The Beyond: Dystopian Survival Fiction (The Breeder Files Book 4) by Eliza Green (best ebook reader for surface pro TXT) 📕

this to be our lives. I couldn’t see past the Beyond.’ She smiled. ‘It will take some getting used to.’

Dom slid his hands around her waist, craning his neck down to look into her eyes. He grinned suddenly and it elicited one in response.

‘What?’

‘What do you say we christen this place?’

Her eyes flicked to the bed, then back to him. ‘What did you have in mind?’

Dom kept hold of her hand and led her over to the bed. Her stomach coiled tight with excited anticipation.

There, he turned and faced her, sweeping a lock of hair off her face. Anya stood on tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. The windows had no covering but they were far back enough that the shadows in the room hid them.

Dom groaned against her mouth; the sound pushed her to explore him deeper.

He pulled back, removed his shirt and went back to kissing her. ‘I’ve been dying to get you alone for ages.’

She smiled against his lips. ‘Me too.’

They’d been living in the dorm on base before being moved to separate temporary accommodation while they completed their psychological assessments. All she’d had for two weeks were stolen looks and kisses during the times they could meet.

Her need for him consumed her so much, she thought she might die. He was her air. Without him she felt like she might suffocate. And from the way he was kissing her, deep and hungrily, she sensed he felt the same way.

Anya stepped back and removed her clothes to stand there in her underwear.

Dom smiled at her, his gaze lingering on the places where she was still covered. ‘Beautiful.’

He peeled off his T-shirt with his strong arm, slightly ripping the fabric as he went. His stomach no longer had a scar running across it. Agatha had kept her promise and removed his internal tech, replacing it with donated organs. But he retained the tech in his arm that had nothing to do with his father.

She ran her fingers across his belly, where his scar used to be, feeling him tense there. ‘Do you miss it?’

He said in a low, throaty growl, ‘No.’

She looked up at him. His brown eyes caught her off guard, like they always did when she looked into them. The intensity there made her blush.

‘What now?’

A smile spread across his lips and he eased her onto the bed.

The feel of him pressed up against her, every part of him hard, turned her legs to jelly. She shivered from loving this man so much.

‘You cold?’ he asked.

She shook her head. His body warmth was enough. She widened her legs to allow his weight to rest there. He kissed her harder, careful not to crush her. She didn’t care if he did, or if his weight killed her. She could think of worse ways to die than in the arms of the man who literally stole her breath away.

35

Anya

The next morning, Anya got up for a shower. She spent longer there than usual. The water slicked down her body, making her feel whole again. She was sore in places she’d forgotten existed. The heat of the water soothed her aches away.

She touched the grey tiles, wondering if Quintus had drawn inspiration for Essention from this city alone, or if he’d used his imagination. The thought made her shiver.

Anya towelled off and emerged from the bathroom. Dom was draped across the bed, one arm resting over his eyes. He peeked out from under it when she neared him.

‘How was the shower?’ he asked.

‘Delicious! You should try it.’

He sat up, a wicked grin on his face. ‘Maybe next time, I’ll join you.’

‘I’d like that.’

She sat down on the bed with a sigh.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I suppose this good feeling can’t last forever.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean we can’t live like kings indefinitely. We’ll have to join society at some point. You know, get a job.’

Dom nodded slowly. ‘Agatha didn’t say, but, yeah, I presume so.’

She got to her feet, holding the towel in place. ‘I don’t know where my place is here. I don’t even know what this city is about. All I remember are the towns. I know the memory reverse will allow me to remember, but I’m not ready to.’

He stood up with her and wrapped his arms around her waist. ‘Maybe it’s time Agatha answered some of our questions. What I want to know is what’s going to happen to the Region. Are they going to keep it locked away indefinitely?’

‘Yeah, I’d like to know that, too.’

Ω

They dressed and met with Agatha in a small café not far from the base. Agatha paid at the counter and carried three coffees to the table.

Today, she wore a black trouser suit with a white blouse and a pair of red-rimmed glasses. Her black hair was pulled back from her face. Anya couldn’t tell whether she’d come from a meeting or from her private quarters in the base.

Agatha sipped on her coffee then looked up. ‘How are you two settling into your new place? You got the keys last night, correct?’

‘How did you know...?’

Anya sighed. There wasn’t any point in asking how anyone knew anything. Agatha seemed to have eyes and ears everywhere.

‘Fine,’ said Dom. ‘It’s nice.’

‘Nice?’ Agatha raised a brow. ‘That apartment has the best view of New San Francisco.’

‘It’s great,’ Dom added with a clipped smile. ‘But we’re not here to discuss views.’

Agatha lifted her cup to her lips again. ‘I didn’t think you were.’ She took a sip and placed the cup back down, then clasped her hands on the table. ‘You’re here because of the Region.’

Dom nodded. ‘We left a lot of people behind. We want to know what’s going to happen to them.’

‘The Region