Friends With The Monsters

by Albany Walker

  “He is?” I swallow the lump in my throat.

  “Yes.” Gunnar gives a soft chuckle. “I can’t wait to tell him how many times I had to save and carry his fat ass.”

  I click my tongue. “He’s not fat…but he’s heavy as hell,” I agree, watching Grim’s chest to see if it moves.

  “Do you mind if I shower?” Gunnar hooks his thumb over his shoulder.

  “You remember where everything is?” I give him a weak grin, thinking about the first time he used my shower.

  Gunnar leans down and whispers close to my lips, “I knew where everything was a long time before that day.”

  “Stalker.” I push his chest, but he doesn’t budge.

  “I see it now,” he whispers, searching my eyes.

  “What?” I furrow my brow and gaze back at him.

  “It’s all of us,” he mutters.

  “All of us what?”

  “He sees that you will love all of us,” Grim answers, and drags in a deep breath.

  I’m so shocked that he spoke, I don’t even think about what he said. I drop down on the edge of the bed and grab Grim’s hand. “Are you okay? Don’t ever do that again!” I scold, as the water turns on in the bathroom and I realize Gunnar is gone.

  “I’ll be fine,” Grim replies sleepily. He’s out again in the next breath.

  Feeling much better after hearing Grim speak, I walk toward the lamp on my bedside table and flip it off, before making my way to the bathroom. Gunnar’s head jerks up with the snap of the door closing. He watches me as I lean my back against the door.

  “Everything okay?” he inquires, his voice a little husky.

  “I think it is.” I nod.

  “Did you need something?” His wide back is to me, so I let my eyes trail over all those beautifully brutal scars covering his body.

  “Just you. I’ll wait until you’re done.”

  Gunnar licks his lips and turns. His body is bulky, broad, and sturdy. Honed from hard work and dedication, and covered in the evidence of his will to survive. I take a step closer to the glass that separates us.

  “Remember that first day I met you? You were a bloody mess and I still wanted you,” I admit, placing my hand on the partition.

  Gunnar swallows.

  “I wanted to follow you into the bathroom and offer to wash your back.” I smile at the reminder.

  “You could have.” Gunnar’s voice is guttural.

  “I was afraid of you.” His eyes widen. “Not in the way you’re thinking.” I wave my hand, dismissing him.

  “You scared me because I wanted to know you, not just sleep with you.” I peer up at him from under my lashes. “Now, I know you. I know you’re abrasive and tough. I know when you get upset, so do I. I know you would sacrifice yourself to make sure that I was okay. Them too,” I state, whispering the last part, and Gunnar looks away.

  I open the shower door and step in with him, fully clothed. “Want me to wash your back?” I grin.

  Gunnar nods, biting his bottom lip so as not to let his smile show. I make a spinning motion with my hand, telling him to turn, then I grab the bar of soap from the shelf, lathering it between my hands.

  I take my time running my soapy palms all over his back, paying special attention to each scar. I work the backs of his legs and even make him lift each foot to get the soles of his feet. Once that’s done, I move to his front.

  He looks down at my heaving chest. My shirt is soaked, clinging to me like a second skin. My heart is pounding frantically in my chest, but not from exertion. No, that’s all Gunnar and his sexy body, but I make sure to take just as much time washing the rest of him.

  After I direct him under the spray to rinse off, he watches me, even letting the shampoo he puts in his hair drip over his eyes, as if making sure I won’t disappear.

  I step out of the shower and start to pull my clothes off. Gunnar shuts the water off and follows. If I didn’t hand him the towel, he probably wouldn’t have bothered. He seems way too interested in watching me.

  It was hard to ignore his erection in the shower, and it’s almost impossible now. I wrap the towel around my body and place my finger over my lips in a shushing manner.

  I flip the light off and crack the door open. Grim is still sprawled out on the bed, sleeping, resting, recovering, so I beckon Gunnar to follow me. Silently, we tiptoe out of my bedroom. I hear the sound of the television coming from downstairs. Calix must be home. I didn’t turn it on.

  A slight weight lifts from my shoulders. They’re all here with me, and I’m keeping them that way.

