by S. E. Smith
“Now, now, I claim you as my mate,” he said intensely, gazing down at her. “You are mine. For now and for always. There will never be another. I claim you as my bond mate. For always.”
His left hand rose to tangle in her hair when she started to shake her head. Capturing her lips again, he surged forward, burying his cock as far as he could inside her. A shudder shook them both at his possessive claim.
Addie’s soft channel greedily fisted him. The hot walls of her vagina stroked his length and he could feel every inch of her as he began moving back and forth. Intense emotion swept through him as he tangled his tongue with hers.
Breaking away, he gritted his teeth as he felt the pressure build to an unbearable level. His balls drew tight and hard as he continued to drive into her. Each slick push taking him deeper until he swore he could feel the tip of his cock touching her womb.
Merrick buried his face against her shoulder and tightened his arms around her until it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended. Opening his mouth, he felt his teeth descend again. The need to mark her, prepare her womb for his seed, drove him to the edge as the fear of losing something so precious, tangled with the primitive urge to mark her as his.
Biting down on her shoulder, he could actually feel the chemical in his sensitive canines releasing into her. Her body reacted to the added stimulation. A long, loud groan exploded from him when her legs tightened around his waist, her heels digging into his buttocks, as she shattered around his cock. The force of her orgasm snapped the last of his control and he exploded into her with a force that took his breath away.
Merrick withdrew his teeth from her tender flesh, clamping his lips over the wound while he pulsed deep inside her. His eyes closed and a low moan escaped him as another jet of his semen burst from him to wash her womb with his seed. Holding Addie tightly against his chest, he remained locked to her as the powerful orgasm held him in its greedy grasp.
Pressing a kiss to her shoulder before turning his head to press another one to her exposed neck, he breathed deeply as his body began to relax in contentment. A smile curved his lips when Addie wound her arms around his waist and held him. Pressing another kiss to her neck, he pulled back to gaze down at her.
You are now mine, he said, pressing his hips against her.
Has anyone ever told you that you have a one track mind? Addie teased.
Merrick started to respond to her teasing when the sounds of rapid footsteps approaching caught his attention. His head turned and a low, dangerous snarl escaped him. He pulled himself out of Addie and rolled to his feet. He sensed danger coming.
Get dressed, Merrick growled in a low, menacing voice. We are about to have company.
Merrick grabbed his pants and slid them on, standing between the door and Addie as she quickly slipped her jeans and shirt on, ignoring her undergarments. His gaze flickered to her communications device when it hit the floor when she grabbed her shirt. She quickly slid it into the front pocket of her jeans as the door suddenly opened.
He roared out when two men raised the familiar guns containing the potent darts filled with the drugs they use to knock him out. Two of the darts hit him in the chest, knocking him backwards.
“No!” Addie’s loud cry echoed in his ears even as he felt the drugs began to take effect.
“Chain him to the bed,” Dr. Rockman ordered. “Get the girl. I need to get her to the lab as soon as possible.”
“Merrick,” Addie cried out, reaching for him and pressing something cold and hard into his hand. Keep this.
“No!” Addie screamed, struggling when a guard gripped her from behind and pulled her away from where Merrick, half knelt, half lay against the bed. “Merrick!”
Addie, Merrick’s slurred thoughts called her. Don’t…
Chapter 16
Avery glanced down at the message on her phone late the next morning. Her eyes widened in surprise before a sense of satisfaction washed through her. She wouldn’t need to wait for Core to retrieve the information she needed. It would appear that the missing Housekeeper, Addie Banks, had succeeded in outsmarting the bad guys.
“RITA, I need Intel on the location you were able to obtain from the cell phone signal,” Avery ordered. “Get Trudy, Rose, and the Runt on it. I need Team Two ready to be briefed and ready to depart in fifteen minutes. Get me Cosmos.”
