Winter Apocalypse: Zombie Crusade V Read Online Free PDF Page B

even kiss me? Since when has the virus been spread by kissing?”
    “It’s probably not, but . . . well,” he stumbled over his words, “probably isn’t good enough, and, once we get started, I don’t know if I could stop.”
    “I don’t want you to stop,” Gracie replied, stepping close enough for Luke to feel her breath on his neck.
    “And I don’t want to leave this world knowing I might have doomed the woman I love more than anything in the universe.” He backed away and pulled two chairs over to the kitchen table. “We can talk about it, and you can try to convince me that I’m being unreasonable, but you have to stay on the opposite side of the table for now.”
    “Luke, we’re married. We don’t have much time together, and I don’t want to debate about what might or might not happen if we share our wedding night like normal people. I don’t think there’s any real danger to me, but even if there was, it’s a risk I would willingly take. We can use protection; I’ll be fine.”
    “I won’t be. Condoms aren’t foolproof, and there’s nothing I can do to save myself anymore. The least I can do is die with my honor, and if I believe there is even the slightest possibility that I could have infected you, I won’t die in peace. I really need you to understand.” Tears began to well up in Luke’s eyes. “Please, Gracie. I want to be close to you, I just can’t—“
    “Fine, baby, it’s ok. I may not like it, but I understand. We can hold each other until we fall asleep. As long as we’re together, that’s all I really need.”
     
     
    Jack knew it wasn’t a good idea, but he decided to drink himself to a point where he could easily collapse into unconsciousness. He shared a few shots of bourbon with Captain Harden, then excused himself, claiming that he was going to turn in for the night. Instead, he picked up a full bottle of scotch from his tent and headed out to the area where Luke had been bitten. He was surprised to find Carter already there.
    “Don’t make a damn bit of sense,” Carter said, noticing the bottle at Jack’s side and holding out a plastic cup. “We’ve lost folks before, and it ain’t ever easy, but this is different. It just ain’t right.” He downed the shot Jack had poured him and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Ya know I love ya like a brother, and I guess that makes Luke my nephew, just like T.C. is—I shoulda figured out that whole ‘yer Luke’s daddy’ business. I mean, the boy looks just like ya.”
    Jack took a long drag from the bottle and offered it to his oldest and closest friend in the world. Carter threw his cup on the ground and took a swig from the bottle as well. Both men stood in silence until they heard footsteps approaching.
    “I knew I’d find you two here.” David held up an unopened bottle of champagne from the wedding.
    “Ya’ll are such a girl,” Carter drawled. “Us men here have scotch.”
    “We’re going to toast to Luke, and champagne is a lot classier than cheap whiskey,” David replied. The pop of the cork sounded like a gunshot and echoed in the darkness. He held up the bottle as the bubbly overflowed to the ground. “To Luke, and God help the rest of us when he leaves us behind.” Instead of taking a drink, David poured the champagne around the dirt by their feet and then forcefully pitched the bottle into the night. “We should all get back; we need to be close in case Gracie needs us.”
    The three men walked slowly, passing the scotch back and forth until they stood outside the door to Luke’s cabin. “Seems quiet fer now,” Carter observed. “If we stick close to quarters Gracie can find us if she needs to.” He turned to Jack, “I’m sorry, man. Ya know if there’s anythin’ I can do—“
    “I know.” Jack saluted Carter and David with the almost empty bottle of scotch as he backed-up a few steps. “Right now I just want to block out the world for a while. I don’t think we’ll have a