About the time the pine needles were gone from repetitive chewing upon them the man stopped briefly and reached into a pocket and pulled free a handful of dried meat cut into thin strips. I stared at the dried meat that he had offered out to me. It was simply too much to take in.
Yes, I'd known he was going to feed me, but I hadn't expected him to do it so unasked for. He wasn't making me beg for anything.
Numbly I reached out and took the dried meat, even as several tears made their way down my cheeks. Overcome as I was emotionally it was still all I could do not to tear at the meat like a vicious animal, but instead to bite it off and chew in a controlled fashion.
He grunted and I forced myself to make eye contact with him. His gaze was enigmatic as he said with a voice that sounded rusty from lack of use and all the more gruff because of it, "This is the second time you've impressed me. Most people as hungry as you are would gobble that down in two seconds."
His expression, then turned quizzically curious then as he asked, "Why on earth are you crying though? I assure you that that isn't human you're eating right now if that's what's got you so concerned."
I shook my head and quickly wiped at my tears as I said, "No, I know it isn't human. I've had deer jerky before. It's just this is the first real food I've had that came directly from nature and didn't smell horrible in a very long time. Thank you for sharing it with me!"
"Where have you been held up?"
I hesitated to speak the answer not feeling entirely sure of him, but God had chosen him so I had to trust him like it or not, "A FEMA camp."
His one eyebrow rose, "And you're still a virgin?"
"Yes, I am." I responded steadily with assurance as I met his gaze head on.
He nodded and asked, "How did you get out?"
"I heard two guards talking. They were going to take us out of the camp and shoot us the next morning. I went along the next morning, but I hung to the rear of the group."
"And made a break for it?"
"Not exactly." I whispered before quickly looking away.
He stayed where he was and it was clear to me that he wasn't moving until I told him everything. Twisting my hands together nervously, I said not looking at him directly, "In the camp in order to avoid interest I made myself look bad with extra clothes and I gave myself a hunch and well anything to make me look... unappealing. Because I knew I had to run that morning I took most of my outer clothes off and I guess I wasn't paying attention to how I walked or acted because a guard noticed me. He held me back and the others went on without us. He forced me down onto my knees and it was clear that he wanted me to use my mouth to suck his... thing, but I wouldn't open. He had his pistol pressed to the side of my head and I knew he intended to shoot me as soon as I'd done what he wanted me to do, but that didn't matter as I would as soon as die anyway. The other guards had started to shoot the people further on away from us and he got distracted by that and when he did, I grabbed his hand and turned the gun into his belly and I managed to pull the trigger. He let go of me and I ran for it and here I am four days later."
I took a quick peek at him and was surprised to see something close to admiration being reflected in his icy hard eyes. We stared at each other for a long moment and then he asked, "Did he get it in past your lips?"
I flushed completely red at his question and face burning I whispered, "No."
"So tell me Princess will you open your mouth up for me?"
"Yes." I said numbly even as I acknowledged that I was experiencing one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.
He stared at me for a while longer and then as if to himself, he said, "That's the third time you've impressed me."
"Because I didn't let him use my mouth?"
"No. It's because I don't think you've lied to me yet. You don't know me from Adam, but you know I'm your only chance at survival and yet it's hard to admit to having been in a FEMA camp or almost being raped. For all you know I could be a government agent. I respect you for not lying to me. My biggest word of advice to you is never do it. Got that honey?"
I nodded, even as I saw firsthand that honesty meant a lot to this man. He turned to go and I asked, "What was the first time? The first time you were impressed with me."
He glanced at me and said, "When you didn't run. You faced your enemy head on. I respect that. If you'd run I wouldn't have intervened to save you."
My breathing stopped and gathering in air shallowly I breathed out, "Why wouldn't you have saved me, if I'd made a run for it?"
He gave me a hard look and said, "Because this life is full of victims, but short on fighters. You staying put told me that there was something worth saving in you, even though you are black. Now enough talking Princess and let's get going."
He turned forward and calling out I said in a surprisingly good mood, "My name is Tamara."
"Okay, Princess." He grunted in response and far from being offended I smiled softly.
I'd never had any man call me Princess before, but that wasn't why I was smiling. No, I was smiling because he had just confirmed my faith all over again.
God had said not to leave until it was time to follow and that was exactly what I'd done. The broad strides of the man ahead of me breaking trail were easy to follow because I knew for sure that it was a path God was leading me down. The man was scary to be sure, but God was in control.
Suddenly, what had been a terrible day had become a good day. I nibbled on the jerky and did my best to keep up with the quickly evolving future.
*********
I had thought myself proficient the past few days at making myself cozy shelters, but this man's efforts put me to shame. For starters, he had a tent. A very small tent.
There were no wasted moves on his part, as he went about making camp. For such a big man he moved with the grace of a cat. He asked for no help from me and so in order to be productive, at least in something I went about gathering firewood. To which at the completion of he seemed marginally pleased with.
