Griff: Hell Squad #17

by Hackett, Anna

  “Not getting on that stretcher and not going to the infirmary.”

  Indy’s eyes sparked. “Griff—”

  “No. I want a shower.” And he wanted to lie down before he fell down.

  Dom moved up beside him and took the armor off him. There was the faintest hint of amusement in the man’s eyes.

  Emerson pulled out her scanner. “Okay, tough guy. I can check you out here. Let’s make this quick and painless.”

  Indy cupped his cheek again. “Are you in pain?”

  “Not now.” He rubbed his thumb along her cheek.

  Emerson did her scans and checked his healing wounds. Finally, she stepped back and nodded. “Clean bill of health. No poison in your system, and the nanomeds are working just fine. Another few hours, you’ll just have fresh, baby-smooth skin.”

  “Thanks, Doc,” Indy said.

  Griff lifted his chin at the doctor.

  “Take it easy for the next few hours,” Emerson warned. “You’re a lucky man, Griff.”

  When the doctor bustled off, Griff looked up and saw Tane standing with Holmes and Marcus.

  With Indy tucked under his arm, they wandered over.

  “We must have been in the right area,” Tane said. “The raptors are protecting something up there.”

  Holmes nodded. “I’ll have Lia redirect more drones to that sector, and get Santha’s team to go over the data. We can tighten the search parameters.”

  Marcus crossed his muscular arms. “We need to find this damn octagon. Soon.”

  Suddenly, a group of women rushed into the hangar. Griff spotted Lia from the drone team, Chrissy and Cam, and Marin from the tech team.

  Lia ran straight to Finn, who was checking his Hawk over. The pilot swept her into his arms, and she peppered his face with kisses. Chrissy jumped on Levi and in a millisecond, the pair were locked in a kiss.

  “Get a room,” Hemi called out.

  Marin snuggled into Ash’s chest and he held his woman tight, his face buried in her mass of curly hair.

  Cam stood with her hands on her hips, eyeing Hemi. “You look okay.”

  “I’m not okay, because you aren’t kissing me.” Hemi yanked her close, his mouth covering hers. Cam pressed her long body against his.

  A second later, another figure appeared in the doorway. Selena’s pale skin was luminous in the harsh hangar light. Her silver hair was pulled up in a ponytail, making her look almost human. The alien woman glanced over the hangar, her over-large green eyes zeroing in on Tane before her gaze skidded away.

  “Everyone okay?” Selena asked.

  “We’re fine,” Hemi said. “Although Griff’s only fine because of the nanomeds.”

  Griff shot the finger at his teammate.

  Then Indy snatched Griff’s carbine off his shoulder and shoved it at Dom. She grabbed Griff’s hand and dragged him out of the hangar.

  “Indy—”

  “Shut it. This time, I’m looking after you. No lip.”

  * * *

  Indy listened to her running shower.

  Griff was in there, washing off the grime and blood from his mission.

  She moved around her quarters, lighting candles and some incense. Hopefully, the scents would help soothe her. She went over to her closet and quickly changed. She saw her hands were shaking. She clenched them together and blew out a breath.

  She knew all the members of Squad Three were extra courageous. But her courageous idiot had almost gotten himself killed.

  She knew how dangerous it was being on the squads, being out there fighting against the aliens. And the berserkers took even greater risks than anyone else. They rushed into a fight with no concern for their own safety.

  Her arms dropped to her sides.

  She wanted Griff. She wanted him in her bed. She wanted to eat breakfast with him, shower with him, snuggle with him.

  Hell, she loved him. She’d always loved him.

  She pressed a fist to her chest. It wasn’t just a crush or a young girl’s infatuation anymore. It was growing into something deeper.

  She’d learned early on that life liked to throw curveballs. And invading aliens had been the biggest damn curveball of all. You had to learn to hold on to the good stuff and suck the marrow out of life while you could.

  Indy suddenly noticed an absence of sound and realized the shower had stopped. She turned and watched Griff walk out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel wrapped around his hips.

