Reed: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (Hell Squad Book 4) (7 page)

“Navy SEAL, sweetheart. We like the water. I can hold my breath a very long time.” He slicked his now-wet hair back. The look accented the rugged lines of his face.

For the first time, she noticed the tension lines bracketing his mouth. He was tired. And worried. She always thought of him as a rock, solid as stone. But every day he went out there and risked his life fighting the raptors.

She’d seen him during her rescue. Had worried when he and the rest of Hell Squad had been in a Hawk crash. And tonight, he’d faced down a raptor to protect her, not to mention been worried about her.

Reed deserved some relaxation too.

“Well then, a badass Navy SEAL like yourself should be able to catch me.” She spun and dived into the water.

Natalya had always liked swimming. After all, she’d grown up in Australia, where swimming was a favorite pastime for most kids. She dived down, kicking as fast as she could.

When she came up for air, she spotted Reed powering through the water toward her. She squeaked and lunged to the left. Paddling with everything she had, she reached the rocky side and clung to it, her gaze darting around the pool. She didn’t see him.

She searched the dark water, but there was no sign. Then, he surfaced a meter away from her, making her yelp. He lunged for her and she pushed off the rocks, laughing as she did.

They played a little longer, like kids, splashing each other, dodging outstretched arms. A few times, his hands slid along her legs. He made mock growling noises that sent her into fits of laughter.

Finally, with a powerful kick that launched him toward her, he grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up. She was still laughing. God, this felt so good. She felt light and free.

“Got you,” he said.

His voice was deep and raspy, and as her gaze fell on his face, her laughter died away.

And another feeling rushed into her.

Desire. Strong and fierce.

She sank her hands into his hair and watched his eyes darken. Right at this moment, she felt powerful, vital, and she wanted to hold on to that.

“I want to kiss you, but this time you do it properly,” she said.

“Natalya—”

She tugged his hair, hard. “No holding back.”

“Just a kiss,” he growled.

We’ll see.
She leaned forward and nipped at his bottom lip.

He growled again and it sent goose bumps over her skin. Then he slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her.

This
. This was how Reed MacKinnon kissed. This was his desire unleashed…and it was as scorching as a backfire explosive. As the force of his need hit her, his mouth pulling on hers, his tongue delving against hers, she realized this was exactly what she wanted. What she needed.

She kissed him back, pulling him closer. A small moan came from her throat.

Reed’s arms tightened, mashing her bare breasts against his chest.
Oh
. She wrapped her legs around his lean waist.

And felt the hard brush of his cock against her thigh.

He pulled back, panting. His hands pushed her away gently until there was some water between them.

“Why did you stop?” she demanded breathlessly.

“Only a kiss. No more.”

Irritation flashed through her. “I want you. I want to touch you, feel you inside me.”

He cursed and with a few strong kicks, dragged her to the side. He pushed out of the pool with one arm, muscles flexing. Then he was yanking his jeans over a mighty fine ass.

“You aren’t making this easy for me.”

She gripped the edge, her fingers digging into rock. “I’m making it very easy for you. I want you, you want me.”

He turned, shoving his hands on his hips. “An hour ago you were shaking, hurt and in pain. I am
not
going to take advantage of you.”

Something hard and angry inside Natalya eased. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her. Her gaze dropped to the straining denim before going back to his face. He was just being Reed. Heroic and noble.

“Even if I really want this? And you do, too?”

“I won’t rush this,” he said, his tone firm. “I told you about my friend. Her name was Jo. She’d been held captive for six damn months. They’d tortured her, raped her, kept her in a cage, but she survived.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Then she rushed into a relationship with another soldier. He…took her over. He wore down the last of her confidence, stifled her, until finally there was nothing of Jo left.”

Natalya felt the pulse of his grief, her fingers pressing hard into the rock. “What happened to her?”

“She committed suicide.”

God
. Natalya climbed out of the pool and stood in front of him. She didn’t care that she was naked and dripping wet. “Reed, I’m sorry about Jo—”

“When we do this—and make no mistake, we will—you’ll be one hundred percent ready for everything I have to give you. Got it?”

His gaze was hot and burning. It turned her insides molten and her knees weak. “I’m not your friend.”

