by Jas T. Ward
Her eyes drifted back down to focus on his chest to say softly. “I don’t understand. You here aren’t you? Real?” Emma doubted her own sanity right now and her voice was going a bit high from the hysteria that she truly may have gone mad. Which meant that this was all a figment of that shattering of sanity and she was still alone. And he was still gone.
Reno brought his hands up to cup her face, tilting it up to meet his eyes. “Yes Witch. I’m here. I’m real. But I’m not the same. Not even close.”
The confusion, the shock, and the nightmare that still haunted her head reared up as she started to pull away as if trying to wake up from its hold.
Reno grabbed her wrist fast and refused to let her go. Not again. Never again.
She slipped in the mud and fell forward into his arms and he thanked whatever destiny caused that to happen. He used that moment to capture her mouth with his in a desperate move.
Time froze and the world seemed to stall as his mouth claimed hers, his tongue coming out to seek permission from her that he was still welcome to taste it.
At first the tormented emotions controlled Emma, but as he kissed her they all vaporized with his touch. No one kissed her like Reno and that was the one desperate straw that her mental reality needed to grasp. And grasp it did.
Her hands came up to wrap around his neck as her fingers fisted his hair to pull him closer, to kiss deeper. To keep her grounded and here in this moment with him as long as they could; afraid if he let her go then it would vanish and take him with it.
His hand was wrapping around her wet hair, twisting it around his fingers to pull her head back to increase the kiss. His other hand splayed on her back to bow her towards him, which was good because her legs were useless in holding her up.
He broke the kiss as Emma pulled back enough to slide her hands under his shirt and over his abs, still confused at the chill of his skin.
But months of sadness gave way to an urgent need to feel him close as she ripped the cloth and chased where her hands had been with her lips, small teeth nipping at his skin. Reno let out a groan as he shrugged off the jacket to let it drop in the mud behind him to let her play.
The storm had increased and was a melee of weather around them, causing the branches of the tree to snap and whip in the wind which had joined in the dance with Mother Nature.
Pulling Emma away, he captured her mouth again as he clutched at the thin silk of her pajama shirt, shredding it in seconds and then cupping his hands on her breasts. The pert nipples stood up under his palms to welcome him home causing him to pull away from her kiss and bend down to lick and tease each one, as he wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her against his mouth. Worshiping one mound’s rosy tip before moving to the other one, Emma gasped in pleasure at the coldness of his tongue against her now heated flesh as she curled her fingers into his hair, nails dragging against his scalp.
Neither one knew how they made it to the muddy ground as their bodies were calling all the shots and their minds were off on some exotic va-cay while their bodies played.
Reno continued worshiping the altar of his Witch by nipping, scraping fang, and kissing his way down her trembling belly, growling at the thin, soaked silk of her pajama bottoms that got in his way, but not for long.
Emma let out a loud moan, arching her body when she felt the rain on her exposed core, the cloth ripped away by Reno as if some animal had wished to devour what treat lay beneath it.
And how she wanted to be feasted on until there was nothing of her left.
She screamed out in pleasure when he teased her aching flesh with his mouth, with his hands wrapped around her thighs, heels resting on his back to keep her against his mouth as he settled into his meal. One he had craved despite not hungering food for months.
Reno lost count at how many sweet flows of climaxes hit his mouth. As many as drops of rain that fell to kiss his Witch’s skin, and he was jealous that he had to share. Witch was writhing in the mud and grass, the dark colors of the wet leaves from the tree sticking to her bare flesh like strange lingerie, when she screamed as another wave of pleasure overtook her.
“Reno. Oh god. Please.”
He dragged his fangs against her skin as he sat up on his knees between her legs to undo his jeans and let them drop. He sprung out hard and throbbing, that part of him seeking the warm haven she always offered like a lighthouse in the stormy bay.
Kissing up her body as he held himself up on his arms, he settled between her legs and hissed out in pleasure. So much heat to his cold that he shook with the sensation of it and reveled in the sweet agony it gave.
It wasn’t a dream.
Nor was it a nightmare. Her Reno was here.
She wasn’t sure how it was possible or why he was cold with a chest still of a heartbeat. Emma just knew, as she felt his most intimate part hesitating at her folds...that he was here.
Emma opened her eyes as if to make sure it was still true to see him over her with the storm above. His face was as it always had been when he held himself in check to give her more pleasure until he could no longer stand it and had to take some for himself. Fangs bared as rain dripped off his jaw, eyes squeezed shut in concentration to not end this all too soon. Holding off as if afraid that he wasn’t wanted where she ached for him to be most. Or even worse, it would be taken away from him. A fear of doing wrong and being rejected when all she wanted was him to be where fear never belonged.
Inside her. Home.
Bringing her hand up to wrap around the nape of his neck, she pulled him down in a blistering kiss as her other hand slid between them to find his hard erection against her hip. Wrapping her fingers around it, she felt him jerk from the sensation as she moved her hips to welcome him in. His back bowed up as his hips jacked forward, the tremors of his body becoming stronger as she arched up to meet him causing him to sink deep within her satin heat.
