Worth Fighting For

by Zoe Blake

  With Conner’s rank and influence, Melissa’s father’s power and influence and everyone’s general dislike of Ricardo, the entire episode was quickly hushed up. As far as the official record and media would be concerned, Ricardo assaulted his cousin in a drunken rage. There would never be even a hint of Sage or Melissa’s involvement. The last thing the cousin would want was the kidnapping of a senator’s daughter associated with his business, so there was no concern he wouldn’t toe the official line.

  And now, at nearly midnight, they stood among the neat redbrick houses and manicured lawns of Bethesda, as if all the ugliness of the previous hours had never occurred.

  “Maybe I should go with you,” offered Sage, concern for her friend etched across her face.

  A heavy weight settled around her small waist as she was unceremoniously hauled backwards. Conner’s body radiated a comforting warmth along her back against the cool night air. There was a harsh, seductive growl in her ear, “Absolutely not, Spitfire. You’re coming home with me. No argument.”

  Feeling a secret thrill at his words, her loyalty to her friend still nagged at her. “But…” she started.

  Conner reached down and placed one large hand over her right buttock cheek, giving it a warning squeeze. Sage raised up on her toes, letting out a small squeak.

  At that moment, Hippie, whose real name Sage learned was Michael, strolled up and placed a protective arm on Melissa’s lower back.

  “Don’t worry, Sage. I got this.”

  Conner gave him a nod before guiding Sage away. Sensing her exhaustion, he swung her up into his arms, enjoying the feel of her head as it rested on his shoulder. He placed a kiss on her forehead.

  There would be time later to dwell on the sick feeling of dread he felt the moment he called her to hear that bastard’s voice as he threatened his woman. The full hour, which felt like years, it took him to find her… every gnawing, grasping minute that crept by possibly her last. The twisting in his gut no amount of training could prepare him for at the thought he might not reach her in time. This night would supersede any other horror of war he had witnessed in his whole damn career.

  But, no, now was not the time to dwell on it.

  Sage still needed him.

  He still needed to see that she was warm and safe… in his bed. Nothing else would calm the sickening rage in his gut at the thought he came dangerously close to losing the women of his dreams only a few days after finding her.

  Chapter 6

  Sage slept the entire way back.

  Opening up the passenger door, Conner leaned in and unbuckled her seatbelt, marveling again at how very tiny she seemed, maybe even more so after the night’s events. Gently lifting her into his arms, he kicked the door shut and headed into his buddy’s place.

  Sage awoke as he stopped before the apartment door. She cast an uneasy glance to the right. Ricardo’s door.

  “I’ll find another place tomorrow,” said Conner gruffly, kicking himself for not securing another place for them to bunk down for the night.

  “No. You don’t have to do that for me.”

  Conner looked down into her sweet, gamine face and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I would hope I’ve proven tonight there isn’t much I wouldn’t do for you, Spitfire. Finding another place to crash while I’m on leave is no problem.”

  Her fist clenched into the fabric of his t-shirt. His words both thrilled and saddened her. This wasn’t truly real. He wasn’t real. He was like some action hero who swooped in to save her but who would disappear by the end of the movie. By the end of his leave.

  Dipping her head, she only nodded, remaining silent.

  Conner carried her straight back to the bedroom, placing her carefully on the bed. Without a word, he headed into the bathroom.

  Sage could hear the hiss from the shower.

  A moment later, Conner was standing before her. He had removed his bloodied shirt and shoes. His powerful chest and cut stomach were in her direct line of vision. Just the top brass button of his jeans had been unhooked. Sage reached out tentatively, her fingers shaking slightly. Gripping the zipper with her thumb and forefinger she pulled down, only slightly shocked to see only skin as the flaps of the jeans opened wide.

  It was the only encouragement Conner needed. If it had been what she required, he would have prepared the shower and been nearby in case she needed him, but damn if it didn’t feel good that she obviously wanted and needed him too.

