Valiant

by Laurann Dohner

  “Sorry.” He chuckled.

  He handed her his shirt and boxer briefs for her to put on. They were still warm from his body. She felt like a small kid in his large, baggy clothes. Valiant just wore his pants and footwear. His arms opened as he walked to her, hugged her tightly, and began rubbing against her, nuzzling her with his face. She laughed, wrapping her arms around him.

  “What are you doing now? That tickles.”

  “Returning my scent to you. When we’re safely home I’m going to remove those clothes and mark every inch of you.”

  “Mark me, huh? What does that mean?”

  “Lots of rubbing and touching,” he growled. He shifted her in his hold, one arm hooking behind her legs as he swung her up, the other one clutching her tightly to his chest. “Let’s get back. Justice is waiting.”

  Tammy glanced at her discarded pile of clothing as they walked away. She sighed. I loved that top. Oh well. She had to admit they’d probably only bring back bad memories if she insisted he didn’t abandon them in the woods. He carried her back to the warehouse.

  One of the SUVs waited. Justice, 927, and Tiger had remained behind. The three prisoners and the five other New Species officers were gone. Justice smiled at the couple when they walked out of the woods.

  “Is it better now, Valiant?”

  “Much.” Valiant grinned at him. “She smells more of me than him.”

  “It’s a weird thing,” Tiger sighed. “Mated men get obsessive about their women having their scent and no one else’s.”

  927 nodded. “Do we all have mates now? Will I get one?”

  Justice laughed. “We would be lucky to find one but only a few of us have found women to claim. I do not have one.”

  “I don’t want one.” Tiger looked horrified. “They are cute as hell and the regular sex would be nice but I want to keep my freedom.”

  “I am free,” Valiant growled.

  Tiger arched his eyebrow. “Really? Do you want to go hunting with me for a solid week? I know you love chasing deer.”

  “I won’t leave Tammy for that long but I would go if she comes with me.”

  Tiger nodded. “My point is made. You would have said yes in a heartbeat before. Now you always have to think of her before you make a choice. I like it just being me.”

  “The sex is not regular,” Valiant growled. “It’s amazing, addicting, and worth every second I won’t be chasing deer with you. I’ll have a better time with my Tammy.”

  Justice laughed. “I can believe that. Nicely said, Valiant.” He grinned at 927. “Don’t listen to Tiger. A mate would be a wonderful thing. I am sure you will find one when the time is right.”

  “But you have not found one? Do you want a mate?” 927 cocked his head to study Justice curiously.

  Justice hesitated. “I would love to have a mate but I haven’t had the time to look for one yet.”

  “You are very busy,” 927 agreed. “Tammy explained your job to me and everything you do for us.” He paused. “Will you find where I came from and set them free?”

  “Yes,” Justice swore. “We are already working on it. We’ll do whatever it takes to bring them home.”

  “I would like to be there when you do.”

  Justice hesitated. “We’ll see. First we need to get back to Reservation. We don’t like to be away too long and we usually have a human security detail with us. It’s a task team that I control. We didn’t want them to be part of this mission though because we weren’t sure what we’d have to do to retrieve her or you. I didn’t want to make the task team uncomfortable or feel torn between their loyalty to their own kind and ours. Some of the humans who don’t work with us feel hatred and fear toward Species. Most don’t but the ones who do have a tendency to try to kill us when given the chance. We’re vulnerable to attack without more backup. We’re safe on Reservation but not always in the outside world yet.”

  927 nodded. “I think I understand.”

  Valiant took a seat in the SUV with Tammy on his lap. He wouldn’t let her go but she didn’t mind having his arms wrapped around her. She clung to him. Tiger drove with 927 in the front passenger seat. On their drive they wanted him to have the best view of the world he’d missed out on seeing.

