When the world ends, love begins ...
The announcer on the TV looked grim. “We have with us now Dr. Richard Shark, a well-known expert on the Yellowstone super volcano. Dr. Shark, what are the chances we’re looking at an eruption in the near future?”
Dr. Shark glared impatiently at the camera. “I’d say the chances are good! This volcano is overdue for an eruption anyway and the earthquake earlier seems to have triggered some sort of buildup in the magma chamber. We’ve recorded a one-foot rise in the elevation of the land at our monitoring stations today. I’d say all hell is about to break loose.”
Hunter turned pale and grabbed for another sheet of paper. “I understand that such an eruption might affect a wide area of the country.”
Dr. Shark laughed, a maniacal look in his eyes. “You could say so. The last time this happened, the United States, or what was one day to become the United States, was buried under several feet of ash, not to mention vast amounts of choking sulfurous gases.” His eyes shifted right and left as if searching for something. “I’d run, but there’s nowhere to hide!”
“Enough!” Mercy shuddered and switched off the TV. “That’s way more than I wanted to know.”
“He’s right.” Noah’s arm tightened around her, pressing her against his chest. His warm breath stirred her hair, arousing flickers of renewed desire. “If that super volcano goes, it will be hard to find a place to hide. You don’t want to mess with Mother Earth when she blows her stack.”
“Why would Mother Earth blow her stack?” Mercy forced a laugh. “I thought she was on our side. You know, the mother bit.”
To her surprise, Noah shook his head. His voice grew grim with unexpected passion. “How could she be pleased with humans? She cares about the whole planet and right now, she’s getting royally pissed with you because of the way humanity has ravaged the environment. Now this plague! It’s not bad enough you’re destroying the Earth in your arrogance, you’re out to destroy yourselves as well.”
“Hang on!” Mercy pulled free from his embrace and shot him a puzzled look. The anger in his voice surprised her. “You’re talking like you’re not one of us. I’ll bet you’ve guzzled plenty of gas driving that Mustang around. And added your fair share of plastic to the garbage every week.” She tried to keep her tone light, despite the slight flicker of unease she felt. Was he one of those environmental wackos, more concerned about saving fish than people?
She was even more surprised when he scowled at her. “The damage was done long before I got here.”
“To Chicago maybe.” She attempted a smile to take the sting out of her words. “That doesn’t mean you didn’t pollute somewhere else. Come on, admit it. We’re all in this together.”
His scowl only deepened. “That’s the trouble with your society. You’re always trying to put the blame on someone else while continuing your own selfish, polluting behavior. It’s no wonder the planet is ready to blow up.”
Mercy frowned. His attitude was starting to annoy her. “You sound like you think the planet is reacting to us.”
“Maybe I do. Ever heard of the concept of planetary consciousness? Some of your more visionary thinkers have grasped it.”
Planetary consciousness. Mercy gave him a sidelong look. Now he sounded like an environmental wacko and a new age nut. Just when she was starting to feel something for him, too. Maybe she should just ask him to go home. She opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated. He was staring at her, his dark eyes concerned, and she suddenly understood that he was scowling because he was worried. With a secret thrill, she realized he was worried for her.
She took a deep breath. This crisis was making everyone stress out and overreact. “I’ve heard of the idea. Some philosophers think that the whole planet might be conscious.” She tapped a finger to her lips as if seriously considering such an insane concept, then shook her head. “But it’s always seemed a bit farfetched to me. I thought you were a scientist.”
“I am, and that means I keep an open mind.” Noah pushed a lock of hair off his forehead, his exasperation plain to see. For a moment he looked like a six-year-old boy and every bit as adorable. Mercy just wanted to hug him. Then his face fell into serious lines and he was a man again, a virile, serious man. Mercy’s loins ached with sudden need.
“I know you’re a bright young woman. You’re far too bright to reject an idea simply because it’s unorthodox.” His scowl faded and he broke into a smile. The sight of that infectious grin made Mercy forget her anxiety about his weird ideas. He had a smile that lit up his whole face.
