Page 7 of Burning Love (The Lost World #5)

7

ALEX

“L et’s talk about last night’s attack,” Alex said, her voice edged with frustration as she paced the small supply room. Tromer leaned against the wall, a machete slung casually over his shoulder, but his furrowed brow betrayed his unease.

“Yep. It was bad, ma’am,” Tromer replied. “I think it was the third this week. Is that right? I heard a couple of the guys talking about it earlier. And I’m afraid I have to agree with what they were saying. These things—creatures… whatever you want to call them… they’re getting bolder. They’re getting stronger. It could be that they’re running out of food. But the fence out there is looking weak. It isn’t going to hold much longer. We don’t have much in the way of materials.”

Alex stopped pacing. “Did you see the damage at the end? I know I killed at least five. But how many were there this time?”

“Too many,” Tromer admitted. “I reckon at least twenty. It was mayhem. We’re low on ammo, Alex. If we keep burning through our reserves like this, we’ll be out in a week or so.”

Alex ran a hand through her hair as she felt her jaw tense up. “Jesus. It’s not like we can pop out and buy more. Fuck, I don’t know… It’s as if they’re drawn to the compound.”

Tromer gave a brief nod of his head in agreement. “You’re not wrong there. I’ve been wondering about it for a while. It’s the noise, the smell, I guess. We’re a target. We’re a beacon to them out here. And if one of them gets through?—”

“They won’t,” Alex cut him off sharply, though her tone was more an attempt to convince herself than Tromer. “Not on my watch. I’ll never let that happen.”

Who am I kidding? I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing half the time.

There was a pause in the conversation. Tromer shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot before shrugging his shoulders and voicing the thought that had clearly been eating at him. “There’s another thing I’m worried about. Do you think it’s changing? The infection, I mean. I’ve heard talk of?—”

Alex’s gaze snapped to him, her eyes narrowing into slits as she cut him off. “What talk? Tromer, we don’t know a thing about this disease, so what’s the point in listening to a load of made-up crap? People are getting hysterical.”

“But we both know it’s already getting worse,” Tromer said, lowering his voice to a near whisper. “Maybe it’s spreading faster. Maybe it’s turning into something like that COVID thing we all had…remember? What if it’s airborne?”

Alex’s stomach tightened. The possibility had been at the back of her mind for weeks, but she also knew that she had to trust her experience. Bites, scratches… that’s how it was spreading. Most of the people attacked died. Their bodies were too savaged and mangled to turn. But if their brain and spine remained intact, people turned. She’d been around enough of them to know the drill. “There’s no proof of that,” she said firmly. “It’s bites. Or deep scratches. An exchange of bodily fluids. That’s what was communicated to us through official lines before all the comms went to hell.”

“Official lines?” Tromer snorted. “That was weeks and weeks ago, Alex. Who’s to say it hasn’t mutated? Entire cities have been wiped out. Have you heard the stories of some of the people here? It’ll blow your mind. With something like this, do you think it’s just going to stay the same? It’s getting worse.”

Alex could feel her fingers digging into her sleeves. It was an old habit. Something she did when she was nervous. “Speculation, Tromer. That’s all it is. And it’s not helping. Until we see actual evidence, we have to stick to what we know.”

“And if you’re wrong?” Tromer challenged, his voice rising slightly. “If it’s in the air?”

“I know the risks! You’re talking like I’m forcing people to stay here! Like I’m wanting people to be blocked in here like sitting ducks!” Alex yelled, her voice echoing through the small space. The silence that followed was deafening. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. “I don’t like the way you’re talking to me. I’m your superior. Remember the chain of command, Tromer,” she said, quieter this time. “But panicking won’t help. We have to focus. We’ll reinforce the fences, ration the ammo, and keep the patrols tight. That’s all we can do.”

Tromer hesitated, then squared his shoulders and took a step toward Alex. “What’s the point? What chain of command? Who are you to tell me I need to ration? More rations? Ration the goddamn rations? Really? Nobody’s paid here. We’re not reporting to anyone. You’re no better than me. You’ll die just the same as me. We’ll all die. I’m going to tell the others. People need to know how serious this is.”

“They know,” Alex said, her voice softening. “I get it. We’re all scared, Tromer. But if we lose our heads, if we lose the sense of order I’m trying to maintain here, then you’re right… we’re dead. Every last one of us.”

He sighed and took a step back. “I don’t want to keep checking supplies. There’s fuck all left. I don’t want to reinforce the fence. With what?”

“You calm down, Tromer,” Alex said, watching him leave. As the door clicked shut behind him, she rushed to open it again. “Or you leave. I don’t need you here if you’re not a team player.” The weight of their conversation felt suffocating. Telling the others that the infection might be evolving, becoming airborne, would turn into chaos, and she wasn’t about to let that happen.

She needed a distraction. And she knew exactly where to find it.

The compound sprawled in front of her with chaotic disarray, its hangars and other outbuildings rising like angular fortresses. Stacks of damp pallets and coiled wires lay abandoned, their edges sharp and unyielding.

