Chapter 17
Lasting an hour without being overrun was more than Jax expected. Now they just had to get everyone out alive when help arrived. According to the Z, the Alliance assured that an armed force would arrive if they received approval. Already they felt comfortable that their superior technology could eliminate the barrier preventing transportation to the surface.
“There’s no one I’d rather fight next to,” Cellie called out.
Hair spiked and clothing ripped, Cellie looked every inch the capable guard. Between the two of them, she’d managed to take down more insurgents, using her custom blasters in sync and picking off those who tried to encroach one by one.
Jax shook his head and fought the overwhelming need to laugh. When he had his amusement locked down he said, “You’re only saying that to turn me on because you know there’s nothing I can do about it right now.”
Cellie stood up and fired in rapid succession, laying down a spray of laser fire before dropping back behind cover. She gave Jax a quick glance, but enough for him to catch her small grin. “Think what you want, big guy.”
This time his laugh got away from him, drawing Cellie’s dancing eyes for a second look. Their situation was dire, but her attitude, as well as that from his men kept the important officials they guarded from worrying. Jax fully believed they’d succeed and it was due mostly to this woman and her don’t quit manner.
Their familiar banter healed the last tear in his heart. Even if he wanted to, he’d never take this away from her. Cellie was a born fighter. Born to defend those she cared about and loved.
Risking a potential blow to his ego, Jax said. “Have I mentioned how much I really love you, Cellimina?”
Aran snickered but didn’t turn around to give Jax the full blast of his humor. Several others stared, but Jax ignored them as he waited for her response. His heart pounded and his palm grew sweaty on his grip of the gun in his hand.
Cellie’s lips hiked up in the corner, the cocky grin dazzling him with its confidence. “Same goes, Commander.”
When she turned away, his gaze caught on the full curve of her bottom. Jax shook his head. Not the time. He raised his weapon and spared a look at the Queen holding her own to his surprise. Black hair tumbled about her shoulders and she swiped at the red strand in annoyance.
She noticed his stare and grinned. “Cellie believes I should always be prepared.” Then holding her weapon aloft, she used her free hand to point at the five back up fuel cells clipped to a make shift belt at her hip. “We can hold out long enough to give the Alliance men time to get here if they can break through.”
Cellie gave the Queen an encouraging nod. Jax’s cheeks might split if he smiled any harder. No woman was a better match for him than Cellimina Manx.
“Incoming,” Dar shouted, hunching his shoulders as he ducked back further into the room.
“Down, everyone down.” Jax’s command rang out and each person dropped to the floor.
Jax pressed his back to the wall, wincing at the whine of a sonic blaster. His heart pounded against his ribs. The roof above their heads gave, dust sifted to the floor, and a long section hit the floor with a loud crack.
Jax, Cellie, and the crew of the Z with them all turned, weapons aimed upward. The red color caught his eyes first as a group of men descended. When he realized who they were, his arm dropped to his side in relief.
“Fuck yeah.” Jax mentally cheered at the sight of the men rappelling down cables from the hole in the ceiling.
Jutak warriors.
“Commander Brom?” A lean man in all red hit the ground on bent knees and rose in a lithe motion.
Jax signaled the others to lower their weapons, though recognition was already spreading along with awed whispers. “Here.”
Red knit masks with synth fibers hid the identity of the five men now taking position around the room. The initial one who’d spoken approached Jax.
“We received orders to assist. If you and your…”the man paused and glanced around at the rag tag crew. “your team could stand down, we’ll take care of the threat.”
“Of course.” Jax squinted, trying to place if he knew this team of Jutaks. The elite soldiers went out of their way to keep their identities secret for the safety of their family. Some Units were more popular than others. “Do I have Torkel Alonson to thank for this assist?”
Alonson ran one of the many Jutak warrior units comprised of specialized soldiers who enforced justice. The man who was obviously the Team Leader shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
“What do you need us to do?” Jax countered, fully trusting these men.
