Harder (The Unit #3)

by Sarah Greyson

  Harder

  Copyright ©2017 by Sarah Greyson

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the copyright holder. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design by Lori Follett with Wicked Book Designs

  Editing by Hot Tree Editing

  Interior Design by Fancy Pants Formatting

  Sarah Greyson

  Visit my webpage: www.sarahgreyson.com

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Contact Me

  “What time is it?” Tony asked.

  “Twenty-one hundred. We drop in fifteen minutes,” Leroy responded into his microphone. Tony’s lips pulled up at the corners. He lived for missions like this one, flying in the transport hold of a Chinook transport helicopter. Tonight, they were dropping into the hot zone to take out a cache of weapons being gathered and maintained by al-Qaeda. Tony hated those bastards. They were responsible for the deaths of American soldiers. They were responsible for the attacks on American soil. They were responsible for many of his friends’ injuries. He wished he could take out every last one of those motherfuckers. Tonight’s mission consisted of eight men: Tony, a communications sergeant; Rob, a medic; Michael, a captain and team leader; Steve, an engineer sergeant; Kevin, a weapons sergeant and pilot; Leroy, a communications sergeant; Troy, a medic; and Damon, a weapons sergeant. They had all been in Iraq for a little over four months assigned to Unit Bravo. They were one of several special forces units assigned to Camp Liberty in Baghdad. The war was winding down, but al-Qaeda was still going strong.

  An explosion reverberated through the air as an RPG7 missile slammed into the front of the helicopter. Tony’s body was thrown sideways as the helicopter nosedived. Luckily, they were flying closer to the ground to avoid radar detection. Unfortunately, that meant that the aircraft couldn’t fire any anti-missile weaponry it had on board. The men were jostling around in the back of the CH-47 as the bird whirled and twirled, hurtling toward the earth. Static immediately filled their ears. The men tightened the belts over their chests and around their waists. Tony pushed his head against the red-padded wall behind him. Jules, his one and only thought.

  “Are you sure you want to do this with me?” Tony whispered as he placed sweet kisses along Julia’s jawline.

  “I’m sure,” Jules said, looking down.

  Tony placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head until they were standing face to face. “Look at me,” he commanded as Jules’s eyes looked everywhere but into his. Finally, she brought her dark amber eyes to meet his crystal blue ones. Electricity charged between them. He could feel it in his toes. He was going to kiss her—their first kiss. Slowly, he lowered his head to meet hers. She inhaled on his exhale, and they were suspended in the moment, breathing each other in. He smelled peppermint. Their lips were barely touching when he finally gathered the courage to bring his hot mouth to taste her sweet, luscious lips. His head began spinning. His soul lifted from his body as he pressed his soft lips gently to hers. This was what his body, mind, and soul had been craving ever since that fateful night four years ago. Just looking at her gave him strange and new feelings—feelings he wished he could explore. He was two years older than her, and ever since the night they first met, he treated her like a little sister. She was his little sister’s best friend. He had Abigail to thank for introducing him to her and the countless hours he pleasured himself to the thought of Jules. He had Abigail to thank for the four years of misery and heartache that followed that first night. He wanted Jules, but Jules didn’t want him.

  Now here they were, four years later, and he was finally kissing her. He longed to feel her against him. He wanted to have a relationship with her, but he was leaving for the army. He made it very clear to her that he couldn’t have a relationship, although he would always love her. He was leaving the next day for Fort Bragg, which might as well be on the other side of the world.

  He opened his mouth and sucked her bottom lip between his teeth, gently biting down on it. He had been with other girls, and it always created such an emptiness in the pit of his stomach, but his overwhelming feelings for her sent a quiver racing through his body. Jules’s hand shook when she grabbed his hand and moved it over her shirt to her breast as he deepened the kiss. His tongue slipped between her lips, encouraging her to open her mouth. Once inside, he began his slow exploration. Her tongue touched his, and he felt his blood pulsating through his body, making his cock swell. With the touch of her hand, he knew she wanted him. He sensed her trembling and he felt the undeniable tension between them. He couldn’t help but anticipate his next move, and his anticipation was reflected in her eyes.

  She closed her lips around his tongue and, in a bold move, sucked gently. When he brought his hand to her face and cupped her cheek, she tilted her head into his touch. Such a loving and gentle touch. Pulling away from her lips, he asked again, “Are you sure? I’m leaving tomorrow. I don’t know when we’ll see each other again.” He meant it as a warning, almost begging her to say no.

  “Tony, please, I want you. I need you.

  Being with her was what Tony had wanted since he first laid eyes on her. Of course, she was too young then, but now, she had a rocking body. He had been with other girls, but none had ever tasted so sweet or been as innocent as Jules. He wanted her with the worst kind of passion—the passion that makes one crave to ravage another human being. He wanted to be everywhere with her all at once. He wanted to possess her heart, her body, her mind. He wanted her to give herself to him freely and without restraint.