Can’t we use some of this stuff to secure the perimeter? Jesus. Have I got to do everything myself around here?

The ground beneath her boots was littered with scattered gravel and fragments of broken glass, a sharp, silent reminder to tread carefully. She knew she shouldn’t be here. Not tonight. Not with everything going on. But the thought of Sophia waiting for her, hidden away in a secluded corner, pulled at her with a force she couldn’t resist. She glanced around, ensuring the shadows concealed her well enough. The perimeter patrols were pretty predictable—she’d hammered the schedule into the team repeatedly over the last few days—but she knew better than anyone how unpredictable the undead could be. A flashlight beam swept across the gravel not far from her, and she held her breath, willing herself to stay still.

Please don’t see me. Please don’t see me.

Once the guard moved on, she slipped through the gap between two storage units, her boots crunching against the cold dirt. The small supplies shed—their meeting place—came into view. Its concrete walls seemed to shine bright in the moonlight, but she knew it must be her imagination. The door was slightly ajar.

She’s here already.

Her chest felt tight. The anticipation of seeing Sophia alone felt almost unbearable.

What if she’s changed her mind?

Alex pushed the door open, the faint creak of the hinges causing her to break into a sweat.

“Wow… I’m about as discreet as a bull in a china shop,” Alex said, biting back a curse as her boot nudged a loose can that rattled loudly against the concrete wall.

The air was slightly warmer inside. And there she was. Sophia sat cross-legged on an upturned crate, her slight frame wrapped in a scruffy blanket. She looked up, her expression softening as soon as their eyes met. “You’re late, boss,” Sophia said in a teasing voice.

“It was hard getting over here without anyone seeing me,” Alex replied, stepping inside and shutting the door quietly behind her.

Sophia’s gaze seemed to linger on Alex’s face. “I was thinking that maybe you wouldn’t show up.”

Alex moved closer, lowering herself into a crouching position. The proximity to the younger woman sent a ripple of heat through her despite the sub-zero chill. “It was my idea, wasn’t it?” she replied.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy but not uncomfortable. Sophia’s fingers fidgeted with the edge of the blanket while Alex’s hands rested on her thighs.

“Yes,” Sophia began, breaking the silence. “It was a good idea to get away from the group. I don’t think I have any real friends here… apart from you… so, um, why did you want to meet up?”

“Like you said… I don’t have many friends here either. It’s hard to get close to people when you’re barking orders at them all day. I thought this might be… what we both needed.”

“Yeah… it is.”

“Good…”

“Tell me something about you, Alex. Something real.”

Alex tilted her head to the left. Her lips curled into a half-smile as she rolled her eyes slightly. “What is it you’d like to know?”

“Anything,” Sophia said, leaning forward slightly and wrapping the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Her eyes seemed to be searching Alex’s face. The intensity of the moment felt unnerving but exhilarating. “Something you haven’t told anyone else.”

Alex hesitated. What was happening right at that moment wasn’t exactly her strong suit. She didn’t do vulnerability. But Sophia’s way of questioning made her want to start to pull back the layers, one by one.

“Okay, so, when I was ten,” Alex ventured in a nervous voice, “I wanted to be a firefighter. I can’t tell you how bad I wanted it. I had this red toy fire truck my gramps gave me, and I used to drive it all over the house, pretending to put out fires. My dad…” She paused, swallowing hard. “I was an army brat, and my father used to say I’d make a great soldier instead. He always said I was too serious to be a firefighter. I never really knew what he meant that.”

Sophia laughed softly. “I think I know what he meant. It’s in the way you carry yourself. But I also know that rescuing people is a definite skill you have.”

“Thanks,” Alex smiled.

“No, thank you!”

“You’re welcome. What about you, Sophia? Did you have any childhood dreams?”

Sophia looked down at her hands. “Well, as you know… I always wanted to be a dancer,” she explained. “And I did it. Well, I did it for a while before… It’s odd, isn’t it? The things you think define you can disappear so easily. What am I now if I’m not a dancer? The outbreak took it all away. At least you’re still doing your job in a way, right?” she shrugged. She looked resigned and tired. Alex could tell that Sophia was having a hard time processing what had happened.

Alex reached out before she could think better of it, her hand brushing against Sophia’s. The contact was brief, but it sent a jolt through her body. Sophia’s eyes darted up nervously. “You’re still you, Sophia,” Alex said, her voice steady but soft. “You’re not being punished for something you did wrong, you know? Although, I get that it feels like that. Outbreak or not, you’re still a dancer. All this shit doesn’t change who you are. I bet you’re a fantastic dancer. I’d love to see you dance.”

Sophia’s lips parted as if to reply, but the words didn’t come. Instead, she leaned closer, the blanket slipping from her shoulders. Alex’s breath caught, her heart pounding as Sophia’s face neared hers. The hesitation was brief but electric, a moment suspended in time.

“I’d love to dance for you,” Sophia said as she closed the distance between them.

