"Theo," she said with an embarra.s.sed little laugh, and moved toward him. All at once, she was sliding those sleek thighs over his legs, straddling his hips, settling herself right on his lap. He throbbed and strained when her heat b.u.mped up against him, when she sidled her warm skin and fascinating curves against his torso, trapping his hard-on against her stomach.

"No hurry," he said, his voice thick even to his ears, burying his face into her heavy, sweet hair as he nibbled on her neck. But he jolted when she slipped her hand between their bodies and began to trickle her fingers through the wiry hair below, lifting and stroking his b.a.l.l.s. He closed his eyes, letting her play as he lost himself in the scent of her skin and the texture of warm, soft woman. Oh, yes. Oh, yes.

When he had enough, when he was getting too impatient to wait any longer, Theo shifted and brought her back to him for a strong, deep kiss. He moved his hand down between them, finding her beautifully swollen and slick. A stab of l.u.s.t shot through him. Pulling himself back from the edge, he kissed her again, unable to keep from smiling into her mouth as he realized how good good this was. And he teased her as she'd done to him, moving his hand between them where she straddled his hips, open and slick and ready. this was. And he teased her as she'd done to him, moving his hand between them where she straddled his hips, open and slick and ready.

She shifted back a bit, trying to catch her breath as he took his time, watching her face tighten and her mouth open in little panting gasps. His desire rose, driven there by the expression on her face, the little sounds of pleasure, the musky scent of woman. The light behind shadowed her, so he only caught glimpses of her heavy eyelids and the curve of her cheekbone, her face tilted to the ceiling as she arched back, held in place by one of his arms as he made her tremble and sigh in front of him.

Her torso was bare and in full view and he enjoyed it as her b.r.e.a.s.t.s shifted and her nipples were pointed and taut, outlined by the light from the monitor behind him. Bending forward, he licked one, sliding his tongue long and flat around it, around and around and around it. She sighed and shook, her fingers clamped onto his shoulders, the pain of her nails battling with his own pleasure.

He wanted to taste her, to touch her, to be inside her and to see her face blossom into ecstasy. And he was ready. Hard and turbulent and ready.

She seemed to sense that, and before he tipped her over the edge with his teasing fingers, Selena opened her eyes and gave him a look of readiness and demand. Without hesitation, she rose and then impaled herself, over and down. down.

Theo exhaled sharply as pleasure surged through him. Oh ... yessss . .. Oh ... yessss . ..She moved and he moved and the world started to turn red and spiraled and suddenly he felt her convulse around him, shuddering and making that soft little sound of pleasure that made him want to come right then too.

He closed his eyes, waiting for the intense moment to pa.s.s, willing his body not to move. And before he could change his mind, he shifted and quickly dislodged her. Selena's eyes opened and he answered her unspoken question with a quick, fast kiss as he stood, carrying her.

"We're going to do this my way this time," he managed to say, his arms filled with a naked bundle of satisfied woman.

Before she could react, he shoved a couple keyboards out of the way and sat her pretty a.s.s right on the counter near his workstation. She squeaked at the temperature of the cold table, clutching at his shoulders.

That would be a good memory, he thought, as he settled in front of her, hard and slick and ready to finish this up.

Then he stopped cold. Jesus. Jesus.

"What?" she said, her eyes opening when he started to release her.

"I have to get a condom," he said, thinking how much he hated hated this world after the Change, which in turn, helped pull him back from the precipice. The condoms they had now were little more than animal intestines: bulky, thick, and loose. He had managed to acquire a couple of them from the guys in Yellow Mountain. And they were on the other side of the d.a.m.ned room, buried somewhere where Vonnie or Sam wouldn't see them. this world after the Change, which in turn, helped pull him back from the precipice. The condoms they had now were little more than animal intestines: bulky, thick, and loose. He had managed to acquire a couple of them from the guys in Yellow Mountain. And they were on the other side of the d.a.m.ned room, buried somewhere where Vonnie or Sam wouldn't see them.

"A condom? What the h.e.l.l are you talking about? You've got everything you need right here right here," she said, wrapping her hand around him. And tugging.

Oh. s.h.i.t.

He staggered and she stroked him again, hard and without mercy, and the world started to turn red and spirally again, and he tried to think clearly, but she was pulling him closer, and wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Baby," he managed to say as she fit him into place. And he groaned in relief and pain as Selena lifted herself off the desk and slammed against him. Deep and thorough.

"I told ... you," she sighed as she got him to moving with her. "I'm ... too old . ..to ... oh! oh!"

His vision blazed bright red and he let himself go, holding her hips, ignoring the scores of her nails gouging his skin as she rocked against him, still shuddering and moaning as he gave one last thrust and shot home.

Theo sagged against her, resting his cheek on the top of her head, holding her close as his hands fit between her a.s.s and the desk. Her legs still locked around him, they loosened their hold as she withdrew her nails from the imprints on his shoulders.

He realized dimly that he was going to be hiding more wounds over the next few days. No shirtless weeding in the hot sun.

