Chapter Ten
Marcus tightened his arms around Elle. She was here, in his bunk, naked, his seed drying on her thighs.
Nothing had ever felt so right.
“I can’t promise never to risk myself,” she said quietly. “The world’s gone to hell, Marcus. We all have to fight to survive.”
Her words cut through his gut. He felt a driving need to protect her, from everything. But he knew she was right, dammit. In the ruin of the Earth, all of them had to fight.
“You do it from the Comms Control Room.”
Her fingers brushed the stubble on his cheek, stroking. “I hate knowing you’re out there, fighting. I have to hear it all, my mind imagining every gun shot, every raptor bearing down on you.”
He gripped her hand. “It’s what I’m trained for. Baby, you promise me you’ll never pull a stunt like you did with that rex again.”
Her blue eyes flashed. “I’d do it again if I had to.”
Marcus sighed. He loved her courage as much as her quiet intelligence and her gorgeous body. But he never, ever wanted to relive that moment with the rex again. “Then you deserve your punishment.”
She raised up on her elbow, her eyes wide. “Punishment?”
He sat and pulled her over his lap. “Told you I’d have to spank you.”
“You can’t be serious!” She squirmed, trying to get away.
He held her still with one hand on her lower back. “I want you safe, Elle. Even from yourself.” Jesus, the creamy curves of her ass taunted him. He gave her a light tap with his open palm.
She jerked. “Marcus!”
He liked the contrast of his big, darker hand against her pale skin. He slapped her other cheek.
She squealed and he knew he didn’t have it in him to cause her any real pain. He caressed the soft globe, marveling at how smooth her skin was.
When she moved against him, pushing up into his palm, he paused. “You like it?”
She looked back over her shoulder, her face flushed. “No, I love it. I like you touching me. In any way.”
“Good.” She loved his touch. Him, a rough, crude soldier. “Because I love touching you. But I don’t want to spank this delectable ass.” He caressed her bottom again, running a finger between her cheeks and down until he slid into her tight, wet heat.
“Oh.” She moved into his touch. “That’s so good.”
He thrust his finger in and out, then slid a second one inside her. She ground down against his lap and no doubt she felt his cock against her hip, hard as steel.
Marcus pulled her up, swiveling her to face him, her legs straddling him. “I didn’t ask you about protection.”
“It’s okay—”
“No. It’s not. I said I’d protect you, so I should have thought of it. I have a contraceptive implant and I’m healthy.”
She cupped his cheek with one hand. “Good. And I’m healthy, too.”
He released a breath. All the soldiers had contraceptive implants that lasted several years, but he wasn’t sure what would happen when they ran out. He had heard Emerson was trying to replicate the implants, but hadn’t had any success so far.
Then Elle moved and all sensible thoughts rushed out of his head.
With a smile, she raised her hips, and reached down and circled his cock. Her gaze never leaving his, she sank down, taking every each of him inside her.
“God.” The word exploded between his gritted teeth.
She smiled, a temptress out to seduce him. Then she lifted her hips and began to ride him.
“Elle.” He slid his hands into her hair. “You make everything worthwhile.”
She rode him hard with her breasts bobbing, her breath coming in hard pants. He lifted his hips to meet her and she kept moving until she came, her body shuddering above him. Then he slammed her down and emptied himself inside her.
As he pulled her close and lifted the covers over them, she curled into him and he felt something settle inside him. Something that had been angry and eating at him for so long.
He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Sleep. I have to head out to see Holmes soon, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She mumbled something and kissed him back, her eyelids already closed.
The debrief with Holmes took close to two hours. Marcus was itching to get back to Elle and, for once, he and the general avoided their usual fireworks. Holmes had a stick up his ass and loved the rules, but Marcus couldn’t argue that the man didn’t have the best interests of the base’s varied inhabitants at heart.
Marcus strode back toward his quarters, trying not to give in to the urge to jog and get there faster. At his door, he pressed his palm to the lock and it opened quietly.
He crept into the room, but it only took him a moment to realize Elle wasn’t sleeping peacefully like he’d hoped.
The sheets were twisted around her slim legs and she was tossing and turning.
Marcus sat on the edge of the bed and touched her shoulder. “Elle?”
She jerked upright with a sob.
“Hey.” He gripped her shoulders. In the dim light, he could see her eyes were confused, still fogged by her nightmare. “Elle?”
She blinked. “Marcus?” Her voice was jagged.
He stroked the hair off her face. “Nightmare about the rex?”
