I might’ve saved the girl, but I shot a man. Scorpius, whether we’ve been infected or not…has changed us all.
—Hugh Johnson, Brigade Notes
“Hold on, Ellie.” Hugh held her closer to his chest as Connor drove maniacally through the town.
“Want me to hit a hospital?” Connor asked, glancing over at the motionless woman.
Hugh shook his head. “No.” Scorpius was rampant in hospitals. “Only as a last resort. She just hit her head.”
Connor pressed a button on the dash. “Hey, boss. Hugh got shot.”
“You okay?” Deke asked through the speaker.
“Fine. Bullet barely grazed me. I think it has already stopped bleeding,” Hugh said.
Connor slowed down and turned. “Was more of a scratch, really.”
Felt like a fucking bullet. “Agreed,” Hugh said. “Ellie is out.” As he spoke, she stirred in his arms, her eyelashes fluttering. Then those stunning blue eyes focused on him. “Hello, beautiful.”
Deke cleared his throat. “I’m assuming you’re not talking to me.”
Ellie blinked. “You shot him,” she murmured, seeming to snuggle closer into his chest.
“Shot?” Deke asked.
Connor took another right turn. “We had a problem. Scorpius survivor went nuts and fired at Hugh.”
“Is he dead?” Deke asked.
“Yes,” Connor said. “Hugh had the better aim.”
“The files haven’t come in on Gregor or Hugh yet, so I don’t know if that’s a good thing.” Deke sighed. “Status?”
“You’re a dick, and I’m perfectly on the right side.” Hugh brushed hair away from Ellie’s head. “We need to get a better security protocol in place at the power plant. Connor called in reinforcements and they should arrive tomorrow morning.”
“Affirmative,” Deke said. “As soon as you give them instructions, get on the plane. We need Ellie here at the Pennsylvania power plant.”
Ellie sat up in Hugh’s lap. “You found something?”
“Maybe.” Deke’s voice crackled over the speakers. “Somebody has definitely gotten into the computer system, but we need your expertise.”
She rubbed her temple. “Email me what you have, and I’ll look at it tonight.” Then she looked outside at the streetlights flashing by. “I guess I’ll look at it as soon as you send it.”
“Thanks. Deke out.” A click came over the line and then silence.
Connor pulled the SUV into the parking lot of a quaint-looking motel off the main highway. He cut the engine and stepped out, pausing. “Two or three rooms?”
“Two,” Hugh answered before Ellie could. She went still in his arms.
Connor eyed her. “Protest now if you don’t agree.”
She didn’t say a word.
Hugh’s chest tightened.
“Well, you did save her.” Connor nodded and then headed for the office, which had a bright red door compared to the muted blue doors of the rooms.
Ellie turned to meet Hugh’s gaze. “What are you doing?”
“You have a concussion probably,” Hugh said evenly. “I’m sure there will be two beds, and I won’t come near you. But you do need to be observed.” Having her soft little body on his lap was pretty much killing him, but he had to watch that concussion.
“Oh.” She opened his door and scooted off him, rubbing right across his aching cock.
He bit back a groan.
She stood, waiting a second as her balance took. Then she looked up. “That’s too bad. I was kind of hoping we could have sex.” Then she turned and strode toward the motel, her sweet ass swaying in her dark jeans.
Sex?
His cock sprang fully awake, and he was out of the car before he could take another breath.
Was she serious?
* * * *
Ellie reached the office just as Connor stepped out and handed her the key to room ten. What the hell had she been thinking? Hugh had promised not to touch her, and she’d just blurted out the first thing she could think of to say. That was so not like her.
Maybe she did have a concussion. In college, he had held all the cards. She had been shy and awkward, and he’d been the freaking star. The guy who hadn’t wanted to take advantage of her.
She was a woman now. A successful, strong, adventurous woman.
Holy hell. What had she been thinking to say that to him? Her skin sensitized, and she lowered her chin, moving down the walkway and sliding the key into the slot.
“Wait.” Connor ran to the SUV and took two packs out of the back, tossing one at Hugh, who caught it easily. “The hotel manager assured me that they cleanse the rooms every day, but still. We can’t be too careful. Wipe down the room before you take off your gloves.”
She pushed open the door, more than a little grateful for the leather still protecting her fingers from the damn Scorpius bacteria.
Hugh strode in behind her and unzipped the bag, taking out buckets of antibacterial spray and wipes. It took them almost thirty minutes to completely disinfect the room, and only then did Ellie notice there was only one bed. She stood and stared at it.
“What you said?” Hugh asked when he finished wiping down the small television set. “I know you have a concussion.”
She paused. He thought she’d said something outlandish or sexy because she’d had her head bashed into a wall? Humor rippled through her, and she chuckled. So much for being a femme fatale. She turned and looked at him. “You never thought about it? Sex with me?” Curiosity was such a pain in the butt.
His dark eyebrows rose. “Of course I did. All the time.”
“Bull,” she blurted before she could stop herself.
He straightened to his full height. “I was twenty years old, Ellie. All I thought about was sex. And believe me, you starred in more than one fantasy.”
Well. That warmed all her girly parts right up. What was she supposed to do with that information? Then her gaze caught on the belt around his arm. “Holy crap. I forgot all about you getting shot.” He’d gotten shot saving her. And he’d killed somebody for her. Although tough, Hugh was a good guy. A nice guy. “I’m sorry you had to kill him.”
“Me too,” Hugh said, gingerly rubbing his bloody arm.
Just like that, they were back on even footing. They had a job to do, and first was checking out the wound.
A knock sounded on the door and Connor strode inside carrying a first aid kit.
