Men of Mercy: The Complete Story

by Cross, Lindsay

  How was he sending her messages? Carefully this time she studied the sat phone. It had seemed like perfect timing back on base when he’d shown up with this brand-new phone after hers had been crushed. She’d been so grateful and he’d been planning to kill her all along.

  She dropped it like a hot coal and gulped. The sat phone had never been intended for phone calls – it was a tracking device.

  Ramsey had somehow discovered that his attempted plane crash and bomb hadn’t worked—and this man, Jack Mankel, was clearly the one pulling the strings. Ramsey wasn’t stupid, but he wasn’t that smart either. And she knew he didn’t have the connections, or motivation, to pull off a stunt like this unless someone very rich and very bad had lined his pockets.

  Unable to help herself, she picked up the phone and swept her thumb across the screen to bring up the picture of her daughter once more, expanding it to fill the screen. A man with the resources to buy off Ramsey and plant a bomb in the C-130 would have no trouble taking out a helpless, unsuspecting little girl. She didn’t doubt he could carry out his threat. But in order to save her daughter’s life, she’d have to betray Mack . . .

  “Hey, beautiful.” Mack’s deep voice, right next to her ear, startled her so much she nearly dropped the phone again.

  “Mack,” Marley said breathlessly. She practically felt his gaze boring into her phone. Had he seen the text?

  “That Maddie? She’s precious.”

  Marley sucked in a breath, trying to keep from passing out as her heart thundered out of control. What to do? She didn’t need to tell him what she knew. Not yet. First she needed time to think.

  “I’m, yeah, I just wanted to see her face.”

  Mack placed a tender kiss on her cheek and Marley rocketed to her feet, quickly powering off the cell phone and shoving it into her pocket. He’d nearly seen the text. Maddie was in danger. Mankel’s minions would kill her if Marley didn’t do as they asked. The thought of anything happening to her daughter sent shockwaves of panic through her so fierce that it nearly brought her to her knees. She squeezed her hands into tight fists in a futile attempt to keep the pain inside.

  In order to save her daughter, she would have to sacrifice Mack and his team. And herself.

  It occurred to her again that Ramsey had asked her about her life insurance . . .

  He wasn’t planning on letting her make it out of this jungle alive. Betraying the team would ensure both their deaths and hers.

  * * *

  Something about Marley had changed. He’d left her with laughter and a smile in anticipation of another night of amazing lovemaking. Channeling his inner Tarzan, he’d raced off into the jungle, eager to bring back sustenance for a woman.

  He had trapped a small animal, skinned it, and brought it back, unsure if she was okay with seeing the fresh blood or not.

  He’d expected her to look at him with delight when he returned with food. Her stomach had been growling all day. But she kept her face averted and her head down, her shoulders slumped but tense. What the hell had happened in his short absence from their makeshift camp? Had she had too much time to think about last night and suddenly regretted it?

  Or was it as simple as seeing the picture of her daughter on her phone? When Cooper was that age, Barbara used to send him batches of pictures when he was on deployment. His chest had ached each time he looked at them. He had missed his son as much as he’d missed his wife.

  Then it hit him, of course it was Maddie. Marley had raised her child as a young widow on her own. They probably didn’t spend too much time apart. And Mack was standing here letting his own insecurities cloud his judgment.

  He draped the animal carcass over the root opposite the one Marley had just vacated and went to her, wrapping his arms around her and holding on when she tried to protest and push him away. He cradled her head against his chest and smoothed down her soft hair. “I know how much you miss Maddie. I swear to God I’ll get you back to her safe and sound, even if it means my life.”

  Marley jerked in his arms, her chest expanding with a soft sob. She tensed as if to pull away again, but he anchored her to him. He would be strong enough for them both right now. “You probably guessed as much from what I told you last night, but I had to be away from Cooper all the time, too. It never got any easier, but I learned to deal with it. All you can do is look forward to the moment you walk in through that front door and she runs to you and throws her little arms around your neck. That little girl loves you more than anything else in the world. I don’t have to meet her to know it. Focus on that, and you’ll be able to make it through anything to get back to her.”

