The Last Man on Earth Read online

  “I’ve gotta tinkle,” she announced, levering herself out of his arms and off the bed.

  Zack groaned in acute frustration and flung an arm over his face. He could wait, he assured himself. She wouldn’t be long. He hoped she wouldn’t be long. In a cruel way, this was nothing less than he deserved for making love with an inebriated woman. He should never have bought that wine.

  Eventually, he heard the toilet flush. Renewed anticipation surged through him, intensifying the ache lodged in his groin. She’d be back any second.

  One minute ticked past, then two; still no Madelyn.

  “Zack?” she called from inside the bathroom.

  Oh no. Please, he prayed, please don’t let her be sick.

  “Zack? Can you come in here?”

  He doubted he could even walk. “What’s wrong?”

  “I need you.”

  Yeah, he needed her too.

  Urgently.

  But not in the bathroom. Although . . . ?

  He shook his head, immediately banishing the idea. With an audible grunt and an abject groan, he pushed himself off the bed and delicately made his way across the room.

  The door was wide open, and there in front of the sink stood Madelyn, a toothbrush in one hand, a tube of partly squeezed toothpaste in the other. A heavy frown of confusion wrinkled her brow. She looked a sight, half of her once tidy topknot hanging in a messy russet tangle over her shoulder. Her right dress strap dangled near her elbow, leaving one pert breast exposed. And she was lopsided, forced to take an occasional hop to keep herself steady on the single three-inch heel she still wore.

  The sink basin was a sight as well, covered with several misdirected globs of white-green paste. She held out the tube and brush—his, he noted—her blue eyes pleading. “There’s something wrong with this stuff. It won’t stay on the brush.”

  “You can brush later. Come to bed,” he told her, his body still throbbing for release.

  “No, I won’t be sexy for you unless I brush. Don’t you want me sexy?”

  Right now, he just wanted her. But considering the state she was in, he realized he’d have to tolerate another small delay. Sighing, he plucked the toothbrush out of her hand—pausing to exchange it for her own—then the toothpaste. He squeezed a short dab across the bristles and handed it to her.

  She sent him a wide smile of gratitude. But when she tried to move the brush over her teeth, her arm refused to lift high enough to do the job, her loose dress strap binding her elbow to her side.

  Aware that she was currently incapable of figuring out a solution, Zack took pity. Pausing a moment to drop a kiss on her naked breast, he inserted a single finger beneath the pesky strap and pushed it up and over her shoulder, settling the loose bodice of her dress in place. He turned the tap on for her, then crossed his arms and leaned against the countertop. “Better?”

  Madelyn scrubbed her teeth, delighted to find her movements no longer hampered. She spat into the sink, then gave him a big grin and a nod, her teeth and lips sticky with foamy flecks of toothpaste.

  The ludicrous nature of the moment struck him and he tossed back his head laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” she mumbled around the brush.

  “You.” He skimmed a finger down the bridge of her nose. “You make a cute drunk. Annoying but cute.”

  “You’re cute too. I’ve always thought so.”

  “Have you?”

  “Oh, yes.” She leaned over to rinse her mouth. “Even when I believed you were a womanizing creep who didn’t deserve to lick my boots, I thought you were cute. More than cute; beautiful, actually. You’re every bit as hot as any movie star, even Brad Pitt.”

  “Gee, thanks.” He picked up a fluffy white washcloth and patted her face and hands dry. “So you just want me for my body, huh?”

  “Well, it is an awfully nice body.” She ran her hands over his muscled arms and shoulders.

  He sucked in a sharp breath when her palms played over his taut stomach, barely an inch from his fly; his erection stiffened full force once more. If only she would touch him there, he knew he could die in peace.

  Unwilling to wait even a second longer, he bent his knees and lifted her over his shoulder, carrying her to the bed. He laid her against the sheets, then stripped her bare.