  Hel-lo. Her gaze skated over his broad shoulders, then his ripped chest and abs. The air locked in her lungs, and her girly parts came alive. She watched a drop of water roll down his chest, all the way to the V of the muscles at his hips. He’d always been in good shape, but the alien apocalypse had honed him.

  Her gaze fell on the tattoo on his forearm. The other berserkers were covered in tattoos. Well, she wasn’t sure about Dom. A few peeked out at his collar, but unlike the others, who weren’t afraid to get naked at the drop of a hat, Dom was more circumspect.

  Griff’s only tattoo was on his muscled forearm. At first glance, the black ink looked like a tribal tattoo, but buried in the center of the stunning image was a man. Muscled, bearded, shaggy-haired, the man was bent over, holding up a giant boulder on his back.

  “Indy.”

  Griff’s voice made her look up. She watched his hot gaze move over her. She’d changed into her best lingerie. Hi-cut lace panties that only covered half her ass, and a tiny black bra that was mostly delicate lace. From the look on his face, her berserker appreciated her effort.

  “Sit,” she ordered. She walked to him and maneuvered him to the edge of her bed. He dropped down.

  Indy ran her hands over his cheek, then his neck and shoulder. She checked every inch of where he’d been wounded. A few parts were still a little raw, but he was healing well. In most places, his skin was pink and healthy. She smoothed her hands down his arm, letting her body brush against his.

  “You are so damn gorgeous,” he said.

  She smiled down at him. “You’re rather hot, yourself.” She stroked the lines of his tattoo. “What’s this mean?”

  He was silent for a second. “It’s Sisyphus. He was an ancient Greek king who was punished by the gods and sent to Tartarus.”

  “The Titans’ terrible prison,” she said quietly.

  Griff nodded. “His punishment was to roll a giant boulder up a hill. But every time he neared the top, the boulder rolled back down, forcing him to keep rolling it for eternity.” Gray eyes met hers.

  The demons were there. I see you. “You got it when you went to prison.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, it’s beautiful work.” She dropped to her knees between his spread legs. She pressed her hands against his muscled thighs, feeling them flex. “But you aren’t in prison anymore, Griff.”

  Her fingers went to the towel.

  “Indy.” The word was nothing more than a deep growl.

  She tugged the towel away, uncovering his thick cock. She watched the muscles in his hard stomach clench.

  “You want my mouth here?” she murmured.

  Her hand wrapped around him and his hips bucked. “Yeah, I want your pretty lips wrapped around me.”

  “Brace.” She licked the head of his cock and gloried in his groan.

  She sucked him deep and heard him curse. He swelled in her mouth, one of his hands tangling in her hair. But he didn’t push or demand, just held on.

  Indy moved, sucking and licking. She moved up to the tip, then took him deep again, feeling him butt the back of her throat.

  “God, your mouth, Indiana,” he groaned. “So damn good.”

  She hummed around him and he cursed again, his fingers tugging on her hair.

  Griff’s body jerked. “Yes, just like that.”

  God, she loved driving him wild. She dug her nails into his thighs, taking him as deep as she could.

  “Enough.” The word vibrated with a deep, hungry need.

  Griff shoved his han
ds under her arms and pulled her to her feet. She swiveled, sitting in his lap, and rubbed her ass against his cock.

  “You like being naughty, don’t you, wild girl?” he murmured in her ear.

  “Yes.” She undulated.

  “You wore these sexy little panties just to taunt me.” His fingers slid along the edge of her panties. “You sucked my cock in that pretty, little mouth of yours, trying to make me come.”

  “Yes.”

  His fingers slid under the lace, shoving the scrap aside, and she moaned, grinding against him.

  His finger found her clit, rolling it until she made mindless, husky sounds. She writhed against him, feeling his hard cock beneath her, rubbing against her ass.

  “Griff, I need you. Inside me.”

  “I want to watch your face the first time I slide inside you.”

  He surged up, and Indy expected to find herself flat on her back on the bed. Instead, he pulled her into his arms, took two strides, and spun her against the wall, pinning her there. With one tug, he tore her panties off her.

