“You need to come with us, Sammy. We have a lot to explain. And you need to be there for Jonty when he wakes.”
Sammy nodded. Despite everything, when she looked into this man’s eyes she felt the same honor and trustworthiness she saw in Jonty’s. Her instincts told her she could trust him, but nevertheless, she needed to be sure. She inhaled deeply. “Can I just see for myself that he’s okay?”
The man holding her stepped her toward Jonty’s body and let her go when she was standing over him. She fell onto her knees beside him. Gently, she touched her hand to his face and stroked the hair from his forehead. He was warm. She placed her hand on his chest. His heart was beating, his lungs slowly rising and falling with each peaceful breath. He was alive. She kissed his still lips. Thank God he was alive.
Chapter 14
When Jonty woke his pulse was racing. “Where is she?” he screamed into the void between the bedroom walls.
He sat up and got his bearings—a hotel room. He looked left then right. She was there, sitting on a chair at the foot of the bed. He jumped up onto his knees, but fell back onto the bed, his head finding the soft pillows. His balance was distorted, as though he had been endlessly spinning around.
“Sammy?” he rasped.
Sammy was already on her feet. She crawled over the bed to find the space beside him. She lay down and wrapped her arm around him. He nestled closer, yearning for her warmth.
Jonty kissed her—frantic, desperate kisses. “What’s going on? Where am I?”
“Everything’s fine, Jonty. Please, just relax. We’re safe. You’re safe. I’m safe.”
Jonty’s chest was heaving, his eyes wide with panic. “How? What happened?”
Sammy laughed. “If you’ll stay quiet for just a second I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you everything.”
He pressed his lips against her warm lips, just to make doubly sure she was real. “I thought it was the end, Sammy. I thought I’d lost you.” He quickly scanned her body. “Are you hurt?”
She smiled. “I’m fine. I’m absolutely fine.”
“But how? Where’s Commander?”
“He’s waiting in the next room.”
Jonty tried to sit again, but he fell forward, moaning. Sammy’s tender touch tugged him back against the pillows.
“He thought it best that I be the one to tell you, so you don’t try and do anything rash again. The commander knows you’d do anything for me—even kill one of your own, which I now understand is monumental for you to even contemplate.”
He pressed his hand to his head and closed his eyes. The spinning wouldn’t cease. “What did they shoot me with—a tranquilizer?”
“An electric current that temporarily short-circuited your mind.”
He nodded. Of course. And Sammy was right, he would have killed every one of the Greys if it meant he got to stay with her. “Are they sending me home?”
Sammy kissed him, so softly, and stroked her finger down his cheek. “No. That choice is yours.”
His thoughts were a thick soup of confusion. He couldn’t make sense of them, or the situation. He clenched his eyes closed. “The choice is mine?”
“Once I tell you what I know, you’ll need to make a decision.”
He opened his eyes again and looked at Sammy. She was glowing gold; so bright and pure she was. His heart thrummed in his chest. Despite the swirling mass of his thoughts, he could discern one at least—he loved her. That’s all I need to know.
“You were right about me, Jonty. I’m a Grey.”
He nodded.
A smile curled her lips. “In fact, I am one of the very first Greys.”
“And that’s why you’re being hunted by the Dark Walkers—they want to stop the race from ever coming into existence?”
“Or alter the race by tainting my offspring with their evil.”
He sighed heavily and looked up to the ceiling. “Just like we thought. And the commander knew all this?”
When he looked at her again, she nodded. “They’ve known about me for a while.”
His neck tightened. “And yet they didn’t intercept earlier?”
“No. They needed the course of history to play out how it needed to.”
He drew a noisy breath in through his nose. “They could have at least had someone monitoring you.”
She placed a palm on his chest and smiled. “They had the best man on the job, when the time called for it.”
“Me?” he asked, eyebrows arching high. “I was the one meant to protect you?”
“Yes—and love me,” she whispered.
