Zombies - A Love Story Ch. 20

Nearly two months had elapsed since Zack's first three-day patrol in the field after completing basic training. His body was well toned and muscular from the frequent physical activity he engaged in, both when on active duty and during his downtime. Caria, on the other hand, was feeling and looking large as her pregnancy advanced.

"This is so not fair," she complained as they sat on the couch side by side, her watching Zack killing zombies with ease when even on the most difficult level.

He briefly glanced at her. "What? I practice all the time. Why don't you practice when I'm away, and you'll get good like me."

She rolled her eyes in frustration. "I'm not talking about a game, I'm talking about this!" To emphasize the point she was trying to make she cradled her large abdomen in her hands. "Guys get it so easy. You can't possibly have any idea what I'm going through. You screw me and screw me, and I'm the one that has to pay for it."

"Speaking in my own defense, you have no idea what I have to go through either."

During the exchange his character was eaten, which gave her a reason to chuckle. "Looks like you just got your cute little ass munched on. And inside a diner to boot. How ironic."

Zack closed his eyes and shook his head, not quite sure how to deal with a pregnant woman. Afterwards he placed the controller aside.

"Look," he began in a calm voice, "I can't change nature. I don't have what you've got inside, and if I did we'd be lesbians... I think. I'm not quite sure how that would work, a guy and a girl both with pussies-"

Her anger flared. "Oh, shut up! I'm serious, it's miserable having to carry this around with me. My back aches all the time, I get mood swings-"

"You sure are right about that."

This time she punched his right arm and didn't hold anything back. "And I have another three months to look forward to. You, you get to play your zombie game when you're home, and then play war games in the field. Life must really suck for poor little Zack."

He nodded in affirmation. "Yeah, it's beginning to!"

"Oh, go away!" she said, making a shooing gesture with her arms. "Go work out or something, just get out of my hair for a few hours, please."

"Gladly."

"Zack, don't go away mad," she called out after him.

"Just go away," he added. "Yeah, I get it."

Zack knew where Cliff lived, less than two miles away, and it was a beautiful early spring evening perfect for walking. He maintained a slow but steady pace as he glanced around, noting a few slight changes in the city. A housing area not far away that had been empty was starting to show new signs of life.

Zack wondered if people were simply relocating from one section of the city to another, or if they were experiencing a noticeable population growth. During his time in the field they'd only overseen three approaches of candidate citizens, individuals in two cases and a small family of four. Although more could have arrived under Team One's watch.

"I never thought I'd ever find a place to call home," he whispered to himself. "I have a job I enjoy and am proud to be a part of, there's stability in our lives, I have a wife who's usually kind and caring but has lately resembled Frankenstein, and a baby on the way... a baby boy, I just know it." He crossed his fingers for good luck. "But a girl will be fine too, I suppose."

As he entered a housing area and walked towards Cliff's house he saw Cliff and Sarge sitting together on the front porch, both drinking what looked to be iced tea. Sarge appeared to be relating a story which they both heartily laughed at after it's apparent conclusion. Cliff just happened to turn in Zack's direction and pointed him out to Sarge. They both waved and smiled.

A few moments later Zack approached the two men. "Mind if we talk a moment?"

"No, come on up and have a seat," Cliff quickly invited.

Once he settled down in the chair the other men looked at him expectantly. "Is it normal for pregnant women to be, well... not themselves?"

Cliff and Sarge exchanged a knowing glance before they both broke out into laughter.

Pretending they were still listening Zack continued. "She complains how big her belly is, how her back aches, while I'm somehow having so much fun doing what I do out in the field. She thinks I have it easy while she's doing all of the suffering. Well, I'm doing plenty of suffering myself right now!"

The last sentence had the men laughing again. He waited and after a few moments longer the commotion subsided.

"I'm sorry Zack," Cliff quickly apologized as he wiped his damp eyes dry. "I know exactly what you mean. And yes, it's normal for her, and for you. It won't last forever. In a few months you'll both be proud parents with a completely different set of problems, trust me. While it might seem like a never-ending nightmare right now, you'll look back on this later and see that it was all worth it. And you'll do it all over again."