I was finding him to be a very hard man to read and what was available to discern was that he was short on temper and quick to be wrathful. I did not want to be on this man's bad side to be sure. The problem though was did he have a good side? Time unfortunately would tell the truth of that one.
He already had a fire going and a broth of some sort brewing in a metal cup held over the flames to which he continued to add items to. Several of the items were those which I had seen him stop and forage for today.
Awkwardly, I squeezed by him into the far side of the tent, which wasn't saying much as I was still right beside him. Trepidation at what would occur tonight was high, but I was committed. I was his wife for better or worse.
He was certainly doing his part to care for me and so I would care for his needs. I waited silently in surrender for what would come.
The smell of the broth was pungently awful and I wrinkled my nose at the herby smell of it. He'd taken it off the fire and was stirring it. He stopped stirring it and turning to me he handed it out to me. I didn't want it, but I took it. I starred at the dark, strong smelling fluid and then glanced up at him.
His expression was surprisingly rueful in appearance as he spoke, "Given the diet you've had and the poor quality of water along with close proximity to diseased people it's highly likely that you've picked up some parasites along the way. You need to get rid of them and that broth will do it in short order. I'm not going to lie to you; it tastes worse than it smells."
I glanced down at the cup. I'd had worse. Softly I said, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Caring for me." I didn't wait any longer, but bringing the cup to my lips I drank from it.
Oh, it was awful! Apple cider vinegar tasted better!
I had to do it though, and half gagging I got the whole cup down. I did something then very unladylike and belched quite loudly. He chuckled even as I felt complete mortification. He was handing me something and feeling very much sick to my stomach I took it as I focused on not throwing up all over everything. Fighting to keep the vile stuff down I glanced at my hand to see several clean looking rags lying across it. What were they for?
I glanced at him for an explanation, but right about then it occurred to me exactly what they were for. Oh God!
I forced my way past him as only a desperate woman in need of a bathroom could be. I made it a grand total of 20 feet to some larger bushes before I had one of the most painful experiences of my life.
I was there for a long time during which time I think I died several times over. When it was finally over though I knew one thing for sure. I was very clean inside and in a way that made me feel better.
Weakly I made my way back over to the tent and again, I awkwardly squeezed by him and sat down in the open area on the other side of him. Weariness assailed me and suddenly I was fighting to keep my eyes open.
"Still want to thank me?"
I nodded my head. I was still too embarrassed to meet his gaze though.
"Lay down and go to sleep Tamara."
Immediate relief shot through me and I collapsed over onto my side and I think I was asleep in the same moment as my head hit the ground.
*********
Wyatt's Perspective
Wyatt Richards, as he had been known in a former life, reached over and lifted Tamara's head and slipped his pack beneath it. She never woke up.
He let go of the knotted together tresses of her hair. Never in all his days had he imagined himself hooking up with a black chick, but now as he looked over her he wondered why on earth not. The clothes she wore were baggy and obviously meant for a man, but now as she lay on her side her hourglass proportions were clearly outlined.
She was beautiful. She was his.
How had that happened?
He'd gone from ambivalently waiting in shelter to watch her die to stepping in and rescuing her. Anyone who had enough guts to turn and face an enemy the way she had done deserved a chance at life. Somehow things had gotten a lot more complicated after that though. Heck, he'd married her!
Shaking his head Wyatt stared into the flames for a long moment. Was he finally losing it after being on his own for so long or was he actually regaining some of his sanity?
Some previously forgotten aspect of humanity to willingly risk one's own life and care for others. Time would tell.
Whether it was right or wrong he was going to enjoy her. His gaze lifted from the fire and took in her face.
She needed some filling out, but somehow through the depravity of not having good food her lips were still full and very soft looking. His loins ached painfully.
All afternoon he'd been partially erect at just the presence of her near him. Something about her cried out to him to be beastly and mate her repeatedly. Again and again.
He would do it too. Tomorrow, though he would start with her lips.
They'd fallen open in her sleep and idly he fantasized about what it would be like when they formed wetly about his shaft tomorrow. He'd fill her mouth and more with himself.
He did not doubt that she was as virginal as she claimed to be. She had such an honest, forthright demeanor about her that he knew he could trust her. In truth, he had never sensed that about another woman before, except for maybe his mother, but that had been a long time ago.
Sighing, he glanced away from her lips. It was going to be a long night.
He lay down and was treated to the sight of her pressed together thighs. He groaned as his shaft got all the harder for the anticipation he felt for what it would be like to pull her thighs wide and slide into the relief of her tight sheath where no man had ever been before.
Sweat broke out on his brow as he warred within himself to keep from waking her up on the spot and taking her. It was hard coming to grips with being thoughtful of another person's needs again. In a way it was good to see that he still possessed some finer qualities and he exercised them strenuously all night by refusing to so much as touch her.