He closed his eyes. “And you were meant to love me?”
She nodded. “And you were meant to make love to me.”
His breaths grew shallow. His eyes wandered over her face. “What are you saying?”
“We start the Grey race, Jonty. You and me and our love for each other is how the Greys begin.”
“We start the race—you mean we have a child together?”
She placed her hand over her stomach. “It’s very, very early, but your seed is sprouting.”
He followed her hand and rest his own upon hers. “You’re pregnant?”
She smiled. “Yes. The commander could see that I am and I can feel that I am.”
Jonty’s eyes misted as he trailed his fingers over Sammy’s stomach. The heat of this life, nestled in her womb, warmed his hand. He smiled. So new was this life, yet so strong he could perceive it—vibrant and wholesome. He had closed down his abilities the last few days to keep out the commander and he missed the tell-tale signs that a child was growing inside Sammy. A child they made together.
He looked at Sammy. Her dazzling eyes were dancing and a lingering smile touched her lips. He felt breathless, weightless. Sammy burst into giggles, which were contagious. Jonty laughed out loud.
“That’s incredible news,” he said, kissing her hard. “Such incredible news.”
“I know. I’m so happy and relieved.”
He finally allowed his thoughts to open up completely, letting the commander in. Jonty let out a long sigh when he felt his amiability regarding the situation—there was no disappointment or anger. The commander always knew that someone from the future would start the Grey race, but he didn’t know who until two days past.
“You are so very special to me, Jonty. To us all.”
Jonty released a long breath, filling the air with his relief. “My brother Marcus—I don’t think he was to blame for what happened to him.”
“You’re right, Jonty. Marcus was never a traitor. We know that now. It was he who was destined to begin the Grey race. The Dark Walkers knew this, so they intercepted in the worst way. We lost a good soldier and one of our first Grey women on that fateful night. Thankfully, destiny found you. But like all alterations to the past, no matter how noble, with your decisions come consequences.”
Jonty pressed his palms to his eyes. His throat was tight and painful. He swallowed hard, not wanting to lose what little composure he had despite the relief that washed through his body. The shadow of his brother, clouding his beliefs and his thoughts, finally receded. For the first time in five years, Jonty felt free.
“The commander is okay with us,” he said, looking at Sammy.
She grinned. “Yes. More than okay. He’s proud of you. It is your blood and your spirit that helps make a new civilization of people that will change this world for the better. The commander showed me the Greys’ history—it’s simply beautiful.”
Jonty nodded. “It is. And remember, it’s your blood and spirit too.” He placed his hand on her belly again. “Did he explain the ins and outs of time travel? The restrictions?”
Sammy’s smile fell from her face when she heard the seriousness of his tone. “No.”
“People who’ve only ever existed in the past are unable to forward travel. Because in the future you don’t yet exist and, therefore, can never exist there.”
Sammy fidgeted and kept her gaze on her hands. “So,
if you want to go back to your home, I can’t go with you?”
Jonty nodded. “That’s right. And...”
“And?”
“Time travel is only permitted if it becomes an issue of national security—it certainly isn’t allowed on a whim. For me to stay here with you and the baby, I would need to forfeit my entire life, my home, and my family in the future.”
“So that’s the decision you have to make?”
Jonty forced a smile. Yes, staying with Sammy meant staying permanently in the twenty-first century, but there was no decision to make. “I could never live without you, Sammy. You’re in my blood and in my brain and in my soul.”
“I won’t let you give up everything for me. I can’t do that. I didn’t realize that was the choice you had to make.”
“Too late.” He stroked her hair behind her ear and kissed her pouting lips. “I love you. You’re all I ever need. You and this baby are what’s important to me. We can make a life together here and now. I know we can.”
“You love me?” she asked, voice as gentle as gossamer.
“Yes. So much.”
Sammy smiled. “I love you too, and I always want you to be a part of my life.” She touched her fingers to her belly. “Our life.”