  In the last four years, she had grown in to a bold, independent, strong woman. She was the sweetest, most caring person he had ever known, but her home life hadn’t been easy while growing up. Tony had been there for her through all the beatings she had endured at her father’s hand. He held her when she needed a strong shoulder to cry on. Hell, he even tried to go after the bastard the last time he left her with a black eye.

  And now he held this amazing woman in his arms. He would cherish this moment for the rest of his life. Possessing Jules was all he could think about. H
e had to have her before he left, because he knew he would never have her again, not when he wanted to dedicate his life to something she would never understand. She was too innocent.

  In the stillness of his room, he reached for the hem of her shirt. Agreeing, she lifted her arms toward the heavens, and he pulled the shirt from her body. He was taken aback by her beauty. Her perfect olive skin shone in the lamplight like rain on the dark pavement. Her beauty glowed. Longing grew inside him as he stepped toward her. Closer. Closer still.

  She wore a pink, lacey bra with a pair of blue jeans. She still had her tennis shoes on. Reaching both his hands around her body, he fumbled with the clasp on her bra. After a few attempts, he managed to unfasten it and slid it down her arms, letting the garment fall to the floor. His hand automatically found her ample breast. He thanked the heavens that she was giving herself to him.

  “I’ll go slowly,” he promised. His full lips pressed softly into hers as his hand caressed her cheek before making a slow trail down to her breast. Her pink nipple hardened in his hand as he drew little circles around it with his thumb.

  Her head tilted back and a moan escaped her lips as his mouth found her breast. Sucking on her nipple, his eagerness escalated. He grew longer and harder by the second. If he wasn’t careful, he would ruin what he wanted to be the most special night of her life. Drawing it into his mouth, he flicked her nipple with his firm tongue. His free hand ran over the curves of her waist down over her firm ass. Palming her, he pulled her into him, pressing her stomach to his hard member.

  Feeling the need growing inside him, he dropped to his knees. Before unlacing her shoes, he placed the softest of kisses to her belly button. Once her shoes were off, he unbuttoned her jeans and slipped them down her legs. She stepped out of them, and he tossed them aside. He stayed on his knees, worshipping the goddess that stood before him.

  It was true, he was two years older than her. It was true, she was a virgin and he was not. But he wanted to use every other experience he had to bring her pleasure she never knew existed. He never wanted her to forget her first time. But more importantly, he never wanted her to forget him.

  He could tell how self-conscious she felt as she kept trying to conceal her breasts from him.

  “Don’t. You are beautiful. Just let me look at you.” He cooed his praise from his knees, hoping she recognized the sincerity in his eye.

  He placed another sweet kiss to her stomach as he trailed his fingertips up her leg, past her knee, over her thigh, to her most sensitive spot. He rubbed her mound in small, firm circles.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, but she didn’t give him a chance to answer. “Whatever it is, don’t stop.” Her hands found their way into his short, curly black hair. He continued to assault her stomach with small nips and licks as he ran his hands under her panties. Gripping the sides, he lowered them to her feet. She stepped out, and he felt compelled. He had to. He picked up her panties and inhaled the scent of her arousal. He had never smelled anything as good as her.

  She watched him through hooded lashes as he stood and removed his clothes. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he picked her up and carried her to his bed. Pulling back the covers with one arm, he lay her onto the middle of the bed before reaching down into his nightstand drawer for a condom. He tore the wrapper open and sheathed himself.

  “I want you, Tony,” she said boldly. Her admission caused him to go harder still. He spread her thighs with his knees and found her entrance. Placing his tip at her opening, he looked into her warm, loving eyes. He loved her too, but it would never work out between them. He had to explore the world. He had to give back to the world that had given him so much. He wanted to become a Green Beret, and it wasn’t right to keep her waiting for him. So tonight would be all there was between them. One hot, passionate night.

  “I love you, Jules,” he said as he pushed into her. When he broke her hymen, she moaned as if she was in pain.

  “Are you okay? I don’t want to hurt you. I want tonight to be special,” he confessed.

  “It is special, Tony. So special. Just stay still for a minute,” she asked on a whisper. He stilled. As hard as it was for him not to overpower her and take her, for her, he stayed still. It wasn’t long before she started to rock her hips back and forth. He brought himself out of her and, with one hard thrust, pushed back inside. It felt so natural, so right, being in each other’s arms. This was where he belonged. He thrust in and out of her as he bent his head forward, taking her lips with his. He kissed her and she kissed him as they made love to each other.

  “God, Tony. I never knew it would feel like this,” Jules whispered, her breath warming his lips.

  “I love you,” he repeated, hoping to hear it back.