Warmth suddenly rushed through him and he gasped out in confusion which stopped his thrust just as it had begun. He lifted his head to look down at her and still braced with one hand, brought the hand she had behind his head to his chest.
At first Emma wasn’t sure why he had stopped until the felt something under her hand on his chest. A heartbeat.
Reno’s flesh flushed with warmth in seconds under her palm and he started laughing as he brought his head down to kiss her again, hips getting back in the game. Emma was in awe at the heat that overtook them both, but then that gave way to the sensations his thrusts were making on her own heat down below.
Soon their bodies were pulling away, sliding back in, clutching and thrusting as the storm raged around them witnessing their passion. Her nails scored his back as he dug his fingers into her hips.
Feeling as if they were swept up by the raging weather around them, Reno couldn’t seem to thrust hard enough or plunge deep enough as Emma screamed out his name. He hissed and growled, claiming her in every way until they were both covered in mud and grass, the rain now feeling soothing against their fired by desire flesh.
But every storm must pass and soon they laid in each other’s arms sated and still, their bodies wrapped around the each other with limbs entangled to not let go. Reno stared up at the clouds that ran to chase the storm across the sky, the moon shining down to see the damage done by its passing. He knew he had so much explaining to do and now that he had fed one craving, he knew he would have to tell Emma about the new hungers he would soon need to feed.
Emma was still, her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat slowing from racing to barely there. The healer in her told her that was impossible as she felt the urge to make it come back as it once was. Pressing her hand there, she lifted her head as it took one last beat and then stopped.
“How is that possible?”
She lifted her eyes to his and he looked away, biting his bottom lip as he brought a hand up to cup over hers on his chest. “I’m not alive anymore, Witch. And I’m not sure why my heart beat. It hasn’t since I was killed.” He
moved her off him and got to his feet, grasping her wrist to gently pull her up with him. “I have so much that I should tell you. But,” pulling her hand back to its former resting place on his chest, “I think my heart beats when I’m with you because you never let it go. It’s always been yours. My heart beats only for you. That has never changed. Dead or alive.”
Emma once again looked at her hand on as his skin cooled, taking on a chill as the warmth from their love making faded. “You’re...?” her brow creasing in confusion “Dead?”
He sucked in a big breath and nodded. “Completely and totally. But don’t use the word zombie. I don’t like it.”
She looked up and he met her eyes as his voice went soft and sad. “I just wanted to see you one last time before I started over. Again. Maybe this time, you won’t get hurt because of it. I never planned on making love to you. But I’m glad I did.”
Emma stepped back and wrapped her arms around herself and looked at the mud at her feet, suddenly feeling vulnerable and scared. “What do you mean see me one last time?” She lifted her eyes back up to his with a storm of a different kind stirring in their depths. “And starting over?” Anger tinged her tone as she shoved a hand against his chest to push him. “Without me?”
Reno blinked at her reaction as it would have been comical since they were both basically naked as well as covered in muddy bits and pieces of nature. Not to mention his sopping jeans were a puddle around his ankles.
Reno held up his hands in defense.
“I thought it was best! I’m not just a zombie, I’m like some super zombie, Witch. You deserve normal; it’s what you’ve always wanted.” Reno blinked as she fisted her hands at her sides as that angry storm brewing in her eyes moved to cloud her features.
“Isn’t it?”
Did he just squeak that?
Emma was never a violent person, but at that very moment she wished she was. Walking up to him, she grabbed the hair at the back of his head to yank his eyes close to look into hers. “You listen to me Reno...” she paused and realized “I don’t even know your last name. Tell me your last name so I can bitch you out the infamous Devenmore way.”
Reno couldn’t help the smile, despite her vicious grip on his hair which was probably going to rip off his scalp. Ha at him being a zombie that didn’t lose parts. Omega never met his Witch.
“Sundown. I guess. Might as well cover both sides.”
Emma thought about that and gave him the sweetest smile ever. “I like it. It’s nice.”
Reno went to speak to tell her thank you and she yanked his hair again to pull his head even closer than before. “Now. About the bitching out. You listen to me Reno Sundown.” She emphasized each word by adding a pointed finger to stab at his chest. He winced and squeaked out, “Owww.”
She didn’t let it stop her long overdue tirade no matter how cute he looked right now. Emma’s whole life people had come and gone from it, whether they thought it was for the best, or they were taken, never giving her a say so in the matter, not a single time. The irony of death being the cause of some of it and now death bringing back the man she loved would not go unnoticed, but for now, Emma Devenmore was going to have some say so, whether it made a difference or not.
“I love you Reno Sundown. I think just like you, I loved you from the first moment we kissed on the beach. I’ve been searching for you even when I thought you were right in front of me. I knew you had to be out there. I just didn’t know you were in there. Inside of Jess’ head.”
She brought up her pointy finger stabbing hand and cupped his cheek as the other slid down to join it on the other side of his face.
“I won’t let you leave me. I know what it’s like to lose you, and you will not do that to me again. I know with all my heart, with its beats that will do the job for both of us, that you were made for me, Reno. And I was made for you. So no....you will not be seeing me for the last time. No, you will not be starting over without me. And,” as she brought her lips to his to say softly, “you will make love to me until I’m as cold and as dead as you. The whole zombie thing... we’ll work around.”
