All rights reserved by the author/publisher. This work may not be copied in part or in whole without author/publisher permission and is intended for a singular audience. It is not intended to be shared publicly.

This is a work of fiction. Character names, establishments, and scenarios are all a figment of the author’s imagination. Any correlation to real people, events,
and places is purely coincidental.

Cover Image Copyright Andreas
Gradin
2013

Used under license from Shutterstock.com

B
OOKS by M. Lauryl Lewis

THE GRACE SERIES

GRACE LOST (book one)

TAINTED GRACE (book two)

…and coming
late spring 2013…

DARK GRACE (book three)

DEDICATIONS

This book is dedicated to the lives tragically lost on 12.14.12 at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, and to those they left behind to mourn. There are no words to adequately express my sympathy and my heartbreak.

And as always, to my husband and best friend, Peter, and our three sons. You are my sun, moon, and stars and the dearest things to my heart.

To Amanda L, Timothy G, and Jennifer S. And to Donna H, for hours of editing help.

To fans of GRACE LOST - for asking for more! I never imagined so many people would fall in love with my story. I am humbled.

Last, but never least, for Kaydee. Run, girl, through the fields of green. Feel the air blowing past your long ears and know that you were loved.

PROLOGUE

Dear Sweet Baby,

The world hasn’t always been this way. It’s been almost two months since the dead rose to feed on the living. I pray that someday you will know a world free of the evil that walks the earth.
A life free of fear.

I have a hard time imagining what the world will be like with you in it. I don’t know how it will be possible to have a baby in this Hell on earth. I don’t even know if either of us will survive your birth. I know that I already love you, though.

I’m not sure what our future holds. I’m not sure if any of us will live past the next hour, or the next day. But in all of this, I am glad that you are growing inside of me. You give me hope in this Godforsaken world.

I’m not sure if you’ll ever read this, and if you do I’m probably not alive anymore. Stay close to the people who love you. Stay mindful of the dangers around you. And always know that I love you.

Mommy

CHAPTER 1

“Boggs?” I whispered into the darkness of our cold bedroom. “Are you awake?”

“No,” he mumbled sleepily. “Zoe, it’s late.”

“I know. I just can’t sleep. I’m so cold.”

“Come on over. I’ll warm you up,” he said in reply, suddenly sounding a bit more awake.

I scooted over toward him. I couldn’t see anything in the dark of the room. We never kept candles burning overnight, just for safety sake. I could feel his warmth to guide me though, and his smell was wonderfully familiar. As I nestled against his side and rested my cheek on his bare chest, I felt as if I was soaking up his heat. I ran my cold fingers through his chest hair, causing him to flinch.

“Zo, you’re freezing.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled against his chest.

“Just come closer.” He turned onto his side to face me and wrapped an arm and leg around my body. “You sure know how to wake me up.” He pressed himself against me and I felt the firmness of his manhood searching for me.

“Boggs,” I grumbled. “Not now.”

He paused.
“Why not? Gus said it should be fine.”

“Boggs!”
I smacked his arm lightly. “You asked him?”

“Well, ya. I was really worried I might hurt you or the baby.”

“I’m really scared, Boggs. We can barely take care of ourselves. How will we take care of a baby?”

“We’ll find a way, Zo. I’ll take care of you both. You know that, right?”

I sighed. “What if I die, like Louisa did?”

“Shhhh.
Enough of that. Don’t even think that way.”

He found my lips with his and kissed me deeply. I responded in kind, enjoying his taste. Finally warming up, I reached down to stroke his shaft and he moaned into my mouth. He tightened his hold on me and flipped me onto my back. I could feel my heart pounding and found myself breathing in shallow gasps.

“Are you sure Gus said it’s ok?” I asked between breaths.

“Mm hmm,”
he answered as he took my wrists in his hands and held my arms against the bed, above my head. He leaned down and used his teeth to grab the bottom of my t-shirt, and slowly drug it up to my chest. He kissed my belly teasingly, as lightly as a feather. “I promise,” he mumbled into the flesh under my left breast.

“Are you going to let my arms go?” I asked breathlessly.

“Nope,” he mumbled as he drew my erect nipple into his mouth and sucked longingly.

My breath caught in my chest. My breasts were becoming swollen and tender as my pregnancy was progressing, but I also found myself excited by the sensation. I struggled underneath him as he climbed the rest of the way on top of me, knowing full well that my attempt to resist would drive him wild. He moved one of my wrists to his other hand, and kept a firm grip on both of my arms using just one of his large hands. I moved underneath him again, causing him to hold my hips down by straddling me with his thighs. My heart skipped a beat as his free hand moved down my side lightly. His touch, when light like this, caused little ripples
of pleasure deep inside of me. His restraining me brought out darker desires within myself that seldom surfaced.

