Saved by Venom: 3 (Grabbed) (32 page)

“And me?” Dizzy hated to ask. “Did you know I wasn’t yours?”

“I used to travel Cross Colony Air all the time. Your mother was my favorite stewardess. I had the biggest crush on her and when I found her crying one night in a hotel lobby, I knew that I would do anything for her. She told me she was pregnant but I didn’t care. I swore to her that I would take care of her and the baby.”

Dizzy’s eyes closed as her father stroked her cheek. He smiled at her as he said, “The moment the midwife placed you in my arms I fell in love with you. You were my daughter in all the ways that mattered.”

With a rough exhale, he added, “I sold your number so you would be safe up here but within a few days of you being Grabbed, I learned that they had someone watching you up here.”

“What?” Venom’s harshly spoken word drew her father’s attention.

Her dad nodded. “Photos of Dizzy on the ship ended up on my kitchen table. I understood the threat. If I didn’t come through with the transport arrangements for those fuel rods, they were going to kill her here.”

“Not if I kill them first,” Venom growled.

Her dad took a few seconds to size up her mate. “So—what do they call you?”

“Venom, sir.” He stepped closer to the bed. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Her father made a disbelieving noise. “What do you do?”

“I’m the tactician expert and lead sniper for the alpha squad of the Special Response Unit.”

“I see.” He scrutinized Venom some more. “You’re an officer?”

“I hold the rank of captain in the land corps, sir.”

“Well, I guess that’s something. Better an officer than the alternative, I suppose.” Her father narrowed his eyes. “You’ve seen a lot of battles?”

“I have, sir.”

“You can drop the sir, Captain. God knows I’m not the type of man who deserves it.”

“You are the father of my mate, sir. That’s enough for me.”

Her dad didn’t reply to that. Instead he tapped her hand. “Do you like him? He’s bigger and gruffer than the men you normally date.”

She smiled. “I do like him.”

“Just like?” He had always been able to read her so clearly.

“Maybe a little more than like,” she said coyly.

Her father chuckled and touched her neck. “He doesn’t make you wear a collar?”

Deciding not to delve into the specifics of their relationship, she shook her head. “He doesn’t.”

Her dad’s estimation of Venom seemed to increase. “Good. I’m happy to hear that.” He gulped and guilt made him wince. “I’ve been consumed with worry about you. I kept imagining the very worst about the type of man who might have Grabbed you.”

She clasped his hand between hers. “You can stop worrying, Dad. Venom loves me. He treats me with respect and kindness. We’re very happy.”

“Sweetheart, even when you’re fifty years old and I’m pushing ninety, I’ll still worry about you. You’re my daughter and I love you.”

Dizzy experienced the sweetest sense of relief at the realization that he didn’t care one iota about the lack of blood relation between them. Someday when he was fully recovered and she was feeling braver, she would ask him to tell her everything. Today? She was perfectly content to leave things as they were.

“I love you, Dad.”

“I know you do, kiddo.” He gave her hand a little pat. “You need to get some rest.” He glanced at Venom. “Your husband looks like he’s dead on his feet. Come see me later, okay?”

“We will.” She slid to her feet and watched Venom shake her dad’s hand. She didn’t think Venom had won him over just yet but he would eventually. After all, Venom had won her heart, hadn’t he?

Alone in an elevator with Venom, she leaned against his strong frame for support. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been so tired. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against his body. His lips skimmed her temple. “We’re almost home.”

When they finally entered their quarters, Dizzy started stripping on the way to the bedroom. Venom didn’t chide her messiness as he followed her, picking up the pieces of clothing she scattered in her wake. Glancing back at him she expected to see a scowl darkening his handsome face. If anything he looked perfectly happy to tidy up her mess.

As she dragged back the covers and crawled onto the bed, Dizzy wondered if he was simply feeling the same relief she did. They were alive. They were together. They were in love. It was really that easy and that simple.

Rolling onto her side, she watched Venom remove his uniform and boots. She let her adoring gaze roam every inch of his powerful and sculpted frame. Her stare lingered on the bare left side of his body, the side he would soon mark for her.

What would he think about her plan to place a permanent reminder of his ownership on her body instead of a collar? Would he be thrilled in the same way she was about seeing her mark on him?

Standing there naked and sporting a hard-on to rival any other, Venom raked her naked curves with a searing gaze. He crouched down and picked up his belt. Seeing the looped leather in his hand gave her a moment’s pause. He’d never once harmed her and the look of utter desire and need on his face told her he wasn’t about to start now.

