Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Marc
They made me get on a fucking iono-stretcher. It hovered off the ground without a sound. I scowled as the medical team pushed us toward the infirmary back at Dawn.
I focused on Colbie lying on a second stretcher in front of me. She was happily chatting with North and Jess. She looked okay. Her father was on the other side of the stretcher, holding her hand.
Zeke stood beside my stretcher. He hadn’t said much, but he also hadn’t left my side.
I was pretty good at reading my twin. I knew he was relieved, but feeling overprotective.
“I’m all right,” I said.
Zeke’s mouth tightened and he nodded.
The doors to the infirmary whooshed open.
The first thing I saw was my mom, wearing her white lab coat. As she strode toward us, her ash-blonde hair brushed her jaw line.
“There they are. Tabitha, get Colbie set up with nano-meds, and please clean those burns.” She touched Colbie’s shoulder. “Glad you’re okay, sweetheart.”
“All thanks to your son.”
Now Mom looked at me. I saw relief, love, and pride on her face. “Hello, my darling. Let’s get you healed up, too.”
“Hi, Mom. Take care of Colbie first. Those burns are bad.”
“She’ll get taken care of.” She ran a hand over my hair. “I’ll be taking care of my boy.”
It didn’t matter that I was taller than her, a soldier, and an adult. She still treated me like I was a boy.
Dad appeared from Mom’s office. His face was impassive, but I saw the lines bracketing his mouth relax as he took us in.
“Got yourself into some trouble,” he said.
“Nah, fought some monsters and rescued a pretty girl.”
“And took a shot of thirty-year-old nano-meds that he found in Blue Mountain Base,” North added.
My mom gasped. “Marcus Gabriel Jackson. You could’ve killed yourself.”
“I was bleeding out, Mom. It worked fine. Colbie took care of me. I might’ve rescued her, but she rescued me right back.”
My mom turned and looked at Colbie, now resting on a bunk. “Thank you.”
Colbie smiled, looking so small on that giant bed. “I wasn’t going to let the big lug die.”
“Right.” Mom straightened her shoulders. “Let’s set that arm, and give you a large dose of nano-meds to mend the bone. Nano-meds that won’t kill you. Then we’ll scan you to check what the old nanos did to you.”
“I feel fine.”
She snorted. “You know I’m married to your father. I’m well versed in alpha-male BS. I’ve lost count of how many times he was carried to me, bleeding, insisting that he was just fine.”
Dad just grunted.
As mom and her team worked on me, I kept glancing over Colbie. I missed having her to myself.
“She’ll be fine and can leave soon.” Mom checked the screen. “You, however, will need to stay overnight for monitoring.”
I groaned. “No—”
“You’ll do as your doctor orders.”
“Seriously, I’m—”
She started cutting off my T-shirt with scissors. “Marc.” She said my name in her mom tone. Beside me, Zeke winced.
“I don’t want to be fucking stuck in the infirmary.”
“Marc.” This time it was Colbie.
I glanced her way.
“Listen to your doctor and your mom. You almost died.” Emotion vibrated in her voice. “You’re staying.”
I huffed out a breath and sank back against the pillows. “Fine.”
Dad eyed me, then Colbie, a speculative look in his eyes.
“Colbie.” The doors flew open and a pretty redhead rushed in.
“I’m all right, Mom,” Colbie said.
Colbie looked a lot like her mom. I watched as Lia leaned over and hugged her daughter. Finn stood close to them, then slid an arm around his wife.
Then Jameson stepped up to the foot of my bed. “We need to talk about the threaders.”
I lifted my chin.
“Can’t this wait?” my mom asked.
Jameson shook his head. “Sorry, doc. The generals are on their way. We need to debrief.”
My mom sighed.
A moment later, the doors to the infirmary opened again, and General Roth Masters and General Avery Stillman walked in.
They both wore navy-blue jackets with their rank insignia in gold on their chests. Both had done their fair share to help in the fight against the Gizzida, and now to keep our growing towns safe.
Roth’s salt-and-pepper hair was cut short, while Avery’s was dark and glossy, up in a no-nonsense ponytail. Roth had a hand to his wife’s back as they stepped into the infirmary.
“I hear you and Colbie had quite the adventure,” Avery said.
I flicked a glance at Colbie.
In an instant, I knew she was thinking about my hand on her ass, because her cheeks turned pink.
I cleared my throat. “We did.”
“And you saw cocoons and threaders?” Roth asked.
“Dozens of both,” Colbie replied.
The generals shared a glance.
“There were lots of cocoons,” I said. “Different sizes, some looked really old, some brand-new.”
