by K. A Knight
I step back, knowing he needs a minute to control himself, so I turn to Riley and she smiles at me and steps up the table. “Okay, tell me everything.” I blow out a breath.
She nods and launches into explanations, showing me everything on the map and what they have learned so far. Halfway through, Barrott joins in, his voice gruff and deep, but his words strong and sure. Without looking, he sits down and I do the same, and his hand lands on my thigh, squeezing and warming me without skipping a beat.
Ground Day Seven
“We have a list of people who we aren’t sure of, we also have their positions from the ship to cross-check whether they had the capability to be part of the attacks. We have three men in the camp working their way through with their eyes and ears for us...but it’s not enough. It’s slow going and unfortunately, trust is hard and we don’t have a lot of it without exposing ourselves to the rebellion, and letting them know we are on to them. If they find out, they might push their plans forward or simply react, and that wouldn’t be good.” Riley sighs, rubbing her face, and I notice the bags under the eyes. It seems no one is sleeping, and our little team is working harder than ever to try and protect everyone and bring the rebellion down.
“What do you suggest?” I ask, and I see surprise flicker in her eyes. Did she think I really wouldn’t ask her or listen to them? They are better equipped to deal with his sort of thing, and they were already working on the rebellion on the ship, so of course I will defer to them on this. Like they could to me for help flying or alien translation. We all have our strengths and we need to use them.
“Honestly, a spy. We were working on one on board, getting them into the midst of everything to feed information back to us, but every time it didn’t work. Barrott told me they approached you?” she inquires and I nod, seeing where she is going with this.
“I will try. I haven’t seen the people who approached me, but you never know.” I shrug. “I know some about the rebellion, but not how your work on board was going. Can you tell me what you found while you were up there?”
She sits back, kicking her legs up and crossing them at the ankles. “Honestly, not as much as I would have liked. Even with me beating, flirting, and chasing down leads, they were few and far between, and when the rebellion caught onto us chasing them, they spread rumours and false information better than anyone I have ever seen. We never knew what was true and false. It made it slow going and the attacks were only getting worse and worse. The uppers decided the ship didn’t need to know how bad it was, and we were instructed not to talk about it and deny everything, but that never sat well with me, look where it fucking got us.”
She almost yells and I watch her closely, realising for the first time that Riley blames some of it on herself. It must hurt her to know she was protecting the people and it wasn’t enough. People got hurt on her watch and that eats her up...does it bother Barrott too? I need to ask later on, I don’t want him holding on to guilt for something he couldn’t control. I met those people, they were crazy and hell-bent on their form of truth and destruction. Nothing they could have done would have stopped it unless they got all of the rebellion cells.
“What we do know is that there must have been some uppers within the movements, and don’t let what you heard fool you, the rebellion was smartly planned and not out of the blue. This wasn’t lowers looking for a cause, making bombs and hurting where they could. This was meticulous, cold, and planned. What do I know, you ask? This won’t stop, if they are here, if they survived the crash, which I am betting they did. The people who started this are too smart to have not survived. They are going to continue on. They don’t want freedom and the truth, they want control and they want to be in power.”
Swallowing, I watch her closely, noticing the intellect shining in her eyes and the multitude of other emotions. Riley is smart, capable, and strong as hell, and she fears the rebellion, the Saviours, and that, more than anything, terrifies me.
“What’s our plan? Keeping eyes and ears out isn’t enough. If you’re right, they are going to make a move and it’s going to be big. They won’t like the loss of control and I don’t believe the explosion went exactly as they had planned, but you are right, they would have had contingencies in place. Our peace with the aliens and other life on this planet will have thrown them...” I trail off, sitting straight up and focusing on Riley.
“You’ve thought of something,” she states.
“What has changed since the ship? No one knows the truth. They will still use that as a façade, but they aren’t in charge, they don’t have people flocking to them for help and putting them in control...because of the aliens. They helped us, they saved us, they made this camp and fed us. They are going to attack us and make us weak again, they are going to break the alliance. Turn us against each other, and in the chaos, they will take control.”
Riley jumps up and the other man swears. “You’re right,” Barrott growls. “They need that chaos and upheaval to grab the power. A war with the aliens will only solidify that power base until we forget the rebellion and focus on war instead. We can’t let this happen.”
“We will lose that war,” I declare with absolute certainty. “The aliens are peaceful but not weak, they will defend themselves if need be, and we are like babies on this planet. Not to mention the GTP on the way.”
“They don’t know that.” Riley turns quickly, her hair spinning behind her. “They don’t know they are coming, that’s good. We need to keep that between us. If they find out, they might move up their attack. We hunt them, we watch, and we let the aliens know what we are looking for. Indy, warn the jinum and get their help if you can, I will go through camp again.”
“I will work the ground as well. We have to find something. They will slip up eventually. The only weapons are here, unless they raid an escape pod and they can’t slip away from the camp anymore without alerting the sentries. We won’t let them destroy our second chance, not again,” Barrott says harshly and I nod.
I feel better with a plan, and I know Barrott and Riley feel the same way. It feels like we are chasing ghosts, but even ghosts make mistakes and when they do, we will be there waiting, and we will stop this rebellion once and for all.