“Information has already been sent. I have begun taking control over their computer system. All functions controlled there, including the security, and environment, should be completed within the hour. Team Two has already been alerted and are en route, as is Team One. Cosmos is online…. Now. Oh, and Runt has disappeared again,” RITA said.
“Shit!” Avery muttered just as Cosmos came online.
“What do you have?” Cosmos asked, fumbling with the buttons on his shirt.
“RITA received a call on the secured line you set up for Tansy’s mission. Addie Banks, an employee of Keiser Institute, connected to RITA’s system and said that she and Merrick were being held prisoner. She didn’t know where they had been taken, but she left her cell phone on long enough for RITA to lock into the signal. They are in Reno, Nevada at the Destiny-Brinks Industries building,” Avery explained, heading out of the office and into the private elevator that would take her to the helicopter on the roof. “She said Doctor Rockman had threatened to have them killed.”
“Do you believe her?” Cosmos asked, scanning the information on Addie Banks, as well as, a transcript of the conversation.
“Yes, she worked in Housekeeping. She just started a few weeks ago. The guard at the gate was very concerned about her. She is deaf and he feared that she might have been killed along with Crawford,” Avery replied. “The caller used a TTY service for the hearing impaired, and warned RITA that she was deaf.”
“What about Merrick?” Cosmos asked.
“She said he was alive. I have no reason to think she was lying,” Avery answered.
“I’ve called in a favor,” Cosmos said. “The President offered several members of the military’s new elite squad on terrorism. They have been briefed by the President on the situation.”
Avery grimaced, but kept her opinion to herself. She knew that the President was aware of their alien visitors. Tilly Bell had made sure of that when she, her three daughters, and five huge-ass Prime warriors suddenly appeared in his office. Granted, Tansy was there to warn the President that the Vice-President had made arrangements to have him assassinated, but that didn’t mean they had to introduce him to Cosmos’ Gateway invention, and aliens from another star system to boot!
“You want to what?” Avery asked, pausing in dread and disbelief when she heard Cosmos next order.
“I want you and the Team Two to work with Teriff and Core. You’ll use the Gateway to get inside. Team One will come in as a distraction. You have to get to Merrick and the girl before anything happens to them. RITA has a list of levels she has calculated to be the most likely where they will be held from the security cameras and blueprints of the building,” he explained.
“That would mean we have to go to their world,” Avery pointed out, hiding her dismay.
“It is too dangerous to go from one point on Earth to another. Avery, you have to find Merrick and get him out this time. Teriff understands what has been going on, but the Prime Council is ready to override his orders and send in their own rescue unit. The President has briefed me that this must be avoided at all cost.”
Avery didn’t say anything. There really was nothing to say, Cosmos was right. Hell, it wasn’t that big a deal, and as Cosmos pointed out, the main priority was getting the two hostages out in one piece. It would also give them an edge those holding Merrick wouldn’t expect.
“I need one of your portal devices,” Avery replied.
“Core and Teriff will meet you on the roof. RITA has been in contact with RITA2, I still haven’t figured out how the hell she does that,” Cosmos muttered in a distracted voice. “She’ll get the informatio
n to the Teams.”
“I want one of those damn things, Cosmos,” Avery snapped. “When this is over. Don’t forget.”
“I won’t, Avery, but remember it will only be a loaner. I don’t know how many of the damn things Brock and Lan have created for the Prime. I’ll have to see if RITA2 can get me a number,” Cosmos replied. “Good luck and don’t get shot.”
Avery snorted. “I never get shot. I’m the one doing the shooting,” she reminded him. “Have RITA monitor the mission. I want to get your alien and take out the bastards who think they can jerk us around.”
“Just finish this,” Cosmos ordered before signing off.
Avery pushed the button on the elevator. Drawing in a deep breath, she glanced up at the numbers. All she needed to do was keep her head screwed on straight, complete the mission, then she could get the damn alien male that had been haunting her dreams at night out of her system.
One, two, three… as simple as that, she thought as the door slid open and she stepped out onto the roof of her Headquarters.
