The Last Marine Read online

  He didn’t turn at her approach, so she dipped her foot in the water and splashed him.

  Griffin whirled around, anger written in the lines on his face. “What?”

  “You’re an impatient ass.” She stepped into the water.

  “And?”

  She took a deep breath. “I want you.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she jerked back, surprised she’d gotten them out.

  He started wading toward her.

  “Wait.” She held up her hand, trying to stay his advance, but he didn’t stop until her palm flattened against his chest and pressed between their bodies. “I’m afraid of disappointing you. What if—”

  His mouth crashed down on hers, his tongue stroking and teasing hers. Prudence wound her arms around his neck, rubbing her breasts against his chest. This part she liked. She leaned into him, loving the contrast of the cool water compared to the heat radiating from his body. His whiskers chafed her lips and chin, and left a hot, tingly trail as he made his way down her throat, nipping and sucking at her skin.

  A fresh surge of desire throbbed deep in her belly. She arched her back, lifting her hips to his. Why couldn’t sex be this blissful?

  He lifted her, drawing one puckered nipple into his mouth, stroking his tongue against the turgid tip. All her attention zeroed in on that one point, reveling in the blissful shivers racing under her skin. He ran the uneven edges of his teeth along the tip, making her gasp before he pulled away. “You worry too much.” He licked her other nipple and suckled until she clutched his head in her arms, moaning from the intense sensations. “I told you I’d take care of you.” He pulled her thighs up to wrap around his hips. “You remember?”

  “Yes.” The tip of his cock teased her entrance while he suckled and nipped at her breasts. Her pussy pulsed and clenched as if trying to grasp hold of him. Part of her wanted to let herself sink down on the broad head of his cock. A more prominent part of her was still terrified.

  It wasn’t his cock that slipped past her nether lips, but his fingers. Her arms tightened around him, expecting pain, but a shiver of pleasure tripped up her spine. She released a shuddering breath. First one digit, testing and teasing her inner walls, then a second, thrusting in and spreading wide on the descending stroke.

  “Relax, Angel.” His ragged breathing buffeted her breast. “You’re too tight.”

  With her legs spread wide and wrapped around his hips, she had no way to escape his sensual assault. His fingers stretched her, easing in and out. She held on, riding out the pleasure, the hollow, aching emptiness inside her growing ravenous. “Griff, please.”

  “Please, what?” His stormy green eyes seemed black in the moonlight, his expression stark as he waited, fingers buried deep inside her, flexing.

  Prudence took his face in her hands. “Make love with me.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” His lips twitched into a wry grin. “Hang on to me, Angel.” He waded to the edge of the pool and carried her out of the water.

  She bit his earlobe, nuzzling his neck until he reached their campsite and lay her back on the blanket. He didn’t give her time to grow nervous, lowering his weight over her at once. The crisp, wet hair on his legs tickled her inner thighs and the cool metal of his dogtags fell between her breasts as he kissed her neck, his mouth hot and damp.

  Prudence clutched his head in her arms, keeping him close and arching against him. The scruff on his jaw chafed and teased her skin, making her writhe under the assault of so many new sensations. He eased down her body, pausing to suck a nipple into his mouth, before licking his way lower and thrusting his tongue into her navel, his tags dragging down her torso in his wake.

  She’d given him permission, why didn’t he mate with her?

  Teeth nipped at her hipbone making her muscles cramp and tense. “Griffin?”

  “I got you.”

  That he did. He spread her thighs wide, hitching them over his shoulders and dove for her core.

  A shout escaped her lips at the first brusque buss of his lips on her clit. His fingers thrust into her and she tensed, expecting pain. There was none. His slick tongue slipped over her clit, the rough brush of his stubble bristled against her nether lips and his fingers pumped into her. There was nothing sweet or polite about what he did to her. He was urgent. Demanding. Even a little rough.

  But she didn’t hurt.

