Page 5 of Whispers and Warriors (After #2)

FIVE

Emma froze, her breath catching in her throat as she caught sight of children playing just before a fire and the rest of her group. Their laughter rang out like tinkling bells, a sound so pure and joyful that it brought tears to Emma’s eyes. In this broken, chaotic world, the presence of innocence was a rare and precious thing. She had seen plenty while on base the last month, but this was an entirely different experience. This was seeing children thriving in a world that had all but forgotten them.

The two young girls seemed blissfully unaware of the dangers that lurked beyond the boundaries of their sanctuary. Their faces glowed with carefree smiles as they engaged in a game of tag, darting around the makeshift playground. Emma’s heart swelled with a fierce protectiveness, an overwhelming desire to preserve their happiness and shield them from the horrors she had witnessed. The same thing she would do for her own child, if she were ever to conceive.

For a moment, Emma allowed herself to imagine a different life—one where she could stay here indefinitely, basking in the warmth and love that radiated from these innocent souls. She knew it was a fleeting dream, but it was as important as the one she had of the safe haven.

With a heavy sigh, Emma tore her gaze away from the children and fell into step beside Chris and Ranger as they made their way closer to their temporary home. Chris’s jaw was set in a hard line, his eyes fixed straight ahead as if he too was grappling with the weight of their decision. The silence between them was loaded with unspoken fears and doubts. Many of them hers, but if she knew Chris, he had his fair share.

Were they making the right choice by leaving this safe haven behind? What dangers awaited them beyond these walls? Could they really trust the information that had led them here in the first place?

Ranger pressed his wet nose against Emma’s leg, as if sensing her inner turmoil. Absentmindedly, she reached down to scratch behind his ears, drawing comfort from his presence.

“Do you think we’re doing the right thing? Not leaving, but staying here for as long as we have to wait?” Emma asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Couldn’t it be too dangerous for this family?”

Chris glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “We have to trust our instincts. Staying here...it’s the only option for right now, but there’s more information to gather about this ferry.”

Emma nodded slowly, trying to swallow past the lump in her throat. She knew he was right, but it didn’t make leaving any easier. Every step away was like another bang of a hammer against her heart. Every safe haven she’d come to know betrayed her—first her neighbors, then the base—it was hard to trust this one wouldn’t as well.

“You must be their precious cargo.” A curvy woman with long blonde hair and a baby cradled to her chest smiled. “We don’t do names for everyone’s safety, but it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Interacting with other women had become normal on the base, but for some reason, Emma’s tongue seemed too big for her mouth, and all she could get out was a small grunt. She hadn’t seen a woman or child outside the base in about a year—unless one counted those Marcus held prisoner.

“Why don’t you go inside? I know there’s more logistics for the men to chat about. You came from base so it’s not like I can offer you anything you haven’t recently had, but what’s ours is yours for while you’re here.”

Emma’s throat constricted as she fought to hold back the surge of emotion rising within her. She swallowed hard, trying to prevent it from escaping in a wave of tears. The lump in her throat felt like a boulder, heavy and unrelenting. But she refused to let it show, gathering all her strength to keep the flood gates closed.

Out of all the things she expected to find, this was not one of them.

“Thank you think I will go inside. Check out the house. ” The words were thick in her mouth, and she excused herself, wondering if there might be a need to let Chris know, but trying to operate as if these people were exactly what they appeared to be.

“Make yourself at home. It’ll be a few days.” the other woman said with a smile.

She felt like a stranger in a strange land, unsure of what to do or say. But as she stepped inside, the cozy warmth of the place enveloped her, easing some of her tension.

She walked through a living room filled with comfortable looking couches, and into a spacious kitchen that had her question how the inside was so big. A pot boiled and burped on the stove, its silver lid giving none of the contents away.

Moving through the room, Emma stopped in the next hall, staring at the open doors filled with beds and even pictures on the wall.

It’s so normal. So like the base.

“Emma,” Liam’s voice rang out as he stepped out of the third room in the hall. He approached, his gentle footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. “Hey,” he murmured, his voice soft and soothing as he pulled her close. “You’re okay, Em. I’ve got you.”

Emma looked up at him, her vision blurring with unshed tears. She managed a small nod, grateful for his the comfort his presence brought. Liam rubbed his hand over the small of her back as he released her. “Here, come relax. It’ll help.” The door creaked slightly more as he pushed it open, revealing a simple space with a worn sofa and a dusty window.

As they stepped inside, Liam carefully closed the door behind them, creating a private sanctuary. Emma let out a shuddering breath, the weight of everything settling heavily on her shoulders. Liam turned to face her, his blue eyes filled with understanding and concern.

Without a word, he opened his arms, and Emma found herself instinctively gravitating toward him. She stepped into his embrace, burying her face against his broad chest as his strong arms enveloped her. Liam held her close, his warmth seeping through her clothes and into her very bones.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered again, his lips brushing against her hair. “You’re not alone in this, Emma. We’re in this together.”

Emma clung to him, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. In Liam’s arms, she had a sense of safety and security that had become one of the most important things to her in the world. His steady heartbeat thrummed against her cheek, a reminder of the life and love that still existed amidst the ruins.

