Page 17 of Zinnia and the Zombie (Alien Abduction #26)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

W armth radiated from Jaxx’s body as Zinnia drifted awake.

She didn’t open her eyes immediately, savoring the feeling of his arm draped protectively around her waist, the steady rhythm of his breathing against her back.

Morning light filtered through the vines covering their windows, bathing the room in a gentle emerald glow.

Three weeks. They’d been here three weeks now, though it felt simultaneously shorter and longer. Time moved differently in this abandoned city—no schedules to keep, no customers waiting, just the two of them carving out a life amid the ruins.

She shifted slightly, careful not to wake him.

He was typically up before her, his warrior’s instincts rousing him at the first hint of dawn, but occasionally she caught these rare, peaceful moments when he slept deeply beside her.

His face softened in sleep, the vigilant set of his jaw relaxed, making him look younger.

Their apartment had transformed in the weeks since they’d claimed it.

He’d restored full power to all of the rooms, rigged a system to pump water into the holding tank once they’d drained the initial storage.

and reinforced the doors and windows against any potential threats.

He’d mapped the building and surrounding blocks in every direction, establishing what he called “defensible perimeters” with the seriousness of a military commander.

Meanwhile, she had turned her attention to making their shelter into a home.

She’d found furnishings in other apartments—soft blankets, cooking implements, even artwork to brighten the walls.

The rooftop garden provided them with abundant food, and she’d begun cataloging the various plants, experimenting with different preparations.

It was oddly domestic, considering the circumstances. Sometimes she caught herself forgetting they were stranded on an alien planet, survivors of a crash, possibly the only sentient beings on this world.

He stirred beside her, his arm tightening almost imperceptibly around her waist. She turned in his embrace, studying his face as consciousness returned. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing those extraordinary amethyst eyes that still made her breath catch.

“Good morning,” she whispered, tracing a finger along the lamellae stretching from his temple to his jawline.

He captured her hand, pressing her palm against his cheek. “You’re watching me sleep again.”

“Only for a minute.” She smiled. “I like seeing you relaxed.”

The corner of his mouth quirked upward—that subtle almost-smile that she’d come to treasure. “I am… getting better at it.”

It was true. The hyper-vigilance that had dominated his behavior during their first days had gradually eased. He still performed perimeter checks, still insisted on testing all new food sources before allowing her to try them, but the desperate edge had softened.

“You are,” she agreed, leaning forward to brush her lips against his.

What began as a gentle good morning kiss quickly deepened. He rolled onto his back, bringing her with him so she straddled his hips, her hair falling around them like a curtain. His hands slid up her thighs, fingers leaving trails of heat against her skin.

“I had plans for today,” he murmured against her throat.

“Did they include staying in bed a little longer?” She rocked against him, delighting in the way his eyes darkened.

“They do now.” He nipped her ear, making her shiver. “I’ll need to hunt more avians later. Our stores are low.”

“Mmm. Later.” She ran her tongue along his throat, tasting salt and his unique musky flavor.

His body shuddered, the glow beneath his skin flaring, and then his hands were moving again, stroking her hips, sliding up her spine, sending sparks of sensation across her body.

She reached down, grasping the thick length rising between them. She stroked him firmly, enjoying the way he groaned and arched into her touch.

“Zinnia,” he groaned, his hands flexing against her waist.

“I love the way you say my name,” she whispered, rising onto her knees. “Say it again.”

“My Zinnia.” The words came out hoarse, needy.

She positioned him at her entrance, teasing him by rubbing his swollen head against her slick folds. He made a strangled sound, his fingers digging into her flesh. She smiled, slowly taking the tip of him inside her.

His grip tightened as he struggled not to thrust deeper, letting her control the pace. She rewarded him by sinking down, inch by glorious inch. When he was fully seated within her, she paused, reveling in the feeling of him inside her, the exquisite fullness, the delicious pressure.

He moaned, his hands moving from her waist to her breasts, cupping the sensitive flesh, pinching her aching nipples. Heat rushed through her and she began to move, rocking her hips in a steady, slow rhythm. His thumb teased her clit, adding a sharp edge to her pleasure.

“My Zinnia,” he whispered again, and the raw need in his voice was too much.

With a gasp, she climaxed, her inner muscles clenching around him. He roared, the sound filling their bedroom as his body shuddered beneath her. His release flooded her, hot and slick.