Reno’s face spread into a huge smile right before she pulled his mouth down to hers to kiss, his heart slamming back into beating at the demand of it. Returning the kiss until they were almost mud sex wrestling on the ground again, he pulled his head up to search her eyes.
“It’s going to be hard. I don’t want anyone to know until I find out who we can trust and what kinds of games are being played. Until I know I can make you and Rugrat safe by being here, okay?”
Emma started to protest, but he kissed her speechless and she gave him a gasping nod with her turn to squeak out “Okay.”
He then bent down to scoop her up into his arms and started walking to the house as she cuddled up against him, smiling as his skin warmed with each heartbeat under her cheek.
As they stepped inside he stopped and set her back on her feet and stepped back to give her the most serious look she had ever seen him pull off.
Emma got scared as he cleared his throat, thinking he had changed his mind. Until he spoke.
“One last thing.”
Her eyes went wide as he went to one knee and took her hand in both of his. “I know you never felt like you were enough for anyone, Witch. That you were never someone’s perfect fit. That there was always someone else that was better than you.”
Reno kissed her knuckles and pressed the back of her hand against his whiskered cheek. “I know how that is. I was never anyone’s anything until you. For me...?” His voice so full of emotion as he lifted his eyes to meet hers.
“I’m not whole without you. I don’t have a heart that beats without yours to call it to do so. I never knew love, peace, or kindness before you. You’re not only good enough for me, Witch. You’re everything. You’re the beauty to my beast. I’m savage without your love to calm me. I’m useless without your faith that made me.”
Emma couldn’t stop the happy tears that ran down her cheeks as Reno made his profession of love. No one had ever told her such sweet and simple things. No poem could have equaled the beauty of his plainly spoken words of love.
She smiled and knew she could never love anyone as much as she loved the dead man kneeling on her floor. “I love you too.”
Reno smiled a fanged smile so wide and full that he felt like his face was going to crack, and he didn’t care. “Good. Because when all this is figured out...” He got to his feet and pulled Emma back close.
“I’m going to marry you so that everyone knows that Emma Devenmore is my one and only. And no one else ever could be. Or was meant to be.”
He searched those beautiful green eyes to say softly, “Will you be the beauty to my beast?”
Emma threw her arms around his neck and cried as she laughed while saying over and over again. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
The beauty and her beast would have their happy ending.
Someday.
Because her zombie was so worth the wait.
SNEAK PEEK
BOOK TWO OF THE SHADOW-KEEPERS SERIES:
LUST
BY JAS T. WARD
COMING DECEMBER 2014
He had waited until midnight had rolled past and early morning whispered in. Making sure the street and surrounding area were clear, he grabbed the ivy arbor that ran up the side of the house to climb to an attic window, knowing he would find it unlocked.
Pushing the window open, he went in bent to slide under it and land in a crouch in the quiet dark attic. Walking on silent feet to the stairs, his fingers flexed on his 9mm as he descended in the quiet-with-night house. Making it to another door, he pressed his fingers on it to push it open, letting it swing open so he could walk through. A single candle flickered on the dresser where he sat his gun as he walked past it towards the bed.
Tugging off his shirt, followed by undoing his belt to let his jeans drop before he toed off his boots and let it all puddle on the floor. Pausing by the bed, he reached out to
grasp the covers and pull them back to slide into the bed, the covers feeling so nice and warm on his skin.
But not near as warm as the flesh his hand grazed, rolling over.
She had heard him walk in and as soon as he touched her, she was rolling with dagger to pin him with the steel against his throat. “You’re late.”
Reno smiled as he put his hands over his head to brace on the headboard. “I know. Sorry. But did they double the watch on the house?”
Before Emma could answer, he was rolling fast to now pin her to the bed with his body, one hand grabbing the dagger to throw it into the wall opposite. She struggled in a way that rubbed all her good parts with all his hard parts as she breathed the answer lustily in his ear. “They increased all security. Not sure why since I’m offline to mourn my lost love.”
Reno laughed and moved his head down to tease his lips down her shoulder and capture a begging to be suckled nipple. “How’s that mourning going for you, Witch?
Emma arched with a moan at his teasing as she brought her hand down between them to grasp his hardness. “It’s difficult. Very,” let out another moan, “hard.”
“Emma!”
Bella ran up the stairs two at a time. “Emma!” Throwing open the bedroom door, the young Relay froze at the sight that met her. It wasn’t the man’s white ass thrusting on top of a woman who had become like a big sister after six months. No, she had seen plenty of people having sex.
It was the fact that the man thrusting inside of Emma was supposed to be dead. “Reno?”
“Bella!” Emma was grabbing a sheet on the bed to pull it over her as Reno went flying off the bed. “What are you doing here? I mean, weren’t you on duty at the Grid?”
Bella just nodded but she could not take her eyes off of him. It had nothing to do with him being bare ass naked. It had to do with him...well...being here to be bare ass naked.
“You’re dead.”
Reno’s mouth opened a few times as his hands flew down to cup his junk and stare at the young woman. “Technically? I am.”