“Directive prison colors will look good on her,” Jana said, as she walked over to her pile of clothing.
Blaine nodded, as Gunner reached into his pocket and withdrew a pair of handcuffs, and then he tossed them to Blaine.
Magno approached Gunner and Imogen and said, “Take a few nights to heal, but afterwards, you need to prepare a full statement of what occurred, how you were abducted, and anything that happened while you were in Terrance’s custody.”
“Okay. But who are you?” she asked.
“Magno Zara.”
After a gasp, she said, “She...” Imogen motioned to Reina. “...came to our house and said I needed to register as Gunner’s mate with The Directive, that you had ordered it, Magno.”
He gave her a slight nod and then went to where Jana was dressing. They began conversing with each other in hushed tones about cleaning house.
Blaine walked over to Reina, flipped her around to face the wall, and said, “Ironic, isn’t it? The entire scheme fell apart because of you, and now you’ll replace Gunner in prison. He was sentenced to 500 years. I wonder how many you’ll get, or maybe you’ll be sentenced to death by fire instead.”
“Whatever it is, she deserves it!” Imogen shouted, as she pushed against Gunner. “Let me at her!”
He stood and held his hand out to her, and she grasped it. Gunner lifted her up, and she stepped on unsteady feet over to where Blaine was holding Reina, and he turned her around to face Imogen.
“You, bitch!” she yelled, slapping Reina across the face. “You tricked me and handed me over to him to murder! You heard me begging to be set free, while I was in a room full of dead bodies, with funeral music playing for days! You had to! It was you I heard laughing at me, wasn’t it?”
Reina nodded and said, “I loved him… so much. He was my king. I served him in every way I could, even giving myself to Gunner when Terrance told me to. I have no regrets. Let me join him!”
Continuing to take her vengeance out on Reina, Imogen smacked her once more and shouted, “Gunner’s too good for you!”
When she finally stopped, tears poured down her face, and Gunner pulled her into his embrace.
“We’re going home, baby,” he said, as he swooped her up into his arms. “Nobody will ever harm you again. I vow it on my life.”
Chapter 39
Imogen hadn’t said a word during their flight away from the warehouse, but she reached for Gunner’s hand as soon as the wheels of the car were in motion. Blaine had offered to drive them home, so they could be alone after her rescue. After speeding all the way to their destination, he maneuvered the car into Gunner’s garage and waited for them to get out.
“Thanks for the ride, man.”
“Yeah, thanks, Blaine.”
“Glad to help. Talk to you two later.”
As Blaine drove away, Gunner closed the garage door and then carried Imogen into their home, up to their room. The moment her feet hit the floor, she ripped the shirts she was clad in from her body and threw them onto the floor.
“I need a shower to get this stench off me.”
“Right this way.” Gunner led her to the bathroom, recalling his need to wash the scent of the prison from his skin, too. “Take all the time you need, Imogen. Feel free to use my robe once you’re done.”
“Thank you.”
Gunner left her alone, and then he heard the rain from the showerhead. The door opened and closed, as she stepped in under it.
While Imogen was busy in there, Gunner ran down to the wine cellar and brought up a few bottles. He grabbed two glasses out of the kitchen cabinet and took them and the wine and set them on the nightstand. Then he rushed into one of the other bathrooms and showered.
As he was standing in his closet, getting dressed, he heard the water shut off, and then the patter of her feet on the granite tiles filtered through the air.
A couple of minutes later, she stepped into the bedroom wearing his robe, and he smiled at the sight of her. The hem fell to the floor, and the sleeves were too long for her body, so she scrunched them up to her elbows.
“I feel so much better now. And this...” She hugged herself. “...is like I’m wrapped in your arms.”
“I’d love to hold you, baby,” Gunner replied, reaching out for her.
She approached him, lacing her fingers in his, and he pulled her tightly to him.
“This is what I’ve needed ever since they took me from you. That, and a soft mattress.”
“Then, let me give you both.”
Gunner lifted her and placed her in the center of the bed. He crawled in beside her and urged her into his arms again, holding her close. Imogen placed her leg over his and melded herself against him, and they lay there together in the dark and quiet room.
Breaking the silence, Gunner said, “I’m so sorry about what happened, Imogen.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I’m just grateful that you found me when you did.”
