Jameson (Hunter Squad #1)

Chapter 16

Jameson

I groaned, my hands clamped on Greer’s hips as she rode me. “God, you’re beautiful.”

She pressed her hands to my chest, rocking with my cock lodged deep inside her. “I think you’re beautiful.” Her voice was husky. “In a rugged, tough way.” She leaned down, her hair like a curtain around us. “And you’re mine. Your hard body, your cock, and your heart and soul.”

“All yours.” I groaned again. “ Always .”

She moved faster. I lifted my hips up and felt her pussy tightening. I reached out, my hand running over her flat belly, then delving between her thighs. I thumbed her clit.

“ Jameson .” She screamed my name and tossed her head back.

Pure beauty . With a growl, I gripped her hips and yanked her down. Deep inside her warmth, I poured myself inside her.

Wrung out, and floating on the wave of pleasure, I watched as she collapsed on top of me. My chest was rising and falling, and her warm breath puffed against my pec. She kissed my almost-healed wounds, and I ran a hand down her back.

Life was pretty damn perfect.

The echo of a knock thumped against my front door. I frowned. The knock turned to a hard hammering.

I sat up. “That better not be the guys again.”

We’d had fun with the impromptu barbecue yesterday, but I hadn’t had my fill of Greer yet. I wanted her all to myself.

“If it was the guys, they would have let themselves in,” she said.

True. The knocking continued.

Who could that be?

“Someone wants to see you badly.” She squinted at me. “It had better not be a woman, Jameson Steele.”

“There’s only one woman for me.” I leaned over and kissed her.

The knocking stopped, then started again.

Muttering, I climbed out of bed. Greer followed and grabbed my T-shirt. I was distracted by her sweet ass as I pulled my pants on. I grabbed my communicator off the beside table to check the front door security feed. “Maybe if we ignore them, they’ll go away.” An image filled the screen, and I stiffened. “Or not.”

“Who is it?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Um, my dad.”

“Oh?” She finger-combed her hair. It was a messy blonde cloud around her makeup-free face.

“And your dad.”

Her blue eyes widened. “Uh-oh.”

“You finish up, I’ll talk to them.”

“No. Jameson, wait for me?—”

I hurried out of the bedroom. I strode through the house, trying to think about what I’d say to the father of the woman I’d just spent the best part of three days fucking.

I paused at the front door. Nope, I had nothing . I sucked in a breath.

I touched a palm to the lock and the door opened. “Dad. Uncle Shaw.”

Dad was an older, harder version of me. He was solidly built, and I knew he’d happily still lead a squad, if Mom hadn’t asked him to take fewer risks and slow down. There was a scar on his face that a Gizzida raptor had given him in the early days of the invasion. He was scowling. Uncle Shaw was scowling too.

“Jameson.” Shaw crossed his arms. “Where is my daughter?”

“Greer? Well…”

She breezed out of the hallway. “I’m here.”

She’d brushed her hair, but she was still only wearing my T-shirt.

Hell .

Uncle Shaw’s gaze narrowed and swung to me. “You’re sleeping with my daughter?”

Dad frowned. “Jameson.”

Greer came to my side and slid an arm around me. I rested mine over her shoulders.

“Honestly, we haven’t been doing much sleeping,” Greer said.

I winced.

Shaw’s face darkened.

I held up a hand. “I’m falling in love with her.”

Silence fell.

She smiled up at me. “And I feel the same.”

“Hell,” my father said. “I need a drink.”

“It’s nine o’clock in the morning, Dad,” I said.

“So?” he replied.

“Fine.” Shaw shouldered past us. “I need one, too.” Dad followed him.

Greer’s eyes twinkled.

“We haven’t been doing much sleeping? Really? Do you want your father to kill me?”

Her smile widened. “He loves you. He isn’t going to kill you.” She tugged me toward the kitchen.

“You clearly are not a man or a father,” I muttered.

The dads had found my bourbon and glasses, and were pouring themselves generous amounts at the kitchen island. It was the good stuff, too. Pre-invasion. It had cost me a small fortune.