  Justice took up the back bench seat. He’d brought his computer and cell phone. He removed his shoes and his shirt to get comfortable before he started talking softly on his phone while viewing something on the laptop screen. Tammy realized he never stopped working. She turned her head to glance forward. 927 grinned widely as he peered, with sheer amazement, out the windows at the world. She smiled, finally turning her attention to Valiant.

  “I’m kind of glad this happened.”

  Valiant growled, a look of horror crossing his handsome features. “I’m not.”

  “I was a little afraid to get married. You were so set on it and I felt as if we were rushing into it too fast. I learned something from all of this. I want to marry you and spend every day of the rest of my life at your side. I even want to have a baby. I hope we have at least three.”

  He laughed. “Only three? I was thinking of trying to get eight.”

  “Come on,” she gasped. “Eight? Are you kidding me?”

  He laughed. “Yes. I am kidding you.”

  “Thank you.” She chuckled. “As I was saying, I’m not afraid anymore. This whole thinking I would die and afraid I’d never see you again really slammed home how much I love you and how I want my future to be with you.”

  “Good. Now your heart, your body, and your law will know you belong to me forever.”

  “Yes.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “And we’ll get married the first chance we get.”

  “Tomorrow,” Justice spoke up.

  Valiant and Tammy turned to stare at him and he grinned. “I just heard from my staff. The license came through. We can schedule your wedding for tomorrow if you want. I’ll still be here. I postponed everything on my schedule for a few days to be on hand for this crisis. I want to be present while we plan the assault for Colorado.”

  Valiant grinned. “Tomorrow is perfect.”

  “Tomorrow is perfect,” Tammy agreed, hugged him hard, buried her nose against his neck and just clung to him. She’d been so terrified she’d never see him again and now she knew exactly what she wanted. Him.

  Valiant closed his eyes, breathing in Tammy, and his arms refused to release her. She sat on his lap, safe, and once again he realized what a phenomenon she was to him. All the things that could have gone wrong began to filter through his thoughts.

  She could have died, the newly freed male in the front seat could have forced bred her and killed her. When they breached the building the human males could have rigged the cell with explosives they might have set off. She would have died before he reached her and that would have torn his heart—

  “Valiant?”

  Tammy halted his grim thoughts and his eyes opened to stare deeply into her beautiful ones. Her small fingers slid into his hair and she caressed his scalp.

  “It’s okay. You look so angry but I’m fine. I’m right here with you.”

  “Don’t ever leave me.”

  She smiled. “Never.”

  He pulled her tighter against his chest, brushing a kiss on her forehead, and knew he’d never survive if he lost her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tammy frowned at Valiant. “No.”

  He stared back at her. “I told Justice I would go.”

  “But we’re going to get married today, remember?”

  He frowned. “We will when I get back. Justice personally asked me to go with them, Tammy. Please understand. We all owe Justice so much. He asks little of me. When you were taken, he did everything to get you back to me. He asked and I couldn’t say no.”

  She nodded. “I’m being kind of petty when you put it that way, aren’t I?”

  He moved forward, pulling her into his arms. “It is not petty to feel disappointed that we won’t get married toda
y. Nothing will stop us tomorrow. We are leaving on helicopters to go to Colorado within the hour and I should be back by morning.”

  Tammy nodded. “Be very careful and come back to me.”

  “I will always come for you.”

  “Is this going to be dangerous?”

  Valiant hesitated. “It is a heavily armed place. They are holding over ninety of our people, Tammy. Species just like 927.”

  “I understand. Is he going too?”

  “Justice decided not to bring him. He is too fresh from the experience. We need control and the skills we have learned since we were freed. 927 is angry but he understood. The important part is getting our people free.”

  “Did that crazy doctor jerk tell Justice where the other places are too?”

  “Yes. They are working on that. We will find them and get our people freed.”

  “We? You would go too?”