  She raised her arms above her head. “I like your mind too,” she said, continuing their conversation. “You’re smart and interesting, superinventive and fun. You don’t put up with crap from idiots, but you’re generous and kind, much more than I would ever have suspected. You can be so incredibly sweet; sometimes it takes my breath away.”

  Sweet? he thought. Jesus, right now he was about as far from sweet as a man could get.

  Naked, he spread himself over her and parted her legs to fit himself between them. He claimed her mouth with demanding heat, taking care to touch her body in all the ways he knew she liked best. He suckled her breasts, tonguing her nipples with firm strokes to make sure she was ready.

  Madelyn shifted beneath him, moaning with clear need.

  “I guess it’s like my necklace,” she panted, her hands roaming over the limber curve of his back to trace his buttocks and the lean hollows along the sides of his hips.

  His shaft throbbed, warning him just how close he was.

  “It’s thoughtful and unique,” she said. “A beautiful gift that will remind me of this day and you, forever.”

  Zack shuddered, his skin on fire, need driving him crazy. He couldn’t wait much longer. He brushed scorching kisses over her neck and took her hips in his hands.

  She threaded her fingers into his hair. “You’ve done so much to make this weekend special. Because of you it’s been the best birthday I’ve ever had. I’ve loved it and . . .”

  He thrust himself inside her, burying himself satisfyingly deep.

  She arched and gasped. “And I love you too,” she cried. “Oh, God, Zack, I love you too. So much.”

  Shock rippled through him at her words, but the animal need pounding inside him was too intense for anything but action. Pushing her declaration aside for now, he thrust again, driving her hard, then harder still, until the only sounds she could make were frenzied moans.

  He fought his body’s urgings to climax as he took her higher and higher, determined to make her come spectacularly. Suddenly she shattered around him, calling out his name in wild gasps. Only then did he let himself follow her over the edge, his mind and body quaking from the overwhelming pleasure.

  • • •

  Madelyn wore a pair of sunglasses to breakfast.

  Her head throbbed, despite the twenty-minute soaking she’d given it beneath a stream of near kettle-hot water and the trio of aspirins she’d swallowed afterward.

  Zack was quiet this morning. She’d awakened to find him dressed and standing on the small balcony outside their room, contemplating the shoreline. The waves were a rough blue-gray chop, the cloud-laden sky the color of dull steel.

  When he suggested they dine at one of the hotel restaurants downstairs, she’d been surprised. Every morning since their arrival, they’d dined in their room, usually in bed. This was their last day in Atlantic City; she’d assumed they’d spend it alone. By afternoon they would need to be back on the road, traveling home. Perhaps he just wanted one last chance to soak up the carnival atmosphere of the place, to take advantage of a final few hours of casino games and shameless, decadent fun.

  Whatever the reason, she’d had no energy to argue. Incapable of facing the noisy whine of her hair dryer, she’d fastened her hair into a damp ponytail and allowed Zack to guide her downstairs.

  The smell of fried eggs and cinnamon buns at the restaurant’s entrance was sickening this morning. White cheeked, she trailed the hostess and slid carefully into a back booth, lifting the menu up to shield her face. At least they were away from the kitche
n, with only the faint aroma of coffee perfuming the air.

  “Take off those glasses,” Zack said. “You look like a Hollywood starlet trying to hide from her fans.”

  She lowered her menu an inch. “The light hurts my eyes.”

  “It wouldn’t if you’d let them adjust. What you need is a good hot meal to clear your head.”

  “I can’t eat. I’ll just have a cup of tea.”

  Zack was definitely in a mood this morning, she thought. Silent and brooding one minute, bossy and argumentative the next. Was he miffed at her about last night? She didn’t see why he should be. He’d certainly seemed to enjoy himself, and the wine had been his idea after all. She tended to be a cheap drunk, flying high after only one or two glasses—one of the reasons she didn’t partake too often. Last night she’d stopped counting after three. Despite her undeniably forward and embarrassing public seduction of Zack, she couldn’t believe he’d minded enough to be carrying a grudge this morning.