She dragged in a jerky breath. “I wish.”
He waited her out, just stroking her hair.
“About the invasion,” she whispered.
He frowned. “You have it a lot?”
She curled her arms around herself. “Every night.” A toneless whisper. “I’m trapped in the dark. I can hear the raptors coming. Their grunts, heavy footsteps, noisy breathing.” She started shaking. “I’m so afraid. Hiding in the closet in my room. Then I hear my mother scream.” A sob broke free from Elle’s throat. “My father shouting.”
Marcus tugged her into his arms, she struggled against him.
“I did nothing.” Her eyes were wild, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I hid like a coward, too afraid and too weak to help them.”
“Elle—”
“I heard them die, Marcus. I just looked out for myself and I let them die.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
She shook her head. “Nothing I do can ever make up for it. I was useless.”
He shook her a little. “You aren’t useless and none of us are the same people we were before. And the raptors killed your parents, not you. What could you have done? Would getting yourself killed really have helped?”
He saw something flicker in her eyes, but then she pulled in on herself.
Enough. He yanked her forward and kissed her.
He tugged her head back with a hand tangled in her hair. “Not your fault.” He didn’t have any soft words in him. He could only help her with the raw desire that burned inside him. Help her realize that she was alive and it was okay to live.
He pushed her onto her back. “Knees up, Elle. Spread your legs.”
She watched him intently, her gaze never leaving his face. Thankfully, the tears had stopped.
Slowly, she pulled her knees up and let them fall apart.
“Good girl.” God, she was all pretty and pink and open for him. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her hip bone. She shifted under his lips. “Stay still,” he warned.
He moved down and pressed his mouth to her.
He didn’t give her time to think, just licked and sucked. Shit, she tasted so damn good. A sweet, honey taste he wanted to enjoy every day of his life.
“Marcus.” She tried to press up into him, but he held her down. He used his tongue on her before finding her clit and sucking it.
With a scream, she imploded, her husky cries sweet sounds in his ears.
He got to his feet and jerked his clothes off. Then he flipped her over. “On your knees.”
He wasn’t going to give her time to think and brood. He wanted her only to feel.
She moved, thrusting the sweet curves of her butt back against him. Marcus swallowed a groan, fisted his cock with one hand and gripped her hip with the other, his fingers digging into her skin.
Then he thrust forward and slid inside her.
They both groaned. Damn, she was so hot and wet, like a tight glove around him. He bent over her and pressed a kiss to her neck.
“I’m going to take you hard. I can’t be gentle right now. I need you.”
“Yes.” She pushed back against him.
He slid out and slammed back in. “I want you to feel me long after I’m gone.” Another hard thrust.
“Marcus!”
He found a fast rhythm that had sensations coiling at the base of his spine. “When you sit in your chair in the control room, you’ll be sore and still feeling me.”
“Yes!”
He pressed a palm to the small of her back, holding her in place for his relentless thrusts. She made husky cries and moved into him.
Then she screamed and started coming. Her body clamped down on his cock, her inner muscles tightening around him, and he groaned. Seconds later, he came in a long, hard rush, throwing his head back as the sensation roared through him.
She fell onto the bed in a boneless sprawl, her dark hair in disarray. He nudged her aside and leaned over her. Her eyelids were closed. Fast asleep.
With a smile, he lay down beside her and tugged her close. Damn, she felt right in his arms. The perfect fit. He thought of her having that nightmare over and over… He’d make it his own personal mission to make sure she slept well every night.
But as he stared at the ceiling, his smile dissolved. He had to remember that she was still finding herself, discovering her confidence and the new her in this crazy, changed world.
One day, she’d wake up and wonder why she’d ever let a rough, battle-scarred grunt like him close.
But that day wasn’t today. So for now, she was his and he was going to enjoy the hell out of her.
***
As Elle entered the dining room at Marcus’ side, she felt like everyone was watching them.
She lifted her chin. Let them look. Gossip in the tight confines of the base was rife. It was a fact of life. Besides, she didn’t care if they talked about the fact she had stubble burn on her cheeks and neck—and in a few other sensitive places they wouldn’t get to see.
She was proud as hell she’d driven a man like Marcus to the wild desire he’d shown her. She’d had a decent enough love life before the invasion, or she’d thought she had. She’d believed she’d known what sex was all about. But Marcus had blown that all away. Making love with him had been…she drew in an unsteady breath…amazing.
“There are the guys.” Marcus directed her toward a table with a hand at the small of her back.
