lip and looked at the floor.

“What?” Raeya squealed.

I nodded.

“Finally!” she said with a huge grin.

“Finally?” I questions.

“Well, I’m assuming you also admitted that you have feelings for him.”

“Yea.” I smiled at the memory. “Finally.”

“So,” she continued. “How was it?”

“Good. Really good.”

“Even though he’s injured?”

“The bullet hit his shoulder not his di—” I cut off when another overseer came into the storage room. I said hello and made my exit, promising Ray I’d find her later. On my way up the hall, I ran into Padraic.