  He hesitated. “No. This will be my one and only mission. I’ve calmed since I met you and Justice is worried that this place might be rigged with explosives. My senses are stronger than most Species and he needs me as an asset on this one. The doctor we captured isn’t sure if they rigged the cells or not. I plan to take care of you and this is the last time I’ll risk my life. I just need to do this one thing and I feel I owe them that much for all that was done to get you back to me. I’ll work with some of the others in the Wild Zone who are like me, have the same keen sense of smell, and make them more stable. That way Justice can take them if he needs help in the future.”

  “Explosives?” Fear gripped her, imagining him being blown up.

  “That’s why I must go. I can smell them. I’ll be safe.”

  She nodded. “Good. Spending one night away from you was horrible and I don’t want to do it again.”

  “But another man held you.” His jealousy showed.

  “It was cold and I didn’t really have a choice. There was one bed and he scared me. I wasn’t going to fight with him, Valiant. I was too happy he hadn’t broken my neck or tried to touch me in a bad way.”

  “I am angry still. I hate that anyone held you besides me.”

  “I love you. Don’t be jealous.”

  “I know that. I will be gone for a short time. We’ll fly there and at dark we attack.”

  “Are you guys going in alone?”

  He shook his head. “No. They are sending in a special task force with us. They do this regularly. Justice says he knows the two teams who will work with us. He said they are all good men who were assigned to assist us. They are under Justice’s orders at all times. I will be back by morning.”

  “Will you call me after it’s over and let me know you are all right? I will be worried sick about you.”

  “I will call. Justice always has a phone with him. I’ve been ordered to stay by his side.”

  Tammy smiled. “Yes. He does always carry his phone and a laptop.”

  “I must go.” Valiant leaned down and brushed his lips across Tammy’s.

  Tammy gripped his shirt and yanked him closer, opening his mouth with hers to deepen the kiss. Tongue met tongue. Valiant growled, pulling her closer. Tammy inwardly smiled. It was one of the things she loved about Valiant. One kiss and he was ready to take her to bed.

  Valiant broke the kiss. His narrowed eyes sparkled. “You did that on purpose.”

  “I did what on purpose?” Tammy tried to sound innocent.

  Valiant took her hand and pressed it to the front of his black cargo pants. “This.”

  Tammy rubbed the hard length of his rigid cock. He groaned, pressing his hips closer to her hand. Tammy gripped the outline of his erection through his pants and reached for his zipper with her free hand. She eased it down and unfastened the top button.

  “Tammy,” he growled.

  “You have a few minutes.” Tammy shoved down his pants and underwear. She lifted her skirt, yanked down her panties, and kicked them away. “Pick me up.”

  Valiant grabbed her hips, lifting her higher into his arms. Tammy wrapped her legs around his bare hips. Her body was primed already when Valiant quickly entered her. His hands cupped her ass tightly and he thrust into her pussy hard and fast. Tammy pressed her face against his chest, moaning loudly against his shirt, wishing it were his skin.

  She used her arms on his shoulders for leverage to grind her hips, making sure his shaft pounded into her the way that brought her the most pleasure. In minutes Tammy screamed his name as the climax tore through her. Valiant roared when he came. He held her limp, sated body against his.

  Tammy chuckled. “That’s how we should always say goodbye.”

  Valiant laughed. “I agree.”

  Tammy lifted her face, smiling at him. “Just come back to me safe.”

  Valiant brushed his mouth over hers again. He put his nose against hers when their lips parted. They gazed into each other’s eyes. “I have everything to live for. I have you. I will be very careful.”

  The doorbell chimed. Valiant sighed. She unlocked her ankles from around his hips. Valiant eased out of her body and placed her on her feet. Tammy laughed as Valiant righted his clothes and walked to open the door. She didn’t have to worry about fixing her clothes. Her skirt fell past her knees to hide the loss of her panties. Tiger stood in the hallway.

  “I take it from the loud noise I heard on the elevator that you both have said goodbye?” He grinned.

  Tammy blushed. “You heard that?”

  “Everyone inside the building heard that. We are all looking forward to when Justice allows you both to live at Valiant’s when this is over. It’s remote out there and far enough away that we might miss knowing when you two have sex.” Tiger stared at Valiant. “Are you ready now that you’ve properly said goodbye to your mate?”