Putting a knee on the bed, Venom stroked his hand down her belly. “I need you, Dizzy.” The husky roughness in his voice made her heart race. “Unless you’re too tired…”

“I’m never too tired for you.” His body heat and obvious desire invigorated Dizzy. She would probably pass out cold after he made love to her but she intended to enjoy every second of him until exhaustion finally took her.

Venom prowled toward her and pinned her to the mattress by placing his knees on either side of her thighs. He gripped her wrists in one hand and pulled them high over her head. “I hope you don’t mind the belt.”

A wicked frisson sizzled through her belly. “I don’t mind.”

He smiled at her shaky voice. “No, I’m sure you don’t.”

With all the ease and skill of a master at restraint, Venom shackled her wrists to the headboard. The leather strap bit into her wrists a little but she relished the slight discomfort. The hint of pain amplified the pleasurable sensation of Venom’s hands gliding over her bare breasts.

Dipping his head, he circled the pink buds with his tongue before suckling her. Dizzy’s hips lifted off the bed as he pinched her nipples and soothed the little hurts with his mouth. By the time he was done tormenting her so sensually, her breasts ached and felt so heavy.

Down, down, down he went, licking and nibbling her abdomen and hips before forcing her thighs wide open to taste her. By the time his tongue flicked her clitoris, she was already dripping wet for him. Savoring her like a delectable dessert, Venom took his time between her thighs.

He fluttered his tongue over her pink kernel until she couldn’t think straight. He kept her there—right there on the edge—but refused to give her the extra bit of stimulation and speed she needed to find release. Twisting her hips and thrusting her pussy against his mouth, Dizzy begged him to give her what she wanted. “Please, Venom.
Please
.”

“Patience,” he murmured before dotting kisses along her inner thighs and along the sloping plane of her belly. He crashed their mouths together, teasing her with the musky and erotic scent of her own arousal, and moved into position.

With one swift, hard thrust, he sheathed his huge cock. Dizzy gasped against his mouth and rocked up on her shoulders to meet his strong, deep thrusts. He pounded her slick passage with nearly feral intensity. She tugged at the belt lashing her to the headboard and encouraged him by wrapping her legs around his waist. The leather cut into her skin and would no doubt leave marks but she didn’t care.

There was nothing easy or relaxed about their coupling now. Venom took her with the pent-up passion of a man who had nearly lost his wife to crazed terrorists. He seemed intent on reminding her they were both alive to enjoy such fleshly delights.

Cupping her face with one hand, Venom angled his body and tapped the fingers of his other hand against her pulsing clitoris. He rubbed small circles around the throbbing nub while staring into her eyes. Shuddery bursts of rapturous ecstasy began to rock her core.

“Who am I, Dizzy?” He flicked his tongue against hers. “Tell me what I am to you.”

Suddenly the entire world fell away and nothing else existed but this man—her husband and mate. Mind, body and soul, Venom had learned her secrets and earned the right to be called her master.

“Who am I, Dizzy?” He asked again, his voice thick with emotion.

“My master,” she said on a ragged sob. “You’re my master.”

He kissed her then, the tenderness of it stealing her breath. When he lifted his gaze his eyes were bright with love. “Do you know what you are to me?”

She shook her head even though she had a pretty good idea what she meant to him. She wanted to hear him say it. “Tell me.”

“You are my heart. You are my life.” He hastened the pace of his swirling fingertips and thrusting cock. “You’re my future and my love.”

Head thrown back, Dizzy climaxed with Venom’s passionately spoken vow echoing in her mind. Burying his face against her neck, his breath hitched as the jerky spasms of his own orgasm gripped him. Eyes closed, Dizzy relished their shared moment of ecstasy.

Sometime later, after Venom had unleashed her wrists and massaged them in his big hands, he dragged her tight against his chest and brushed his fingers through her hair in a soothing rhythm. “Sleep, sugar. We both need it.”

She yawned and snuggled closer to his enticing heat. “Do you have to report for duty soon?”

“Tomorrow morning,” he said with a hint of sadness. “They’re cutting all unnecessary leave. Apparently honeymoons fall in that category.”

“That’s okay.” She caressed his chest. “The time we’ve had together is so much more than other married couples I’ve known were able to enjoy.” She pressed her lips to his jaw. “I think we’ve managed to build a good foundation.”

