Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Greer
I stepped out of the shower and toweled off my hair.
Now that I was back in my room, I wasn’t tired. I was wired.
I was still worried about Frankie. I kept thinking of poor Travis and Sam. Travis had been a few years from retirement, and Sam had been young and full of potential. Grief hit and tears sprang into my eyes. I sank onto my bunk, fighting the pressure in my chest.
Those poor men. They must’ve been terrified.
I tried to push it out of my mind. I dressed in my favorite pink-striped pajama shorts and blue tank top, then moisturized my face and brushed my wet hair.
My thoughts turned to Jameson.
God, I needed to get a grip on this crush. My hand squeezed the handle of my brush.
But I knew it was more than a crush. It had been a crush when I was younger, but now I was a woman. I didn’t just like his rough, tough looks. I liked his strength and his determination, that he was a good leader, and a loyal friend.
I bit my lip. Okay, maybe I liked his body too. All those muscles…
My mom was as tough as they came, and she said a fit, athletic man could easily make a smart woman lose her good sense.
She and my dad were disgustingly good together. They were always passionate, kissing and touching. I sighed. I wanted that. I wanted a guy to tear my clothes off and need me so much he couldn’t hold back.
But the man I was most attracted to saw me as a sister.
He almost kissed you . At least, I think he almost had. There had definitely been a moment. I closed my eyes and imagined him right here, sitting beside me, touching me.
I lay back on the covers. Jameson would be rough, forceful in bed. He’d show me how he felt and what he wanted.
Sex with Toby had been decent. He’d talked a lot, and it hadn’t always been sexy, but I’d come some of the time. But it had hardly been exciting or passionate.
With thoughts of Jameson still in my head, I reached over and opened the nightstand drawer. I pulled out my vibrator and shimmied my shorts and panties off.
If he was here, he’d run those callused hands over me. He’d touch every inch of my skin.
Tingles worked through my body, and I shivered. I turned on my vibrator. It was soundless. It was the latest model from my friend Hope’s company. Her mom, Liberty, had started the company in the aftermath of the alien invasion. They’d started out making eco-friendly shampoos, conditioners, sunscreens and make-up, and then branched into vibrators and other toys.
I touched the toy between my legs and swallowed a moan. I imagined all the things Jameson would do to me. How his big body would feel against mine. His hands pinning me down.
I panted, my free hand gripping the sheets. I was getting close.
There was a knock on my door.
“Greer? I saw your light was on. Are you okay?”
Jameson .
God . With just the sound of his voice, I came. I rolled into my pillow to muffle my cries. Pleasure rolled through me in waves.
“Greer?”
“Coming.” In more ways than one.
I shoved the vibrator in the drawer and yanked my panties and shorts up. My panties were soaked in an instant. Oh boy . Pleasure was still humming through me as I sat up.
Swallowing, I raked a hand through my hair and headed for the door. My knees felt weak.
Dragging in a deep breath, I pressed the door lock. The door slid open.
And there he was, filling the door frame with his big, muscular body. He was wearing cargo pants and a black T-shirt.
I felt another pull low in my belly.
He cocked his head. “Are you all right?”
“Fine. I’m fine. Totally fine.”
His brow creased. “Your face is flushed. Are you sick?”
“No.” God, I was about to die from embarrassment. I couldn’t tell him that I’d just orgasmed, thinking of him. “Still warm from the shower.” I realized he was carrying two steaming mugs.
“You’re not okay. I knew you’d worry about Frankie, and about the guys you lost. I brought you hot chocolate. Your favorite.”
I smiled and waved a hand for him to enter. “You know me too well.”
He walked in and handed me a mug. He took a chair while I sat on the bed. He made my quarters seem tiny.
“I do know your weakness for chocolate,” he said.
“I haven’t seen much of you lately.” I sipped. Mmm, the chocolate was so good. “Maybe I’d gotten over my chocolate obsession.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “We’ve both been busy, and I knew you had a boyfriend taking up the rest of your time.” The corner of his lips twitched. “I don’t think you’ll ever get over your chocolate obsession.”
I reached out and touched his knee. “I know we’ve been busy with work, but I always have time for my friends.”
An unreadable look crossed his face. “Friends. Always.” He nodded at the mug. “Drink your chocolate.”
I leaned back and moaned. “It’s so good. Thank you.” I looked up and froze.
The look on his face… His gaze was locked on my lips.
Pure heat hit my belly. “ Jameson? ” I whispered.
He jolted, then quickly sipped his own drink. “I just wanted to come and tell you that the guys you lost, it’s not your fault. You’re not to blame. The monster is the one at fault.”
I sighed. “Logically, I know that. My heart just hasn’t caught up yet. And I’m really worried about Frankie. She’s a good friend.”
He took my hand. “North is the best. He should be a practicing doctor, not on Hunter Squad.”
“He loves Hunter Squad. He loves being a doctor, but he also loves being a soldier.”
Jameson nodded.
“Poor Travis and Sam.” Tears welled again and I dashed them away. “Sorry, I don’t usually cry.”
“Hey.” He reached out and set our drinks down. Then he pulled me onto his lap.
He was so warm, and I pressed my face to his strong neck. I wanted to absorb him. How long had it been since someone had held me like this? Toby certainly hadn’t.
“I’ve got you, Greer.” His big hand ran up my back.
The tears fell and I leaned into him. I cried quietly, letting all the fear and grief out.
Thankfully, the crying jag didn’t last long. Soon, I was just aware of him. Hot and hard beneath me.
