Jameson (Hunter Squad #1)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Greer

D inner was a fun, noisy affair.

Maxim had a sexy laugh, and my female engineers were drooling over him. Everyone was enjoying the food, and letting off some of the tension of a dangerous situation, and the grief over our lost friends.

It was something my mom and dad had always told me. You had to grieve, but also make the most of the good times. You had to hang onto all the good you had in your life. That it helped you survive the bad times. I guess the alien invasion had taught them that.

Colbie and some of my engineers had cooked up some great dishes. I’d gorged myself on an amazing lentil curry and some of Colbie’s famous spiced chicken wings. Frankie had been given the all-clear by North and had joined us. She was on light duties for another two weeks.

Across the table Marc chuckled, long and loud, at something Frankie had said. He’d always been louder and more easy-going than his twin. Zeke was more like his dad Gabe—quiet, intense, brooding.

Speaking of brooding.

Jameson sat at the head of the table. He’d been quiet all night, and I’d felt him watching me several times. I glanced over at him.

Oh . He was looking at me now, his hands steepled under his chin. I crossed my legs. His gaze felt like a touch. I wished I knew what he was thinking.

Our second kiss had been on replay in my head all evening. I was pretty sure he now knew that I didn’t think of him as a brother or cousin, or any other sort of relative.

I got that our family was a factor. A messy breakup would cause problems.

But life was messy, especially in the aftermath of an alien invasion. And sometimes, things were worth the risk.

“All right, everyone, listen up,” Jameson said. The sounds and conversations died down as everyone turned to look at him.

“Maxim says the device will be ready to launch tomorrow.”

The table went even quieter.

“My squad and I have a plan to get the device close to the monster. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, it’ll be dead, and we’ll have justice for your friends. And then you can get your project completed.”

“Yes!” one engineer said.

Others nodded and cheers broke out.

Jameson held up a hand. “It’s not done yet. Plan your celebration for after the monster’s dead.” His gaze touched mine. “My squad will be on patrol shifts tonight. I want everyone to get a good night’s sleep.”

With a nod, he stood and left. Slowly, people started to drift out.

After checking in with a few of my engineers, I headed for my room. I was too wired to sleep. Would the device work? I gnawed on my bottom lip. Could Hunter Squad take down the monster?

What if someone else got hurt or killed?

No. Hunter Squad could do this. There was no doubt about that. They’d been keeping us safe for years. Jameson had taken over Hunter Squad several years ago, and little kids grew up knowing the squad would protect them.

I took a quick shower and put on my pajamas. I tried to read for a bit.

Nope, still too wired . I set my tablet down. There was going to be no sleep for me anytime soon. I remembered that the hot chocolate the other night had helped. I slipped out of my quarters and headed for the kitchen.

The base was silent and dark, everyone in bed and sleeping. I knew that some of Hunter Squad would be outside doing the rounds.

At least the monster wasn’t banging on the wall again.

Tomorrow, we’d eliminate it. That was all I needed to focus on.

In the kitchen, I opened the fridge. The glow of light was like a beacon in the darkness. I grabbed some milk and hot chocolate powder and put it on the heat unit.

A moment later it dinged, and I poured the cocoa into a mug.

“Hey.”

I jolted and turned. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. Make some more noise when you sneak up on a girl next time.”

Jameson stood there, mostly hidden in the darkness. Then he reached up and pulled his armored vest off.

“You were outside?” I asked.

“Just finished patrol. Kai took over.”

“The monster?”

“No sign of it.”

“Good.” I sipped my drink.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

“No.” I circled the counter and saw his gaze drop to my bare legs. His jaw tightened. “Jameson?”

“It’s going to be okay. I don’t want you to worry.”

“I can’t just turn the worry off.” I leaned against the island and sipped again. “I know that you and your squad are good. And you always keep your promises. Like your dad. My mom says no one is more trustworthy than Marcus Steele.” I cocked my head. “I say the only person more trustworthy is you.”

He was silent, just staring at me.

I held up the mug. He took it, turning it until he pressed his mouth over the same spot where mine had been.

My belly clenched. God, it was like flames igniting inside me.

“I’ve tried to stay away from you,” he said.

My heart thumped. “Why?”

He set the mug down. “Because we’re friends. Because I’m older than you.”

“Only by a few years.”

“Because we’re family and grew up together.”

“I don’t think of you as my brother, Jameson.”

“I know.” His deep voice was a low rumble. “My feelings for you are not brotherly.”

My chest hitched. “How do you feel?”

His gaze ran down my body. “Those fucking shorts. I can see all of those legs of yours. And I know you’ve got nothing on under that shirt. All of you is pure temptation.”

