by Anna Hackett
With his other hand, he dipped his fingers between her legs. He groaned. “You’re so wet for me.” He thrust his fingers into her. He wanted to make sure she was ready. This would be hard and fast, but he didn’t want to hurt her.
“Roth, if you don’t shove your cock inside me I’ll get really angry. When I get angry, I get mean—”
He’d noticed. “Easy.” He circled his cock and then rubbed it through her lips. The head slipped into her and she moaned.
Then he froze.
“Roth,” she pleaded.
“No condom.”
She went still. “What?”
“I don’t have a condom. I don’t take them on missions.” Hell.
She looked back at him and they stared at each other. Roth had never had sex without the barrier of a condom or his implant before. He quivered. Fuck, he was a primitive asshole, but the thought of sinking his bare cock inside Avery, of coming inside her, made him even harder.
Her eyes darkened. “You like the idea?”
“I’m healthy. And I love the idea of seeing my come leaking out of you. But…bringing a child into this world…”
She nodded, her gaze clouded. “I know.” She paused. “I’m healthy, too.” She shifted back and it made him sink about an inch inside her.
They both groaned.
Roth felt sweat beading on his brow. “Shit, Avery. We have to both agree to this risk…it’s fucking crazy, but I want you more than anything.”
Her face was flushed, her chest hitching with her fast breaths. “Yes. If there’s a child…”
“We’ll do it together. We’ll protect our child, no matter what.” He gripped her chin. “It’ll be loved.”
Her lips trembled then, firmed. “I want you.”
His fingers bit into her hips. “You’re sure, sweetheart? God, you have to be sure.”
She shoved back again, harder this time, and he slid half way in. He leaned down, his chest pressed to her back and fused his mouth to hers.
Then he pulled back, kept one hand on her shoulder to hold her in place, while the other dug into her hip. He slid all the way out of her tight heat, then slammed home.
Avery cried out, her hands gripping the edge of the tub. “Roth, don’t stop. Please don’t—”
He’d give her everything she ever wanted, if only she’d let him.
Roth worked himself inside her, plunging into her to the hilt. She was tight and wet, and he was excruciatingly aware that there was no barrier between them—latex, chemical, or otherwise. Her sobs of need drove him on, and when he felt her release explode through her, her body clamping down on him, he threw his head back, gripped her hips and slammed into her over and over.
His release hit him like a crashing vehicle and he roared her name as he came. His hot come spilled inside her and nothing had ever felt quite so right.
He collapsed on top of her and noted she was sprawled limply over the side of the tub. Slowly, he pulled out of her, loving that small, sad sound she made as he slipped out. He pulled her into the tub, cleaned them both, then lifted her into his arms.
“Tired,” she mumbled.
“Yeah.” He felt the edge of exhaustion riding him too. It had been a hell of a day.
Roth didn’t bother to dry them off. He headed for the bed, yanked the covers back and laid her down. He quickly checked his mini-tablet and saw the drone hadn’t picked up anything interesting outside their room. He set it beside the bed, then crawled in beside her and curled around her body.
A sense of rightness stole over him and he relaxed against her. He tucked his face into the side of her neck and breathed her in. He hadn’t felt like this since his family had been alive.
“I’m falling in love with you, Avery.” He felt her stiffen and his heart tightened. “You don’t have to say anything back. Just wanted you to know.”
It took a while, but slowly, her tense body relaxed. He clamped down on the need to demand how she felt about him. He knew her childhood had left her wary of caring, of loving, but he was going to damn well show her how good they were together.
For now, he focused on the fact that with Avery in his arms, the rest of the world just melted away. He didn’t feel the press of responsibility, or the driving need to be fighting. He just felt good.
“Just sleep now, sweetheart,” he murmured and let sleep drag him under.
Chapter Sixteen
A hand shaking her shoulder woke Avery from a deep sleep.
“Avery, wake up.”
The urgent tone of Roth’s voice had her sitting upright and blinking. “What is it?”
