Midnight Unseen

by D McEntire

  "Tank, please."

  She must have said the magic words. In an instant, Tank settled himself between her knees, probing at her entrance. With one swift move, he was inside, filling her.

  Sonya had never felt so alive. She stilled a moment to take it in before locking her legs around his waist and digging her heels into his backside to urge him on. She wanted more, and she wanted it now.

  Faster, deeper, she felt the friction between them grow with each thrust until he slowed, almost stopping altogether. Her mind almost jumped into a panic, afraid she'd done something wrong.

  "Tank? What's wrong?"

  "Sonya, I didn't want to only say this during the heat of passion. I want you to know I mean this with all my heart." He paused a moment as if gathering his courage. "I love you, Sonya. Will you accept me as your mate?"

  Sonya was shocked and at a loss as to what to say. He said he loved her and wanted her to be his mate. That was like, his vamp wife, right?

  Heart beating overtime, she managed a smile and an answer though her lips trembled from overwhelming joy. "Yes, Tank. When I thought David was going to kill you, it dawned on me how much I cared about you. He'd taken everything from me and was about to take away the only thing I had left--my heart. I love you, Tank."

  Tank flipped them over, and Sonya found herself on top, straddling him. Kisses trailed down her jaw to the spot just below her earlobe where his tongue circled her pulse point once, twice.

  Sonya felt the sudden prick of Tank's fangs, then the tightening of his arms as he held her close to him, surging into to her. The dual sensation of his pulls on her neck and the hard thrusts drove her to the edge. Her own fangs lengthened, and she felt a powerful urge overtake her.

  Mouth opened wide, she sank her fangs into his shoulder, feeling the rush of his blood flow into her mouth.

  Tension built until she felt herself explode, crying out her climax as it slammed through her, sending her spiraling out of control. As she floated back down, Tank's release filled her with warmth, the sensation and the sound of his pleasure sent her over the top once more.

  Sonya collapsed on the rapid rise and fall of Tank's chest, shaking along with the shudders that continued to flow through him.

  Fingers skimmed her cheek.

  "You're my everything. I will protect and love you always."

  Sonya grasped and kissed the hand touching her face.

  "Tank, you've given me so much when so much had been taken away."

  As he made love to her until the daylight hours, she made sure she returned every ounce of joy and ecstasy she received until her body grew heavy.

  A smile spread across her face from how utterly sated she felt as well as the realization of how her upside down life had just righted itself. She'd never been so happy. She'd never felt complete or that she belonged anywhere, but she did now, and it was glorious.

  "I love you, Tank," she whispered as she closed her eyes and snuggled closer. The best conversation I ever had, she mused, then allowed the rhythmic beat of Tank's heart to lull her to sleep.

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  Epilogue

  Mac pulled into the garage of the downtown Louisville Cell. After hearing Kern, a close friend who'd gone missing for eight months, had been found and was now stationed here, Mac had wanted to pay a visit, but he'd had to wait. A mission out of the country had kept him busy for the past six months. Six long months.

  When Kern disappeared, he'd felt the loss clear to his soul. Now, the Watcher he'd taken under his wing after the warrior's parents had died in a plane crash was safe, and he couldn't be more thankful.

  A melody played on a piano sifted through the walls, meeting him on the stairs as he made his way to the upper level. The sound grew louder after he opened the door. Stepping inside, he found the music's source.

  Mac immediately recognized the beautiful woman seated on the bench with her hands gracefully moving about the keys to be Sonya, Tank's mate. He'd read about their joining in the last holiday edition of the Watchers newsletter. But, seeing her in person and watching her play, the picture that had accompanied the article had not done her justice, he thought.

  Mac turned and closed the door behind him, then walked as quietly as he could, or as quiet as someone of his size could be on wooden floors. One particularly loud squeak gave him away, and the music stopped.

  "Mac!"

  Kern walked out of the living room and approached at a brisk paced. Mac met his friend with a warm embrace, but restrained himself somewhat as he did so since most Watchers were smaller than him.

  "It's great to see you." Mac meant every word. It was great to see Kern. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a beautiful brunette slowly step forward. Mac didn't miss the gleam in his brother's eyes before Kern glanced over his shoulder and reached out his hand.

  "This is my mate, Marie. Marie, this is Mac. He's the one I told you about--my second father."

  Kern pulled his mate close to his side and gestured for Mac to follow them into the living room.

  Taking in the scene around him, he passed the piano where Sonya smiled in his direction as she played a soft, soothing tune. Off to a corner, two children, whom he knew from their introduction in the newsletter to be Si and Mya, sat on the floor playing with an oversized feline. Seated on the couch and chairs surrounding the coffee table, he saw Rosa, Vane, Robyn, Trigg and Tank highly engrossed in a game of cards. He shook his head at the feigned hostility and threats of cheating which seemed to accompany every game he'd played with them while visiting.

  Mac turned to Kern. "I know I'm repeating myself, but it really is great to see you again, brother." The back slap he gave propelled Kern forward. He quickly grabbed the man's shoulders to steady him as Marie covered her mouth and chuckled.