I lifted my head. “Sorry about that.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” His voice was gruff. His green-gold gaze was blazing as he looked at me.
“Jameson…”
I felt the connection arc between us. My breath hitched. God, I could see that he felt it, too.
He cupped my cheek?—
A communicator pinged, and we both jolted.
“That’s mine.” Shaking my head to clear it, I grabbed my comm unit off the nightstand and read the message. “Oh.” My heart surged. “Frankie is awake.”
Jameson
I’d almost kissed her.
I was a jerk.
Greer had been crying, worried. And I’d been turned on.
We were heading to the infirmary. I followed her down the tunnel. She’d pulled a sweater on over her tank top, thank God, but there were still miles of toned, bare legs on display.
I ground my teeth together.
I was not supposed to be drooling over her.
“God, I hope Frankie’s okay,” Greer murmured, fiddling with her damp hair. It looked shades darker than her usual blonde.
“I told you North would help her.”
She nodded and shot me a small smile.
We reached the room they used as the infirmary. As the door whispered open, I saw North standing by a bunk. Frankie looked pale against the sheets, her curly, dark hair all tangled.
“ Frankie .” Greer hurried forward and took her friend’s hand.
“Hey, there.” The woman sounded woozy.
“How are you doing?” Greer asked.
“Well, the last thing I remember is a huge, ugly monster. Then I woke up and saw a hot doctor.” She fluttered her lashes in North’s direction.
Greer laughed. “You’re definitely feeling better. And North is very easy on the eyes.”
I frowned. She thought North was handsome?
Damn . He was. We gave him hell about it. I’d never had a problem catching the attention of the ladies, but I knew I wasn’t pretty. I scraped a hand over my jaw.
“Is the monster dead?” Frankie asked. “I don’t really remember much. It’s all hazy.” She shuddered.
Greer’s mouth flattened. “No, it’s not dead.”
“But it will be.” I stepped forward. “Soon.”
Frankie smiled at me. “Hi, Jameson.”
“Hi.”
“I bet Greer was glad to see you.”
“I was,” Greer said hurriedly. “Glad that Hunter Squad was here to deal with the monster.”
“Is Jordan okay?” Frankie asked.
“Just some minor contact burns,” North answered.
Frankie sat up a little higher. “And Travis and Sam?”
Greer’s face fell. She shook her head.
“Oh, God.” Frankie pressed a shaky hand to her mouth.
“We’re going to get the dam project up and running.” Greer’s voice was firm. “In their honor.”
Frankie nodded. “It’s what they would’ve wanted.”
As the women continued to talk, I moved over to North. “How’s she doing?”
“She has a nasty concussion, but she’ll be all right. She needs rest.”
“Good work.”
North nodded. “All right, Greer. Frankie needs to rest.”
“So does Greer,” I added.
She smiled at her friend. “I’ll stop in and see you in the morning.”
“Bring me coffee,” Frankie said with a pleading look.
I followed Greer out of the infirmary. Halfway down the tunnel, she stopped.
I frowned at her. “Greer?”
She held up a hand. “I’ve already lost it once tonight. I don’t want to make it a second time. I’m just glad she’s okay.”
The welling tears in her blue eyes made me feel like dirt. “You can lose it as many times as you want.” I pulled her close.
She pressed her face to my chest. She felt so damn good in my arms.
She held on tightly. There was no sobbing this time, just silent tears that soaked into my shirt.
“I’m so glad Frankie will be fine. And so sad Travis and Sam aren’t.”
“It’s going to be all right.” I tipped her face up, brushing my thumbs across her cheeks. I liked that she was on the tall side, and I didn’t have to bend too far.
“You must think I’m weak.”
“Hardly. You’re a kickass engineer who likes to get her hands dirty, and takes care of her team. Caring doesn’t make you weak, Greer.”
She managed a smile. “You make me feel better. Thanks. It seems you can carry anything on these broad shoulders of yours.”
I’d carry anything for her. I cupped her shoulders. “I’m always here for you.”
The air between us changed. Charged. Like it had earlier between us back in her quarters. She stepped closer and I felt the tantalizing brush of her breasts against my chest.
Damn . My cock hardened.
“Jameson.” Her voice was low and sexy.
Everything about her was sexy.
“Greer…” I cupped her jaw.
Then we both moved. I lowered my head as she went up on her toes. Her lips pressed to mine.
With a groan, I pulled her against me. She shimmied closer and I plunged my tongue into her sweet mouth.
Her tongue touched mine, stroked. She tasted like every fantasy I’d ever had. She moaned into my mouth, her hands twisting in my shirt. Then she leaped up, her legs wrapping around my waist. I slid my hands under her ass, turned, and pinned her to the concrete wall.
Then I stopped holding back.
I devoured her. I kissed her with all the pent-up desire I’d had simmering for years. I kissed her until her lips were pliant and puffy under mine. I moved my mouth down the side of her neck. She undulated against me, rubbing that sweet pussy against me. I was as hard as steel.
“Jameson… God …”
Greer . This was Greer. We’d grown up together.
I shouldn’t be doing this.
I let her go and staggered back.
She pressed a hand to the wall, and another to her swollen lips. She frowned at me.
I’d been rough. She was too good and smart for me. She was family.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” I scraped a hand over my head. “I’m sorry.”
“Jameson—”
I spun and hurried away, my boots echoing on the concrete floor.
I needed to find some damn control. I needed to focus on hunting this monster.
I had a job to do, and it didn’t involve kissing Greer Baird.