No Longer Alone (House of Garner Book 1)

by Erin R Flynn

  She seemed to sit with that a moment before leaning closer and kissing my chin, giving me a hopeful look when she pulled away. She gasped as my hand moved to her ass and I shifted her to be on top of me more.

  “I am yours for whatever you want, Inez. Do whatever you want.”

  I watched as the brat actually chomped down on her lip. That wasn’t just a green light but a red flag in front of this bull.

  I fisted her still wet hair and pulled her on top of me, kissing her with all the passion she deserved. When she gave a pleased whimper, I pushed my tongue into her mouth and took all she offered. I smelled her desire, fresh wetness between her legs for me, and it took all my patience not to rip off her clothes and taste her before I claimed her body.

  “I, um, should return the favor, right?” she asked when we broke apart to get some air.

  My nostrils flared, and I rolled us, moving my larger frame between her legs and covering her completely. “My princess does not suck cock. No man unless your Night, your most beloved and loyal lovers should ever know the feeling of your sweet lips on them in that way. And I have certainly not done a fucking thing to deserve such a gift.”

  “Oh, sorry,” she whispered, turning away from me. “I didn’t mean—”

  “I know,” I breathed, kissing her neck. “I’m sorry. That was too harsh. I saw red at the idea of you—thinking of what most men push the women for.”

  “I haven’t ever,” she said, answering my unasked question. Too many were taking advantage of the settlements and survivors. “Never. Only you that I remember, and that’s all I’ve done, Darius, I swear.”

  “I believe you, and if you wanted to, of course, do as you wish. I was—you are so much more than you’ve been treated.” I kissed her neck more, and she gasped. “My head went to the lies I knew Clarence planned to tell you or what I saw earlier today of women chained up and being forced. I’m sorry, you did nothing wrong.”

  Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked back at me. “What happened to those women?”

  I swallowed loudly. “I freed them.”

  “And the fuckers who locked them up?” she seethed, her eyes full of fire and rage. “Tell me you sucked them dry or something. Please, tell me you did.”

  “I did, My Princess,” I purred, brushing my lips over hers. “You are perfect. I worried you might judge me for such an act, but I should have had faith in you. Of course you would punish those who were evil.”

  “If I could, yes,” she agreed, kissing me this time. “Thanks for explaining, and you’re awesome to have freed them.”

  “I will hunt all the monsters you want and bring you their heads, Inez,” I swore right then, meaning every word of it. “Whatever you want.”

  “What do you want?” she asked hesitantly, and I understood why given I’d rebuked her last offer.

  I licked my lips. “I didn’t see all of you.” I slid my hand under her shirt. “I ache to see my princess’s perfect breasts.”

  She let out a shaky breath and pulled off the shirt, taking her bra with it. I groaned as her breasts bounced from the movement, perfect and full, not small but not too much either. More than a handful, for sure, and pert, hard nipples that I couldn’t wait to see in the daylight to know what color they were.

  “Magnificent,” I breathed. “All of you is abso-fucking-lutely magnificent, Inez.” She gave a seductive squeak that I was sure she would deny when I lowered my lips to her nipple, kissing it before taking it between my lips and teasing it.

  “Oh fuck, fuck, that feels good,” she whimpered, gripping my arms tightly.

  “Let me please you, Inez,” I about begged, my voice rough with need to give her everything. I slid my hand into her pants, thrilled when she angled her hips so I moved closer to my goal. I groaned when I touched her wetness. “So wet, so perfect.” I tortured her other nipple, and as I teased her clit, I got my wish, her cries of passion filling the night air as she came apart under me.

  She blinked up at me as I licked my fingers of her juices, her chest heaving. “Holy fuck. So that is still totally overwhelming and not just the blood. Wow, I owe a lot of people apologies.”

  I frowned. “For what?”

  “Thinking authors and people were making shit up when they talked about stars flashing behind their eyes or getting lightheaded from orgasms. All of it. It all sounded like bullshit.” Her eyelids seemed to get heavy and not just from lust and desire. “And how much it takes out of you if you’re not used to it. I want it again but so tired. Want to touch you too.”

