“Always.”
His loud cries blended with hers as he pushed upward as she lowered herself over him until they were one. He held her breasts in his hands as she began riding him. Their whispered words wrapping around them.
They took each other with a fierceness that spoke of their desperation and fear of what the future held. For Jesse, her fear that Hunter would not return to her. For Hunter, the fear that he had only imagined the beautiful creature that he had claimed as his own would not disappear, leaving him alone in the vast star system.
Chapter 13
“I will return as soon as I can,” Hunter said, touching Jesse’s tight jaw. “I promise.”
“We’ve heard those promises before,” Taylor said bitterly. “You’re just one more in a long line.”
“Taylor,” Jordan whispered. “Not now.”
She’s right, thought Jesse but she didn’t say the words out loud. “Just… be careful,” she said instead.
Hunter leaned down and rubbed his nose along her cheek before pressing a kiss to her lips. It took several seconds before she responded. When she did, he could taste the desperation that she was trying to hide.
“Hunter,” Dagger called out. “Let’s go. The sooner we get down there and take care of this the sooner we get back.”
Hunter reluctantly released Jesse’s lips. His eyes burned with determination as he stared down at her. He would come back. He had never cared before when he was sent. He went and did what he needed to do without worry if something should happen. Now he had something to come back to. Stepping back, he looked at Taylor and Jordan.
“I will come back,” he promised them.
“If you don’t, we’re coming to get you,” Taylor said stubbornly. “We’re through with standing back and waiting.”
A rumble of laughter echoed in the transport room at Taylor’s words. Only one warrior growled in warning. Hunter looked at Saber’s dark face and shook his head before turning to grin at Taylor.
“If I don’t come back, I’ll expect you to come get me,” Hunter teased before pulling Taylor into his arms and giving her a big hug. “I am glad I have you on my side, little one.”
“I love you too, Hunter,” Taylor whispered. “Please come back. We need you. Jesse needs you.”
Hunter’s throat tightened and he felt a strange burning in his eyes. He blinked several times to clear it before looking at Dagger and Saber with a confused frown. Both of the other men had confused expressions on their faces as well.
He released Taylor as she pulled back to turn to Dagger. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a big hug.
“That goes for you too,” she whispered before standing on her toes and giving him a kiss on his cheek. She turned and scowled at Saber before hitting him in the arm. She reached up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek while he rubbed where she hit him. “Don’t let anything happen to you, old man. The buzzards don’t like dried up fuddy-duddies.”
“I swear, Taylor, you are going to get your ass spanked one of these days,” Saber growled under his breath.
“Yeah, well not by you,” Taylor replied with a cheeky grin. “You’d never be able to catch me.”
Jesse chuckled as Saber took a step toward her little sister. Taylor squealed and pulled her and Jordan in front of her for protection. She could always hand it to Taylor to lighten a bad situation.
“Just… be careful,” Jesse said.
“We will,” Hunter said before he nodded and they turned away.
“Jesse?” Taylor asked in a low voice from behind her.
“Yes, squirt,” Jesse responded, never taking her eyes off the figures climbing into the transport that would take them down to the planet.
“I’m scared,” Taylor whispered.
“So am I, sweetheart. So am I,” Jesse whispered back, fighting tears as she watched the doors seal the transport area close and the small warship take off.
..*.
“What do you mean there is a situation?” Jesse asked.
She had her back to the room and was looking down at the planet far below. One week had turned to two which was turning into three. The only news she was getting were the little bits and pieces that she was picking up from the warriors around the warship. She knew something bad must have happened when the rooms would grow quiet when she walked in and the warriors stared at her with compassion.
The commanding officer of the Star Raider, Jag, stood stiffly behind her. He had postponed this meeting as long as possible. The only reason he was having it now was because the human female had charged into his personal quarters with one of her sisters in tow and refused to leave short of violence.