  I walk to the end of the hall and push open the door to one of the spare bedrooms. I don’t bother with the lights, but I think this room would suit Gunnar. It’s dark gray with deep maroon accents. The bed is a heavy dark metal that has an almost lacy filigree design. I drop the towel and reach for Gunnar’s around his waist.

  He steps up close to me and I tip my head back so I can see him. Gunnar takes it as an invitation to place his lips softly against mine. I sigh.

  His hand reaches around me and slides over my back, moving down to the bottom of my ass. He tugs me forward until I’m fitted tightly against him. He doesn’t tell me how badly he wants me, but he shows me.

  Each caress, each kiss, is punctuated with so much more than just desire. I reach up and run my fingers through his hair and grab the back of his neck, pulling him even closer as our kisses turn more urgent.

  Gunnar lifts me using only one hand, and walks us back to the bed. I smile against his lips. He knew right where it was, even in the dark. “You’re a stalker, Kitten.”

  Gunnar makes a growling sound and places me down. Wasting no time, he climbs over me.

  I pull him close, greedy for everything he has to offer. He’s slow and sweet when he kisses me, but his hands are rough as he runs them over my body, pinching and squeezing like he can’t help himself.

  I break from the kiss and tip my head back. Gunnar moves down my neck, licking and kissing the column of my throat. I wrap my hands around his head as he moves a little farther down, kissing both of my nipples before focusing on my right. My hips start to lift from the bed, searching for the friction I know he can give me.

  Instead of grinding down against me, Gunnar moves his lower body to the side and places his hand between my legs. I’m already wet when he dips one long finger inside me. He makes a satisfied sound and sucks on my nipple, hard. My hips lift to meet his hand, and his palm connects with my clit. I pant a few times, freezing, because I don’t want the feeling to stop. Gunnar slides his lower body closer to me while he’s turned on his side. I lift my hips and angle my body until his cock is at my entrance. I let out a small huff when I feel his heat so close to me, and another when he pushes his hips forward, gliding right inside my pussy.

  My head tilts back on the pillow as Gunnar lifts my leg in the air, holding my ankle while he pumps into me. I grab both of my breasts as he keeps up the perfect pace. Gunnar’s hot breath is near my ear, I can hear every sound he makes, every groan that passes his lips, and it makes me fucking hot.

  I grab his thigh and use it to rock harder against him. Gunnar drops my ankle and grabs my chin, roughly turning my face to kiss me. I melt under his touch and curl my leg so it’s wrapped around his ass. When he releases my chin, his hand snakes down my center, and he slides his fingers between my legs, easily finding my swollen clit.

  Gunnar’s steady rhythm picks up, and I get lost in the feeling of him in and around me. It seems like his hands are everywhere at once.

  “You thought I was a stalker before,” Gunnar purrs in my ear. It’s the first time he’s spoken.

  I chuckle and it ends on a moan when Gunnar circles my clit. “You don’t know me very well if you think I mind.”

  Gunnar shifts on the bed, rising up on his elbow and lifting my leg in the air again. He uses the leverage to deliver deeper, more forceful penetration. I miss his fingers between my legs, so I suck my middle finger into my mouth then c
ircle my clit just like he was.

  He starts pumping even faster, harder. I move my fingers lower and feel him sliding in and out of me. Each slap of his hips against mine makes my palm connect with my clit, and I’m spiraling closer to the edge, about to fall over.

  A low moan leaves my throat. My breaths are shallow pants, mingling with his. Another shift and Gunnar drops back to the pillow next to me, his face inches from my own, and slides the arm he was leaning on under my butt, rimming my asshole with the tip of his finger. I lift my hips in invitation. He pushes his finger in just a tiny bit, and I’m moaning out my release while he finger fucks my ass and drives his cock into my pussy.

  Gunnar places his forehead on my shoulder and gives me several more, hard strokes before groaning through his own release.

  I melt into the mattress, completely spent and sated. Gunnar removes his finger from my ass and curls his body over mine.