The Jutaks exchanged hand signals and the Team Leader dipped his head to the side. “Stay back.”
Then the five in red burst from the door en mass. The attackers didn’t know what hit them. One minute they thought it safe to charge forward and the next, the Jutaks surrounded them, lasers blazing.
“Halt! Jutak warriors!”
“Jutaks!”
The call spread fast but instead of stopping, the mercs returned fire on the elite soldiers.
One of the Jutaks extended his arm forward. A thick greyish white substance shot from his hands to wrap around the ankles of a fleeing man. He fell forward, head first. The quiet zip of hi-tech lasers echoed on the air. Screams and shouts poured forth.
Jax stood next to Cellie, watching it all go down. The Jutak warriors operated in unison. From the top of a nearby building, one of the red clad figures knelt on the roof picking off mercenaries. It was over in a matter of minutes, leaving behind only a handful of criminals in restraints.
The Jutaks stopped at the center of the walkway to converse. One of them broke off and jogged away. The taller of the group returned toward the HQ building. Jax made eye contact and the man waved him forward.
Jax squeezed Cellie’s shoulder, but she gripped his wrist. “Be careful or I will seriously hurt you.”
He leaned down and kissed her on her temple. “Love you too, baby.”
“Argh!”
Her screech had him smiling as he walked toward the remaining Jutaks.
“We believe that all of the insurgents have been eliminated. The Alliance will send guards to pick up those who survived.”
The mask distorted the man’s voice, but Jax stared into grey eyes he’d seen a time or two, solidifying his guess at this particular team’s identity.
“Thank you and your men,” Jax said sincerely.
The leader nodded. “The Alliance failed to sanction this mission in time, though they would have eventually found their way to the right decision.” The gaze darkened. “Time was of the essence and any delay would have been an issue for those here.”
They would be dead. Jax silently filled in the words not spoken. “Any sign of Nevo Xyman?”
He had the Jutak’s attention. “The assassin was here?”
“According to one of the Royal Guards from Zephil.” Jax left out Cellie’s name.
The Jutak tapped his earpiece and had a whispered conversation before meeting Jax’s gaze. “None.”
Jax didn’t think it would be that easy. Recognition clicked. Jax knew the identity of this Jutak and the team with him though he didn’t know the name of the other members. Just their Team Leader. “Thank you, Rydak.”
The Team Leader snorted, not confirming or denying his guess. “We have to leave, Commander, before our presence is detected. It won’t go over well that we overstepped when the distress call from the Zanian IX reached us. Much luck and safety to you and your men.”
Cellie headed in his direction, her steps full of impatience. The mulish cast to her features amused him. The wind lifted messy strands of her hair. Jax grinned, ignoring the heated looks blasting his way, and took a moment to be thankful. His heart couldn’t take much more worrying about her safety. When Jax turned back, the members of Team Three were gone, leaving behind the bound prisoners.
“Friends of yours?” she asked, brow
n eyes curious.
It was hard to answer. Aran had a good relationship with Unit Leader Torkel Alonson. The three teams under the Enotian had a reputation unmatched by other Jutak units. Jax had met Rydak when Ellie needed help. The Jutaks had a reputation for coloring outside the lines and misinterpreting orders when needed.
“The Jutaks aren’t really classified as friends.” Jax settled for the simplest response.
Cellie patted his cheeks. “I’m not sure about you, but I’m ready to leave.”
Jax dragged her close. “I’m more than ready.”
Chapter 18
All night, Jax taunted Cellie, teasing with the promise of climax then pulling back. Finally she had enough and went to her knees, hoping to push him past his tight control. He went wonderfully tight, but she didn’t stop. Cellie ran her hands over his body. She glided her palms downward, pausing to lick or nip at the hard muscles flexing beneath her touch. Across his abs, over the sleek curve of one hip, she didn’t stop.
Cellie sucked the engorged head before returning the favor when he groaned by pulling back. Her tongue licked the tip despite his hands tugging on her hair. Another groan mixed with a foul curse rewarded her. Doubling her effort, she stroked his thick width in steady pumps.