That slight touch made her shiver and a few places inside her light up.
He glanced down, his lips twitching. “I just spent all night fucking you senseless. You can’t be ready again.”
She licked her lips. “It seems when it comes to you, I can.”
Fire ignited in his eyes. “Later.” His voice was thick.
As they passed a table, Elle saw Liberty sitting with some friends. The blonde eyed her, then Marcus, then gave Elle a thumbs-up and a wink.
All of Hell Squad sat at the end of one of the long trestle tables lined up in the room. Noah was with them. They were all watching as Marcus and Elle approached.
Claudia’s dark eyes shifted between the two of them. “Thank fuck.”
Shaw grinned. “Nice work, boss.”
“About damn time.” Cruz lifted a piece of toast and took a bite.
“Shut it,” Marcus growled as he pulled a chair out for Elle.
Elle’s face was on fire, but she tried to ignore it. “Claudia? Cruz? You’re okay?”
Claudia stuck her leg out to the side. “Good as new.” She tilted her head. “Thanks for keeping that rex off us.”
Elle felt Marcus tense beside her and winced. “Don’t mention it.” She dipped her head toward Marcus. “Really, don’t. Marcus is still a bit…touchy about it.”
As Claudia snorted and the guys laughed, Marcus rattled her chair. “Sit. I’ll grab us a couple of plates.”
She smiled her thanks and sat. Then she watched him head over to the food tables and got caught staring at the way his cargo trousers cupped what she now knew was one tight, muscled butt. And the way his T-shirt stretched over his chest, leaving those heavy biceps on display. Strong arms that lifted her so easily, and were so sturdy as they held her in place for his thrusts—
“So, you and Marcus, huh?”
Noah’s voice intruded, startling her out of her fantasy. She turned. “Yes.”
“Would never have pegged it.”
She smiled. “He’s the most amazing man I’ve ever known.”
Noah studied her face, then shook his head. “No one else ever had a chance, did they?”
She saw something in his eyes. Oh, God. “Noah…I never realized—”
He shrugged. “I like you, Elle. You’re smart and sweet. I took too long to make a move.” He shot her a wry smile. “I’m not that great with the whole emotions thing. And tossing you over my shoulder isn’t really my style.”
“I consider you a friend, Noah.”
“I know. Me, too.” He touched her hand. “Friends. I’m happy for you. Marcus might be rough around the edges, but the guy’s a goddamn hero.”
Marcus returned and set a plate down in front of Elle. She eyed the mound of food incredulously. Marcus might be able to pack that away but there was no chance she’d be able to.
He sat in the chair beside her and picked up his fork. He glanced at Noah. “Any progress on the crystal?”
“Not much. I had to rework the cradle I’d devised to interface the crystal to our computers. It’s fascinating technology. I still haven’t worked out how the raptors have manipulated the crystalline structure of the…” Noah trailed off. “I just geeked on you, didn’t I?”
“Uh-huh.” Marcus took a bite of his substitute eggs.
“Right. Well, I finished modifying the cradle I’m using to link the crystals into our systems. Before I came down here to find you guys, I plugged the crystal in and pulled off some data.” He grinned. “English and raptor.”
Elle smiled at Marcus. He smiled back.
They ate for a while and she listened to Claudia and Shaw sniping at each other. Elle was reminded of how close the squad was. They were like their own little family unit.
“You know, I could use your help, Elle,” Noah said, interrupting her musings. “You’re better at raptor than me.”
“Sure. I can’t eat any more anyway.” She nudged her plate away. “You want to start now?”
Noah nodded. He grabbed their plates and headed to the wash-up area.
Elle stood and suddenly felt nervous. Marcus hadn’t showed any overt affection in public. He probably wouldn’t want her to make a scene. Should she touch him, though?
“Um, I’ll see you later.” She hated feeling uncertain around him.
Marcus suddenly grabbed her, yanked her into his lap, and kissed her.
All thoughts of etiquette flew out of her head. She cupped his rough cheeks and kissed him back.
The catcalls and whistles faded away. There was just Marcus and the delicious taste and feel of him.
When he set her back on her feet, she felt a bit dazed.
“Later,” he said. “I’ll be in the gym, sparring with Cruz, if you need me.”
She blinked, trying to get her brain to function normally. “Right. Okay.”
He smiled at her and because she couldn’t help herself, she traced his jaw. “Bye.” She tossed a wave at the rest of Hell Squad who, she noticed, were all grinning like idiots.