He shook his head defiantly. "Hell no!"

The subject changed and Zack spent the better part of an hour with the men drinking iced tea before deciding he'd been away long enough. On the way home he stopped at a park and occupied an empty bench to watch the lowering sun set and to recount his first meeting with Caria, how his love for her had blossomed, and how they'd gotten to this point in their lives.

Deciding he might have overreacted to her "episode", as he'd come to refer to them, he completed his journey back home.

* * * * *

"Zack?" Caria's voice called out as he returned home.

"Yeah, just me," he acknowledged as he closed and locked the front door. "Where are you?"

"The bedroom. Where've you been? I've been worried."

Not to be left out Teddy yapped several times to give his location, which it sounded like he was sitting with her.

"Give me a second, be right there sweetheart."

Zack walked into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of chilled water from the refrigerator, and satisfied his thirst before joining her. It was still early but he didn't think that mattered very much. Tomorrow would be his second and last day off before returning to the field.

"What's up?" he asked as he entered the dark bedroom.

"Where'd you go?" Caria wondered.

"I walked over to Cliff's place, he was sitting out front with Sarge so I listened to some of his war stories," Zack said with a slight chuckle.

"Is that all? Did you mention anything about us... about me?" she pressed him.

Zack knew it was wrong to lie, but sometimes a guy had to just to keep things simple. Besides, they wouldn't say anything about this to her anyway, it all seemed quite normal to them and nothing at all to be concerned with.

He sat down and leaned across the bed and gave her forehead a gentle kiss. "Don't worry, I didn't divulge any deep, dark secrets."

"You were there this long?"

"No, I stopped at a park and watched the sunset, then I came back here," he said, detailing his activities over the past few hours. "You told me to keep out of your hair, remember?"

She hesitated several moments before answering. "I know, and I'm sorry. This pregnancy is making me do things I wouldn't normally do, or say things I regret later. Are you mad?"

"No, I'm not mad," he lied again. "Well, maybe just a little hurt, but I'm over it now."

Her voice sounded hopeful when she asked, "Coming to bed soon?"

A playful look crossed his face. "It is a little early to try and get to sleep."

She returned his playfulness. "Who said anything about sleeping?"

Zack backtracked and turned off all the lights. In Survivor City energy conservation wasn't only a good idea, it was a requirement. According to the rule book confirmed reports of lack of energy conservation could, if severe enough, result in loss of power for a week or more. While that might sound petty to some people, to Survivor City residents who now enjoyed this privilege, its loss could have an emotional impact designed to get the guilty to rethink their bad habits.

"Teddy, want a treat?" Zack called out from the dark kitchen and he heard fours paws beating a hasty approach.

He delivered the promised treat but at the same time gently nudged him out back so he and his wife could have some private time together. An idea struck, so before he left the kitchen he placed a couple of ice cubes in a plastic cup and took it along with him.

"Are you naked?" he asked after returning to the bedroom.

"I am now," Caria cooed in a sexy, inviting tone.

It didn't take long for him to slip out of what he was wearing and crawl on the bed to where she was laying down on her back. When he got into position he rolled her onto her right side facing him.

"Hey there handsome," she greeted him warmly, open lips kissing his.

After the kiss he asked, "Is that scary alien still in there?"

She grinned. "No, it's gone... for now, anyway. Can't say if or when it'll be back."

"Well, if you can deal with bringing a baby into this world, I sure as hell can take on an alien," Zack decided. "Scary or otherwise."

She hesitated for a few moments. "You did tell them, didn't you!"

"No not much, just..."

"Just that I kicked you out of the house because I was in one of my moods," she sensed. "What did they do?"

Zack sighed. "They laughed, said it was normal. Told me I'd look back on it and laugh too, said I'd be doing it again. When I told them 'Hell no,' they laughed even harder."

Caria laughed, easily imagining the conversation. "Oh Zack, you're priceless. A brave soldier who's afraid of his wife."

"I'm not afraid," he countered.

"Yeah you are," she teased him.

He quickly explained, "I'm not scared, I just get frustrated. I don't know what to do to help you when you're having a bad time."