  Marley’s entire body shuddered with emotion. She mumbled against his chest, “I miss her so much.”

  Mack rested his chin on top of her head and gazed out across the river, seeing Cooper’s face instead of the trees. “At least she still looks forward to your return. Everything will be okay between you and Maddie. She probably doesn’t even realize you’re in this mess.”

  Marley pushed away from him, and he wasn’t surprised to see her tear-stained face. “I wish I could talk to your son, tell him what a fine man you are.”

  There was a fierce glow in her gaze and Mack caught his breath. “My little tigress.”

  Marley tilted her face into his palm. “Sorry, Mack. I’m so sorry.”

  Another giant crack in his heart. She cared about them enough to worry about his destroyed relationship with his son. Even missing her daughter as much as she did right now, she was still concerned about him. Mack felt something break free inside him, something warm that enveloped his entire being. “You make me want to try, Marley Mitchell. You make me want to fight for him.”

  Her eyes closed and the fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. “I wish I could fix it. I wish I could fix everything.”

  He brushed her tears away, shuddering right along with her. The feelings that wrapped around them, cloaking them, were so intense, so strong. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone since he and Barb had first gotten together—and those memories were hazy. He had loved his wife, but he didn’t remember feeling this primal need to protect and cherish her. He wanted to slay Marley’s dragon and appear before her triumphant. He wanted to do anything to ease the pain on her beautiful face.

  “Maybe you could go see Cooper with me after we get back home. Just knowing you’re there would give me strength.”

  Mack’s insides froze with uncertainty. No one had said a word about after the Congo, at least not explicitly. He couldn’t yet describe what he wanted in words, but he knew without a doubt he wanted Marley in his life. The connection between them went far deeper than a quick screw after a near-death experience. He wanted her now and he wanted her to be with him later.

  Just being around her comforted him and gave him strength and a renewed energy. He could conquer anything when Marley was here. His entire being buzzed with energy as he waited for her to answer. Please let her want the same.

  She gazed up at him with such rawness. “I would love that.”

  Mack yanked her to him, squeezing her with relief and fierce joy. Damn, he was going to spend the entire night savoring her sweet body.

  “Mack, you’re smothering me,” she said in a muffled voice.

  Immediately he relaxed, allowing her to lean back but not to step away. “Sorry.”

  Marley gazed up at him, her lips slightly parted and turned down, her brown eyes searching his. “You would do anything for your son, wouldn’t you?”

  “Of course. I’d kill for him.”

  “Would you die for him? Even if he would never find out what had happened to you?”

  “I would, but neither one of us will have to do that, because we’re getting the hell out of this place as soon as we find my team.”

  Mack’s stomach rumbled this time and he chuckled before placing a fierce kiss on her lips. “Now enough of all the sad talk, I’ve got two surprises for you.”

  Marley gathered herself up and mov
ed her hands down her thighs. “Oh, wow, two surprises?”

  Mack strutted over to the dead animal. Using the knife jutting up out of the root to spear it, he held it up for Marley to see. “May I present your supper, my queen?” He bowed his head low.

  Marley giggled and clapped and he freaking loved the sound of her laughter. He loved knowing he was the one who’d made her smile when she had been so sad just seconds before. “I don’t make a habit out of eating recently killed animals, but that looks better than any pizza I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

  Riding on the high of her smile, Mack reached down into his pocket and pulled out another water purification tablet and a flint. “And I’ve got the key for fresh water. The chemicals make it taste like shit, but right now I don’t think either one of us will care.”

  “You really are the perfect man.” Marley said with a teasing lilt to her voice.

  Mack stood proud and tall, holding the fresh water supplies in one hand and the carcass in the other. “Anything for you, babe.”

  Mack swore he caught the briefest look of pain in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant, her smile back in place. Hunger and dehydration must be getting to him.