  "Sorry, man." Embarrassment had him folding his arms over his chest where he silently warned them to remain, afraid if he didn't keep them there he'd be taking someone to the hospital before his visit was over. "Seriously, we've missed having you at the Cell in Corydon."

  Scanning the room once more, he found attempting to make heads or tails out of the many conversations going on at once to be useless. The scene was chaotic, but wonderful, he thought.

  Mac returned his focus to Kern. "But, you've got a great new family here. I envy you, man," he said with a wink.

  After accepting a cold beer from Marie and a pool cue from Kern, he took a long pull from the bottle, then placed it on the side of the pool table. Eyeing the placement of the balls and planning out his shot, he leaned forward and settled the cue over the side of his thumb.

  A loud and heavily off-key note, followed by several others stole his concentration just as he was about to make the shot. Turning his head, he saw Sonya still seated at the piano, this time joined by Mya. The toddler squealed each time she pressed one of the black or white keys.

  "Sonya gave up her job at the school, but she's still teaching music."

  Mac returned his gaze to the game and let his shot fly, then straightened as the white ball smacked into the others. The balls rolled and struck one another until they finally came to a standstill.

  The statement surprised him because he'd not heard of a Watcher Cell also playing home to a music school. "Here?"

  Kern nodded. "Yep. But she's not teaching human children."

  Another peal of laughter had Mac once again taking in the playful banter still going on at the piano and thought about how things had changed since he'd first become a Watcher. Change was a part of life, he told himself, and as he gazed around the room at the events offering entertainment to his eyes and ears, he knew this Cell could be one hell-of-a role model for change.

  Children. Who would have thought, he wondered with a smile after the girl giggled and pressed two keys simultaneously. The sound of her laughter so pure, Mac found he couldn't help but laugh himself. "What's the situation with the two kids?" Mac hooked a thumb over his shoulder.

  "Dr. Olivia assigned us all as gu
ardians."

  Another spark of envy lit in Mac's gut.

  Taking another shot, Mac listened to Kern fill him in on all that he'd missed during the six months he'd spent out of the country. One topic led to another, as one game of pool let to another. Mac forced himself to hold back a time or two and allow Kern to win at least once so he didn't damage the warrior's ego.

  "Guess I'd better get back."

  Yelling his goodbyes over the noise in the room and even receiving a rather sloppy kiss on his cheek from Mya, Mac walked toward the door and lifted his leather jacket from the coat rack.

  "Breaking news from Las Vegas," sounded from the large screened television in the living room. The room grew surprisingly quiet. Mac stopped with his hand on the door handle, then turned to listen to the news report.

  "Authorities are looking for this woman." A picture of a woman in her early twenties with short, spiky blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes filled the screen. "Lanette Marie Parker is wanted for questioning in connection with an apparent robbery at the Twin Stars Casino where Lanette was a server on the casino floor. The casino is owned and operated by the Guiliano family. A spokesperson for the casino reported four hundred and fifty thousand dollars missing from the casino..."

  Kern shook his head and spoke. "You're looking at a marked woman. No one takes from the Guiliano family and lives to tell about it. Hell, they put the M in Mafia."

  That statement struck Mac hard, but he didn't know why even an ounce of concern had entered his mind. But, as he stared at the photograph of the woman, his gut knotted. He felt as though her eyes stared directly into his, speaking to him. The same voice whispering the thought in his head adamantly refused to believe someone that beautiful could do such a thing, much less be stupid enough to steal from a dangerous family like the Guilianos.

  The news ended and the movie, which had been playing returned. So did the conversations within the room. Mac glanced at his watch once more and noticed he didn't have much time until sunrise. With a wave and another shout of goodbyes, he walked out the door, took the stairs and straddled his bike parked in the garage next to Trigg's.

  The bike purred beneath him as he pulled onto the street.

  Stopping at a red light, thoughts of the news report replayed in his head. The woman's image seemed to be burned into his mind, staring at him as if asking for help.

  Mac told himself to get a grip. It was late, and he needed to return to his own Cell in Corydon, where he'd left Malachai and Jacob to man the battle stations in his absence.

  Taking the on-ramp to the highway, the morning breeze caressed his face and fanned over his smooth, bald head, Mac revisited scenes from the growing family at the downtown Louisville Cell. Yes, he did envy Kern--Tank, Trigg and Vane as well. He hadn't been kidding when he'd said as much.

  Maybe one day he'd find that special someone. Someone who didn't take one look at his massive frame and run with their tail between their legs.

  Mac changed lanes and headed for the bridge to Indiana. He knew what waited for him there--corn fields and Rogues. No spiky, blonde haired casino waitress.

  Laughing at his thoughts, he increased his speed, hoping to beat the daylight.

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  About the Author

  D. McEntire calls southern Indiana home and relishes life in the peace of the country along with her husband and two children, not to mention the menagerie of animals on their small farm.

  An avid reader of romance novels, she decided to try her hand in putting some of the ideas bouncing around her head to paper, and thus The Watchers Series was born.

  To learn more about D. McEntire please visit www.dmcentire.com. Send an email to Diane at diane@dmcentire.com.

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  Look for these titles by D. McEntire

  Now Available:

  Midnight Reborn

  Midnight Rose

  Midnight Revelations

  Midnight Savior

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  The clock is ticking...