Finally, he lifted his head and began to pull away. Their hot, damp skin stuck in places, and it was a relief to separate so that the little breeze from the open window could cool them.

"Wow," she said, still sitting there on the desk, propped up and back on her palms. Naked, curvy, gilt with moonlight, hair tumbled over her shoulders and rumpled around her face. His mouth dried at the sight.

Yes, would be a very nice memory when he was working.

"I agree," he said, leaning forward to kiss her again-an easy, sensual thank you and yes there will be more of this thank you and yes there will be more of this kiss-in gentle movements over her lips followed by a tender nibble. kiss-in gentle movements over her lips followed by a tender nibble.

"But next time," she said, sliding off the table with a fascinating jounce of b.r.e.a.s.t.s, "don't stop in the middle of it to talk about planning for a family."

He gave a short laugh. "I'm not irresponsible in that way, but geez, Selena, you make me forget what I'm doing."

"So do you," she said softly, glancing toward the window. Her expression changed, but it was too dark to see clearly how.

Was it regret? Remorse?

Theo pushed away his own niggle of guilt. She'd nearly died last time. If she'd gone out alone tonight ... if she'd gone out even with him ... anything could have happened. He'd seen the way those creatures fought and clawed to get to her ... Why? Why?

Why does she do it?

I don't want anything to happen to you-he couldn't say the words. Instead he pulled her close and tried to show her, aware that something great and fearsome was opening up inside him. After a moment, when he felt her shiver from the little breeze coming through the window, he stepped back and offered her one of his shirts. In the last week, he'd taken over the arcade as his living s.p.a.ce, spending a lot of time there. Only problem was, it got really hot during the day unless he opened all the windows and let the breeze rush through. Now, in the middle of the night, it was almost chilly.

She pulled the shirt on and Theo gently tugged her over to the large, wide sofa he'd claimed as his bed and covered with sheets and blankets. "Come here," he said. "Stay with me?"

Selena smiled and patted the sheet. "I don't know. I thought you were keeping me at arm's length so I didn't wear you out." She tossed him a slanted grin.

"Let's see who wears who out," he said as his own insides gave a little jerk of interest. He reached for her and she fell onto the couch bed, dragging him with her.

But instead of diving into another long, hot embrace, Theo lay next to her, propped up on his elbow. He just wanted to look at her for a minute; and with a long forefinger, he gently traced a line down from the curve of her collarbone, down around her wrinkling areola, and along the curve of her torso. Settling his hand, palm flat on her thigh, he caught her gaze.

She was watching him; and in the dark he could see only that her gaze was fastened on him, that it was heavy and strong. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the mouth.

"Tell me about Sage," she said.

Out of the f.u.c.king blue.

Theo gave a little laugh, feeling very light. He hadn't thought about Sage in ages. "Nothing like a mood killer," he joked.

"Is it? I wondered," she said. Her eyelids fluttered a bit, and he realized he'd better clarify.

"I don't mean-well, it's a mood killer because it was just the two of us, and now there's someone else here. It wouldn't have mattered who. You know? I was enjoying being with you. Just you."

"Did she hurt you badly?"

He shifted a little. He had to think about it, he realized. "It sure as h.e.l.l felt bad at the time-a lot of asking why-but it's clear she wasn't right for me any more than Jennifer is. Aside the fact that she never cared for me as more than a brother."

"I'm sorry," Selena said.

"Well, if it had worked out," Theo reminded her, "I wouldn't be here with you now. And there's nowhere else I'd rather be." He realized as he said it that, not only was it true, but that he didn't think it would ever change. That wanting to be with her, that level of comfort and connection. The intelligent conversations. Wanting to have his hands and mouth all over her rich, golden body.

She smiled and reached over to touch his cheek. "Thank you. You know, I don't know very much about you, Theo. You seem to have as many secrets as I do."

You have no idea.

He wondered about telling her more about what happened during the Change, but pride made him hesitate. Couldn't she accept him for who he was, regardless of what she a.s.sumed was his age?

"Have you ever been married, then?" she asked.

"No. Never." He'd always thought he'd have time-before the Change. And since then, he'd been trying too hard to figure out who the h.e.l.l he he was, why he was resurrected and altered, to think about sharing that life with someone else. And then there'd been the two or three years when the only woman in his mind was Sage, worshiped from afar, as she was. was, why he was resurrected and altered, to think about sharing that life with someone else. And then there'd been the two or three years when the only woman in his mind was Sage, worshiped from afar, as she was.

"You must have children, though."

A wry smile shifted his mouth. "No, can't say that I do. Though it's not from lack of trying," he added with a full-fledged grin.

"What?" she exclaimed. She sounded truly horrified and actually shifted away.

"I'm kidding. Really, I'm kidding," he stressed, still grinning, cupping her shoulder to bring her back. "I've been careful not to let that happen."

"Some people would say that was morally wrong," Selena said a moment later, when she'd obviously decided to believe him. "Preventing pregnancy when we need to reestablish our race."