"Thank you."

He was confused. "Thanks... for what?"

Caria smiled. "For wanting to. You have no idea how much that means to me. It makes me feel like we're a team, that I'm not going through this alone."

"You're not, there's no way," he quickly confirmed, feeling like he'd gained a little ground with her. "Less bitchy and more about how I can help you?"

"I'll try, I really will. But it might involve back and foot rubs," Caria warned him.

"If that's what it takes to make my ravishing wife happy, so be it."

"Ravishing? I'm huge!"

Zack whispered back, "All the more to love."

The deep kiss which followed ended their conversation. He breathed in deeply the wondrous scent of her perfume and devoured her mouth with his, extended tongues entwining. His calloused hands held and caressed her soft face as her body squirmed against his, one of her knees gently rubbing upon his growing bulge.

There was no sense of urgency so they took their time, tongues and hands patiently exploring as their rising passion was slowly stoked. After touching her face his fingertips lightly moved up and down the sides of her neck several times, then to her shoulders and upper back. Caria enjoyed the tender contact and quietly moaned into his mouth as their tongues coiled around one another.

When he sensed it was time, Zack's lips separated from hers and he kissed a meandering trail down along her throat. His hands tenderly caressed the skin around her perky boobs but ignored them for the moment, the teasing fueling her building arousal.

Reaching blindly behind him Zack leaned back and retrieved the plastic cup he'd brought and removed an ice cube that was already partially melted. Taking it between the thumb and index finger of his right hand he rubbed it on an already-swollen nipple. Caria flinched and briefly cried out as she was assaulted by the unexpected jolt of cold, but after a moment her soft moans of delight could be heard.

After chilling one nipple he moved it to the other, his lips and tongue devouring the throbbing nub that had been left wet from the melting cube. The ice melted more rapidly the smaller it got and water rolled down the sides of her boob in several small rivulets. After warming the first nipple Zack licked the water up and suckled on the second one to her obvious enjoyment. As he did this his right hand rubbed on the growing baby bump, extending down to but not quite touching the top of her pussy.

"That feels wonderful," she cooed as her hands cupped the top of his head, fingers sifting through the short strands of his hair as her body writhed with excitement.

Her nude form quivered against his muscular body as soft moans escaped her lips. She moved onto her back as his explorations of her silky body continued slowly downwards, beneath the large bulge of new life. Caria was getting increasingly aroused and her natural womanly scent was noticeable in the air surrounding her crotch.

Her legs widened in anticipation. Zack reached a hand between them, his extended middle finger lightly caressed her moistening outer folds. She shuddered against him as the tingling heat in her loins increased. Her heart raced, her breathing ragged as he teased her into a sexual frenzy.

Eager to feel him Caria blindly groped for his enlarged cock and wrapped her fingers around the thick shaft, urgently stroking its length. For his part Zack worked the finger between the velvety folds into the slit and rubbed directly on her clit. The pair quivered and moaned as they prepared one another for the final stage of their lovemaking.

His mouth returned to her swollen nipples, suckling on each one. When she'd had enough and was ready to feel him driving inside of her heated core she gently guided him onto his back and moved on top into a sitting position straddling his crotch.

"Am I too heavy for you?" she asked in a hesitant whisper, very much aware and sensitive of her increased volume.

Zack quietly chuckled. "I can hardly tell the difference."

"You liar," she responded as she gave his cock a tight, almost painful squeeze. "But thanks for the failed attempt at making me feel better."

With that bridge crossed Caria lifted her body pivoting at the knees and guided his throbbing organ to her opening. As she slowly lowered his hardness penetrated, widening her slick canal walls as he penetrated deeply inside. Her body vibrated as she savored the feel of his manhood filling her aching, needy void, leaking wetness painting it with slippery lubrication as it thrust fully inside.

When she leaned forward to rest her round abdomen against his stomach, Zack became even more aware of her pregnancy. He'd never felt as close to their growing child as he did right at that moment. As her body slowly rocked back and forth, moving his rigid cock within her canal, he reached up and tenderly caressed her breasts along with the hard pulsing tips.

