Eternal Void (Isabella Espinoza Book 2)

by K Hanson

  He took a drink, and then looked down at the ground. “I’ll think about it, is that enough?”

  “That’s fine.” I grinned. “You know, it was pretty badass coming in with those guns on your trucks.”

  He laughed, glancing away. “Yeah, I’ll give you that one. It felt pretty cool.”

  “And the way they tore through the night stalkers, it was the perfect way of fighting them.”

  “Speaking of, I’m not sure how to say it, but I think you have a bit of night stalker still in your hair.” He reached up and combed a finger along a strand of hair, pulling out a bloody bit.

  I cringed. “That’s gross. At least the water should be about ready now. I’m going to go clean off. Then we can see what else we can do to relax?”

  Arching an eyebrow at him as I stood up, I let my jacket fall from my shoulders, and then tossed it onto the couch. I turned away and strutted out of the room and into the bathroom.

  My gross, bloody clothes stuck to me as I peeled them off and let them pile up on the floor. I’d deal with them later.

  I stepped into the shower, turning on the water. The warm water felt glorious. I shut my eyes as the heat flowed over me, rinsing off the grime and unnamed bits of gross shit. The heat relaxed my muscles.

  I ran my fingers through my hair, getting the last bits of blood out of it.

  The floor creaked outside the shower. Knowing who it was, my heart fluttered. I pulled the curtain back to see Jack standing in the doorway.

  “You just going to wait there? Or do you want to join me?” I asked.

  “It is a great view, so I could just watch.”

  “But where’s the fun in that?” I bit my lip in anticipation.

  He smiled and lifted his shirt, revealing his toned abs and chest. His physique was just the right amount of muscular. Each muscle stood out, but it wasn’t quite to the level of a bodybuilder. Someone who stayed in shape just by doing things rather than really trying.

  My stomach did a flip as I imagined running my hands all over him, though I wouldn’t have to wait long.

  He stepped into the shower behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He pressed his body to my back, and I could feel the warmth radiating from his skin. He reached up next to me, took the soap, and slathered some on his hands.

  Then, he ran his hands over my stomach, my sides, my breasts. I gasped as he traced his soapy fingers around my nipples.

  As his hands slid down my hips and traced along the base of my rear end, he leaned against me, kissing along my neck. Despite the hot water running over me and the warm body pressing against me, I shivered.

  He was driving me crazy.

  After a moment, he leaned back and ran his hands up my back, lightly massaging in circles around my spine. His calloused hands reached my neck, and then he slid his hands through my hair. Somehow, as he massaged my scalp, it felt more intimate than anything we had done up to that point. That was something for a real relationship.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t wait. My hands longed to touch him, too.

  With a deep, excited breath, I turned around and pressed my hands against his chest. My fingers traced around his pecs, his shoulders, and down his arms, his solid muscles giving me a thrill as I explored them. Eager for more, I grabbed his hands and pulled him toward me, pressing my lips against the base of his jaw. I kissed along his jawline until I reached his strong, wide chin. I teased around his mouth before I pressed against him.

  Our mouths parted, and our tongues danced together, and I gave myself to a passion that I craved, and needed. As his arms held me against him and he teased my lower lip with a nibble, I sensed the same longing in him. It had been too long since we had done anything like this. And it felt hotter and better than anything we had done before. I ran my fingers up and down his back, enjoying every inch of his warm skin.

  But still, I wanted more. Keeping my mouth against his, I stepped back just enough that I could fit my hand between us. I traced down his side and across his abdomen, feeling the definition of the muscles that pressed against my hand. I felt lower until I wrapped my hand around him. I started slowly, stroking up and down his shaft. He gasped into my mouth, and I grew hotter and more aroused as I held him in my hand.

  He gently thrust back and forth along with the movement of my hand. I still wanted more, though. I felt behind me, turned off the water, then grabbed Jack by the hand and led him out of the shower. I pushed him back so he was leaning against the counter and knelt in front of him.