My skin flushed. “I like you too, Jameson. Believe me, I’ve come on my own fingers plenty of times thinking of you.”

He groaned—a low masculine sound. “I’m just a soldier, Greer. I’m not smart, I don’t have any degrees, I…”

I took a step forward. “That’s why you pushed me away?”

“Part of it. I’m not good enough for?—”

Now I was angry. I shoved his chest. “Bullshit. Jesus, I had a smart guy—” I made air quotes when I said smart “—and he wanted me to be his baby-making machine.”

Jameson growled. “He was an idiot. I’ll kick his ass.”

“I already did. He’s just a distant memory now.” I moved closer to him. “The best man I know, he’s strong and loyal and trustworthy. And he sees me.”

“When I look at you, I see intelligence and beauty.”

“Jameson—”

He scooped me up and set me on the island. I gasped, then his mouth was on mine.

Pulling him closer, I lost myself in the kiss. I drowned in it. I savored the scrape of his stubble, the masculine taste of him, the pure heat.

“I need more.” His voice was gritty, raising goosebumps on my skin. He nipped at my jaw. “I need to taste you.”

Then his big hands gripped the waistband of the shorts.

My chest hitched. Oh, god.

Then he ripped them down my legs. He also discovered that I wasn’t wearing any panties.

“Greer,” he growled.

Jameson

I couldn’t think. I had my hands on Greer. All I could do was feel her, smell her, hear the excited hitch in her breathing.

Fuck .

Need pounded inside me—hot, relentless. I ran my hands up her bare legs, listening to her small gasps. She wasn’t wearing any panties. I parted her thighs. In the shadows of the kitchen, it was like no one else existed. It was just us.

I pushed her back flat on the counter and her lips parted. Her gaze locked on mine.

“So damn beautiful.” I lowered my head and pushed her shirt up. I peppered kisses across her stomach. Her skin was smooth, and I felt her shiver under my lips.

“God, Jameson.” Her voice was husky.

Greer . I was finally touching Greer. I pushed her thighs apart even wider. If I didn’t taste her, I’d lose my mind.

I ran my mouth up her inner thigh.

She made a choked sound, her hands twisting in my hair.

Then, my mouth was finally—finally!—on her sweet pussy.

So. Fucking. Good.

I licked and explored her sweetness. She made a garbled sound, tugging on my hair. I licked at her—she was slick, and her honey-musk taste filled my senses. She pushed her body closer, arching to my mouth.

“Perfect. So damn perfect.” I found the swollen nub of her clit and circled it with my tongue.

“ Jameson .”

“You have no idea,” he growled. “No fucking idea how you affect me. How much I want you all the damn time.”

Her lips parted. She stared at me.

I went back to eating her—licking, sucking until she was making incoherent sounds and writhing for me.

I slid my finger inside her. She was tight and slick. How would it feel to slide my cock inside her?

Savoring the sounds she made, I kept licking, feeling her nails on my skin. Then her body tensed. She was close.

I closed my lips on her clit and sucked. With a sharp cry, she came, crying out my name.

Watching her come was the best thing I’d ever seen. I rubbed my mouth against her thigh, watching the pleasure wash over her.

Damn . My gut was hot and tight. I’d made Greer come. That felt like an honor.

Her eyes opened, were slightly dazed, and we looked at each other. She cupped my face, her nails rasping on my stubble.

“More,” she murmured.

Need shot straight through my cock. My fingers tightened on her legs. “How much more?”

She licked her lips. “Everything.”

I was just about to haul her closer and take her to her quarters when my communicator pinged.

I cursed and dropped my chin to my chest. Talk about colossal bad timing. I didn’t want to answer it. It pinged again.

“Answer it, Jameson,” she murmured.

Biting back a curse, I yanked it off my belt. “Steele.”

“Jameson.” Kai’s voice. “We have movement in the trees to the east.”

I closed my eyes. Sometimes being the one in charge, being responsible, sucked. “On my way.”

There was a beat of silence.

“You need to go.” Greer sat up.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to.”

She gave me a small smile, a real one. I was damn glad to see it.

“I really don’t want you to go either.” She leaned forward.

The kiss was quick but deep, and I knew she tasted herself on my lips.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” she murmured.

I nodded.

“And thanks.”

“You never have to thank me for making you come.”

She slid off the counter and pulled her pajama shorts back on. “As long as you do it again.”

I could only manage a nod. My communicator pinged again and I muttered a curse.

“Go.” She pulled a face. “I need to clean up in here.”

I reached out and ran my finger down her bare shoulder, then I turned and forced myself to walk out.

“Jameson?”

I looked back.

“Be careful.”

I nodded, then strode down the corridor.

You have a damn job to do, Steele.

But all I could think about was Greer.