“30, huh?”
“What?” She frowned and tried to figure out what he was talking about.
“Your thirtieth birthday.”
Helen locked her jaw, “Your friend, Rock, I presume.”
Vin huffed a laugh.
Fine, he knew. “Well how old are you?”
“Twenty-eight.”
Helen gulped in horror. “I’m older than you?”
Vin rolled his eyes. “It’s two years, Helen. Hardly worth mentioning.”
Well maybe not to him but she didn’t want to be the oldest. Helen flushed at the stupid thought. Her lips twisted ruefully. “Okay but no jokes about it.”
“Never,” he promised, roping her in closer.
Helen trusted Vin’s promise. “We do this together. No decisions without input to the other.”
“Promise,” he whispered backing up toward the sofa a familiar gleam in his eyes.
“Vin!” Helen laughed and batted at his hands but Vin didn’t stop until his legs hit the sofa. He sat and pulled her between his thighs.
“We should seal our promise.”
Helen couldn’t stop the ridiculous smile from spreading on her face. Vin’s hands pulled on her wrist and Helen stumbled to her knees.
“Well, look at this.” Vin raised a brow and his mouth quirked. “What are you going to do down there, hellcat?”
***
“I’m sure I can think of something.” Helen hid her surprise at this side of Vin. She’d never doubted his sense of humor but he seemed lighter somehow. Fingers twisting, she broke the light clasp on her wrists and reached for his zipper.
Expecting resistance, Helen jerked her head up when he spread his legs wide in invitation and smirked. Filled with desire, she fumbled with his belt buckle. A quick peek up caught the gleam in his eyes. Fuming, Helen parted the material. He didn’t think she’d do it. Considering this was one intimacy they’d never shared, she could see why he doubted her.
Helen ducked her head and tugged on the strap to his thigh holster. Vin’s large fingers entered her vision and removed it for her, placing it on the cushion beside him within easy reach. He shrugged off the other gun and leaned over to place it further away.
Seeing her look, Vin explained. “Triggers more sensitive and keyed to my touch.”
Continuing her mission and determined to see it through, Helen pulled on his pants and Vin lifted enough for her to ease them down to his thighs. The prominence of his erection bulged against the slit of his boxers. Touch ever so gentle, Helen parted the fabric and released his eager length.
She felt his breath quicken and hesitated. Of all the responses she expected that wasn’t one of them. Vincent Michaels, soldier extraordinaire, lived up to his reputation. Nothing disturbed him. Except…maybe Helen. A smile twitched at her lips. When his eyes narrowed, she laughed outright.
Knowing he rode this roller coaster with her made things a lot easier. Heated pleasure flared in his eyes. Yeah, he wanted her. No doubt about that.
Vin’s gaze darkened with hints of smoke and clouds. Helen stroked the velvet covered steel in her hand and lowered her head. Maintaining eye contact, she sucked him deep and enjoyed the way his legs stiffened and his shoulders thrust backward.
“Helen.”
Her name was dragged out on a moan and Helen added her tongue to the suction of her mouth. Vin released another rough groan.
Helen’s pleasure increased, fueled by the sounds he made. Vin’s hands tugged her head closer and framed her face. His hold allowed him to control the depths of her pull. She should have known it wouldn’t last. In every instance, he sought control in the bedroom.
Helen eased back, leaving a slick trail of moisture behind coating his length. Why the sight aroused her, she couldn’t say but now her thighs were as damp as her panties.
“Come up here, hellcat.” His hands were already hauling her to her feet and Helen soon found herself straddling his waist. The blunt length beneath her leg throbbed. He wrapped his hand around the stretchy waist of her drawstring pants. “Off.”
Not wanting to wait, Helen lifted to her knees and slid her pants down just enough before retaking her erotic seat. Vin grinned, his hands whisper soft as they stroked through her hair. “I don’t deserve you but you’re mine, Helen. Never doubt it.”
Shivers rolled down her spine from the roughly voiced claim. “That means you’re mine too.”