  “I’ll find something we can use to make bowls for the water,” she said.

  Mack shook his head. “All right, but don’t wander very far away. I saw some pretty big tracks out there. I want to make you supper, not be supper.”

  Chapter 20

  They ate supper in silence. Mack made a big enough fire to quickly cook the meat and then doused the smoke and flames to hide their location. He hadn’t wanted to risk a fire, but he also hadn’t wanted to feed Marley raw meat. After eating, they savored more of the water, dousing their tongues and throats.

  “I’ve never eaten mongoose before,” Mack said, “but you’re right, it now ranks above squirrel on my list of favorite foods.”

  Marley grimaced. “I would have enjoyed it much more if I could have hypnotized myself into believing it was a fat juicy steak.”

  It had almost tasted like one after over twenty-four hours without food. Mack had done that before, but it was never pleasant, and every growl of Marley’s stomach had hit him with a punch of guilt.

  They settled next to the roots at the base of one of the trees, the heat of the night air making a fire unnecessary for warmth. Mack watched Marley take a sip of water from his small canteen. And then she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the tree trunk, her knees bent, bathed in an almost ethereal glow by the moonlight reflecting off the river. It was the only light they had to see by. “This water is heaven.”

  Unable to stand even the scant few feet separating them, Mack scooted over to be next to her, leaning back on the smooth hard trunk as he took in her features. “It definitely isn’t as good as you.”

  Marley’s chest rose and fell in short rapid breaths. He loved the way his words affected her. She was so responsive.

  Mack took a slow, deliberate sip of the water before carefully placing the canteen off to the side so it wouldn’t spill.

  Then he turned back to her, reaching up to gently touch the faint bruise marring her cheek. Rage still had its nails embedded in his insides. He needed to touch her, to hold her and reassure himself she was okay. He needed to wipe the image of her attack from both of their minds. “How badly does it hurt?”

  “Honestly, I’d forgotten about it.”

  Such a brave woman. Her strength amazed him. “I want to make love to you, Marley. I want to touch you. I want to taste you.”

  Her eyes darkened with longing, shifting to a deep chocolate brown. “Mack.”

  “Don’t tell me no. We both need this. I want you. Not just tonight, but every night.”

  He searched her gaze, looking for any hint of denial and praying for her acceptance. Giving her enough time to mull over his words from earlier, and her near silence during supper had left him uneasy. Had he told her too much about his past?

  He came with baggage, there was no question about it. He was older than her, with a grown son who hated him and a dead wife whom he’d all but abandoned for the forces.

  He gave new meaning to the word damaged. Until Marley, he hadn’t thought he had a soul left to be damaged, but she’d restored the hope he’d lost so long ago. Now he found himself looking past his goal to destroy Jack Mankel. Looking toward the life he might lead after he got his revenge.

  “Mack, I need you. Now.” He heard the desperation in her voice, watched as her nipples tightened through the thin fabric of her torn shirt. She didn’t deserve any of this, not one second of pain, but he would soothe her every hurt. Her every ache.

  Mack slowly undid the knot holding her shirt together, not tearing his gaze from hers for a second. “Your courage awes me, Marley.” He pushed the material covering her right breast off her shoulder. “Your strength amazes me.” He pushed the other scrap of cloth from her left breast, keeping his gaze locked on hers. “And your compassion steals my breath away. I’m not good enough for you, I know that, and if I were a good man I’d stay the hell away from you. But I’m not a good man.”

  He leaned down and drew her tight nipple into his mouth, gently sucking as he savored every ounce of sweetness on his tongue.

  He was already rock hard, his cock aching to be buried inside her hot pussy, but he pointedly ignored that raw edge and focused on giving Marley the pleasure she deserved. “But I can be good for you. I will be good for you.” Mack took her other nipple into his mouth and slowly sucked on her, his eyes closing in ecstasy as her fingers dug into his scalp and clutched him to her chest.

