V-Day: (M-Day #4) by D.T. Dyllin Read Free Book Online

dazzled by Zee when he ’ d come home on leave. Soon Riley would be long gone, and hopefully just a memory.
    “ I need to focus on the present, ” I muttered under my breath. I crept into the small bathroom attached to my temporary room, almost afraid to make any noise, not wanting to have to deal with anyone else in the house, insane woman, or sex-crazed I-Man.
    I stared myself down in the mirror above the sink, gripping the cold yellow ceramic edges until my fingers ached. I removed my pink hair wrap, something that both Emilio and Tony had mocked me for wearing. I ’ d had to remind them more than once with my fists, especially Tony, that just because I liked pink didn ’ t make me any less tough. It was possible to look good while kicking ass, although me looking good, along with the rest of the world, had ceased being possible with the release of Men-V. No more salon visits for me.
    I turned my attention fully to my reflection, pushing away thoughts of my dead compadres. My long hair extensions were still in place, although desperately in need of changing. I usually had them redone at least every six weeks, but hair care, like a lot of things, had gone out the window with the advent of the apocalypse. My hair was my biggest vanity, one that I ’ d never let go of, even when I ’ d been recruited for S-Ops. No one cared as long as I kept my locks braided and off of my face. Now, once I took out my extensions, I was going to be stuck with my natural hair, something that shouldn ’ t matter in this new world, but somehow it still did.
    I could almost hear Ty mocking me for my unrelenting hair fixation. God … Ty … please be okay. Sometimes it felt like I was forgetting him — his laugh — his weird sense of never wavering optimism — the way he rolled his eyes at me. And other times it was as if he was standing right beside me. Ty had always been one of my best friends, after all, we had shared a womb for nine months. I needed his advice about so many things...and his strength. I just needed him. And Riley. I need Riley too. I wasn ’ t sure how I ’ d gone on for so long without them. What will I do if they ’ re dead or infected?
    I pushed off the sink, pausing before shifting my fingers though the long braid at my back, unraveling it. My dark hair cascaded over my breasts, desperately in need of a wash. I was pretty sure there was dried blood in it. In fact, I sniffed myself and crinkled my nose before glancing over my shoulder at the large tub. Who knows the next time I ’ ll get another chance. It ’ s not like I enjoy the lax bathing rituals that the post-apocalyptic world has forced me into.
    A few minutes later I sank into the steaming water that filled the tub. I groaned in bliss. I couldn ’ t remember the last time I ’ d had a bath. I knew it was a bit reckless and indulgent to be relaxing when I should have been doing something more productive. But then again I ’ d learned that no matter the situation, sometimes one had to regroup mentally before anything could be done. It was akin to putting your oxygen mask on first when on a plane. You wouldn ’ t be able to help anyone else if you were out cold. Maybe a rationalization but I didn ’ t care. I leaned my head back and let my eyes slide shut.
    “ You ’ re so fucking sexy, Vivvy baby, ” Riley murmured, his lips grazing my ear. I leaned into him, my back pressing into his chest as water sloshed around us. His dick swelled beneath my ass and I sucked in a sharp breath.
    “ You know Ty would kill you if he knew what was going on between us. ” I rotated my hips and his fingers tightened on my ribcage.
    “ No, he wouldn ’ t. Not if I told him how I feel about you. ”
    “ And how do you feel about me? ”
    “ I love you, Viv. So fucking much. ” Riley thrust his hips up, groaning in frustration as I pulled away from him.
    He loves me. My heart fluttered erratically in my chest. I rose up on my knees, straddling him. “ I love