Noah: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (Hell Squad Book 6) (18 page)

His jaw clenched and he worked hard to draw in a calming breath through his tight chest and find a little bit of control. Claudia wasn’t his sister. She was a tough, badass, superbly-trained fighter.

But she was his family.

Shaw’s childhood had been…well, shitty didn’t even begin to describe it. As soon as he could, he’d escaped and joined the Coalition military. Then he’d made his own family—first with the Special Air Service and now, with Hell Squad.

Hell Squad had given him everything he’d never realized he’d needed. They meant the damn world to him. And Claudia…

The mass of rage and pain in him made his fingers flex on the cannon controls. He wanted to shoot something. He itched to unload laser rounds into the enemy. He almost wished the raptors would find them.

The fucking bastards had her. If they hurt her… The thought of Claudia Frost dead—all that tough, vital life gone—made his jaw clench so hard his teeth hurt.

He’d never told her, but Claudia was his touchstone, that one thing in the world that made sense. She infuriated him, pulled him into line when he was an ass, she had his back in a fight and she made him laugh.

And now she was gone.

A slap on his boot made him look down from the elevated cannon seat.

Marcus’ scarred face looked up. “Convoy’s free of raptor pursuit. Elle says the aliens aren’t headed this way.”

Shaw’s heart jumped. “We going to get her now?”

Marcus gave a sharp nod. “Hell yeah.”

“About fucking time.”

Marcus’ gaze was intense. “We’ll get her back.”

As his leader disappeared from view, the Hunter executed a tight U-turn. Shaw got a quick glimpse of the assorted mix of vehicles in the convoy—trucks, SUVs, cars, converted buses. Ordinarily, he’d feel a twinge of guilt for leaving them. They were innocent civilians, survivors—men, women and kids who needed his protection.

He’d joined the military to escape his crappy home, but also for the chance to protect those who were weaker. Hell, he’d been protecting people all his life—keeping bullies off smaller kids in the school playground, taking his father’s drunken slaps to protect his sister, rescuing pretty girls from the advances of assholes.

But today, he didn’t have it in him to feel more than a fleeting blip of guilt.

Claudia needed him. And while she wasn’t a civilian, and she sure as hell wasn’t weak, and she liked to tell everyone she didn’t need anyone’s protection, she was damn well getting it today.

He stared at the fading white line in the center of the road as it whizzed beneath the Hunter.

I’m coming, Frost. You fucking hold on. I’m coming for you.

***

Noah gripped the steering wheel with one hand, and stroked Laura’s hair with the other. She was slumped in the passenger chair beside him, fast asleep. Austin was in the back seat, stretched out, snoring softly.

They’d driven most of the night, and were now deep in the mountain forests, well south of Blue Mountain Base. It had been a long, slow, twisting route. There’d been a few tense moments as they’d escaped—pteros buzzing overhead, a detour to avoid raptor vehicles, and one convoy vehicle had broken down.

The people inside had been put into other vehicles and they’d abandoned the vehicle in a mountain ghost town. Hopefully, if the raptors found it, they’d think it had been in the town all along. The little town had been so pretty, and perfect…and empty.

Just ahead, he saw a Z6-Hunter cruising in front of them. Squad Nine. The other Hunter was long gone.

Hell Squad had stayed with the convoy for a couple of hours before turning back.

They were going to bring Claudia home.

Noah’s hands flexed on the wheel. The raptors had to know Claudia was a member of Hell Squad. They wouldn’t kill her straightaway. At least, he hoped not. Besides that, the woman was the definition of tough.

She’d make it. Strong women seemed to dig in and fight until they got what they wanted. No matter the odds. No matter the obstacles.

He glanced down at his own woman. Yep, he’d discovered he had a thing for tough women.

The comm crackled to life. “Swift Wind convoy, this is General Holmes.” The general’s voice was hoarse and he sounded exhausted. “We’ve identified a camping ground deep in the nearby national park. We’ll be pulling in to take a break.”

