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Kyle pulls Amos far enough away that I can’t hear what they are discussing. Whatever it is looks serious, making me wonder if I’ll be made privy to the conversation afterward. I test the weight on my twisted ankle and it’s already feeling better. Amos looks back at me with a smile, but I can see the worry behind his facade.

I give him a questioning look, which he doesn’t respond to. When I take a step forward, my ankle still twinges but not as bad as before. I test out a few more steps, but I’m very obviously limping. Amos is at my side in three long strides, scooping me up in his arms.

“What are you doing?” I instinctively wrap my arms around Amos’ neck but quickly change tactic, attempting to wiggle out of his arms.

“You’re injured. I’m taking you to the health center.”

“I’m fine, Amos.”

“There’s no point in arguing with him, Lori. He’s an overbearing puppy.” Kyle laughs, dodging Amos’ leg that attempted a “this is Sparta!” kick.

“Woah there, little pup. It’s okay. Calm down.” I mean to stroke his cheek playfully, as one would scratch a dog, but it quickly turns into a sensual touch. A touch that shoots lightning through my fingertips. The kind of lightning that tingles in all the right places and I know he feels it too. Our eyes lock for far too long, tempting me to lean in closer.

“I feel like I’m still interrupting something,” Kyle says from behind me. I quickly remove my hand from Amos’ face, placing it around his neck. That stone cold face of his slides into place, and the three of us fall silent as we walk out of the sports center.

Chapter 28

Alisonclearedmeforpatrol duty a few hours after Amos and I sparred. When I went searching for him, I discovered he had left The Valley on an urgent mission. One of the freezers in the kitchens went out, nearly spoiling all the meat that’s stored in there. So it’s up to Amos and a few others to either find a replacement or the part needed to make it work again.

Knowing he was out hunting for freezer parts didn’t make me as mad as when I thought he’d left to hunt Doctore without me. He asked me to join him in this fight months ago. And I agreed. I was and am now still a willing participant. I want to take that fucker down. Now that I have clearance to go out there, my patience is running thin. Amos has been away for six days. Six days!

This isn’t the longest he’s been away, but this is the most anxious I’ve been for him to return. I keep telling myself it’s because I want the chance to go on patrol, to see what the world outside looks like, to contribute to the cause. But my mind keeps lingering on Amos. His eyes. His mouth. His body.

I’m just a horny twenty-three-year-old. As I lie in bed waiting for sleep to claim me, my body keeps me awake with a need I know I won’t be able to fulfill. But I try. My hand wanders down my stomach, slipping underneath my pajama pants. I’m already wet just thinking about Amos.

Images of him still wet from the shower are pinned to the backs of my eyelids. In my imagination, the towel slips from his slick body, revealing every inch of him. Though this is a fictional version of him, not having seen him completely naked, I devour it nonetheless. My fingers part the wet folds of my sensitive skin, making me gasp with need as I pretend they are Amos’ fingers.

I can almost feel the warm weight of him on my thighs, parting them to push in deeper, faster. Closer, closer, so close. I suppress a moan as the bundle of nerves from my core burst in flames of passion. Holy shit. If this is how I feel after flicking my own bean, how would it feel if Amos was the one doing it?

The blush on my skin burns brighter at the thought. But my body is now relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep.

The morning brings on the same routine I’ve been living for the past six months. While Amos is away, I train with Kyle. He’s a brute, but takes it much easier on me than Amos. Today is a little different though. When I walk into the gym, Olivia and Kyle are waiting for me. When I met Kyle, I remember thinking he was a real life replica of Captain America. Olivia is the female equivalent, but with bronze skin, hazel eyes, and black hair.

“Morning, Lori,” Olivia says with a bright and cheery smile. It’s a little unnerving.

“Hey guys. What’s going on?” I hesitate to approach them, taking small, timid steps in their direction.

“Norman wants to run some endurance tests.” Kyle’s arms are crossed. At least he has the decency to look annoyed as he tells me what the plans are for the day. “You are going to do your normal workout with me, then Olivia is going to take you to the pool.”

“The pool?” Rapids of dread flow through my veins. In the before, I would not have flinched at being told to go to the pool. I would have run and dove right in. But here? Now? I have been instructed to never enter the pool area at the other end of the athletic building. The thick wall of windows have even been painted to prevent anyone from looking in from the indoor track. All I’ve been told is that Norman does his experiments there.

“Why the pool?” I ask.

“Norman has set up some kind of obstacle course,” Olivia vaguely explains.

“Okay, and I’m just going to have to run the course?”

She shrugs in response while Kyle nods his head, avoiding eye contact. I continue to look right at him as I ask another question. “Does my mom know about this?”

“No. Should she have been informed?” Kyle is now alert, concern creasing his brow.

Yes. I think to myself. I don’t want to make a complicated situation for Kyle and Olivia though. Norman has cooled down on the over-enthusiasm, becoming sympathetic during our sessions, which are now just interviews as there aren’t many other tests he can do to me without causing physical pain. Still, I have never been left alone with him. My mom has always accompanied me. And if she can’t be there, Amos is there. But Amos is far away from The Valley.

“Will one of you be joining me at the pool?” I ask, looking between Olivia and Kyle.

They look at each other in question. “Would you like us to be there?”

My head begins to nod but changes course into a shake. “No. I guess I’ll be all right. It’s just a little strange that I wasn’t notified about this ‘test’ as I’m always given ample notice on what tests Norman has planned for me.”