“We need to get back,” he muttered.

She stamped a foot. “You aren’t listening to me—”

He snatched up her shirt and tossed it to her. “You can have a hissy fit, but I won’t change my mind. I’m looking out for you whether you like it or not. That’s the man I am, I can’t be any different.”

She yanked her shirt on. It stuck to her damp skin. “Fine. Maybe I’ll find someone who will listen to me. Someone who wants me enough to accept what I’m offering.”

His eyes narrowed and he yanked her close, his face an inch from hers. “Don’t push me, Natalya.”

She pulled back and started doing up her buttons. Anger was a nasty taste in her mouth. God, she was a mess. She wasn’t even sure why she was angry at him. He was just taking care of her. All she knew was that she was a hot ball of need and the man she wanted was pushing her away.

“Fine, Reed. You win. You don’t want me enough, I get it.” She spun, intent on hiding the tiny knot of hurt inside and stomping back to base.

Then Reed muttered something and grabbed the hem of her shirt. He yanked her back and spun her to face him.

His features were carved like granite. “You want to see how much I want you?” He slashed his hand down, tearing her shirt open.

She gasped, her belly clenching.

***

A voice in Reed’s head kept telling him to back off.

But the mere idea of Natalya in another man’s arms had gripped him, shoving him over the edge.

He pulled her close and kissed her, the force of it bending her head back. Her hands clutched at his bare shoulders, her nails scoring his skin.

God, she tasted good. And those damn little noises she made in her throat almost did him in. But somehow, somewhere, he dredged up a thin thread of control. He pulled back.

“No,” she moaned in frustration.

“Shh.” He lifted her and lay her back on a thick patch of grass.

She lay there looking up at him, her skin pale under the moonlight. With her short elfin hair and sensuous curves, she could truly be an elf, come to steal the heart of a simple, mortal man.

He circled her waist with his hands. They looked large and brutish compared to her elegant softness. He skimmed his hands up, framing her ribs. Even in the shadows, he saw her scar. He reached out and traced a finger up it.

She flinched and gripped his wrist. “Reed, no. It’s ugly.”

“It’s a badge of courage.” He leaned down and put his lips to it. Tracing it with his tongue. “A badge of survival.”

She moaned again, arching up to his mouth.

He reached her breasts and moved to the left, sucking one taut nipple into his mouth. Her moans turned to little cries. Oh, yeah, his brown-eyed girl liked that. Soon he switched to the other and gave it the same attention. She moved restlessly under him, igniting a dark need that he had to ruthlessly keep in check.

This was about her.

Now he reversed his path, dragging his mouth over her smooth belly. He nipped her hipbone, his hands digging into her hips.

“Reed.” She wrapped one long leg around his waist. It pushed the warm, damp heart of her against his hard cock.

Fuck
. He gripped her thigh and pulled her leg off him.

Confusion flashed in her eyes. “No,” she cried. “You can’t—”

“I’m not going to fuck you, Natalya. Not tonight.”

Her face fell.

“Hey.” He framed her cheeks. “One day I will. I’ll fuck you so hard, you’ll feel me for days. I’ll take my time and worship every part of you. But tonight, you had a bad moment. You were shaking in my arms and I was frightened as hell. Tonight, just let me make you feel good.” He took her hands in his and pressed her arms above her head. “You keep them there or I’ll stop.”

Her eyes flashed. “I can’t touch you?”

“Nope.” He nipped her belly, enjoyed the choked sound that came from her throat.

“That’s not fair.” Defiantly, she reached a hand out to his shoulder.

Reed pulled away from her.

“No!” She moved her arm, letting her hand fall back against the soft grass above her head. But she moved restlessly, clearly not happy with the situation.

“There’s my good girl.”

“You’re a torturer. I should have known that annoying patience of yours tended to…other things.”

He smiled and moved his lips lower, lower. He trailed one hand up her thigh, pushing her legs apart. “I promise you’ll enjoy it. All you have to do is lie back and feel.”

He parted the dark curls between her legs, then lowered his head. At the touch of his tongue, she cried out. He licked her, delving into her, exploring her sweet folds. Damn, she tasted so good.

