Day 14 Post-Impact
Sunlight crept through the window, warm and golden.
Sarnav woke slowly, his body heavy with satisfaction, his mind still fuzzy from sleep. Something warm was pressed against his side, soft skin and gentle breathing.
Nisha.
She was curled into him, her head on his chest, one leg thrown over his thigh. Her hair was a tangled mess, her lips slightly parted, her expression peaceful in a way he rarely saw when she was awake.
He lay still, not wanting to disturb her, content to simply watch her sleep. This was real. Last night had been real. The woman he'd loved for a decade was naked in his arms, and they'd finally crossed every line between them.
His cock stirred at the memory. The sounds she'd made. The way she'd felt around him. The desperate way she'd clung to him, whispering his name like a prayer.
Down, he told himself. Let her sleep.
But Nisha was already stirring, her body shifting against his. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first, then sharpening as she registered where she was.
"Morning," she murmured.
"Morning."
"Last night really happened."
"It really did."
She smiled, slow and satisfied, like a cat who'd gotten into the cream. "I'm sore."
"Sorry."
"Don't be. I like it." She stretched against him, her breasts pressing into his side. "It reminds me that you were inside me."
The words went straight to his groin. His cock twitched, and Nisha felt it against her thigh.
"Already?" She laughed softly. "It's barely morning."
"Can you blame me? You're naked in my bed."
"Technically, you're naked in my bed."
"Details."
She shifted, raising herself on one elbow to look at him. The sheet fell away, exposing her breasts. In the morning light, she was even more beautiful than she'd been by candlelight. Soft curves, warm skin, dark nipples still slightly swollen from last night's attention.
"I want you again," she said, her voice dropping lower. "Is that greedy?"
"If it is, I'm greedy too."
She kissed him, morning breath and all. Neither of them cared. The kiss deepened quickly, tongues sliding together, hands beginning to wander.
Sarnav cupped her breast, thumbing her nipple, and she moaned into his mouth. Her hand slid down his stomach, finding his cock, wrapping around it.
"You're so hard," she breathed. "Already so hard for me."
"Always hard for you."
She stroked him slowly, learning his responses, remembering what she'd discovered last night. Her grip was firmer now, more confident. She twisted her wrist at the top of each stroke, the way he'd taught her, and he groaned.
"I want to try something," Nisha said. "Something we didn't do last night."
"What?"
"I want to taste you. Properly this time." Her cheeks flushed, but her eyes were determined. "Last night I was too nervous, too overwhelmed. But now I want to learn how to make you feel good."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to." She pushed him onto his back, sliding down his body. "Let me."
She positioned herself between his legs, her face level with his cock. For a moment, she just looked at it, studying the thick shaft, the swollen head, the vein that pulsed along the underside.
"It's intimidating up close," she admitted.
"We can stop—"
"I said intimidating, not scary." She leaned forward and licked the tip.
Sarnav's hips jerked involuntarily. She smiled at his reaction and licked again, longer this time, tracing from base to tip with the flat of her tongue.
"Salty," she observed. "Not bad."
Then she opened her mouth and took him in.
Wet heat engulfed him. Sarnav groaned, his hands fisting in the sheets, fighting the urge to thrust. She was clumsy still, uncertain of angles and depth, but the sight of her lips stretched around his cock was almost enough to undo him.
"That's it," he managed. "Just like that."
She took more of him, slowly, testing her limits. He felt himself hit the back of her throat, and she gagged slightly, pulling back.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"Don't apologize. You're doing amazing."
Encouraged, she tried again. This time she used her hand on what she couldn't fit in her mouth, stroking in rhythm with her bobbing head. The combination was incredible.
Sarnav watched her work, mesmerized by the sight. Her eyes were closed in concentration, her cheeks hollowing with each suck. Occasionally she'd look up at him through her lashes, gauging his reactions, adjusting her technique based on what made him groan.
"Fuck, Nisha, your mouth..."
She hummed around him, and the vibration sent sparks up his spine. She was getting better by the minute, learning him, finding what worked.
"I'm getting close," he warned.
She didn't pull off. If anything, she increased her efforts, sucking harder, moving faster. Her hand twisted on his shaft while her tongue swirled around the head.
"Nisha, I'm going to—"
She took him as deep as she could and swallowed.