“You’re going to get in trouble, baby.”
Her eyes lifted and Cellie winked. He laughed, the sound choked off when she took him deep. The taste of him splashed on her tongue before she rose to her feet. She whipped the shirt over her head paying no mind to Jax’s stunned expression. When she tackled him, her nude body knocked him backward onto her bed
The corners of Jax’s mouth edged up in a half smile then he flipped them, her back hitting the mattress while he loomed above. Cellie bucked, not liking his smug grin. “I was leading this.”
He openly laughed in her face. “Don’t you like it better when I’m in charge?”
Cellie snorted and held back her smile. Cocky bastard. “When do you have to leave?”
The question burned in her mind over the last four days. The military had given the crew of the Z time off in light of what happened on Xenol. To their knowledge, there had been no backlash from the Jutak warriors interfering and arriving before the Alliance got off their collective rears to send help.
“Tomorrow.” Her heart clenched. But his next words eased her. “I’ll be back. I’ll always come back for you, Cellie.”
Then he lowered his head and placed a kiss so sweet on her lips, it brought tears to Cellie’s eyes. She blinked them away in embarrassment, catching Jax’s smirk. He slid down her body, hands smoothing over every inch he passed.
He came to a stop, hovering over her quivering breasts. She knew exactly what he planned as his gaze held hers. Wet, warmth engulfed the budding nipple. Jax’s lips tightened around her crinkled tip. Each nuzzle turned her on and her nipples tingled beneath the deliberate suction that bordered on pain. She bowed her back unashamedly pushing her nipple deeper into his mouth.
Without missing a beat, he sucked harder, his teeth coming into play. Cellie whimpered, whined, and spread her legs wide, causing her thighs to tremble. Her feet dug into the mattress and she squirmed under his rough touch. Cellie wanted to feel Jax buried so far she couldn’t tell where he started or ended.
“That’s right,” he murmured when he lifted his head. “Move for me. Show me how bad you want this.”
Writhing against the sheets, Cellie snapped, “Are you going to talk all night?”
Jax slivered down in the bed, stopping below her waist to blow on her moist folds. “Talk, talk, talk.”
Fighting a laugh when her body burned with desire wasn’t easy, but she managed. “Smart ass.”
Jax lowered his head and licked, long and slow. Cellie arched on a moan, her legs clamping about his shoulders.
“Get wetter for me, Cellie. I want to feel soaked from your loving when I’m done.”
Cellie wanted to say something clever. Anything to keep the humor between them alive. Jax had other plans and drove forward, his hard length spearing her. Slowly he rocked back and forth, working his way deep.
She forgot humor, breath stuttering. “Faster, Jax”
***
Jax propped his head on his forearms and continued to pump in a steady glide. Each push into her moist core slid across every inch of him. He closed his eyes, blocking her flushed face, and drew in her feminine fragrance.
“You’re mine, Cellie. Say it.”
She gasped but never looked away. “I’m yours, Jax.”
His strokes became uneven. He lost his rhythm as the erotic sensations hammered at him. “You want me. Say it.”
“I want you,” she repeated in a husky tone.
Jax shivered at the commitment in her words. He couldn’t stop the orgasm barreling toward him. Pinning her arms flat to the bed, Jax quickened his pace. “Together. We do this together, Cellie.”
She locked on him below like a vice and screamed. Jax gritted his teeth and pounded out his own release until he felt wrung dry. Neither of them could catch their breath afterward.
“Fuck, Jax,” she whined as he curled his arms about her. “I’m glad you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Liar.” She’d been worrying about it all day and doing a horrible job of hiding it. Jax kissed her ear before catching the lobe between his teeth and tugging. “Marry me.”
Her entire frame froze. Cellie flipped in the bed to face him, one hand planted on his chest, and shoved. “What did you say?”
All in, Jax repeated his words, though his heart thudded madly. “I asked you to marry me.”