  Softly grasping each of her wrists, he stretched her arms upward. He then pulled her simple baby doll t-shirt over her head. Exposing her pretty white lace bra. Reaching around her slight form, he easily unhooked it. Loving the vision of her full breasts with their pink erect nipples.

  “Lay back,” he ordered. His voice sounding harsh in the stillness of the room.

  Sage did as she was told, falling back onto the thick bedding.

  Conner slid the tip of his fingers into the waistband of her yoga pants and pulled. More than pleased to see nothing but skin and her sweet pussy as the pants slid past her thighs. Using his thumbs, he hooked the heels of her pale blue converses at the same time. Sweeping both the pants and sneakers off in one movement.

  Grabbing her ankles, he pulled her forward.

  Sage gasped as the sensitive area between her legs came into sudden contact with the rough fabric of his jeans.

  Placing his hands behind her back, he scooped her up. Her legs wrapped tightly around his trim waist, Conner carried her into the bathroom which was already filled with steam from the hot water. Placing Sage on her feet, he pushed down on the waist of his jeans.

  She watched as the denim pooled at his feet. His thick shaft springing free. Powerful. Forceful. All for her.

  His large hands cupped her jaw, tilting her head back. Piercing blue eyes searched her own.

  “Baby, are you sure? You’ve had a rough night.”

  “I can’t imagine a better way to banish all thought of it,” she said with a shy smile.

  “That’s my girl.”

  His hands spanned her waist. Lifting her high, he pressed her body against his own as he stepped into the stream of water.

  The searing, liquid heat penetrated straight to the bone as she wrapped her arms around his strong neck, clinging to him. Pressing her slick breasts against his chest. Rubbing her thigh between his spread legs.

  “Jesus, baby,” he groaned before claiming her mouth. The pressure of her thigh rubbing along the bottom of his cock making him wild.

  Driving her backwards, he forced her against the shower wall, opening her legs and sliding between them, raising her knees high over his hip bones. The ceramic tiles cold compared to the water and the heat of his body. Leaning down, Conner captured one nipple between his teeth, pulling hard.

  Sage cried out, squeezing her thighs around his waist. Her hands rubbing over the short bristle of his high and tight haircut.

  “That’s it, little one. Scream for me,” he uttered darkly against the curve of her breast before flicking the still throbbing nipple with the tip of his tongue.

  The sharp angles of his hip bones dug into the soft flesh of her inner thighs as he pressed closer, turning his attention to the erect bud of her other breast.

  “Oh god, yes, please!” Sage begged as her back arched, pushing the plump curve into his mouth.

  Conner moved to place open mouthed kissed along her collar bone and neck all while the water cascaded about them.

  Sage unhooked her ankles and allowed her body to slide along his. Giving him a mischievous look, she slowly lowered to her knees.

  Conner grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to raise her up, “No. Not tonight. You are too worn out.”

  “Let me.”

  She couldn’t explain it. It certainly wasn’t something she clambered to do before, but Conner was different. The idea of tasting him, of taking all that power into her mouth, sent a shiver up her spine.

  Ignoring the harsh feel of the shower floor on her knees, S
age ran her hands up his thighs, each sinew sculpted and defined. Placing one hand on the flat of his stomach, she wrapped the other around the thick weight of his shaft. The tip of her tongue flicked out to taste a droplet of water hovering off the bulbous top. Opening her lips wider, she took the whole head into her mouth. Swirling her tongue around the tip, tasting the rim, flicking, sucking, and whirling about the sensitive head.

  Sage closed her eyes and allowed her senses to take over. The clean, fresh scent of the shower with just a hint of sandalwood soap. The warm musk that still lingered on his skin. The brined honey taste of him. The rush of water as it beat against her body.

  Moving her head forward, she slid her tongue along the sensitive bottom ridge of his cock, taking him in deeper. Her lips strained to encircle his girth.