  I started by teasing him with my tongue, running it around the tip, and up and down the shaft. His breathing became shallow. I looked up at him, and he gazed back into my eyes. I held his eye contact with my eagerness as I took him into my mouth and worked him deeper and deeper.

  I closed my eyes as I took most of him into my mouth, nearly to my throat, swirling my tongue around him as I did.

  With his groans above me, I went faster and faster before slowing down and pulling back.

  While I sucked on him, his hands ran through my hair, gently holding me close to him. His fingertips on my scalp tightened. I loved knowing I could make him feel this great.

  I pulled back and stood up.

  “Follow me,” I said, taking his hand. I led him out of the bathroom and toward the bedroom, walking with a sway in my hips to give him a great view of my ass.

  Inside the bedroom, I pulled him on top of me as I lay back on the bed.

  His hardness pressed just against the lower part of my abdomen as he started kissing along my cheek and neck. I placed my hands on his shoulders and pushed him lower. The kisses were sweet, but I no longer craved sweet. I wanted hot and sexy.

  The good news was that Jack wasn’t an idiot, and he took the hint. He traced his kisses down my chest, running his tongue in little circles around the edges of each of my breasts, and moved inward to lick around my nipples. He took my right in his mouth, sucking on it as he licked over the tip.

  As he moved to the left nipple, his hand stroked along the side of my waist, down my hip, and along my thigh. Goosebumps formed on my skin as his hand slid across my leg to my inner thigh, and then back up. His fingers brushed the area between my legs, lightly caressing along my lips. The dual sensation of him sucking on my breasts and touching me drove me wild. I ground my hips against his hand, and he slid a finger into me. I gasped, arching my back. He was teasing me, pushing me hotter and higher with each movement, with each moment.

  His mouth kissed down my stomach, lightly tickling me with the stubble of his beard. Then his tongue reached my clit. He licked around it while his fingers worked their magic inside of me.

  It was time for more. I wanted all of him inside me.

  “I need you, Jack,” I whispered. “I want to feel you.”

  He stood up and grabbed my hips, pulling me toward the edge of the bed, so that my ass almost dangled over the side. He lifted my legs up and apart, lined himself up with me, and then slid inside me. He pressed ahead slowly, inch by inch filling me. I was already hot and wet, and the sensation of him inside me was what I so wanted.

  When he was all the way inside, he pulled back slowly. It taunted me, leaving me empty and craving him again even more.

  He thrust back into me, harder and faster, and pumped his hips into me. I reached up and ran my hands along his strong forearms, the muscles working as he held onto my legs. I was so used to being in control, that it felt amazing to let go and have someone be powerful over me for once. I pulled on his arms, and he lowered himself onto me, his chest against mine. The weight of him against me, the muscles against my breasts, made me feel so close to him.

  I wrapped my hands around the back of his neck and pulled his mouth to mine. Our lips locked, and our tongues twirled around each other. We were fully connected, a union of flesh whose only purpose was pure ecstasy.

  The waves of pleasure and passion crested ever higher and higher, until they overflowed and sent us both over the edge. A tingle of
fire spread through my body, lighting every nerve with pleasure. He slowed his thrusts, taking his time to let things settle down as we each rode the high until it ended. Then, we collapsed together on the bed. I pulled him alongside me, and he draped an arm over me.

  “Wow, I think that was our best time yet,” he said, burying his face into the top of my head.

  Unlike the last times, I wasn’t annoyed at him talking after sex.

  “I think so. Maybe we can keep practicing the next time we see each other,” I said, tossing him a seductive smile.

  “I’ll never say no.”

  I nestled in closer against him. “It was a great break from what’s outside. I needed this, to spend time with you, someone reliable.”

  “Me? Reliable?” He laughed. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.”

  I hesitated, planting a light kiss on his forearm. “You’ve been there for me when it’s mattered, Jack. And that means a lot to me.”

