Page 12 (1/2)

I gasped “Jackson!”

“You smell like honeysuckle You likin’ ole Jack now?”

“I never stopped liking you Even when you arding me aith the power of Catholicis supernatural is supposed to be either a miracle or satanic”

I rolled ure out which I aure out if I’eous lips I wanted theht be different frooan to try to accept all this But you got to acceptabout?”

“I’ot a fondness for liquor I’s hurt at the drop of a hat”

I laid et s hurt if you stay with us And it will be my fault because I don’t want to separate froo”

“That was before I realized so life even before the apocalypse Before there were Baggers, cannibals, and plague Now I figure I’ll spendwhat I want”

“And what do you want?”

His grin deepened “You’re what I want, and I’d like to be doing you” He leaned down, pressing his lips to an to pour down at last, pelting the cabin’s tin roof I hadn’t heard that sound since the night I’d gone to Jack’s home in the bayou

He drew back “Christ, your lips are sweet Douces comme duhis da hiers skimmed over the raised scar on his ar that wound tended to the night of the Flash, he would’ve died likeit a possessive squeeze “T?’es pour moi, Evie You’re mine Every part of you” He leaned down, took my lips once more Between kisses, he said, “I told you once and I’ll tell you again: there is nothing that can happen to you that we can’t get past Just give et to you Proain”

“I pro at his lips, I said, “Would you always come for ”

I laughed How could I feel this lad I don’t have to hide this any longer No more secrets then—for either of us” Wait Had his eyes darted? “Do you have so

“Are youare you lying to ht now Considering this game, this whole world, we have to be able to depend on each other”

“I’ You can trust ot no secrets, peekôn Except for how bad I want you”

Relieved, I gave him a shaky nod “I believe you”

“Good” He swept ainst his chest to head for the bed “That night by the pool, you would’ve let one slower I’ll do that now Nice and slow, ether like that What if I hurt you with o, ma belle”

“I’ his hts “You loveit

“Now, hush We do best e doan talk”

Brows raised, I tilted my head Because he had a point I leaned up forI’d heard the phrase “drunk from his lips” I literally was fro, and then there was Cajun French kissing Spicier, harder, wilder

That’s hoith Jackson Burning out of control Probably just as destructive as an inferno And I didn’t care

He drew back and tossedinto a pit, are with ertips

Jack dove for rip “Jesus! I’ve got you!”

I could barely hear hihorn sounded fronal for thistrap?

As Jack lifted azed below Rusted rebar jutted froainst hi the back of my head protectively

There’d been no mattress; someone had spread a thin layer of foaht blanket and pillows

“Dear God,” I muttered when the horn died down Inin the distance

He huggedbreath “II could’ve killed you”

Again debatable But it definitely would’ve hurt “Wh-ould do this?” I asked, though I knew That blaring signal had been like a quitting-tirabbed my clothes, shoved theoan to coo, bébé Fast”

11

DAY 257 AF

IN CANNIBAL COUNTRY, APPARENTLY

“Why do they call it a downpour,” Finn mused as we climbed in the pitch dark, “as opposed to an uppour?”

The rain came down so hard it druo

I’d grown up in Louisiana; I knew thunderstorms I’d never felt rain like this Why had I wished it would pound down from the sky?

Finn swiped awith cannibal crazies on top of Arcana crazies blows goats” He melodramatically raised his fist to the sky “Serenity now!”

Matthew piped up “Cannibal Arcana!”