  Conner’s closed fist pounded against the ceramic tiles so hard it was a wonder they did not turn to powder. The feel of her small, tight mouth as it closed about his shaft was almost more than he could stand. It took all his disciplined training not to grab her by the back of the head and thrust his hips forward. Now was not the time for that… but damn… he was having a hard time convincing his body.

  Looking down his stomach, Conner watched as she struggled to swallow him deep, her gorgeous eyes filled with promise.

  Pulling his hips back, he growled, “Enough.”

  Conner kneeled down and wrapped his hands around her tiny waist, wrenching her upwards.

  “But, Conner…” she whimpered, pouting at being denied her fun.

  Twisting her around till she faced the wall, he gave her pert bottom a swift smack. The sound reverberating around the small glass chamber as it mixed with Sage’s shocked gasp.

  “No. Trust me, you naughty girl, I’ll give a chance to try to swallow the full nine another time. Just not now. Now I need to be inside you,” he groaned against her neck as his fingers pressed between her thighs, feeling her slick warmth.

  Gripping his cock, he positioned the tip at her tight entrance, “Push your hips back,” he commanded.

  She obeyed.

  He drove forward in one powerful thrust.

  Sage cried out. This is what she needed. There was no room for doubt. No room for fear over the night’s events. No room for worry over her friend. There was only him. Only her. Only the feeling of his raw, powerful thrusts taking over her every lucid thought… chasing away all her demons.

  Clawing at the smooth tile as he pounded into her from behind. Taking her. Claiming her, as if she were the prize for his successful mission this night. Each lunge more all-consuming than the last.

  His large hand spanned her belly before moving lower. Covering her pussy, he pushed just the tip of his middle finger past the slick lips. Gently tapping and pulsing the pad of his finger against her clit in time with his thrusts. Sage moaned as she shimmied her bottom closer.

  “Cum for me, baby,” he commanded.

  She obeyed.

  He was only seconds behind her. Throwing his head back with a primal roar as the water rushed over their sated intertwined bodies.

  Conner sat bolt upright in bed, instantly aware of every detail of his surroundings. He never slept that deeply. Ever. Especially not since joining the service. He turned to his side, Sage was gone.

  Throwing on a pair of workout shorts, he threw open the bedroom door and raced into the open loft space of the rest of the apartment, fully prepared to go after his little, independent Spitfire.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead!” came a cheery greeting from the kitchen.

  Conner turned to see Sage dressed in another one of his Marine t-shirts. They Call Me Marine Because Badass Isn’t a Job Title. Relief washed over him. She was safe.

  “You’re just in time for breakfast. Sit.”

  Tossing on the shirt he still held in his hand, Conner grabbed a seat. Sage placed a plate in front of him.

  Two Eggs. Two Slices of Bacon. A slice of toast.

  Returning with a hot cup of black coffee, Sage placed it to his right before nervously sitting across from him with her own plate.

  Refusing to meet his gaze, she tucked her short, curly hair behind her ears before taking a deep breath and launching into what sounded like a prepared speech… sort of.

  “I didn’t really get a chance to thank you for last night. I just… I just wanted to let you know that I really do lead quite a boring life… normally… I realize that is all evidence to the contrary from the past few days but truly… I am actually very normal, like I said… practically boring. I just… well… I just didn’t want you think that I spend all my days breaking into apartments and getting kidnapped! But that isn’t really my point. My point is I’m really grateful for what you did for Melissa and me last night… well that and the point about me being boring but not really boring… that is to say…”

  As Sage nervously rambled on, Conner wondered where the rest of the food was.

  “Conner? Conner, are you listening to me?” she asked, fretfully twirling her fork.

  Conner looked up and smiled. She looked so gorgeous with her tousled hair and flushed cheeks. “Sage, if you’re worried I think you are some crazy, high-maintenance chick with lots of drama going on, don’t worry. Even if that was the case, I’m in.”

  “What do you mean? You’re in?”

