CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

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smut

          THE SUN HAD YET TO COME OVER THE HORIZON, HAD YET TO APPEAR FROM BEHIND THE MOUNTAINS THAT SURROUNDED THE QUAINT TOWN OF JACKSON, WYOMING. Lucia took in a deep breath, eyes still closed as she embraced the warmth that surrounded her like a thick blanket. She was just so comfortable.

Lucia's blissful morning got even better when she felt Joel press his lips softly the back of her neck, pulling her even closer toward his bare chest as he too, regained consciousness. His arms were like a security blanket she never knew she needed and she hummed appreciatively when he brushed his nose along the nape of her neck.

"G'morning," she muttered, soft smile on her face.

Joel only let out a soft murmur that she couldn't decipher and squeezed her hip in response, slowly trailing his hand up toward her still bare chest. For a moment it was just them, no thoughts about infected or survival, no thoughts of death that might await them the moment they'd step outside the walls. It was just them for a little while longer.

"I want this to last." sighed Joel, eyes opening slightly when Lucia pressed her back toward his growing bulge. "I don't want this to end."

The smile didn't leave her features as she moved her hand toward his own and squeezed her breast over his own hand. Joel uttered a soft groan and nipped at her earlobe in response. Maybe they shouldn't be doing this again so soon. Especially not with Ellie two rooms away. Oh god. Ellie. The girl deserved an apology and she was probably still sulking in her bedroom.

"Shh," Joel shushed her overflowing brain with a kiss on her jaw. "in a second. Let me feel you again first."

Any concerns Lucia had disappeared the moment she felt him slide between her legs and pressed up against her core. This was filthy and she wanted more of this. The night before had been anything but a dream and she wanted to feel him again, and again. 

"Joel," she whined, slow pants escaped from between her lips.

It was so unlike the brunette to turn into a blubbering mess. It had never happened before, not once when she had slept with someone else. This was something different. This had meaning and this felt so good.

The smuggler left open mouthed kisses from her jaw toward her shoulder while his right arm was wrapped tightly around her, pinching her nipple between his fingers. His cock pressed against her entrance but he refrained himself from sliding in. He wanted this moment to last a little bit longer, but the woman couldn't take the teasing and twisted herself in his grip, facing him.

Joel took hold of her jaw as she pressed her mouth against his own in a slow and sensual kiss. He leaned forward and pushed her onto her back, hovering over her bare body with his own. He reached down with his free hand and took hold of her leg behind the knee, tugging it upward toward his hip.

"Think you take me again?"

"Just fuck me already."

Lucia grabbed the back of his head, fingers trailing through his messy greying locks and pulled him down toward her own face. Joel didn't waste more time as he slid his tip toward her entrance and pushed in with one solid thrust. Her surprised moan was barely noticeable as he silenced her with a frenzied kiss. Teeth clashing together and noses butting against each other.

This might be the last time that Joel could be this close to her. And god, he had fantasised about it plenty of times. He was even ready to risk it all those three months ago in that hotel room, but Ellie was always too close and that was something she should not be seeing.

"Christ," cursed Lucia, eyes shut tightly with her head thrown back as Joel picked up his pace. "this feels so good."

The smuggler wanted to attack her throat with his mouth, but the look on her face was far to beautiful to look away from her as she was overwhelmed with pleasure. Even after all these years he still knew how to pleasure and the look on her face was now engraved into his brain, his to remember till the day he died.

"More," she muttered, but she didn't want him to change his pace. No, she wanted him closer and he knew so Joel finally brought his mouth back down toward her while she wrapped her other leg around his hip as well. "god, Joel."

"You look so pretty for me like this." praised Joel, and he had to silence her again as a long moan slipped past her lips at the words. The smuggler kept whispering words along the shell of her ear and his hips stuttered when he felt her squeeze around him. "You have no idea how beautiful you are."

His lips now lazily snapped to meet her own, still some remnants of sleep swirling his mind. His hand slowly left the skin of her leg and he reached up to entwine their fingers together. Her nails dug into the back of his hand but he didn't care.

"Fuck," whimpered Lucia as softly as she could. "m'close."

