Tanner

by Kathi S. Barton

  He ate her for as long as she would let him. Everything about her was delicious. When she begged him to stop, he moved up her body again, still taking small bites, still marking her as his. And when his cock was there, where he wanted to fill her, she looked up at him and told him once again that she loved him. Tanner slid hard inside of her and felt like he’d come home.

  Giyanna screamed with her release. She held him to her, her mouth so close to his throat that all he could think about was her biting him, her taking a part of him into herself as he’d done to her. And when he felt his release riding him hard, he cupped the back of her head and told her to bite him.

  “Do it, Giyanna. Bite me hard and drink from me.”

  She licked the path from his throat to his pulse. He was going to come the moment that she sank her teeth into him. And when she did, he not only came with her, but saw stars and unicorns, as well as all sorts of other creatures as he released a second time.

  Dropping atop her, he knew that he should roll over but wasn’t sure that he had the strength. Finally, when she squirmed a little, he rolled, taking her with him. Closing his eyes, Tanner thought of her large with a child, and let himself fall asleep with that image in his head.

  Chapter 7

  The dream came to Tanner slowly. The children running around the house. The swing set in the back yard. His family, ever present in his life, sitting under the big tree that he’d thought was dead. As they laughed and talked, he found himself looking outside himself, his body moving above those around him. Tanner had heard of out of body experiences, but had never had one before. Then he saw her. The little girl was no more than seven or eight. She sat on his dad’s lap talking to him about her day, the same red hair of her mother gleaming in the afternoon sun, her happiness a bright spot to his day. Dad looked around when he was close enough, and told her that they’d be fishing in the morning. That Grandda and Great Grandda had a spot picked out just for them. Myra was there, dressed in red, white, and blue, her hair the same colors, and she had a sparkler on the top of her head. Tanner surmised that it was the Fourth of July, and that was the reason for the celebrations. But he’d yet to see the one person that he needed more than he’d ever known he could. Giyanna had yet to make an appearance. And needing her to be there with this going on, he was afraid for her. Tyrrell was there, with a child on his lap as well, a beautiful woman sitting next to him holding his hand. He was happy for the man. So glad that he was able to find himself some happiness after all the time he’d been alone. His brothers were there too, not looking a day older than they did today. He had no idea how much time had lapsed with this dream, but he had a feeling that it had been years. All of them would live forever, he knew, but he’d thought that they’d age some. He moved to the house to find his wife. There were children going in and out of the house. The pool was being used by them, as were the other toys that lined the yard. Moving into his home, he found food on the counters, and on the extra table that was there to use. Ruben was directing faeries into what to take out next. All he could think about was how happy they all seemed as he moved through the living room. He found her there, nursing a small baby. The expression on her face was that of tranquility, happiness, and love. The way she looked down at the child, he knew her to be his mother, but wasn’t sure how that was to work. When she glanced up, seemingly smiling at him, he turned to look and found himself, his true self, walking in the door, coming to sit by their lovely bride. Because that was what she’d be to him, a bride, no matter how long a time they’d been wed. “I’ve come for a kiss.” They kissed, the two of them, and Tanner could almost feel it on his own mouth. He loved this woman with all that he was, and was so glad that they were so happy in whatever future this was. “How’s my little guy today? Having himself a nice lunch while the rest of us are waiting?” “Hungry like his father. Did you make sure that Rachel doesn’t get too much sun? She’ll burn easily, you know.” He nodded at Giyanna and took the little boy. Tanner, as the spirit—he had no other name for himself—looked down into the face that was his. This child was his, and he still had no idea how that had come to be. It was then that he felt himself pulling away, coming back to the real world and all its problems. He didn’t want to wake just yet. He wanted to go and see his son and daughter. He needed to listen to his wife and hear her sweet voice telling him about their son. Sitting up in the bed, he wanted to cry. “Are you all right?” He pulled Giyanna to him and held her tightly. “Tanner, are you all right? You were talking strangely in your sleep. I’ve never slept with you before, but I don’t think that’s the norm for you, is it?” “No, no. I’m all right. Just an odd dream.” As he lay there, the dream