Thirteen - Ella

When he took off his shirt I couldn't look away. Okay, I totally could, but with that - and by that I mean those abs, oh my God, those abs - in my line of sight, I really didn't want to. I'd never seen a man that looked like him half naked and in broad daylight. Kinsley would have told me I was being too obvious, that I needed to play it cooler, but I doubted she'd ever seen abs that good either. I did however, look away when he dropped his pants, deciding that the question of boxers or briefs was better left unknown for the moment. A little mystery is a good thing.

I didn't know what I was doing. I hadn't walked with him to the water with the intention of stripping down in front of him, but once I was there and he smiled... I wanted more. I didn't want to flirt with him, I just wanted him. I had since he nearly kissed me the other night.

I wasn't this girl.

I wasn't daring. I didn't strip down in front of hot boys or invite them into the water with me. I mean, holy crap, I was acting downright brazen. There was a time when I rolled my eyes and judged girls who threw themselves at men exactly like I was doing. It wasn't that I was some naive innocent little girl. I wasn't. School and work made it hard for anything serious, but I'd dated around. I wasn't bold, though. For Christ's sake, the handful of times I'd had sex were less than stellar; I'm talkin' lights off, shirt on. And if I'm being brutally honest, he kept his socks on. Yeah. I was that girl.

And yet, there I was. Half naked and jumping into the water like some ridiculous spring breaker.

It was sudden. It was out of the blue. I could tell I had caught Kyle completely off guard. I sort of took myself by surprise as well. There had been a little flirting here and there, and the attraction was there, but I knew this was the last thing on his mind when we walked over here.

Like I said, I didn't know what I was doing, or thinking.

But I did know that Kyle spent the last few days that we'd been here avoiding me. It wasn't until I cornered him asking for help with the whole fighting zombies thing that he was forced to spend time with me. Sure, he could have been avoiding me because he just didn't like me and if that were true, I was really embarrassing myself. But I didn't think that was the case.

I saw the way he was looking at me, his eyes like fire on my skin had warmed every inch of my body.

But there was more to it than just attraction.

I had also seen the way a nervous energy settled over every single person in the house at the announcement we'd be leaving in two days. Even Zero, who before today had me thinking she didn't feel much emotion at all, seemed antsy about heading into such a crowded city. I may not have known them all that well, but I knew enough to know that people that experienced being that nervous wasn't a good sign. The odds of us all making it back in one piece seemed to be dwindling.

And if I was being totally honest, I was terrified. Not of Kyle, or what I was doing, that was the least scary part of this. I was scared of what was going to happen when we left here... unnerved that'd I'd have to do the things Zero tried to teach me. Scared that I'd get separated again and this time there would be no knife-throwing hero to save the day. I was terrified that H-26 wouldn't be there. Terrified that someone would die and, ultimately, it would be my fault because this was my trip. And I was so, so scared that it would be me.

I think that probably made me a coward, being more scared of my own death than anyone else's. Maybe it would be fitting for me to get bit and turn into one of them. Maybe that's what I deserved. But I was so goddamned scared of it. And I knew if I gave myself time to think about it, I'd never leave the safety of that inn.

So I was doing what I could to keep my mind off of what felt like impending doom.

The splash of him jumping into the water was enough to pull me from my thoughts and when he surfaced, his eyes met mine, dark and stormy. Yeah, I was sure Kyle could keep my mind off of all the fear.

I swam closer to him and placed my hands on his biceps, wondering if I looked as surprised by my actions as he did. I was really running out of whatever boldness had come over me.

"This is probably a mistake, Ella."

The way he said my name made me think it was a mistake he wanted to make.

I smile; I hoped it was more seductive than crazy, but I couldn't be sure.

"So?"

"Ella." My name was a groan on his lips and God help me, I liked it.

"Kyle." I paused, working up the courage before adding, "It's just sex." And those are words I never thought I would say, but they rolled off my tongue as truth. Kyle was a nice guy, and I hadn't ever been a one-night kind of girl, but things changed. The entire world changed. And right then, I didn't want anything from him but a moment. "I just want to escape."

Apparently something about what I'd said - maybe the promise that this was nothing more than what it was - did the trick because hands griped my hips and then we were flush, chest to chest, nose to nose. There was a pause like maybe he was waiting for me to come to my senses and remember I wasn't the type of girl that did this. And then without any further hesitation, his head tilted and his lips pressed against mine. If I expected him to be tentative and gentle and soft, like every other guy who'd ever kissed me. I was wrong.