Shaw knocked back the glass. “Damn, that is good.” He lowered his glass and pinned me with a glare.

I straightened. “I know I’m not good enough for her?—”

“You’re not,” he said.

My dad growled. “Baird.”

Greer crossed her arms. “He is. He saved me, he fought for me. He leaped out of a Talon and into the water with a giant monster to save me. He gave me CPR, and fought countless other dangerous creatures to keep me safe.” She gripped my arm. “There is no braver, more courageous man than this one. Add to that, he’s kind and thoughtful.” She looked up at me. “And he’s mine.”

“Beautiful…” I cupped her cheek.

“Hell, they are in love,” Shaw grumbled.

“Yep.” Dad sipped his drink again.

“Jameson.” Shaw waited until I looked at him. “I was going to say that no one is good enough for my little girl.” He tugged her toward him. “But if I had to pick someone, you’d be it. I’ve watched you grow up, watched you turn into a good man and an excellent squad leader. I’m happy for both of you.”

Relief flooded me.

“ Dad .” She hugged him.

My dad gripped my shoulder. “You picked a hell of a woman.”

“I didn’t pick, it just…hit me. I knew that Greer was mine.”

“I know the feeling.” A small smile played on Dad’s lips.

Greer came back to me.

“Hell,” Dad said. “When they have kids, we’ll be…grandfathers.”

Shaw got a funny look on his face. “Shit.” He poured himself another drink. Then he shook his head and pinned me with a look. “If you hurt her…”

“Stop it, Dad,” Greer said.

“What’s going on here?” a smoky female voice said.

Greer spun. “ Mom . Please tell Dad to stop threatening Jameson.”

Claudia Baird stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips. She was tall and fit, and the only sign of her age were the elegant gray strands threaded through her black hair that was up in a tight ponytail. Her face was set in tough lines. I was well aware that she could probably kick my ass.

“Jameson and I are together.” Greer smiled. “I’m falling in love with him.”

My chest swelled. Hell, I loved being claimed by her.

“Baird, stop threatening your future son-in-law,” Claudia said.

Greer pulled a face at her father.

Then Claudia caught my gaze. “If you hurt my baby, you won’t need to worry about Shaw, because I will hurt you. Badly and painfully.”

I swallowed.

“Mom!” Greer said.

My dad lifted his glass. “Let’s pour some more drinks.”

Claudia’s badass face morphed into a smile. “Pour me one too, Marcus. Looks like we’re celebrating.”

Then Greer pressed her face to my chest, holding me tight. She was smiling.

North

“I’m happy for the two of you, Jameson.”

“Thanks, North.”

These days, it seemed that Jameson had a permanent grin on his face. As we headed into the squad room at Squad Command, I shook my head.

Greer and Jameson had wasted no time since they’d fallen in love. She’d moved into his place, and was back at work on the dam project. But I knew she was coming back home to stay with him every few days.

I was glad my friends were in love.

It wasn’t something I wanted, but I was happy for them. I didn’t want anything that took me away from my work. I’d dedicated myself to being a doctor and a soldier.

I didn’t have room for anything else.

When you took your eye off the ball, things got dropped, and people died.

“What was the reaction to your report on the monsters communicating and appearing to work together?” I asked. I knew Jameson had been in several meetings with the squad generals to discuss the latest monster behaviors.

Jameson’s smile dissolved. “The brass aren’t happy. Apparently, they’re starting to get reports about this kind of thing happening in other places, too.”

“Jesus.” This couldn’t be good. If the monsters started coordinating their attacks, they’d be exponentially more dangerous. “So, who’s this new recruit we’re meeting today?”

“Some distant relative of Cruz’s. He recommended her to join the squad.”

“Her?”

“Yep. She’s his niece or second cousin, or second cousin’s niece. Apparently, she’s a good soldier, and also some sort of monster expert. She ran some studies on them over in the United States.”

I frowned. “Do we really want someone on our squad who’s not from here? She doesn’t know the area, or our monsters.”

