Liberating Lacey (Marks Mercenaries Book 3) Read online

  “Why?” she finally asked.

  “I don’t like people telling me what I fucking can do. I sure as hell don’t like anyone threatening my fucking family.”

  She could well believe that. Flynn was a powerful predator, the alpha of his family. He was also a man of his word. He’d warned Ian, but the leader from Eden hadn’t listened.

  Gathering her courage, she finally glanced at Garth. His expression was stoic, giving away nothing. Was he mad because he’d had to fire on Ian’s ship, killing innocent people? Well not so innocent if they were part of the security force that helped keep people trapped on Eden when they didn’t want to be there, but still, people had died.

  Lacey pushed off of Flynn’s lap and faced everyone. Her heart continued to race. Her legs were weak but managed to hold her upright. All of this was her fault. “I’m so sorry this happened. If you’ll drop me off at the first habitable planet, I’d be forever grateful.”

  Kal and Amos grinned. Flynn’s frown deepened. The women both seemed amused. She wasn’t sure just what she should make of that. Garth stood in front of her, arms crossed over his chest. For once, the familiar blaster wasn’t anchored on his shoulder, but stood in what was obviously a custom stand next to his station.

  She swallowed heavily, unsure what to say to break the growing tension between them. “Garth,” she began, but he cut her off.

  “You want to be dropped at the first planet?”

  Why was he so angry with her? It was what he wanted, wasn’t it? “Yes?” She hated feeling so uncertain. Her future was unsure at this point, but she didn’t want to bring more heartache to this family.

  “I told you everything I know about your sister. Once Ian tells Jasper what happened, he’ll be gunning for you. And he has a first-class battleship at his disposal.” She had to look away from the fury growing in Garth’s eyes. They were like shards of ice instead of the sky on a sunny day. She hadn’t realized just how cold blue could be.

  “Saying I’m sorry will never be enough for what you were forced to do.” What she was about to do would make starting her new life more difficult, but it was the right thing to do. She took a deep breath. “I can repay you.”

  “How?” Garth demanded. He strode toward her, and she took a step away. He kept on coming, crowding her until her back was against a wall.

  She stepped to the side so she could see everyone. “My backpack.” They all looked confused. And why wouldn’t they? They had no idea what she had tucked inside the bag. “I have seeds. I didn’t steal them, not really. I was the one who developed the strains of wheat, barley, and other grains that grow so heartily. Other planets will pay a small ransom to gain even a tiny sample of each so they can cultivate them themselves and not be dependent on Eden’s exorbitant prices.”

  A slow smile crossed Kal’s face. “Seeds?”

  Did they think she was joking? “Yes, seeds. Jasper’s been offered up to ten thousand Alliance dollars for a dozen seeds of each variety. I have hundreds of each in my pack.”

  Amos whistled. “If word of this gets out, you’ll have a bidding war.”

  “Or more people who want to kidnap or kill her,” Flynn pointed out.

  Her stomach sank. He was right, but that was her problem. “I can give you half the seeds in payment.” She’d need some of them to get on her feet out here in the universe. It was daunting, to say the least, but it was much better than contemplating leaving Garth behind. She couldn’t think about that. If she did, she’d end up in tears.

  “Half?” Flynn asked.

  Her stomach dropped. Would he take them all and leave her with nothing? She had no way of stopping him. Would Garth let him?

  “All then. Just set me down somewhere I have a chance of surviving.” She glanced at her feet. Her boots were worn. All her clothes were old, but they’d do until she could find work. In spite of her best efforts, her eyes welled with tears. She blinked furiously, but one rolled down her cheek.

  Garth growled. An actual growl that sounded more animal than human.

  Suddenly, she went airborne, flying through the air with no idea where she’d land. Her stomach lurched. Fear pierced her soul. Then she was facedown over his hard shoulder. With his arm locked around her dangling legs, he strode toward the door. No one stopped him.

  For the first time since she’d laid eyes on him, she was truly afraid of Garth Marks.

  ****

  Garth wanted to drape Lacey over his knee and spank her until she came to her senses. Yeah, like that would work. She was already terrified of him. The lone tear she’d shed had almost gutted him. Even worse was the glimpse of fear he’d observed as he’d tossed her over his shoulder.

  But what else could she expect from him? He’d been initially swayed by Ian’s vile words, not giving Lacey his trust. He’d taken pleasure from her body without care, taking what he’d wanted. No matter what she said, he’d unintentionally hurt her with the power of his passion.

