“If it’s successful,” Ryan said, “it would clear the way to returning peace to the valley and mebbe restoring a planet, turning Deathlands into Lifelands. It seems impossible, but it’s worth a shot.”
Chapter Twenty
Sunlight mottled through the canopy of the tree branches overhead. Ryan and Krysty strolled hand in hand between the gargantuan columns of the forest city. The diffused sunshine was a pale, cool, comforting green.
After a long while Ryan asked, “Do you believe Joe’s story?”
Krysty stopped and gestured around them. “Some sort of power made all of this. In all of Mildred’s and Doc’s stories of predark marvels, I never heard of anything that could compare to thisartistry.”
They began to walk again, both of them thinking the same thoughts. Though the bloodshed in Amicus was still fresh in their memories, it was difficult to believe that a similar slaughter might happen here.
Under other circumstances, Ryan would have had no misgivings, no hesitation, about smashing hard at the heart of their enemies with every bit of firepower they could muster.
But here, in the valley of Ti-Ra’-Wa, spilling blood and taking lives seemed so blasphemous as to be evil. The valley wasn’t a dream, and everything about it had been created to offer a world without want, without need.
Ryan slipped his arm around Krysty, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, reaching down to unfasten the top button of her shirt, then to the second. She was intoxicating, and his arms encircled her, bringing his lips down to hers. Her hands stroked his back, the pressure of those fingers arousing. Then she reached for the belt of his pants.
Part of Ryan knew he should be planning, scheming, preparing for a recce. But here, in Eden with Krysty, time had no meaning. They could follow their hearts, their desires, whenever they wanted, and there would be no consequences.
Hastily they peeled each other’s clothes off. It had been a long time since they had had the privacy to make love, an even longer time since Ryan had felt so clean, so young and so full of hope.
They embraced, devouring each other, trails of fire on their bodies from hands roving and fondling. Krysty pushed her full breasts against Ryan’s chest, desire-hard nipples pressing against the muscular hardness.
Slowly she slipped beneath his encircling arms, dropping down before him. With her avid mouth, soft lips and warm tongue, she worshiped his rock-hard length.
Ryan groaned, resting his hands atop her head, and flaming tendrils of hair curled and coiled around his fingers.
Ryan gently disengaged himself from her, stepping back and lowering himself to the ground. Krysty stretched out on the grass, arms upflung, and opened her ivory legs. His lips moved over her, touching and exploring with his tongue.
Krysty moaned deeply, bit her lip, then didn’t bother suppressing her orgasmic cries of passion. She reached her peak, shuddering, writhing, hands tangled in Ryan’s thick dark hair.
Her limbs were still trembling when Ryan shifted his weight above her, supported by his arms. He carefully thrust down and Krysty arched her back and hips eagerly to meet him. Both of them moaned at the sensation of steel hardness sinking into velvety soft, liquid heat.
Eyes locked, they undulated against each other. Krysty’s long legs hugged Ryan’s hips to keep him firmly seated within her as they rocked toward a fast, almost frantic rhythm.
The green-hued sunlight cast shifting bars of shadow across Krysty’s face. It was a face Ryan loved, not simply because it was beautiful, but because it mirrored a beautiful spirit.
Grabbing his shoulders, fingernails biting into his flesh, Krysty raised her head and gasped into his ear, “Shining times, lover.”
Ryan moved harder, faster, and panted, “Shining times.”
Then he gritted his teeth as Krysty writhed and bucked beneath him, crying out. He cried out, too, erupting, spilling his seed deep within her.
Both of them breathed hard and unsteadily. Ryan lay atop her, their heartbeats racing. It was a moment to savor, in this perfect place. One that might not be repeated.
WHEN THEY RETURNED to their quarters, they found an argument raging between Doc and Mildred. That in itself wasn’t unusual, but the topic certainly was. Jak and J.B. sat nearby, studiously paying no attention whatsoever.