From nearby, Jameson muttered a curse.
“One…” I sucked in a breath. “There was a young man inside. We cut him out, but he was in a bad state.”
“He had black patches of skin, and one eye was…” Colbie shook her head. “He was dying.”
“Then, he tried to attack Colbie. He had a mouthful of fangs.”
“What?” Roth snapped to attention.
“He definitely wasn’t fully human anymore. He was trying to bite Colbie, then he spat black fluid at her. It burned her. Then, he died, and we couldn’t stick around any longer. There were threaders everywhere. At least twenty-five of them.”
“They must be using the old base as their base,” Avery said.
Jameson crossed his arms over his chest. “Sounds like a good place for us to snatch a threader.”
The generals nodded.
“Plan the mission,” Roth ordered. “If the body of the man is still there, bring him home. We’ll try to find his family.”
“Marc is not going anywhere until his arm is healed, and he’s been scanned, and rested,” my mom said. “Colbie can leave once her nano-med dose is done.”
Lia ran a hand over her daughter’s hair. “You’re coming home with us today. I’ll cook your favorite meal.”
“Pesto chicken?” Colbie asked, excitedly.
“Yes,” Lia replied.
My gaze met Colbie’s, just as a nurse pulled the curtains closed between us.
“All right, everyone out of my infirmary,” my mom said briskly. “My patients need to rest.”
Colbie
“I’m fine, mom. Dinner was great. Exactly what I needed.”
My mom hugged me hard and I hugged her back. We were the same height, and her perfume smelled like home. She and Dad had spent the day with me. I’d napped, we’d watched a movie, and Mom had cooked my favorite foods.
She released me, studying my face. “You sure you don’t want to stay here for the night?”
“Thanks, but I really want to be in my own bed. I might take a long soak in my tub.”
She touched my hair with a small smile. “I know you love your baths. Okay, sweetheart. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I kissed her cheek. Dad was standing at the door, and walked me out into the early evening.
“You don’t have to walk me home.” I only lived a few blocks away.
He slid an arm around me. “Okay, just to the end of the street, but you need to bear with us. Knowing you’d crashed and were out there… It was tough.”
My heart squeezed. “I know. I’m sorry, Dad.” I leaned into him
“I’m just glad you came home to us in one piece. I owe Marc a case of that beer he likes.”
Marc. He hadn’t been far from my mind all day.
I hugged my father. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too.” He kissed the top of my head.
I headed down the sidewalk and looked back. Dad was watching me, and I gave him a wave.
I turned the corner. Spending today with them had been a balm to my still-rattled nerves.
Now, I was happy to get back to my place.
My little eco-house that I’d decorated in my own style.
I had dozens of drone photos my mom had taken hung all over the walls.
Dotted among them were family snaps of the three of us.
I’d also used lots of color. I’d painted the walls in several rooms bright, welcoming colors.
As I approached my dark house, I felt the sting of…something. After the Blue Mountains, maybe some part of me didn’t like the thought of being alone. A part of me missed Marc.
I unlocked my front door, and thought of Marc. I hoped he was okay. I knew he’d hate staying in the infirmary overnight.
I flicked on the lamp in the living area, then jolted. A large, dark shadow sat in my comfy armchair.
I pressed a hand to my racing heart. “Marc?”
“Didn’t mean to scare you.”
I set my keys down and slipped my shoes off. “You startled me. Maybe I’m just a little jumpy after everything.” I frowned. “How did you get in?”
“I hacked your lock.”
I walked closer. He seemed tense. “You’re supposed to be in the infirmary.”
He made an unhappy noise. “I got a clean bill of health. I’m not fucking sleeping in one of those uncomfortable bunks.”
I was relieved that he was okay. His once-broken arm was resting on the armrest of the chair and looked fine.
“Why are you here?” I asked quietly.
“I wanted to check that you were okay.”
He reached out and grabbed my arm. His fingers glided up my wrist, along my forearm, cupped my elbow. Where I’d been burned. My heart melted. He was checking that I was okay.
“My burns are all healed.” He’d showered, and I smelled a fresh, citrusy scent, along with that dark spice that was all Marc.
“I missed you.” His voice was gruff.
I shivered. “I missed you too.”
He yanked me forward and onto his lap. I snuggled in and pressed my face to his strong neck.
“You could’ve died.” His voice was low, rough.
“You came closer than me, Marc.” I cupped his stubbled jaw. “But we made it.” I smiled. “I’m damn happy that we’re both alive.”
“Me too, dove.”
I didn’t complain about the name this time. Actually, I kinda liked it.
Then he kissed me.