  “I’ve told you before. Marines don’t retreat. People waste their lives in shitty, loveless relationships hoping for the type of intense connection we’ve achieved in a few days. If you think a little drama is going to chase me off, then I haven’t done a good enough job of showing you how serious I am about us.”

  Sage was as enthralled by his words as she was by the intensity of his gaze.

  This was not a man having a little fun while on leave… but still.

  “Still… you’re only on leave,” she started.

  “If there is one thing you learn in the service, Sage, it’s to live for today. Worry about tomorrow when it arrives. Life’s too short. Now, let’s talk about this breakfast.”

  Sage beamed. “I wanted to do something to thank you. Do you like it?”

  “I do. Where’s the rest of it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Am I out of eggs?”

  “Are you serious? You have like three dozen in there!”

  “Bacon?”

  “I only used a few slices out of one pack. You have two more packs.”

  “Bread?”

  “Half a loaf.”

  “Good.” Rising, Conner took Sage’s hand and led her back into the kitchen area. “If you’re going to be the girlfriend of a Marine, you had better learn how to cook for one… and how much to cook. Grab a dozen eggs out of the fridge,” he ordered as he fired up the stove.

  Sage felt a decidedly girlish little flip in her stomach at the word girlfriend. She was so screwed. She wondered if Amazon had a nice selection of lace aprons.

  Later that morning, Conner took Sage back to her place. She was dreading the whole awful scene, but knew putting it off wasn’t going to solve anything. She needed to clean up the mess and get the door fixed. Well, assuming she still had things to protect behind a locked door. For all she knew, she had been robbed blind since there wasn’t exactly time to properly lock up as Ricardo was drunkenly dragging her and Melissa away; not that she would have been able to with the splintered door jamb.

  She did know she was grateful to have Conner by her side. Being an independent female certainly had its benefits, but at this very moment, it felt really, really good to have a big, strong man to lean on. She would snap out of it soon. She couldn’t expect Conner to handle everything. She barely knew him after all, and he had already done so much. It just felt so nice to not have to face whatever was on the other side of her apartment door alone, at least not at first. She would go in there with Conner, assess the damage, see if she had been robbed and then look into contacting the police or the landlord or a locksmith or whatever else needed to be done. Alone. He probably wouldn’t like it… she k
new that much about him… but she would be firm. It was not his job to take care of her or her currently fucked up life.

  The first thing Sage noticed was the linoleum in front of her place was swept clean. No pieces of chipped paint or chunks of wood from when Ricardo smashed in the door. The next thing was the fresh wood frame around the door and shiny, new, brass lock.

  “What the hell? I can’t believe it! I can’t get my landlord to change a light bulb but look at all this,” she happily exclaimed. “Course now we have to track him down for the key. I wonder how he knew?”

  Conner just smiled and knocked on her apartment door. Almost immediately it was opened by a young man who couldn’t be more than nineteen. Tall and lanky, he greeted Conner with a quick salute.

  “Major. Just finishing up, sir.”

  “Private,” returned Conner with a nod. “Excellent work with the door.”

  “Thank you, sir. I also took the liberty of fixing two of the kitchen cabinets. They were loose.”

  “Good job. And the rest I requested?”

  “All completed, sir.”

  “Excellent work, private. I owe you one.”

  Sage just stood there dumbfounded. Slowly looking around her place as if in a dream. Not only had the door and apparently the kitchen cabinets been fixed, but all evidence of last night’s violence had been erased. Right down to her and Melissa’s broken wine glasses. The place was actually cleaner than when she left it.

  “What’s happening?” queried a confused Sage.

  Conner knew she would never have agreed to let him help. Would have insisted on handling everything on her own, even after what she had just been through, which is precisely why he didn’t ask. Heavy-handed? Sure. Over-stepping? Maybe. Over-protective and possessive? You’re damn right it was. There was something special about his little Spitfire and he was going to stick around and see how this whole thing played out, whether she fought him on it or not.