He flicked on the bedside lamp. “The alarm.”
It was then she heard it. An insistent meep meep meep from Roth’s tablet.
“The drone’s picked up a group of people headed our way. Get dressed.” He was already standing beside the bed, pulling his clothes on. He gestured and she saw her clothes tossed on the bed.
She jumped up and hurriedly shoved her legs in her trousers. “How many?”
“Five.”
She pulled her shirt over her head. “Maybe they want to talk?”
“At three-thirty in the morning?”
Right. She shoved her feet into her boots. She saw Roth shove his tablet into a slot on the sole of his boot, and then he tucked his combat knife into the back of his trousers.
The door made a low beeping sound. Someone was trying to get in.
She and Roth moved close together in the center of the room. He touched her cheek and she looked at him. His lips descended, a brief kiss that left her wanting more.
“Follow my lead,” he said quietly.
She nodded. Just then, the door lock panel exploded in a shower of sparks.
The door opened.
Gregory Howell strode in, flanked by two guards on either side. They were all stone-faced military types—three men and a woman. None were Scott, which Avery found interesting.
“Come with us,” Howell said. He was wearing jeans and a hooded sweater. As they moved into the hall, he flicked the hood up.
Avery saw their young guard sprawled on the floor, unconscious, his head bleeding from a wound. She swallowed. She didn’t think Howell was planning a midnight picnic.
“I take it you can’t handle your people learning that you aren’t the wise, benevolent leader,” Avery said. “You’re just selfish, cowardly scum.”
Howell spun around, his face twisting. “I had a family to protect.”
Avery stared at him. In that moment, she felt sorry for him. Fear was written all over his face. He’d been tested, and he’d failed. They said the tough times brought out your true colors. She wasn’t sure she believed it, but she figured there was some truth in it. Howell had to live with the fact that under the gloss, he had little substance. That he was no role model to his kids.
“No, you had millions of families to protect. And you failed them.” Avery sighed. “No one expected you to be perfect and beat the aliens off singlehandedly. But we expected you to try.”
“Just shut up.” He spun back around. “Come on.”
They were herded into an industrial elevator. As the doors on the cage were slammed closed, one of the guards touched the controls. The cage jolted and started upwards.
At the top, Howell strode out of the elevator and then opened a set of double doors that led into a tunnel. This tunnel didn’t look as well-maintained as the rest of the Enclave. One of the narrow, open vehicles was parked ahead with two carriages attached.
The guards prodded Avery and Roth to get in.
They drove down the tunnel, no one speaking. The tunnel was mostly flat and they drove for a very long time, the dark walls whizzing past. Was Howell going to toss them in an old mine shaft?
Finally, the tunnel started to rise, and without warning, they came out an exit and into a coal prep plant. She saw straight away it wasn’t the plant near the Enclave. This one was even more decrepit, part of having collapsed.
“Out,”
one guard said.
Avery and Roth climbed out. They weaved their way through the old, rusting equipment and conveyors, then stepped out into the early morning darkness. The air was crisp and the stars were still bright in the sky.
“What now, Howell?” Roth asked. “You planning to kill us?”
“No.” Something crossed the politician’s face before his mouth firmed. “I’m using you as bargaining chips and securing the safety of the people I’ve vowed to protect.”
Avery’s belly tightened. “What are you talking about?”
Right then, red lights zoomed overhead. She heard Roth curse.
Two raptor pteros.
Now she realized why Howell had driven them so far from the Enclave. “You’re doing it again?” Avery shook her head, shocked. “You aren’t protecting those people in the Enclave, you’re protecting yourself!” She faced the guards. “What has he said to you to convince you to fucking hand us over to the aliens? We’re on the same side! We’re all human.”
The guards all looked nervous, their gazes flicking from Avery and Roth to the raptor pteros landing in the field ahead of them.
“We should be working together to fight the raptors, not fighting each other,” Avery said.