  Her back arched off the ground, she couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t take any more and yet urged her body deeper onto his fingers, tighter to the seal of his lips. Waves of shivery pleasure raced over her skin, tightening her nipples, lifting gooseflesh on her skin, and raising the hair on her scalp.

  Frenzied. He’d told her once that their joining would be frenzied. She’d imagined a quick, painful rut. But he hadn’t meant they’d be rushed, he’d meant the sensations, the emotions of their joining would be intense and tumultuous. And he was right, pleasure warred with uncertainty, fear with sweet need. Right now, in this moment, she felt more than she could ever remember feeling before. Her mind grew crowded with questions, with shock at each new ripple of pleasure.

  She could bear whatever pain their joining brought if this was the precursor. She should be terrified, but his strong arms anchored her in place, reassuring and steady. And whenever fear began clawing its way into her consciousness, she lifted her head and met his unwavering, confident gaze.

  As long as he didn’t lose hold of the tight reins of his control, they’d be fine. She’d be safe.

  Slow, intense pulses began building inside her. Goddess bless him, he was doing it again. A low moan reverberated through her body as she drifted toward that magical place. Release burst upon her, stealing her breath, blinding as pleasure throbbed through her. Griffin’s hard length covered her body, he still had one of her legs drawn over his arm, holding her wide beneath him. The broad head of his cock pressed to her entrance and stopped.

  “Tell me you want me.”

  Fear began to crowd in on her enjoyment, but seeing him holding rein over his own desire, his face pulled tight, expecting and bracing for her rejection made her brave. She wanted to please him by giving back some of what he’d given her. She wanted to join with him. “I do. I want you.”

  He pushed into her on one long thrust, the width of his cock stretching her, filling her near to bursting.

  She stared up into his eyes, shocked to her core. “It . . . It doesn’t hurt.”

  “What?” He reared back. “That’s what you’ve been afraid of?” At her nod, he cursed.

  Prudence pulled him down for a kiss, hiding from his questions. He didn’t need to know. No one ever needed to know what her marriage had been like or what Randolph had done.

  The generous man in her arms set her free from all that. And as he started to move, thrusting in and out of her body in thick, slick glides, something warm and fragile built in her chest. Tenderness swamped her, bringing the sting of tears to her eyes. She held him close, stoking him, running her fingers through his hair, trying to find a way to touch him the same way he’d touched her.

  *****

  She was driving him insane.

  Her hands were never still, stroking and grasping his sweat-slicked skin, her mouth wild under his, her toes curling into the back of his leg. And Christ, her sweet, tight pussy clutched around his shaft on every outward stroke as if trying to hold him inside.

  The scent of their desire mingled in the humid air and her breathy sighs and husky moans urged him on.

  His control hung in threads. His whole body shook as he forced himself to go slow, to be tender when all he wanted was to thrust as deep into her wet heat as he could get. The desire to possess, to own and to claim warred with his need to protect and ease her. He rotated his hips against her and felt the sting of her nails on his back as her inner walls clung to his shaft. Heat simmered in his loins, drawing his sac up tight to his body and sending tendrils of pleasure rolling through him. Jesus, he was close. Too close.

  He p
ulled out of her, and she cried out.

  “I just need . . . I need a minute.” He released her leg and shifted so he could take one of her nipples into her mouth. She had beautiful breasts, a handful with pert nipples he loved to run his tongue over. He dragged his open mouth down her belly, letting her feel his teeth on her skin, and smiling as she twitched and shivered beneath him. He ran his open palm over the birthmark on her stomach, licking the outline until she gripped fistfuls of his hair to bring him back where she wanted him.

  Getting to his knees, he pulled her toward him until her ass hung between his thighs.

  “What are you—?”

  He pressed his cock back into her depths. “Watch.”

  Her eyes opened and she lifted onto her elbows, her attention zeroing in on where their bodies joined. Her desire coated them both, glistening in the moonlight, her opening stretched wide around him.