It’s time we fought back, it’s time for survival.
We stayed for a bit longer, going over names to make sure they didn’t ring any bells and over the plan for us all for the next few days, before Riley left with who I learned was Terry to make the rounds. Barrott explained they have eight men—eight men he trusts more than anyone—who are on sentries and split between the camp, so we should never be left exposed.
It was hot as hell watching him take control and order them around, and when they left, I threw myself at him. He caught me mid-air, placing me onto the table and stepping between my legs with that smile he always gives me—the one just for me, and I’m sure he knows each time it sends my heart into overdrive.
My hands wander, I swear by their own accord, across his well-built chest, up his shoulders, and down his back, stroking before I find the edge of his shirt. Pulling it from his pants, I dart my hands under until I feel soft skin over hard muscles. Caressing my way up his back, I grin as he shivers and grunts, pressing against my exploring fingers.
Running my hands around his sides, I trace up his impressive eight-pack, bringing his shirt up until I glimpse golden tanned skin. I have the insane urge to lick him, so I do. Leaning down, I swipe my tongue across his impressive cords and down that fucking V that drives me crazy.
“Indy,” he growls, his voice tense and his whole body hard as I move back, my hands still gliding up and dragging his shirt until I get it to his shoulders.
“I’m going to need your help, big guy.” He swallows hard, searching my eyes, before lifting his arms and helping me pull his shirt off. He throws it in the corner somewhere and steps straight between my legs while I continue my exploration of his chest.
“Indy,” he murmurs, his hands grabbing my thighs and s
queezing.
“No. I need to forget. I need to get lost in you just for a moment. I need you to make me forget the rebellion, Howard, and everything in between. Barrott, I need you,” I tell him. “I don’t want sweet, I want raw and earth-shattering. Take me so high that I am above it all, please,” I finish, almost begging.
He lets go of my thighs and grabs my hands, stealing them as he leans down and brushes a soft kiss against my lips. “All you had to do was ask,” he teases, and I nearly yell at him, but before I can he presses my hands to the table behind me until I am bracing myself, and his fingers flick open my trousers, yanking them down before I can even grunt a word.
He looks at me, running his tongue over his lips, before glancing at the door we didn’t fully shut. “No one gets to see you while you lose control,” he growls and stalks over, slamming the huge metal door into place, his muscles straining with the movement.
He prowls back and grabs my underwear, ripping them off and tossing them aside as his hands grip my hips. It’s not just hard, it’s hard and perfect, and I tilt up, begging him to touch me where I need it. My core is soaked and pulsing from his rough treatment. He is always so careful with me, protecting me and loving me, but I need the man who beats up exes and runs through a crashing ship for me. I need his anger and pain, I need his hands bruising me, so tomorrow I can look at them and smile when all I want to do is cry.
He pulls me up, yanking my bottom half off the table, and throwing my legs over his shoulders. He grins at me, his eyes dark and scary as hell, filled with hunger as he brings my pussy to his face. I’m panting and I can’t help it, my arms are shaking, and with the first swipe of his tongue down my core, I fall back onto the table.
Arching up, I moan as he attacks my pussy, relentlessly licking me, his tongue darting everywhere, devouring my cream before stroking my clit. I nearly scream when he dips it inside of me before lashing my clit again. It’s embarrassing how fast I come, I bite my arm to muffle my scream as I press myself against his face shamelessly, riding his tongue as my climax rolls through me, wave after wave of ecstasy pulled right from my toes like it was waiting for him to give it permission.
“Again,” he demands, and he holds me up with one hand as he works two fingers inside of my still fluttering pussy, sending me higher again, dizzy with pleasure. He fucks me with them fast and hard, stretching me as his tongue presses against my clit mercilessly, wringing another orgasm from my body almost as quickly as the first.
My eyes are blurry and dazed, my whole body liquid, for him to control, and while I am still floating in pleasure he flips me. My face presses to the map of the planet he drew, his hands grip my hips, and yanks them back until I am standing with my ass in the air. Breathing heavily again, with anticipation racing through me, I moan when I hear his zip, loud in the quiet room, and I crane my neck to try and watch him.
He presses the head of his cock against my pussy, rubbing it across my still sensitive lips, coating it in my cream, before pressing it to my hole. He leans over me, blanketing my body as he licks my neck and shoulder, leaving open-mouthed kisses. He keeps me prisoner with his hard grip, as I try and push back and impale myself on his hard length.
“Naughty,” he teases, nipping at my shoulder.
Tilting my head to give him better access, I moan as he nips and kisses his way up my neck. His other hand lets go of my hip to grab my hair, and uses it like a handle to pull my head around to face him. His lips are on me again, brutally kissing me, and I lose myself in the taste of him. He must notice because he thrusts into me in one smooth move and I scream into his mouth.
My pussy grips him, stretching around his girth as he keeps still, kissing me until I relax against him and begin pushing back for more. He kisses me again before pulling away. “I want them to hear you scream. I want them to know exactly what I am doing to you in here, so they all know you are mine,” he growls, wrapping his fist securely in my hair as he stands back and kicks my legs farther apart.
