Page 45

Amos guides us through the celebration in the social quad, following the setting sun.

When we break from the crowds of people, Amos makes a beeline toward the music building.

I’ve never been inside before, but I know this is the building Amos used to work in as a music professor.

The idea of him teaching music to a bunch of college students is a vision I can’t seem to conjure.

It’s so unlike the Amos I know.

Perhaps that’s because we rarely talk about who we were before.

I let go of his hand as he opens the door to the music center.

When we are both inside, he lets the door close behind us.

The hallways are a stark contrast to the loud, rowdy party happening outside.

Quiet and still. I need to take a moment to readjust my equilibrium to the chilling silence, but Amos keeps walking down the dimly lit hallway.

He walks backward, taking the sight of me in.

His smile is contagious, spreading a happiness within me I don’t think I’ve ever felt in my entire life.

I love this man. How, in this wretched, deadly, post-apocalyptic world, have I found the most wonderful man?

The most beautiful soul of a human being has chosen me.

I feel my smile widen, not just on my face, but inside my chest. My heart beating to a rhythm only Amos can hear.

He reaches his hand for mine and I take it as if my hand has been waiting for the invitation.

My balance is nearly thrown off as he twirls me into him.

Before walking me through a set of large double doors, Amos plants a soft kiss on my forehead.

Chills creep down my spine as we enter a dark room, but I trust Amos with my life.

He walks confidently through the room like he knows every inch of the space.

He stops us just before the wall at the back, his hand gently pressing against it.

That’s when I notice it isn’t a wall, but a curtain.

Amos throws the curtain back and ushers me through to the stage of the auditorium.

“What are we doing here?” Anxious nerves rattle my body.

I hate being on stage.

I hate being the center of attention.

No one else is in the auditorium.

It’s just me and Amos, and yet I can’t help but feel like we are being watched.

Amos doesn’t answer.

In fact, he leaves me alone on the goddamn stage.

After a minute, some of the lights flick on, giving me a better view of the space.

We are most definitely the only ones here.

I whip my head around when I hear notes of a piano.

Amos snuck back in, taking a seat at the piano on the other end of the stage.

I walk over to him, slowly, savoring the music he makes with his five fingers.

Silently, I slide onto the bench until our thighs touch.

His amputated arm wraps around my waist, as best as it can, and he continues to play a haunting melody that rips apart my soul.

Tears threaten to burst as Amos’ fingers glide along the keys, coming to the end of his song.

A song I’ve never heard before but sounds vaguely familiar.

When he plays the last note, I take in a shaking breath, releasing it with a sigh.

“What song was that?” I ask.

“A song I wrote.” Amos keeps his fingers hovered over the keys as if he’s itching to play another song.

Instead, he drops his hand down to his thigh.

“It’s beautiful.” My compliment comes out in a whisper, like the quietness of the empty auditorium has muted the volume of my voice.

“I wrote it for you. Every note, every stroke, is you, Lori.”

“Me?” I look up at his golden eyes, sparkling in the stage lights.

There’s fear in his eyes too.

A fear I don’t understand as his attention is focused solely on me.

We are alone in this large auditorium.

So why does he look afraid?

“I hadn’t played music in years. After the world ended and then my mom died…I didn’t care about music. Then you came into my life and this song was all I could hear. You brought music back into my soul, Lori.”

“Amos,” I sob.

A happy sob.

“With you in my life, I’ll never give up on music again. And I’ll never give up on us again. I want you to know that. Because what I did—”

“Shush, Amos, you don’t have to explain again,” I interrupt.

“Yes. I do. I tried to let you go because I thought you deserved better. I even told Jonah he was free to win you back. The asshole refused. Said I’d be stupid to let you go.”

“Stupid indeed, thinking you could get rid of me that easily.” My voice wobbles as I try to be light-hearted, but those few weeks of loneliness when Amos was trying to push me away is not a memory I want to linger on.

“What would you say if I asked you to marry me?” Amos asks, his golden eyes locking onto my blue ones.

I go still, as if someone placed a freezing spell on me.

All I can do is look into those beautiful, dreamy eyes.

Amos pulls out a silver ring from his pocket, fingering it gently with his thumb.

“You’re serious?” I finally ask.

“Yes.” Amos steadies the tremble in his voice.

“I don’t know if either of us has a future. If this cruel world will provide us with one. All I know is that I want whatever future I have to be with you. It doesn’t matter if we are married or not. I just want to spend the rest of my life, however much is left of it, with you.”

The need to be closer to Amos makes me throw my leg over his, straddling him on the piano bench.