Vin leaned forward pressing their torsos together. “Then take me.”
Helen eagerly responded to the entreaty. Angling her hips, she lowered herself carefully onto his hardness. Inch by inch, he stretched her moist channel. When their legs touched again, Helen leaned her head back.
“Don’t stop, hellcat.” Vin thrust up with the husky demand.
Bracing her hands on his shoulders, Helen rode him the way her body wanted. Her clothing hindered her more robust motion and she grit her teeth together in frustration. Vin muffled a laugh before lifting her entirely. Helen yelped but he tugged and pulled until he had her pants and underwear thrown to the floor then flipped them so her back lay flat on the sofa cushions and his smooth length lay over her.
“Better?” His words accompanied a swift glide as he entered her once more.
The wicked glint in his gaze challenged. Helen widened her legs fully prepared to match him. “Absolutely.”
As if her word was all the permission he needed, he began a hard and pounding rhythm that left her gasping and moaning with each pump. Helen held on as long as possible but the sensations felt too good. Her climax rolled over her on a wave as she arched her neck back and screamed her release.
“Fuck, yeah.” Vin’s pace increase and his hips slammed against hers with enough force to move her on the cushions. “Shit,” He cursed dropping his face to her shoulder as she felt the heat of him pour through her.
His weight depressed her further into the sofa but Helen didn’t care. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she could only hold on and catch her breath. Tears burned and she let them run down her cheek.
“You’re crying, aren’t you?”
Helen thumped him on the back. She wanted to ask so many questions but there was only one that mattered at this moment. “You love me?”
Vin rolled them to the side cradling her in his arms. “With all my heart.”
She brushed the hair back from his forehead. “What do we do now?”
“The battle with the Rekabians won’t be an easy one. I can’t leave Alpha Squad.” He frowned. “I owe them four more years of my life.”
Helen knew all that. He’d mentioned it before when discussing the obstacles to their relationship. “Do you want me to wait for you?” Four years wasn’t long knowing what she had waiting at the end.
“Hell, no.” Vin gripped her tighter and glared. “Tomorrow isn’t promised. The Rekabians are playing for keeps and my men and I will be there fighting.”
“Vin.” He shushed her.
“I’ll meet with Slade tonight. I want you here with me for as long as it takes. As long as we have. I can’t guarantee it will be easy if I’m sent out a lot.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re serious?”
“I don’t want to be apart from you. We’ve let too many months separate us, I refuse to go longer without you sleeping by my side every night.”
“I love you,” she blurted and surged up to kiss him fully on the mouth.
His lips met hers laughter bubbling between them. “Tell me again,” he asked, nipping at her lips, eyes shining.
Gladly, Helen started to comply when Vin flinched. “Vin? What…”
Moving with a speed beyond natural, Helen found herself tossed to the side of the sofa as Vin rolled to his feet. “Rekabians spotted outside the gate.”
Helen pushed up to her elbows, shirt tangled about her waist and strained her ears. “I don’t hear any alarms.”
“Don’t want to warn them we’re aware of their presence.” He tapped his finger on his ear before proc
eeding to pull up his pants and tuck himself away.
Helen couldn’t resist a moan of disappointment.
Vin shot her a smile and wink before speaking to his men on the ear com. “Alpha team assemble at the front door, I’m on my way.” Vin grabbed his weapon from the table, strapped his holster to his thigh and placed a kiss on her temple before walking backward toward the door. His loving gaze never broke from hers. “Stay inside.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. Helen slumped back on the sofa, still half dressed. Despite the interruption, she grinned from ear to ear.
Chapter 20
Members of Alpha Squad waited at the front hall as Jones and another man from Delta joined them. Vin quirked his brow only to have Jones stare back.
“Bravo isn’t here. They took a couple of my guys to New York to handle a Rekabian outbreak at the metro station in the city. I had to stay back with Gibbons because of this.” Jones pointed at the plasti strip on the base of his neck from a wound during an altercation with the Rekabians earlier.