or whatever it was began to fade from his memory. The children’s faces were the first to go. Closing his eyes, trying his best to capture the dream again, he felt the small intrusion of someone needing to talk to him. Now wasn’t the time, he wanted to tell them. Go away. I’m exhausted. The laughter brought a smile to his face, and he asked Myra want she wanted. You should know that it’s really late, and whatever you want, you should invest in a watch. Watches are for people who have schedules to keep. I go with the flow, young man. He said that he’d figured that out about her. I forgot to tell you something about your home. And this couldn’t have waited until morning? She laughed again, and told him it wouldn’t. All right. If you’re going to tell me that the house is going back to the way it was, I’m going to be very disappointed. Giyanna is having so much fun playing around with it, and I enjoy hearing her laughter when she does. Never that. It’s perfect for you and your family. No, you asked me to fix your home, do you remember? You said for me to fix everything for you? He said that he did, but frowned when she laughed again. Well, you were in the house too. I fixed you as well. Thank you. And what was broken on me that you needed to tell me now that you fixed me? As far as I can remember, I’ve not been hurt lately, and I’ve never been sick. She told him he could father children. No. I can’t. I was just having a lovely dream about that, but I can’t have them. I did wonder how it happened, but it was that, only a dream. Yes, you can. I fixed you. And the child that you created tonight, it will be magical beyond your wildest dreams. Tanner opened his eyes, almost afraid to believe what she was saying to him. Believe me, my dear boy. I couldn’t let you go through life without children of your own. You’re much to special to Chris and me to let that happen. “We created a child tonight?” Tanner realized that he’d spoken out loud when Giyanna sat up in the bed too. Tanner looked over at her. “We’re going to have a baby. You and I, we made a baby tonight.” She looked at him as if she thought he was having a bad dream or something. After telling her what had happened, how he had talked to Myra, she looked down at her belly, then back at him. They were both laughing and crying as what was going to happen to them finally hit them both. It took them both a while to calm down again. When Giyanna was asleep, he laid there thinking of the dream and wondering why he’d not told her about it. It wasn’t a secret, he knew, but there was a part of him that wanted to keep this for himself. Perhaps only for a little while, but he wanted to savor the feeling of being a father like he had been in the dream. Tanner finally got up when he realized that he wasn’t going to sleep anymore tonight. Going down to his office, he thought about the trial and what it might mean for his family. Nothing really. It would affect Giyanna and Tyrrell more than him, but in that, he’d be hurting for them. Pulling up the names of the dead women that he’d been given by Chloe—only three had been identified so far—he wondered what sort of lives these women had, and how their families would deal with this once they were notified. Noah had given him some things that he wanted done, and he was working on them when he realized that he was no longer alone. Looking up, he wasn’t really surprised to find the man himself sitting in the chair across from him. Tanner grinned at him. “Do you ever rest?” He told the old vampire that he was a slave driver of a boss and that he couldn’t. “Yes, and I’m sure you believe that. I have a favor or two to ask of you.
It involves one of the buildings on Main Street. I believe that it’s up for sale. It was at one time called the Bakers Building.” “Yes, well, it’s for sale, but they’re hoping to sell the other building that is there as well. It’s nice—not as nice as the Baker Building, but it does have potential.” He asked him why they were selling them together. “It’s the last two buildings on that street, and they couldn’t get anyone else to buy them. If you’re planning to make any improvements on them and perhaps hire one or two people to work there, I can get them for you for nothing, or close to it.” “You don’t say. And these free buildings, what will they cost for me to completely renovate into a working building? So long as I can have the lower levels for myself.” He pulled up the specs on the buildings and told him what they had and the last work that had been done on them. “I was there tonight, and the one has some homeless people in it. Do you know what will happen to them when renovations start?” “They’ll be either taken or directed to the shelter. From there, I don’t know.” Noah asked him if he could find out. “I can. Are you more interested in the homeless people or the building?” “Both. But mostly the homeless. There is a young woman there with an older man. I believe him to be her father or grandfather. I took a little taste of him tonight and found that he isn’t long for this world. The young woman with