What had she allowed him to do? She’d just lain there with her one weak “no,” but hadn’t put up much of a fight when he’d kissed her, undressed her, sucked on her nipples, spread her legs wide, closed his mouth over her…
“Oh, God,” she groaned.
What had happened after that—that feeling of complete bliss—she’d only experienced that twice before. Both times, she’d woken with the powerful sensation between her legs. She didn’t remember either dream, but she remembered each night clearly, waking at half past three in the morning to that. She didn’t have a word for it, couldn’t describe it. It was just something that stole all sense from her, filled her and emptied her at once, leaving her soft, so soft. She’d been both afraid and ashamed, somehow knowing not to say anything, not even to Katie. Not to ask her if she’d ever felt that herself.
And now, he’d done it to her, he’d made her feel that with his mouth on her pussy. The memory of his eyes as he’d looked up at her, his tongue circling her swollen nub, his pupils dilated, dark. It made her shiver now and when she reached down between her legs, she found herself once again wet.
She threw the covers off and went directly into the bathroom. She didn’t even wait to adjust the temperature of the water before standing under the powerful stream, closing her eyes, refusing to allow any more thought of that afternoon. She wouldn’t let him ever do that again, ever touch her or kiss her or lick her like he had. Never.
But even as she stood beneath the now too hot water, her body betrayed her thoughts, as if remembering too and wanting more.
* * *
Hayden stood in front of one of the airships they’d been restoring for so many years that he thought they’d never get them to fly again. This one was his old aircraft back when he’d been a Magnus soldier almost twenty years ago.
“With what we learned from the ship we downed, we should be able to code this one to appear like one of theirs, at least until they get a real look at it,” Marc said.
“Are you sure, Marc?” Shane asked. “This is a critical piece; we can’t take any chances and I didn’t think we collected enough information before it crashed.”
“We’ve got enough,” Marc said. “I’ve been working on this a long time; I only needed one final piece of the code.”
Hayden noted the tension between the men. “How much longer until we’ll be able to test it?” he asked.
“I need another two weeks, three tops,” Marc answered.
“And just how do you plan on testing your code?” Shane interjected.
“I’ll let you take it on a test drive by Magnus One,” Marc said, taking an aggressive step toward Shane.
“Knock it off,” Hayden commanded, stepping between them. The tension between the men had grown. The two had competed over Jenna a while back, but that was almost a full year ago. She’d chosen Shane in the end, and Hayden had thought Marc had gotten over it. But seeing her with her belly as it was, carrying Shane’s child, had brought all that old anger back to the surface. “Figure this out, you two. If that means a fistfight, have it, then get the fuck over it. We don’t have time for fighting between ourselves. Our mission is more important, you both know that.”
Tense silence hung in the air before Shane spoke, keeping his eyes on Marc. “Apologies, Commander,” he said between tight lips.
Hayden nodded at him, then turned to wait for Marc’s apology. Marc simply grunted and wouldn’t look at him. He just walked away instead.
Shane and Hayden stared after him.
Hayden inhaled and exhaled. “If you fight, keep it behind closed doors. And let him win, will you?”
“I’ve never thrown a fight and I won’t for that bastard.”
“Shane, you won the real prize. You got the girl.”
“I’m sorry, Commander.” Shane stood his ground.
“Figure it out,” Hayden said and walked away. He went out into the late afternoon. Shadows were growing longer; it would be dark soon. He wanted to get back to Livvie. In fact, he’d been able to think of nothing but her ever since earlier that day. He wanted to have her again, to truly claim her as his. Needed to.
He’d thought of nothing but the mission for such a long time. He wouldn’t lie to himself; what he wanted and planned on doing to her was as much for him as for the mission. More so, even. He tried to remember when he’d last felt so powerfully attracted to a woman and he couldn’t recall a time. She did something to him, brought something out in him. Some basic, beastly side of him. Maybe it was her innocence, her easy submission to his desire. He could have any woman he wanted at the camp; he was the most eligible bachelor, in fact. Mary threw herself at him more often than he cared to consider. He’d made a mistake with her once almost three years ago. It had been a night he’d been trying to comfort her after her husband had died in an attack. He hadn’t meant for things to go as they had, but he was a man, after all.
Now there was Livvie. She was a trained soldier, a hunter for Magnus, just as he’d once been, which meant she was strong. But not only that, she was clever, analyzing and knowing when to fight and when to fold. She’d not meekly given in to him when he’d captured her, although he topped her by a foot and was twice as strong easily. She’d revealed a concealed weapon she would have been punished for having if her commanders had found it on her, had been ready and willing to stab him in the gut.
He touched the pocket knife, which was engraved with her brother’s name. They had the same expression, she and her brother. Had the same cocky, intelligent eyes. She was gutsy like him too, a fighter. Had to be to survive Magnus’ strict training program to become a part of the elite Hunter-Killer air squadron. She was just on the wrong side right now, but he’d change that.
The memory of Simon carried so much sadness with it. He wondered how she was going to deal with it once she learned the truth. But he shelved that thought. It wasn’t time for that. The mission came first.