The gravelly voice spoke of a past Vin remembered all to well. Screams of pain as his flesh rotted from his bones had damaged the Delta Team Lead’s vocal cords passed healing. Vin nodded. “The help is appreciated.” He held up his hand and bumped fists with the Delta Team Lead then John Gibbons.
Their group exited the main door, surprising the aliens circling the outer gate. Since the previous attack, Slade had ordered an electrical element added to the fencing. If the Rekabians tried to climb it, they’d be in for a shock, literally.
Vin dispersed his team to different sections of the grounds with hand signals. Two Rekabians turned into four then five.
“Where the hell are they coming from?” Jones growled, the red of his eye scanning the premises.
“It’s an ambush,” Harkum declared. “They know something’s different about the fence but can’t decide how to continue their attack.”
“Why the hell are they back?” Sen voiced the question on all their minds.
Vin slowly put it together. “They’re eliminating the threat. I’m not sure if they’re getting direction from the big ass mother ship that hasn’t moved from New York or what but they’ve changed their attacks.”
Harkum grimaced. “That’s why Baltimore and DC are seeing so much action. They’re targeting the vicinity where they’re encountering the most resistance.”
Vin agreed. “Sounds about right. Defeat those that fight and the rest will surrender. Slade’s looking into that. Bastards tagged me with a tracer.”
Jones grunted. “Fuck this shit. Less talk, more shooting.” The Delta lead hefted the classic Arkane 7 in his beefy grip.
Vin smiled. The A7 was heavy firepower. Not as easy to cart around as the G32 but potent enough to do some real damage.
Rock shifted his weapon and primed the trigger. The red light on the barrel lit up as one by one, Vin’s team primed their weapons.
Vin hefted his own, newly replaced gun. “Let’s give them something to call home about.”
Sen barked out a laugh before darting to the left, Rock on his heels. The twins glided toward the rear with a chin lift in Vin’s direction. “Jones, you and your boy cover the right. Harkum and I are gonna take the truck parked up front and drive right through the gates to catch them off guard.”
The other team lead didn’t hesitate. “On it.”
Gibbons grinned and pounded his fists together. The sound of metal hitting metal had Vin wincing. He’d been hit once by the Delta team member in a sparring match with those enhanced cyber fists. Not a pleasant feeling at all.
“Harkum, follow me.”
“Lead on, Vin.”
Together, they crouched and raced across the yard. The armored SUV would provide some protection against the alien’s laser fire. “Battle armor.” Vin gave Harkum a moment to comply and activated his own armor. The thick skin suit covered him from throat to ankle.
As if realizing they’d been targeted, the five Rekabians stopped investigating the fence line and started shooting.
“Forget the truck, we’re running through the gate,” Vin yelled, anticipation of the battle to come amping him up.
“Always got your back, man.” Harkum’s growl came right from his side.
Lasers punched holes in the yard leaving black gouges in the grass. They both dived low. Vin rolled, immediately getting to his feet to shoot. From the corner of his eye, Harkum mirrored his actions. Vin tapped his com. “We’re opening the gate. Curtis, I need you ready to slam the release and close it behind us.”
Gun fire sounded before Curtis replied, “Affirmative.”
“Rock, keep your shield around us when we get through but don’t expend yourself unnecessarily trying to hold it.”
“I’ll do what needs to be done.”
Vin kept from rolling his eyes at the calm response. Harkum put on a burst a speed. ‘Talk to me, Harkum.’ His friend was outpacing him with those damn long legs.
‘We know they don’t do well with fire so I’m going to burn them.’
“Shit, no!” Vin roared. The price for using their abilities was worse for Harkum. In order to project the flames of his pyrokinetics, his friend would be engulfed in the blaze.
It was too late. The gate parted and Harkum stormed through. Vin raised his weapon and began shooting. Seeing the opening, the Rekabians came directly toward the entrance. Curtis slammed it closed behind Vin and Harkum. Fuck.