“You’re a mind reader,” Ellie said, relaxing for the first time in hours, happy she had left the door unlocked for him. Nothing could happen with Connor there, so she could just get over this silly crush and get to work. She dug out her laptop and sat on the bed to open emails from Deke as Connor took care of Hugh’s wound.
“It just needs a bandage,” Connor said, his voice a low growl. “Or maybe two.”
“You’re too kind,” Hugh said, the tone only slightly sarcastic.
A line of code caught Ellie’s eye, and she forgot about the two men. Interesting. Hmmm. She deciphered it, typing quickly, reading each line. “Somebody hacked into the system. Well, probably from the inside. They were looking for employee records and schedules.” Squinting, she looked up at the two men. “I need to get to Pennsylvania.” She’d be able to do more within the system.
Connor and Hugh worked for a while and then Connor took off for his own room. Sirens filled the night outside—a constant sound since Scorpius had hit.
“I’m taking a quick shower,” Hugh said, locking the door and then disappearing into the bathroom.
Ellie found the right code and then paused. She clicked SAVE and sent the information off to Deke. Then she looked at the closed bathroom door.
Hugh had wanted her. Years ago.
She still wanted him.
Life was tenuous at best right now. The pandemic was getting worse, and people were dying daily. Even the ones who lived seemed to be crazy and ending up dead.
She stood.
For years, she’d wondered.
For some reason, she tiptoed toward the bathroom. Was she brave enough to do this? Hell. She might be dead in a week. Or Hugh might. Why play games or be coy or…wait?
Fine. She could do this.
She yanked off her shirt and shoved down her jeans, gingerly sliding into the bathroom buck-ass naked. A semi-clear shower curtain did nothing to conceal the bulk of the man behind it washing his hair. She swallowed.
This was crazy.
But she moved closer to the curtain and whipped it open.
Hugh yelped and tackled her, taking her down to the floor in a move so quick she could only gasp. He flattened her, shoving all the air out of her lungs. His slippery body rubbed against her, and his dick was…right there. Definitely right there.
“Ellie Mae?” He levered up, soap in his hair and dripping down his hard cheekbone.
Oh God. What had she done? His large and soapy body was flush against her nude one. Her nipples hardened instantly. “Surprise?”
He blinked. Once and then twice. He slid a bit to the side, almost off of her, and quickly righted himself with his elbows on the worn bath mat, moving right back into place on top of her.
“You’re all soapy,” she blurted out. Even his…was soapy.
His brows drew down. “I was in the shower.” Instantly, his cock hardened against her. Pulsing. Full. Flattening her clit into explosive sparks.
Oh God. “You’re, ah, really hard.”
Red tinged his cheekbones. “I wasn’t until I landed on top of you.” Was he a bit defensive?
A nervous giggle erupted from her chest. “I wasn’t accusing you of anything.” Then the thought of what she would have been accusing him caught her breath in her chest. “I mean, I could see you behind the curtain. Your hands were up by your head.” She had to stop talking. Right now. “Your big head—not the other one. You know. At the top of your shoulders.”
She was a moron. A dumbass. Her mouth would never stop.
“Quit talking.” He chuckled, amusement lighting his eyes.
“I’m trying,” she said.
“Try this.” Then his mouth covered hers. Warm and male. She had time for one thought. Oh holy hell, Hugh Johnson was kissing her. Actually kissing her.
Then she forgot how to think.
His lips were firm, his movements slow and seeking. Investigating and oh-so-damn tempting. He explored her gently, in control, teasing and stroking. He went deeper, his muscled body pressing her into the floor, his hands at either side of her head and his mouth destroying hers.
Her entire body flashed wild and alive, and an aching need centered in her sex. Finally, he lifted his head, pleasure darkening his spectacular eyes.
The rumors about him in college were true. Beyond true. Hugh could kiss. Really, really kiss. She swallowed, her chest panting against his much harder one. “You can kiss,” she murmured.
His lips tipped. “So can you. I always figured we’d be like this.”
What was this? Hot and bothered? Needy? She wrapped her hands over his soapy shoulders, letting ripped muscle fill her palms. A soft hum escaped her as she caressed his chest, finally giving in to curiosity and need from so long ago. “I’m on the pill, Hugh.”
He hitched against her, and his dick pressed more insistently against her sex. “You blurt out everything in your mind, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I’m not much of a game player.”
“Ditto.” He kissed her again, his chest rubbing against her hardened nipples. “I don’t have condoms, but I’m clean. Have to get a physical every year for work.”
“Me too.” She finally let her hands roam free down his back to slide over his very nice ass.
He grinned and rolled over, bringing her on top of him. “I don’t want to crush you.”
Unfortunately, he was so soapy she kept right on going and rolled onto the floor, hitting her back against the cold tub.
He winced, reaching for her shoulders. “All right. I’m on top.” Then he covered her again.
Warmth surrounded her. Those words. Those silly, simple words. She wanted them. So she widened her legs, lifting her knees on either side of his. “How about we do this really quickly before one of us breaks something?”
He lifted his head. His blue eyes studied her—full of want and amusement. His hair fell onto his forehead, his still soapy forehead, giving him the look of a rogue. “I can give you fast right now, but then we’re taking the night in the bed. The entire fucking night.” His dick pressed between her legs as if in perfect agreement.
“Deal,” she said, leaning up to kiss him hard on the mouth.
He pushed inside her, going slowly, letting her body accept him.
“Man, you’re big,” she whispered as her internal walls stretched.
He barked out a pained laugh, setting his forehead against hers. “Don’t make me laugh. This might be over too quickly if you do.”
She really didn’t want that. So she bit her tongue. And then, miracle of all miracles, dream of all dreams…Hugh Johnson was fully inside her.
Finally.