"What do you say?" he asked, moving a lock of hair from her face, brushing it over the top of her head.

"I say that parenting is hard enough when you're doing it with someone you love, when you're ready for it. But it's even harder when you aren't. So, I don't advocate for people to have babies just to populate the world. My view might not be the most popular, but that's it." She shrugged. "That's another thing I used to ask why about-why I only have Sammy."

"That wasn't your choice?"

Selena shook her head and that lock of hair fell back down. She pushed it away, then let her fingers slide gently against his chest. "I've had five pregnancies, possibly more."

"But ... any ch-" he started, then stilled. "Five?" "Five?"

Her mouth drew down a bit at the corners. "At least three miscarriages, one little girl that died as an infant, and of course, Sam."

"Oh ... Selena," he said, his voice low. "I'm so sorry."

She nodded, her face sideways, her eyes holding his in the low light. "Me too. But ... it was a long time ago, the last one. And obviously ... Well, for whatever reason, Sam is my only surviving child. I always wanted another baby, though. So ..." Her voice trailed off. "If it happened again, even at my advanced age, I would be happy."

Theo's mind scattered into little pieces of shock, panic, curiosity, and warmth. And one big question: How did he feel about that?

But Selena, as she often appeared to do, seemed to understand his quandary. "As much of a stud as you are ... and you definitely are," she added with a meaningful smile, "don't worry that I'm using you to father my child. I'm definitely not."

"I wasn't worried about that," he interrupted. "I just ... well, becoming a father isn't something I'd take lightly. I'd want to be married first, to a woman I knew I'd want to be with for the rest of my life. Which is why I was angry when I wasn't prepared-even though I should have been."

Selena sighed. "I wish Sammy felt that way. I don't know if he and Jennifer are having s.e.x, but- Well, what do you think? What are the chances?"

"Uh, pretty good. I'd a.s.sume they're moving bookshelves," he replied with a grin at the euphemism. "Seventeen-year-old boy and a girl who looks like Jennifer? Done deal. Sorry," he added when she looked at him with displeasure.

"Ugh," Selena replied. "That is not a thought I'd like stuck in my mind."

"Then let me take your mind off it," Theo said, reaching for her.

She slid close with an eagerness that heated him up again.

This time, everything was long and slow and easy. Body sliding against body, pausing to feel the way they fit, looking at the way the different shades of skin matched up in the faulty light, the texture of hair-roughened flesh against smooth, silky skin. He couldn't seem to get enough of tasting her, sliding his fingers through her heavy hair, of the little sounds she made when he did something pleasurable, of the now-gentle tracing of her nails on his shoulders.

When he lifted himself over to cover her, to fit into her, he made those strokes last, allowing the threads of pleasure to weave slowly, in soft little waves, until he felt the change in her breathing and the pumping of her heart beginning to match his own. And even then, they moved in that sensual rhythm, holding back as comfortable lovers do, knowing that the end would come and taking their time getting there.

And when they did, they matched that too. It was as if he slipped over the top of the Ferris wheel, arching and then sweeping down in a long, rush of pleasure that ended in a bubble of heat that burst through him just as she tensed and shuddered beneath on her own ride.

Wow, he thought as he uncurled his toes and rolled his eyes back into position some time later. His body slowly came back to earth. he thought as he uncurled his toes and rolled his eyes back into position some time later. His body slowly came back to earth.

Once again, shifting a bit, he gathered her against him and curled an arm around her shoulders. Tucked under his chin, she sighed and he felt her relax into slumber.

But Theo didn't sleep.

He didn't dare. He lay awake, holding Selena, wondering about all of the variety of emotions barreling through his otherwise exhausted body.

He'd succeeded in keeping her in tonight. Keeping her safe.

The very thought of her going out there into that wildness again was enough to thrust away all of the pleasure and satiation of the last hours. He was still angry that she'd lied to him, or changed her mind, or whatever. Whether he had the right to be or not, he couldn't dismiss the feeling-it was a fury driven by fear and confusion.

He had to find a way to stop her. To keep her safe.

To convince her that it wasn't worth the danger. That she was needed here here, for her patients. For people who came to the Death Lady and needed her peace and guidance.

And that she had a responsibility to those who lived lived, those who loved her. Vonnie, Frank, Sam.

And, Theo considered, very likely himself.

He was a very different person since he'd awakened from this second resurrection. Or maybe he'd just reverted to who he was before.

Maybe that was why why.

He realized as he felt her comforting presence next to him, as the sun just started to light the sky beyond the window, that he could do this every night. That he would.

So much for staying away from her until she got to know him.

Chapter 11.

Theo awoke to the sun blasting with great force through the easterly window. Selena was gone, but the stab of worry that had him vaulting from his bed lessened when he remembered that he'd remained vigilant until the danger of night was past.

She couldn't have gone out after those zombies; she was safe somewhere.

Nevertheless, he dressed quickly and thought about going down to the kitchen to see what Vonnie was cooking ... and to see how Selena was.

Now, in the light of day, did he feel uneasy about manipulating her into staying in?

No.