The Last Marine (20 page)

“Yeah?”

“Mm-hm. They’re telling the locals they expect them to report any sightings.”

“Yeah?”

Ryland had been so quiet, Griffin had forgotten about the boy. “Lucky for you, most of us locals have plenty of reason not to want to help them out.”

“Most?”

“Some people are still scared.” Big Jake shrugged. “Traumatized. Can’t blame them, but you need to be careful. Tell your woman to keep her head down if you go near town. And you, you need to cover that mug of yours; everybody in these parts will recognize you.”

“Well, that’s going to complicate things.” Griffin took a drag off his smoke. “I can’t avoid town, I need to find my brother.” He couldn’t imagine Lucan would be very happy in a place as violent as Asteria.

“If your brother is a smart man, he’s laying low, pretending he doesn’t know you.”

Shit. He’d have to be real careful. The last thing he wanted was to make things difficult for Lucan, but he had to find him and at least make sure he was okay. Especially now. He needed to reassure himself the Blue Helmets hadn’t gotten hold of him. Griffin finished his smoke and flicked the butt into the fire.

“Tell me about Earth.”

Griffin looked past Big Jake to check on Prudence. She was smiling, settled back into a big rocker with her feet pulled under her. She seemed relaxed and happy. “It’s the same, but then it’s not.”

Ryland leaned forward in his chair. “How so?”

“Everything is where it should be.” He dragged his hand down his face. “The streets and houses and business are all pretty much the same, but the heart’s gone. When I came back through Atlanta to find my brother, I kept thinking the whole place was surreal—something out of a horror novel. Everybody was clean and healthy. The streets were pristine. Everything was beautiful. Paradise. Unless you looked a little closer. Then you might notice how tense people are. You might hear whispers of concerns. You might notice that half the population is gone.”

Big Jake’s head bobbed all through Griffin’s report. “My last trip into the Fjord, I heard tale of a revolution on Earth.”

“Oh?” Griffin’s pulse kicked up.

“Yeah. Seems you weren’t the only military survivor. Word is they say they’re finishing what you started.”

Griffin frowned. “You know about the bombings?”

Big Jake nodded. “Lot of military families here. Always asking the Blue Helmets about their loved ones. Somebody got tired of dealing with it all. They made the announcement several months back. Told everyone their men and women weren’t coming back.”

“And everyone accepted that?”

“Nope.” Big Jake leaned over to stir the pot. “No one has accepted anything. They’re just powerless.”

Maybe they were, but he wasn’t. Except, maybe he wouldn’t have to go back after all. If a revolution had already started, maybe it was over. Griffin leaned forward. “Is Parnell still alive?”

“Last I heard.”

Damn it. He’d have to go back. He couldn’t rest until he made things right. Until he felt certain Prudence was safe. His gaze shifted back to the surrounding trees. Twilight was approaching, leaving too many shifting shadows out there.

“Takes a while to see the news reports. Might not be alive now.” Big Jake let his head fall back and he stared up at the sky. “You must be glad to be away from it all.”

“I’m going back.”

Big Jake’s head jerked up. “Well, why would you do a fool thing like that for?”

Griffin laughed. “I was out in the field those last two years when the U.S. ceded. Thing was, they didn’t bother telling us grunts. Day after day, we’d go out, thinking we played for the same team we always played for. Completing our assigned missions with no clue that the rules had changed.” He met Big Jake’s gaze. “I fucked things up. Now I have to un-fuck them.”

Big Jake’s lips quirked. “How’s your woman feel about that?”

“She thinks I’m an idiot.”

“Ya are. Let the young pups fight the war, Chief. You’ve done your part. Every man deserves a bit of happiness. Besides, you leave a woman like that alone and you’re gonna have a hell of time keeping her to yourself.”

Prudence’s laugh drew his attention. Her smile lit up her whole face. “She is beautiful.”

Big Jack snorted. “Of course she is. She’s Lythonian.”

Griffin’s gaze shot to the older man. Was he prejudiced? There were still many Earthers who distrusted aliens and half-breeds. “So?”

“They say those ladies give gifts to their mates. Rumor has it that the Lythonian lady Alfred Parnell married gave him the gift of persuasion. Merrick told me that—he was Special Ops, protected the president that last year before we ceded. Anyway, he said the information was redacted out of all their files so he never knew for sure, but as fast as Randolph pounced on her, I’m thinking there might be something to it.” Big Jake frowned. “You know, I never met any Lythonians before, but your woman, she looks a bit like that Parnell lady—thinner, has darker, shorter hair. They related?”