*.*.*
Addie stumbled when the guard jerked on her arm again when she tried to look over her shoulder. She could see several guards lifting Merrick’s limp body and settling it on the bed. Turning back around, she wished she could hear what was going on. For the first time in years, she realized just how much she missed her ability to hear.
Tears of frustration and worry threatened to overwhelm her. The only comfort she had was knowing that they hadn’t killed Merrick. They wouldn’t have chained him to the bed otherwise. Still, she didn’t understand why they had drugged him and taken her.
She stumbled to a stop when she saw Weston standing next to the elevator with an amused expression on his face. She flushed when his eyes ran over her shirt. It was obvious that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Fighting the urge to cover herself, she glared back at him in defiance.
Straightening her shoulders, she pushed her hair behind her ear when he walked toward her. She shot a nervous glance at Dr. Rockman when she appeared to say something to him. Whatever he said in return must have been scary because Dr. Rockman’s mouth snapped shut and she glared at the back of his head in angry silence.
Addie flinched when she felt Weston’s strong fingers on her chin. Turning until she was staring into his eyes, she suddenly had a sinking feeling that she knew what he was going to say. Merrick had checked their cell earlier, but not after they had both been taken out of it. She could feel her face flaming as Weston ran an appreciative gaze over her figure again.
“You are very beautiful in blue,” Weston commented with a sickening smile. “Especially blue lace. You are also sexy as hell when you are on your knees.”
Addie reacted without thinking. Her right hand flew up and struck Weston across the cheek. She clenched her stinging palm, slowly bringing it back to her chest as she waited for his retaliation. She turned her head when his hand came up. It took a moment to realize that he was rubbing his own cheek with a thoughtful expression and not striking out at her.
“I like a woman with a fire in her,” Weston chuckled when she turned back to gaze at him. “After the doctor gets her sample, I’ll have to see if you are as good a fuck as it looked.”
“Never,” Addie whispered, swallowing the nausea churning in her stomach.
Weston’s hand suddenly snapped out and wrapped around her nape. He jerked her forward, capturing her lips in a kiss filled with promise. His eyes were twinkling with amusement when he finally pulled back.
“It will be interesting to see how long you resist me,” he whispered before releasing her. “Go get your alien sperm, Dr. Rockman. Just make sure she takes a shower when you are done.”
Dread filled Addie as she finally understood Dr. Rockman’s strange demand. Her hand fluttered to her stomach. Rockman wanted something that Merrick would never have willingly given her.
Addie numbly stepped into the elevator and turned to look at Weston’s mocking face as the doors close. Sudden hatred, deep and poisonous, poured through her, causing her fingers to curl into tight fists. Closing her eyes, she prayed for a miracle.
Please, please let whoever I called come for us before Dr. Rockman gets what she wants from me, she thought.
Addie opened her eyes as the elevator stopped. This time, it was on one of the lower floors. She swayed when the doors opened and Rockman stepped out and turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, come on,” Rockman snapped impatiently. “I need to examine you and take samples.”
The cold, heartless words snapped the rage burning through Addie. With a low cry of fury, she erupted in rage. Jerking forward, she pushed Dr. Rockman hard enough to knock her down. Addie didn’t stop. She took off running as fast as she could, her bare feet flying down the long narrow corridor.
She was half way down it when a bright light suddenly appeared in front of her. Not stopping, she twisted, swerving into an open door and slamming the door. It appeared to be a small office. Addie grabbed the chair by the door and slid it under the doorknob before sinking down along the wall next to it.
It wasn’t much protection. The walls were only solid half way up. The other half was frosted glass. Addie glanced up when she saw several dark shadows pass by. A frown darkened her face when she saw several looked like they were wearing helmets.
Standing up on shaky legs, she peeked along the edge where a thin section of the glass was clear. Her heart was pounding when she saw the uniforms on the several of the men. Her eyes moved to a tall, elegant woman who was wearing a heavy vest and yelling. Addie couldn’t tell what the woman was saying from the angle she was peering through.
