Chapter 16
Kate
We wait until the sun has risen before heading out, backpacks full.
The straps dig into my shoulders as we move cautiously onto the street, on high alert for any wandering infected who may still be out.
The only noise is our boots crunching weeds and kicking gravel as we move through the abandoned suburbs.
Every now and again, I find my gaze snagging on Jordan’s muscular frame.
Her white hair shifts back and forth in time with her movement, her steps sure as we navigate this unknown territory.
Well, unknown to me. Even though I grew up here, this place seems entirely different to the one from my childhood.
“Did you grow up around here?” I ask. Surely she must have, if she’s familiar enough to lead us on this journey.
She doesn’t break her stride or even look over at me. “No.”
“Oh. Then how do you know the best way to get back into the city?”
“I spent a lot of time familiarizing myself with this place.”
“Did you need to do that as a runner?” They need a basic understanding of the city, its safe areas, but especially knowledge of raider hot spots.
“Yes.”
“How did you become a runner?” My mind works to create a full picture of who she is, of how she became this person.
“I didn’t consent to an inquisition today,” she shoots over her shoulder with an irritated look.
I blink. “It’s not. I just…want to better understand you, I guess.”
She gives me an irritated growl.
“Excuse me for trying to make small talk to pass the time,” I mumble.
I walk right past her, shoulder-checking her as I try to go past, but she grabs my arm to stop me. Surprisingly, her grip is gentle on my skin. “Is it because you want to know more about the person who elicits such strong reactions from your body?”
My eyes widen in disbelief. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.
Jordan tilts her head, her face shifting from annoyed to curiously smug. “I know when a woman is turned on, Kate.”
“I doubt that,” I shoot back, but my voice comes out weak, breathy.
Her chuckle sends a shiver down my spine. “And I know all the ways to get a woman to the end.”
I grit my teeth against the thrum building under my skin.
My face is warm. I feel exposed, on display.
I wrangle myself out of her grasp and give her the dirtiest look I can muster before stomping off.
Jordan chuckles again behind me, but I do my best not to take the bait, keeping my eyes straight ahead.
The rest of the day passes slowly. Neither of us says another word, but there’s a thick tension between us now. Any time either of us gets too close to the other, it’s like electricity sparks.
It’s ridiculous. I don’t know why my body is betraying me like this. I’m around people all the time in the zone, and none of them conjure up this type of reaction from me.
I used to love getting physical with someone, feeling release, even being roughly handled, but since the outbreak, I’ve not felt even a moment of desire. Michelle tried setting me up with a few people from the zone, and even offered to go down on me herself, but I simply wasn’t interested.
I tried pleasuring myself, but every time I needed to slow down, my mind would race with every horrifying thing I’ve seen since the outbreak began. I’d be flooded with the worst memories of my life, effectively killing the mood and nearly sending me into a panic spiral.
Since then, it hasn’t been worth it. That part of me has died, and that’s okay—at least I’m surviving.
I don’t need these…feelings for Jordan coming up and messing with my head.