MILITARY ROMANCE: The War Within Himself (Alpha Bad Boy Marine Army Seal) (Contemporary Military Suspense & Thriller Romance)

by Claire Branson

  “I do not want you in my mines,” Jarek said without any emotion in his deep voice. “I do not want you in my country. If I could get you off the planet, I would do so, gladly.”

  “There’s that mission to Mars thing,” she told him. “But I don’t think they’re going to swing the crowd-funding.”

  For a split second his lips twitched, and then he turned his back on her.

  “I know you’re angry, but I couldn’t dump the bug.” She dared to take a couple of steps toward him. “I thought you were involved. So it was really a kind of litmus test. And you passed, Your Majesty.”

  His shoulders stiffened.

  “Please let me help Aslandia. I have enough information to shut down every cartel operation inside your borders.” She hesitated before she added, “Please let me give this to you, please. I know you’re a good man now, and that you want to do the right thing for your people. This is like the first step.”

  As the guards knocked and stepped inside, Jarek gestured toward Meri without looking at her. “Take her to the airport and turn her over to the deportation officials. I want her on a plane and out of my country before sunset. Do it now.”

  Chapter Four

  Thirty minutes after blowing her own cover, Meri sat in the almost-empty deportation holding area at Aslandia International. The only other occupant, a Frenchwoman who strongly resembled a Siamese cat, came to sit beside her.

  The Chanel the other woman wore barely penetrated Meri’s gloom. She stored everything she had on the cartel on the encrypted laptop in her quarters at the palace. Which was where it would stay until someone cracked it or junked it. Cracked it, she’d wager. Whatever else he was, Prince Jarek was not a fool.

  But oh, the man was so hot and sexy Meri still throbbed between her thighs.

  After five minutes of respecting her silence, Cat Woman offered Meri a pink cigarette. “They are flavored with cherry. Real, not electronic.”

  She shook her head. “Thanks, but I don’t smoke.”

  “You are American.” She said it with the same intonation as a doctor informing a patient of a terminal cancer. “I slept with one of your men once. He had a very small penis, and a very large mouth. What did you do to get expelled?”

  Might as well tell the truth. “I tried to make a sex tape with Prince Jarek.”

  Cat Woman ahhhed in three syllables. “This is very ambitious, no? And you a blonde, but not Madonna. But do not blame yourself for your failure, cherie. I think he is gay.”

  “He’s not.” Meri stood up as a squad of armed police entered the room. If she could somehow play the diplomatic relations card to her advantage, she might not have to leave Aslandia until she was ready. “I would like to lodge a complaint with the American embassy—”

  “Sit down and be quiet,” the largest officer said. He pointed to Cat Woman. “You may use the facilities now.”

  “I cannot go alone,” Cat Woman said, clasping Meri’s hand in a death grip. “I am taking anti-depressants, and I am having suicidal thoughts. Truly. I just considered smoking myself to death.”

  The big man folded his arms. “You are a Parisian hussy who convinced five very rich men to marry you over the last month. If anything about you is smoking, it is south of your navel.”

  “And this is why I am depressed,” Cat Woman said. “I have not had sex for at least four hours. I may break out in hives, too.”

  The officer gestured at Meri. “Go with her, but if she attempts to kill herself? Let her.”

  Cat Woman conducted herself with royal haughtiness down a back passage to a small, shabby restroom. “This is enough to finish me off,” she muttered to Meri as she bolted the door and took out her cigarettes. “You sure you do not want one?”

  “I really don’t smoke.” Meri went still as the Frenchwoman removed the paper wrapper from the pack and balled it up. She then attached a short fuse to the crumpled paper. “Madam?”

  “You cannot be a non-smoking femme fatale,” Cat Woman chided as she carefully placed the ball at the base of the rest room door, and ignited the fuse. She then dragged Meri into the corner stall, at which point she dropped the French accent. “Meredith, darling, no time to explain,” she said, sounding as British as Jarek. “After it pops I’ll deal with the secret police. Walk, don’t run, to the nearest exit. Look for a pink cab. Take it back to the palace, get your laptop, and go to the American embassy. Get inside, stay away from the windows and file your story with World Times.”