They lay tangled together afterwards, hearts pounding and bodies damp with sweat. His cock slid free, and his seed trickled between her legs. He pulled her close, tucking her head beneath his chin, their pulses synchronizing until they breathed as one.

“I’ll always call your name,” he whispered. “For as long as I have left.”

The promise, spoken with such tenderness, was almost too much for her heart to bear.

“And I’ll always be with you,” she promised back, her voice a little shaky.

“I should check the water filtration system,” he said eventually, though he made no move to get up.

“Mmm. And I was going to try fermenting some of those purple berries.” She propped her chin on his chest. “But that can wait too.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his expression softening in a way that made her heart flip. “You’re happy here.”

It wasn’t quite a question, but she answered anyway. “I am.” She paused, suddenly concerned. “Aren’t you?”

“I’m with you,” he said simply, as if that explained everything. Perhaps for him, it did.

She understood what he didn’t say. He still thought about his people, still harbored hopes of finding a way off this planet, of continuing his search.

She didn’t begrudge him that—how could she?

But a selfish part of her treasured these quiet weeks together, just the two of them in their own private world.

“I’m going to open the balcony doors,” she said, pressing a kiss to his chest before sliding off him. “It’s going to be warm today.”

She pulled on a loose dress she’d fashioned from fabric found in another apartment, enjoying the feel of the silky material against her skin. Their own clothes had been washed and mended repeatedly but were showing signs of wear.

The main living area was bathed in the same greenish light as the bedroom, filtered through the vines that had colonized most of the building’s exterior. Zinnia had thinned them in places to allow for better views, but left others intact for privacy and shade.

She unlatched the balcony doors and pushed them open, letting in the fresh morning air.

The city spread before her, a maze of crumbling towers and overgrown plazas.

From this height, she could see the fountains below, the glint of water catching the sunlight.

Beyond that, the twisted metal of their crashed ship, now almost completely obscured by climbing plants.

Despite the destruction evident everywhere she looked, there was a strange beauty to this place. Nature reclaiming what civilization had built, vines and roots breaking through concrete, flowers blooming in the cracks of fallen monuments. Life persisting, adapting.

Like we’re adapting , she thought, leaning against the balcony railing.

The morning air carried the scent of unfamiliar blossoms and the distant sound of some small animal, although they’d yet to catch a clear glimpse of the creatures.

Jaxx had spotted various animals scurrying through the undergrowth during his explorations, but nothing larger than the six-legged lizard she’d seen the first day, nothing that posed a threat.

She closed her eyes, face tilted toward the sun.

The peaceful rhythm of their days had become precious to her.

Mornings spent gathering food from the rooftop garden.

Afternoons exploring the immediate vicinity, always with Jaxx vigilantly at her side.

Evenings cooking together and sharing stories as darkness fell. Nights in each other’s arms.

It wasn’t the life she’d imagined for herself, but it was a good one. A life with purpose, with companionship, with?—

A faint sound interrupted her thoughts. A distant rumble that didn’t match any of the ambient noises she’d grown accustomed to. Her eyes snapped open, scanning the horizon.

At first, she saw nothing unusual. The same ruined cityscape, the same clear lavender sky with scattered clouds. Then a flicker of movement caught her attention—something descending from above, breaking through the cloud cover.

Her heart stuttered in her chest.

A ship. Unmistakably a ship.

It wasn’t large, nothing like the massive slaver vessel they’d escaped from.

This was sleeker, faster-looking, with gleaming metallic sides that reflected the morning sunlight.

It was moving purposefully, not on the erratic trajectory of their own crash landing, but in a controlled descent toward the center of the city.

She gripped the balcony railing, knuckles turning white. A ship meant people. People meant… what? Rescue? A way off this planet? Or something more sinister—the slavers tracking them down, coming to reclaim their property?

The relative safety she’d felt moments before evaporated. Their isolated paradise suddenly felt exposed, vulnerable.

“Jaxx!” Her voice came out as a high-pitched squeak and she had to clear her throat and try again. “Jaxx, come quickly!”

She heard his rapid footsteps behind her and felt his presence before he spoke.

“What is it?”

She pointed toward the ship, now clearly visible as it continued its descent. “Someone’s here.”