Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 63

NADINE’S P.O.V

The rooms were almost identical to the ones at the last bunker.

It didn’t have much, just a general living area with a dining table that could also serve as a work table and a bedroom with a bed, a bath and a closet. It was simple and so familiar that my chest ached.

Neither of us wasted time analyzing the room. We spent the rest of the day wrapped up in each other’s arms, only breaking apart long enough to eat and take a bath. The relief we felt at finally being safe made the whole experience more intimate and heightened.

I couldn’t remember when I slept off. All I knew was that one moment he had me on my back with my legs on his shoulders, and the next, I felt him nuzzling the crook of my neck with his nose.

"I have to go, princess," he whispered but I didn’t stir. Being in his arms felt too good.

I shuffled closer to him, pressing myself closer to him and the delicious heat radiating off him. He chuckled under his breath, wrapping his arms around me as he placed a feather light kiss to my forehead.

I tried to get closer to his chest but frowned when I felt leather against my skin. Reluctantly, I peeled my eyes open only to find him dressed in soldier leathers. He smiled down at my softly as he patiently waited for me to realize what was happening. The awareness came after a few seconds and just like that, my morning was ruined.

I sighed deeply, letting my eyes drift closed as I tried to enjoy the few seconds we had left. "How long will you be gone?"

"All day."

My eyes widened in shock. "What? That’s not fair. How do they expect you to stay awake all day? Shouldn’t you work in shifts."

"It’s just how things are here, princess. I don’t have to work every day so that’s a plus. I work three days a week."

"When did they tell you all of this? How did you even get the uniform?"

"Pickett brought it while you were asleep last night."

He pulled back from me, leaving me feeling cold and alone. I had no idea what I would be doing for the next twenty-four hours. I hadn’t been away from him in months, it felt like fucking torture. But I could see how bothered he was by it already, so I gave him a tight smile.

"I’ll be here when you get back, I guess."

He stood in front of me, watching carefully. There was a lot he wanted to say but he chose not to say them, instead, he leaned down and kissed me deeply. My toes curled, my heart beat rapidly in my chest as the kiss consumed me from the inside out. When he pulled back, I was out of breath and he had a small smile on his face.

He opened his mouth to speak but a knock on the door stopped him. I watched his features shut down as he went from the man I knew to the soldier I first met all those months ago. He gave me one last lingering look before walking out of the room. I grabbed his shirt, throwing it over my head and following him.

Joshua stood at the door. He wasn’t dressed in soldier leathers, he was in plain pants and a loose shirt.

"I don’t need a baby sitter," Rowan snapped but Joshua didn’t even look offended.

"I’m not here for you, I’m here for her. Although, you really should get going. The soldiers will be leaving soon."

Rowan muttered a small curse under his breath, pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and walked out leaving Joshua and I staring at each other through the doorway.

"Are you going to invite me in?" he asked, a small smile playing on his lips. "Or would you like to talk out here."

"That depends on what you want to tell me." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Why are you here?"

"Honest answer? Your father asked me to check on you." He let his eyes roam my body. "Seeing as you’re half dressed, I’m glad it was me and not him."

I rolled my eyes. "This is my room. You don’t get to judge how I’m dressed."

He just hummed. "So it’s true what the General said, you’re fucking him."

"What do you care?"

"I don’t. You can get it on with whoever you want. I’m just letting you know that your dad isn’t a fan."

I snorted. "My father wants me to marry you and have your blond haired babies."

"And you don’t want that?"

"There has never been any chemistry between us, Joshua, let’s not pretend otherwise. Besides, I want someone who looks out for me. If it had been both of us left out there, you would have left me to die. He always put me first. He saved me even at his own detriment."

He leaned against the doorway. "So he’s a chivalrous night. Good for you."

I sighed. "What do you want, Joshua? I don’t have energy for this."

"Your father wants to see you."

"That’s easy, no," I started to shut the door but his hand shot out and held it open.

"I don’t think you’re understanding me. I’m going to take you to your father and I have been told to use force if necessary. I don’t want to hurt you, Nadine but I will carry you out of here, half naked and all." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He had either become a very good liar, or he wasn’t bluffing. His face was hard, drawn, and it was at that moment I realized that as much as I had changed, he did too. The Joshua I knew would have never said something like that, he was too prim and proper.

"Give me a minute," I said finally. "I need to get dressed."

I took my precious time taking a bath and getting dressed. By the time I stepped out, I had enough time to be pissed off at Joshua for his threat from earlier.

I stayed silent, ignoring him when he held out a hand for me to take. He just smiled to himself at my dismissal and walked alongside me as we made our way down the halls.

People watched us, whispering as we passed. I heard a few people talking about me, about Rowan and how we were probably infected. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. If we were infected, this entire bunker would be dead within a week.

"How did you escape?" I asked Joshua. "When the bunker went down, how did you get out?"

"My father asked our guard to take me to safety. He got me into one of the tanks."

"And your father?"

He shook his head. "He died in the chaos."

"I’m sorry."

He just waved me off. "It’s fine, it wasn’t your fault. A part of me is glad that he’s gone, he never liked living in the bunkers anyway. He missed the outside world. What’s it like now?’

"Outside?" I asked to confirm and he nodded. "Quiet, peaceful, terrifying. One wrong move can have monsters on your tail in seconds. There are empty houses with dead people, there are young people outside with no access to bunkers. It’s a tough world out there but some would say it’s better than living in here."

He scoffed. "There is safety and security here."

"You could be safe out there too if you know how. There is also freedom."

"And death. People die out there."

"Believe me, Joshua, you know nothing about the death out there."