“A very good one,” he agreed. His voice turned solemn as he said, “I feel there may be an uptick in the Splinter activity in this sector. Most of the men stationed out here for long-term deployments were given this duty rotation as a sort of reward. It’s quiet out here.” He sighed with frustration. “Well, it
was
quiet out here.”

“Nothing lasts forever, Venom.”

He touched the scars on her neck. “I promised to protect you and to keep you safe from the Splinters who nearly killed you.”

She rose up on her elbow and gazed down at him with disbelief. “Are you seriously feeling guilty about what happened last night? Venom, you
saved
my life. I’m the one who volunteered to go down there. You didn’t force me.”

“You never should have been put in that situation.” His eyes closed as pain etched lines into his face. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? How many ways that takedown could have gone wrong?” He shook his head. “It makes me sick to even think about how close I came to losing you.”

“But you didn’t.” She kissed him. “Venom, in some strange way, I’m actually glad I went. No, listen,” she hurriedly said before he could interrupt. “I faced my fears last night. I faced the boogeymen who have been tormenting me since that morning of the explosion. I did something important and noble last night. I wasn’t just running away from danger. I did something to save lives.”

He caressed her cheek. “Yes, you did. I wish I could tell you how proud I am of you.”

Cuddling up against him, she whispered playfully, “Maybe you can show me later.”

He laughed and gave her bottom a pat. “There’s no maybe to that one, sugar.”

Safe in her mate’s arms, Dizzy slowly succumbed to the exhaustion lulling her to sleep. She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring but for the first time in years, she was excited to meet each new day.

And she would do it holding the hand of the ruggedly sexy but tender and loving sky warrior who had claimed and saved her.

Five Weeks Later

Venom tugged on the double doors leading out to the balcony of their suite. The gauzy, white drapes billowed in the sea breeze rolling in from the ocean. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the unbelievably soothing sound of waves crashing upon the shore.

The images of their wedding ceremony flashed before him. Between Jack and Naya’s many contacts, Dizzy had been able to have the day she had always wanted. He had never seen so many flowers or ribbon in his life but the banquet space had been completely transformed. Her dress was the prettiest thing he had ever seen with all that lace and frill.

When Dizzy walked in on Jack’s arm, Venom had been struck by the significance of the ceremony. Their public affirmation of their intent to build a life together carried so much more weight than the simple act of collaring her out in the woods. She had picked him then but it had been a decision made out of necessity. Coming down the aisle on her father’s arm was a choice she made out of love.

Everything after the moment they exchanged rings and kissed was a blur. There had been dinner and friendly carousing. Dizzy and Jack had shared a dance in the hallway outside the banquet room before Venom had swept her away on their very short second honeymoon.

While he had waited for the touching moment to end, Venom had caught Thorn looking on with such yearning sadness. The older general had been making an effort to get to know Dizzy and she had welcomed his interest—but their relationship would never be as close or as paternal as the one she shared with Jack.

Venom’s alert senses detected the slight shift of movement from the next balcony. On instinct he tensed for an attack. Cipher stepped forward from the shadows of the balcony on his right while Fierce gave a little wave from this left. Both men were showing their faces to reassure Venom that they were well-protected while enjoying their two nights at the luxury resort on Blue Shores.

When Cipher stepped back into the shadows, Venom relaxed but a quiver of guilt pierced his chest. He stood on this balcony enjoying the gorgeous view of the three moons reflected off the ocean while somewhere out there Terror remained a hostage.

The trail had gone ice-cold after rescuing Jack Lane and recovering the fuel rods. Or Torment and Pierce were playing their cards awfully close to the chest. If Terror was alive—and Venom hoped he was—there had been no attempt to retrieve him from enemy hands.

He hated to think they would leave him in some backwater rat hole to be tortured just to gain intelligence but it wasn’t a possibility he could discount. Terror had already given an eye to help the cause. He wouldn’t flinch at giving his life.

And he wasn’t the only one who had given his life to a cause. Axis had been found dead in his cell the evening after the botched fuel rod theft. The gruesome details of the airman’s self-inflicted wounds had stunned Venom. Presumably Axis had realized what awaited him now that Terror was missing and so many Harcos warriors had been lost in the attack on the
Night Bird
. Rather than fold under intense interrogation, he had taken the cowardly way out.

The unsettling feeling of not knowing who had been watching Dizzy aboard the ship never left him. Cipher had uncovered a tracking program on her tablet but it couldn’t be traced any farther back than Axis, who had used the ship’s many wireless connection points to transmit the bug to her. He refused to even think about how easy it would have been to snatch her with her every movement mapped.

