Chapter 37 #2
“Ara,” he whispered against my skin as he kissed his way down my neck, his hands moving up my body and stopping just under my breasts. “I’ve been going crazy not talking to you.”
Tears pricked at my eyes, but before I could respond, he was kissing me again. Then we were moving, me walking backward while he directed me. I didn’t know where we were going or even care. I just let him lead me.
We ended up in the janitor’s closet. Among the shelves of cleaning products and brooms and mops, we kissed and hastily undressed as much as we dared. I wanted this, wanted him, but we didn’t have much time.
It was over fast, but it was good, and we were both panting by the time we’d finished. Marc’s skin was sweaty as I clung to him, my legs around his waist. I could taste the salt on his lips when I kissed him yet again.
He buried his face in my neck. “This is stupid.”
“But worth it,” I replied, to which he said nothing.
He continued to hold me, his lips against my neck, his breath hot against my skin.
I closed my eyes, savored the closeness.
I hadn’t had sex in years, had thought I didn’t miss it.
I’d been wrong. Maybe, though, it was only the intimacy I’d missed.
Without Trevor, I’d felt horribly alone the last few weeks.
I opened my eyes when Marc finally eased his hold on me. He set me down, not looking at me, shaking his head as he began to gather his clothes. I did, too, knowing we couldn’t let this drag out forever.
“We can’t do this again,” he said as I pulled on my jeans.
I turned, still buttoning them. “Don’t say that.”
“I have to, Ara. Shit. Don’t you understand? It’s too risky.”
“You listen to me,” I said, moving so I was standing in front of him, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look me in the eye. “I already said I thought it was worth it, that we’re worth it, and I meant it. Don’t leave me to deal with all this shit alone. Please.”
“Okay. But we need to be a hell of a lot more careful than this.”
“Deal,” I said and managed a smile despite my pounding heart.
Marc returned it, deepening the dimple in his left cheek, then pulled me in for another kiss.
When he broke away, he glanced at the door. “You go out first. I’ll wait ten minutes or so.”
“Okay.” I hesitated then said, “When will I see you next?”
Marc’s brown eyes focused on me again. “Tonight. Fourth floor.”
“See you then,” I said, unable to hold in a smile.
The grin he gave me made my knees weak. “See you then.”
I felt like I was walking on a cloud the rest of the day. My steps were light, and my body hummed, and every time I thought about Marc, my stomach twisted delightfully. I couldn’t wait to see him again.
We met where we’d shared our first kiss.
He was waiting when I arrived, and when he saw me, he stood.
I walked faster and, like a teenager in love for the first time, threw my arms around him when I reached him.
Marc hugged me back, kissed me deeply, then pulled away.
Then he grabbed my hand and led me to the nearest door.
He dug in his pocket as he walked, producing a key, which he dangled in front of me.
“The master,” he said, then got to work unlocking room 417.
I lifted my eyebrows. “Does everyone have one?”
“No.”
Marc pushed the door open and waved for me to go ahead. I hurried in and he followed, gently shutting the door behind him. The room was so cloaked in shadows that I could barely see him, but when a click sounded, I knew he’d locked the door.
“There are a handful of master keys,” he explained, “but I managed to get my hands on one. I’ll put it back tomorrow.”
He moved through the darkness, but I stayed where I was, hoping he’d either turn on a lamp or that my eyes would adjust. After a few seconds, a click sounded, and I squinted when light flooded the room.
“Sorry,” Marc said.
“It’s fine.”
My eyes half closed, I watched him grab a pillow off the bed and place it in front of the door.
“In case someone comes up here,” he explained when he’d turned to face me. “I don’t want anyone to see the light.”
“Smart.”
I looked the room over as I waited for my eyes to fully adjust, shocked to discover that, like mine, it was clean and new linens had been put on the bed. I hadn’t expected that, and since no one lived on this floor, it made no sense.
“What is it?” Marc asked.
“Why did they fix this room up if no one is staying on the fourth floor?”
Marc chewed on his bottom lip but didn’t respond, telling me he knew something I didn’t. No surprise. He probably knew a lot of things I wasn’t privy to.
“What do you know, Marc?”
“Shit. Well, I guess telling you isn’t that different than being here with you right now.” He gestured to the bed. “Sit down. I’ll fill you in on what’s happening.”