He pulls out slowly before thrusting back in, moving me forward on the table with each strong roll of his hips. He took me at my word and doesn’t love me sweetly, no, he fucks me dirty and raw. Each thrust is harder than the last, bumping my cervix with their power, mixing pleasure and pain. My fingers scramble on the table, clawing at it as I moan and beg, his name a mantra on my lips. He grunts and starts hammering into me, the slap of our skin loud and echoing.
“Fuck, you are so tight, you look so beautiful, baby. Made for me,” he groans and I almost cry out at his words. He tugs my head back, using my hair, and I moan, pushing back, begging for more.
“Barrott, please,” I scream.
His fingers dance down my pussy and over my clit, lightly, as if he knows how oversensitive it is, before he tilts me back and hits another angle inside me, sending me shouting into another orgasm. He roars with me, thrusting in twice more before stilling and filling me.
“Holy fuck,” he whispers, his voice husky and I nod, leaning my cheek on his map.
“Spaceballs,” I murmur and he chuckles, making both of us moan as he slips out of me.
He leans over me again and kisses my shoulder softly, running his nose up my neck before he whispers in my ear, “I love you.”
Three little words, whispered in that husky tone, but it sends love exploding through me. How did I get so lucky? One thing I know for sure, I am never letting this man go, he is mine forever.
“I love you too, big guy,” I reply on a sigh, loving the heat of him curled against my back.
Ground Day Seven
We remained like that for a while, just holding each other before I declared we had things to do. He sighed, kissed me, and pulled away, leaving me cold. He helped me into my underwear and trousers again, his knuckles running along my skin deliberately until I kissed him, and pushed him away with a laugh to button them myself.
We quickly tidy up the mess we made, which I didn’t even notice at first—chairs are all over, the map is in disarray, and clothes are scattered. Looking back once, knowing I won’t be able to come in here without thinking about what just happened, I twine my fingers with Barrott’s and head back into the camp and reality—our little hideaway forgotten.
I make a quick stop to clean up first at the make shift shower on the edge of camp, feeling sticky and disgusting, before I zip to the toilet which is basically a hole in the ground in the woods. Barrott is with me the whole time as we head back to camp. We make the rounds together, talking to people and asking them if they need anything. I listen to some demands and complaints, and manage to talk them down before moving on to the next. I also answer some questions about the aliens and Howard. With a sigh, I step away from an especially irate man who was complaining about sleeping in a tent with other people—obviously an upper. I managed to calm him as much as I can, but I can still see him sulking as Barrott pulls me away.
He drops a kiss on my head. “You are good at this. You were always better with people than me.”
I laugh. “Doesn’t mean I enjoy it. I would much rather be flying or racing, but needs must.”
“Hey!” We turn at the voice I nearly growl. Who did I piss off in a previous life?
Liam jogs over, pulling a reluctant Chrissy. I eye their joined hands, but it doesn’t bother me anymore. They stop before us, him smiling widely and her glancing at the floor, she is acting so weird. I notice the cut on his head but it looks like it has been cleaned so I relax, and glance around for something to escape to. I really don’t want to be stuck talking to my ex and his…girlfriend? Who knows, seeing as though last time we met he was trying to get back in my pants despite her clinging to him.
“Hey,” I greet, and Barrott just ignores them completely. I see Liam throw him a nervous look, which makes me smile.
“I just wanted to check if you were okay? We heard what happened and obviously after the crash...” He trails off and I sigh, knowing he is trying.
“I’m fine, you?” I nod at his cut, and his
hand raises before he drops it.
“I’m fine, banged it pretty hard when we landed but…” He shrugs and I nod, wanting to be anywhere else right now. My happy post sex glow is fading fast around them.
“How’s Howard?” he asks, his smile dropping and worry entering his eyes. It makes me raise my eyebrows and he blushes, actually blushes. “I found him out there. He saved both of our lives, right babe?” He looks at Chrissy, his smile softening and eyes gleaming in happiness, and even though he hurt me, they both did, I find myself happy for them. I hope they can make it work, especially now, everyone deserves happiness.
“Yes,” she agrees quietly, darting me a shy smile. I am officially freaked out—has she been replaced by an alien?
“He’s still asleep. It’s touch-and-go, but he’s strong,” I offer. “He saved you?” I find myself asking, needing to know how Howard found them and why he left Effie. It has been bugging me, but I didn’t want to bring it up in front of Effie.
“Oh, he said he was thrown from his pod when they crashed, he was trying to find it again and get back to Effie when he stumbled upon us. I think he had been going the wrong way. We crashed into a muddy section at the base of a water pool and, well, there were creatures there that were not friendly. We were trapped and we had run out of food and water. Truth be told, we would have been dead. He found us and got us all out, getting hurt in the process. We had been working our way through the forest to the smoke billows when that big alien found us.”
I blink. Holy hell, that must have been terrifying, and then a pang goes through me—Howard, always trying to play hero, even when it might cost him his life. “Oh,” is all I say and he nods, obviously picking up on my tension.