Jonty’s stomach clenched as he heard his commander’s voice. “She is even more vulnerable to the Dark Walkers now. Don’t be complacent. It isn’t over yet.”
Chapter 15
Jonty’s body tensed. It sent shock waves through Sammy. All was still not settled, despite the joy she felt for her pregnancy and Jonty’s reciprocated love.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
He sat upright, pressed his hand to his head, and closed his eyes. “We need to move again. We need to get you to a safe haven.”
Scalding tingles of dread rode her veins through her body. “Are they coming?” There was so much more at stake now that she was carrying the future of the Greys in her womb, and the safety of this child meant everything to her.
“Not yet, but you can be assured they will. Once word gets out about our child, they won’t stop at anything now to get to you.”
Sammy’s heart sprinted, muscles began to twitch. “Tell me what I need to do.”
Slowly, Jonty made it to a standing position. He looked off-balance, pale. “I need to talk to Commander first.”
Sammy nodded. “Sure. Do what you have to do to keep our baby safe.”
Jonty gripped her shoulders, looking her intensely in the eyes. “I can promise you that much. I’ll do everything, and more.”
She felt the conviction in his words and saw the determination in his eyes. She trusted him implicitly.
* * * *
Jonty had been gone for over an hour and nighttime had descended. Sammy rolled off the bed and paced back and forth across the room. It was the not knowing that she hated the most. Not knowing where they were going, what the Dark Walkers were planning, or when they were leaving for this so-called safe haven.
She marched to the door and heaved it open, determined to find out all the information she didn’t have. But when she poked her head out to peer down the hall, Jonty was walking toward the room, along with Commander Terse.
Before she had a chance to ask any questions, she was escorted from the hotel, and bundled into the back seat of a black high-performance car. Jonty jumped in the back seat with her while Commander Terse took the wheel. The car screeched away and they were speeding along the highway, accompanied by a convoy of three other vehicles.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Jonty took her hand and kissed the back of it. “We have a compound in the desert, about five hours drive from here. It’s safer for you and we have more men there.”
“More men? More men for what?”
“I won’t lie to you, Sammy. The Dark Walkers are determined to stop the Greys from ever coming into existence. We need more men to fight them.”
“They want our baby dead?” she said, cradling her free hand maternally over her stomach.
Jonty drew a deep breath in and kissed the back of her hand again. “Don’t worry, I won’t let that happen.”
Sammy nodded. “So you have a plan then?”
He nodded. “We practice patience and draw them to us.”
“What if they don’t come to us? What then?”
“Don’t worry, they will. Wherever you and I are, they won’t be far behind. And when they do come for you…” He stopped, his neck straining, his grip on her hand squeezing tighter. “They’ll wish they hadn’t.”
She saw the commander raise his eyes to the rearview mirror. “We’ve got this, Sammy. This is our job, our life.”
Jonty nodded in agreement.
“I know,” she said, a whisper. “And I thank you.” She kissed Jonty on the cheek, laid her head against his warm, muscled chest, and closed her eyes.
“Sleep,” he said, stroking the hair from her forehead. So she did.
* * * *
The inky-night sky was still spangled with stars when they made it to the compound. Sammy watched the craggy landscape dim under the full moon’s light as they drove toward an underground entrance, down through a concrete tunnel, to a basement. The commander parked the car nose out, in case a fast getaway was needed.
Jonty grabbed Sammy’s bag of few belongings. She held his hand as he led her through mazes of hallways, cement walls, and ceilings lit with florescent light, to a small room, much like a hotel room but without any luxuries. It was a cement box with a bed in the center dressed with a white blanket, and a small counter and sink.
She stepped inside the room behind Jonty and sighed. He closed the door, the bang echoing throughout the stark room, and dropped their bags beside the door.
“This is only temporary, Sammy. I promise. Once we deal with the Dark Walkers we can start our life together.”