  Still, there were parts of the evening that remained a mystery, a hazy mix of bits and pieces that seemed more akin to dreams than reality. Trouble was she wasn’t certain which was which, and she wasn’t particularly keen on questioning him to find out.

  The waitress arrived to take their order.

  Madelyn listened quietly while Zack asked for blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon, hash browns, a large orange juice, and hot black coffee. She ordered tea with milk instead of the usual wedge of lemon.

  He stopped the waitress before she could tuck her pad away. “Add an order of scrambled eggs and dry wheat toast to that for the lady, and an apple juice. Do you have any fresh strawberries?”

  “We do, as a matter of fact, nice local ones. They’re early this year.”

  “Good. Bring her a serving of those as well.” Zack flashed one of his patented heart-melting smiles and handed the menus over. He didn’t notice the doe-eyed look the woman gave him.

  Madelyn did.

  She waited until they were in private to speak. “Why did you do that? I told you I didn’t want any food.”

  “And I told you that you need to eat. Caffeine and aspirin aren’t going to cure your hangover. Now, close your eyes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m tired of staring back at my own reflection.” He reached out before she could prevent him and plucked the sunglasses off her face.

  Madelyn screwed her eyes shut like a nervous child, sure the worst awaited her on the other side. A full minute passed before she decided to brave it. Cautiously, she lifted her lids.

  “Okay?” he asked.

  Grudgingly, she nodded.

  “You forget. I’ve had more experience at this sort of thing than you.” He leaned forward, putting his forearms on the table. “Madelyn, I’ve been thinking. About last—”

  “Zack?”

  Hearing his name, Zack turned his head toward the sound. “Billy?”

  A wiry, brown-haired man approached their table. “Hell, man, I thought it was you.”

  “Billy.” Zack erupted up out of his seat. “Billy Aikens.”

  The two of them flung their arms around each other, pummeling backs and shoulders with fists and the flats of their hands. Grinning like fools, they pulled apart.

  “What are you doing here?” Zack demanded.

  “Same as you: testing my luck, wasting my money. Lord, how long’s it been?”

  “Hell, I don’t know—four, five years? I thought you were out west roughing it in the California hills. Vegas wasn’t enough of a trip for you? You had to head all the way east to find some action?”

  “Actually, these days, Vegas is the longer trip. I moved back to Virginia about a year ago. You still in New York?”

  “I sure am, deep in the heart of the city.” Zack caught a glimpse of red hair out of the corner of his eye. “Hey, where have my manners gone? Billy, this is Madelyn. Madelyn Grayson. Red, Billy Aikens, an old friend of mine from days long past.”

  “So I gathered. How do you do, Mr. Aikens?” Madelyn offered a smile and her hand.

  Billy accepted both, taking her palm, his own rough with calluses. “I’m doing well—better now that I’ve met you. Zack here always did have excellent taste in women. And the devil’s own luck too. Bet he’s won a pile of loot at the tables.”

  “Actually, it’s Madelyn who did that. She hit the jackpot yesterday. On slots, no less.”

  “Well, congratulations; that’s great. Just like I said, either he gets lucky himself or he passes it along to someone else. I know he did for me. Saved my life on our first tour of duty in the service.”

  “He exaggerates,” Zack said.

  “Exaggerates, my eye. Tell that to the maniac who was about to whack my head open with a tire iron. If Zack hadn’t stepped in when he did, my nineteen-year-old brains would have been splattered all over the floor of that bar in Munich. As it was, Zack took some pretty solid hits, but he got us both out alive before the MPs arrived. A man can always depend on Zack.”

  Uncomfortable, Zack changed the subject. “So are you here with Vivian? What about the kids? Did you leave them with your folks?”

  “Nah, it’s just me.” Billy hunched his shoulders and studied a spot on the floor. “Viv and I, well, we made our split official a few months ago. The lawyers are licking their chops over the divorce right now. Bloodsucking vermin. A few more weeks and it’ll all be over.”