  “You will, My Princess,” I murmured against her lips. “Sleep. You gave me the gift of pleasing you tonight, and I need nothing. All I want is for you to sleep.”

  “Thanks for coming back, Darius.” She let out a soft snore. “Thought I’d be alone forever and thought of giving up.”

  Her words felt like a stab in the heart. Oh fuck, poor Inez. I swallowed tears as I kissed her forehead. “You will never be alone again.”

  And I’d sort of fibbed about that whole not having any needs. Once I knew she was deeply asleep, I moved off of her and rolled to my feet before walking a bit away and tugging one off.

  Fine, I did it twice. Apparently once wasn’t enough after tasting my princess twice. Shit, I was so sunk. When I was done, I went for some water so she would have it when she woke up.

  I looked up at the sky. “Mother, if you can, help me protect her. I hurt for the loss we have suffered, but she might be the miracle we’ve needed to save us by giving us hope too.” A gentle breeze tickled me, and somewhere inside of me, I felt as if she agreed with me. I would take that as a blessing of the path I was on with Inez for sure.

  Unfortunately, we were attacked, but it was nothing near as bad as the night before. At least she had a chance to see how far out I could sense them, as she had enough time to go pee, giving me a crazy look that they still weren’t there.

  A few more minutes and she gave me a few glances as if wondering if I was full of shit, but then she sensed them. She was magnificent, her mind as sexy as her body as she wounded some in the front well before the rifle could take out their heads so they thinned out as some feasted.

  I actually had fun hunting with her like that. Normally corrupted avoided me unless I came on their turf or startled them, but now it quenched that predatory need in me.

  She was too pumped on adrenaline after that, and I offered to crash so she got the chance to take her watch when she couldn’t sleep. I was down only a few hours before I made her switch. It was enough for me.

  Plus, watching her sleep was definitely going to be a secret fetish of mine, as she was so beautiful I almost couldn’t take my eyes off of her. The cute little snores that came out of her now and again, the soft smiles when she was relaxed, and most certainly when she threw off the covers and I got to see more of her body. Yeah, that was my favorite part for sure.

  She sat up the second the sun came shining over the horizon, both of us shocked as I had been reaching for her.

  “I was about to ask how you liked your coffee, and you bolted up,” I explained.

  “Sorry, I wake with the sun,” she muttered. “It’s weird, I know.”

  I chuckled as I tucked her hair behind her ear. “I have fangs and my own tricks. It’s not remotely weird, I promise.” I bit back a groan when she blushed. “I didn’t mean that, but thank you for stroking my ego given I haven’t touched a woman in a long time.”

  “Really?” she asked, and I couldn’t even get upset. I had about jumped her and things had spun out fast.

  I nodded. “A decade at least.” I thought about it and nodded. “Yeah, a few years before it all started. I got drunk, upset I couldn’t find a court I fit with, and went home with a human.”

  She opened her mouth but then closed it, trying again and shaking her head. “I don’t know how to ask what I want to and not offend you.”

  I cupped her cheek and leaned in to give her a gentle kiss. “I would be more upset if you did
n’t feel you could talk to me about anything than I would if you poked a wound you didn’t know I had.”

  “Me too,” she told me, searching my eyes. “How do you know you’ll fit in me?” Her eyes went wide. “My court. With me. I didn’t mean—I mean, you’re big so it would maybe fit but—”

  “Please stop,” I begged, covering her mouth as I looked out at the water and took a few breaths to keep calm and not ravage her. “It’s not only my attraction to you, but it feels right to be near you. You’re also the first princess not of my own family that has made me feel… Not home, as this is certainly not home or a home I would ever let you have. You impress me. I’ve not felt that with a princess not of my family.”

  She nodded. “I didn’t mean to imply something bad, but even if you just didn’t want to be alone, I could get that.” She blew a raspberry, which I found incredibly sexy. “I’ve thought of staying in a few communities for that reason, but I couldn’t take that guilt when corrupted would come for me, and they always do. Or you know, Clarence and his buddies.”