him is aware. When he started to cough while I was there, she asked him to go to the doctor. I had a feeling that it was a constant question that goes unanswered.” “So you want to buy the buildings and do what with them? And how much did it cost you to heal the man?” Noah glared at him then stood up. He looked to the doorway, unsure of what made him, move when Giyanna came into the room with them. “Noah, I’d like for you to meet my wife to be. Giyanna, this is the man I was telling you about, Noah Stark. I work for him.” “It is a pleasure to meet you, my dear. You have a lovely home here, and the best mate that you could ever want.” She told him that she knew that already. “So you would. I’ve come on an important matter, and young Tanner here has agreed to help me.” Noah sat down when Giyanna did, and told Tanner that he wanted to hire the homeless man to run a little shop for him. A place that would cater to men such as himself. “You mean vampires?” He smiled at Giyanna and showed her his fangs. “Are you trying to scare me or impress me? I’m in too good of a mood for either of them. What do you think the building could be used for?” Noah looked at him, then back at Giyanna. “You are a pistol, aren’t you?” She said that she was working on it. “Good for you. I cannot wait for you to come into your own. All right. What I meant was, men who are older and aren’t used to wearing today’s fashion. It would be a clothing store, dealing in mid eighteen hundred apparel. Suits and hats. Some specialty canes as well.” “So there would be others like you coming into town.” Tanner just leaned back and let her deal with Noah. It was funny to him to see the man squirm under her questions. “Will they be coming for a meal as well as their new duds, or just the food? I’m not going to be very happy if they come here just for a quick meal.” “No one will ever feed from anyone here unless it’s compensated.” Giyanna asked him how that worked. “When I feed from someone around here, I leave them money or sometimes something that they might need. Sometimes it’s a little, only about a hundred or so dollars, but if I forget myself and take even a drop too much, they are paid handsomely for their troubles. I will expect no less from the people who come here. Of this, I can promise you.” “And if they take more than they should and don’t pay them? Or perhaps go on a killing spree that will devastate this town?” Noah put out his hand to her and told her that he would end them. “I promise you that is the way it will be. I’m a very old and very powerful vampire, and if anyone loses control, I don’t care if they are someone that I’ve known for a great number of years, I will tear them from limb to limb and drain them.” He put his hand closer to her. “And if I do not, for any reason, I will tell you how you can kill me and allow you to do so.” “I believe you.” They shook on it and she looked at Tanner. “I’m going to see Rogan today. I’m going to tell him some things that he’s neither going to like nor want to hear. But I’m tired of being afraid of my own shadow where he is concerned.” “Good. Would you like for me to go with you?” She told him no, but to be close when she got home. “I’ll be around wherever you need me.” When she left them to get dressed, Noah laughed. “She’s wonderful. And I so love the red hair. She is as feisty as she is beautiful, young Tanner, and you are a lucky man.” Tanner told him that he was aware of that, but thanked him anyway. “I was thinking of going on a trip, but I think that I might hang around for a bit longer. Just to see this little girl go toe to toe with her own monsters. And I have a feeling that her brother won’t know what hit him when she’s finished with him. Yes, I think this might just be more fun than not.”

  ~~~

  Giyanna was waiting for them to get done inspecting her purse when she thought of all that she wanted to say to Rogan. First and foremost, she was going to make sure that he understood that he was never leaving this place unless it was in a body bag. Giyanna was also going to tell him how much she hated him. It had occurred to her while she was getting dressed to come here that she did hate him. And more than likely always had. She was led to a row of chairs sitting by a petitioned off area. She’d been at a prison before and knew how this worked. Giyanna had already asked them to please make sure they recorded this conversation, and she asked for a copy of the one that had transpired when Tyrrell had been here. “Yes, ma’am, we can get that for you. And if you will tell Tanner I said congratulations on finding you, I’d appreciate it.” She asked him how he knew. “You have his scent. I’m a shifter too. Puma. And Tanner and I have been friends since we were kids. He’s a good man.” “He’s the best there is.” The man nodded and told her that he’d get them for her before she left today. Taking a deep breath when she saw Rogan come through the door, she let it out slowly. This was going to free her, she knew it. He didn’t pick up the phone that would give them access to speak. She didn’t either. It