Free As the World Ends by Marian Lanouette

He’s a strong, gentle man, who didn’t aggressively flaunt his strength. Lauren didn’t understand his sudden change in attitude. It worried her. Was this his military training kicking in? She stood there and looked deep into his beautiful blue eyes trying to find her Rob. Nothing seemed different from the outside, but what was he thinking. He stared back. The quiet built a wall between them. The minutes ticked by. An eternity passed as she waited him out. She’d forgotten how stubborn he could be.
    Finally, out of patience, she frowned and said, “I’m going to know, Rob. You’re going to know. We’re going to know. How can you be so callous about a human life?”
    “I’m not being callous, Lauren, I’m being realistic. This is the new world, kill or be killed. I love you with all my heart, and keeping you safe is all that’s important to me. Got it?”
    He had that special look in his eyes that he reserved for her, only her. Her heart melted, because the man she fell in love with was standing right there in front of her.
    “I got it.” She forced a smile. Wrapping her arms around him tightly, hugging him close to her body. A premonition filled her with dread. The sooner they were back in town the better she’d feel.

    Rob tilted her chin up, kissed her gently on the lips. Sliding his hand around her neck, he held her head, pressing her into him. Deepening the kiss, engaging lips, teeth, and tongue. He needed to instill in her all the passion and love he had inside of him for her. It consumed him. Placing his other hand over her heart he felt it jump at his touch. Moving his hand to her buttons he started to undo them. At this moment, he wanted and needed to touch her and feel the heat of her skin on his.
    “I not only want you, Lauren. I need you,” he whispered, “forever by my side.”
    “I need you too.”
    He opened the back door on the SUV, lifted her up then placed her gently on the seat. Next, he unzipped her pants and lowered them over her hips, placing kisses down her stomach, working his way to her core. He let the pants drop to the ground, and then removed her thong. Quickly removing his own pants, he climbed into the truck and mounted her.
    “In me now, Rob. I want it hard.”
    Pistoned her hips up onto him, she rotated them at the same time, driving him crazy. He rammed hard into her, wanting to possess her. As her muscles tightened around his cock, he fought for control and waited until she was ready to go over with him. He watched her eyes as they lost focus.
    In her ear he whispered, “Come with me, now.”
    A scream escaped her lips encouraging him as she started to push over the edge. Her release imminent, when she peaked, he rammed one final thrust and came with her.
    As his head cleared, his right knee begged for mercy. Kneeling on the metal buckle of one of the seat belts, the pain had become acute. Pushing up and off of Lauren, he took the pressure off his knee. She let out a groan.
    “Don’t get up yet.”
    “I have to, my knee is aching.” He reached out his hand to her. “Here, take my hand and sit on my lap so I can hold you.”
    Climbing into the truck he sat down then pulled her up into a sitting position. As he settled her into his lap he still marveled that she was his. He loved how her petite body fit into his arms as he cradled her like a child. He rested his chin on the top of her head. The soft curls tickling his face. Lauren was his world without her life would not be worth living.
    “Let me get our clothes and shut the door.” Rob climbed out of the truck. Picked up their clothes then climbed back into the truck. Once again he took her in his arms.
    “Comfortable?” he asked.
    “Yes” She wiggled in his lap. He had to adjust her. “I love you.”
    “Try to get some sleep. You’ll need all your strength tomorrow.”
    “I will after I eat. I’m starving. What do we have left to eat?”
    He reached for his duffle bag. Rummaging through it he came up with