  Their gazes locked. He hitched one of her thighs around his hip. The thick head of his cock rubbed between her thighs.

  Indy moaned, and Griff let out a sharp groan.

  “You got an implant?”

  She nodded. Most adults had contraceptive implants. She had one of the doc’s new ones.

  “Ready, baby?” he murmured.

  She reached between them, palming his girth. “Yes. I want this and I’m ready for it.”

  Slowly, he slid inside her, inch by inch. He was thick, stretching her, and she moaned. She watched his face and saw he was savoring the sensation. His cheeks were flushed with dull, red color.

  “Jesus.” She panted. “Griff. I need…”

  He pulled out and thrust back in. She cried out. He did it again, picking up pace and strength.

  Her body jolted under the impact, and she dug her nails into him to keep herself anchored. Pleasure was like a wild animal clawing at her. Griff was inside her. Griff, the man she’d wanted forever. She undulated against him.

  His thrusts became relentless, raw. His mouth hit hers, the kiss almost punishing.

  “More,” she begged against his lips.

  “I’ll give you what you need, wild girl.”

  Griff’s hands slid under her ass and he spun. He carried her to the bed, lowered her, and the sheets were cool under her back. Then her big, hard berserker lowered himself on top of her and slid back inside her.

  “Yes, Griff!”

  She’d never get enough of him. She threw her head back and drowned in the pleasure.

  Chapter Twelve

  Griff kissed Indy again and again. Damn, the taste of her, the feel of her. He could barely keep himself under control, thrusting inside her tight warmth.

  He felt each thrust, each impact of their bodies, through every cell of his body. His eyelids drooped, everything in him centered on her.

  Her hands clutched his back, her nails digging in. “Don’t think, Griff.”

  “So tight,” he growled. Her hair was spread out on the bed like an inky cloud, and her breasts jiggled with each thrust. He wanted to see her come apart for him, while his cock was inside her. “Touch that sweet clit of yours.”

  Her eyes flashed. She lifted her fingers to his mouth and he sucked them. Then he watched her slide them down her belly.

  “Oh, yes.” She bucked against him, and he knew she’d found that nub. “So good.”

  “Come, Indy. Come on my cock.”

  A cry broke from her throat, and he felt her contract on his cock. He gritted his teeth, watching her body twist and shudder.

  “That’s it, baby,” he said. “I love watching you come.” He kept up his steady thrusts.

  “Ride me,” she panted. “Make me yours.”

  He shifted, throwing her legs up on his shoulders. She felt so damn warm and tight.

  “Harder,” she cried. “No holding back. I like it hard.”

  He hammered into her, needing to meld them into one. To claim this woman as his.

  “Yes, like that,” she cried. “Make me feel it.”

  He felt her scratch her nails down his back, hard. He knew she’d drawn blood.

  Pleasure pounded inside Griff, and his vision blurred. There was only her. Only Indy. “Christ, Indy.”

  He shifted the angle of his thrusts until he knew he was rubbing on her clit. Her cries became more frantic. She was going to come again.

  “Griff!” This time, she threw her head back, and cried out as she came. He watched the pleasure flow over her face.

  His own raging need tore through him, and a second later he thrust deep, and came with a shout. He groaned long and loud.

  Griff fell to his side beside her.

  “Oh, God.” Her voice was breathy. “If I’d known it would be like this, I would’ve scaled the prison walls to get you.”

  A laugh burst out of him. Only Indy could make him laugh about prison.

  They lay there, close, until their breathing returned to normal. Then Indy sat up, crawling over him to get off the bed. She slipped her sexy, silky robe on.

  “I’m starving,” she said.

  “I could eat.” Mind-blowing sex and nanomeds had left him ravenous.

  In her small kitchenette, she fiddled around, putting some food together. She brought the plate to the bed and they lay together, talking and eating.

  Then Griff grabbed one of her wrists. He pulled her arm out, and pressed a kiss to the tattoos on her wrist. He moved up her arm, loving each vibrant picture and color. There were little items hidden among her vines and roses.