Griffin shook his head. Persuasion? Christ, was Prudence the reason Alfred had so many worshipful followers? Was she the reason all these people were stuck here on Asteria? He might have discounted Big Jake’s story, except he’d seen the files. He knew large sections of the documents related to Alfred’s ‘persuasion tactics’ were redacted.

What had she told him?
They think I bring them luck.

Christ, was that the secret she was hording?

Hell, maybe her hands were as dirty as his.

“Well, anyways, men who understand what being her mate means will try to take her from you. You’re a right lucky bastard.” Big Jake reached over and stirred the pot of food boiling over the fire. “How long you gonna stay?”

Griffin shook his head. He needed to talk to Prudence. Alone. Part of him didn’t want to believe any of what Big Jake said, but part of him worried it was true. And if it was, there wasn’t anything Randolph wouldn’t do to get her back. Christ, why didn’t she tell him? “We can’t stay. I’m looking for my brother and he’s not here.”

“Well, now, at least share a meal with us?”

He wanted to get away from all of them; he needed time to think. At the same time, Prudence seemed to be enjoying herself and they both needed to eat. “That would be great. Thank you.”

Chapter 23

Granny Nash leaned close in her chair. “That’s a fine man you have there. Is he a good fuck?”

Prudence’s jaw dropped. The old woman said one outrageous thing after another.

Granny cackled. “Oh, I might be old, darlin’ but that doesn’t keep me from looking . . . or dreaming. So, give me something to keep me warm tonight, is he one of those gentle giants?”

Prudence shook her head. Griffin was far too passionate to be classed as such.

“He’s not mean, is he?”

“Oh, no. He’d never hurt me.”

Granny’s eyes gleamed with an unholy light. “Then what? Is he’s a little rough? A bit dirty?”

Prudence’s lips twitched. Goddess bless the woman, she was tenacious as a reporter. She cleared her throat, trying hard to ignore the heat in her cheeks. “Yes.”

Granny leaned forward more, so much so, Prudence was a little worried she might tumble right out of her chair. “What’s your favorite part?”

Oh, boy, she wasn’t sure she could talk about this. Everything was far too new to her. “He’s, uh, passionate.”

Granny scoffed. “I’d hope for that at least.”

“And lustful.”

“He looks to me like a man who knows his way around a woman.” She winked. “So, what’s your favorite part?”

Prudence bit her lip. Granny Nash wasn’t giving up. “He makes me feel beautiful. He gets so focused on me, becomes so watchful and intent when he’s . . . doing things to me . . . I feel . . . loved.” When she got brave enough, she snuck a peek to see Granny’s reaction.

Granny reclined back in her rocker, eyes closed and a blissed-out smile riding her thin lips. “My Devon was the same. Oh, I think he had a bit of the flair for voyeurism. I think he got off on watching me writhe and beg.” Her eyes opened and her pale brown eyes grew misty. “Oh, Lord, I miss that man. Even after he lost his oomph, he liked watching me, and oh, darlin’ did I like being watched by him.”

Prudence’s gaze searched out Griffin. He and Big Jake were deep in conversation—probably planning out how to take over the world. She wanted to share the kind of love with Griffin that Granny had with her Devon. She wanted to grow old with him. But she was terrified he wouldn’t survive the month.

“You’re looking at him like it might be the last time. What’s wrong, honey?”

“He doesn’t want to stay here. He’s planning to go back and assassinate the new PM. Keeps saying he needs to fix things. The whole idea is suicide.”

“Can’t say I’m surprised, man like him—poor boy looks like he’s drowning in testosterone.”

“I want him to stay.”

“Mm.” Granny set her chair to rocking. “You show him the beauty of Asteria. You smile and flirt and bat those dark eyelashes until you seduce those suicidal tendencies right out of him. Men can’t resist a strong, happy woman. Don’t let him catch you melancholy or clingy. And, of course, driving him wild in the bedroom never hurts.”

How was she supposed to do that? She’d never had another woman to talk to. Never had anyone who had similar experiences or who could give advice. Prudence grinned. But she did now. “Granny?”

The rocker stopped. “Yep?”

“Would you give me an example of something that you used to do to drive Devon crazy in the bedroom?”

Granny set her chair to rocking, a broad smile stretching her wrinkles smooth. “Well, now, darlin’ have you ever heard of the prostate?”