And suddenly, her lips pressed softly against Alex’s, tentative at first, then more certain as Alex responded. A kiss that felt like it’s happened a million times before. A kiss that felt like they already knew each other for a decade. Knew how their lips liked it, how their tongues tasted.

The kiss was magical. It felt like everything Alex hadn’t even known she was craving. The spark between them was real. Alex knew for sure now that they had a connection. This moment of raw, unfiltered emotion was beyond anything she could have imagined. Her hand found its way to the soft skin on Sophia’s cheek, her thumb brushing lightly against her skin.

As they pulled apart, Alex searched Sophia’s face. She was disappointed to find a mixture of emotions there.

“I’m really sorry,” Sophia mumbled under her breath as she went to stand up.

Alex shook her head. “No, Sophia. Don’t be. Why are you sorry?”

Sophia sat back down on the crate but leaned back a little. “I don’t know. It’s just that… well… this is nuts, isn’t it?”

“Yep,” Alex admitted with a grin. “It’s completely nuts. Who cares?”

“I think a lot of people around here would care. This isn’t Brighton, you know? We’re in the Deep South, right? Ellen already warned me?—”

“I don’t even know where Brighton is. But do you care? Did you want to kiss me just now? Because it kinda felt like you did.”

“I did.”

“So, let me tell you where I’m at. That felt amazing. That felt like something I could do with you all day, all night, without ever getting tired of it.”

Alex’s heart raced as she leaned in toward Sophia, their lips meeting again, this time with more certainty and hunger. Alex’s hand slid up Sophia’s arm, resting gently on her shoulder before moving down to the curve of her waist.

Alex deepened the kiss with insistence. Her hands moved to Sophia’s sides, tracing gentle lines before slowly finding their way to her chest. Alex’s fingers lightly grazed over Sophia’s breasts, eliciting a soft gasp from the dancer.

I can’t believe this is actually happening…

Alex felt her own nipples harden as her hands explored Sophia’s body, the sensation sending a wave of heat through her core. She could feel herself getting wet, the desire building with every touch.

Alex pulled back slightly. “Is this okay? Are you sure about this?” she whispered, her eyes searching Sophia’s for any signs of doubt.

“So sure,” Sophia gasped.

Alex smiled and kissed her again, this time trailing her lips down Sophia’s neck, her hands still exploring. Alex’s body seemed to be responding instinctively to the situation. She shifted onto her knees and pressed her thighs together as she felt the damp heat building between her legs.

“God, you’re so beautiful…” Alex murmured against Sophia’s skin, her hands continuing their gentle caress. “I swear I’ve been wanting to do this since the moment I saw you. But I never dared even to hope that you…”

“That I what?”

“That you were gay.”

“I’ve never really admitted it to myself. I don’t know what I am. I’ve had boyfriends. I’ve thought about?—”

“Listen, don’t think about it right now. Just stay in this moment with me. I want you to…”

Alex couldn’t find words; she was lost in the sensation, in the warmth of Sophia’s body under her touch and the way her own body seemed to come alive with every soft moan and sigh. She pulled Sophia closer, her hands gripping the younger woman’s hips tightly, feeling the electric charge between them.

“I’m sorry. Maybe we could slow this down a little?” Sophia suggested. “I don’t want to rush it. I’d like us to take our time, to savor each moment…”

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, though the undercurrent of sexual tension remained. Alex moved up onto the crate, her hand brushing against Sophia’s as they sat side by side.

“Of course. Whatever you feel comfortable with. I’d love it if you told me some more about your dancing,” Alex said, her voice muted, almost shy.

Sophia’s eyes lit up as she started to speak about her days with the Royal Ballet, the thrill of performing, the grueling rehearsals, and the friendships she’d formed with her fellow dancers. Her words painted vivid pictures, and Alex found herself captivated, not just by the stories but by the way Sophia’s face came alive as she told them.

“I’d have loved to see you perform. Going to the ballet was never my thing, but to hear you talk about it makes me realize how wrong I was,” Alex said, the sincerity in her voice catching Sophia off guard.

“When all this is over I’ll get you a VIP ticket, okay? Best seats in the house,” Sophia replied, her smile tinged with a hint of sadness. “Do you ever think like that? About when it’s over? When we can go back to how things were?”

Alex left the question to hang in the air before replying. She knew the odds. She’d quickly come to understand the reality of their new world just days after the initial outbreak. But she didn’t want to spoil this moment. For now, she’d allow Sophia to dream. “Sure, who doesn’t want to hold on to hope, right? Do you think I want to hang around here for the rest of my life with Tromer, Henry, and Miller and a shitload of mouths to feed? No way! I wanna go see me some ballet!”

“Thank you,” Sophia said softly. “For everything.”

Alex nodded, her throat tight. “No problem, sweetheart. Let me walk you back to your hangar. Ellen will have your guts if you so much as yawn tomorrow.”

As she watched Sophia head inside for the night, Alex felt a strange mixture of emotions—hope, fear, and a growing certainty that Sophia had come into her life for a reason.