Liam’s presence was a balm to her battered soul, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope and love could still flourish.

“I don’t know if I’m strong enough,” Emma confessed, her voice muffled against his chest. “Leaving everything a second time.”

Liam pulled back, just enough to look into her eyes. He cupped her face with his hands, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “You are strong, Emma. Stronger than you know. And we’re not abandoning you or letting you abandon us. We’re fighting for a future where kids like the ones here can truly have a safe place. Kids like our kids.” He gave a small chuckle. “While selfishly fighting for our desires.”

Emma leaned into his touch, drawing strength from his unwavering belief in her. She knew he was right. They had to keep going, to fight for a world worth living in.

Taking a shuddering breath, her eyes searched Liam’s face as she asked the question that had been plaguing her for hours. “What would have happened if we’d stayed on the base? If we hadn’t left when we did? I know we had to, but what was the alternative?”

Liam’s gaze turned serious, a flicker of pain passing through his bright blue eyes. He guided Emma to sit on the edge of the bed, taking her hands in his as he knelt before her. “If we had stayed,” he began, his voice low and earnest, “we would have killed and you more than likely would have been tossed aside for your inability to conceive. While I’m not saying you’re infertile, it doesn’t look great. Though it’s possible your body isn’t ready, or fuck, we could be sterile. The places we’ve been, it could’ve screwed us up, too.”

Emma ignored the stab of guilt that wracked through her. She’d been sleeping with five men without protection and had yet to deliver a pregnancy. Shortly after the bombs, she’d been checked and confirmed to have healthy eggs and a viable uterus—before the world turned to utter shit and there was just a concern over toxins, before anyone knew there was something to be concerned about. Which meant having viable eggs and eggs that grow into a little baby were not the same thing.

He paused, his grip on her hands tightening slightly. “But more than that, staying would have meant giving up on our mission. On our hope for a better future. And I couldn’t let that happen. Not to the world, and not to you.”

Emma’s heart constricted at his words, at the fierce protectiveness radiating from him. She knew he would do anything to keep her safe, to shield her from the horrors that lurked beyond the walls of their temporary sanctuary. She just hadn’t realized how important those goals were for him to complete for others.

“You’re worth fighting for, Emma,” Liam continued, his voice filled with tender conviction. “Your life, your dreams, your future...they matter. And I will do everything in my power to make sure you have a chance to live them.”

Tears welled in Emma’s eyes, blurring her vision as she looked at the man who had become her rock, her anchor in the chaos of their broken world. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his as she whispered, “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Liam. But I’m grateful for every moment we have together.”

Liam’s lips curved into a soft smile, his breath warm against her skin as he murmured, “You deserve the world, Emma. And I’ll spend every day trying to give it to you.”

Liam leaned forward and captured her lips with his, the warmth of his mouth sending a shiver of delight through Emma’s body. His kiss was tender yet passionate, conveying the depth of his love and devotion in a way words never could. Emma melted into his embrace, her fingers tangling in his messy brown hair as she pulled him closer.

Liam’s arms tightened around her, drawing her closer until she was flush against the solid wall of muscles that was his chest and torso.

The world fell away, and for a precious moment, there was nothing but the two of them, lost in the intimacy of their connection. Liam’s hands roamed her back, his touch igniting sparks of desire beneath her skin. Emma sighed into the kiss, savoring the taste of him, the way his lips moved against hers with a perfect balance of gentleness and fervor.

As the kiss deepened, Emma lost herself in the sensation of Liam’s mouth moving against hers, his tongue tangling with her own in a sensual dance. The world fell away, and all that mattered was the two of them, intertwined in this moment of stolen intimacy. Emma’s fingers tangled in Liam’s hair, anchoring herself to him as she poured every ounce of her love and trust into the kiss.

Liam’s fingers traced the contours of her face, as if committing every detail to memory. His touch was reverent, almost worshipful, and Emma found herself leaning into his caress. In that moment, the worries and fears that had plagued her seemed to melt away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of belonging and safety.

“I love you, Emma,” Liam whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “More than anything in this world or the next.”

Emma’s breath caught in her throat. “I love you too, Liam. With every beat of my heart.”

Their lips met again, this time with a hunger that threatened to consume them both.

She pulled back, breathless and flushed, letting her eyes gaze into his, finding in them a reflection of her own desire and longing. “I want to feel safe,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. “I need to feel your skin against mine, to know that this is real.”

Liam’s eyes darkened with understanding, and he nodded, his hands already moving to the hem of her shirt. With reverent care, he stripped away her clothing, piece by piece, exposing her to his heated gaze. Emma shivered under his touch, her skin prickling with anticipation as she sank to her knees before him.

The worries of the outside world faded into the background, leaving her alone with Liam and the promise of his touch.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the button of his pants, undoing it with deliberate slowness. Liam’s gaze was like a lifesaver, heavy with desire, as she tugged his pants down his muscular legs. His cock came free, pushing through the hole in his boxers with its heavy length. Emma didn’t need to undress him further, even if she wanted to run her hands over the taut skin of his chest.