  “That one’s you,” she said quietly.

  He froze, his gaze moving to where she pointed at her bicep. Hidden among the roses was a single star.

  “Like a police badge,” she said. “I know you aren’t a cop anymore, but it still suits you.”

  He pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her deep. “Indy.”

  Griff kissed down her neck, then to her shoulder. Her tattoos started at the top of her shoulders and ended at her wrists. She didn’t have any ink on her chest, but he saw some on her back. He urged her over and took in the vines and flowers that trailed down her back. He made a hungry sound in his throat and followed the ink with small kisses.

  She moved beneath him, then surged up. “My turn.”

  She pressed her lips to the newly healed skin on his shoulder, then slowly moved down his chest. She took her time, kissing him all over. She dragged her teeth over his skin, then soothed it with her tongue. She kissed his scars, shifting around him and moving her mouth down his back. She ran her tongue down his worst scar—the ragged one beside his spine.

  “This must have hurt so much.”

  He heard the sorrow in her voice.

  But Griff didn’t want to talk about the past. He didn’t want to see the sympathy in her eyes.

  He grabbed her, spinning her around. He laid her out in front of him. She smiled, letting her thighs fall open. Indy Bennett, spread wide in front of him. The best view ever.

  Griff nudged her legs farther apart and lowered his head. “Gonna make you scream, wild girl.”

  Her breath hitched, and he pressed his mouth to her and feasted.

  * * *

  Indy woke, blinking at the hard wall of muscle in front of her face. She smiled. Griff’s back covered in that honey-tinted skin. Nothing like waking up with a sexy man lying beside her.

  She rose up on an elbow and looked at Griff’s face. Sleep relaxed the hard lines carved into his features. He looked more like the handsome boy she’d fallen for when she was young. She felt something shift in her chest. She was determined to make him laugh more. He’d laughed a lot when they were younger.

  After the octagon was destroyed, after they drove the aliens away, then they could finally find some peace.

  But if they didn’t defeat the Gizzida…

  Indy didn’t let the dark thought take root. She traced a fi
nger over the scar on Griff’s back. She’d noted all his scars, all his badges of survival. She also noticed the scratches she’d left on his back. Jeez, she’d scratched him hard.

  And she so wasn’t sorry.

  As she kept stroking him, he stirred, his eyes opening.

  She traced that ragged scar by his spine. An ugly feeling tried to worm through her happiness. “I’m so sorry for this.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry about,” he mumbled. “The inmate who cut me with a shiv is to blame.”

  Her belly clenched. “I wish you’d never got it. I wish you’d never had to spend a single second in prison.” She could practically feel him lock down. “I wish I could find the person who betrayed you and kill them.”

  “Enough.” He sat up quickly, the sheet sliding off him.

  “You need to talk about it, Griff. Even now, I can feel you tensing up.”

  “Leave it.” His voice was sharp.

  Indy tossed her hair back. A part of her wanted to listen, but another part of her wanted to help him. She wanted those smiles and laughs back. “You should let the poison out—”

  Griff shoved off the edge of the bed and stood. “Enough, Indy.”

  She watched him snatch up his jeans and violently pull them on.

  She tugged the sheet up and stood, wrapping the fabric around her. “Griff—”

  He spun. “Prison is over. Done. Talking about it won’t change it.”

  She paused. “I don’t think it is done. Not for you.”

  His anger filled the room like a thundercloud. “You want to pick the scab off? Make me bleed some more? Do you enjoy making me feel like shit?”

  She swallowed. “It should just be a scar for you, Griff. Not a scab.”

  “Fuck.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “I just had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months, hell, maybe years, but you want to drag me into the mud.”

  “I know you’re angry at whoever betrayed you and put you in prison. And at your ex.”

  He strode to her, like a big cat hunting prey. Indy tried not to step back, but the force of his anger made her retreat. Her shoulder blades hit the wall.

  “What part of not wanting to talk about it don’t you understand?”