“Is it ok if I fuck you hard, Zoe?” he whispered into my ear. “Or should I take my time and tease you real slow?” His breath against my face was intoxicating.

“I think you know how I want it,” I whispered back.

He put his free hand gently to my jaw to steady me, then leaned down and kissed my neck with so much force that I groaned. For the briefest of moments I realized I’d end up with a bruise, but as he continued to taste my skin with vigor the thought of a hickey fled my mind. All I cared about now was feeling him touch me, inside and out. I craved him in every way possible. My hips lifted to meet his, hoping to find the part of him that I desired the most. He responded with a groan against my neck, and by gripping my wrists more firmly.

“Oh no, not yet,” he said in a gruff voice. “You haven’t let me touch you since we found out you were pregnant. It’s payback time, Zoe Kate.” He chuckled as he let go of my wrists and moved down to my breasts again. He kneaded one while trying to devour the other with his mouth. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and dug my nails into his back.

“Please, Boggs?” I pleaded.

“Please what?” he asked, breathless, and quickly returned to my breast. He playfully rolled my nipple between his teeth.

I grabbed his dark hair in my hands and pulled gently so he’d look up toward me. “Please fuck me?” I almost never swear, but had found our lovemaking escalates when I do.

“Beg,” he said.

“Please?” I said again, trying to make my voice sound pleading.

“Please what?”

“Fuck me, Boggs. Please fuck me.”

“My pleasure,” he groaned.

He suddenly and forcefully flipped me over onto my stomach. “God I love your ass,” he said as he caressed my rear with his hands, leaning down once to kiss me at the small of my back.

I arched my back as he mounted me, and moaned loudly when his erection entered me deeply. The foreplay had left me more than ready. He grabbed onto the blonde braid I had grown accustomed to wearing to keep my hair out of my face and pulled gently as he rocked his pelvis against mine. I could feel him deep inside of me, and while it caused a certain amount of pain it was the type of pain that made me feel whole and loved.

“God, Zoe, it’s been too long,” he moaned. In the next moments, without warning, he spilled his seed into me. Hearing his grunts and moans of joy led me to sing my own song of intense pleasure. I fell flat onto the bed, and he fell alongside of me, panting.

“I love you,” he whispered against my shoulder.

I rolled over to face him in the dark. “I love you too, Boggs.”

He wrapped his arms around me and I found myself more content than I had been in a long time. I felt myself drifting to sleep, and knew I was smiling as I did so.

“Zoe!” I heard Boggs shout. It sounded distant. I woke, groggy, with the taste of blood in my mouth. “God damn it, Zoe! What the fuck?”

I wasn’t used to Boggs being angry with me. “What’s wrong?” I asked, truly not understanding. My head felt heavy and I felt hungry beyond belief. “Oh God,” I moaned heavily. “Oh God! Boggs I’m so hungry!” I shouted.

“Son of a bitch, Zoe, you bit me! Fuck!”

There was a knock on our door, which slammed open before either of us could respond.

“What’s wrong?” asked Gus gruffly. Gus is in his late thirties, older than any of the rest of us. He’s a bit of a cowboy. We picked him up at a gas station
where we had stopped for supplies on Day One. He saved us from some of the walking dead.

“What’s going on?” asked Emilie, who stepped into our room behind Gus. She is only older than my twenty by a few years, but had fallen in love with Gus rather quickly after joining our group. She held a candle, which cast a dim glow about the room. Her eyes widened when she saw Boggs. I looked over and saw blood running down his bare chest. He stood there naked, bleeding. I groaned with desire.

“Zoe bit me in her sleep,” he said, more calmly now. “Son of a bitch.”

I was confused, to put it mildly. I could see Boggs standing beside the bed. Gus had thrown a blanket at him, which he had wrapped around his waist. He held a corner
of the fabric to his neck, trying to stop the trickle of blood. I could see something more sinister as well, though. I could see the corpse of an old man on the ground. I looked at my hands and saw blood that wasn’t really there. I could feel a hunger in my stomach, deep down to my core, that wasn’t being quenched even though I was eating flesh, bone, muscle, and ligaments. Nothing would satisfy the hunger. I could hear myself beginning to cry and moan at the same time. I didn’t want to see this, or to feel it.

“Emilie. Wake Susan,” I heard Gus say flatly. “I think we have trouble outside.”

I felt Gus and Boggs each take hold of one of my arms. At some point I had sat down on the floor of the bedroom. They were helping me stand.

“Zoe, sit on the bed,” instructed Gus. “You’re in the cabin with us darlin’. Tell us what you’re seeing.”

“It’s eating him.” I had been left with the curse of a telepathic link to the living dead. I could sense them, feel their basic emotions, and see through their eyes when they were nearby.

“Where, Zo?” asked Boggs.

