Page 10 of North (Hunter Squad #2)

CHAPTER TEN

North

G od, Jess was beautiful.

The lamp cast a gold glow over her face and bare skin. We were lying in her bed, and it was late, but neither of us cared. I let my fingers drift over the freckles dotting her cheek.

I was flat on my back, and she was leaning over me, her fingers tracing over my tattoo.

“Why a dragon?” she asked.

I grinned. “I was a twenty-something kid, and thought it looked cool.”

She smiled, her finger following the dragon’s tail up over my shoulder.

“Now, I feel like it represents me. Out there, fighting the monsters. Keeping people safe.”

“A protector.” Her hand moved to my arm, touching the tattoo on my bicep. “And this?” Her fingers traced over the twin snakes wound around a winged staff.

“It’s a caduceus. A pre-invasion symbol for medicine.”

“So your ink is perfect for you. Representing the healer and the warrior.” She kissed my chest. “It’s badass, like you.”

“I try.”

She cupped my cheek. “And don’t forget that. What you do is important. I know you blame yourself for Drew’s death, but the monster took his life. You were there for him at the end. He wasn’t alone.”

My throat tightened. “Yeah.”

“How many people have you saved since then?”

“I don’t keep count.”

“I’m pretty sure that Joe and Hudson are happy that you’re a part of Hunter Squad.” She peppered more kisses across my skin. “I know I am.”

Need pulsed through me. I rolled her onto her back and pinned her to the bed. “I’m really glad you joined us, Jess.”

I kissed her hungrily. She arched into me, her desperate moan echoing around us. My cock hardened. I’d already taken her twice, but I wanted her again.

I hooked my arms under her thighs, pushed them wide. Rising up, I notched my cock at her slick folds. Urgency rode me hard. I needed to be inside her. Needed it like a drug. I thrust my hips forward and slid home.

My low groan mingled with Jess’ husky cry. She felt so good. So hot and tight.

“Jess—” I started moving, keeping my thrusts slow and deep.

Her dark gaze locked on mine, and I couldn’t look away. I felt things… So many damn things. Things I hadn’t ever wanted to feel.

“I can’t get enough of you,” I panted.

Her nails scratched down my back. “I love you inside me.” One of her hands slid up and into my hair. She tugged hard and I loved it.

Damn . I thrust into her faster. I wasn’t going to last much longer. Then my mouth was on hers, swallowing her moans.

She ripped her mouth free. Her inner muscles clenched on my cock. It was my name on her lips as she came.

I watched her face as she came, then my cock swelled. I couldn’t hold back. As my orgasm hit, my spine bent. I thrust as deep as I could go, pumping her full of me.

I nearly collapsed on top of her, but had enough brainpower left to slide to the side.

She curled into me, and I nuzzled her hair. She smelled good. She felt good.

I felt good.

Being with her…made everything good.

“Mmm, a girl could get used to this.”

“Not sleeping?”

She smiled. “A hot guy with a hot bod, and hot sex with hot orgasms.”

I ran a thumb over her cheek. I touched each freckle one by one. Her skin was satin smooth. “Yeah, I could get used to it, too.”

We both stilled, then she pushed at my chest. “I think we need sustenance. I might have some leftover pizza.” She pulled a face. “I haven’t had much time to cook, and the pizza place here in Dawn is so good.”

“You cook?”

“I do.” She grinned. “One day, I’ll make you my chicken enchiladas . With a special Ramos family enchilada sauce.”

“Sounds amazing.” I really liked the idea of Jess cooking for me.

“But you’ll have to make do with cold pizza right now.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.”

She strolled out of the bedroom naked, shooting me a wide, saucy grin. I drank in every curve. I liked that she was confident in her body.

When she came back, she was holding a pizza box in one hand and a stack of napkins in the other. I sat up against the mound of pillows.

She set the box down in the center of the bed, then sat beside me and snuggled in. “I hope you like pepperoni.”

“Love it.”

I loved this. A warm pang hit my chest. I’d dated before, but nothing serious. I’d never wanted to lounge in bed eating pizza naked with a woman before.

Before Jess.

Shit . I was sliding too deep, too fast. Jess was here to work. I knew she didn’t want to mess things up.

“North, stop thinking so hard.”

I met her gaze. “You and me, it comes with complications.”

“It doesn’t have to. We’ll sort this out.” She gestured with a slice of pizza between us. “Don’t overthink it.”

I nodded.

“Now eat your pizza.”

“Yes, boss.” I took a bite out of a slice.

She made little noises as she ate. Soon, I was hard again. My cock was not getting the memo that it was late, and we’d already had more than our fill of her.

“We should get some sleep.” She took the now-empty box and set it on the bedside table. Then she saw the tented sheet over my lap and cocked a brow. “Might be a little hard to sleep like that.”

“Ignore it.”

“That would be impossible.” She pulled the sheet off me, baring my rock-hard cock. Then she crawled across the bed, smiling. “Why don’t you let me help you out?”

I leaned back, my muscles tight. “Okay.”

Her hand circled the base of my cock. My hips jerked.

“Just relax.” She kissed my thigh. “I’ll take good care of you.”

Jess

An insistent beep woke me.

I opened my eyes and realized I was lying on top of North.

He was flat on his back, and I was nestled on him like a baby koala. One big hand was possessively cupping my ass. Mmm .

