Marcus by Anna Hackett

him. He bent over her and pressed a
kiss to her neck.
    “I’m going to take you hard. I can’t be
gentle right now. I need you.”
    “Yes.” She pushed back against him.
    He slid out and slammed back in. “I want you
to feel me long after I’m gone.” Another hard thrust.
    “Marcus!”
    He found a fast rhythm that had sensations
coiling at the base of his spine. “When you sit in your chair in
the control room, you’ll be sore and still feeling me.”
    “Yes!”
    He pressed a palm to the small of her back,
holding her in place for his relentless thrusts. She made husky
cries and moved into him.
    Then she screamed and started coming. Her
body clamped down on his cock, her inner muscles tightening around
him, and he groaned. Seconds later, he came in a long, hard rush,
throwing his head back as the sensation roared through him.
    She fell onto the bed in a boneless sprawl,
her dark hair in disarray. He nudged her aside and leaned over her.
Her eyelids were closed. Fast asleep.
    With a smile, he lay down beside her and
tugged her close. Damn, she felt right in his arms. The perfect
fit. He thought of her having that nightmare over and over… He’d
make it his own personal mission to make sure she slept well every
night.
    But as he stared at the ceiling, his smile
dissolved. He had to remember that she was still finding herself,
discovering her confidence and the new her in this crazy, changed
world.
    One day, she’d wake up and wonder why she’d
ever let a rough, battle-scarred grunt like him close.
    But that day wasn’t today. So for now, she
was his and he was going to enjoy the hell out of her.
    ***
    As Elle entered the dining room at Marcus’
side, she felt like everyone was watching them.
    She lifted her chin. Let them look. Gossip
in the tight confines of the base was rife. It was a fact of life.
Besides, she didn’t care if they talked about the fact she had
stubble burn on her cheeks and neck—and in a few other sensitive
places they wouldn’t get to see.
    She was proud as hell she’d driven a man
like Marcus to the wild desire he’d shown her. She’d had a decent
enough love life before the invasion, or she’d thought she had.
She’d believed she’d known what sex was all about. But Marcus had
blown that all away. Making love with him had been…she drew in an
unsteady breath… amazing .
    “There are the guys.” Marcus directed her
toward a table with a hand at the small of her back.
    That slight touch made her shiver and a few
places inside her light up.
    He glanced down, his lips twitching. “I just
spent all night fucking you senseless. You can’t be ready
again.”
    She licked her lips. “It seems when it comes
to you, I can.”
    Fire ignited in his eyes. “Later.” His voice
was thick.
    As they passed a table, Elle saw Liberty
sitting with some friends. The blonde eyed her, then Marcus, then
gave Elle a thumbs-up and a wink.
    All of Hell Squad sat at the end of one of
the long trestle tables lined up in the room. Noah was with them.
They were all watching as Marcus and Elle approached.
    Claudia’s dark eyes shifted between the two
of them. “Thank fuck.”
    Shaw grinned. “Nice work, boss.”
    “About damn time.” Cruz lifted a piece of
toast and took a bite.
    “Shut it,” Marcus growled as he pulled a
chair out for Elle.
    Elle’s face was on fire, but she tried to
ignore it. “Claudia? Cruz? You’re okay?”
    Claudia stuck her leg out to the side. “Good
as new.” She tilted her head. “Thanks for keeping that rex off
us.”
    Elle felt Marcus tense beside her and
winced. “Don’t mention it.” She dipped her head toward Marcus.
“Really, don’t. Marcus is still a bit…touchy about it.”
    As Claudia snorted and the guys laughed,
Marcus rattled her chair. “Sit. I’ll grab us a couple of
plates.”
    She smiled her thanks and sat. Then she
watched him head over to the food tables and got caught staring the
way his cargo trousers cupped what she now knew was one