Reed heard every little cry, felt every jerk. He licked her, nuzzled her, caught her swollen clit between his teeth, then sucked.

“Oh…Reed. Don’t stop.”

But he did ease back slightly, before sliding one finger up, circling her, and thrusting it inside her. Her hips moved in rhythm with his thrusts. He slid a second finger in and she moaned. Damn, she was tight. She’d feel so good around his cock.

He licked his lips, tasted her honey and wanted more. Pulling his fingers out, he slid his hands under the rounded cheeks of her ass and lifted her up to his mouth. Once more, he tasted her, working her hard with his mouth and tongue.

Her hands slapped down beside her, fingers twisting in the grass. He felt her orgasm coming, felt the sweet tension growing in her body.

With another lick of her clit, she exploded and screamed his name.

He moved so his head was pressed against her belly and he stroked her skin as she came down.

Finally, he looked up at her. She was watching him with lazy, sated eyes. She looked the most relaxed he’d ever seen her and that made him pretty damn happy.

“I want you,” she said baldly.

Her simple honesty cut through him, making his cock throb. “I want you too, brown-eyed girl.” His words were a growl. He pushed up, covering her body with his, and claimed her mouth.

Soon they were straining against each other, rolling over the grass. She clamped her arms and legs around him. Damn, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He had to have her, mark her, make her his. To hell with waiting. She wanted him so badly her desire left him singed.

A sharp beeping cut through the red haze of desire. His communicator.

“Dammit.” He sat up, yanking the device from his pocket.

“No,” she moaned.

“I know.” The timing sucked. He glanced at the screen and cursed. “Hell Squad’s getting called out. We have to get back to base.”

She closed her eyes, then opened them and nodded.

He cupped her cheek. “Later. We’ll finish this.”

She licked her lips. “Later.”

His cock throbbed. “Witch. Come on.” He pulled her close to him.

Together, they fastened her shirt as best they could. Damn. He had to get her back to her room before anyone saw her like this.

“You owe me a shirt,” she grumbled.

He grabbed her hand and led her into the trees. “You bet. I look forward to seeing you lying back on my bunk, wearing my shirt, with my come drying on your thighs.”

Her lips parted. “Stop that. God, you drive me crazy.”

“I have another fantasy.” He lowered his voice. “I want to fuck you on your desk in the comp lab while you’re wearing one of those tight skirts of yours rucked up around your hips.”

“Reed!” Her breathing sped up a little. “Hopefully not while Noah or any of the others on the tech team are around.”

“Hell, no! No one sees you naked but me. Got it?”

She smiled, her teeth white in the darkness. “Got it.”

Chapter Seven

Reed leapt off the Hawk. He was hot, sweaty and tired. The rest of Hell Squad exited behind him. The landing pads were busy as always, and a small crew rushed over to check the Hawk.

At least he wasn’t covered in raptor blood…for a change. Their mission had turned into simple recon.

A fucking large troop of raptor soldiers was setting up a base in the remnants of a nearby town. Too bloody close to Blue Mountain Base for any of them to be happy.

Hell Squad had hidden and taken a buttload of photos of the raptors bringing in supplies. He swung his mayhem over his shoulder. Now they had to decide what to do about it.

“Need to brief Holmes,” Marcus said.

The rest of the squad nodded. Then Reed spotted Natalya hurrying toward him. She was dressed in a dark-gray skirt that shaped over her curves, with a pale-blue shirt tucked into it, emphasizing her waist and hourglass figure.

Damn
. Even being as hot and tired as he was, his cock responded.

“Hi.” She lifted a hand and waved.

“Natalya,” Marcus said as the rest of the squad grunted and waved.

She shot Reed a small, private smile he felt all the way to his bones. Then she looked at Marcus again. “I’ve been waiting for you to come back.” She took in a deep breath. “I think I’ve worked out a way to use the energy cubes against the raptors.”

Marcus’ blue gaze caught Reed’s over Natalya’s head. “Go on.”

“The energy cube Reed brought in…it’s a command cube. It can be added to others and it controls them. I’ve also discovered we have to be really careful with them…I only got a small electric shock but they are capable of killing if used incorrectly.”