“Are you in pain? Do you need more of my blood?”
A beat passed before she answered, “Yes.”
His fangs dropped in an instant, and Imogen put her hand on the wrist that he’d raised to his mouth and said, “No, not like that.”
“What, then, baby?”
Laying his hand on her arm, he rubbed it softly, as he thought that their being together must’ve satisfied the Thirst for the moment, because he wasn’t feeling the urge to drink with the madness he had experienced while she was away from him. It remained, but as a slow current rather than a rushing river.
Turning her face up to look at him, she said, “The entire time I was in that prison, I kept thinking about our lives together, how wonderful it was gonna be, how much I was gonna lose if Terrance won. My mantra to try to get through it all was that the universe wouldn’t bring us together, only to allow us to be ripped apart. Using that, I fought with everything I had to keep myself going.” Her eyes went to slits, and her voice took on a hard tone. “He was not gonna break me.”
“That’s right, because you’re a strong woman.”
Her softness returned, as she said, “And… you came to me in my dreams, Gunner.”
“I did?”
“Yes. And you told me not to give up, that you were coming for me. You held me.” She licked her lips, before speaking once more. “I believe that was the Thirst, taking on your form in my psyche, giving me comfort. I don’t know. Maybe that’s me sounding crazy again.”
“Not at all. I’m glad that the Thirst was gentle with you.”
“Oh, Gunner. How bad was it for you while I was gone? I was worried about—”
“I’d suffer it again as many times as I had to if, in the end, I’d be with you.”
“I don’t want you to hurt anymore.”
As they gazed at each other, Gunner gave thanks in his heart for the woman in his arms. As he drew her closer, their lips joined, and in that moment, he felt a peace that he hadn’t experienced in his life as a human or as a vampire.
Imogen clutched him to her, and then her fingers travelled down the front of his bare chest, to his pajama bottoms. She ran her hands underneath the material, grasping his cock.
“I want the mating bite, Gunner. Seal us together.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I was beating myself up for not completing it when we were intimate the first time. I was thinking that if we’d done it then, maybe it would’ve linked us together somehow.”
Gunner leaned over her, and she turned flat on her back pushing his pajamas down his hips.
Nuzzling his nose against her neck, he murmured into her ear, “I’m learning that anything’s possible. You’re my miracle, Imogen.”
“And you’re mine.”
With soft touches, Gunner made reverent love to her, worshipping her with each press of his lips to hers and every undulation of his hips, driving his length inside her.
Imogen’s moans grew, and she called his name, “Gunner!”
“It
’s time, baby!” he said, just before his fangs punched out of his gums.
“Yes! Now! Please!”
As her orgasm crested, he sank them into her flesh, and her essence flowed over his tongue and down his throat. Then he felt her bite on his shoulder.
In his mind, he saw the silhouettes of two people backlit by red. They approached each other with even and steady steps and raised their hands, linking them together. Once they were toe to toe, they embraced, and the distance between them diminished until he couldn’t tell them apart.
“Gunner,” Imogen sighed, leaning her head back onto the pillow. “Did you see that?”
“We’ve been made one.”
“It was so beautiful. Does that mean it’s over?”
Sinking into her heat again, he said, “For the Thirst, yeah. But, baby, this is just our beginning.”
Epilogue
Six months later
“So, what’s it like, Immie?” Piper asked.
“Being a vampire?” Piper nodded, and Imogen reached for Gunner’s hand. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and she leaned into him. “It was strange at first, but with Gunner’s help, I’m learning my way.”
“And PPP? What about your business?”
“I can’t manage it anymore, since my schedule has changed from days to nights, so I hired someone to take over for me. With Gunner’s support, I’ve got three vans running. And now I have the time to have my own pets, which I couldn’t before, since I was gone most of the time. It’s worked out perfectly!”
“That’s great! I told you that you were gonna be a franchise!”
Lee approached and handed her a glass of wine.
“How do you like being on your land again, Lee?” Imogen asked, as she took it by the stem.
Gunner noticed how gingerly she was holding it, apparently scared she might break it like she’d done others after he changed her.
Lee shrugged as if it were nothing, and Piper smacked his arm.
“Tell her the truth!”
“Well,” he drawled. “I had no idea how petty arguments between pack members could be, but overall…” He winked at her. “...it’s great, and I love it!”