  I stood, holding out my hand to her to show I wasn’t upset. “How do you like your coffee?”

  “I’ve never had options before,” she admitted, taking my hand. “And um, I think it is important that we do talk to each other about stuff.”

  Which meant she needed to tell me something difficult. I nodded and poured some of the water I’d boiled into the coffee pot and a bit into the bowls of instant oatmeal we’d snagged. It wasn’t what my princess deserved, but for now, it was important that she ate more than she had been.

  “I suck at driving,” she blurted as I stirred her oatmeal. She let out a huff when I gave her a confused look. “I suck at driving. I’ve taught myself and—I realized you would probably think I was a stupid girl for not getting in the vehicle I clearly had and driving off when attacked. I always wreck. I mean always wreck. The only reason I didn’t when driving off from you was I saw you weren’t moving.

  “And you need to know that. I had a dream I killed us both because I wrecked when we were fleeing. So you need to know that if we’re going to do this.” She gestured between us as she spoke faster and faster. “I mean, if you join on the crazy Inez quest and running from corrupted. You need to know that it’s bad and we have the fully stocked cargo van now, so if we have to book it, I should not drive.

  “You drive and I’ll shoot. I’m much better at that, really, I’m good. But I don’t want to be the reason you die. And it would be my luck, really it would be. You survive over two hundred years and one drive with me and you’re dead. It would so—please don’t make me do the driving if we’re in trouble.”

  I just blinked at her before swallowing my need to laugh, as that would upset her. I looked down at the oatmeal. “I am so fucking fucked.”

  “Huh? It should be fine as long as I don’t drive when we need to get away.”

  I brought over her bowl and squatted down in front of her. “I meant you, Inez. I’m so fucked because I’m so sunk already. That was so adorably sexy, rambling all that out and worried for me, dreaming you could hurt me.” I smiled at her. “Yes, I will drive if we have to flee. I promise. And I am an amazing driver so I can get us out of anything.”

  “Okay, good, thanks,” she sighed, looking lighter. She certainly wasn’t good with people or at least used to them.

  I thought she was perfect with me.

  “Crap, I could so get used to this,” she groaned in between bites of her oatmeal and cold toaster pastry. It was nothing, and yet she acted like it was a feast. I didn’t know if I was angry at what she’d been through or thrilled to find a princess who wasn’t spoiled and horrid.

  Both?

  She wrinkled her nose when she tried the coffee. “Oh wow, that’s, um, robust.” She coughed. “Yeah, I get why people say it will put hair on your chest. It’s doing something to my insides for sure.”

  I almost made a crack about not wanting hair on her chest, but she blushed, knowing what she said. I moved to her and added some sugar I’d made sure to grab and a bit of powdered coffee creamer. She thanked me and tried it again, her eyes going wide as she snagged the creamer. She put in a bit more and then sighed when she sipped it.

  “Now I get it. Damn, this is good.”

  “Yeah, I feel the same,” I whispered, not having tried it yet and simply staring at her. It took her a moment, but when she got it, that sexy blush came back. I brought my own breakfast over to her, and it felt nice to simply eat together, right to be near her. “I was thinking about what you said about leaving so many useable provisions.”

  She sighed. “I sort of want to bring them to the community I came through even if they’re crazy cult fucks, but how would I explain an electric van? Someone would take it or try for me. They always do.”

  “Your heart is amazing,” I praised, floored that was where her mind went. “I was thinking we should check that dealership you found it at and see if there’s a roof rack I can quickly attach. Dick’s had some of those big roof storage bags, and I think we should get the rest of that ammo. If you attract corrupted, then fuck, let’s kill them.”

  She smiled brightly, nodding. “I was thinking the same thing. I mean, we have to be careful when the ghosts all come at me, but now that I know how to get rid of them and not just wait them out, yeah, let’s do some good!” She frowned. “Should we also get that electric truck? I was thinking about all those big jugs of water at the store.”