  “Christ, Billy. I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry, man.” Zack laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

  Billy shrugged as if it was just one of those things, but a deep sadness shone in his eyes. “Me too. Twelve years, you know. You think it’s gonna last forever. Then one day you wake up and everything’s changed. You deny it at first, until you realize it’s too late. Too much has passed and no matter what you do or say, it’s not ever gonna be the same again.”

  “Your kids?”

  “Viv’s got ’em. They’re young. Kids need their mother.”

  Their waitress approached, hips swinging as she wrestled with an oversize tray stacked high with food.

  Billy stepped out of the way. “Breakfast’s here. I’d better let you two get to it.”

  “No, stay,” Zack pressed. “Have something with us.”

  “Yes, we’d be delighted,” Madelyn agreed.

  “Appreciate the offer, but I’d just finished my own meal when I looked up and recognized this one here.” He jerked a thumb toward Zack.

  “Coffee, then?”

  “Thanks, but I’ll have to take a rain check. It’s my last day here and I’ve got some recouping to do if I want to leave a winner.” He thrust out a hand. “Man, it was great to see you.”

  Zack took his friend’s hand and they shook, grips as hard as steel. “Look me up. You’re always welcome in New York.”

  “Same for Virginia. McLean’s not so bad if you don’t mind all the government spooks.” He winked.

  In parting, they beat each other on the back one more time in the way men do.

  Billy turned to her. “A true pleasure, ma’am. You take care and don’t let this one pull any wool over your eyes.”

  “The pleasure was mine. And I already know to be careful of that wool.”

  Billy laughed, waved good-bye, and strolled away.

  Zack resumed his seat. “Your eggs are getting cold. Eat up.”

  Hearing the curtness in his voice, and still feeling less than one hundred percent herself, Madelyn decided to set the subject of Billy Aikens aside for the time being. She eyed the congealing yellow globs on her plate and picked up her fork with a sigh.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Zack was quiet, unusually so. She could tell his thoughts were elsewhere even as he watched the highway ahead.

  Madelyn fingered her new necklace, the one he’d given her, tracing the plump warmt
h of the opal, the pointed coolness of the tiny diamonds that encircled it like stars around an orbiting moon, and pondered the possibilities.

  He’d insisted on taking the wheel even though they were driving her car, and she’d been perfectly willing to let him. Physically she felt much improved. As annoying as it was to admit, he’d been right; breakfast had been just the thing to sweep away the worst of her symptoms. Still, a weary sort of malaise lingered on, and she knew she wouldn’t complain tonight when it came time to crawl between the sheets. Her only regret was that Zack wouldn’t be there to crawl in next to her.

  Out of the corner of her eye she watched him as she reviewed the events of that morning. As pleasant a person as Billy Aikens had seemed—and she had no doubt he was—Madelyn wished he and Zack hadn’t happened upon each other. Ever since the encounter, Zack had been remote, although truth be told, he’d awakened in an odd, unfathomable mood, one she’d never seen from him before.

  “Thinking about your friend?” she questioned softly.

  He tossed her a glance. “Which one?”

  “Billy, of course. What other friend did you run into today?”

  Instead of answering, he maneuvered around a slower-moving vehicle.

  “I just wondered,” she continued. “You’ve been quiet ever since. Did it upset you? Seeing him again?”

  “No, why would it? I always like meeting up with old friends, and he was a good one even if we haven’t kept up the way we should have.”

  “What is it then? What’s wrong?”

  “Why do you think something’s wrong?” He snapped, his tone sharp enough to cut through metal. “I’m just trying to work a few things out, that’s all.”

  “Okay, I didn’t mean to intrude.” She crossed stiff arms over her breasts and angled her body away from him. “I’m tired. I think I’ll take a nap.”

  Madelyn closed her eyes and concentrated on the sound of the tires beating in rhythm against the dark asphalt, the gentle hum of the engine, anything to keep the tears from falling.

  Zack sighed.