  Midnight Savior

  (C) 2009 D. McEntire

  The Watchers, Book 4

  The phrase "home sweet home" means nothing to Marie DeVeux. Her parents never understood her ongoing relationship with her dead grandmother. Plus, she's plagued with dreams of a man being tortured. Dreams so real, the burden strips away every vestige of normal life. At rock bottom, she hears her grandmother's voice telling her that the man exists, and she's the only one who can save him.

  Kern, a Watcher, should have been more careful when he wished for a little more excitement in his life. Kidnapping wouldn't have been his choice. Torture, solitary confinement and starvation have left his soul consumed by a burning rage and inner demons that push him to lash out at the first face he's seen in eight long months. Marie.

  Is this woman his knight in shining armor, or just another experiment? Kern must sift through the chaos of his mind for the truth that lies hidden in his heart. And make a decision before time runs out--for them both.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Midnight Savior:

  A man walked through the laboratory door wearing an expensive business suit. His eyes were cold. Kern glared at the man with murderous intent. Suddenly, the man pulled a gun from his coat and fired. Kern slid to the floor, blood staining his shirt--spreading, darkening.

  Marie heard screams, and as Kern shook her, she realized they were her own. Tears welled in her eyes, and she wiped them away with shaky hands. Her mind foggy from sleep, she looked around, momentarily confused as to where she was.

  "It's alright. You were dreaming."

  Marie continued her perusal of the room. Kern had made a pallet on the floor in one of the rooms, and she had fallen asleep in his arms.

  Now fully awake, the dream would not let her be. It continued to play through her head. Marie's chest tightened. She felt as though she was having a panic attack. An uneasy sensation settled in the pit of her stomach. This was no ordinary dream, she told herself. This was something she needed to listen to. They needed to listen to.

  Marie rose from the pallet, ran to the lab and grabbed their clothes. She threw Kern's at him and hopped around the room on one leg while trying to pull on her jeans.

  "Hurry, Kern. We've got to get out of here. He's coming."

  When Kern made no move, Marie stopped and looked at him.

  "What are you talking about?"

  Marie tried not to go off in hysterics. Her dream was clear as day. She had to get Kern to understand they needed to leave--now.

  "The man from the recording is coming, and he's going to kill you. We need to get out of here. Kern, you have to believe me. I saw it."

  Kern stood slowly and began to dress. "I'm not leaving."

  Marie had had a feeling he was going to say that, but she had hoped she was wrong. "You can't stay here. Look, I know you can get the door open, and I know you want to wait for the doctor and make him pay for what he has done to you, but you can't do this. He's going to kill you."

  Kern dressed with jerky motions. Marie tried to ignore him as she quickly pulled on her clothes. She could feel his anger--at her.

  He walked out of the room without saying a word. Marie made a beeline for the small room where Kern had been chained and retrieved her backpack, then sat on the cot to put on her shoes and socks. When she sprinted into the lab, Kern was not there.

  "Kern?"

  Marie found him in the kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator. He grabbed a beer and popped the top.

  "What are you doing? We've got to go."

  Kern's eyes were again the cold, dark pools she had seen when he had attacked her. Instinctively, she took a step back.

  "I said, I'm not going. Why do you want me to leave? So I don't kill him? Is that it? Did you know all along when he was coming?"

  Marie's heart shrank in her chest. She shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. How could he think such a thing?


  "No. I've told you the truth. I..."

  "You dreamed it, right? Or did your dead grandmother tell you?"

  What was wrong with him? Marie wanted to scream. She wanted to throw something or slap some sense into him.

  "For eight long months I've wanted to kill the son of a bitch, and now I'm going to get the chance since you've finally told me when he is going to return."

  Marie could feel tears stinging her eyes. She was at a loss for words. Turning on her heels, she returned to the small room and sank on to the cot to think. One thought floating through her mind was to walk out the door and forget about him. She had done her job, right? But she couldn't. She was caught up in this, and after the doctor killed Kern, she would be next. The doctor would not want any witnesses to what he had done.

  Marie's mind screamed she could not let this happen. She closed her eyes and sought calm. There was only one way to stop what she feared would happen, but it was not going to be easy. In fact, it was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done. Kern was determined to face this man, but he was going to die if she didn't get him out of here.

  Marie continued to sit on the cot, hugging her backpack to her chest. She felt numb. Her life was still spiraling out of control. When would the chaos end?

  Kern entered the room, but she didn't look at him. She couldn't after what he had said to her, and she figured he was here to fling more accusations. He sat on the cot, but not directly beside her. The gesture didn't go unnoticed. Marie closed her eyes for a moment and held her breath. It was now or never for what she had to do.

  Marie turned and shoved her backpack into Kern's chest, sending him falling off the cot. She was up and out the door in a flash. After swinging the door closed, she locked it before Kern could reach her.

  Kern rushed the door, slamming into it with his fists and shoulder. The door trembled under his assault. He growled, roared and hissed in a rage. "So, this was the plan all along, huh? To keep an eye on me until the doctor returned. Let me say you did a wonderful job being the distraction."