In the year 2184, the US is divided. Half the country has moved on with the rest of the world, while in middle America, the survivors of the terrorist biological attack that split the country struggle just to stay alive. Though a century has passed, few people brave going behind the borders meant to contain the danger. Even the privatized military is reluctant to do so.<br><br>But that doesn’t stop recently discharged Sullivan Eberle. Only one thing drives him anymore -- the need to find Raphael Hamada. He doesn’t know why. He only knows he must. If that means a lifetime behind the borders, then so be it.<br><br>Rafe Hamada ran away from the real world when he was still a kid. The last thing he wants is to be found, especially by a soldier who can’t even tell him why it was so important to locate him in the first place. He’d like nothing more than for Sullivan to leave, but turning his back on a man alone and friendless is against everything Rafe stands for ...

Penny Candles

They continued without a word spoken between them. Their fingers met when he passed over the lit tinder, hot and dry, dryer than beside the stream when sweat and other bodily fluids had glossed their skin. Once, he was able to catch a glimpse of pale blue eyes beneath the thick lashes, and his world sharpened at the heat he saw there, tempting him yet again to forego his duty in favor of satisfying his desires. Only acknowledging how selfish that was stopped him.


As he shifted back to the candles, he wondered if Sullivan knew how much he really inspired Rafe to forget all of it.


When the last prayer was said and gone, Rafe finally indulged in fulfilling his own wishes.


“Did you get any sleep today?” They had been out until almost dawn. He’d had to force himself to get up in time to head into the restaurant for lunch prep.


Chapter 35