“We’re safe at the Enclave. Our families are safe,” one guard said. “If we don’t help…”
When the man trailed off, realization hit Avery. “If you don’t help, then he’ll banish you like he’s banished others. Follow his crazed orders or you’re out.”
Howell made an enraged sound and leapt forward. He backhanded Avery in the face. “Shut up!”
Pain exploded, and she sensed Roth moving. But her anger was back, and she was done being Howell’s favorite chew toy. She kicked out, catching Howell in the belly. He slammed backward into the ground.
In the distance, Avery heard the familiar sound of the aliens’ grunt-like language, and the hairs on her neck rose.
Roth pressed up against her back. “I’m here. We’re together.”
She closed her eyes. She wasn’t alone, and she couldn’t find the words to tell him how much that meant to her. Whatever they faced, they’d face it together.
Roth’s lips brushed her ear. “I’m not letting them take you, sweetheart.”
She reached for his hand. “I think I’m falling in love with you, too.”
He jerked against her. “Avery—”
She squeezed his hand and gave a small laugh. “You should know that it scares me far more than those raptors heading our way.”
“Sweetheart, I’ve seen how ferocious you can be. I’ve no doubt you’ll work out this love stuff.”
Together, they turned and saw a group of raptors moving closer, their weapons clutched in their scaly hands. The aliens’ eyes glowed red in the darkness.
Oh, God. She couldn’t go back to one of those tanks. And there was no way she’d let them put Roth in one.
A plan. They needed a plan. “Roth?”
“Just wait, Avery. It’ll be okay.”
Okay? She frowned. They had no weapons, and were caught between a group of humans who were handing them over to the enemy and bloodthirsty aliens. She realized Roth’s body was completely relaxed.
“You have a plan,” she whispered.
“I’ve always got a plan.”
In that instant, three Hawk quadcopters dropped their illusions and appeared above them.
And all hell broke loose.
***
Roth watched the lead Hawk swing around and fire on the pteros.
The alien ships exploded in balls of flames.
The raptors on the ground scrambled, swinging their weapons up, but the other Hawks were already moving. One turned and moved upwards with breathtaking agility, allowing the sniper on board to fire on the raptors.
It had to be Finn flying. The man was the best Hawk pilot in the entire base, and could push the quadcopters to their limits in ways the other pilots couldn’t achieve.
Roth launched himself at the nearest guard, snatching the man’s weapon. The guard stared at him, and then the firefight behind them, with wide eyes. Then he spun and scrambled back toward the plant and dived into cover. Howell and the rest of his guards followed suit.
Roth spotted raptors running toward him and Avery. He lifted the laser pistol and fired. It was no carbine, but the alien he’d targeted dodged out of the way.
“Avery?” When she turned, he tossed her the pistol. Then he yanked his knife out. “Cover me.”
“Dammit, no, Roth.”
He ran at the incoming aliens. He wasn’t letting them anywhere near Avery. He clenched his jaw. He wasn’t wearing his armor, which meant he wasn’t protected, and he didn’t have the built-in exoskeleton that gave him added strength and speed. He changed his grip on the knife. It didn’t matter if the raptors were bigger and stronger, he was more dangerous.
Because he had more to fight for.
He slammed into the lead alien. He heard the bastard grunt, trying to get his poisonous weapon around. Roth jammed the knife between the alien’s ribs.
Laser fire whizzed past and into the other raptors. Damn, Avery was a good shot. She needed to be on the squads.
Roth stabbed at the raptor, working the knife through the creature’s thick skin. It made a keening noise that grated, but Roth kept at it until the alien slumped down, dead.
A huge body slammed into him, lifting Roth off the ground. His shoulder blades hit the dirt, and pain radiated through him.
Right in his face, another raptor grinned, its eyes burning demonic red.
Roth whipped the knife around, but the alien grabbed his wrist in impossibly strong claws. The sharp claws cut into Roth’s skin, and as the alien exerted pressure to turn the knife away from its chest, Roth winced at the pain.