They couldn’t live their lives saturated with paranoia but Venom remained on high alert whenever they were out in the public areas of the ship. He believed the extra precautions taken by him and by General Thorn’s orders would keep her safe but his guard would never lower. She depended on him for protection and he would never betray that trust.

Even before Dizzy touched him, Venom sensed her approach. His eyelids drifted together as she wrapped her arms around his waist and lovingly kissed his back. He interlaced their fingers and marveled at the sight of their matching silver wedding bands glinting in the moonlight.

“I thought you were asleep.” He lifted her hand to kiss her fingertips.

“I was but the sound of the waves woke me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she murmured. “It’s a beautiful sound. Who knows when we’ll hear it again?”

Because of the continuing threat of Splinter attack, this celebratory getaway had only been possible because Thorn had signed the orders himself and arranged for SRU to guard them. Though he had been wary of having a father-in-law so highly ranked, Venom had been forced to admit there were perks to the situation. Bringing Dizzy to Blue Shores to celebrate their wedding never would have been possible without Thorn pulling strings.

Dizzy stepped in front of him and leaned against the balcony. He braced his hands on the railing and nuzzled her neck. He still couldn’t believe she had tattooed their family crest on either side of her neck. When they were out in public, there was zero question as to her status. She bore his mark in the most permanent way.

Fully aware of the watching eyes of his SRU teammates, Venom rejected the primal call to slide his hands under the short nightdress she had donned. Taking her here in the moonlight, with the sounds of the ocean in the background, would have been a beautiful experience but it wasn’t one he wanted to share with Cipher and Fierce watching.

“There goes Ella for one of her midnight swims.”

Venom lifted his gaze toward the shoreline and frowned. “It’s dangerous.”

Dizzy shrugged. “I don’t think Ella has ever let a little danger stop her. Anyway, swimming this late is the only way she can enjoy the beach without weirdos trying to mug her for pictures or thinking they can proposition her just because she’s a muse.”

Venom watched Dizzy’s best friend tiptoe in the warm water. She was a strikingly beautiful woman. He hadn’t ever imagined it was possible to be too beautiful but he had seen the way Ella was treated by just about everyone. They saw those killer curves and gorgeous face and immediately assumed she was empty and vapid.

He still cringed at the way the soldiers and airmen onboard the
Valiant
had swarmed Ella at the arrivals deck earlier that morning. If it hadn’t been for Raze and Threat’s help, Venom would never have gotten her secured in their quarters. After that frightening experience, he worried Ella might never want to visit Dizzy again.

Movement on the beach drew his attention. He let the tension ease from his body when he recognized the figure as Raze’s hulking form. From this distance, Venom couldn’t hear the conversation Raze and Ella were sharing but it seemed friendly enough.

“I think she’ll be all right.” Dizzy pecked his cheek and tugged him away from the railing. “Come back to bed.”

Venom didn’t have to be asked twice. He trailed her into the hotel suite and firmly shut the balcony door. By the time he reached the bed, Dizzy had already stripped out of her nightgown and tossed it aside. There was enough moonlight streaming through the thin curtains to light up her skin. She still had a few rope marks from their earlier tryst.

Sliding into bed beside her, Venom traced the lines. “You know, if this little project of ours is successful, we won’t be able to play like this for a while.”

“Really?” Dizzy clasped his hand and dragged it down between her thighs.

He smiled at her boldness and dotted kisses along the swell of her breast. “I won’t take any chances with you or the baby.”

“Well…we aren’t pregnant yet.”

Venom laughed against her breast. “Is that your way of asking me to tie you up and ravish you again?”

“Um…maybe.”

He slipped his hand under the pillow and retrieved the small coil of rope he’d hidden there. “Lucky for you, I’m always prepared.”

She shivered with delight and giggled. “Don’t I know it!”

Pushing up on his knees, Venom captured Dizzy between his chest and the bed. As he gazed down into her sweet face, everything else faded into the background—the war, the Splinters, the threats that awaited them around every corner. When he was with Dizzy, nothing else mattered. There were few guarantees in life but their love was one of them.

While Venom kissed and nibbled his way down the body he craved morning, noon and night, he decided it was time to remind her just how much she meant to him.

“Oh!” Dizzy’s pleasured gasp echoed in the stillness of their hotel room.

Venom grinned triumphantly.
And I think I’ll start right about here…