Shoshanna Evers: The Pulse

Emily opened her mouth and took the head of his cock in her mouth, rolling her tongue around and around until he groaned and grabbed her head, running his fingers through her hair, urging her to take more of him in her mouth.

She swallowed, cautiously, working his cock into her throat, tasting the musky saltiness of his skin.

She licked the slit, sucking out another bead of the delicious pre-come, and ran her tongue up and down the side of his shaft before drawing him into her mouth once more.

“Emily,” he moaned, his fingers tightening in her hair.

The feel of his hands on her head sent shivers of desire rushing through her and she sucked hard, until she could feel him stiffen in her mouth even more.

He climaxed, ejaculating down her throat, holding her head in place as she swallowed every last drop.

Finally she took her mouth off of him, breathless, and licked her lips.

Mason lay down next to her, wrapping his large arms around her, pulling her close.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she whispered.

“Yeah, me too. Thank you.”

She almost said, “It’s my job,” but that wasn’t true anymore. What would she do if he wouldn’t help her? She’d go it alone, like always. Before the Pulse she’d been fully capable of taking care of herself. Surely that independent woman was still somewhere deep inside her. “Mason, I have to tell you something.”

He propped himself up on one arm and looked at her. “Shoot.”

“I need to get out of New York City. And I want you to come with me. There’s safety in numbers.” Especially when one of those numbers was a huge man.

He shook his head. “I have a pretty sweet setup—an apartment with a fireplace, plenty of ammo, and another stash of breeding rats I’m hoping the army hasn’t found yet.”

Emily tried to swallow back her disappointment. “I see.”

“I can’t leave, Emily,” he said. “I’m a convict, remember? If I start trying to travel around, I’ll be at risk of being found out. And shot.”

“Of course,” she said. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I should never have asked you to come with me. I’ll go alone, it’ll be fine.”

She turned her face so he wouldn’t see the tears of disappointment filling her eyes. Damn it, why should she cry over his refusal? She had to leave with or without his help so she may as well suck it up.

“Why leave at all?” he asked.

“I can’t go back to the camp, I can’t!” she said, panic starting to seep into her voice.

“Shh,” he said, caressing her back like she was a scared animal. “It’s okay, you don’t ever have to go back.”

“They’ll find me, they’ll take me, I know it.”

“Why would they go through the trouble of finding you in particular? You’re another mouth to feed. They won’t care if you don’t want to stay. Why would they?”

“I know something. A big secret. And—I stole something. So, yeah, they’re gonna look for me. I can’t stay in the city.”

“I wouldn’t worryabout stealing something,” Mason said, even as he saw the fear in her eyes. “Everyone’s a thief now, it seems. Those who aren’t, are dead.”

“No, I stole something important.”

Mason looked at her. A gun , he thought. Guns were worth a lot now, especially if she filched some ammo as well. He looked at her with renewed respect. That girl had guts to steal something so important.

“Show me,” he said.

She froze. “Oh God, what if this is a setup? What if you’re a soldier, and you followed me here to get it?”

Mason almost laughed, but he could tell the notion truly terrified her. “I’m not a soldier. I told you.”

She shook her head. “I can’t show you. I can’t.”

Fine. Let her have her secret gun. As long as she didn’t use it on him. “That’s okay. You can keep your secret.”

“No, the secret’s something else. Another reason why I have to escape.”

“There’s nothing to escape to.”

“What if there is?”

“I told you, I’m fine here. I’m not leaving.”

Emily sighed. “But I am. I’ll sleep here tonight and leave in the morning.”

Mason didn’t want her to go, he realized. He’d gotten used to being alone, but he missed having a woman for company. He only had himself to look out for, and that’s the only reason he’d been able to make it this long. If he started making decisions based on the whims of this woman, he’d die.

Either he’d starve to death or he’d be gunned down by the soldiers. No, he couldn’t go with her. And she couldn’t stay with him.

He looked down at her tangled dark hair. Her breath became slower, deeper. She had fallen asleep in his arms.

Hugging her against his chest, he focused on the feel of her warm little body on his. He had to remember this moment forever, because tomorrow, she’d be gone.

Unless…

On theTracks in Grand Central, Jenna picked up her rag and squeezed the cold gray water back into the wash pail. Looking at her body carefully, she scrubbed a speck of dirt off the back of her thigh.

She had grown used to seeing her legs covered with a light coat of fuzz. She barely ever got to bathe properly, much less shave. The powers that be afforded her a daily pail of wash water when most people had to wait a week for one because the soldiers wanted the girls clean.

She still smelled, everyone did. Deodorant wasn’t a priority, and even if it was, the supply was gone.

No trucks came with supplies. The stores weren’t magically filled like they used to be.

The time she used to spend looking at herself in the mirror, before the Pulse, now struck her as obviously overkill. Apparently she was still attractive enough to fuck, even without makeup, perfume, and a blow-dryer, and long after the last of the Botox in her forehead had worn off.

And in Grand Central, being fuckable was pretty much the only thing keeping her healthy and alive. Fortunately for her sanity, she loved sex, though she’d never had a lot of partners before the Pulse.

Not that she didn’t want them—she often fantasized about hooking up with strangers. But society, pre-Pulse society, that is, would have labeled her a slut. Now she labeled herself: a survivor.

Here at the camp Jenna could fuck whoever the hell she wanted without worrying about her reputation. The women were all so malnourished that practically no one got pregnant. The few who did were moved upstairs, off the Tracks. All the more reason to keep having sex with any man around—pregnancy was a rare ticket out of hell. As for spreading STDs, well, no one gave it much thought. It’s not like they had any condoms left, or any STD tests. The very real risk of spreading disease was pushed under the rug and ignored by almost everyone, including herself.

The thought that she might have a sexual addiction had crossed her mind, but if she did, so what? If anything, it saved her life.

Sex was currency here on the Tracks.

Jenna stepped off the stalled subway car onto the underground track and waved to the two soldiers headed her way.

She had met them upstairs while wandering around the main terminal, taking in the bit of sunlight streaming through the huge windows. Down on the Tracks, the numerous garbage fires provided the only light.

She looked at the two soldiers who had come to her subway car with a big smile. Maybe after they hooked up she’d be able to ask if they’d heard anything about Emily.

Her roomie had been missing for days, and Jenna worried about her. She asked around, but no one knew anything… or if they did, they weren’t saying.

Jenna would happily give up eating a full ration to have her friend back. Emily had been like a sister to her since Jenna first came to the Tracks.