Brown eyes widened, her mouth gaping. “Jax.”
He caught the hand on his chest and pressed it a little to the right. “I carry you right here, Cellie. You’re always with me. I want to make it permanent.”
He waited for her to refuse. To force him to fight for each concession in their relationship as he always did.
“Yes.” She kissed him deep, tongue tangling with his. “You’re mine. Say it, Jax.”
Relief crashed through him. “I’m yours, Cellie.”
Epilogue
Jax stood at the top of the aisle, Aran and Dar next to him. They all wore their formal dress uniforms for today’s special occasion. The fitted jacket’s high collar itched but he didn’t want to bother with it and spark more jokes from Aran.
Please don’t let her run, Jax begged. He’d stayed up most of the night soothing Cellie’s worries about today. She vacillated between thinking he’d regret it and fear she wasn’t enough for him. Finally, he’d made love to her, throwing her into one climax after another until she’d passed out. When he awoke the next day, the Queen barged into their room and ordered him out to help prepare Cellie.
“Are you sure about this, Commander?” Aran whispered from his position on Jax’s left.
Jax rubbed his sweaty palms down his pants legs. “If you can do it, Chief, I’m sure I’ll do fine.”
Aran flashed his fangs and laughed. “Yes, but your bride-to-be could kick your ass if she wanted to put her mind to it. My mate is a gentle female.”
Both their gazes landed on the rounded figure of Ellie, sitting on the front row of the massive church. The red-head wouldn’t think of challenging her mate to a physical fight. She was as different from Cellimina Manx as night was from day yet the women hit it off the moment Jax introduced them.
Jax glanced around the overflowing sanctuary. Sweat trickled down his back. He’d agreed to have the wedding ceremony on Zephil, which went against Alliance tradition. Typically, a Commander in the military married on his battle cruiser with his crew present, as well as Alliance officials.
Jax knew Cellie didn’t want that. He’d volunteered to have the wedding on her home world and the Queen immediately agreed to officiate. Now he waited with a crowd of over five hundred staring. Queen Cordelia finished her elaborate speech and signaled the musicians. Jax tensed at the first robust notes.
He shifted his stance, gaze on
the double doors at the opposite end of the building. Twelve attendants wearing Jessin purple entered, walking two by two as they sprinkled petals down the aisle.
For good luck, Cellie had explained to him the night before when he questioned the steps in the ceremony. Following the ladies, two men playing drums walked down the aisle, the beat in tune to their precise marching steps. The procession reached him and pivoted on their heels to go left, bowing to the Queen as they passed.
Once they took a seat, someone flung the gold etched doors in the back open. Jax tensed, holding his breath. Cellie stepped through the archway and he could only exhale softly. His heart ramped up and his breakfast knotted in his stomach.
Wearing a beautiful sleeveless gown of shimmering gold, Cellie walked sedately toward him. The sheath glided down her body, showing off her eye catching figure. A three foot train of gold lace trailed behind her. She’d managed to tame her short hair, the sides tucked behind her ear where a single bloom rested. Purple earrings hung from her ears to match the layered purple necklace about her neck. The jewels belonged to the Jessin family. Queen Cordelia insisted Cellie wear them.
With her hands folded before her, Cellie moved at a dignified pace, but her pale cheeks and wide eyes warned she was on the verge of running. Jax wanted to race to her side and pick her up in his arms. In fact, he took one step forward, receiving a brisk shake of her head from Cellie. Her shoulders straightened and determination replaced the fear. Aran chuckled.
Jax decided after his ceremony would be the perfect time to give his Chief of Security the match he’d longed for. Maybe a black eye and split lip would keep the Argoran from laughing in the future.
At last, she arrived next to him. Jax cupped her elbow, needing to touch her as he drew her close. Cellie’s lips quirked as she stepped into his side. Queen Cordelia smiled at both of them and performed the ceremony. He tuned out most of what she said, enraptured by Cellie’s appearance.
Love Like No Other Page 11