  Griffin stroked his thumb to her clit, circling, rubbing. Her eyes widened and fixed on his hand, watching his every move.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  His gaze shot to hers.

  A soft smile curved her lips. “The way your body moves. The way your muscles bunch and flex.”

  Pleased by her praise, by how freely she gave to him, he paused, a little guilty about how they came to be in this position. “I cheated you at cards.”

  “I know.” Her lips twitched. “I cheated, too.”

  He sucked in a hard breath. He’d known she’d cheated, but her confession, so easily given, shocked the hell out of him. He thrust into her, making her gasp. “Come for me, Angel.” She tightened around his shaft. She was close and he wanted her to come before he did. His thumb grazed over her clit and he pinched the little bud lightly.

  She fell back on the blanket, her body arching.

  Griffin grinned. Prudence Angelica Parnell had a dirty streak in her. Maybe she didn’t realize it yet, but she liked him a little rough, a bit coarse. He found that quality sexy as hell. He gave into his need to increase their pace, pinching and plucking at her clit. Her head tossed from side to side, her moans and gasps coming more urgent now. “Come for me, Pru.”

  Her whole body tensed, her thighs squeezing around him as her inner walls broke into pulsing release around his cock. He lowered himself over her, thrusting hard, sealing her lips with his, and chasing her orgasm with his own.

  Starbursts of euphoria erupted inside him and he shouted, sinking deep within her tight sheath.

  His heart pounded in his chest. Something happened there, something strange and new and terrifying. Something well beyond a physical release. He tried to roll away, sure his weight must be crushing her and desperate to escape, but she held on, ending up sprawled over him. All those sweet, tight curves snuggled up close.

  “Christ, Angel.”

  Had he really imagined he could fuck her without losing a part of himself? Prudence had touched him in odd ways since the day she stood facing him on that stage. She intrigued him. Infuriated him.

  She made him want her.

  And now he wanted more.

  Griffin Jude Payne wrapped his arms around her. How the hell was it possible to be so close to her and still have her so far out of reach? He stared up at the stars peeking through the trees, cursing himself. She had been correct—not all starry skies were the same.

  Not all men were the same.

  Some deserved a woman like Prudence.

  And some were assassins who’d ruined the world.

  Chapter 17

  Spent and sated, Randolph dropped to his belly, Bronsen’s weight pressing him to the mattress. The only sound in the room was his thundering heart, their labored breathing. The scent of their lovemaking laced the air. Bronsen nipped his shoulder and shifted his weight to lie next to him.

  Randolph didn’t move. He was content. His tics had stopped for the moment. His thoughts were calm, focused. All this would be over soon. Even now, ships were out, scanning the surface of Asteria for signs of Prudence. The Blue Helmets would find her.

  Bronsen stroked his hand down Randolph’s spine. “I’m worried about you. You’ve been so stressed lately.”

  “I’m fine. Or I will be, once we have Prudence.”

  “You know, Randy, you could turn things over to me for a while.” Bronsen’s warm breath brushed his ear, making him shiver. “Not anything permanent, just long enough to set things to right again.” His hand stroked over Randolph’s ass. “We could head home, you and me. You could make a public announcement. I’ll take care of the Rebels, get everyone on our side again. You know I’d do anything for you.”

  It wasn’t the first time Bronsen had made the suggestion. In some ways, it was tempting . . . Bronsen was good at making things right. But he needed to do this. He had to finish what his brother had started. After all, Alfred had done everything for him. “No. I can do this. We need to find Prudence. Once we have her, the people will listen to me again.”

  Alfred would’ve wanted it that way.

  *****

  Sometime during the night, Griffin shook Prudence awake. She stared up at him through groggy eyes and a fogged mind. “Morning already?” She wasn’t sure why she asked the question, the skies were still lit by moonlight, the air was cool.

  “There’s a ship coming.”

  A ship? They were rescued? They could fly to the spaceport in comfort and . . . . She glanced back toward the low rumble of the craft. A thin line of red light almost a meter long scanned over the ground below. They were searching for signs of life. They might even be searching for her. “Oh, no.”