Joel couldn't hold it in anymore and came before she did, but the sound of him coming undone send her over the edge not a few seconds later. His movements stilled and he buried his face in the crook of her neck. Lucia was slowly brushing her fingers through his hair and another lazy smiled crossed her features.

"I do need a shower before we leave."

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ELLIE HAD STILL BEEN ASLEEP WHEN LUCIA HAD PEERED AROUND HER BEDROOM DOOR, SHE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY HIDDEN BEHIND A FORT OF THICK BLANKETS. Which is why she and Joel decided to get the horses ready and wait for her there.

"Do you think she's -"

"Of course." nodded Lucia, giving him a smile as she carefully put the reigns on one of the two horses. "Ellie's crazy about you. It's going to be fine, I promise."

Joel furrowed his brows but decided to not speak of it anymore, feeling the anxiety crawl back through his veins and toward his heart. Lucia rested her hand on his bicep as he tightened the saddle on the other horse, fastening the belts after.

"Ellie," said Lucia, meeting her gaze as she and Tommy entered the stables. They were both dressed and ready for a week's journey toward Colorado but the teen couldn't muster any sort of acknowledgment for her as she stared at the smuggler.

"You came here to say goodbye or something?" she muttered, trying to keep herself from snapping at him.

"No," said Joel, not meeting her gaze out of guilt what he had said the night before. "I came here to steal one of these horses."

Tommy heaved a sigh, shotgun slung over his shoulder. "I woulda gave you one."

"I know." nodded Joel, glancing up toward the two of them and taking a step toward Ellie. "Anyway, you deserve a choice. I still think you'd be better off with Tommy and Lucia, but we talked and -"

The smuggler wasn't even able to finish his explanation as Ellie pushed her backpack into his arms and said, "Let's go."

"Okay ..." 

The brunette grinned behind his back and winked at Ellie as she tried to heave herself on one of the two horses. Lucia could see that Ellie was still angry but her face had turned somewhat neutral and she knew she was relieved she didn't have to do this with a stranger but with the man she had grown to care for in the last few months.

Joel met his brothers dark gaze and Tommy inclined his head, taking a few steps back and opening the stable doors for them. Joel took the reins of the horse the teen had situated herself on while Lucia took the other, taking the animals into the cold air.

"Hold onto both." instructed Joel and Ellie hummed, grabbing them from his hands and holding them tightly. The smuggler asked his brother, "General direction."

"Head southeast till you hit I-25." said Tommy. "It's right off the interstate. Shouldn't be hard to miss."

Joel nodded at him once before embracing his brother into a tight hug. Tommy didn't hesitate to return it and closed his eyes, wanting to remember how this felt incase this would be the last time he saw Joel.

"There's a place for you here," informed Tommy, taking a step back. "For all three of you."

"Countin' on it." said Joel and eyed his gun. "Can I borrow that?" Tommy nodded his head. "'Cause Maria took mine, you know?"

Tommy grinned slightly and handed it over. "Already said yes, Joel."

The smuggler situated the weapon over his shoulder and shared a quick glance with Lucia before turning back to Tommy. The youngest Miller glanced between the two and smiled to himself knowingly.

"You will watch out for him, Lucia?" he asked, looking down at her.

"Always." she nodded.

"Adios, big brother." said Tommy, and Joel did the same.

Lucia sat atop her horse whose name was Apple, courtesy to one of the younger kids in Jackson while Ellie sat behind Joel, holding onto his jacket tightly. The gates had opened for them and they were slowly trudging through the thick layer of snow toward the highway.

"Ellie -" began Joel after a moment of silence.

"Nope." she shook her head. "It's already forgotten."

Lucia chuckled and Joel shot her a look, shaking his head in amusement. He really didn't deserve the two of them, but he wouldn't have it any other way. He felt as if he could finally relax just a little bit, feeling nothing but comfort while in either of their company.

"But," grimaced Ellie. "next time the two of you decide to have sex, make sure i'm not in the same house. I was glad I could find my headphones quickly."

the morning scene seemed fitted so i wrote another shorter smut scene. ANYWAY, we're on our way to the university and david and all that shit. i am so excited !