From The Ashes (Life After War) (71 page)

The demon faded back into his lonely coffin, and Marc allowed himself a single ache of regret, then closed it all off behind that thick wall of denial. He wasn't like the rest of them.

4

Samantha wasn't sure where she should be or what she should be doing. A drink was about the only thing that appealed, other than going back to the shower to finish what she'd started.

The current line there discouraged that option.

The light wind blew Sam's hair back, revealing her frown, and the man at the center Mess table saw it. His gaze was drawn to her, as always, and against his will.

Wanting a few minutes, even if they were spent arguing or in silence, Neil spoke up when she would have disappeared inside the truck. “I’ve got a thermos.”

Their eyes met with a sharp flare of need that made Sam suck in air. It also sent enough lust through her body to break the final chain of morality that had been holding her back. Their petty games didn’t matter anymore. She wanted him, and she was done avoiding it.

Samantha sat down, sending out a thick spark. “Come here often?”

Neil blinked, not expecting it, and refused to let his gaze go anywhere but hers.

Samantha snickered. “Sorry. It seemed like the thing to say.”

Neil felt his body wake at her inviting demeanor. “It is, if you’re trying to pick me up.”

“
If I were, would it work?”

She got him again, and Neil chuckled. “That depends on the expectations. I have to know them up front this time.”

Samantha's body hummed with desire. “If I were picking you up, I’d say you could expect a couple hours of fun. And that’s it.”

Off-duty until morning, Neil did a visible check on the settling camp. Marc had it under control. “What about them?”

She shrugged, not caring about that anymore, either. “Let them get their own one night stand.”

Neil leaned closer instead of chuckling. “What if one night isn’t enough for me?”

Her profile darkened. “Then, I wouldn’t mention that, or you’ll scare me off. Take what I can give. I'm not wired for forever.”

Neil sighed. How could he say no? He’d wanted her since that day at the gun class, and it hadn’t changed. “You’re the boss.”

Samantha ran a finger over the scar on her hand, marveling at how far she’d come from the broken, abused woman who'd been sent here on the heels of a witch.

Need opened Samantha’s mouth. The feel of his hot gaze on her body wasn’t nearly enough. “I think we should go my tent, where we can be alone.”

“
They’ll see me come.”

Sam’s breath caught at the image.

“
You’ll let me?”

Oh, yeah!
She nodded with a red face and rocky chest.

Neil couldn’t stop himself from staring as she stood up, mouth going dry.

“
Give me an hour. If the lights are out, I’ve changed my mind.”

Samantha left quickly, not waiting for a response. She was sure she had embarrassed herself, but the excited liberation in her stomach was more than worth it. She was truly free now.

Neil wasn’t sure whether he would go or not. A gentleman wouldn’t, but he wanted her in a way that he’d never experienced before… and he wasn’t a gentleman. He was an Eagle in Adrian’s army, and they went after what they needed, even when the odds appeared insurmountable.

5

“
Marc to the center fire!”

“
Copy.”

No longer feeling his mauled wrist thanks to the shot, Marc’s gaze went over the Mess where the pregnant females were being coached by him and Anne while having a snack of leftover tuna casserole. Jennifer was there, too, with Charlie and Becky.

Angela had told him about the deal Peggy and Hilda made with Kyle, and Marc wasn’t surprised. It was politics, and it went on everywhere. Jennifer was well-protected, either way. On top of Angela’s request for him to keep track of her, Kyle had assigned his own security to the teenager–Billy... and Charlie.

Marc refused to consider all of the implications of that, and studied their surroundings instead. The area around them was brown and dry despite this being the first official week of summer,
but the damn flies are worse,
Marc thought, waving at one on his bandaged arm. If they got any more aggressive, the camp would need to carry fly-swatters on them all the time. The next of Nature's blows?

“
Screw you!”

Roger Sawyer’s words were brutally loud from across the camp, drawing people from tents and activities.

“
You shouldn’t even be here!”

Marc and his shadow, Zack, hurried that way.

6

“
Let it go,” the vet instructed, subtly moving in front of Dale. “He didn’t mean anything.”

“
Bullshit! He said I was staring at his ass! I’ve never done that!”

“
He made a joke–asked if you’d been looking,” Chris refuted tiredly. “You’re the one who twisted it into something else.”

Roger sneered hatefully toward Dale. “Don’t joke with me about anything–ever. Don’t even talk to me!”

Chris could feel his temper wanting to take control–he'd had a rough night–but he was aware of the growing audience. A lynching could be set up in this atmosphere. “He won’t, right, Dale?”

“
I think he should say what he wants, to whomever he wants,” another voice spoke up, one that swung attention her way because of how quiet she usually was.

Tracy took Dale's left, tired of the bickering when the bosses weren’t around. “You sure shoot
your
mouth off enough, Roger.”

“
We want homosexuals banned from Safe Haven!”

“
For what reason?” the camp whore asked. She was on Angela's team now, suddenly a respected member of the camp, but the angry men wisely didn't bring that up.

“
They’re gay! That’s reason enough,” Tucker defended.

“
No, it isn’t. What crime was committed?” Tracy insisted.

Tucker wouldn't answer, and the former Pinkerton detective hesitated. “It’s a sin.”

“
It’s wrong,” Anderson added.

Marc snorted from behind the crowd, making it part. “So said our old world, and we all know how morally correct they were.”

“
Do you support it all starting up again?” Roger demanded threateningly.

“
Until they commit a crime, they’ll be judged individually, like everyone else in Adrian’s camp.”

Marc ignored the protests and support, going to the training area.

Behind him, Zack spoke up. “He told you how it is, now back off.”