What really caught her attention was the huge male walking slightly ahead of the woman. He looked like Merrick! Trembling, Addie pulled the chair away from the door and slowly opened it.
A low scream escaped her when the door was suddenly ripped from her hand. Twisting, she tried to turn back into the room, but a hand tangled in her hair and forced her down onto her knees. Addie frantically tried to grab the powerful hand, but whoever had her continued to push her face toward the floor.
“No!” Addie cried out, unaware of the shouts around her. “Let me go!”
Addie stilled when she felt hard metal pressed against the back of her head. Closing her eyes, she waited for the shattering pain of a bullet. Her only hope was that Merrick would survive.
“Merrick,” she whispered.
A loud gasp escaped her when she was suddenly rolled onto her back. The gun that had been at the back of her head was now pressed against the center of her forehead and she found herself staring into familiar blazing silver eyes. She blinked several times, trying to clear the tears clouding her vision.
She stared at the man’s mouth, but she didn’t understand what he was saying. Her eyes flickered to the woman standing over his shoulder. A frown creased her brow as the woman’s mouth moved.
“Help me,” Addie whispered in a husky voice.
“Where is Merrick?” The woman demanded.
“Downstairs,” Addie replied, focusing on the woman’s mouth. “The guards drugged him. Please, help us.”
The woman paused and turned her head to talk to the man. Addie almost cried in frustration when the man’s eyes blazed with fury. Raising a trembling hand, she touched his wrist.
“Please, my name is Addie Banks. Are you the ones who I contacted?” She forced out, not releasing his gaze.
“Damn it, Core, release her! She is the missing woman from Keiser,” the woman was saying.
“Yes, please, help Merrick. Dr. Rockman… She threatened to kill him. There is another man down there,” Addie said desperately.
Addie breathed a sigh of relief when the man pulled back and rose. Sitting up, she watched as he stepped back toward the door and disappeared through it. She was so focused on him, that she jerked when the woman touched her shoulder.
“One of the men will stay with you,” the woman explained, staring intently at Addi
e.
Addie nodded, rising when the woman stepped back to the door and called out to one of the human men in uniform. Rising on trembling legs, Addie’s gaze followed the woman and alien male that resembled Merrick as they quickly moved down the corridor.
Her eyes paused on Dr. Rockman who lay on the floor, handcuffed. She swayed when she saw the guard who had been with them. From the blood pooled around his head, she knew he was dead. Darkness clouded the edge of her vision and she frantically gripped the edge of the door frame to keep from falling.
She shook her head when the policeman, or whoever he was, turned toward her. Pulling back into the office, she slid down the inside wall. Addie pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them to steady herself. She didn’t even move when the officer closed the door. She didn’t care about anything at that moment except shutting out the world around her. Closing her eyes, she allowed the tears to come. For the moment, she was done with the world.
Chapter 17
Karl Markham paused, listening for the sound of footsteps. He had just arrived at the complex when he saw the vans approaching. A low curse escaped him when he recognized that he had arrived too late.
His inside contact had informed him that their current position had been compromised. He should have had time to get in, take the alien, and get out. He wanted to add the bastard’s head to his prize list. This male was a predator, a killer, like him. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had something that was a challenge.
He had planned to take the huge bastard back to the island that he owned and hunt him just as he hunted the big game in countries all over the world. While his benefactors wanted to poke and prod the creature and Rockman wanted to dissect him like a frog, he wanted to see just how good the bastard was when he was the prey. To him, there was nothing more thrilling than the hunt.
Now, all of his carefully laid plans were about to be ruined. Bitter disappointment threatened to make him reckless, something that he never was. Pulling back, he watched as Weston exited an emergency stairwell. The guard standing in the corridor saw him at the same time. Weston raised his gun, firing at the guard at the same time as the guard fired at him.
