“Gracie!” Ink’s low, rough voice ghosted a shiver over my flesh. Memories of him growling my name into my ear as he made love to me this morning brought a smile to my face. He’d shown me yet another position in which he could enter my body and drive me into a mindless pile of mush. It wasn’t like I didn’t know there were different ways a man and woman could be together so intimately, but knowing and doing were two very different things. At that thought my cheeks filled with color.
“I really need to know what put that look on your face, buttercup,” Ink crooned seductively as he leaned forward and took each of the swings ropes into his hands. My gentle rocking came to a stop.
“I was thinking about this morning.”
Ink’s answering grin had enough power to knock me off my damn swing.
“I want to show you everything.” Reaching out a hand he traced my bottom lip with a fingertip. “What you can do with your mouth. What we can do with our mouths together. What I can do to you against a wall. How deep I can get into your body with your legs thrown over my shoulders.”
My body heated as he described the things he would show me. Shifting, I tried to rub my thighs together seeking relief from the pressure which had begun to build between my legs. Grinning, he leaned forward and kissed me, his tongue dipping between my lips and tangling deeply with mine. When I reached forward for more, my hands over his, Ink pulled away.
“Their leaving,” he said with a sigh, all signs of lust and humor gone.
My eyes widened and began to water, tears threatening to fall yet again.
“Come on, buttercup.”
Jumping from the swing I reached for his outstretched hand, and we made our way back into the heart of the compound.
I approached Hadley as she stood beside a large military truck, a duffle bag in the dirt by her feet. Her long hair danced around her face each time the wind picked it up. She didn’t bother to push it away, her arms hung limply at her sides. She’d lost too much weight, and dark bruises hung like crescent moons under her eyes. The scars from Jebediah’s men were not visible, but they were deep and all-consuming.
Coming to a stop before her my breathing was a little ragged, a lingering side effect from a lung caught in the crossfire of a bullet. All the way here from the outer edges of the compound, Ink and I walked in silence as I played over what I would say to her. My words were carefully prepared in an effort to convince her to stay, but now I was here, standing in front of her, those words fled my mind leaving me speechless.
“I n-n-need to g-g-g-go,” Hadley whispered, her face downcast and shoulders drawn forward.
Those four words were more than I’d heard her speak in over three weeks. Four simple words that hurt so much and yet, who was I to begrudge what she needed. She wanted to go, I needed to respect that.
Harrigan had offered all the people in Liberty a change of scenery if they so wished. Ten had taken him up on his offer, including Hadley. They would be escorted to another compound where liberated innocents from other underground prisons resided. It was also the headquarters for Harrigan and his soldiers, not that they were there often. It was a larger compound than ours, closer to the southern border that separated Texas from Mexico. It boasted a warmer climate and more of a modern city-like feel within its walls. Honestly, I expected more people to take up Harrigan’s offer, especially since we were in the grips of a bitter winter frost. It seemed our little compound had become a real home to the people living within its walls, and they weren’t going to let Jebediah’s time here tarnish their love for it.
“I wish you would stay,” I confessed, my throat tight with emotion. I’d lost Skye, and now I was losing Hadley. “But I respect your wishes. Maybe you can come back and visit sometime?”
Another small, listless smile graced her pretty face. Tugging her forward, I wrapped my arms around her thin shoulders and held her close, before stepping away and swallowing my tears.
“Come on Hadley, it’s time to get moving.”
I’d already said my goodbye’s to Ashlynn, another friend I was losing. She reached for Hadley’s bag and headed for the back of the truck they would be transported in. When a soldier offered help with the bags, they were pulled roughly from his hands by Fury, who easily deposited them in the back cabin of the truck. He too carried a duffle over his shoulder, which didn’t surprise me. His fondness for Hadley was about as obvious as his huge, hulking frame. Fury would be missed. We’d lost six soldiers during Jebediah’s time in Liberty, but thankfully Harrigan was leaving eight more with us, which included Dr. Edwards, who I’d since found out was twenty-three years old as opposed to the seventeen years I thought he originally was.
Fury helped Ashlynn into the truck, then without waiting for permission or any preamble, he grabbed a much smaller Hadley around the waist and deposited her beside Ashlynn. In return, Hadley scowled his way but didn’t object when he jumped up and took a seat right beside her. In that moment, I knew Hadley would be okay. Fury wouldn’t have it any other way.
Arms enveloped me from behind, familiar inked hands gently crossed my stomach, pulling me against the strong line of his body. Lips tickled the spot just beneath my ear and I smiled.
“Looks like I’m losing another soldier,” Ink murmured.
“But you’ve gained eight more,” I stated as I watched our new Liberty companions farewell their friends and colleagues.
Dr. Edwards approached us, standing to one side with his arms crossed as he watched the soldiers load the last of their belongings. “I think this calls for a celebration,” he said with a smile.
A celebration? We hadn’t had a party or gathering since well before the winter set in. Jebediah’s parties would never be considered a celebration, more like a battle. Even though the weather was bitterly cold and temperamental at best, a celebration was absolutely what we needed.
Harrigan approached us looking important and impeccable. His military fatigues were clean and fresh, his mustache carefully groomed, his salt and pepper hair slicked back from his face. For an older man he wore his power and strength well, and carried the weight of responsibility with a fine air of ceremony. “I think it’s fair to say you’ve got it from here,” Harrigan said as he drew to a stop a few feet away.
It was because of this man I was living a life above the ground, far away from an unjust and cruel prison system. Without his sacrifice, I’d either still be incarcerated with murderers and rapists or I’d be dead. Stepping away from Ink’s warmth, I wrapped my arms around Harrigan’s mid-section. For a brief moment, he remained stiff and awkward, then slowly thawed, wrapping a single arm around my shoulders and holding me close. When Ink pulled me away, I noticed the commander’s deep blush and uncomfortable stance. He wasn’t used to such affection.