The orgasm hit him like a wave, pleasure crashing through him as he spilled into her mouth. She choked slightly but didn't pull away, swallowing around him, milking every drop.
When it was over, she sat back, wiping her lips with the back of her hand. Her expression was triumphant.
"How was that?"
"Incredible." He was still catching his breath. "Where did you learn—"
"I asked Mei Ling for advice."
"You what?"
"Yesterday. While you were in meetings." Nisha grinned at his shocked expression. "What? I wanted to be good for you. She's the only person I trusted enough to ask."
"I can never look her in the eye again."
"Worth it though, right?"
He pulled her up his body, kissing her deeply, tasting himself on her tongue.
"Worth it," he agreed. "But now it's your turn."
He flipped them, pinning her beneath him. She gasped, then laughed, her legs wrapping around his waist.
"Eager?"
"I've been thinking about tasting you all night."
He didn't give her time to respond. He kissed down her body, pausing at her breasts just long enough to make her whimper, then continuing lower. Her stomach, her hips, her inner thighs.
She was already wet, her arousal glistening in the morning light.
"Beautiful," he murmured, and lowered his mouth to her.
Nisha's back arched off the bed, a cry escaping her lips. He licked her slowly, savoring her taste, learning her folds. When he found her clit and sucked gently, she grabbed his hair and pulled.
"Right there, right there, don't stop—"
He didn't stop. He worked her with lips and tongue, alternating between broad strokes and focused pressure. His fingers found her entrance, two sliding inside easily, curling upward to find the spot that had made her scream last night.
"Sarnav, I'm going to— I'm—"
She came with a wail, her thighs clamping around his head, her pussy clenching around his fingers. He worked her through it, gentling but not stopping, keeping her riding the edge.
Before she could fully come down, he was climbing up her body, positioning himself at her entrance.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes, please, I need you inside me—"
He pushed in.
She was tighter than last night, her muscles clenching from her orgasm. The sensation was incredible, wet heat gripping him like a fist. He buried himself to the hilt in one smooth stroke.
"Oh god," Nisha gasped. "You're so deep. I can feel you everywhere."
He started to move.
No system notifications. No cultivation calculations. Just sensation, just her, just the primal connection of two bodies joined together.
He took her slow at first, savoring every stroke, watching her face as pleasure washed over her. Her eyes were half-closed, her lips parted, her breasts bouncing with each thrust.
"Faster," she begged. "Please, Sarnav, I need more."
He gave her more. His hips snapped harder, driving deeper, the sound of flesh meeting flesh filling the room. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, her nails raking down his back.
"Yes, yes, yes—" Each word was punctuated by a thrust. "Harder, I can take it, give me everything—"
He lost himself in her. All the restraint, all the careful consideration, all of it burned away in the heat between them. He fucked her hard and deep, claiming her body with every stroke.
"You're mine," he growled against her neck. "Say it."
"I'm yours." She was barely coherent, her body shaking with approaching climax. "Only yours, always yours—"
"That's right. Mine." He bit her neck, not hard enough to break skin, but hard enough to leave a mark. "No one else touches you. No one else sees you like this. Just me."
"Just you, I promise, just you—"
She came hard, her whole body convulsing, her pussy milking him with rhythmic spasms. The sensation pushed him over the edge. He buried himself deep and came, pulsing inside her, filling her with everything he had.
They collapsed together, breathing hard, sweat-slicked and satisfied.
"God," Nisha managed. "That was..."
"Yeah."
"We're definitely doing that again."
"As much as you want."
"Good." She snuggled against him, her body still trembling with aftershocks. "Because I want it a lot."
They lay tangled together for a long time.
The sun climbed higher, the room growing warm, but neither wanted to move. The real world was waiting outside the door. Responsibilities, duties, the endless work of survival.
But in here, there was only them.
"I love you," Nisha said quietly.
"I love you too."
"I know you said it before, but I need to keep hearing it. It still doesn't feel real."
"It's real." He kissed her forehead. "I'll say it as many times as you need."
"What about a thousand times?"
"Then I'll say it a thousand times."
She laughed, pressing her face against his chest. "Romantic idiot."
"Your romantic idiot."
"Mmm. My romantic idiot." Her hand traced idle patterns on his stomach. "I don't want to leave this room. Can we just stay here forever?"
"I wish we could."
"But we can't."
"But we can't."