Harkum came to a dead stop and the five aliens surrounded him. Vin stood back, his weapon at the ready for the minute his man faltered. Harkum’s fists clenched at his side and instantly lit up like Christmas lights. Seconds later, his entire body appeared covered in deadly flames. Bright orange licked over his body in one fluid wave.
A shimmering shield dropped in front of Vin. Rock didn’t lose focus of his role.
Vin’s men on the other side of the gate cursed through the ear com. ‘You better make it quick, Harkum or I’m gonna kick your ass. You still owe me a sparring match.’
Vin continued to use telepathy despite the small darts of pain at his temple. He hadn’t fully recovered from his injuries despite the drugs pumping through his system but it was the only way to communicate with his friend. Harkum’s ear com would have already been destroyed the moment his body sparked. The Rekabians charged en mass uncaring or unaware of the danger of the walking inferno before them.
The Rekabians charged en mass uncaring or unaware of the danger of the walking inferno before them. Initially, it seemed to work. The first two aliens burned like toast the minute they came in contact with Harkum. The other three hesitated, heads cocked to the side as they began the infernal clicking and squealing. One of them stepped forward and raised his silver weapon.
“Rock, get that shield around Harkum.” Vin wasn’t sure if laser could penetrate the flames licking along Harkum’s body but didn’t want to chance it.
“Sorry. I can’t extend that far and cover you.”
Vin ran forward and hit the unyielding energy. “Damn it, Rock. Harkum’s the one surrounded by the enemy not me.”
“You’re the Alpha Squad Lead, Vin.”
Helplessly, Vin watched the alien fire its laser. Harkum seemed fine. The remaining aliens pulled forth their weapons as well and blasted at Harkum. His large frame jerked and his booted foot staggered back. Fuck that.
Curtis must have managed to re-open the gate behind him. Alpha Squad along with Jones and Gibbons came running out. Harkum lifted his right arm and pointed at one of the Rekabians. Flames licked out in a long curling tendril. The whip-like blaze wrapped around the torso of the creature and its body went up like a torch while it screamed in rage and pain.
Three down two to go. But as if suddenly realizing the danger of the men racing in their direction, the two remaining Rekabians turned and fled. The sky above darkened pulling all their gazes upward. Hovering in the air, a Rekabian craft lowered and a beam of light shot down.
“Get this fucking s
hield away from me,” Vin ordered and Rock obeyed immediately.
“Fall back. Fall back,” Vin roared into his com refusing to lose any of his men. “The Rekabians have regrouped.”
“Shit, Vin, I think Harkum’s hit.”
Vin continued to make his way to his best friend’s side. Harkum rolled over and lurched to his feet. Relief bombarded him. “Let’s go, man.”
Harkum nodded and they took off together in the direction of the gate, Vin practically carrying Harkum’s limping frame.
Rock fired and picked off another Rekabian, providing Vin and Harkum the chance to reach the safety of the entrance to the Command Center. The rest of the team advanced forward and continued to shoot while Zander and Nathan held the Rekabians back with burst of energy from their hands.
The barrage of fire power from both sides was deafening. Fortune must have shined on the scaly sucker because the last Rekabian ran into the beam of light and vanished. The eerie beam faded and the ship took off.
Chapter 21
“You must be crazy.”
“She already knows, Slade. Everything.”
“Which I’ll be taking up with the General as a matter of due course.”
Vin leaned back in his chair in Slade’s office and crossed his arms over his chest. “You should call him now.”
Slade hesitated at his encouragement, phone in hand. Vin waved. “But,” Vin made sure to smile with all his teeth. “I need to tell you that I already spoke with General Adams and he’s agreed Helen can stay here as long as she promises to undergo periodic testing to see if Project Genesis will have any long term effect on her.”
Vin hated the idea the moment the General brought up the compromise. The idea that something inside of him could change Helen scared him down to his boots. But his hellcat had jumped at the chance. She didn’t care as long as they were together and Vin had finally relented.
“Helen Scott agreed to this?”
Vin nodded.
Slade sat his phone down carefully on his metal desk and eyed Vin. “And you expect me to believe you agreed to this?”
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