“Thank you,” I said with a sincerity I felt all the way through to my bones.
“Of course,” he replied with a smile that brought out the small creases at the corners of his eyes. “Call if you need anything. My communications officer checked in with yours once more to confirm that everything’s back in working order. You once again have satellite communications and your radio transmitter is as good as new.”
With his fingers linked through mine, Ink nodded. “Like Gracie said… thank you, for everything.”
Harrigan reached his hand forward. “I have every faith I’m leaving Liberty in the best hands. Don’t forget our conversation.”
Ink let my hand go to shake Harrigan’s. I knew right away which conversation the commander was referring to. Ink had told me last week of the guilt that weighed him down, his belief that he’d failed Liberty when Jebediah infiltrated our compound. As if knowing exactly what was going through his mind, Harrigan pulled Ink aside a few days ago and told him how proud he was of the way Ink handled the situation. Jebediah’s attack was completely unprecedented and unforeseen. If anything good could come from our tragedy, it was that other compounds like ours were now being fortified in case of such an event. On top of that rel
ease from guilt, the commander also made Ink and I the new leaders of Liberty. He believed that together, we made the perfect team to help Liberty recover and move forward, and ardently insisted we take on the responsibility. The obligation scared me, but Ink swore together we could do this. I had to agree, with him by my side I felt I could do near anything.
“You’ll be missed, Edwards, but I have a feeling the people of Liberty are somewhat overjoyed with my loss.”
Dr. Edwards grinned at his commander and shook his hand. “I figure it’s about time I settled down.”
With a devilish smirk, Edwards glanced toward Abigail and Aurora, two of the women in Liberty renowned for their free and liberating views on sex. They’d been women who willingly slept with some of Jebediah’s soldiers, but they’d done it of their own volition and had been paid for their services with food and goods. They seemed none the worse for their way of surviving and enduring Jebediah’s time at Liberty, and I didn’t hold it against them. They did what they had to do. The women gave Edwards a flirty smile, and Harrigan shook his head.
“That’s hardly settling down, medic.”
Edwards’ grin grew wider. “I guess some would say I’m too young to settle down.”
Shaking his head with a smile, Harrigan climbed into the nearest truck and with one final wave, he ordered his soldiers through the gates of Liberty. Our departing friends waved with somber expressions. Hadley smiled my way and this time it almost reached her sad eyes. Fury simply stared and offered Ink a nod, and those pesky tears I’d been trying so hard to keep at bay fell unchecked down my cheeks.
Ink wrapped an arm around my shoulder and drew me into his body as we watched the legion of rebel forces leave, and as the last vehicle disappeared from sight, the new, heavy steel doors that closed us off from the rest of the world slowly drew shut, locking in place with a loud thud. It wasn’t an ominous noise of entrapment, it was a sound of safety and protection, and our little world inside of Liberty become our own once more. The people around us who’d come out to enjoy the sun and see the soldiers off moved about freely and Edwards was quick to formally introduce himself to Abigail and Aurora. The sound of laughter broke through the air, and peace settled over me as the familiar tenors of life not only sounded normal but felt normal.
“So…” Ink said, turning me away from the gates. “A celebration, huh?”
“I think it would be good for morale,” I admitted, wrapping one arm around his back and the other around his front, holding him as tight as possible while trying to keep my chest from pressing too hard against his body.
“What about a wedding?” Ink asked.
“Who’s wedding?” For the life of me I couldn’t recall anyone who’d become engaged recently.
“Ours, of course.”
His words brought me to an abrupt halt, and he allowed me to disentangle myself from him. Mouth agape, I found his resolute gaze on mine and realized he was being serious.
“You didn’t ask me to marry you,” I whispered.
Ink immediately sunk to his knees, right there on the edge of our field, in the soggy sludge and snow. “Buttercup, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Wife? The word struck me speechless, and my thoughts danced over the possibility I might be carrying Ink’s child. We would be a family, a husband and wife, a father and mother.
“Come on, Gracie. We were born for each other. And I want to see you in a pretty white dress, with a ring on your finger. If you need me to sweeten the pot I can promise you lots of more of this morning, in fact, I’ve got several ideas I’m saving especially for our wedding night.”
My eyes widened.
“Like what?” I breathed, intrigued at what he might have in store as he wrapped his arms around my body, his adoring eyes gazing up at me from his position on his knees.
“Well, I guess you’re going to have to marry me to find out.”
“I don’t need the pot sweetened, but I’m going to hold you to it regardless.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Well, I guess since there is a chance you’ve knocked me up, we should make this official,” I whispered.
Ink’s eyes dropped to my stomach then rose back to mine, concern etched into the lines of his face.
“I mean, I’ll need Dr. Edwards to check, but there’s a chance. I’ve been feeling a little off, and I’m… you know, late.”
My cheeks heated as Ink’s concern morphed into something euphoric. He suddenly stood, his arms wrapping around me, his lips crushing mine. People around us whistled and cheered, but I ignored it all as I soaked up the attention from my soon to be husband. Finally, Ink pulled away, one of his big tattooed hands dropping to my stomach.
“If you’re not pregnant this time, I vote we stay in bed until I do the job properly.” He looked so young and carefree, his eyes sparkling with mischief, the rare smile he spared for me highlighting his handsome face. I was in awe of his strength, and so unbelievably in love with him.
After everything he had been through, he still smiled. We both did. We all did. Someone tried to take our home from us, they tried to beat us into submission and batter our soul, but the one thing they didn’t expect was our strength, our humanity and our burning need for freedom.
We’d won our liberation for the second time, and now it was time to celebrate.
Want to see where it all began in the Underworld?
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Liberty Page 27