Simon Says (Guardians of the Dark Book 1)

by Bianca D'Arc

  His woman. Man, that sounded right, though it was a problem all the way around. He hadn’t intended to get mixed up with Mari again. He knew he’d hurt her the last time. In fact, it was kind of amazing she had forgiven him so easily. Regardless of her reasons, he was thankful for the past two days spent with her. It was a glimpse of Eden. Of what could have been if circumstances were different.

  Mariana was such a special woman. If he had the luxury of planning for a lifetime, he would want to spend it with someone just like her. Who was he fooling? He wanted to spend it with her. No one else. Only Mariana.

  She was the perfect woman for him. She matched him in every way. In fact, she far outclassed him in many ways. If she could put up with some of his more barbaric inclinations—which she had already demonstrated she could—then as a life partner, she would be perfect.

  Too bad his life was totally fucked up at present. The zombie attack had changed him in fundamental ways. He didn’t know how long the changes would last or if at some point in the future, they’d become fatal to him. He shouldn’t be thinking about the lonely decades possibly to come. He shouldn’t be dreaming about a life with Mariana in it. Not even a little.

  But he couldn’t help himself. Just like he couldn’t help touching her, wanting her, making love to her. When she was near, all his best intentions went right out the window. And when she was in danger, all his protective instincts went on high alert. Nothing would happen to her on his watch. Nothing.

  What happened after this crisis was over, well, that was up in the air. Right now, he would enjoy the days in her company and keep watch by night. He’d left her once and it had almost destroyed him. Only the thought that he’d done it for her own good had allowed him to stay away after his miraculous recovery from the zombie bite.

  He didn’t even have a scar to show for that horrific attack. In fact, he hadn’t scarred since, and the scars he’d already carried on his body from his life before, faded more with each passing day. He’d become like something out of a comic book and the only doctor he trusted, aside from Mariana, didn’t know how long the effect would last, or even if it wouldn’t somehow turn dangerous later.

  There were too many questions surrounding his condition. Too many variables in his life. Too much danger to drag Mariana into it again. No matter how badly he wanted her there, next to him, in his home and in his bed. For as long as he lived. However long that might be.

  “What time is it?” Mariana’s morning-rough voice greeted him from the other side of her bed.

  “About six, I think.” He pulled her into his arms, spooning her from behind and gave her a smacking kiss on the temple. “You can sleep in, if you want.”

  She turned in his embrace, nibbling her way down his jaw to a particularly sensitive spot on his neck. “What if I don’t want to sleep?”

  “Well then, my mother taught me never to argue with a lady.” He let his hands roam, cupping her softness and exploring the wet heat between her legs.

  “What if I’m not a lady?” One of his hands tightened on her breast, rubbing the nipple between thumb and forefinger until she squirmed in pleasure.

  “You’re always a lady, Mari, even when you’re a siren, luring men to your bed.” He dipped his head and licked her nipple, soothing her and driving her higher. Sucking her in deep, he didn’t let up until he heard her moan.

  “Men?” Her voice was a breathy, teasing taunt. “There’s only one man I’m interested in.”

  “Good thing.” He lifted his head and turned her so she lay on her stomach. He then raised her hips and stuffed a pillow beneath to support her. Leaning close, he whispered in her ear. “Because I don’t share.” Finishing his possessive statement with a playful nip to her earlobe, he drew back, hovering over her, admiring the line of her sinuous back. Her skin glowed, enticing him. She truly was the siren he’d named her.

  “Is that a promise?” She grinned at him over her shoulder, ever the coquette, and he felt his body tighten even more. She knew just what to say, just what to do, to make him want to explode.

  The thing was, if he had his way, she would never know another man’s touch again. He would never share her. He would keep her all to himself. But that was a dream for another time.

  One hand drifted down her spine to her core, testing her readiness. She was warm, wet, and if her wiggling was any indication, more than willing.

  Reaching into the open drawer in her nightstand, he fished out another condom and made short work of slipping it on. Then he bent over her, surrounding her with his larger frame to whisper in her ear.

  “Do you want me, Mari?”

  “Yes.” Her breath caught as he moved into position behind her. He liked that. Oh, yes, he liked that very much, indeed.

  “How much?” He teased her wet folds with the tip of his cock. She was quivering, just slightly, around him.

  “Simon! I want you more than anything. Please. Oh, please.” She gasped as he slid into her from behind. She was morning soft and wet with arousal, making his way easy.

  “That’s my girl.” He tried to keep his rhythm slow and easy but she was too much for him. She always had been. No other woman could make him so hot so fast or keep him on the knife’s edge longer. Only his Mari.

  He stroked into her deep, hard, and long, just the way he knew she liked it. He guided her hips as she began to move back against him, urging him onward, into an ever increasing rhythm.

  “Faster, Simon!” Her voice became hoarse with reaction as her head thrashed.

  “Your wish,” he panted as he sped his thrusts, “is my command.”

  Before long, she was making those little sounds of arousal on every inward glide and he felt her inner muscles clench around him. The grip of her body gave him that little extra edge of sensation that only she had ever given him.