*****

He had no idea what the hell Prudence and Granny Nash could have in common, but the two of them had their heads together whispering and giggling like teenaged girls. He envied her that. As nice as Big Jake and his family seemed, he couldn’t relax. Especially once they crowded into the little cabin for dinner. He felt closed in, claustrophobic. If Blue Helmets showed up, there was no escape.

Christ, it was hot in here. He lifted his napkin to wipe his brow.

Prudence appeared to be having a fine time with her new friend. She acted like she didn’t have a care in the world. The food tasted as delicious as it smelled, savory meat and sweet vegetables, but he couldn’t enjoy it. The brood of children laughed and teased each other, but he couldn’t concentrate on a word they said. All he could think of was getting Prudence out of here. He needed answers. He needed to know how much danger she was in. He needed her someplace safe. Someplace he’d be able to see the enemy coming.

After they finished dinner and the children carted off the last of the dishes, Griffin almost sighed in relief. He stood and offered his hand to Big Jake. “Thanks for everything.”

“Are you sure you won’t stay the night?”

“No, but thank you for the offer.”

Prudence shot him a quizzical look, but didn’t argue.

He turned and there, above the fireplace an oil painting hung on the wall. The scene depicted Mount Rushmore, the faces of four long-dead presidents jutting out from the face of a cliff. All around, trees were visible as if the scene were remembered from a hiking trail.

Griffin stepped closer, checking for the artists mark and sure enough L.R. P., was scrawled in the lower right corner. “Where’d you get this?”

“There’s a shop on the waterfront off Main Street in Diamond Fjord—Granny bought that.” He looked to the old woman, lifting a brow in question.

“Nice young man runs the place. It’s called Visions from Home. You can’t miss it.”

Griffin nodded. “Thanks for the information. Come on, Angel, we need to head out.”

He waited while she said her goodbyes, promising they’d come back to visit and getting promises in return to visit them once they were settled. She was making plans again. For him. For them.

Chapter 24

Griffin wiped the back of his forearm across his brow. Good God, he was a mess. His hands still shook, he was sweating, and he couldn’t seem to catch his breath.

Prudence kept glancing at him as they walked. “What’s wrong?”

He continued walking, the tall grass whipping against his cammies. “I didn’t feel safe there.”

“They seemed very nice. I thought we would stay with them tonight. You know, a real bed. A real pillow. We could go back.”

He shook his head. “That cabin only had one door. There were too many people. Too much noise. Blue Helmets have been there twice in the last couple of days.”

“Okay.” She tugged on his hand to get him to slow. “We’re well away from the cabin. Let’s slow down before one of us twists an ankle.”

He stopped, pressed his hands to his thighs and took a deep breath.

Prudence rubbed his back. “Griff?”

He straightened. “Just catching my breath.”

“Okay.” She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. “We’re safe. Everything’s fine now.”

Hell, she was coddling him. “Look, I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?”

He nodded. “We need to talk, Pru.” He dropped his pack near a tree and pulled hers from her shoulders and set it down. He plopped down with his back to a tree and patted the grass in front of him. “Come on, sit down.”

She sat between his legs, turned and pressed her face to his chest. “What’s going on, Griff? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Mm.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Big Jake said Blue Helmets have been coming around looking for a violet-eyed woman.”

She stiffened in his arms.

He tightened his hold, stroking his thumb over her arm. “You’re Lythonian, right?”

Her voice was a bare whisper. “What else did he say?”

“That Alfred’s wife gave him the gift of persuasion.” Damn it. It hurt to say the words out loud. Had he found out before he’d gotten to know her, he’d have been furious. Now, he was just sad. For her. For him. For everyone else. She started to get up, but he pulled her back down. Kissed her head so she’d know he wasn’t angry. “That’s what was redacted out of those documents I saw, right? Your gift was his secret?”

When she spoke, her voice was flat. “You won’t believe me, but I never gave them anything.”

Christ, maybe he shouldn’t have pushed her. “Come on, Pru. I know you had it rough.” He pulled her closer. “I’m not . . . blaming you. I’m trying to understand. I need to know what’s going on so I can keep you safe.”

“I have to be in love and loved in return for the mating to happen. I don’t have any control over it, not really.”

She was gutting him. “You loved Alfred.”

She shook her head.

“How did he get the gift if you didn’t love him?”

“He didn’t.”