  He nodded, tracing his fingers through my hair and along my scalp. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation.

  “That means a lot coming from you, Isabella. I know this isn’t easy for you. And I know you’ve had your reservations about me. I enjoy our time together, too. Hopefully, we can rely on each other for a long time to come.”

  We snuggled up closer together and pulled the blankets around us, settling into the best few hours of sleep I’d had in a long time: warm, in the embrace of someone I cared about, and away from the stress of the darkness outside.

  A while later, I woke to a kiss alongside my cheek. I smiled as I remembered Jack next to me, the positive energy of the night before still sitting in my heart. I started to turn toward him, but he pulled away.

  “I have to leave, Isabella,” he said, sitting up on the edge of the bed. He had already dressed without me noticing him get up, and his jacket sat on the bed next to him. He ran a hand over his face. “My crew and I need to head out.”

  That magical feeling slipped away, and my smile fell. “You can’t spend just a few more minutes here?”

  For the first time, I didn’t want to see him go. I wanted us to spend as long as I could huddled away from the world’s craziness. Rose was probably still busy with the injured, and there was no point in interrupting her. I had nowhere to go, and I wanted to spend that time with Jack.

  What could possibly make him want to leave?

  As he stood, I grabbed him by the hand. “What’s so important that you’ll leave a bed with me in it?”

  He smiled down at me. “I remember a time when you couldn’t wait to get out of bed, get dressed, and leave. I must be growing on you.”

  I glanced away, not quite sure what to say.

  He stroked my cheek with his free hand. “I’ll be back eventually, Isabella.”

  “Maybe, but eventually isn’t now. Whatever you have to do, it can wait.”

  He gazed at the door, chewing on his lip, clearly torn between what he wanted to do and what he needed to do. When he frowned, my heart sank, and I knew what his decision was.

  CHAPTER 14

  Jack was about to leave me. When he stepped out that door, I’d be left alone once again, with my memories and thoughts about everything that had happened the last couple of days. His warmth against me had been my best and last defense against the feelings that threatened to invade my mind.

  “I really do need to go, Isabella,” Jack said. “I don’t want to, but this next customer isn’t someone who waits. We’re already running behind, and I think we bought ourselves just enough time by telling them we were answering your distress call. We’re probably just about at the end of their patience, and we can’t be in that spot. But I want to do this again soon.”

  “Who is this customer that can’t wait?” I asked.

  “Looking to arrest the people I work with?” He tossed me a teasing smirk.

  I frowned, but I wasn’t in the mood for an argument.

  “When will you be at Glenview Station again?”

  “A couple of days. Will you be there?” he asked.

  “I’ll try to be. Then we can do this at my place.”

  “I’d like that.” He smiled down at me and started to pull his hand away.

  Before he slipped from my grasp, I tightened my grip and pulled him down toward me. I sat up, pressing my mouth to his. For a small moment, time stopped, and we were united in our own warm bubble. Then he pulled away, and the warmth melted away.

  “See you later, Isabella.” He grabbed his jacket and swept out the door.

  When it shut behind him, it seemed to punctuate the arrival of my loneliness once again, leaving me with an icy void. It was strange feeling that way, but after getting a sense for what it meant to be with someone as more than just a fuck buddy, now it left behind new kind of emptiness.

  I turned over onto my side and struggled to sleep for the next couple of hours, but never truly settled into anything restful.

  Finally, too frustrated with trying to sleep, I tossed the blankets aside and climbed out of bed. I hurried to dress myself, and then pulled the sheets off the bed, tossed them into a hamper, and found a clean set in a closet. I figured it was the least we could do after having sex in someone else’s bed.

  Out in the living room, I cleaned up our drinks and even scraped a layer of grime off the stove with a spare brush that was out in the kitchen. We hadn’t made that mess, but staying busy kept my mind from dwelling on things I’d rather not think about.