  “Are you with one of your British papers?” she had to ask.

  Cat Woman grinned. “I’m only half British, American mother. Makes celebrating the fourth or July a bit dodgy. Here we go.”

  The explosion nearly tore the stall doors from its hinges, and in the smoke and screeching alarms Meri ran out and followed the hall to the check-in desks for the various airlines. She slowed her step as she passed through several now unmanned security check points and sailed straight out the lobby doors. She glanced down the long row of cars at the curb before she saw the pink taxi and hurried over to it.

  Quickly she climbed in and shut the door, sinking down. “Thank you for helping me, sir.”

  The heavyset driver glanced back over the seat at her, his smile cold in his doughy face as he engaged the door locks.

  “Anything for a friend of ours, Ms. Madison,” Piscas said. “You are still our friend, are you not?”

  #

  “Why do Americans bother to encrypt anything?” Geoff wondered as he hacked into Meri Madison’s laptop. “They use the same five security software companies, all of which are controlled or operated by the global intelligence alliance. Bloody hell. I think my cousin Derek actually wrote this one.”

  “Put away the toys,” Chalen said as he peered at the display of his smart phone, which showed a group of men approaching the prince’s bed chamber. “You’ve visitors, me lad.”

  Geoff closed the laptop and slid it under the mattress before he switched off the signal damper. Resuming his princely performance, he rose and let Chalen drape a velvet-collared silk robe over his shoulders. “Who are they?”

  “Ugly men with badly-concealed guns. Pretty blonde with her wrists cuffed. That American you were trying to deport, I believe.” Chalen gave him the once over before answering the door. “Have you an appointment?”

  “Get out of the way.” The cartel chief that Geoff recognized as Piscas came in dragging Meri along with him. “Your Majesty, a gift.” He threw Meri down onto her knees. “We found her trying to escape deportation. She has not been raped.”

  Geoff came to stand over the American, who looked up at him with tired, angry eyes. “I should hope not. We are trying to avoid U.S. economic sanctions until after the coronation. Why do you bring her to me? Another attempt at a sex tape?”

  “No. My organization wishes to apologize for the misunderstanding.” Piscas gestured at Meri. “This woman deceived us, and we plan to be rid of her tomorrow. For tonight, however, she can be your plaything. Beat her, rape her, whatever you prefer. I will send one of my men to collect her in the morning.” Piscas performed a fawning bow before he withdrew.

  Chalen came over to survey Meri, shook his head at Geoff, and then withdrew.

  “You’re like the bad penny, aren’t you?” Geoff lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the bed, where he dropped her onto her belly. “Where have they put the bug this time? In your knickers?”

  “You know they didn’t bug me, you bastard.” She closed her eyes. “Just do it and get it over with. I have a six a.m. execution call.”

  Geoff took out his blade, noting how she flinched when she heard the metallic click and cut the cords binding her wrists together. “Stand up.” When she scrambled off the bed, he held the blade under her nose. “You should have gotten on the plane. Take off your clothes.”

  “No.” She lifted her chin. “I’m not cooperating with my rapist.”

  Geoff pinched the bridge of his nose. “How do you think Mr. Piscas lear
ned of your duplicity, Ms. Madison?”

  “You told him,” she countered.

  “Any other theories?” He walked across the room to stand under the security camera and point up at it.

  Her mulish expression didn’t change, but the line of her mouth softened. “He must have people here in the palace.”

  “All over the sodding palace, I daresay.” Geoff shrugged out of his robe, draping it on the back of a chair. “I find the additional security quite comforting. Now take off your clothes and get on the bed, or I will summon my valet to strip you. He’s not especially gentle, either.”

  Meri sat on the edge of the bed to remove her shoes. “You don’t want to do it yourself, Your Majesty?”

  “Do I look like a valet?” He sniffed and crossed the room, pouring a measure of brandy into a snifter and bringing it to her. With his back to the camera he grimaced down at her. “Have a drink. It will help you relax.”

  She smiled up at him, puzzled relief in her eyes. “Go to hell.”