was a contest between them, and she was determined to win this round. When he finally reached for it, nearly jerking it off the wall, she saw Rogan get talked to by the guard on the other side of the glass. “You come here to bail me out? If not, then I’ve nothing to say to you.” She told him she had plenty to say to him. “Like I care what you have to say to me. And you’d better watch yourself. When Ty does what I tell him to do, then you’ll be hurting, and bad.” “You mean when you told him to confess? That’s never going to happen.” He just laughed. “You think I’m joking with you, Rogan? He is currently closing down his house and moving his things closer to me. I’m getting married soon.” “You think he’s not going to do what I told him, then you’re stupider than I thought you was. And that was pretty stupid. Also, you ain’t getting married either. When I get out of here, you’re going to do your duty by me and clean my house. Then when I get my kids back, you’ll make sure that they’re taken care of.” She asked him what sort of duty she had to do for him. “I just told you, you’re going to take care of my kids.” “What about Bridgett?” He said she wasn’t long for this world. “Rogan, you do know that you’re being recorded, don’t you? I mean the sign is right there where you can read it.” “I know what that says. I also know that they can barely keep us in line around here. They ain’t got nobody to be recording this shit. And besides, after I get out of here, then it’ll be nothing. You’ll see. And when I do get out, you’re going to tow the line too, sister.” She asked him what that meant. “Just you wait and see. I’m not going to have you acting like you know more than me. You don’t.” “I came here to tell you two things, Rogan.” He told her that he didn’t care what she had to say. “Regardless, I’m going to say them anyway. You’re never getting out of here. They’ve enough on you right now to convict you of several homicides, as well as the attempted murder of Bridgett and her brother Phillip.” “That queer? He’s better off dead anyway. And they got nothing on me. They’ll have even less when Ty do
es what I told him.” She didn’t even bother telling him again that he wasn’t going to do it. “The world will be thinking I did them all a favor when I get him in a head lock and break his faggot neck.” “I never realized until today how much I hate you. That’s the second thing I planned to tell you. I really hate you.” He laughed. “Yes, you think it’s funny, but for a long time after I saw you murder Margaret Penny, I thought you were sick in the head. But that’s not it. You just don’t give a shit about anybody but yourself. You remember her, don’t you? You took her from her car and then raped her. Then when I saw what you were doing, you snapped her neck like it was nothing to you. She had children that missed her. A man that has been grieving for his poor wife for ten years. Don’t you care?” “Boo hoo. No, Giyanna, I don’t care. Not at all. If she hadn’t of wanted me to take her, she should have locked her doors against me. She was begging for it anyway. Besides, you think she was the first? Or even the last? I only killed her like that to show you what a powerful man I am. And that I could and probably will do the same to you when I’m out of here.” Rogan had just threatened her. And confessed. “If you ain’t got nothing more to tell me, then get out of here. And you tell Ty what I said. He’d better be making up his will, cause I’m gonna kill him too. As soon as I’m out of here.” “How do you think you’re going to manage that? If he does what you say he’s going to do for you, he’ll be here instead of you.” He told her that he had connections. “I’m sure you don’t, but you go on living in that fantasy world of yours. I’m finished with you.” “You thinking that is going to break my heart, Giyanna? I don’t give a fuck about you or Ty. You were just somebody for me to knock around when I didn’t have anyone out there that I could murder. Yeah, I said it. I like to murder. There is so much fun in it for me, that I find I just come all over the place.” Her belly lurched up and she knew she was going to be sick. “When I get out of here, and I will, you’ll get a firsthand look at what I do.” Hanging up the phone, she could still hear his laughter. Standing up cost her more than she thought it would, and the woman guard that had brought her in grabbed her by the arm and took her to the ladies’ room. There Giyanna threw up several times, her belly not able to handle what a vile person her brother really was. “You all right, honey?” She said that she didn’t think she would ever be again. “I don’t blame you none. And so you know, we didn’t stop him from getting angry at you so that he’d talk. I knew he was a sick bastard, but I didn’t know just how bad.” “I didn’t either.” After flushing the commode, she came out of the stall and washed up. After rinsing her mouth out several times, she looked at the other woman. “He killed those people, and had not a care in the world who they might have left behind or who would be looking for them.”