  Not that I succeed in keeping my mind occupied, especially with the scent of Jack still lingering in the house. My damned sense of smell was maybe the most annoying of my enhanced senses, as I could detect even the faintest whiff of something. Usually, it was bothersome because of a foul smell. This time, because of a pleasant one.

  Eventually, I was tired of being alone in the house. I slid my pistol into my holster and my knife back into its sheath and then set out into the community.

  Outside the cathedral, I passed the cemetery where they had laid out the corpses of those who hadn’t made it. A handful of people were digging graves in the newest section. A few friends and families tossed flowers or keepsakes into the holes, saying goodbye to their fallen loved ones.

  The guard patrols were still on alert, with more manpower out and about after the attack. Hammers clanged and power tools whirred from the direction of the gate.

  I rounded the corner of the building and strode toward where the guards were working. A couple of them struggled to lift a new section of wall, so I hurried over and got underneath it with them. Even alone, I probably could have handled it, but I didn’t want to make them feel bad, so I let them keep helping as we eased it upright.

  “Thank you,” one of them said as the sheet metal plate clanked up against the newly planted supports. Another guard came over and secured it in place with a wrench and bolts.

  “How are you guys holding up?” I asked. “It’s been quite a night.”

  They all shook their heads.

  One of them rubbed his neck as he gazed down at the ground. “It’s been tough. We’ve survived for a long time with some of these people, then this happens. It felt like it was all going to slip away when those creatures came into the camp. It just reminds us that the only thing keeping us safe is these walls. If they’re gone, so are we.”

  “You did well. All of you.” It wouldn’t help to remind them about how some of them panicked and fled. Not all of them had been trained for this kind of thing. Hell, I wasn’t, but I had the benefit of my new abilities. “Just keep focusing on moving forward. When shit gets real, that’s the only thing you can do. But this is a good start,” I said, slapping the wall. “Keep yourselves busy. It’s the best way to feel like it’s getting better.”

  They nodded, though I’m not sure how much I helped make them feel better. I knew how they felt but wanted to at least fake some optimism if it lifted their spirits.

  If I wanted to actually feel better, I needed to make some progress. That me
ant it was time to see what David, Amari, and Rose were up to. I strode back to the entrance to the cathedral, climbed up the steps, and slipped into the door.

  The scene inside had changed over the last several hours. A large number of people still laid out on cots, but they had been bandaged and appeared to just be resting.

  James, my guard friend, also lay on a cot just outside the medical area, the stump of his leg wrapped in a thick bandage. A slow IV drip trickled down into his arm. His face was peaceful, though it would be a tough recovery for him. I couldn’t imagine what it was like to lose a limb.

  I stepped into the medical station, brushing the curtain aside. Rose sat on her stool, slumped on her desk, snoring. David sat in a chair, looking over some notes, while Amari lounged on a cot with an open book in her hand, though her eyes seemed to focus past the pages as if distracted.

  David looked up at me. “Ah, Isabella. I hope you had a relaxing few hours. You deserved it. I heard Jack and his crew leave not long ago. It was quite fortuitous that they’d arrived.”

  As David spoke, Rose started from her sleep. She sat up, rubbed her eyes, and turned toward us. Circles hung below her eyes, which were red from fatigue.

  “Mmm, how long was I out?” she asked David.

  “Maybe an hour or so.”

  “Shit, too long.” She snatched up a clipboard from the desk and ran a finger down a list. “I hadn’t meant to fall asleep.”

  She tapped a line on her list, hopped off her stool, and then grabbed some bandages from a shelf next to her desk. Her hand bumped an unopened box of gloves onto the floor.

  “You needed the rest,” David said as he picked up the box and returned it to the shelf. “And you’re no use if you can barely keep your eyes open.”

  “True, but people here need me.”

  “You’ve done what you can for now. All of the wounded are resting.” David gestured to the patients on the cots. “They just need to be on their own for now.”

  “How bad was it?” I asked.