She sighed, accepting the reality. "Tonight, then. Promise we'll come back here tonight."
"I promise."
They lay together a few more minutes, savoring the peace. Then, reluctantly, they began to untangle themselves.
Real life was calling.
Breakfast was a subdued affair.
They arrived late, looking rumpled and satisfied, and nobody commented. Mei Ling caught Nisha's eye across the cafeteria and grinned. Nisha blushed furiously.
"I hate her," Nisha muttered.
"You asked her for sex advice."
"I know. I still hate her."
They ate quickly, both starving after the night's activities. Around them, the usual morning bustle continued. Guard rotations, supply counts, the endless logistics of survival.
It was almost possible to forget that the world had ended.
Almost.
The radio crackled to life halfway through their meal.
"Mayday, mayday, this is Survivor Group Echo, we are under attack—"
Everyone in the cafeteria froze.
The voice on the radio was female, young, panicked. Static punctuated her words, making it hard to follow.
"—raiders, at least twenty, heavily armed— our position is south of—" More static. "—casualties, we can't hold much longer—"
Sarnav was on his feet before the transmission ended.
"Where's that signal coming from?"
Chen Wei was already at the radio station, adjusting frequencies. "South. Maybe fifteen kilometers. Near the old industrial district."
"How many people?"
"Unknown. But if they're being attacked by raiders..." He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
Raiders. The worst of humanity, taking advantage of the apocalypse to prey on the weak. They'd heard rumors over the past weeks. Groups of armed men hitting survivor camps, taking supplies, taking women, leaving corpses behind.
"We have to help them," Nisha said.
"Agreed." Sarnav was already calculating. "Chen Wei, how many awakened can we spare for a rescue mission?"
"Without compromising our own defenses? Eight, maybe ten."
"That's enough. Get them ready. We leave in thirty minutes."
"Sarnav." Nisha grabbed his arm. "I'm coming with you."
"No."
"Don't tell me no. Those people need help. I can fight."
"You're E-rank. This is a combat situation against an unknown number of armed hostiles."
"And you're D-rank, which makes you the strongest person here. Which is exactly why you need backup." Her jaw was set, her eyes fierce. "I'm not staying behind while you run into danger."
They stared at each other, neither willing to back down.
"Fine," Sarnav said finally. "But you stay close to me. If things go bad, you retreat. No arguments."
"No arguments," she agreed, though her expression suggested she was making no such promise internally.
Thirty minutes later, the rescue team assembled at the main gate.
Ten awakened, including Sarnav, Nisha, Chen Wei, and Hafiz. Two vehicles, salvaged trucks that had been reinforced with scrap metal plating. Weapons, supplies, medical kits.
It wasn't an army. But it would have to be enough.
"Rules of engagement," Sarnav addressed the group. "Priority is rescuing survivors. We engage raiders only as necessary. If we're outnumbered, we retreat and regroup. Nobody plays hero."
Nods all around. These were people who'd survived the apocalypse. They understood pragmatism.
"Let's move."
The trucks rumbled out through the gate, heading south toward the distress signal. Behind them, the school grew smaller, and ahead, the unknown waited.
Nisha sat beside Sarnav in the lead truck, her hand finding his.
"Scared?" he asked.
"Terrified." She squeezed his fingers. "But I'd rather be terrified with you than safe without you."
"Romantic."
"I learned from the best."
They drove in silence for a while, watching the ruined cityscape pass by. Collapsed buildings, abandoned vehicles, the occasional sign of other survivors quickly hidden as their trucks approached.
"Sarnav," Nisha said quietly. "Promise me something."
"What?"
"Promise me you'll come back. Whatever happens out there, promise me you'll come back to me."
"I promise."
"I mean it. I just found you again. I just..." Her voice cracked slightly. "I can't lose you. Not now. Not after everything."
He pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"You're not going to lose me. I have too much to live for."
"Damn right you do." She took a shaky breath. "Okay. I'm okay. Let's go save some people."
[DAILY CULTIVATION SUMMARY]
[HARMONY ESSENCE GAINED: +12,000]
[CURRENT PROGRESS: 27,200 / 50,000 TO CORE FORMATION]
[BOND STATUS - NISHA RAMACHANDRAN]
[RELATIONSHIP: SOULBOUND]
[LOYALTY: ABSOLUTE]