“Oh, he’s sellin’ himself short,” Piper said. “Take a stroll around the grounds and ask anybody. Lee’s brought pride and purpose back to his people. He’s the perfect alpha.”
“With a flawless beta,” Lee replied. “Everyone loves Piper and her leopard.”
“That’s fantastic!” Imogen said, as she moved away from Gunner to hug first Piper and then Lee.
“I’ve missed you,” she said to him. “Even as wonderful as things are for Gunner and me, I do.”
“There’re a lot of empty houses here now, Immie,” Lee said, and Piper gasped. “Maybe take one of them for a vacation spot?”
“Oh, my God!” Piper yelled. “Yes!”
“Oh? Well, I don’t know what—”
“We’ll take you up on that, Lee,” Gunner said, reaching out to shake his hand. “We’re having another home built that’s more suited to both of us. I think being here until it’s finished would be great. Thanks for the offer.”
“Really?” Imogen asked, turning to look into Gunner’s eyes. He nodded, and she threw her arms around his neck. “I’m so happy!”
Smiling at his ability to bring joy to his mate, he kissed her forehead.
“Anything for you, baby.”
“Hey, Gunner,” Lee said, “are you still unemployed?”
“I am.”
“Interested in a job?”
“Doing what?”
“Security detail. We’ve had some of the banned former members try to infiltrate us. We could use someone with your experience.”
Gunner gave him a short bow and said, “Protecting the alpha who helped me during the Thirst would be an honor.”
“Hey, did you get that commendation from The Directive?”
“I did, but more importantly, I was cleared completely of any wrongdoing, and my rank was restored. They also asked me to return to my former position until the paperwork for my promotion went through, but I declined their offer. I resigned officially.”
Lee raised his glass and said, “Their loss, my gain.”
“Ready to go look around for our new place, baby?”
“Yeah, let’s go!” Piper said. “There’s a really nice one towards the borders of the property.”
Imogen nodded, and Gunner took her hand, leading her to the door.
Once they were outside, Imogen stopped, and he did, too.
Turning around, he said, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m so thankful, Gunner.”
“Because of the move?”
“No, because of the Thirst. It’s brought me everything I ever wished for. I love you so much!”
“Then, you’ll marry me?”
Gunner dropped to one knee, as he brought a small square package out of his pocket. Imogen’s hands flew to cover her mouth, as Lee and Piper walked out onto their front porch.
“Didn’t see that one comin’, either, did ya?” Piper shouted.
Looking down at Gunner, she said, “You arranged for all of this?”
Tipping his head to the side, he said, “I might’ve quit The Directive, but I’ve still got my expertise in subterfuge.” Imogen giggled, until he popped open the box. “I don’t believe you’ve given me an answer yet.”
“Yes, Gunner! Yes!”
He slid the beautiful diamond ring onto her finger and then stood.
“Forever and always, baby.”
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Gunner and Imogen’s story... and Lee and Piper’s too!
If this is the first book of mine you’ve read, you may also enjoy the others! My first love is vampires, and I write them smoking hot (burn up your ereader spicy!), with lots of sexy fun times and great storylines.
If you’re wondering about the references in the book to the Legendary Hunger, check out A Wolf’s Hunger, a shifter world created by A.K. Michaels. You’ll love this series, with books written by amazing authors, including me! My contribution to the world is Brick.
A Wolf’s Hunger. It Can’t Be Stopped!
Make sure to sign up for my newsletter and follow my Facebook page (both links below) to be one of the first to know when my next book is published!
Thank you for your support! It means the world!
Elaine
Dedications and Acknowledgements
This book is a work of love that I could not have completed without the support of my husband.
I love you, baby!
Thank you to Ava K. Michaels for allowing me to write in her wonderful vampire world!
Additional shout out to my awesome reader’s group: Elaine’s Vampy Vixens, especially those who have supported me from almost day one! Thank you so much for everything you do!
A special thanks to Kitten Jackson of Kittie Kat Tales Editing:
You’re not just my editor, girl! You’re my best friend!
Here’s to the years to come, and not just books but great memories!
About the Author
Elaine Barris is the author of erotic paranormal romances, with her favorite being vampires. V”””V
When not working on her latest book, she’s hanging out with her husband of over 20 years and always spoiling her fur baby rotten.
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