  “Come on.” He took her hand and pulled her up. “We can hide in the water; I already stowed our stuff.”

  Prudence glanced back and sure enough all their belongings were out of sight. The ship floated closer, the surrounding trees bending low from the wind caused by the ship, the red scanning lights lit the ground where they’d been sleeping.

  Water enveloped her foot; she paused. What was he doing?

  “I need you to trust me, Angel.” He cupped her face, whispering in her ear. “The water will keep us hidden from the scanners.”

  Oh, goddess. He must be whispering because he feared they were scanning for sound, too. “How?”

  His lips thinned into a half-hearted smile. “High school science—water refracts light.” He drew her deeper into the pool. “We’ll have to stay below the surface until they pass.”

  She backed away, shaking her head. “No.”

  “Yes. I don’t know why they’re here. Somehow, I doubt it’s for a failure like me. It’s your choice—Randolph and the ship, or me and the water.”

  Prudence didn’t even think, she threw herself into his arms.

  “Watch the light.” He lowered them both down to their chins. “When it gets close, hold your breath and stay under until the water gets dark again. Understand?”

  “What if I can’t hold my breath that long?”

  His mouth brushed her ear. “I’ll keep you safe, Angel.”

  The red lines of light approached, edging right up to the pool before sliding back the other way.

  “They’ll scan the pond on the next pass. Take a deep breath as soon as it hits the edge of the pond.”

  Heart hammering away in her chest, she wrapped her arms tighter around Griffin. The trees bowed and the water rippled and splashed around them as the ship hovered overhead. The red beam swung back their way, crawling over the ground, the rocks, the trees and shrubs, right up the edge of the pond.

  Prudence inhaled a deep breath and Griffin pulled them both down. As the red light passed over them, their eyes met.

  She put him in danger by being near him. If they found her—found them together—Randolph would kill Griffin.

  The beam passed overhead, but instead of moving on, it came back. Pressure built in her chest. Her lungs began to burn and her panic built. Had they been seen? Griffin believed the water would protect them, but how could he be sure? Anxiety crawled under her skin as the be
am passed over, seeming to light the water around them for an eternity. Her lungs ached, burning with the need for air. She tightened her grip on Griffin. Please, Goddess, give me strength. Don’t let me do anything stupid.

  But she needed air.

  Old fears unfurled inside her. Her body would inhale soon. Her oxygen-deprived body would start to shut down, she’d begin to lose consciousness and, as her mind became scattered, she’d reflexively pull in a long, deep breath of water. It would burn. Her lungs would seize as they tried to expel the liquid which would make her suck in even more water.

  They were both going to die.

  Griffin fisted his hand and placed the circle of his thumb and forefinger against her mouth.

  She didn’t understand.

  He nodded, putting his fist to his mouth and tipping his face up.

  He wanted her to use his hand like a straw. Goddess bless him.

  She tipped her head back and he lifted her until she could take a fresh breath of air through his fist. She inhaled a deep breath and pulled herself down, keeping herself submerged by holding on to the rocky edge of the pool, while Griffin took a fresh breath, too.

  The red scanning light passed over again. This time, it moved on. Griffin found her arm in the dark water, gave her a squeeze and urged her up. They broke the surface at the same time, both taking deep, quiet breaths, unsure if the ship just scanned for life, or if they were scanning for sound, too.

  His lips grazed her ear. “You got something you need to tell me?”

  She didn’t know what to say. Griffin was the first man to ever want her for herself. She had no desire to complicate things by telling him about the gift she carried for her mate. She had no desire to explain why Randolph wanted her or how he meant to use her. She also didn’t want to lie.

  “Remember I told you President McKinley wore a carnation for luck?”

  His cheek brushed hers when he nodded.

  “I’m his carnation.”

  Griffin backed away, his brows drawing together. “What do you mean?”

  “Randolph thinks I . . . bring him luck.”