Marius (Luna Lodge, #4)

by Madison Stevens

  “Take her to a bed and have Paige get her prepped as best she can,” he said.

  All he could do was pray that Rem was correct in his guess, that Rachel had the enhancement in her office somewhere. It was the best guess. Without regard, he started to rip through her things. It didn't help that the office was already a mess from a previous search.

  He pulled hard on the drawers and was surprised when one popped open a secret compartment. He pulled out the last vial and raced into the other room.

  Rachel lay pale on the bed. Her breathing was shallow, and he could barely hear her heart.

  “This.” He handed the vial to Paige.

  She eyed the blue liquid suspiciously. “And what is this?”

  “It’s something Rachel made, and we don’t have time for this, now just inject her, or she's dead,” he said. With each second, he could hear her slipping away.

  Paige pulled the liquid into the syringe and then looked back to him. “Where?”

  Rachel took a ragged breath, and he knew this was it. She was at the end. He snatched the vial syringe from Paige’s hand and slammed the needle into Rachel’s chest, pumping the full amount in.

  He watched her, waiting, but she didn't move, didn't breathe. He grimaced. Each second was a jab to his heart.

  She sucked in air, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Now the others,” he said. “Whatever she would have you do to treat the others.”

  “But you just slammed a syringe full of stuff I’ve never seen before in someone,” Paige said.

  Marius nodded. “It happens.”

  Zeno moved to go back to guarding Rem. Marius sank into the bed next to Rachel. He never thought she would come so close to death. Her hand enclosed over his, and he looked up.

  “How did you know it would work?” she asked.

  He shook his head and placed his lips on her hand. “I didn’t,” he whispered. “Don’t ever put yourself at risk like that again.”

  She hated to see that her actions had caused him so much pain.

  Rachel placed her hand on his head and smiled when he looked up.

  “You know I’d do it again. I’d do it every time if it meant I could help save the people around me. That’s what good doctors do,” she said. “It’s what I do.”

  He sighed and came to sit next to her on the bed. “Well, next time, how about you bring a gun with you at least?”

  She grinned. Everything in her hoped there wouldn’t be a next time, but if there was, she was bringing a whole arsenal of things. Being a doctor didn’t mean she had to be stupid, and it also didn’t mean she had to be passive. Some people were evil.

  Rachel shuddered just thinking of Reverend John and his crazy ideals. Knowing he could still be out there made her stomach turn, but maybe if there were enough people like her, that wouldn’t be a problem, and they could just put that issue to rest.

  “Shouldn't you guys contact the authorities over Reverend John?” she asked. “He was involved in poisoning this place.”

  “Then we'd have to explain why we engaged in a gun battle off our land,” Marius said. He shook his head. “Woods would have us all in Gitmo in days. We'll have to protect ourselves. We can't depend on outside justice.”

  She leaned her head back and sighed. It had been a long day. It was hard to believe that just a bit ago she had been struggling for her life.

  Marius laced his fingers with hers, and she smiled.

  “Rachel?”

  She opened her eyes just as Titus and Apollo entered the room. She stiffened on instinct.

  “I got you, baby,” Marius said in her ear, and she leaned on him.

  “I’m glad to see you looking much better,” Titus said and moved to edge of the bed.

  Apollo came to stand beside him and seemed to have trouble meeting her gaze.

  “We’d like to apologize,” Titus said. “If not for our rash behavior, things might have turned out very differently. I know that the poisoning may have affected our mental state, but that doesn't excuse how we've treated you.”

  She blinked, stunned and not sure what to say. She nodded.

  “We’d like you to consider staying on,” Titus said. “When you said we were lucky to have you before, you were right, but not for the reasons you listed.”

  Rachel blinked back tears, but they fell despite her best efforts.

  “Are you staying?” Marius asked.

  She turned to look at him and was surprised to see an anxious look on his face. Maybe she had been trying too hard to hide her emotions, and they had been hidden from the wrong people.

  “I’m staying,” she said softly.

  Marius pulled her in for a soft kiss, and she knew that this was the home she had always wanted.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Rachel could hear them out in the hall before they even reached her door, which was a good thing. It at least gave her a few moments to mentally prepare before all hell broke loose.

  “That is it!” Paige said, stomping into Rachel’s office. “I have told Lucius four different times we can’t do the scan for another week, but that man just won’t listen. He is such a pain in the ass.”

  Lucius was the next to stomp into her office, all the while glaring at Paige. “Yeah, well, this pain in the ass can hear just fine,” he said to the nurse. “I’m just fine,” he said again to Rachel. “I’ve been out for a week now, and I feel great.”

  Rachel frowned.

  “You know the rules, one more week,” she said and looked back down at the papers in front of her.

  Lucius moved to stand right in front of her. She’d come to learn that this was an intimidation technique, but it mostly annoyed her.

  “I need to know if that crazy bitch put anything else in me,” he said quietly.

  Rachel nodded. She understood, but it still didn’t change anything.

  “I get it, but it doesn’t change things,” she said. “You’ll know in one more week, and if there is something, one more week isn’t going to hurt.”