Kyle's kiss was demanding and sensuous. It was unlike any kiss I'd ever experienced and it was exactly what I craved. I gave in, melting into him as he lit my body on fire and the chill of the water seemed to disappear. His lips moved roughly against mine, teeth nipping at my bottom lip while his hands slid down to my ass, paused briefly before hitching under my thighs and urging my legs around his hips. As my legs slid around his waist his tongue slid into my mouth, massaging my own. And holy hot damn, he knew how to kiss. I'd never been a fan of much tongue, mostly it felt like a wet fish flopping around in my mouth. But Kyle... well, it was nothing like that. His tongue was nothing like a fish and it definitely wasn't flopping. A shiver that had nothing to do with the chill of water ran up my spine and caused a warmth to spread in my belly while a plea for more in the form of breathy moan fell from my lips.

I'd never felt so wanted in my life and all he was doing was kissing me.

I craved more. My fingers found their way into the hair that they'd wanted to touch since I saw him and grabbing on, pulled him closer. My hips rolled into his and Kyle groaned into my mouth as I pressed into his hardness. His lips left mine, sliding along my jaw and then kissing and sucking their way down to my collar bone while his fingers found their way between our bodies and trailed down my stomach, slipping beneath the elastic waistband of my panties.

"Oh, God." My words were barely audible, whispered on a breath as his fingers slipped inside me. His fingers began to move while his lips kissed a path back up, stopping at my ear.

"Please tell me you've done this before," he said, voice rough and deep.

Despite all the amazing things he was doing to me, a chuckle left my lips at the desperate quality to his voice. Had he really planned to stop if I hadn't? That was sort of... sweet, reminding me that I was right. Even if he was acting anything but sweet - in the most amazing possible way right now - Kyle was still one of the good ones.

Damn, he was good.

I managed something that resembled a nod but he must not have understood because his hand stilled. My eyes popped open, both dazed and irritated. And then his hand was gone altogether. "Why'd you stop?"

His lips curved into a smirk and we started moving. Out of the water. The cool breeze hit my wet skin and I shivered in Kyle's arms as he moved us toward the shore. Instead of asking where we were going - even though I sort of really wanted to know - I mimicked his earlier moves, kissing and licking his neck. For a moment, I wasn't sure he was into it and then the muscles in his arms tensed, holding me tighter and I couldn't stop the smile against his skin as he lowered us both down to the ground.

My back rested against the grassy, dirt covered ground as Kyle lowered his body over mine. His fingers played with the strap of my bra, pulling it down over my shoulder and for a moment nerves shot through my body. I'd done this before, but I had never done this before. Outside. Broad daylight. Completely bare. It was totally new. Remember? Shirt on, lights off. That was me before. But I was liking this.

And it was right. I was lost. I was gone. A million miles away from here in a world where everything was right. Nothing else mattered.

That brief panic subsided the moment his tongue flicked over my nipple and then his lips covered it. An embarrassing noise that too closely resembled a squeak left my lips. Kyle's mouth moved over my other breast, teasing and driving me to the brink of sanity before kissing a trail down to my belly button. Past my belly button. Lower. His fingers wrapped around the elastic and achingly slow, Kyle worked them down over my hips... past my knees... and then they were tossed aside. My eyes were locked onto his face as his leisurely roved over every inch of my body but instead of feeling self conscious and nervous that he noticed my ever imperfection, I felt beautiful. I felt confident. His hands dropped to his side and began slipping his wet boxers off, and even though I wanted to, I couldn't pull my eyes from his face. He was staring at me like, like I was the only thing in the world. Like I was sexy.

My legs parted on either side of his knees and he once again lowered his body over mine, only now there was nothing between us. He didn't wait. Didn't hesitate. He didn't move slowly, inch by inch. Kyle's lips crashed down on mine again at the same time he thrust completely into me. I gasped against his mouth in surprise that turned into a moan as my body jolted, suddenly full of him. He paused for a second, long enough for me to adjust to his size and then he pulled almost completely out before rocking back into me, hard. He swallowed my moans and groaned against my lips as his hips moved.