  I wiggle a bit in his tight grip after a few minutes of relaxing. He doesn’t let up; if anything, his grip tightens. “I need to use the bathroom to clean up.” I nuzzle my head on the pillow anyway.

  “Fine, but hurry up,” Gunnar orders, right back to mister bossy, but I know his secret—suspected as much all along. He really is a big sweetie when stroked.

  “You know what he does with all those marbles, right?” Grim asks, while sitting in the corner, eyeing Uncle. We’re on our second hand of cards and I can tell he’s a little nervous to be visiting while Grim’s here. I glare at him and purse my lips. “He uses them to lure the children away from their parents. Once he has them all alone, he steps out of the shadows and—”

  “Scares them!” Calix shouts, adding to the end of Grim’s tale and making me jump. I throw a handful of marbles at him, and Uncle makes that dry, raspy sound I know is his laugh.

  “Asshole,” I mutter without any heat. Calix chuckles and plops down next to me.

  “When is Aeson coming?” Gunnar is quick to follow Calix from the kitchen and stands near my chair.

  “She should be here soon.” I eye Grim. It’s been a few days since we went to the witch’s house. I still see the strain of what he did to save my friend around his eyes, but he promises he’s okay.

  “Is she bringing her boyfriends this time?” Calix singsongs.

  I shrug. “That’s up to her.” She stopped by two nights ago, with Enzi and a few others by her side, and wanted to know what we were planning to do about the witch.

  “No, I’m not,” Aeson mocks Calix, and struts into the living room, looking around.

  “Hey there, creepy.” She lifts her chin to Uncle, and he nods back.

  I place my cards down face up, so Uncle knows I’m done playing for now. He reaches over and scoops up all the marbles, even the ones he didn’t win, and dips them into his chest. I know without him saying that he’s leaving, but I also know that after tonight, he’ll be back, and so will my other monsters.

  I never thought I could have a life with someone—or three someones as it turned out—and keep the only family that ever stayed by me. “Tell Theius I miss him and to stop by. No one will bother him.” I lift my eyes to focus on Uncle. He nods and pats his chest before slinking out into the hall.

  “You know, I’ve never known him to spend time with anyone other than you.” Grim studies me.

  I shrug. “Maybe he was waiting for someone to give him an invitation.”

  Grim’s head bobs. “Or maybe, he’s just as drawn to you as the rest of us.”

  I scoff and pat the sofa. “Have a seat,” I say to Aeson.

  After taking her place, she looks around. “So, what are we going to do about the witch?” She gets right down to business.

  “Oh, we’ll kill him, and make sure that everyone he’s ever taught that ritual is dead, too. He can’t keep getting away with killing the Charmed and not paying the consequences,” I tell her what I’ve been thinking about for days.

  “Okay, so…” She’s perceptive, as always. “Any new info from the Pixies?”

  “Nothing. Everything that was linked to him has gone belly up in the last seventy-two hours,” Gunnar interjects.

  Aeson sits forward. “Tell me we have some other way to find him.”

  Grim raises his hand. “All my Reapers know I want to get notified of every Charmed death, no matter what the circumstances.”

  “So, we have to sit around and wait.” Aeson drops back to the couch.

  “What other options do we have? Vanessa’s entire coven is gone—dead or scattered. No one knows who he is.” The words taste like ash on my tongue, but I won’t lie to her.

  “That’s fucking bullshit.” She punches the sofa.

  “Believe me, I know,” I mutter, pissed off again. “But he’s been doing this a long time. He won’t be able to help himself. He’ll do it again, and when he does…we’ll catch his ass.”

  HAPPY HALLOWEEN

  Also by Albany Walker

  Infinity Chronicles Book One

  Infinity Chronicles Book Two

  Infinity Chronicles Book three

  Infinity Chronicles Book Four

  Get To You

  Becoming His

  About the Author

  I am, a mother, a wife, a reader and a writer. My truth, I believe in real life happily ever afters, but you have to work for them.

  If you enjoyed my book, or any other consider leaving a review.

  For updates:

  Readers Group Albany’s Agents

  Albanywalkerauthor@gmail.com

  https://albanywalkerauthor.wixsite.com/mysite