  Geoff pounced on her, pinning her to the bed and kissing her until they were both panting before he pretended to nuzzle her neck. “They’re tapped into palace security,” he breathed against her skin. “We have to make this look real.”

  He hated ripping at her clothes, but he kept her body covered from the view of the camera with his back as he did.

  “No, don’t.” Meri’s struggles were as phony as his violations, but as he unclipped her bra and stripped off her panties, her nipples hardened. “You can’t do this to me.”

  “I know.” He found himself staring at her perfect breasts, and touched her cheek before he used the canopy tie backs to restrain her wrists to the head board rails. She jerked against them, making her breasts jiggle.

  Geoff glanced down at his raging erection and bent to kiss her. “Sorry,” he murmured as he worked his way across her cheek. “You’re so lovely, I can’t help it.”

  “It’s all right,” she whispered back. “Can you get me out of here before they come for me in the morning?” When he gave her a tiny nod, he felt her smile against his cheek. “Then do it for real.”

  Chapter Five

  Meri loved seeing the desire war with the concern in his eyes. She felt the way his hands shook as he touched her, stroking her like she was nothing more than his personal plaything. She wanted to explain that this was for her, to give her something to hold onto when the morning came.

  He could try to get her out, but if he couldn’t, she was going to die.

  Jarek seemed to read her mind, for he cradled her face in his hands. “No, Meredith.”

  “Yes, my sweet Prince.” She turned her face to kiss his palm. “I’ll do whatever you want. Only let me. Please. I want to have this.”

  He stripped off his trousers, covering her with his long, heavy body as he kissed her for what seemed like hours. Only when she was trembling and mewling under him did he spread her thighs, and fist his shaft.

  “Don’t close your eyes,” he whispered as he pressed in, working his thick cock into her softness gently but firmly. “Oh, Meri. What are you doing to me?”

  “This.” She tucked her legs around his, lifting her pelvis to take him deeper. “Come on, Prince Charming. I’m helpless. I can’t resist you anymore. You know what you want to do to me, what you’ve wanted since we were in the limo. Remember, how you looked at me? Like I was the feast and you were the starving man.”

  Jarek’s jaw tightened as he gave her a harder, deeper stroke. “I am starving. Starving for you, for this? You want all of me inside you, you’ve got me.” He bent to nip and suck at her nipples as he plowed into her.

  Meri gripped the railings with her fingers as he pumped in and out of her, his cock hammering into her wetness now. She could hear the sounds coming from her throat in an endless stream. As if whimpering and moaning were the only language she had left. She cried out as he yanked her legs up, lifting her lower torso from the bed and holding her so he could fuck her clenching pussy as deeply as possible.

  “I have you now, you lovely little liar,” he crooned, his hips churning between her thighs. “You know what I want, too. So give it up, Meri. Come on my cock, I want to feel it, yes. Oh, that’s so nice, so good. I’m going to come in you as soon as you do, and you want to feel that, don’t you?”

  Meri strained under him, her mouth bowing like her back. Dark delight flooded her sex and her belly, and poured into her heart and head until she thought it would become the world.

  “That’s it, that’s my girl.” His voice dropped to a growl. “Now take it from me.”

  He pushed into her until she couldn’t tell where she ended and he began, and uttered a keening sound. Meri closed her eyes as she felt his heavy cock swell and pulse, the jets of his come pumping into her until he’d flooded her with his cream.

  Jarek nearly collapsed on top of her. “Fuck me.”

  “I just did,” she whispered, and almost laughed out loud when he began covering her face with damp, panting kisses.

  He reached up to release her wrists, and pulled her into his arms, rolling with her so that she lay atop his chest. He held her like that, stroking her hair and staring up at the embroidered canopy until someone knocked at the door.

  Jarek drew the silk coverlet over them both as his valet hurried in. “What is it now, Chalen?”

  The Irishman closed the door and bolted it. “We’ve a serious problem.” He went to the window and looked out before he picked up their clothes and dropped them on the bed. “Get dressed, both of you. We’re getting out of here.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Well, sir, it’s bit of a pickle.” Chalen’s brown eyes squinted down at them. “The real Prince Jarek just arrived at the palace.”