My legs hooked around his hips and my fingers scratched down his back as I met him with each motion driving me further and further toward the edge. Into oblivion. He kissed me just as hard and passionately as his hips moved until my toes curled and my body twitched and I was crying out his name. I was still in a foggy high - another world when Kyle toppled over the edge and collapsed on top of me.

When he rolled off of me, resting on the dirty grass next to me so that our shoulders were touching, we both stayed, looking up at the sky, catching our breath. When I felt his eyes on me I lulled my head to the side and met his gaze. A smile touched his lips and I couldn't help but return it. I didn't need to say it. Not a "thanks" or a "wow" or an "oh my goodness, you are a sex god!" His smile said he knew exactly what I was thinking. So instead of speaking pointless words, we sat there, grinning at one another until a laugh bubbled up. I didn't bother to hold it back, nor did I really know why I was laughing. Maybe because I'd just done the most brazen thing I'd ever done. Maybe because it was so worth it. Maybe because I- we were ass naked laying on the grass and anyone one, zombie or human, could just happen upon us. And then I was laughing at the idea of Kyle having to kill a zombie while naked.

Kyle probably thought I was a lunatic. Well... some people cry after really amazing sex, I guess I laugh.

It took a long moment, a wonderfully long moment, but it ended - that other, simpler world faded away. There were still zombies. I was still responsible. We were still going into D.C. And I was still afraid. Kyle must have sensed the change because he sat up and offered me a hand.

"We should get back before someone comes looking."

Taking his hand, I stood up and grabbed my underwear from the ground. Pieces of grass and a layer of dirt stuck to wet fabric. Yeah, I was so not putting these back on. Kyle reached the dock first and passed me my pants which I quickly pulled on and then reached for my shirt to finish dressing. Leaving my socks and boots off, I grabbed them in my arms and we made our way back up to the inn. Before we reached the door Kyle pulled my arm, stopping me.

"You okay?"

My head quirked to one side. Was that a serious question? He couldn't be serious.

"That was, I mean you were," he started when I didn't answer his frankly stupid question. "I didn't intend for that to happen."

It was mean, just plain cruel, but I giggled. He sounded awkward and nervous and well, it was funny.

"I know you didn't." I smiled. Had he not remembered that I made the first move? I was the one who stripped down half naked and threw myself at him, begging for an escape. Maybe I'd feel embarrassed about that later. "It's not a big deal." It was totally a big deal. I wasn't going to go all stage five clinger on him, but what we'd done... what he'd done for me? It was a big giant deal. But he was acting guilty like he thought he took advantage or something and well, that was more likely the other way around. I lifted to my tippy toes and kissed his cheek because I thought I might die if I didn't touch him one last time and then brushed past him and into the inn.

I ran right into Joel who'd been opening the door to come outside. His hands went to my shoulders to keep me from falling back and I mumbled a thanks before slipping past him. My feet carried me through the living room where someone called my name, trying to get my attention and ask how my zombie killing skills were coming along stopping me in my pursuit of the stairs. I turned around to face Hunter and Atlas, everyone else must have been off doing chores or something, praying I wasn't blushing.

"Huh?"

"I asked how practice was going," Hunter said, a smirk settling on his lips. My brow drew together but there was no way he knew. And there was no way he'd be calling me out on it, we didn't even know each other. Hunter may have had some boundary issues. Or, as I'd learned the last few days, he was just really quick to consider you a friend.

"Good," I said distractedly as Kyle strolled into the room, Joel right behind him.

"Sit down, grab a bite," he insisted.

Currently I was commando in pants that were too big with my panties shoved in my pocket and two wet marks through my teeshirt where my bra had soaked through. Not to mention, I felt like they could see it on my face.

"Let me just go change." I said. "Took a dip in the creek and I could use something dry."

"I know," he said and I got the feeling he was laughing at me even if no sound left his lips.

My eyes went wide and embarrassment washed over me, I had been bold earlier, but not okay-with-people-watching-me-bold. "You do?"

"Your hair is wet, El," Kyle jumped in, saving me from embarrassing myself further while Hunter laughed. Narrowing my eyes at Hunter, I turned around and made my way to the stairs.

"And you got a couple leaves in it too," Hunter said as I stepped on the first step. I didn't stop, but I did comb my fingers through my hair and pull out a leaf. Mortified, I ran the rest of the way up the steps.