  “Are you with me, baby?” His hands cupped her hips, gripping hard as he pressed within her.

  “Simon.” His name was drawn from her lips as two separate, long syllables. Yeah, his little tigress was with him. “Simon! I’m so close.”

  So was he. It wouldn’t take much more. All he wanted was for her to come hard, and she would take him with her. Reaching under her with one hand, he teased her clit with his fingers. She clenched hotly around him and screamed his name. Music to his ears.

  Oh yeah. She was coming and he wasn’t far behind.

  “Do it, baby. Do it for me.”

  She cried out and her body shook beautifully around him. A second later, he followed her over, into the void where only pleasure existed. The two of them and the greatest pleasure he’d ever known, or would ever know. The pleasure of Mari. His Mari. His woman.

  It took a long time for them to recover. Eventually the glow of the setting sun, just visible around the edges of Mariana’s bedroom curtains, roused them both to action. Simon got up and grabbed a five-minute shower, then left the bathroom to Mariana while he put together a simple meal in her kitchen for them to share.

  “Mmm, what did you cook? It smells good.” Mariana took him by storm, coming up behind him and enveloping him in that wonderful scent that was hers alone. He turned and took her into his arms for a lazy kiss. She was warm and her hair was still a bit damp from her shower. She felt like heaven to him.

  “I raided your cupboards. Hope you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind a bit. What’s mine is yours.”

  Including her heart? He wasn’t sure he really wanted to know. One part of him wanted her love, another part—the more sensible part—knew no good could come of it. He’d hurt her before and would likely hurt her again. He hoped, for her sake, she hadn’t fallen in love with him. It was bad enough to leave her hurt. He would hate to leave her heartbroken as well.

  “Let’s eat, then I have to get out there. I want you safely locked in before dark.”

  They ate, making easy conversation. She told him about her life since they’d parted and amused him with funny stories from the research project she had been
involved with until a few months ago.

  “So you continued in research? I knew that’s what you’d hoped to do.”

  “It took some time, but eventually a space opened up for me on a more advanced project. I was working on a live trial of dietary supplements, charting how different natural substances like vitamins and certain enzymes affected the performance of soldiers in the field. It was interesting work and the leader of the project, Doctor Amelia Jones, is a brilliant scientist. She promised to give me a sterling recommendation should I decide to try for a research post in civilian life. She doesn’t do that often, so I guess I impressed her. She has a bit of a hardnosed reputation, but she’s a truly gifted scientist. That grants her a lot of leeway.”

  “I have no doubt you wowed her with your brilliance.” He meant every word. Mariana possessed one of the brightest minds he had ever encountered. “So how did you end up manning the clinic?”

  “Since I’m leaving the Navy shortly, they wanted to give me time to train my replacement on the research team. They managed to get him early, so I wound up with a little overlapping time. The clinic needed staffing after the last rotation. I’ve been here for a few months working out the rest of my time. Lucky for you.”

  “Very lucky for me, indeed.” He toasted her with his water glass as they finished their meal of canned soup, vegetables, and salad from Mariana’s refrigerator.

  Simon would have said more, but just then his phone came to life, vibrating urgently in his pocket.

  He stood and moved into the living room for a few minutes to take the call. When he returned, he had his pack over his shoulder and was fishing out a clip of darts. He handed it to Mariana with a grim twist to his lips.

  “Sykes was doing a flyover and spotted the mailman walking out in the open on Webster Road. He didn’t look good.” His expression darkened. “I’m going over there. You stay here and hunker down. I’ll be back to check on you after I take care of this, before I go out again. That Marine is still out there and he gets cleverer by the day.”

  He drew her in for a quick hug and she kissed him with all the emotion she couldn’t put into words. “Be careful, Simon.”

  “Always. You know how to reload the pistol, right?” He pressed the clip of darts into her hand as she nodded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Lock the door after me and stay out of sight.”

  He paused for one last kiss at the door and then he was gone, melting into the woods in the direction of Webster Road. He could’ve taken her SUV, but she knew Simon could get there in half the time by cutting through the woods, rather than taking the meandering backcountry roads.

  Mariana reloaded the pistol first thing. She would have the full six shots if anything tried to get in. She had already barricaded the largest of the windows and locked the dead bolts on both doors. She decided to close off the bedroom and spare room and spend her time in the kitchen and living room. Those were the largest rooms in the house and both had doors to the outside. If anything sent her into retreat, she could always get out of the house and make a run for it, barring unforeseen circumstances.

  About fifteen minutes after Simon left, she heard a noise outside, on the far side of the house. Tiptoeing into the spare room she took a look out the window. That room had a good vantage point for that side of the house.

  Her skittering pulse pounded in her ears when she saw the shape of a man walking steadily toward the house from the woods. His face was intact, but his skin looked a ghastly gray and his eyes were menacingly vacant. He was wearing blood spattered fatigues. This was the last missing Marine and he was heading straight for her house.

  Mariana dialed Simon’s number and prayed while the phone rang. He picked up on the second ring.

  “Simon, he’s here! The Marine. He just walked out of the woods and he’s heading for the house.”