“
We don’t take orders from you!”

“
You’re wrong, Sawyer. You always were. That’s why you’ve never been chosen for the Eagles,” Zack sneered. “We’ve known about you and the others who pick on people, but we’ve been waiting for Adrian to get tired of giving you chances to be human to each other. Now that he is, we won’t tolerate it anymore!”

Marc was aware of the physical fight starting. The camp needed a release, but this had been coming anyway. The Eagles would handle things tonight all around camp. Adrian would reclaim a camp that no longer hated their gay population. There wouldn’t be acceptance yet, not so soon, but the vileness spewing from Roger’s mouth would be the last that anyone here let fly without serious consequences.

Radios crackled loudly. “I think we need some ssssongs!”

Mitch's slurred declaration had Marc's feet pointing toward the com truck before he was called. Adrian had been right to leave the plan for the drunkard.

Marc waved an Eagle over. “Set it up, just like Adrian said, then find Matt before you take over the radio. Mitch probably ordered him off of it.”

Kevin was grinning. “Been a fun night so far, Brady. You're doin' real well.”

Marc couldn't help the pride that had him matching Kevin's cheer as he continued toward the com truck. Those observing had no idea that under his pleased appearance, was a Marine set to hand out a punishment.

When they saw Marc greet the drunken radio man with a handshake and a smile a few minutes later, muttering started. Up until now, Marc had been doing well, but as he led Mitch toward a picnic table that was being brought to the center fire, there was unease.

Marc gestured at the table. “Have a seat, there, buddy. Let's tie one on right. Whadda ya say?”

Mitch stumbled onto the bench seat. “Soundsss glood to me.”

Marc joined him, twisting the top on a cold beer. He sucked down the foam, as Mitch grabbed the bottle that Li Sing set down, shunning the beer.

“
Bring another one, and keep 'em comin',” Marc ordered.

Li bowed as he backed away, expression alive with curiosity. The small group of witnesses parted to let the cook through. Their quiet alertness told Marc that not only was this a lesson, it was an important one for the other drinkers here, too.

Marc gestured to Kevin, after the guard finished updating the rookie about to take his post.

“
We're gonna be here a while. Get something flowing, will ya?”

“
Calm and slow?”

How about Highway to Hell
, Marc thought sarcastically, nodding. Damn, it would be good to hand this over to Adrian. How did he keep from shooting them all?

“
Are we drinking or w-what?” Mitch demanded, already fairly loaded.

Marc raised his dripping beer and downed it.

7

Neil paused outside Sam’s brightly lit flap. When she waved him in, then closed the window shade, he went, not caring that Jeremy might be one of those witnessing. At the moment, he also didn’t care that tomorrow night, it might be him waiting out there, alone in the dark.

“
Thank you.”

He grunted bitterly. “For what? Coming here to take advantage of you? No problem.”

“
I know what I need, Neil. Right now, that's you.”

Her whisper went through him like white heat. When she slid closer and curled her arms around his neck, Neil surrendered without a fight. “What... whatever you want.”

Samantha smiled softly. “Hold me?”

Before the War, Neil had slept with less than a dozen women, all quick fumbles in the dark. He’d never held them, had no need to make sure they enjoyed his touch, but this! Sam was molten warmth against him, and Neil struggled to control his hands when she placed a slow kiss to his jaw. His grip on her waist tightened as she did it again.

“
Been a while?”

He nodded jerkily, almost flinching when her mouth neared his.

Sam shuddered.
Hot! So hot!
Her lips pressed lightly to the corner of his mouth, absorbing his groan, and her need flared again, hotter this time.

“
Sam, I...”

“
Don’t….” Samantha inhaled deeply, picking up smoke, sweat, and heat. “It’s okay. You can go if you don’t want me…”

Sam moaned in satisfaction as his mouth descended over hers with a snarl of lust.
Neil!

As if he’d heard the mental shout, the trooper steered them toward her neatly made bed.

Sam broke their kiss, needing more. His hands were roaming over her freely now, tangling in her hair to bring her mouth up for another punishing kiss that had her pushing against him in desperation.

“
Please!” she gasped when he allowed her to breathe. “Don’t stop, Neil, or leave now. I couldn’t take it if you ….”

“
Shhh…”

Neil slid his hands down her arms to her waist, fingers lifting her shirt.

Sam trembled at his hot hands against her bare skin. He unhooked the front of her bra and pushed it aside, dropping low to capture a rocky nipple.

“
Oohh!”

Sam arched against his mouth, barely noticing his fingers working the buttons of her pants. His mouth rose to capture hers, and she held on when he dipped her to the neatly made cot.

The trooper paused, unable to help being distracted. “Uh, Sam. Why do you have a handcuff key taped under your breast?”

Sam groaned in frustration and need, and Neil stored the question. “Okay, later.”

Neil gently stripped her, rubbing that beautiful body until he thought he’d go crazy with the waiting. She twitched against his hands, mewling little moans coming from her mouth that had him shedding his own clothes.

Sam helped him push off his shirt, and her nails found his shoulders, pulled him closer. “Neil...”

He bent down to kiss her again, using his free hand to remove the last of his clothes. His eyes were dark green orbs burning into her soul as he carefully lowered himself between her legs.

Neil brushed her soft curls, arms flexing, hips tilting. She trembled as he slid against her, arching upward.

Neil thrust.

Sam whimpered, nails digging into his wrists as he shoved into her.

Neil sank deeper, body tensing, tightening at the sensation of her wrapping around him. He shoved harder and slid all the way in.

His taut body strained against hers, a groan of guttural lust rising to spill from his lips. Neil pulled himself away from the edge with a groan of determination.