Without hesitation, Emma leaned forward and let her mouth slide slowly down his erection. She savored the rich, salty taste of his precum on her tongue, reveling in the weight of his dick as she began to move her head with purpose. Her lips and tongue worked in tandem, skillfully sucking and licking every inch of him with unrestrained abandon. Above her, Liam groaned deeply, his fingers gripping tightly onto strands of her hair as he fought to stay still and let her devour him.

Emma lost herself in the act of pleasuring him and the control it brought her in an otherwise uncontrollable life. In this moment, she was in control, able to bring Liam to the brink of ecstasy with her mouth alone. The knowledge sent a thrill through her, stoking the flames of her desire until it threatened to consume her entirely and she reached out, cupping his balls in her hands and massaging them as she fucked him.

Liam’s deep groans echoed above her, his fingers tangling in her hair as he fought to maintain control under her skillful caresses. Control she fully intended to take from him.

Just as Liam’s hips began to thrust, he gently pulled her back, his hand stuck in her hair as he held her there. His chest heaved with ragged breaths as he looked around the room, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

“Emma, I’m sorry,” he said softly, cupping her face with his hand. “This isn’t what I had planned when I told you it would be okay but if I don’t get inside you, I’m going to be very upset at where I come.”

Emma was beyond words, her body thrumming with need. She rose to her feet, her eyes never leaving his, and took his hand so she could push him onto the small sofa. He sat, his erection bobbing from the motion. She striped her jeans and underwear off, discarding them as best as she could around her ankles. Before he could protest, she straddled his lap, positioning herself above him. She rolled her hips, relishing in the brush of his head against her core.

“This. This is exactly what I want,” she whispered, her voice thick with desire. “I want to feel you, Liam.”

When he didn’t protest, she took his cock in her and guided it to her, sinking down onto him with a gasp as he filled her completely. He wasn’t the biggest of the five, but he was the widest and she loved having one-on-one time with him.

There was a small snarl before Liam’s hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her soft skin as he helped guide her movements. They found a rhythm together, their bodies moving in perfect synchronicity as they chased their mutual pleasure.

The room filled with the sounds of their lovemaking—the slap of skin against skin, the ragged breaths, the moans of ecstasy. Emma rode Liam with wild abandon, her head thrown back in bliss as she gave herself over to the sensations coursing through her body. Every time she lifted off him, she sank down slowly, driving herself to wit’s end.

Liam’s hands roamed her body, caressing every curve, every dip and swell, as if committing her to memory. His touch was electric, igniting sparks wherever his fingers grazed her skin. The coil of pleasure built within her, tightening with each thrust, each whispered word of praise and adoration.

As they moved together, Emma lost herself in the feel of Liam inside her, surrounding her with his arms, and in the pure pleasure that teased just at the edges of her reach. In this stolen pocket of time, the world outside ceased to exist. There were only the two of them, their bodies joined, their hearts beating as one.

“Fuck,” he groaned and rolled her underneath him in such a swift moment there was no change of their joined bodies. “Emma,” he groaned as he took control, and she let him, her eyes sliding shut as he slammed in and out of her body with a reckless abandon she hadn’t experienced with him before.

The coil within her tightened as she teetered on the brink of release. She dug her nails into his back, urging him on as they both chased their mutual pleasure.

With one final thrust, they both reached their climax together, their cry merging into one as they rode out their orgasms. Liam collapsed onto the bed, barely catching himself above her, leaving them in a tangle of limbs, trying to catch their breaths.

When his breathing slowed, he rolled off of Emma but stayed close to her side, his hand resting possessively on her hip.

There were no fears or no doubts now, just a profound sense of fulfillment. In Liam’s arms, she found not only passion and pleasure but a deep, abiding sense of completeness that transcended the physical.

Emma’s fingers traced lazy patterns on Liam’s chest as she reflected on the unique bond they shared. When they were together, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a cocoon of intimacy and trust.

She marveled at the way her heart swelled with love and contentment, even in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty that surrounded them. With Liam, she knew she was seen, cherished, and understood in a way that defied explanation. It was as if their souls had recognized each other, two halves of a whole that had finally been reunited.

Only, it wasn’t just two halves. It was six.

Each man brought something different to their unconventional family, a distinct piece of the puzzle that, when combined, created the fullest sense of who she was meant to be. And when separate, created a connection Emma thrived on in ways that worked beyond what they had as a group.

Chris, with his quiet intensity and unwavering loyalty. Alex, whose quick wit and mischievous smile never failed to lift her spirits. Bash, a gentle giant whose tender heart belied his imposing stature. And William, whose fiery passion and fierce protectiveness ignited a flame within her very soul. He’d been the one to take her kidnapping the hardest, and she still wondered if he’d forgiven himself.

In their arms, Emma found not only physical satisfaction but emotional fulfillment that nourished her spirit and gave her the strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

“I’d follow you anywhere,” she whispered, her forehead pressed against his. “To the ends of the earth and beyond.”

Liam smiled, his hand cupping her cheek with infinite tenderness. “And I’ll always be there to save you, Emma. No matter what it takes, I’ll keep you safe.” He placed a kiss on the side of her head. “We all will.”