  “The real prince?” When the valet nodded, Meri sat up and stared at the man beside her. “Who the hell are you?”

  “Geoffrey Wells, MI-6.” He sighed. “Prince Jarek’s stand-in.”

  A whack sounded. Chalen uttered a sharp cry and toppled forward to crumple on the floor.

  Behind him Meri’s maid Holanna aimed the gun she’d used to pistol-whip him at Geoffrey’s head. “Not anymore, spy. And you, traitor.” She jerked her chin at Meri. “Get out of the bed and come to me. Killing you is my first business.”

  “You’re the cartel’s assassin?” Meri asked, pulling on Jarek’s robe as she got off the bed and backed toward the bath. As she hoped, Holanna kept her gaze on her, giving Geoff a chance to reach for his blade. “It’s great that they’re into equal opportunity. I mean, for cold-blooded killers.”

  “You think this is a game, Ms. Madison? It is not. On your knees.” As Meri dropped down, Holanna smiled. “Stupid American whore. Say good-bye to your spy lover.”

  “Bye, spy lover,” Meri repeated dutifully, and then ducked as Geoffrey threw his blade, piercing Holanna’s hand.

  The gun went flying. Meri lunged across the floor to grab it as the maid clutched her wrist and screeched with fury.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Meri warned as the other woman staggered toward her. “This stupid American whore went hunting with her father every fall and spring.”

  #

  Geoff bound and gagged Holanna before he pulled on his clothes. “We’ve got to get out of here, Meri.”

  “I have a car,” she told him. “It’s probably still parked in the royal garage. If not I know where the keys to the prince’s Lambo are.”

  Both of them froze as dozens of palace guards poured into the room, surrounding them and holding them at gunpoint. Geoff felt an eerie sense of looking at himself as Prince Jarek strode in. The royal looked furious until he saw Geoff’s face and stopped in his tracks.

  “Well, I’ll be buggered.” Geoff’s twin circled around him slowly. “It’s like finding out I have a secret twin.” Jarek glanced over at Meri. “And this is the American the cartel wishes dead?”

  She offered him a pained smile. “That’s me, Your Majesty.”

  Jarek nodded slow
ly. “So they told me in London when I came in from my exile.” He ordered the guards to take Holanna from the room, and the rest to leave the room. When they were alone, his gaze shifted to Geoff. “My apologies, Mr. Wells. Your director told me how dangerous game this was for you.”

  Geoff finally figured out why King Baran would first exile his son, and then fake his death. “You and your father were never involved with the cartel at all, are you?”

  “They put a woman in my bed when I was sixteen,” Jarek admitted. “And, like most teenage boys, I could not resist. She became pregnant from our liaison and broke with the cartel. She begged me to run away with her, but before we could, they killed her and my child.”

  Meri pressed her hand to her mouth. “Oh, Your Majesty. That’s awful.”

  “It was.” He sighed. “Realizing how ruthless these terrorists were, my father smuggled me out of the country. He put me in hiding, and let everyone believe we were estranged while I studied and learned what I need to be king someday. When I met my wife, we decided to fake my death. It was all to protect me and my family.”

  “Daddy.” A little tow-headed boy rushed into the room. He looked up at Geoff and his eyes rounded. “Daddy?”

  “Bari, this is my friend, Mr. Wells,” Jarek said, picking up his small son. A petite blonde appeared at his side and gaped at Geoff. “My wife, Princess Serena. Rena, would you take Bari for a walk?”

  “Of course, my darling.” The Swedish woman smiled at Geoff and Meri before she took the boy and left.

  Jarek turned to regard Meri. “Ms. Madison, I understand that you risked your life to investigate the cartel’s activities in Aslandia. I don’t know how we will ever repay you.”

  Meri blushed. “I’m just glad you and your family are okay. I will turn over all the information I have to the state police. They’ll be able to round up these people and give them all rock hammers.”

  Jarek shook his head. “I am closing the mine prisons, and all criminals will now be extradited back to the other countries where they have committed their crimes. They are no longer welcome in Aslandia.” He glanced at Geoff. “I imagine you two would like a moment alone before my men take you to the airport.”