Hayden had an alternate plan for the attack than the others knew. Livvie fit that well; filled the gap he needed filled. But he needed to develop her trust in him, her obedience, even her submission. And even though she was a soldier, she was submissive by nature. He was certain of it.
Although she’d fought him during the spanking, her body had reacted. And when he’d tasted her earlier, she’d been more than a little cooperative. Granted, chemicals were wearing off, the effects were likely gone now altogether, or would be soon. Although a part of him knew it was wrong, he planned on using that to his advantage, on exposing her to every pleasure he could think of until she begged him for more, looked at him as if he was her god, her whole universe. He’d enjoy every moment of it and when it was time, she’d go willingly on board the old fighters and help them to infiltrate the cities, blow the domes right off and expose the people to clean air, freeing them of the drugs they breathed in daily, forcing a rebellion.
But he knew it wouldn’t be that easy. He’d be breathing new life into this decades-long war with this final act. The resistance fighters would come together and once the chemicals wore off within the cities themselves, the people would stand up and fight for their freedom.
He wondered how many lives would be lost in the meantime though. He turned the corner to the cabin. The light was on inside and he could see Livvie at the downstairs window, looking out. He smiled, wondering if she was looking for him.
* * *
Livvie heard the key turn in the lock and quickly tucked the pin she’d been using to pick the lock of the window into her pocket. She sat on the arm of the couch just as Hayden opened the front door.
“Hey,” he said, walking in. “I’m home.”
“I can see that,” she said, pretending to be reading, trying hard to appear calm.
“It’s good to see you too,” he said.
“Oh, pardon me.” She closed the book and turned to him, refusing to acknowledge how her heart was racing inside her chest. “How was your day, honey?” she asked. He’d not mistake the sarcasm in
her tone.
His face lost that smile he’d been sporting. “Great, thanks for asking.”
“Why do you lock me in if I have this collar around my neck and can’t get near the fences anyway?” she asked.
“To keep you safe. Quite a few of the residents here have lost someone because of soldiers like you.”
“Oh.” For some reason, that hadn’t occurred to her. “I guess I didn’t realize.”
“You hadn’t thought about that part, had you? You’re so far removed from human life that the thought of taking one doesn’t even faze you. What you’re leaving behind to be dealt with isn’t something you feel. Or felt. That’s what Magnus does to you, Livvie. They take away your ability to feel, your humanity.”
“I’ve never killed anyone,” she defended, although she knew how lame it sounded. She just hadn’t had to yet, that was all. She’d likely be out looking for people like him today if it hadn’t been for her plane being shot down.
“Not yet. You can thank me for that.”
“I had a sister,” she said. “You stole her from me. What about that loss?” Her reaction surprised even her; she hadn’t meant to give anything more away.
Although she saw he was taken aback, he recovered quickly. “Our hope for the future of all people required a sacrifice. You had to make it, and for that, well, I’m sorry. I am sorry for your loss, Olivia.”
He was genuine; she could see it in his eyes as tears welled in hers.
“Tell me about her,” he said.
She shrugged her shoulders and went into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of tea. She didn’t want him to see her cry. She didn’t want him to see her weakness and use it against her.
“What’s her name?” he asked.
“Katie.”
“How old is Katie?”
“We’re twins.” Livvie kept her attention on her cup. “She’s been chosen to donate her eggs,” Livvie added, somehow no longer feeling pride at this thought. In fact, anxiety came closer to what she was feeling.
Hayden went into the kitchen and took the cup from her hands. He set it on the counter. “When was that going to happen?” he asked very seriously.
“I don’t know. A few weeks, months maybe. I don’t know,” she said. “Why?” The expression on his face only heightened her uncertainty.
He looked at her for a while, holding her hands while he considered something.
“Nothing,” he said. He turned away. “Let’s get dinner, I’m hungry.”
“Hayden?” she reached out to touch his shoulder as he walked away.
He stopped and turned to her.
“Is she…She’ll be ok, right?” She didn’t know anyone else who’d been chosen for this. Well, that wasn’t true. A friend of Simon’s had been chosen as well, years ago. And she hadn’t come back from it. That was when Simon had begun to change, had begun to become almost…angry. She couldn’t understand that and couldn’t remember any more than that. The details were too fuzzy, the feelings around them incoherent, confused.
“They’ll take her womb, Livvie,” he said. “At the very least.”
“What?” she asked. What did that mean? What would they take? An egg, that was all. She’d be one of the few chosen to grow the population of Magnus One.
“They’ll take everything out, take what they need and throw away the rest. If she survives it, she’ll be…different.”
“If she survives?” Livvie asked. She shook her head. “I don’t understand. Different how?”
“I’m sorry,” Hayden said. That was the end of the conversation.
Chapter Five
The next few mornings Hayden left while Livvie was still sleeping. Their conversation had thrown her; he’d seen her feeble attempt to cover up the fact that she was worrying. There wasn’t much he could do about the fate of her sister. She would become collateral damage. Another life forfeited during this time of absolutes.