Laura stirred. “Where are we?”

“Headed into a national park campground.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I hate camping.”

Noah followed the convoy and soon, the vehicles were all pulling in and parking. Noah got out and stretched his stiff body. The general’s team had done well. The place was covered in trees, which provided good cover. But he still checked the illusion system and made sure it was operational. Not far away, a river glimmered under the moonlight.

“We need to find the doc and get her to check your nanomeds and injuries,” Noah said.

Laura nodded but was eyeing the vehicles and the people wandering around. “We’ve lost so many.”

Yeah, it was easy to see they were several hundred people short. Anger was a hot arrow through him. The Gizzida would pay. For everything.

They might have won this battle, but the war wasn’t over. If the aliens thought this would demoralize them, they were so very wrong.

General Holmes appeared. He’d lost his uniform jacket and looked tired, rumpled and stressed. “Drones are up. Finn and the quadcopters will be landing here shortly. How’s the illusion system?

“Fully operational.”

Holmes rubbed the back of his neck. “Great. I’ll let everyone know they can light small fires.”

“What’s the plan from here?” Noah asked.

“We head to the Enclave.”

The Enclave was the secret underground bunker built by the former Coalition President. Roth and Avery had been there and brought back data on it. From what Noah had seen of the schematics, it was well outfitted and secure.

It was also hundreds of kilometers away, south of Sydney. “It’s a long way to go with a convoy like this,” Noah said.

The general nodded. “But we can make it. My team has mapped out the best route, along with back-up plans, too. We’ll take each day as it comes, and move safely and cautiously toward the Enclave.”

Just having a plan and knowing where they were going made something in Noah settle. They could do this. He looked at the people around him. Spotted some kids chasing each other, playing tag and laughing. He saw an elderly couple sitting together on camp chairs someone had found for them. They were holding hands. He saw a young couple kissing, completely lost in each other.

Already, human resilience was shining through.

They’d survive.

“Well done on the illusion system, Noah.” Holmes clapped him on the shoulder. “Now get some rest. I think I’ll grab a nap too.” He strode back toward the command truck.

Another small group of people appeared in the darkness. Roth Masters, his partner, Avery, and the rest of Squad Nine. With them were Santha, with an arm around young Bryony, Devlin, and Natalya.

“Any word from Hell Squad?” Noah asked.

Santha nodded. “Elle’s in the comms truck. She’s in contact with them.” Santha’s face was grim. “The aliens have picked over the base and moved on. They don’t seem to know where we’ve disappeared to and have headed away from our direction. Hell Squad has found a few survivors.”

“Claudia?”

Santha shook her head. “But they confirmed she’s alive, and the aliens have taken her. Hell Squad is on the trail.”

“And Hell Squad doesn’t stop until they achieve their objective,” Dev said.

“Hell yeah,” Roth murmured.

“We are going to light a fire and cook some breakfast,” Natalya said quietly. “You’re welcome to join us.”

Laura yawned. “I need to wash up, first.”

“And then get some rest,” Noah added. Right now, in the wake of all this, he wanted Laura to himself. “Rain check?”

“Sure.” Natalya smiled, looking like she wasn’t fooled one bit.

Noah winked at the woman, then turned Laura toward the tech truck. “Unfortunately, there isn’t enough room for both of us in my shower unit. You go shower and find some fresh clothes.” He smiled. “I stashed a few of your things in my quarters.”

“Did you?”

“I’m going to send the doc over to check on you and then I’m going to take a quick dip in the river.” People were already down there, splashing. “Then we can celebrate this whole being in love thing.”

“Sounds good,” Laura said. “Very good.” She disappeared into the truck.

Noah kept it quick. Emerson agreed to check in on Laura, and then after a dunk in the frigid water of the river, he ran around and begged, borrowed and stole the few things he needed.

Maybe he was crazy to be doing this in the aftermath of the base attack, but he wanted to show Laura that living and loving were important. No matter what.