  Valiant leaned down and picked up something off the floor. He grinned. “I am now.” He walked to Tammy and handed her the pair of panties she’d kicked away. “Keep these on while I’m gone so I can think about tearing them off when I return. I love you.”

  Tiger laughed.

  Tammy ignored Tiger and the embarrassment she suffered. Her hand brushed over Valiant’s chest where his heart beat as she accepted them. “I love you too. Hurry home to me.”

  She watched the men walk away. There was no longer an officer posted outside her door. They had caught their mole who had been feeding information about Justice and what was going on at Reservation. Everyone knew she belonged to Valiant, no one would bother her, and they trusted her not to leave the hotel without an escort because some of the Wild Zone occupants could pose a danger to her since some of them weren’t mentally stable.

  Charlie Artzola would never to be a problem again. That’s what she’d been told. She closed the door and locked it, wondering for a split second if the attorney was dead. She mentally shrugged. She really didn’t care about his fate as long as he’d never cause trouble again. Justice had assured her that he wouldn’t.

  * * * * *

  It was past midnight when the phone rang. Tammy lunged for it. “Valiant?”

  “How did you know it was me?” His deep voice sounded amused.

  “Because no one else would call this late and you promised me you would. Are you all right? How did things go? Did you get them? Is everyone all right?”

  “Slow down,” Valiant chuckled. “I am fine. We had a few injured but all will survive. We rescued all of them. They were not expecting us and since it was at night, they were lightly guarded. The humans ran instead of trying to kill our people before we could get to them. It was pretty easy to take them.”

  Tammy blew out a relieved breath. “I was worried.”

  “I know. Thank you for caring about me that much. We are transporting them to Reservation within the next twelve hours. We only have the two helicopters and have to fly them a few at a time. Justice does not want to traumatize them more with a long drive and we do not want to expose them to the outside world by trying to charter a larger plane. Too many questions and too much red
tape. I’m staying here until the last group has been evacuated. You go to bed and rest, sexy. I should be home tomorrow by lunch.”

  “Okay. I miss you.”

  “I miss and love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Tammy hung up, sad, missing him badly. She’d give anything if he were stretched out next to her on the bed. She couldn’t believe how addicted she’d become to him. She climbed out of bed to use the bathroom.

  The doorbell chimed. Tammy frowned after glancing at the clock, seeing it was just past midnight. She donned a robe and padded through the hallway to the living room. She felt a little uneasy since she knew she no longer had an officer posted in the hallway. She walked to the door and bit her lip.

  “Who is there?”

  “It is Breeze. I brought ice cream. I know Valiant is gone and I thought you wouldn’t sleep well. May I come in?”

  Tammy unlocked the door and threw it open. She smiled at the tall brunette. “Come in. It’s so good to see you. Did you say ice cream?”

  Breeze walked inside holding a covered tray. “Not any ice cream. I brought double-dipped chocolate sundaes. Ellie taught me how to make them. They have chunks of brownie inside them too.” She smiled down at Tammy from her much-taller height. “Are you sure you don’t mind me visiting so late?”

  “No. I’m really glad you are here. I doubt I’ll sleep. Valiant just called.”

  “How did it go?” Breeze set the tray on the coffee table and lifted the lid. She sat on the couch and handed Tammy a spoon that had been rolled inside a napkin. “I haven’t heard anything yet.”

  “Valiant said they got them all and everyone is fine. A few injures but nothing life threatening.”

  “I am so happy to hear that. I must make arrangements for the half-dozen women we were told were being held there.”

  Tammy hesitated, not sure if it was her place or not but really wanted to do something. “Do you need help?”

  “I would love that.”

  Tammy lifted her sundae and examined it. Her eyes widened. “Thank you so much. Wow. This is just…wow! Look at all that chocolate. Are those walnuts?”