They were the words he wanted to hear, but he damn well knew they couldn’t be true. “How else could he have convinced everyone to go along with his plan for utopia?”

She sighed. “They were desperate.”

“Angel, I’ve told you I don’t blame you. I’m not angry with you. I just want the truth.”

She pulled away and lifted her shirt, pointing to her birthmark, one he must’ve kissed a hundred times. “When I give my gift, my mate will take the mark, too. The people on Earth followed Alfred and are following Randolph because they
want to
. No one seems to understand that. Not Alfred. Not Randolph and not you.” She blinked back tears. “You men, all you think about is your damn politics and your wars. And I’m tired of being caught in the middle.”

“Come here.” He pulled her back into his embrace. Christ, if Alfred hadn’t somehow manipulated the people of Earth, and Prudence hadn’t given him the gift of persuasion, did that mean Prudence was correct? Did Earth’s citizens actually want the world they’d created? No. He couldn’t fathom it. Sure, she seemed to believe what she said, but she must be wrong. Maybe her perspective was skewed. “Tell me from the beginning.”

“Alfred picked me out of an orphanage when I was seventeen. Not because he wanted me. Not because he fell in love with me. He didn’t even know me, he wanted me because I was Lythonian. He wanted my gift. I told him right from the start that I couldn’t give it to him. I wasn’t attracted to him, I didn’t even like him.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “He didn’t care. He married me and took me home. He wanted a wedding night and I didn’t.”

Griffin froze.

“He never touched me after that first time. He could hardly bear to look at me. But the next day, Kenya ceded to the U.N. You have to understand, he’d been trying to sell his plan for three years and no one would listen. Kenya ceded and within days several other small countries did the same. He refused to believe it happened for any other reason than because of my gift. He thought I lied about my mating marks transferring with my gift. And Randolph . . . he tried to do what his brother did, but he was so disgusted by me, he couldn’t even get it up.”

His gut twisted as all the pieces fit together in horrifying clarity and his protective instincts reared up. He knew Randolph had abused her, tortured her at least once—he’d planned to make the son of a bitch suffer for hurting her—but he’d always attributed her resistance to sex to poor lovers and distain for the man who’d killed her husband. His mind rebelled against the idea of anyone violating Prudence. Not his Angel. She was too gentle, too sweet. Just as bad was their making her feel less than worthy. Less than worthy of what? Of rape? That was a hell of a mind fuck. And they kept her under surveillance so she couldn’t leave. Couldn’t ask for help.

“I’m glad I killed that bastard.” And if he had half a chance he’d send Randolph to hell with his brother.

He couldn’t stand the thought of what those two had subjected her to. She deserved so much more, and instead, she’d gotten him. In their time together, he’d teased her, he’d made baseless accusations, he’d bullied her and, sweet Jesus, he’d been rough with her. Ah, God in heaven, what must have been going through her mind when he’d made love to her? Every time, he’d gotten so overwhelmed by her, he never once tried to gentle her. His face heated with shame.

“You’re too quiet. What are you thinking?”

He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “I’m thinking I’m a fucking bastard, Angel.”

She whirled around. “What are you talking about?”

“I didn’t know, Pru. Do you understand? I’d have been careful making love to you if I’d known how they hurt you. I wouldn’t have been rough. Goddamn it, I’m sorry. I just wanted to show you passion.”

He couldn’t read her expression in the dark and she was quiet and still so long, he didn’t think there was a chance in hell she’d forgive him. And while he knew their time together was coming to an end, he couldn’t bear the thought of parting like this. He couldn’t stand the thought that he’d hurt her.

“Griffin, I like the way you are with me. I like the fact that I never have to wonder if you want me as much as I want you. Why don’t you show me again?”

“What?”

“Show me again how a man loves his woman.”

Unsure what to say, he swallowed. What was she asking him for? He’d give her whatever she wanted but part of him was wary now. What if he did something to remind her of the past? What if he accidentally brought forth bad memories of her time with the Parnells?

She leaned in and brushed her mouth to his. “Maybe I wasn’t clear, Warrior. I want you. Uncivilized, uncouth, barbaric you, to pound out any and all lingering memories of the past. I want your hard bits, in my soft bits reminding me why it’s good to be a woman.”

How could anyone hurt this woman?

Protect. Provide. Cherish.

