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the open has me covered in goose bumps, but the water is nice and warm. Slightly hotter than a bath. It’s probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever felt.
    I turn and hold my hand out to Axl, who’s still foolishly standing on the top step. “Give me that soap.”
    He looks down at the bar clutched in his hand, staring at the thing like he forgot it was there, then steps into the hot spring. “Damn.” He closes his eyes like he’s on the brink of ecstasy.
    “I know,” I say, ripping the soap out of his hand.
    The water only comes to my waist, so I sink lower until I’m submerged up to my chin. I wet my hair, then scrub every inch of my body until my skin stings. Then my hair. I’ve never been this filthy in my life.
    Once we’re both clean, Axl settles onto the manmade bench that lines the wall of the little pool. I move over so I’m sitting on his lap, and wrap my arms around his neck like we’re two people out enjoying a day at a spa rather than what we’ve been for the past few weeks. People running for our lives. Hiding. Trying to survive. I want to enjoy this moment.
    “What were you and Angus doing that took so long?” I know they weren’t hunting that whole time, and I want to know what they were up to.
    “Stakin’ out the area. Wanted to see if there was any sign of the dead.”
    “You find anything?”
    “Nope. Don’t look like the area’s been bothered since all this started. No bodies ‘round. Lotsa animals in the woods. It’s pretty secluded. Might be good to hang out for a few days. Rest up.”
    “You think it’s safe?”
    “Safest place we’ve come ‘cross since we left the desert. Bet we can make it work for a bit. Once it gets really cold it’ll be no good, but for now we got them tents set up close to the springs. The water gives off a little heat and we got plenty of blankets an’ sleepin’ bags.”
    “It would be nice to rest.”
    “Give Jake a chance to get better. Them wood houses they got ain’t real sturdy, but we could set somethin’ up in there for him. Be warmer than the tent. Hopefully, the others can find some meds and he can get better.”
    Axl brushes some wet hair off my forehead and I press my lips to his, then shift so I’m straddling him. He’s hard already. The feel of him causes heat to move through my veins. “I could get used to this, too. It seems like a shame to drive off and leave something so amazing.”
    “Yeah,” he says again, moving his hands up my thighs and over my stomach to my chest, not stopping until they’re cupping both of my breasts. His touch is hotter than the water. I kiss him harder, grabbing his bottom lip between my teeth and giving it a little tug. He groans. “You been takin’ them pills, right?”
    “I have.”
    “Good.”
    He guides my body over his, and then he’s inside me. We move together and the water swirls around us, splashing against the stone, and more than once I have to bite down on my lip so I don’t make a total ass of myself.
     

     
    “So you think staying here is a good idea?” Winston asks in a skeptical tone. It isn’t often he and Axl disagree, but this may be one of those times.
    “I think we need to rest,” Axl says.
    Angus spits on the ground and drapes his arm over Darla’s shoulder. “Yeah. It’d be nice to take a break. Plus, that truck is startin’ to smell like shit.”
    I look toward the fire where everyone else sits. Hadley, Jon, and Parvarti aren’t back yet, and Joshua fell asleep, so it’s just the five of us making the decision right now. Anne and Sophia are preoccupied with the kids, and Jessica usually just defers to her dad’s opinion. Al and Lila don’t seem to care as long as they’re together and safe. Then there’s Moira…. She’s barely even a person anymore.
    “But we can’t stay here forever,” Winston says slowly.
    “No,” I say. “Just for a couple days. Until Jake is feeling better. Hopefully, the others come back with antibiotics and he can