NADINE’S P.O.V
The rooms were almost identical to the ones at the last bunker.
It didn’t have much, just a general living area with a dining table that could also serve as a work table and a bedroom with a bed, a bath and a closet. It was simple and so familiar that my chest ached.
Neither of us wasted ti analyzing the room. We spent the rest of the day wrapped up in each other’s arms, only breaking apart long enough to eat and take a bath. The relief we felt at finally being safe made the whole experience more intimate and heightened.
I couldn’t rember when I slept off. All I knew was that one mont he had on my back with my legs on his shoulders, and the next, I felt him nuzzling the crook of my neck with his nose.
"I have to go, princess," he whispered but I didn’t stir. Being in his arms felt too good.
I shuffled closer to him, pressing myself closer to him and the delicious heat radiating off him. He chuckled under his breath, wrapping his arms around as he placed a feather light kiss to my forehead.
I tried to get closer to his chest but frowned when I felt leather against my skin. Reluctantly, I peeled my eyes open only to find him dressed in soldier leathers. He smiled down at my softly as he patiently waited for to realize what was happening. The awareness ca after a few seconds and just like that, my morning was ruined.
I sighed deeply, letting my eyes drift closed as I tried to enjoy the few seconds we had left. "How long will you be gone?"
"All day."
My eyes widened in shock. "What? That’s not fair. How do they expect you to stay awake all day? Shouldn’t you work in shifts."
"It’s just how things are here, princess. I don’t have to work every day so that’s a plus. I work three days a week."
"When did they tell you all of this? How did you even get the uniform?"
"Pickett brought it while you were asleep last night."
He pulled back from , leaving feeling cold and alone. I had no idea what I would be doing for the next twenty-four hours. I hadn’t been away from him in months, it felt like fucking torture. But I could see how bothered he was by it already, so I gave him a tight smile.
"I’ll be here when you get back, I guess."
He stood in front of , watching carefully. There was a lot he wanted to say but he chose not to say them, instead, he leaned down and kissed deeply. My toes curled, my heart beat rapidly in my chest as the kiss consud from the inside out. When he pulled back, I was out of breath and he had a small smile on his face.
He opened his mouth to speak but a knock on the door stopped him. I watched his features shut down as he went from the man I knew to the soldier I first t all those months ago. He gave one last lingering look before walking out of the room. I grabbed his shirt, throwing it over my head and following him.
Joshua stood at the door. He wasn’t dressed in soldier leathers, he was in plain pants and a loose shirt.
"I don’t need a baby sitter," Rowan snapped but Joshua didn’t even look offended.
"I’m not here for you, I’m here for her. Although, you really should get going. The soldiers will be leaving soon."
Rowan muttered a small curse under his breath, pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and walked out leaving Joshua and I staring at each other through the doorway.
"Are you going to invite in?" he asked, a small smile playing on his lips. "Or would you like to talk out here."
"That depends on what you want to tell ." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Why are you here?"
"Honest answer? Your father asked to check on you." He let his eyes roam my body. "Seeing as you’re half dressed, I’m glad it was and not him."
I rolled my eyes. "This is my room. You don’t get to judge how I’m dressed."
He just humd. "So it’s true what the General said, you’re fucking him."
"What do you care?"
"I don’t. You can get it on with whoever you want. I’m just letting you know that your dad isn’t a fan."
I snorted. "My father wants to marry you and have your blond haired babies."
"And you don’t want that?"
"There has never been any chemistry between us, Joshua, let’s not pretend otherwise. Besides, I want soone who looks out for . If it had been both of us left out there, you would have left to die. He always put first. He saved even at his own detrint."
He leaned against the doorway. "So he’s a chivalrous night. Good for you."
I sighed. "What do you want, Joshua? I don’t have energy for this."
"Your father wants to see you."
"That’s easy, no," I started to shut the door but his hand shot out and held it open.
"I don’t think you’re understanding . I’m going to take you to your father and I have been told to use force if necessary. I don’t want to hurt you, Nadine but I will carry you out of here, half naked and all."
He had either beco a very good liar, or he wasn’t bluffing. His face was hard, drawn, and it was at that mont I realized that as much as I had changed, he did too. The Joshua I knew would have never said sothing like that, he was too prim and proper.
"Give a minute," I said finally. "I need to get dressed."
I took my precious ti taking a bath and getting dressed. By the ti I stepped out, I had enough ti to be pissed off at Joshua for his threat from earlier.
I stayed silent, ignoring him when he held out a hand for to take. He just smiled to himself at my dismissal and walked alongside as we made our way down the halls.
People watched us, whispering as we passed. I heard a few people talking about , about Rowan and how we were probably infected. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. If we were infected, this entire bunker would be dead within a week.
"How did you escape?" I asked Joshua. "When the bunker went down, how did you get out?"
"My father asked our guard to take to safety. He got into one of the tanks."
"And your father?"
He shook his head. "He died in the chaos."
"I’m sorry."
He just waved off. "It’s fine, it wasn’t your fault. A part of is glad that he’s gone, he never liked living in the bunkers anyway. He missed the outside world. What’s it like now?’
"Outside?" I asked to confirm and he nodded. "Quiet, peaceful, terrifying. One wrong move can have monsters on your tail in seconds. There are empty houses with dead people, there are young people outside with no access to bunkers. It’s a tough world out there but so would say it’s better than living in here."
He scoffed. "There is safety and security here."
"You could be safe out there too if you know how. There is also freedom."
"And death. People die out there."
"Believe , Joshua, you know nothing about the death out there."
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