  “I love you, Tony. I always have,” she confessed as he rocked her closer to climax. “Tony. Tony,” she moaned as she convulsed around him.

  Her words undid him. With one last thrust, his body tightened and he found his release within her.

  As he came down from his orgasm, he said, “Never forget me.”

  She didn’t respond. He moved off her and lay on his back. With her head on his shoulder, she stroked his abdominal muscles with her fingertips, tracing each sinew before placing a sweet kiss on his cheek.

  “What happens now?” she asked.

  “Nothing. I still leave tomorrow,” he said as he stroked her dark hair. He wouldn’t regret what happened between them.

  A single tear fell from her and landed on his chest.

  But maybe she would.

  The memory and his thoughts flashed through his mind. He could once again taste her on his tongue. It had been years, and he had shut off his emotions to do his job, but now, facing death, her face and the night they shared was what he saw when he closed his eyes. “Thank you, God,” Tony said aloud, thankful that he had sent her one of his dog tags with a note repeating his request for her to never forget him. He’d sent it to her when he finished his basic training, before this life had hardened him.

  Tony felt the loss of power as the chopper lost altitude, nose first, and his stomach inched up his throat. He had never been in a crash before. He looked to his brothers. They had their eyes closed. Michael’s eyes popped open as he strained sideways against his harnesses that held him securely to the seat when the nose of the aircraft struck the earth.

  Tony couldn’t see the cockpit, but from the static, it couldn’t be good. He was the first to unbuckle. Steadily, he made his way to what used to be the cockpit by holding onto the ceiling. The helicopter’s nose was completely smashed into the ground.

  “Rob, come quick. It’s Paul,” Tony yelled to the medic. Paul, the pilot, had his arms and legs blown off and just his torso and head remained intact from the direct contact the cockpit took. Lucky for the men, that the cockpit took the majority of the damage. The transport hold was hardly touched. Gage, the co-pilot, wasn’t even recognizable. Bits and pieces of his body were covering what was left of the cockpit. Tony lifted Gage's hand from Paul’s head. He didn’t even allow himself a moment of sadness as he noticed the gold wedding band adorning the man’s left ring finger. Tony felt Paul’s neck for a pulse. Unbelievable. He was still alive.

  “Rob,” Tony yelled to the medic. He turned back to see Rob bracing himself, trying to walk without falling. Just then, the bird began to tip backwards, and Rob couldn’t keep himself upright. Once it landed on its wheels with a loud thump, Tony ran to Rob. Extending his hand, he reached down to help Rob up.

  “Thank you, brother,” Rob said. “What about the pilots?””

  “You better get up there quick. He doesn’t have much time.” Tony motioned to the front of the aircraft. Rob ran forward with Tony right behind him. Rob felt the side of Paul’s neck for a pulse.

  “Negative,” he said, shaking his head. Paul was dead. The men retreated from the grisly scene.

  “Anyone injured,” Rob asked as he moved about the hold looking at each man. He made them follow his finge
r with their eyes. He pressed on their stomachs. “Does anything hurt?”

  “No, man, I’m good,” each man answered. After Rob assured himself that no one else was injured, he walked back to his seat, sat, and exhaled.

  “How many clicks west are we of the target?” Leroy asked the group.

  They had to figure out where they were and how to complete the mission. Tony looked out of the window and saw nothing but city. They had crashed in a vacant lot. He walked back to the cockpit. The pilot’s head hung to the side and blood dripped on Tony’s boot. The man’s face was completely unrecognizable, but the sight of it didn’t make Tony’s stomach turn. He had seen men get their limbs blown off before, although seeing this man’s face pushed in and looking at his brains oozing out of the top of his head was a little unsettling. Tony shook his head. He had to get the coordinates, which was no easy task. Most of the instruments were blown to bits or smashed on impact.

  “No go. The instruments are destroyed. We were flying east of Camp Liberty.” Before Tony could say another word, Michael had his map out and spread on the floor of the helicopter. Right now, in this hunk of metal, they were safe from bullets. Michael examined the map.

  “We left Camp Liberty approximately eight minutes ago. We’ve been down for approximately three minutes. That means we were airborne for five,” Michael reasoned aloud.

  Tony speculated, because they were flying so low, that they were probably flying under the 170 knots that the bird was capable of flying.

  “Calculate 80 knots,” Tony said as he squatted down next to Michael and the map. Tony pulled out his compass so the two of them could calculate where they had crashed. “According to the calculations, we’re in Al-Wahda.”

  “Shit. This isn’t good,” Rob said, pacing. “This is an al-Qaeda stronghold.”

  “We have, what, six magazines on us for our rifles, two mags for our pistols, and two grenades each. We have to make it to an outpost where we can await transport to finish the objective. They can’t extract us here.” Tony continued, “Who brought food?”

  “I did, but only one MRE,” Rob said.