He pushed and tried with all his strength to shove the blade into the raptor.
But soon the knife was turned around, the blade aimed at Roth’s chest.
Shit. He strained, every muscle in his body aching. The tip of the blade pricked his chest, right above his rapidly beating heart.
The raptor grunted.
“Fuck you,” Roth bit out.
The blade slid into his flesh and he gritted his teeth. It burned like hell.
“No!” A slim body leapt over the top of him and slammed into the raptor, toppling it off Roth.
He scrambled up to see Avery straddling the creature’s chest, the pistol jammed under its jaw as she pulled the trigger.
Panting, he looked up and saw four raptors circling them. Dammit.
Then, like wraiths, shadows slipped out of the darkness. Green laser fire lit up the morning.
Roth watched Mac, Taylor and Cam mow down the raptors.
He heard loud human shouts, and swiveled. Hell Squad was running toward them from the opposite direction, taking down the last of the raptors.
He smiled. Hiding might keep you safe, but fighting back was a hell of a lot more satisfying.
Roth helped Avery to her feet. She was watching Hell Squad and Squad Nine make short work of the raptors.
“Holy cow, remind me not to piss any of these guys off,” she said.
“You’re okay?” He touched her face.
She smiled. “You know what? I think I am.”
“Hey, boss?” Mac swaggered up, holding her carbine. “Next time you and Avery take on a group of raptor soldiers, I suggest you do it with armor on, and more than a puny knife and laser pistol.”
Roth clapped Mac on the back. “I’ll take that advice on board, Carides. Nice to see you. Good timing.”
Mac grinned in the darkness. “As always.”
“Marcus,” Roth said, nodding at the head of Hell Squad.
“Roth, heard you decided to take a little vacation.” Marcus raised a brow. “Thought we’d horn in.”
Roth snorted. The rest of Hell Squad stood behind their leader. “Don’t recommend it. The service turned out to be pretty shitty.”
“You really
crashed your Darkswift?” Shaw asked. “That is badass, Masters.”
“The giant alien bugs sort of helped. Again, I don’t recommend it.”
“I thought you were coming at daylight,” Avery said.
Roth tugged her to his side, pleased when she leaned into him.
“Nah, the boss included a few code words when I spoke to him,” Mac said. “Asked us to come a little early.”
Avery looked up at Roth. “You suspected Howell would try something like this?”
“Yes. I knew he couldn’t be trusted.” Roth looked over her head. “Speak of the devil.”
Sienna was herding the guards ahead of her, jabbing them with her carbine. Theron was carrying a struggling Howell by the hood of his sweater.
“Hi, boss.” Sienna smiled sweetly. “Got a present for you.”
“Thanks, Sienna.” He motioned for Theron to put Howell down.
Running footsteps sounded from behind them. Roth, Avery, his squad, and Hell Squad all turned, carbines aimed.
Captain Scott, her soldiers and Nikolai all skidded to a shocked halt. Their gazes went to the tough soldiers facing off with them, then to the bodies of the raptors and the burning pteros.
“We found your guard,” Captain Scott said, clutching her weapon. “We managed to track you through the tunnels.”
Roth subtly angled his body in front of Avery. “Captain, tell your team to lower their weapons.”
“Scott, take them out!” Howell yelled. “Help me.”
The sunlight was just starting to brighten the eastern horizon, so it was easy to see the tension in Scott’s face. She ignored Howell, her gaze running over the Hell Squad and Squad Nine members.
Marcus shifted his carbine and stepped forward. “Look, I got pulled out of a warm bed, filled with my warm woman, to come and rescue Masters from you guys.” His voice sounded like gravel. “A pissing match isn’t going to make me feel any happier.” He lifted his carbine an inch. “Want me to prove to you that my gun’s bigger?”
His soldiers moved, Hell Squad flanking their leader. Each looked as badass as the next. Roth watched with pride as his squad members joined them.