But it was good to have Livvie thinking about it. He’d planted the seeds of doubt, now it was time to water them.
“Damn it,” he said to himself as he drove out of the gates. Had he become as inhuman as those who ruled the twin cities? He should be trying to comfort her, shouldn’t he? Livvie and her sister weren’t the enemy; they were as much the victims as all those hunted outside the cities.
He drove over the ridge and onto the steep climb that would lead him to near the top of the pass. He’d left early enough to be sure he’d be home in time to talk to her tonight. But as much as he wanted to comfort her, he had the mission to consider. She needed to be ready and willing to accompany him and his men. If he were smart, he’d use the Katie situation to manipulate her. But he didn’t want to do it that way.
She’d complained about being cooped up in the house the last few days. He didn’t want to let her out to wander the camp, not wanting to take a chance she’d try to escape. In fact, he knew she would, he even expected her to. But there was also another reason. He wasn’t sure if she’d come to any harm. True, she wore his collar, but that didn’t mean he could ensure her safety if someone acted unexpectedly. To say people had a strong dislike to Magnus One and specifically its soldiers was an understatement. At least he’d arranged for Jenna to eat lunch with her on the days he was gone. Who knew, maybe they’d hit it off.
* * *
Livvie couldn’t stop thinking about what she and Hayden had talked about. About what they were going to do to her sister. Was it a lie? Was it another manipulation to turn her against Magnus? They wouldn’t hurt her sister like that, would they?
She paced the small space. The one thing she knew for sure was that she was useless locked up in this house. She needed to get out of here, get back to the city. But how?
She checked the kitchen drawers again, then the cabinets, looking for a spare key. She’d gone through the upstairs and found nothing. She went into the living room and even looked under the cushions of the couch, then pulled the carpet up, knowing it was useless. He wasn’t that dumb.
But even though there wasn’t a key hidden beneath the carpet, there was something else. A trap door. She knelt on the floor and tried to pull it open. After a few tries, however, she realized it wasn’t just stuck, it was locked. She looked around trying to think of something she could use to pick it just as someone inserted a key into the front door and turned the lock.
Livvie quickly threw the carpet back down and nudged it flat with her toe as Jenna pushed the front door open, stepping inside.
“I don’t understand why he doesn’t just give you a key. He’s so overprotective. No one’s going to hurt you,” she complained. They’d had lunch together the last couple of days and Livvie found herself liking Jenna more and more. She filled a small part of the gap Katie had left.
Livvie took what she carried from her hands. “He must think I’d run away,” she said.
“Would you?”
“Not with this collar around my neck,” she began. “But honestly, I don’t know where I’d go. I can’t get back home on foot and…I’m nervous how welcoming they’d be if I did manage to show up at the front door. I’m supposed to have died by now. Or gotten very sick at the least.” This was true; it just wasn’t the whole of the truth.
“Are you starting to believe Hayden then?” Jenna asked. “That the air isn’t contaminated, that we haven’t mutated into beastly creatures?” she asked, making a silly face. “I can’t believe you thought my belly was some weird growth.”
Livvie ran a hand through her hair, smiling at that. “I’d never seen a pregnant woman, Jenna. And besides, it’s what I’ve been told all my life,” she said.
“Hayden had the same, you know,” Jenna said, unpacking the sandwiches.
Livvie’s expression changed. “What do you mean?” she asked.
Jenna paused, then busied herself with getting drinks poured.
“Jenna?”
Jenna turned to face her, leaving the food aside. “I just meant that he understands what you’re going th
rough. They brainwash their citizens in the cities, everyone knows it. And he doesn’t blame you for what you would have become if they hadn’t shot your plane down.”
Livvie searched Jenna’s suddenly flushed face and knew she wasn’t telling her everything. She wasn’t the only one keeping secrets, it seemed.
“Personally, I think you’re just what he needs,” Jenna added, effectively changing the subject. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you come to the kitchen with me today? I am trying a new recipe and Mary, the woman who’s supposed to help, has a sick son. What do you think?” she asked before Livvie could even react to the previous comment.
“Are you kidding? Get out of this place? I’d love to. Let’s go!”
“Hayden’s going to be pissed.”
“Do I look like I care?” Livvie asked.
The two ate their sandwiches as they headed to the main kitchen. It was a beautiful day, a little cool but fresh. Livvie inhaled deeply. It felt good to be out of the house, but more than that, she needed this time without Hayden to look around and plan for her escape.
“So is Mary Billy’s mom?” Livvie asked, not really sure why she cared.
“How did you know?” Jenna smiled.
“I met her; no, I didn’t meet her but I saw her the other day when Hayden was showing me around. She wanted him to have dinner with her. He declined, but I got a strange vibe…” she left off, hoping Jenna would fill in the blanks.
Jenna’s smile grew huge and she looked around. “Funny you picked that up. She’s been hot for Hayden for years now. Poor guy, he was just trying to comfort her, but I think things got out of hand one night, if you know what I mean,” she finished, waggling her eyebrows.
Livvie flushed, feeling suddenly quite warm. “You mean they…did…” Had he done to that woman what he’d done to her?
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