He set everything up in his tiny quarters, listening to the shower running. For a second, memories assailed him. Laura bleeding all over the floor, both of them running through the base to escape, him praying the illusion system would work. He sank onto the bunk, surprised to find his hands a bit shaky.

More than anything, he needed Laura right now. He needed a reminder that they were both still alive.

She came out of the shower unit wearing another one of his T-shirts. She halted at the sight of him.

He sat back on the bed. “I told you some of your clothes were in the cupboard.”

“I saw them, along with the sketchbooks, pencils and paints.” She smiled. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She plucked at the gray T-shirt. “This seemed far more comfortable…and comforting. Like your arms are wrapped around me.”

“Come here.” He tugged her down on the bed. “I’d prefer to really have my arms around you.”

She snuggled into him.

“What did Doc Emerson say?” he asked.

“I’m in perfect health.”

A tension he hadn’t known he was carrying, eased. “Good.”

Her gaze fell on the small table he’d set up. “Candlelit dinner?”

“Well, candlelit breakfast.” A candle flickered in the center of the tiny table. And there were two plates with some eggs and protein substitute on them. “Couldn’t find any champagne, though. Sorry.”

Her hands pressed into his chest, her lips brushing his jaw. “Don’t need it. I’m drunk enough on loving you.”

With a growl, Noah pulled her head back and caught her mouth with his.

The desire flared into hot flames. An urgent need pumped through Noah. The need to claim her, feel her tight body around his cock, feel her heart racing because of his touch.

She felt it. “Noah.”

“Now.” He rolled her under him. “Hard. Fast.”

“Yes.” Her hands tangled in his hair.

Noah didn’t waste time with any foreplay. He didn’t have it in him right now. That urgent need turned to a pounding roar in his head. He tore his trousers open. When he pushed up the T-shirt she wore, he found her gloriously bare.

He made a sound—part groan, part growl. He shoved her thighs apart and moved over her. When she tried to wrap her legs around him, he caught one of her knees and yanked it high. He sank deeper into the cradle of her hips, and she moaned.

Then he thrust inside her.

She cried out. “Noah!”

Yes
. This was what he needed. He pounded into her. “You and me, Laura. Always.”

“Always.” She gasped the word.

He had to go faster, harder. Noah flexed his hips. He increased his pace, tension growing in his body. He kept his gaze on hers. He wanted her to feel everything, wanted her to savor each brilliant sensation.

Her fingernails dug into his scalp and she arched beneath him. She dragged her hands over his shoulders, and he felt those nails rake his back. As her release shattered her, she let out a hoarse cry.

Noah plunged into her again, one more time, then he held himself there, snug inside her. He throbbed, felt the hot pulses as he came. He groaned her name.

They stayed there, destroyed, wrapped in each other for a long time. Here, there were no aliens, only the gentle pleasure of listening to the quiet breaths of the person you loved, and feeling the beat of their heart against yours.

“I love you, Laura.” He pressed his lips to her hair. “I am really, really glad Lady Luck decided to stop being a bitch.”

“Me too.” Laura pressed a kiss to his chest. “I’m so glad I’m alive. And living again.”

Noah vowed he’d dedicate himself to making her feel as much pleasure as he could. Every day. “Yes, I’m feeling
very
lucky. Not only did I hide an entire convoy from alien invaders—” he tightened his hold on her “—I tamed the dragon.”

Her fingernails dug into him again. “You call me that name again and I’ll—”

“You’ll what?”

She shoved him, rolling him beneath her. God, she was beautiful. Her legs clamped down on either side of his hips.

“Why don’t I show you?” she whispered silkily.

“Do your worst, Captain Dragon.” Because Noah knew wherever they were, whatever happened, he’d love every second of it.

---

I hope you enjoyed Noah and Laura’s story!

Hell Squad continues with SHAW, the story of smart-mouthed sniper, Shaw Baird. Coming Jan 2016.

If you’re looking for more action-packed, science fiction romance, then read on for a preview of
Among Galactic Ruins
, the first book in the Phoenix Adventures.

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