  Lucius opened his mouth to say something but stopped.

  Hannah stood in the door.

  “Fine,” he said and stomped away.

  Paige sat down in the seat across from Rachel.

  “If they all weren’t so damn sensitive, this would be easier.” She rolled her eyes.

  “How many with chips?” Rachel asked.

  “Had to double-check some of the x-rays.” Paige sighed. “Not my specialty, but a few dozen so far, and we haven’t made it through the whole list. Most of the younger boys have them.”

  “And the position?”

  “Never in the same spot,” she said.

  Rachel frowned. She was liking this less and less.

  She stood when Marius came through the door. She slipped off her work jacket. “Just keep me posted.”

  Paige nodded and stood as well.

  When Rachel reached the door, she stopped. “Have you thought about what we talked about?”

  Paige laughed. “What, full time here? I think I'd be safer in the middle of a war zone. I’d have to be out of my mind.”

  Rachel smiled broadly. “Something like that. Just keep it in mind.”

  “Okay, but don’t hold your breath,” Paige said.

  Marius glanced at Paige but said nothing.

  Rachel followed Marius into the hall and smiled as they left the building. She loved that he came to pick her up still, even though the facility was safer than ever before.

  “She’s never going to work here full time,” he said.

  “We’ll see.”

  Marius shook his head. “Not after all the shit she already dealt with, including us being such asses.”

  They crossed behind a building, and Marius steered them to his office building.

  “I just forgot a couple of documents,” he said and ushered her through the hall.

  “Do you think the meeting will take long?” she asked. It was the first one they were having with Rem as a
group, and he was going to be as candid with their background as he could be.

  “It could,” Marius said and pulled out his keys. They stepped inside the office

  Once inside, he shut and locked the door.

  Rachel stepped back away from him.

  “What exactly did you forget in your office?” she asked.

  His eyes were yellow orbs as he stalked her through the room.

  “I forgot to bend you over my desk and taste you until you scream my name,” he said.

  Rachel swallowed. “I don’t think I know that document.”

  Marius unbuttoned his shirt as she moved to the other side of the desk and tossed it over the back of his chair.

  It didn’t matter how many times she got to see his chest, the idea of running her hands over it made her ache inside.

  “That’s a nice skirt you're wearing,” he said with a broad grin.

  Rachel looked down at her outfit. It wasn’t really anything special, a striped black pencil skirt, cream blouse and black pumps.

  Her cheeks colored at the pumps. They had been the ones she’d worn with her nightie.

  Rachel moved to the other side and raced to the door. “I don’t think we have time for this.”

  She stopped when a gentle hand wound around hers.

  “We’re early,” he said. The low rumble of his voice was right next to her ear. “I came by early, and you didn’t notice.”

  She glanced at the clock on the wall. He was right. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d lost track of time in a good way or a time when she’d seen him leave work early, especially for something like this.

  Rachel turned in his arms.

  There wasn’t any part of this relationship that had gone smoothly, right from the start. Even now she was still fighting him without trying. He smiled down at her, and she sighed.

  “I love you. Wait! Shit.” She tried to turn away, but he held strong. Marius kissed her head.

  “I know,” he said and smiled.

  She waited for a moment and frowned.

  “Asshole,” she hissed and pinched his side.

  He laughed and backed up a little. “All right, I guess I love you too,” he said.

  Rachel huffed and pulled away.

  “Well, don’t think I’m forcing you,” she said. “You’re more than wel—”

  His mouth sealed over hers as he pressed her hard against the door. She shuddered a little when his tongue invaded her mouth. Like they had a mind of their own, her arms wound themselves around his neck and played with his hair at the base of his neck.

  Leaving her slightly dazed, Marius pulled back. When she opened her eyes and stared into his bright yellow ones, she was reminded all over again why he made her heart beat like a conga drum.

  “I love you,” he said with such conviction that she felt it in her soul. “I’d travel through hell and fight off an army just to make sure you’re safe. But right now, I want to get you mostly naked and show you how much I love you.”

  Suddenly, breathing was far harder than she ever remembered.

  His heart sank a little as she stepped out of his embrace. He loved her no matter what, but seeing her wearing those shoes reminded him of the night she was nearly taken from him permanently. He didn’t know if he’d ever get past that.

  Marius shook his head and started toward the desk to get his shirt.

  He stopped when he heard the sound of a zipper. He turned just in time to see her skirt pool on the floor. She was beautiful every time he saw her, but he loved that she pushed her boundaries for him.

  Marius leaned against the desk and took her in. Today, she wore a cream set of panties and bra, and he loved that she still tried to hide herself from his view. She moved slowly toward him and stopped just in front of him.

  He pulled her hard against him and sighed at the feel of her skin against his. Marius kissed along her chest. Through her see-through bra, he nipped her tender buds. Rachel leaned back and moaned.

  “Does that feel good?” he mumbled into her ear.

  She nodded.

  He smiled and did it again, this time switching to the other ear.

