Liberating Lacey (Marks Mercenaries Book 3)

by N. J. Walters

  She wiggled beneath him, trying to get him to touch her clit.

  “Is this what you want?” He stroked the tip of his forefinger over the nub of nerves.

  She tilted her hips upward and moaned. “Yes.”

  He left her clit and stroked down to her opening and slowly inserted one thick finger. She cried out, and he immediately froze, unsure if he was making her happy or hurting her.

  “Don’t you dare stop,” she ordered.

  He grinned, unable to help himself. He loved it when she got demanding, letting him know what she wanted and needed from him. Pulling his finger back to the edge of her opening, he paused before surging inward again. The sound of pleasure she made had the head of his cock leaking. He pressed his shaft hard against the bed, ignoring it as he dragged the flat of his tongue over her clit. The dual pleasure of his mouth and fingers sent her careening over the edge.

  She arched her head back and moaned, her thighs tightening around his head, her heels digging into his back. Her inner muscles fluttered around his finger, drenching it in her release. He moved his mouth down to her opening, wanting to taste her. Not wanting to waste a single precious drop, he licked and sucked until she was begging him to stop. Only then did he raise his head.

  When he ran his tongue over his bottom lip, she shuddered. Her hair was damp and several strands stuck to her forehead. Her chest heaved as she sucked in air. Her skin glowed.

  He wanted to surge up and ram his cock into her, finding his own pleasure. Instead, he forced himself to crawl onto the bed and lie flat on his back. He threw an arm over his eyes so he wouldn’t be tempted by the erotic vision beside him. His cock throbbed worse than any blaster hit.

  But this time he wasn’t going to take her. This time she was going to take him.

  ****

  Something wasn’t right, but it was difficult to think with every nerve ending in her body tingling with pure pleasure. Breathless, she turned her head on the pillow to look at the man lying next to her. Garth was an amazing specimen of manhood. Even at rest, his muscles bunched and bulged.

  With his arm thrown over his face, the small tuft of hair in his armpit was on display. It in no way softened his appearance. The lower half of his face was visible, his full lips still damp with her essence.

  Her inner muscles fluttered and rippled with an aftershock from her orgasm. A soft moan escaped before she could swallow it back. His arm lowered, and his gaze snapped in her direction. Blue fire burned in his eyes. He was still fully aroused, having seen to her pleasure but taking none for himself.

  “I don’t understand.” And she wanted to.

  He heaved a huge sigh, his chest expanding and contracting with the effort. “I don’t want to hurt you this time.”

  “You won’t,” she promised. Yes, it had been uncomfortable at times, but she’d expected that her first time. And it had certainly been worth it.

  He gave a curt nod. “You’re right. I won’t. This time you’re going to take me.”

  She tilted her head to one side, not quite sure she understood. “What do you mean?”

  He glanced down at himself, and her gaze followed. His cock was swollen, the broad head darker than the rest. Thick veins ran up and down the hard length. His shaft flexed, as though reaching out to her.

  “I’m here. Do with me as you will.” His hoarse voice was barely a whisper by the end. She knew to the depths of her soul he meant more than the physical. He was opening his heart to her, asking, without really actually having to say the words aloud, for her to treat that sensitive organ with care.

  It was a revelation. That she had the power to hurt him was unthinkable. But it did give her hope that he had deep feelings for her.

  It was only fair. Because she loved him.

  Most people would scoff and say it was way too soon for such declaration. That she was mistaking gratitude for love. She didn’t care. She’d always lived more by instinct than reason.

  But in this case both her emotions and intellect were in agreement.

  She loved Garth Marks. He was big and brash and bold. He’d swept into her life like a hurricane, obliterating her defenses, destroying her old life. But with that absolute and utter devastation came the chance for new growth and new possibilities—the seeds of a new life.

  Coming up on her knees beside him, she lightly rested a hand on his stomach. The muscles jumped and rippled beneath her palm. He clenched his jaw but kept his gaze locked on her.

  There was so much to see and touch she almost didn’t know where to begin. So she started at the bottom. Scooting down to his feet, she ran her hands up his thick calves to his knees. There was no give to the man. His thighs were thick and strong, like the trunks of the Janta tree. When she reached the top, she stopped.

  He was sucking in air like he was suffocating, his lungs working like a bellows.

  Wanting a better angle at which to touch him, she threw one of her legs over his thighs, straddling him. A groan broke from his lips, telling her he liked this new position of hers as much as she did.

  His sac was heavy with need. She stroked the twin globes before cupping them in her palm. He reached over his head and gripped two steel posts which ran up either side of the bed frame to anchor it to the wall.

  “Don’t stop,” he hoarsely commanded.

  Giving him a nod, she went back to her perusal. His cock was thick and long and roped with blood vessels which pulsed like a heartbeat. The crown of his shaft was thicker, the color a dark red, verging on purple. A bead of liquid escaped from the slit in the top.