I place my lips above his, breathing in his smoky scent, tasting a bit of burnt marshmallow on his breath.

Then I kiss him. I kiss him as if today is the only day we have left on this hellish planet.

I pour every ounce of my love into him, feeling it back like a tidal wave crashing on the sand.

“Is that a yes?” Amos asks while I suck on his lower lip.

I don’t answer him with words, just more kisses as I trace his jaw with my lips.

“Lori?”

“Yes, Amos. Married. Not married. I am yours. You are mine.”

I pull back far enough for Amos to slide the silver ring down my offered finger.

Then Amos stands up with me in his arms, gently kicking the bench backward while sitting me down on the piano.

The keys play a jarring tune as my ass hits them, making me giggle in delight.

A giggle that turns into a moan of pleasure as Amos kneels in front of me, not to propose, but to eat me out.

He gives me just enough time to brace myself before his mouth is on me, his tongue tracing the sensitive folds of skin.

“Mmmm...no underwear,” he says appreciatively, then slides one of his long fingers all the way in.

With just one finger, he has me begging for release.

With a flick of his tongue, I’m shouting his name.

When he releases his finger from my depths, I grunt, eager to be filled again.

Two fingers slide back in as his tongue flicks around my clit, driving me insane with pleasure.

My hips move on their own, seeking more, needing more, wanting more.

I grab his wavy hair, pulling him closer as he resumes his torturous massage.

His name falls out of my lips over and over as I pant from the overstimulating pleasures he gives to me.

Then my body bursts into a thousand tiny flames as the world beneath me collapses.

My hand smashes down on the piano, the only indicator that I’m still whole.

Amos grips me by the thigh to help keep me upright as I come back down from the high of the most intense orgasm I’ve ever had.

When my strength returns, I help Amos up and say, “Take your pants off.”

He does as he is told, quickly unclasping his belt and ripping it off in one swift motion, holding my gaze as he does so.

I can tell he’s been practicing on his own, wanting to be able to do everything with his one hand.

I’m so proud of this man.

So proud to call him mine.

So ready to show him.

As he unbuttons his pants, I reach out for him, anticipating the spring of his hardened dick as he releases it.

Amos lets his head fall back as I take him in my hands, licking the tip, getting it sopping wet before taking him deep in my mouth.

“Fuck me,” Amos growls.

“I’m getting there,” I respond as I take a breath, getting ready to take him deeper.

With every breath, I stroke him harder and faster until his panting becomes shallow and he begs to be inside me.

We’ve played this game before.

Usually it’s me doing the begging.

I tease and lick and suck until he can’t take anymore.

He grabs a handful of my hair and pulls me away from him, keeping me an arm’s length away as he takes a few deep breaths.

When his eyes open, I stand up, lift the skirt of my dress up, push him down on the piano bench, and sit myself down to the hilt of his dick.

The way he fills me so perfectly is enough to get me going again.

With my knees draped on either side of his hips, I lift myself up and down, savoring every inch of him inside me.

Amos reaches behind me, pulling at the zipper of my dress until the bodice falls below my breasts.

As the cold air hits my skin, Amos’ mouth covers my right nipple while his hand plays with my other.

That overstimulating, tingling sensation rises inside of me again, taking my body prisoner.

I give in to it so easily.

Let it consume every part of me.

I grind into Amos desperately as I grip his shoulders tightly, holding on as my release quakes through my body.

My thighs tremble around Amos’ hips and when he pinches my nipple, I lose all control.

Pounding my body into his, I take everything he gives to me and don’t stop until he screams my name in his release.

I collapse onto Amos’ solid chest, letting my legs fall behind him on the bench, not wanting to part with his body.

“Promise me something,” I whisper against his neck.

“Anything.” Amos kisses the top of my head as he wraps his arms around me, trying his best to lock me in place.

“As my husband, vow to me that we will fight together, survive together, and never live this life alone. And I will vow the same to you.”

I pull myself out of his embrace enough to look him in the eyes.

I know this is an easy promise for Amos to make.

He would never leave me to die alone, but he would leave to fight my battles if it meant I was safe.

I can’t have him doing that.

Even if he had two hands.

“I promise, Copperhead. We fight together to survive together. I will never let you face death alone. You will never feel alone again.”

Our lips brush as we make our vows to each other, promising to love and cherish one another.

To care for each other.

And all the other gushy nonsense I never understood in the before.

I get it now. Because I’ve found a love I never want to let go of.

I found a love that will destroy me if he’s ever taken from me.

I found a love I would kill to keep.