“I’m no nut.” He winked at her and she was relieved to see a sparkle in his eye. Things had been getting way too serious for a moment there. “Several of the most groundbreaking thinkers of the twentieth century believed that the planet itself might be aware. I think humans have always known it in an intuitive way. Why else do you call her ‘Mother Earth’? I’ve gone one step further. I call her Mom E.”
“Mom E. Clever.” She gave him a grudging smile. It was impossible to argue when he looked at her that way. She could feel her bones melting under the warmth of his grin. “Okay, let’s say for a moment that Mom E is mad. What can we do about it?”
His smile faded. “We have to convince her humanity is worth saving. Otherwise, she’ll continue to cause upheavals until the human race is destroyed.”
Mercy sucked in a nervous breath. “Boy, I hope you’re wrong about that!” She glanced around her apartment. Time to stop discussing wild ideas and get back to reality. “So what do you think? Where could we go that would be safe?”
Noah set his jaw. His dark eyes flashed with determination. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
His words sent a wave of warmth coursing through her. She laughed, trying to sound unconcerned. “Those scientists may be panicking over nothing. They have no way of knowing for certain if there will be an eruption or how strong it will be.”
“The signs don’t look good.”
Mercy laid her hand on his knee. Touching him steadied her nerves. He radiated a calm confidence. She wished he’d put his arm around her again. “Okay, so we’ll be prepared. You said something earlier about making a plan.”
“I did. I don’t think it’s smart to stay here in the city. There’s too much chaos right now. Chicago has too many people and not enough resources if civilization starts to break down. Anything could happen.”
Mercy had watched her fair share of disaster movies on late-night TV, and she knew exactly what he meant. The power could go out at any moment. People would raid the grocery stores, and then there’d be no food. If the plague reached Chicago, the hospitals, already strained by the earthquake, would be unable to cope. People would turn against each other in fear. “What should we do?”
He smiled at her, a dimple forming in one cheek. Despite the danger they were in, butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Lord, her survival instincts must be kicking in big time. All she could think about was getting her hands on that strong body.
A matching intensity of emotion glowed in Noah’s gaze, but he stuck to the subject. “My father owns a vacation home on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. If we left soon and drove all night, we could be there by tomorrow. He’s always been a bit paranoid so he keeps it stocked with survival food, and it has its own generator. It might be the perfect place to ride out this crisis.”
Relief flooded through her like a warm tide. Then an objection occurred to her and she frowned. “But what about your father and the rest of your family? Will they want me there?”
Noah bit down on his lip. “There’s only my mother and my father, and unfortunately, they were in Europe when the plague started. All flights back to the U.S. were canceled as soon as the danger of contagion became evident. They can’t get back. I just keep praying that they’ll be safe there.”
She touched his cheek, her heart filling with compassion. “I’m sure they will be.”
“Thanks!” His dark eyes shone with gratitude. He leaned closer, brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. At that moment, an aftershock let loose. The floor jolted and Mercy tumbled into his arms. She caught her breath and realized she was lying on top of him. The world stabilized once more. I’d run, but there’s nowhere to hide. The scientist’s words echoed through her mind. What if the super volcano erupted before they could reach Kentucky? What if the end of the world really was at hand? She and Noah had some unfinished business that she definitely wanted to finish first.
She propped herself on her elbows above him, then slid her hand over the hard muscles of his flat stomach until she reached the zipper to his shorts. Gazing down at his face, she lifted her eyebrows in an unspoken question.
Noah licked his lips and nodded slightly. She undid the button at the top of his shorts and pulled down on the zipper. The shorts fell open, exposing his briefs. His erection strained against the fabric.
“Ummm,” she murmured. She leaned down to kiss his mouth, letting it become a long, leisurely kiss. She didn’t care if the earth shook again, or the roof came tumbling down on top of them. She wanted this man, and wanted him now, with an urgent, primal need. Maybe it was the urge to assure the survival of the race, but it was more than that, she knew. She wanted him, needed him, had to have him, before everything ended.
He gripped her shoulders, pulling her down to him, and returned her kiss, his lips crushing hers with bruising force. His hands slid down her back, over the curve of her waistline, to cup her buttocks. Her body responded instantly. Heat kindled between her legs and then a flood of moisture filled her pussy. She was slick and wet, ready for his penetration. It was time to claim a moment of love in the midst of this disaster.