  “Hold tight, Mari. I’m on my way. The mailman was a diversion. I got him, but he led me on quite a chase. I’m out past Webster Road and will have to double back. Stay hidden if you can.”

  She heard a scratching sound against the side of the house and saw the Marine round the corner. He was heading for the front.

  “He’s going around front,” she whispered, desperate fear edging into her voice.

  “Stay out of sight, Mari.” It sounded like he was running and his voice was breathy.

  She headed for the front of the house, wanting to keep tabs on where the zombie was, so she could avoid him. She heard a bang and her heart leapt into her throat.

  As she entered the living room, the small window nearest her smashed and a fist opened just feet from her head. Long, yellow claws tipped the fingers on a hand that had once been human. She still didn’t really understand what it was about the contagion that made their nails grow to hard claws after death, but thought it was probably as part of the semi-petrifaction process. The thought came out of the part of her mind that could still reason, the part that observed the unfolding events in a sort of calm horror.

  The rest of her was scared shitless and trembling in fear.

  She screamed as the clawed hand rent the air in front of her face.

  “What’s going on?” Simon demanded, his voice a tinny shout from the tiny speaker in the phone.

  “He broke through the window in the living room, but it’s too small. He can’t get in that way.”

  Apparently the zombie realized that at around the same time. The arm retreated from the broken window and the creature moved to the front door. Running, Mariana threw whatever furniture she could in front of it, barring the way. The couch, the small bookcase, a chair, and whatever else she could scrounge went in front of the wooden door.

  Just in time, as it turned out. The creature began pounding against the door. It sounded like he was throwing all his weight against it and she watched in terror as the pile of furniture began to move—just slightly—inward.

  “Hold on, Mari. I’m—”

  The call disconnected. She’d lost contact with Simon!

  The phone was dead in her hand and she didn’t dare spare the time to redial. She had to take care of herself until he could get here. She had the pistol and if she could get a clear shot, she’d take it.

  Maneuvering around to the side, she watched the gap between the broken door and the pile of furniture widen by slow degrees. When the arm reached through again she aimed and fired. She tried to hit the fleshy part of his upper arm, but missed. This one was faster than the others she’d seen. He’d pulled his arm back hastily when the pistol went off, ruining her shot.

  She still had five darts loaded and a few more in the kitchen if it came to that. The eerie sort of moaning sound the others had made transformed into loud groaning and grunting sounds with this one. He was stronger, too. He looked as if he had been in the prime of life when he’d died, at the peak of his physical strength and stamina.

  Mariana was in trouble. This one wouldn’t go down as easy as Becky Sue. He was no soft civilian. This was a highly trained soldier. She wasn’t sure if it made any difference, but this guy had to be one of the first zombies created in the lab. His face was still intact from what she’d seen, though oddly discolored, as was the rest of his skin.

  He was probably responsible for making others like him—for killing innocent civilians, including Becky Sue, her grandmother, and the poor postman. This was a killing machine spawning horror in its wake.

  He shouldered through the widening opening in the door and she fired again.

  “Shit!” She missed again as he jerked back. She was down to four rounds in her pistol. She had to make them count.

  The pile of furniture moved again; the gap between door and barricade widened an inch more. Mariana eyed the furniture pile. In another two or three inches, the couch would wedge up against where the closet wall jutted out from the far wall. It would be nearly impossible to move after that unless something in the pile of furniture shifted or broke under the creature’s weight.

  But he would also be a few more inc
hes into the house. Would that be enough for him to squeeze inside? She said a quick prayer that it wouldn’t.

  Just in case, she backed toward the kitchen door. She could barricade herself in there if she had to and still be able to flee through the back door if he managed to get into the living room and made inroads on the door leading from there into the kitchen. It was a sound plan. Too bad she was shaking like a leaf contemplating her retreat.

  She just had to buy time until Simon could get here. He had been after this creature for weeks now. He would put an end to this thing once and for all, as was only fitting.

  Unless she got a clear shot in the meantime, of course. The zombie shouldered farther into her living room and she took another shot. Another miss. She cursed herself. She was better than this but panic was making her take chances she shouldn’t be taking.

  Three darts left in the pistol. The couch bumped up against the closet wall and stuck. Ominous snapping sounds told her some of the furniture pile wasn’t holding up and the barricade moved a lot farther inward than she expected. Time to retreat.

  Mariana saw the creature. He actually made eye contact. His eyes were narrowed as if in anger, but otherwise blank. He saw her, but there wasn’t any real sign of life in his gaze, only a vapid intentness that sent chills down her spine.

  She fired one last shot and retreated through the kitchen door. He flinched, but she couldn’t be sure if it was from being hit by her dart, or a quick move that saved him from it. Either way, he was too close. She had to retreat.

  She scrambled into the kitchen and moved the refrigerator, table, chairs, and anything else she could in front of the door that led from the living room to the kitchen. The zombie might get into the living room. She had conceded that ground. If he tried to get in here, though, she would be able to retreat through the door leading to her backyard. It was locked, of course, but she could flip the dead bolt and be through it in a matter of seconds, if necessary.