I slid my hands into his hair. I opened for him, kissing him back. It wasn’t slick or polished. The kiss was a little rough, forceful. All Marc.
His hands clamped on my waist, fingers digging in. He made a low sound that I felt between my thighs. I shifted, feeling the hard ridge of his cock beneath me.
Breaking the kiss, my lips found his throat. God, I loved his skin, loved the strong line of his throat. I bit him.
He groaned. “Colbie—”
I rose on my wobbly legs, desire ricocheting inside me. It left me feeling very hot. “We slept on a dirty old mattress on the floor last night. Tonight, I want to be in a comfy bed for this.”
His gaze held mine for a beat, then he rose. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Colbie… I want you. More than I’ve wanted anyone in a long time, but you know I’m not into promises and commitments. That’s just not me.”
I swallowed. “I know.”
“I care about you. I don’t want to hurt—”
Stepping into him, I ran my hands up his chest. “I know, Marc. I don’t need a ring or big gestures. We’re two adults who are attracted to each other.”
He lowered his head, his lips brushing against mine. “Fuck yeah.”
I loved the need in his voice. “I just want you.”
“We enjoy each other, but we stay friends after. No matter what.”
My stomach twisted, but I managed a smile. I was taking this chance. I was going to be with Marc, for however long we had. “Friends.”
I took his hand and towed him through my darkened house, down the short hallway, and into my bedroom. I turned on the bedside lamp. I wanted to see every inch of him.
He stayed in the doorway, looking around. My room was kind of girly. There was a white comforter and lots of pillows in a multitude of colors. Beautiful blue curtains covered the window, one wall was brilliant turquoise, and the floor was a golden wood.
“Dove, I love your bed.”
Smiling, I stopped in front of him. “Good.”
“It’s going make me feel like the big, tough guy getting naughty with the pretty, girlie girl.”
I laughed, and he put his hands on my hips and walked me backward.
My chest locked. I realized that this wasn’t just sex for me. It felt like more, felt bigger.
Stop overthinking, Colbie.
He paused at the edge of the bed, his gaze on me.
“If you’re not feeling it tonight, we can just watch a movie. Just as long as you let me sleep in the bed with you. I want to hold you and know you’re okay.”
My insides melted. He’d read my hesitation. He was a good guy. He’d give me whatever I needed—sex or no sex.
I slid my arms around his neck. “I want everything.”
His blue eyes flared. “Okay, dove.” He nudged me back and my legs hit the bed. “Hold on, because everything it is.” We went down.
He rolled to the side, his mouth back on mine. I arched into him, moaning. I tugged on his T-shirt, and then he helped me pull it over his head.
Yum. I ran my hands over warm, sleek skin. And all his hard muscles.
He pulled back, then made quick work of my shirt. A moment later, my bra was gone, too.
I pressed my mouth to his chest, running my teeth over his flat nipple. I wanted to explore. I wanted my mouth all over him.
“God, Colbie—” He groaned deeply.
I ran my hands down his hard abs. “I love your body.”
The hungry look on his face intensified. “I like yours better.” One of his hands cupped my breast, tweaking my nipple.
Extra yum.
Then he kissed me again. I moaned against his lips, and felt his hands unfastening my jeans. Then he was sliding his hands in to cup my ass. I lifted my hips, and he maneuvered to pull the denim off me.
“Fuck, look at you.” His voice was thick, his gaze all over my naked body.
Then, he lowered his head and sucked my nipple into his mouth.
It felt as though I’d caught fire. The air was trapped in my lungs and I squirmed. He had a very talented mouth. I slid my hands into his hair, cupping his scalp. He gave my other nipple the same attention. Then one big hand slowly caressed down my body, between my legs.
Yes. My hips arched, and he found my clit and played.
“Marc,” I panted.
His mouth left mine. He moved down the bed and pushed my thighs wide.
His mouth closed over my pussy. I cried out his name, my hand twisting in his hair, holding him right where I wanted him.
“You taste like heaven, my dove.” He bit my inner thigh, then pushed my legs even wider. His mouth was back on me, nibbling, sucking, his tongue stabbing inside me.
My cries were loud.
“Yeah, I love you going wild for me,” he growled.
I clenched both hands on his head and pushed him harder against me. “Marc, oh God—”
With a wild cry, I came. My orgasm was big and powerful and long. It hit me hard. I dug a heel into his shoulder blade, gripping his arms. I scratched my nails into his skin, searching for an anchor.
Falling back on the bed, I panted. Pleasure filled every part of me.
He reared over me, his face stark with need.
“I need to be inside you.” His chest heaved.
“I need you to be inside me.”