I didn’t want to get up. I was warm, and North was a surprisingly comfy bed. Besides, it was still dark outside.

The beep came again and I realized it was my communicator.

Sighing, I rolled off him. I sensed the instant he woke. I reached for my comm unit, taking note of a few new aches in a few interesting places.

I answered the device, keeping the visual off. “Ramos.”

“Jess.” It was Sasha’s voice. “Sorry to wake you. Emergency callout.”

Shit . I glanced at my clock. It was only 2:30 in the morning. This couldn’t be good. “Got it.” I pushed my hair back.

“Jameson will be there to pick you up in five minutes. Okay?”

My heart kicked. Five minutes was not long enough for North to get home.

“Jess?” Sasha said.

I shook my head. “Sure thing, Sasha. I’ll be ready.”

There was the sound of another communicator pinging.

“You’ve got North.” He sat up, holding his comm unit, his voice gravelly from sleep.

“Why didn’t you answer the first time I called you?” Sasha said.

“I was sleeping.”

“Well, wake up. We’ve got a job.”

“What is it?”

“A group of people were taken from the town of Picton.”

North cursed. “That’s not far from here, right?”

“Right. It’s not far from the old national park area that borders Lake Burragorang.”

I assumed the national park was all bushland filled with monsters.

“They have solid walls around the town.” North’s brow creased. “How come people were out at nighttime?”

“They didn’t go out.” Sasha’s voice was grim. “They were guards. Five of them were taken. A group of monsters attacked the wall.”

He straightened. “Hell.”

“Jameson is coming to your place to pick you up.”

North glanced at me. “Um…”

I nodded.

He raised his brows. You sure?

I nodded again. I wasn’t one to try and hide things. I’d face the consequences head on.

“I’m not at home,” he said.

“Oh?” Sasha paused. “Give me your location, and I’ll pass it along to Jameson. I hope you left the lucky lady happy.”

He sighed. “I’m at Jess’ place.”

There was a long beat of silence. “Ohhhh.”

“Not now, Sash. I’ll catch you later.”

“You sure will, North Connors.”

He rose. Luckily, I’d put his clothes in the dryer earlier. As he dressed, I pulled on cargo pants and a black T-shirt.

The cat was out of the bag now. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Nerves skated through me. Still, I’d welcomed North to my bed. I couldn’t resist him. I had to woman-up and accept the consequences.

“You okay?” His hands rested on my shoulders.

“Yes. Ready to kick some monster ass?”

“Hell yeah.” He dropped a quick kiss to my lips.

As I finished tying my hair up in a ponytail, there was a flash of lights outside the front of my house. I pushed the blind aside and saw a rugged all-terrain vehicle idling on the street.

“Ready?” North asked.

I lifted my chin. “Ready.” Then I remembered something. “Wait.” I snatched up the small object off the bedside table where I’d set it earlier after I’d thrown his clothes in the dryer. I’d found it in his pocket. “Don’t forget this.”

I held up the small robot.

His hands curled around it.

“Hudson said it would keep you safe,” I murmured.

He dropped a quick kiss to my lips, then slid the robot into his pocket.

We headed out the front door, and I ensured it was locked behind us. When we reached the vehicle, I saw Jameson sitting in the driver’s seat. North opened the front passenger door.

Our squad leader’s face was serious as he looked at us.

I slid into the back seat. “Hey.”

He looked back at me, then at North. “Is this going to be a problem?”

“No,” North said.

I shook my head.

“Good.” Jameson looked straight ahead and set the vehicle in drive. “We’re going to get Zeke and Marc next. Kai’s meeting us at Squad Command.”

My tense shoulders relaxed. He wasn’t going to say anything else, or make a big deal of it.

The twins lived next door to each other, several streets away. They piled into the back of the vehicle with me.

“Evening,” Marc said. “Or should I say morning?”

Soon, we drove out of the front gate of Dawn, waving at the guards as they closed it behind us.

“Five guards were taken from Picton?” North said.

“Yeah, sounds bad. The monsters attacked a weak spot in the wall where repairs were being done.” Jameson’s hands flexed on the wheel. “The security squad on duty tonight is already busy dealing with a landslide on the central coast. Besides, they’re not equipped to deal with a large group of monsters like we are.”

No, that was definitely Hunter Squad’s domain.

We reached Squad Command and idled at the huge front gates. A moment later, the gates slowly opened. Guards waved us in, and soon Jameson drove down into the underground parking garage.

Moments later, we were in our locker room, gearing up.

I glanced at North. He was already in his armor, methodically checking his medical backpack.

I understood now why he was so careful and conscientious. All because of a young man who hadn’t had the chance to live.

“All right.” Jameson hefted his carbine up against his broad shoulder. “I’m not sure what we’re heading into, but we have a group of monsters to deal with. I need everyone sharp.” He shot a quick glance at me and North.

I lifted my chin and met his hazel gaze.

Jameson nodded. “Let’s get these people back.”

As we strode into the hangar, the rotors were already spinning on the quadcopter. We jogged over and climbed in the back.

“Welcome aboard,” Colbie said. “Nothing like a little late-night flying.”

“Let’s get airborne, Colbie,” Jameson said.

I strapped in, and a second later, the Talon lifted off.