  I sat with it, thinking it wasn’t a bad idea. “I think if we find another noble you might consider, we should, but I don’t like the idea of no one riding with you when it’s now an option. We should all always be safe.” I shrugged. “At least we know there’s a cache of electric vehicles here and you’re amazing and can get them going.”

  “Glad you don’t think it was a stupid idea.”

  I met her gaze. “Inez, I plan on learning everything about you, and I’m very fucking certain I won’t think anything about you is stupid.”

  Okay, maybe I needed to cut back on making her blush. She looked almost lightheaded from doing it so often.

  Damn, it was so sexy to see.

  Which reminded me I wanted to see her nipples in the daylight.

  “What?” she asked when I let out a deep groan.

  “I’m a dirty bastard,” I answered as I pushed to my feet, shaking my head when she asked what that meant. No, she didn’t need to know that.

  She would find out on her own for sure.

  7

  Everything was easier with Darius around. It was amazing to have a teammate who didn’t have an agenda or devious plan and just wanted to help, didn’t push me. Plus, I just liked him. He was sweet, sexy, and really smart.

  I mean, really smart. It was hot.

  Plus, he seemed to like me as a person, not just I was a vampire princess—which I still couldn’t say like I believed it—or he was attracted to me. He asked me about the ghosts and what were the weirdest ones or most memorable. I asked him about his travels and his favorite inventions over his years.

  “Easy access to music,” he had answered. “Greatest invention ever. Records, CD’s, digital players—all of it. I grew up around music always, and that was one of the worst parts of leaving home for me was leaving that feeling that there was always music around. That brought it back.”

  “I wish I knew how to get more on the iPod I found,” I grumbled, more for him than myself. It was such a deep answer, and I could tell he really meant it, was completely sincere.

  We spent the day getting more supplies and organizing better, working as a team to pack whatever we could the best we could. And we worked well together, even the smallest thing of my emptying the packets of instant oatmeal into the cargo storage totes we’d swiped from Walmart while he attached the roof rack. That was less wasted space than the boxes, and Darius nodded it was a good idea.

  Like he appreciated I thought of it instead of just sitting on my ass while he did the roof rack. He noticed
stuff like that and never, ever made me feel weaker or not as capable as him. And that I think I liked most.

  Plus, the hot stuff. That night we made out again, and he never pushed me to take care of him; it was all about me. I did however feel guilty when I didn’t completely fall asleep and I realized he went and masturbated on his own to take care of what I’d done.

  He caught I was awake, and there he was sweet too, simply kissing my hair and promising we’d give each other thousands of hours of pleasure so there was no tally or need to rush. It would upset him way more if he pushed me.

  Which made me melt. Especially because I truly felt he meant it.

  The next day we were all loaded up and could go, but we decided to still not leave that other ammo behind… Unused. We actually went hunting for corrupted during the day, and I felt completely badass.

  And wound up when I saw it excited him too. We cleaned out the hospital and a few other places we found packs of them. One of which was a school, and I really, really needed to remind myself they were dead already and it was better for them.

  The second the ghosts from the day before had started appearing though, I was completely at ease knowing Darius would protect us as I handled them. He was so impressed, and we found more solar batteries for me to charge up later when I started feeding.

  Which he seemed to be looking forward to… And so was I.

  That night I sucked up my worry and made sure to take care of him too, feeling powerful and sexy that I could make a man like him shake with need for me, beg to touch him more. It was amazing, addictive almost.

  And healthier for both of us than smoking.

  “After we finish and we build your coven, we should still do this now and again,” he said as we stared up at the stars, snuggling together. “Maybe with a bottle of wine and you covered in the blood of your nobles.”

  I’d never had wine, but that last part made me shiver. “That’s not being a monster?”

  “No, it’s fucking sexy,” he promised. “Bathing in the blood of victims is being a monster, Inez. A powerful princess dripping with the blood of her very willing lovers, proof of them pleasing her and taking care of her every need, is fucking getting me hard. Blood is everything. You’ll feel it when you’re ready to feed. My greatest wish would be your hand covered in your blood to stroke my cock.”