Sammy took a seat on the end of the bed. “So what, we wait here for days, weeks, months?”
He shook his head. “We’ve had wind of the plan. They’ll be here at nightfall tomorrow.”
Her breath got caught in her throat. “Tomorrow night? How many?”
“We’re not sure.”
Sammy frowned; her eyes were stinging. “You’ll stay with me, won’t you?”
He was silent.
“Jonty?”
He sat down beside her and gripped her hand. “I have a very important role to play in our offense. But I swear to you, at all times you will be protected. The room you’ll be in is impenetrable, and you’ll be guarded by one of our best.”
Sammy’s bottom lip trembled. “But what if something happens to you?”
Jonty smiled. “I’ll be back for you, Sammy. You can count on that.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his finger. Her eyes closed and she sighed. “For now, let’s not even think about it.” He cupped her face with his hands, brushed his lips against hers and said, with a low, shallow-breathed whisper, “We’re finally alone again. Let me distract you.”
Sammy’s lips curled up at the corners as heat swam to her belly, lower, tightening the deep muscles of her sex. Oh God, she’d give him permission to distract her forever. He was the most mouth-watering, sexy distraction.
“Please,” she said, finding his mouth, allowing herself to sink against those warm, full lips. She had craved these lips and this tongue pressing, sliding against her own. The drive to the compound had been torturous, being so close to Jonty’s heat, his unrelenting body, breathing in his masculinity, and not being able to do a damned thing about it. But now they were alone again, and she planned to take full advantage of the situation…and his body.
He pulled her onto his lap, her back to his chest, and wrapped her in his long, strong arms. She nestled against his broad muscled chest, letting his warmth and scent envelope her and take away all her angst. She loved how he smelled, so clean yet masculine, and there was always something unrecognizably sweet.
Jonty’s lips found her neck, forcing ti
ngles to spread like wildfire down her spine and across her arms. She spread her legs astride him, knees on the bed, and welcomed broad hands sliding over her breasts, roughly grazing her nipples, which instantly strained against the thin fabric of her bra and dress. Charges of pleasure pierced her, and her breasts swelled to meet his needy palms.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, his hot breath like heaven against her ear.
Kneeling like this over him, she did feel sexy, legs wide, her sex throbbing, anticipating his hands, mouth, cock, whichever came first. His hands slid over her stomach, down her hips to her thighs, spreading a trail of lusty heat, teasing.
God, she was so needy, yearned for his hands on her mound, to press against and probe her swollen, wet folds. Her body knew what it wanted. It hadn’t quite got the memo that Jonty’s seed was already implanted in her, growing new life. Her body was operating at its most primitive level, craving his hot pearly come to spurt hard inside.
Jonty rubbed at her inner thighs, crept the hem of her dress up past her waist. She pushed her pelvis forward and back. Then his hand found her mound, and she released a long hiss of contentment. He ran his fingers over her panties, down along the slit of her cleft, up and down, focusing on her swollen clit with the very tip of his finger. She pushed into his hand, wanting him to breach her underwear and find that moist chamber screaming to be packed full with his hot, hard cock. With a swift motion, he hiked her dress up and lifted it over her head. She unclasped her bra, freeing her full breasts and throbbing nipples.
One of Jonty’s hands cupped her breast while his other stroked between her thighs. He twisted gently at her beaded nipple, tweaking, pulling, the sensation so delicious she thought she could come right there without any penetration. Sammy writhed beneath his hands, breathless, and then he enclosed her in his strong arms and pulled her back against his chest, his hard length straining against her ass cheeks.
He pushed his imprisoned cock against her. “I want to be inside you so bad,” he said, his voice low and husky.
Yes. Fuck me now. She stood from the bed and turned to face him. She gestured for him to stand too. And when he did, she peeled off his shirt, unclasped his belt buckle, button, and slid his jeans and underwear down his long, toned legs where he kicked them off.
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