Page 62 of Claimed

He was.

Not long after that, Trish sawhimdraggingherbehind one of the buildings and pushing her up against the wall for a hard kiss and… other things.

People were adjusting. Maybe some of them a littletoowell.

Several months later, the situation on the Moon was completely out of hand. People left in droves, others stayed and fought, and the stories people told as they arrived on earth got worse and worse.

It would have taken the hardest heart in the world not to have some pity for the broken, terrified Moonies as they came in. Most of them were pathetically grateful for any assistance they could get. The few who weren’t quickly shut up when they realized no one cared about their former position on the Moon and they were only hurting themselves by making ridiculous or unreasonable demands.

Angry Moon citizens had begun to revolt against their leaders as it had become more and more obvious Alex and Bella had been telling the truth. Even in Rio, the Wolf had become more anxious as the danger had escalated.

Something about Bella and Alex had gotten to the Wolf: he was more attached to them than any of the others he’d taken. It wasn’t the same as Jordan was with Trish, but the Wolf caredwhat happened to Alex and Bella and didn’t want them to be hurt—especially since he’d been the one to send them back to the Moon with all the relevant information that had caused the current revolt.

Cora and Trace were getting closer to finishing their work for the shuttles, but they weren’t done yet.

Jordan wasn’t too surprised when he got the call from the Wolf.

The man’s hair had more gray at the temples than before, his face had more lines, and his eyes were harder. Even on a vid screen, he had a powerful presence.

As usual, the Wolf didn’t bother with a greeting.

“We’re sending a rescue mission tomorrow. Tell your girl to send her messages.”

There were still a few holdouts on the Moon from some of the refugees’ families and friends; Jordan understood this might be their last chance to get them out in one piece. Getting the Moonies’ messages and sending them fell under Trish’s purview.

“Thank you, Sir. Do you want me to go up with them?” A small surge of adrenaline pumped through Jordan in anticipation. While he enjoyed the more sedate life of Rio, especially with his little girl to torment and pleasure, the idea of getting back into some possible action for a day sounded fun.

“Zadia will be going, but if you want to go, you can. I’m not sure if it will help or hinder to see a familiar face.”

“It might help if I bring Trish. They’ve been trying to find out what happened to her, and she’ll be able to reassure them.” Plus, it would mean he wouldn’t have to leave her behind.

Jordan hated it when she was out of his sight and he wasn’t sure if she was safe; if she was well. Even a few hours at a time was frustrating. In some ways, it had been easier at the compound when he could leave her in their room and she’d beensecure. Now Trish was often out and about with other people, and Jordan couldn’t always be by her side.

The Wolf nodded and they quickly made the plans.

He’d have to tell Trish, of course, but she wouldn’t argue. This was too important.

22

The fight to take over the small shuttle port was swift, to Trish’s relief, although she had the feeling Jordan and Zadia were disappointed. Jordan had been amped up all morning, from the moment he’d woken her up in the usual way, with his mouth on her pussy, to the hard way he’d ridden her until she’d been screaming with ecstasy.

Reuniting with Alex and Bella had turned out to be anti-climactic. Jordan had put Trish in front of them, with his hands on her shoulders so he could yank her back again at the first sign of danger, but Alex and Bella had been both relieved and surprised to see Trish standing there, smiling. It hadn’t taken too much to convince them to leave the Moon. From where they’d stood, Trish had been able to see smoke rising in the dome, and the thick glass had been clouded, the air hard to breathe.

The Moon wouldn’t have been able to last much longer.

Jordan and Zadia got out everyone they could—all the Wolf’s people, Alex and Bella, everyone Trish had sent messages to, and everyone they had brought with them. It made her ache that they couldn’t saveeveryone, but they couldn’t take anyone who didn’tshow up. Some people would have to find their own way off the Moon—that or go down when the dome eventually did.

When they returned to Earth, Alex and Bella were sent to Rio with their families, a few streets away from Trish and Jordan. Bella and Alex didn’t have any bad memories of Marek or Laura, and Trace and Cora were way too busy to bother them.

The last month before the ships left, everything was a rush for both Jordan and Trish. A small trickle of refugees managed to flee the dome before it became unlivable and had to be integrated into the groups that either headed to the colony or did their best to acclimate to Earther life.

Trish and Jordan knew they’d have a lot more time once the ships left, but it wasn’t an easy time for either of them.

She probably shouldn’t have been too surprised when, the moment the ships successfully cleared the Karman Line, she was grabbed by the waist and tossed over Jordan’s shoulder.

Laughter followed them out of the launch room, along with the settling of several bets, and Trish put her hands over her face and giggled, trying to hide her blush. Even though she’d gotten used to being dragged off or even to having sex in front of small groups of people, somehow Trish couldn’t get rid of the blushes that accompanied anything to do with sex and others knowing about it. She was okay with that, though—Jordan thought it was adorable when he made her blush.

“Joooordan, put me down!” she said as he stalked through the hallway with long strides, making her bounce on his shoulder because he was moving so fast. “I’m going to get a headache if you keeping carrying me like this!”