  He pulled her beneath him, laying her out on the spongy green moss so that the moonlight bathed her body from head to toe, a soft, light glow just bright enough for him to see her. His hands grabbed her pants and pulled them off, easing her panties down after. When he saw her wet, glistening sex, he nearly came in his pants. “You’re so fucking beautiful, it hurts.”

  Her lush perfect breasts narrowed into a trim, flat waist and stomach before flaring back out into hips that were made for a man’s hands. Made for his hands. Mack ripped off his shirt and then shucked his own pants, standing tall and naked, giving her a last chance to tell him to stop. When Marley leaned up on her elbow and reached for him, Mack knelt before her. “Open for me, Marley. Now.”

  She lay back and spread her legs wide, her knees falling apart so that she was completely bare to him. Her vulnerable position was sexy beyond words and his cock throbbed, pre-cum glistening on its tip. Fighting for control, Mack lowered himself to his elbows and scooped her hips into his hands. He took a deep inhale of her sweet sex. “This is what I’ve been dreaming about all day.” Then he dropped his head and gave her a long, slow lick, delving into her opening and rising up to circle her clit.

  “Oh, God!” Marley’s ragged cry made his hips flex.

  “You taste like candy. Like heaven.”

  Mack lapped up her goodness, savoring every bit. He made slow deliberate circles with his tongue—up, around, then back down—until her hips were tracking to the rhythm of his mouth on her. If he hadn’t been holding her down, she would’ve come completely off the ground. “I’m so close. Don’t stop,” Marley’s ragged moans were his undoing. He needed to be inside her, he needed to feel her orgasm squeezing the blood from his dick. Mack rose swiftly over her and lined up with her entrance, “Look at me, Marley.”

  She rolled her head from side to side, forcing Mack to catch her face in his hands. “Look at me when I take you.”

  He couldn’t explain why, but he wanted to know that she was thinking only of him. Her eyes opened, her lips low and heavy with lust. A faint sheen of sweat covered her body and she grabbed onto his biceps.

  “Watch me. Don’t take your eyes off me.” Mack eased into her, inch by inch, feeling every bit of her until he filled her to the hilt.

  She was quietly panting now, her nails digging into his arms, but she didn’t rip her gaze from his. Unable to speak another wor
d, Mack drew out, her tight pussy clenching, trying to keep him inside. If he weren’t careful, his own orgasm would precede hers. Now, moving just as slowly, Mack worked himself back in, wanting to drive her over the edge.

  Marley planted her feet on the ground and shoved up, trying to take even more of him. Mack kept his arms on either side of her head as he began to rock in and out, clenching his teeth to remain in control. Marley didn’t bother. She writhed around and clawed and scratched at him, showing him how much she loved every second.

  “Mack, harder.”

  He squeezed his hands into tight fists. “No. I want to make this good for you.”

  Marley flung her head to the side to try to arch up again, but he pinned her to the ground with his hips.

  “You will make it good. But I need it harder, Mack. I need to feel your strength. Please, I’m so close.”

  Her plea unraveled his last thread of restraint, and Mack pulled out and plunged inside her with a loud groan. Marley met him equally as hard and he took her like his soul had been crying out for him to do, with primal thrusts and deep growls.

  “Mack, I need you now!” Marley exploded, clenching and spasming with her orgasm. Mack continued to drive into her over and over.

  Fuck, he couldn’t hold on. He couldn’t hold back.

  “Marley!” Mack’s balls drew up and he exploded, unloading inside her, feeling a sweet ungodly pleasure that made his toes curl and his heart stop beating in his chest.

  Marley threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her.

  It was all Mack could do not to crush her beneath him. Dear God, he couldn’t move. His intention had been to solely focus on her pleasure, but it had backfired and now he was unable to do anything. Eventually Mack became aware of Marley butterflying soft kisses on his face as she traced soothing circles on his shoulders and back. At some point she wrapped her legs around his hips.