  Without thought, she leaned down and licked the tip, tasting it. A groan escaped him. It sounded as though he was in mortal pain, but she knew better. He tasted salty and warm. Male musk wafted up from him. Her body, which had so recently found release, responded. Her skin was stretched too tight over her frame. She was empty, her body throbbing, needing him to soothe the relentless ache.

  But she wasn’t quite done touching him yet. She skimmed her fingers over his length from base to tip. His hips arched, pushing him more firmly into her hand. The skin of his cock was smooth and warm, almost hot. She rubbed her palm over the head, and it came away moist as more liquid seeped from the tip. Using that lubrication, she wrapped her hand around him and stroked up and down his hard length.

  “Lacey,” he growled her name.

  “Hmm.” Ignoring him, she continued to pump up and down, enthralled by his unfettered reaction to her touch. She licked her lips, lowered her head, and took the crown of his shaft into her mouth, swirling her tongue around the circumference before running the tip of it over the slit to collect more of his salty essence.

  He arched so hard he almost tossed her aside. Metal creaked. She grabbed his hip with her free hand and held on.

  But she’d finally pushed Garth past his limits.

  He surged upward, caught her in his arms, and dragged her toward him. His mouth slammed down on hers, their tastes mingling as they kissed. It was hot and erotic and left her aching for more.

  His cock nudged her stomach. She rose up on her knees, trying to take him inside her. He pulled away, his gaze fierce. “I don’t want to hurt you this time.”

  “You won’t,” she assured him, willing to lie if that’s what it took.

  He gave another of those adorable growls she was coming to love and lifted her over him. “Put me inside you.”

  Gripping his shaft, she guided the head to her opening. She was wet from her orgasm and his cockhead was slick. He slid right in. Her inner muscles spasmed, clamping down hard before relaxing slightly.

  They were both breathing heavily, but he held her easily, waiting until she was ready to continue. Closing her eyes, she pushed down, taking another inch. Then another. She breathed through the mild discomfort until she was sitting on his pelvis, his cock fully inside her.

  She opened her eyes when his big hands covered her breasts. Her hands were planted on his chest for support. Their eyes met, and their gazes held. Th
e heavy pulse of his shaft inside her, the way he stretched her, filling her, pushed her over the edge again.

  Garth pulled her down until her upper body was flat against him. Somehow, he managed to roll and keep them on the bed. Rearing back, he caught her hips in his hands and began to move. His motions were uncontrolled, primal. Then he was coming, hard and hot, his yell echoing in her ears.

  When he collapsed, he covered her entire body. It was like having a very warm blanket spread over her. She wouldn’t mind it except it was getting difficult to breathe. Garth swore and heaved himself off her. Or mostly off. She liked that he was still buried inside her, but with the weight of his chest gone she could catch her breath.

  “Fuck,” he swore.

  This time, she knew better than to get upset. She was coming to understand him much better. Wrapping her arms around him to make sure he stayed put, she nuzzled his chest. “That was wonderful.”

  He raked his fingers through his short hair, seemingly exasperated. “I was supposed to let you set the pace.”

  “And you did,” she reminded him. “You only took over at the end.” She offered him a sensual smile. “And I didn’t mind that at all.”

  He withdrew from her and sat with his back against the wall. It was then she noticed that one of the steel supports was slightly bent. Before she could comment on either his strength or the force of his passion, he tugged her onto his lap so she was facing him. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Better than okay.” She decided to just throw everything out there. “I love you.”

  He went totally still, the hand that had been lazily caressing her back stopped. His concerned expression morphed to one of anger.

  Not the reaction she’d hoped for.

  ****

  It might only be the sex talking. Or maybe she feared being put off the ship at the next stop. Still, he couldn’t stop the primal pleasure filling him.

  Lacey was his to keep and protect forever.

  Or was she? He had to give her choices or he’d never know for sure.

  “You can take all your seeds with you when you go. I’ll help you sell them and get settled wherever you want.”

  Instead of being pleased by his offer, she looked … hurt.

  “I see.”

  Knowing he was making a mess of things, yet again, he forged onward. “No, you don’t see. I want you to have options. I want you to know you don’t have to say you love me. I’ll protect you, see you safe no matter what.”

  Her expression softened, and she shook her head. What did that mean? He wished he understood women more.

  “What do you want me to do?” she asked.

  Garth’s head pounded. His chest ached. When he realized he wasn’t breathing, he inhaled sharply. The pain in his head eased but not the one in his heart. “It doesn’t matter what I want. I want you to do what’s right for you.” Each word he spoke was killing him. His grip on her had tightened, his body fighting his mind.

  “It’s important to me to know what you want.” She stroked his face with her hands, soothing the demons inside him.

  “I want you to stay.” The words were torn from his very soul. He’d tried to do the right thing, tried to let her go. He only hoped if she stayed that one day, she wouldn’t come to resent him.

