Revolution (Collide, #4)(65)

by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet ) I want no world

(for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)



I was…stunned. "What was that?"

"It's E.E. Cummings. Poetry," she said softly and turned to me a little. My rough chin touched her cheek. She didn't seem bothered. "I like to read things that give me hope of one day being normal again."

I rubbed her arms with my hands. "Will you read me another one?"

She smiled up at me in her profile. "Of course."



i like my body when it is with your body.

It is so quite new a thing.

Muscles better and nerves more.

i like your body. i like what it does,

i like its hows. i like to feel the spine

of your body and its bones, and the trembling

-firm-smoothness and which i will

again and again and again

kiss, i like kissing this and that of you,

i like, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz

of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes

over parting flesh ... And eyes big love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you so quite new.



Her breath hitched a little at the end and she wouldn't turn to look at me. I had no words… It was beautiful and sexual and described exactly the confusion and awe I felt for Ellie. I let my hands float down her arms once more, skimming and teasing. She shivered and pressed herself further into me.

"I didn't read that on purpose," she promised. "I just picked one."

"That was a good one," I told her. "It was perfect. Thank you." I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the side of her neck. She made a little noise of appreciation that had me pausing. It was a beautiful sound. "Can you read more?"

"You like poetry?"

"I'm not sure, but I like when you read it to me."

There were a few precious hours until we had to meet Chesser back at the broadcast station. If leaning my back against the wall with Ellie in my lap was my punishment for the day, I would take it with a smile.

We sat there, just like that, all day. She read to me and I listened and tuned out the sounds of the bunker, all except her smooth voice. When the book was done, she didn't leave me, however. I moved down a little and we napped.

It was a perfectly normal and human thing to do.

Later when they came and got us to tell us it was time to go, I mourned my missed time with her. If we came out of all this alive, I planned to never take that time for granted again.



Things Are About To Get Real



Chapter 26


Sherry



In the time it took to make our way to the elevator and up to the roof, I'd fought down vomit three times. This was it. They didn't know it, but the whole state, and if I wanted to give my ego a little notch up, the world, was counting on us to make tonight happen without a hitch.

Jeff had finally stepped back into his leadership role. We knew it was an adjustment to find out you're becoming a father, so he deserved a little slack. But I was glad to have him back. His rally the troops speeches were epic. And this one was no different. Everyone understood the significance of tonight.

Pastor's prayer this time had been short and sweet. "Lord, help us today as some of us head out into the lion's den." He had glanced at Rylee and looked sad. "We know that we need this. The end result is what matters now. Keep them safe, God. Keep them light footed and nimble handed."

And everyone seemed extra lovey with each other. Ryan and Ellie hadn't said anything, but were doing this little half snuggle thing. Jeff and Marissa couldn't keep their hands off each other. Rylee and Miguel stood close, not touching, but their glowers carried enough heat to light a birthday cake. Poor Billings was all alone.

I held Merrick's hand tightly and tried not to think about my goodbye with Lily. Lana had finally taken her to the back room, Bones trailing behind and looking up at her with worried eyes, but she usually never cried when we left.

Tonight, she cried.

And Lillian. She had been so eager for us to come home last night, certain we'd found Cain. She was becoming less and less faithful to Marissa's vision. When we had come in late, the bunker was as spotless as it could be. She had made everyone's…pallets. All the crates were stacked neatly against the walls. She said she just needed something to do. She also said that if Daniel hadn't found Cain by the next night, she was going after him herself. There was no point in arguing about it with her. I would have done the same thing. At least she was trying to be productive.

All that didn't set a good mood or tone for the trip for me. But we pressed on and as I climbed the ladder down, I thought about the events that were about to take place. Last night, everyone had been quiet and reflective.