They maintained a steady, patient pace to the sounds of their moans and groans of intimate delight. Their bodies tingled as the erotic dance took place once again, often practiced and always enjoyable for each of them. He focused on the joy of feeling her oil-soaked sheath stretched around his shaft, sliding back and forth deeply within her center. For Caria it was the firmness of his penetrations that touched her so deeply which she found so overwhelmingly arousing.

Once the passion intensified the patient movements turned frantic. Sweet cries replaced moans as their bodies joined in urgent thrusts, his cock driving into her fast, hard, insatiable. It wasn't long before she crested. Her body clenched tightly as a gasp sounded, followed by the wild train of uncontrollable convulsions of her ecstasy. Zack felt her sex simultaneously contracting around his shaft, squeezing hard as he kept driving within her core.

Caria bucked and squirmed for several moments as her orgasm played out, her stiff form relaxing once it had passed after sating the tingling fire deep in her loins. The pleasure of her climax affected him and it wasn't much longer before the building pressure in his balls would not be denied their release.

With loud grunting sounds and powerful twitching motions Zack's ejaculations began. His body went rigid, toes curled, as he started ramming his cock into her at a rapid rate. At the end of each inward thrust a grunt sounded as his form shuddered in ecstasy from the sensations accompanying his powerful squirting of thick cum. He pounded into her sex until the ejaculations diminished and then stopped, after which he relaxed.

She rolled off him and onto her left side facing away as he spooned her from behind, allowing their bodies to cool and recover as he gently caressed her silky body.

Caria was sound asleep within a few minutes, but Zack lay there awake for longer. When he heard Teddy's muffled barking he got up and let him back in before rejoining his wife in bed, the dog settling at the foot of the bed after Zack pulled a sheet over himself and his mate.

* * * * *

Caria was awakened from a deep sleep with a start. Initially her mind was confused -- where was she, what woke her up?

Then she heard the noise again which sounded like a racing engine, the excited "whoops" of men, followed by gunshots and the shattering of glass. Wherever it was coming from it was getting louder. A cold chill ran up her spine just about the same time the baby started crying.

"Don't cry, mama's coming," she nervously cried out as she got out of bed and hurried to the baby's room next door. "Don't cry Serenity, I'm right here."

Caria didn't know what to do. When she tried turning on the light she realized the power was out, adding to her fear and confusion. The distant, threatening sounds were growing louder still, accompanied by the frightened shrieks of victims and the longer staccato of automatic weapons.

Not knowing what to do under these dire circumstances, she grabbed the baby's diaper bag and headed into the basement.

"Damn you Zack, why can't you be here now?" she whispered angrily under her breath, heart racing wildly out of control as she carried her baby and bag down the wooden steps onto the lowest level of the two-story home.

Serenity was still crying but seemed less scared now as the approaching noises had been muted by their underground accommodations. Caria sat in a dark corner hoping that whatever, or whoever was attacking their quiet city would pass them by and leave them alone. This hope was accompanied by fear, not only for her baby and herself, but also for Zack who was out there somewhere watching over them. Where was he now in their time of need?

"Hurry Zack, Survivor City needs you," she whispered as her eyes remained locked onto the latched door that led to the kitchen on the first floor. "We're depending on you. Our lives are in your hands."

"Caria, sweetheart, are you okay?" Zack asked as he lightly nudged her.

Her body stiffened as she was roused from her dark dream. "Hmm?"

"You were mumbling something, and then I felt the tears," he explained in a worried voice as he wiped the wetness from her cheeks. "Are you okay?"

She released a heavy sigh. "I had the dream again."

Zack was confused. "The dream?" he asked. "What dream?"

It took a moment for Caria to realize she'd never shared it with him before because he was usually gone to the field when she had it. This time was different.

In a sleepy voice she related it to him before adding, "I think it's a premonition."

"Maybe," he conceded, "or just a recurring dream caused by stress or something else. Don't let it worry you, otherwise you'll probably have it more often."

"In the dream our baby was a girl, I called her Serenity," she pointed out. "She was three or four months old I think, so we still have time to get ready."

"Get ready for what?" he questioned.