I moved to the bed, my eyes on him as I walked.
I had no clue what he was going to say but was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be good.
It had only been a few weeks since I got here, but who the hell knew what had changed since then.
Anything could be happening on the outside. There was a pandemic, after all.
Marc and I sat side by side, me with one leg up so I was facing him, but as if he was avoiding looking directly at me, he was turned at an awkward angle. His body was stiff, closed off. I didn’t like it.
“What is it?” I prompted.
His brown eyes flitted to me then quickly away. “Things are bad. I mean really, really bad.”
“How bad?” I asked, my heart pounding as I thought about the last time Trevor and I talked. He’d been fine, but what if that had changed? What if he was sick? What if I never saw him again?
“Really bad, Ara.” Marc focused on me, and the fear in his eyes made my dread double. “They’re bringing more women here, but not just women.”
I shook my head, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Girls, Ara. They’re bringing girls in.”
The reality of what he was saying slammed into me.
They were rounding up all the fertile women, starting with seventeen-year-olds who’d just found out their status.
They were going to lock them up, and if the Department of Fertility had their way, I had a feeling none of those women would ever be free again.
“It’s starting,” I said, mostly to myself.
I’d been thrilled to see Marc, but this revelation had totally distracted me. It wasn’t a surprise. I’d seen it coming, but at the same time, it was so shocking I could hardly process the information.
I thought about being sixteen years old and terrified as I traveled across the country by myself.
And I’d known I would be going home in a couple weeks – assuming the authorities didn’t catch me.
These girls, these kids, had no clue when they would see their parents again, or even if they ever would.
Even if the government didn’t lock them up forever, there was a pandemic.
Their entire families could be dead by the time they made it home.
Although I seriously doubted they would ever be free again.
“Ara?” Marc said. “Are you okay?”
“No. I knew this was coming, but it’s still…”
I had no words.
He scooted closer, took my hand. “I’m sorry, but you know it doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck here once you have a baby. They could still let you go home.”
“Do you really believe that? After everything you’ve seen here, do you really think they’ll let anyone who’s fertile go?”
“I do,” he said, but he’d hesitated long enough to let me know he was lying.
Tears filled my eyes, but I forced out a smile. “This is getting to be a habit with me.” I wiped the moisture from my cheeks. “You wouldn’t know it based on how I’ve acted since we met, but I’m actually a very strong person.”
“I believe you,” he said, his tone soothing. “I can tell you’re strong.”
“Not strong enough.”
He pressed his lips together like he was trying to figure out what to say, but apparently unable to come up with something, finally leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I closed my eyes, and leaned into him when his arms went around me.
He smelled good. Outdoorsy like the mountain air.
I wasn’t sure if it was his soap or if he’d been on duty outside, but I liked it.
It reminded me of earlier in the janitor’s closet, of having his lips on mine, of our bodies moving together, and despite everything else, I suddenly wanted him again.
He clearly felt it too, because soon he was kissing his way down my face.
My temple, my cheek, the corner of my mouth.
Then his lips covered mine, and just like that, I forgot all the horrible things happening in the world.
I kissed him back, blocked everything else out, and focused on him.
On his mouth, his hands on my body, on how being with him made me feel.
Unlike before, this time wasn’t rushed. We savored being together, explored one another, got to know each other.
What we were doing was still just as risky since anyone could come looking for us, but I wouldn’t let myself dwell on that.
Wouldn’t let myself worry. Wouldn’t let myself think about anything but Marc.
When we were finished, we curled up together under the sheets. My head on his chest, my ear pressed against his heart while he held me, his hand moving lazily up and down my arm like we didn’t have a care in the world.
“When this is all over,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I want you to meet my mom. She’d like you. Would like how strong you are.”
I bit back a smile even though he couldn’t see my face. I’d never met the family of anyone I’d dated. Had never wanted to get that close to a person. I’d thought it was normal, had thought I was okay with how my life was going. I’d been wrong. I just hadn’t met the right person.
“I’d like that,” I managed to get out.
Marc pressed his lips to the top of my head, and I closed my eyes. We’d have to leave soon, have to return to the real world, but for just a little longer, I wanted it to be just the two of us.