“It’s close. I’m not sure. It’s too dark to see much detail. In the woods.”

“How many?” asked
Gus.

“I think just the one. I’m not sure why it’s alone and not in a pack. It’s so hungry. It’s eating him, but he’s still alive. Oh God, Boggs I tried to eat you,” I moaned.

“Zoe, keep it together,” I heard Gus whisper in my ear.

I nodded in acknowledgement. “It just keeps eating and eating. It can’t get full no matter how hard it tries.”

“Zoe do you think it’s aware we’re here?” asked Gus.

I s
hook my head no. “The old man’s dead now. He doesn’t taste good now that he’s dead. I think I’m going to throw up,” I said.

Someone handed me the small trash can
that I kept next to the bed since my morning sickness had kicked in. With five of us and only one bathroom, it had come in handy several times already. I retched until my stomach was empty.

“Gross,” I heard Susan mumble from the hallway. She wasn’t my favorite person, but I had learn
ed to ignore most of her rude and snippy comments. They weren’t worth my time or energy. She was like the mean older stepsister - family now, like it or not.

“Let’s gather downstairs,” said Gus. “It’ll be dawn soon and I think we should stay alert and prepared until we’re sure the dead fucker is gone.”

“I’ll set some water to warm for tea,” said Emilie. She knew me well by now. Tea had helped us through many stressful times in the little cabin in the past weeks. I was so glad to have this red headed woman in my life. She had grown to be like a sister to me.

“Thanks Em,” I whispered. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, tugging at my t-shirt to stay covered. “I’ll get dressed and be down in a minute.”

“Boggs, head into the bathroom so I can clean that bite up,” said Gus.

I was too ashamed of what I had done to look at anyone.

“Thanks man,” grumbled Boggs.

I felt the mattress shift as Boggs stood up. I waited until the door shut behind him and the room was dark before I stood again. I fumbled through the drawer of the bedside table for a lighter. It was so familiar to me by now that I found it quickly and sparked the flame. I watched it flicker for a few s
econds before I lit the candle we kept on the nightstand. I took a deep breath and stood. The room was uncomfortably cold as winter’s chill penetrated the walls. My sweatpants from the night before were still on the floor, next to Boggs underwear and jeans. I pulled my pants on and walked to the armoire in search of a pair of socks. Most of the clothing we had collected belonged to whoever had owned the cabin. He must have been a large man. We had scavenged a few suitcases of clothing from a multi-car accident before the snow started to fall, so I had pants that almost fit me. Still, everything was too big. I grabbed a pair of men’s tube socks from the bottom drawer and pulled an oversized flannel shirt off a hanger.

Once better dressed for the cold of night, I left the room and walked across the hallway to the only bathroom. Gus and Boggs were busy at the sink with peroxide and antibiotic salve.

“Hey,” I mumbled. “How bad is it?”

Gus huffed lightly, and then took a deep breath.
“Not too bad, Zoe. I just worry about infection. Bites can be nasty.”

“Oh God, do you mean the zombie crap?” I cried out.

“Nah, I think if you were contagious Boggs would have caught it by now. I just mean plain old mouth germs.”

“Boggs,” I started to say.

He held a hand up. “It’s ok, kid.”

“I’m so sorry,” I continued. “I was asleep. I…I…I’m not sure what happened.” I felt tears welling in my eyes.

“I’ll be fine, Zoe. Really.”

I stepped closer to investigate what I had done. There were teeth marks behind Boggs’ left ear. I had drawn blood but thankfully it didn’t look too bad.

“Guys, I need to pee really badly. Do you mind if I go really quick?” I asked, slightly embarrassed.

“As long as you use the toilet,”
joked Gus.

I ignored him, knowing that feeding into his sense of humor would just cause a string of bad jokes. Instead I walked to the far end of the bathroom, pulled my pants down, and sat on the toilet. Bathroom needs had become somewhat urgent lately as my body was starting to change from the baby. I relieved myself while Gus finished treating Boggs’ bite, and used a scrap of fabric we kept in a basket for wiping ourselves. We had run out of toilet paper weeks ago. I finished by pulling my sweats back up, and washed my hands in the sink. We were lucky enough to have a solar panel that powered the pump on the well, the oven and stove, refrigerator, and the hot water tank. It was set up by whoever had owned the cabin to be a back-up during power outages, but didn’t power the main electric.

Other books

BOOK I by Genevieve Roland

Blindside by Catherine Coulter

Rest and Be Thankful by Helen MacInnes

Nothing Sacred by David Thorne

Shadow Over Avalon by C.N Lesley

Arctic Bound by Tigris Eden

An Amish Family Reunion by Mary Ellis

Rose In Bloom by Mia Michelle

Kinky Claus by Jodi Redford

Two Blackbirds by Garry Ryan