That’s all he wanted to do for her. A shiver of fear snaked up his spine. What happened when he left her to fight with the rebels on Earth? How would she get on without him? How would she get on if he died? For the first time in his life, he feared death. Feared leaving her with no one to care for her—because no one could, not like him.

Protect. Provide. Cherish.

He pulled her up so she stood in front of him, and he got to his knees. His hands shook as he hooked his fingers in her jeans and dragged them down her legs. She’d lost weight. He needed to get her somewhere safe. Somewhere he could concentrate on providing food instead of always being focused on safety. He pushed her back against the tree, burying his face between her thighs before he even had her pants all the way off, licking through her curls while he pulled off her shoe and lifted her bared leg to rest on his shoulder.

He leaned back to survey her. With one leg clothed and grounded, the other naked and held wide on his shoulder she posed an erotic sight. Her fingers tripped over the buttons on her shirt, slowly revealing pale, beautiful skin and he watched, transfixed by the graceful fingers that would soon be wrapped around his cock, the sharp little nails that would scour his back. “Faster.”

She’ll be all right while you’re gone. She’s tough and you’ll survive, like always.

She undid the last couple buttons and, as she shrugged out of her shirt, he reached up and unsnapped the front closure of her bra. Those glorious breasts popped free, kissed by moonlight and drawn taut by his presence. He reached up and dragged his hands from her collarbone, over her breasts and belly down hips and thighs. Then he spread her nether lips wide. He licked her from ass to clit before drawing that tiny bud between his lips, suckling until she pressed down onto his mouth.

“Ah, Griff.”

Already hard and aching, her cry intensified his desire. He needed to be inside her, any way he could get there. He pressed his finger into her tight, gripping sheath.

“Christ, you’re wet.”

“Yes.”

He added another finger, and another until she gasped. He couldn’t get enough of her taste, the way she writhed above him. He continued to lap at her, spearing her with his tongue until her thighs trembled around him and she ground herself down on his face and fingers.

She was gorgeous. All tight athletic curves and planes glowing in the moonlight. With her head tipped back and her hands clutched tight in his hair, she was a study in ecstasy. She couldn’t hold back, not with him, and those sounds she made—those breathy sighs, husky moans and sharp cries—they drove him damn near insane.

They were his. She was his.

He owned her.

And she owned him right back.

That thought more than anything had him almost coming in his pants. His whole body tensed as he fought against ejaculating. He wanted inside her too much to give into the base urge.

He’d survive. He’d be there for her.

Protect. Provide. Cherish.

Prudence tugged his shirt over his head and her hands stroked every inch of his body she could reach, scored him with her nails, and gripped his hair to hold his head right where she wanted him.

She took.

And he gave.

Her body tensed around him, the leg slung over his shoulder flexing, quivering. He twisted his fingers within her on each slick plunge and sucked her clit into his mouth, flicking the bud without mercy with his tongue.

She cried out in the night, sending shivers shimmying over his skin to gather at the small of his back. Her inner muscles clamped around his fingers, grasping, sucking at him. His cock jumped in response, demanding the same treatment.

Provide. Protect. Cherish.

“Now, Griffin. Your pants.”

Her most feminine muscles still flexed with release, but she was impatient, needy.

For him.

His Cargos hit the grass in six seconds flat. He hiked her leg up to his hip as he stood.

“Wait.”

*****

All it took was one word and her palm on his chest. His hungry gaze raked over her, but he backed off, ready to stop if she wanted.

She didn’t.

She’d been so worried he’d want her gift, like everyone else. Instead, he worried that he’d hurt her. He worried about his behavior. Goddess bless him, he didn’t seem to give a second thought to that damned gift.

Slowly, she lowered her leg and walked a tight circle, reversing their positions. She put a little pressure behind her hand until he leaned back against the tree. She nudged his legs apart with her foot. She lifted the edge of his shirt, folding it up to reveal rock-hard abs and nodding in satisfaction. “Yes, just like that.” The same position he stood in when she watched him stroke himself off.

His eyes narrowed.

“I watched you that day.”

The heat in his eyes doubled, if possible. His eyes dilated.

“I watched you touch yourself and I haven’t been able to get the sight out of my mind. You were beautiful.” Her gaze wandered down the length of his body. “I’ve wanted to try something ever since.” And after talking to Granny Nash, she knew what to do.

In theory, at least.

His breath was a harsh rasp, echoing hers, but when she sank to her knees, he stopped breathing altogether.

“Angel—”

Her name ended in a strangled moan when she licked him from balls to head.