  His hand slipped down between her legs and into her folds. He rubbed as hard as he could.

  “Marius,” she moaned.

  “Bend over the desk, baby,” he whispered. “Let me make it better.”

  Without hesitation, Rachel leaned over the desk. Marius fell to his knees behind her before she came to her senses.

  Not able to wait, he slipped two fingers into her dripping pink pussy. She shuddered around him, and he wondered how long she would last this time. He placed his mouth on his clit and flicked it with his tongue. With each movement, he could feel her muscles clench around him. His dick ached to be buried deep inside.

  Rachel pulled away and stared back at him.

  “Please,” she said.

  She could hardly stand it. It just wasn’t enough. She needed more. She felt him move behind her and sighed when his thick head bumped her aching pussy.

  In one deep thrust, Marius was inside her. She grunted as he flexed deep inside.

  “Fast,” she said.

  Her breathing turned ragged as he hammered into her. The sound of the harsh slaps of skin filled the room. Rachel rubbed her clit and massaged his hard cock as it pumped into her.

  “More,” she cried out.

  His fingers bit into her skin, and she held on to the desk.

  He slapped against her harder and harder. She groaned loudly as he pushed in hard one last time and came deep inside. She moaned as her pussy continued to milk his cock.

  She leaned forward and sighed when he slipped from inside her.

  Rachel rolled on the desk to look at him. She was more happy than she could ever say.

  Marius slipped back on his pants without looking at her.

  “Titus thinks I should move back to my house,” he said.

  Her smile slipped from her face. Rachel grabbed a few tissues and cleaned up a bit.

  “Oh?” she said.

  She went to get her skirt and he stepped in front of her.

  “I’d like you to move in with me,” he said.

  She blinked a few times and then launched herself into his arms.

  “Yes!”

  Marius laughed and spun her around. “We’ll figure it all out later, but I’m so happy.”

  She kissed him hard. “That makes two of us.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Rachel looked around the room as they settled into their seats. She likely would have been a bit more embarrassed, considering how sensitive some of the noses in the room were, but from what she could see, she and Marius weren’t the only ones who decided it would be a good day for a romp in the office.

  Lucius and Hannah sat near them when they came in the room.

  “Nice hair,” Rachel said and winked at Hannah.

  Hannah laughed. “Back at you.”

  Rachel ran a hand through her hair before scowling back at her. “Whatever.”

  She was about to say something else but stopped when Titus stepped to the front of the room.

  “This has been a tense time for us,” he said and looked around the room. “But we are growing. And as we grow, we learn.”

  His eyes landed on her, and she flushed a little. Rachel wasn’t sure if he was talking about her, but she’d certainly heard her fill of people saying they were sorry over the past few days.

  She realized the wolf’s bane had played more a role than any of them likely ever expected. Still, it was weird, and she wanted them all to just move forward. They’d all made their mistakes, but the important thing is none of the Luna Lodge hybrids had died.

  “We’re expanding in ways that might be hard to adjust to, but I’m asking us all to offer a hand and give the support that we can,” he said.

  A few people clapped, but it was clear there would be tension for some time.

  The doors opened, and a murmur fell over the
room as Rem stepped up to the front.

  Titus cleared his throat and waited for the noise to simmer down.

  “We’ve been in talks for some time, and I think it’s time Rem shared his story.” Titus shook his head. “Our story.”

  Rem stood in front of the crowd, obviously at ease, like he’d been doing it his whole life. She wondered what sort of watered-down version of their history they were going to get.

  “We have documentation of hybrids like us from as early as ancient Rome and possibly even ancient Greece,” Rem began. The whispering started, and she wondered where he was going with this. It didn’t totally make sense. “That’s not to say we don’t date back earlier, but that this is as far back as I’ve been able to go. That is, the original Group seemed to be attempting to breed men of superior abilities, men that were more than men. They obviously lacked the scientific tools to manage what they’ve done in recent decades, but they made good use of selective breeding.”

  He looked around the room.

  “No one seems to be quite sure why the Horatius Group came about and their true goal with all of this. There are several ideas though. It’s unclear if they created the original hybrids or if they came from somewhere else.”

  The whispers picked up again.

  “What kinds of ideas?” a hybrid asked.

  “Well, the most common concerns ancient gladiators and how the games were often used to mask our abilities. There is documentation proving the superhuman strength, speed and agility of these men. There is even some thought that there were different breed lines and that was how the fights were based so they could tell how each line of hybrids was doing,” Rem said. He pointed to his face. “Our eyes are one of the largest markers, but there are a few others as well.”

  “Want to tell what those are?” someone shouted.

  Rem gave a sly smile. “Feel like telling the group all your abilities?”

  The person stayed quiet, and Rachel wasn’t all that surprised. None of the hybrids were keen on talking about their abilities.

  “Wait, if this is all true, why bother with the science?” someone else shouted.

  “Why bother with genetic engineering of plants or animals, if you can just selectively breed them? It’s quicker. More efficient. You can mix more traits,” Rem said. “Traits that wouldn’t easily go together.”