  “I love you,” she repeated. She looked right into his eyes, and in their clear depths he saw the truth.

  “You love me,” he slowly repeated.

  “Yes.”

  “You love me.” This time he said it with more conviction.

  She nodded and offered him a tentative smile.

  He dragged her against him and banded his arms around her. “You won’t regret it,” he promised. “I’ll find a planet we can live on once we find Abigail. You’ll have your garden.” That was one thing he’d make certain of.

  “Actually, I’ve always wanted to try my hand at hydroponic gardening. All I need is an enclosed space where I can set up so I can control the temperature. If I sold some of the seeds, I’d have enough money to get the equipment I need.”

  He tugged her away so he could see her clearly. She was smiling, seemed truly happy. “You’d do that?” he asked.

  “Sure. All I need are my plants,” she paused. “And you.”

  He slammed her back against his chest, absorbing her muffled laugh. “You’ll have everything you need. You won’t sell your precious seeds to get it. I have money.” He wanted to provide her with everything she needed.

  She teased his chest with the tips of her fingers, dragging one of them over the tip of his nipple. His cock surged to life once again, ready and rearing to go. “So you’re happy I’m staying?” she asked. He heard it then, the slight hesitation.

  He hadn’t told her how he felt about her. She’d opened her heart, and he’d offered to buy her equipment for planting.

  He kissed the top of her head, burying her face in the softness of her hair. “You’re more than I ever thought I’d have. You’re every dream I didn’t dare to speak. You’re a fantasy come true. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you and make you happy. You’re mine now.” Did she understand what he was trying to tell her without actually saying the words?

  She raised her head and smiled. “I love you, too.”

  Groaning, he kissed her once again. Lacey loved him and understood him better than anyone else ever had, maybe even his family. He kissed a path to her ear and whispered the three words he’d never said to anyone, not even his brothers. “I love you.”

  He held her firmly, not wanting to talk about his feelings any longer. But he should have known better. This was Lacey, and she truly did know him.

  “You bent the metal post,” she pointed out. The sudden change in conversation startled him at first, but then a slow smile spread across his face.

  “So I did.”

  She pulled out of his arms, lay down on the mattress, and opened her arms to him. “Want to see if we can bend the other one?”

  He laughed. It came from a place that he’d never felt before. It was joyous and fearless and boundless. “Yes. Let’s see if we can.”

  Epilogue

  Lacey was just finished puttering in what the others called her greenhouse when the door opened and closed. Garth and his brothers had cleared out a storage area for her to use. And they’d stopped at a nearby planet long enough to get everything on her list. She’d stayed on board the ship, knowing Garth worried about anyone recognizing her. They had no way of knowing if Ian had anyone looking for her.

  As a master gardener, her skills were highly valued. If anyone knew her true profession, she might prove too tempting a target for space pirates or other thieves. Not to mention the seeds she had were rare and extremely valuable.

  Garth had not only brought her everything she needed to start producing food, he’d supplied her with new clothes, including a battlesuit of her own. It had been Rory, Kal’s woman, who’d told her the cost of the garment, which was insane. But it was Angelina who’d told her not to try to pay him back, warning her that all the brothers had a streak of pride a mile wide and a need to provide for their women. It was their way of showing they cared.

  So she’d sucked up her protests and offer to pay him back and accepted everything with a smile. He’d been so pleased he’d taken her straight to bed.

  Warm lips caressed the back of her neck. “Having a good day?”

  She tilted her head to one side to give him better access. “I am. There are already some shoots.” She pointed to the tiny green leaves poking up. “We’ll have fresh food in no time.” And that was another reason his brothers hadn’t hesitated to give her the area she needed to work. Being in space for such long periods of time, they got tired of dried and packaged food. Fresh was a luxury. And, as she explained to them, she’d end up with more seeds than she’d need and that would give them more to sell. It was her way of contributing.

  “Any news?” They’d been searching for information about both ships that had been on Ede
n when Abigail had disappeared. So far, they hadn’t had much luck.

  “Kal dug up some old records, and the Vagabond isn’t too far from here. We’re going to detour and have a little chat with the captain and crew.”

  She shivered. God help them if they’d taken Abigail, the brothers would kill them. “What about the Gypsy?”

  “Kal is having a bit more trouble with that one. He’s still looking but says he’s getting closer.” Garth turned her so she was facing him. “You done for the day?”

  She linked her arms around his neck. “I am now.”

  He lifted her into his arms and started out of the room, pausing by the control panel so she could check on the temperature and humidity. As he carried her back to their room, she rested her head against his shoulder. While she would forever be sorry their sister was taken from them, if it hadn’t happened, she never would have met Garth. Maybe everything happened for a reason. Maybe it was fate.

  Whatever had brought him into her life, she would forever be grateful.

  When the door slid closed behind them, she tugged his head down. “I love you,” she reminded him. Then she kissed him.

  The End

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