Jameson shrugged. “If she can handle a carbine, I’m okay with it.”

We rounded the corner, and I spotted Cruz Ramos. Cruz had been the second-in-command of Hell Squad, and was Jameson’s dad’s best friend. My sister said he had a handsome silver-fox vibe going on, especially when he played guitar at Hemi’s.

Kai, Marc, and Zeke were with him. Marc was laughing with a woman whose back was to me. She was wearing brown cargo pants and a black T-shirt. She was tiny, but curvy. Her black hair was in a ponytail.

As I approached, she turned. Huge, dark eyes met mine.

I felt like I’d been hit by a grenade.

She had strong features, and freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her lips were plump and full.

“Ah, here are Jameson and North,” Cruz said. “Jameson is the head of Hunter Squad, and North is the squad medic. Gentlemen, this is my niece.”

“Sort of niece,” the woman said with a wide smile.

Cruz waved a hand. “Family is family. Boys, this is Jessica Ramos.”

“It’s just Jess.” She held a hand out to Jameson. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard so much about Hunter Squad. You and your team have quite the reputation.”

I watched as they shook hands. Then, she turned to me. As soon as our hands touched, I felt a zap of electricity.

Shit, what was that?

Her dark eyes narrowed, and she pulled her hand back.

“Pleasure,” I said.

“You flew over from San Diego?” Jameson asked. “You’ve been based there, right?”

She nodded. “Yes. San Diego is the base for the west coast monster hunting squads. I did work from Canada down to Mexico.”

“How was the flight over?” Marc said.

“Fine. I was on a military flight with refueling in Hawaii. We had to make a slight detour for some monster activity in the central Pacific, but all in all, the flight wasn’t too bad. I’m really glad to be here.” She turned to her uncle. “And to meet all of the legendary Hell Squad.”

Cruz winked. “Santha and I are so glad you’re here. Jess has also been studying the monsters, learning about all of the hybrids, and finding new ways to eliminate them.”

She nodded. “I have degrees in zoology and anthropology. I did my research thesis on the monsters in the Monterey area of California. On their habitat, hunting, and breeding behaviors.”

“I think Jess should be able to give us some insight on these new behaviors you’ve been seeing,” Cruz said.

“I don’t think these changes make a difference.” I met her gaze. “Shoot them and kill them.”

“That’s what we’ve been doing for thirty years,” she said. “But I think they’re evolving. We need to understand them, if we’re ever going to completely eradicate them.”

“Jess, I need to warn you that our final spot on the squad…” Jameson grimaced. “We haven’t been able to keep any recruits for long.”

Marc grinned. “Some might say it’s cursed.”

She smiled at him. “I’m always up for a challenge.”

I frowned. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her being on the squad. We had a rhythm that worked for us. We’d all grown up together and knew each other well. A stranger might upset the balance.

It could get people killed.

My gut tightened. That was something I wouldn’t let happen. Not on my watch.

Jameson nodded. “Then welcome to Hunter Squad.”

A siren sounded, blaring through the base.

“And it looks like you’re going to get a trial by fire. That’s our callout.” Jameson turned. “Hunter Squad, suit up.”

Jess met my gaze, and her smile held a hint of challenge. The others walked away, leaving just the two of us.

“I hope you’re as good as they say,” I said.

Her chin lifted. “I am.”

“This squad, those men…they’re like brothers to me.”

“It doesn’t matter who’s on my squad, I’ll always have their back.”

I stared into her dark eyes for a beat. “I guess I’ll need to see it to believe it.”

She gave me one last look, then strode ahead of me, walking confidently, her ponytail swaying.

I shook my head. My gut said that Jessica Ramos would last about as long as our last few recruits.

Before I knew it, she’d be gone.

Blowing out a breath, I fought back my reaction to her. I needed to get my mind off our latest recruit, and onto the monster we had to kill.

I hope you enjoyed Greer and Jameson’s story!

Hunter Squad continues with NORTH , coming in April 2025. Stay tuned for more monster-hunting action.