  She’d be better off without him. And now he’d discovered she didn’t even need him. She had her seeds. Who would have thought seeds would be worth so much money?

  Lacey, that’s who. It was why she’d risked her life to get them before they’d fled Eden.

  The door to his room slid open. He stalked inside with her still hanging over his shoulder. The blankets on the bed were still tangled from their earlier lovemaking.

  Lacey hadn’t struggled, which surprised him. Was she that afraid of him now? The thought was acid burning through his blood. He’d rather blast off his own hand than hurt her, yet that was exactly what he’d done.

  Taking care, he lowered her until she was seated on the bed. He knelt before her, blocking any avenue of escape. Her cheeks were wet, but she swiped at them and took a deep breath. Unshed tears made her green eyes appear even more vivid in color, like the plants she’d lovingly tended on Eden, the plants she could grow with the seeds she’d brought with her.

  She tilted her head up slightly and met his gaze. “What will you do to me?”

  He honestly didn’t want to know what she thought he would do, afraid it would destroy him. She had no idea of the power she had over him.

  He pressed his large hand against her cheek. Her skin was so soft and smooth.

  She swallowed, her slender throat rippling. “Will you put me off at the next planet?”

  He shook his head. “No.” It was unthinkable. Lacey alone on some planet without him. Yeah, that wasn’t happening.

  All color leeched from her face. “Then what will you do with me?”

  “I’m sorry.” Two words he’d rarely said in his life. Sorry did no good. In his opinion, actions mattered more. But in this case, his actions had been questionable. He’d screwed himself with his actions, but he still had to try, to let her know how badly he felt about messing up.

  She dragged her fingers through her short brown hair, leaving some of it standing on end. “I don’t understand.” As she had when he’d met her, she reminded him of a fairy or woodland sprite from a fairy story, a very confused fairy.

  “I’m sorry I believed Ian,” he began.

  She pressed her hand over his mouth, cutting him off before he could go on.

  “Believe me, I understand. Ian is very convincing. He mixes enough truth with his lies to make them plausible. He and Jasper have that in common.”

  Garth caught the edge of her hand between his teeth and nipped. She jerked her hand back and scowled at him. “What was that for?” she demanded.

  “For interrupting me.” He nudged closer until she was forced to part her legs to make room for him. With their chests almost touching, he looked straight into her eyes. “I believed him because I was afraid. It was easier to think everything between us had been a lie than to admit my feelings for you. For that I am truly sorry.”

  When she licked her lips, his cock jerked to attention, making his battlesuit uncomfortably tight.

  “I really do get it. We’re practically strangers.” She planted h
er hands on the bed and curled her fingers around the blankets until her knuckles turned white. “We’ve had sex, but you really don’t know me.”

  Despair filled him. What did she really mean? That she didn’t know him?

  He was losing her.

  He knew how to fight, how to kill and maim an enemy. Had studied the vulnerabilities of every ship flying in the known galaxies and knew where to land a laser strike for maximum effect. That’s what he was good at—protecting and attacking. The only people he’d ever been close with were his brothers and Abigail.

  He didn’t know what to say to make Lacey stay. So he’d do what he did best. He’d show her. Cupping the back of her head in his hand, he leaned forward. Her eyes widened, and a flush covered her cheeks. She didn’t pull away, but neither did she move closer.

  Not what he wanted, but better than he deserved.

  He pressed his lips to hers and groaned when he tasted the salt from her tears. Beneath it was the sweetness and spice he’d come to crave. When she gave a little gasp and parted her lips, he delved inward, seeking slowly, doing nothing that might startle her into objecting. This time he’d be gentle. Even if it killed him.

  As their tongues met and stroked, he took her breath and gave her his in return. He couldn’t get enough of her. But all it took was one small hand on his chest pushing him away to make him stop.

  “Why?” She seemed more baffled than anything. Her earlier fear of him had dissipated, for which he was profoundly thankful, leaving only confusion in its wake.

  He hooked one short strand of hair behind the delicate shell of her ear. It didn’t stay and stuck out from the side of her head as soon as he released it. Lacey was like her hair, untamable. He didn’t want to change her. He just wanted her to stay with him, to share her light and love and have it illuminate his dark world.

  “Because I can’t let you go.” His voice was so low and rough it was barely audible.

  “I thought that was what you wanted.”

  He shook his head before lowering it. “I only believed Ian for a moment. I was afraid to believe. I didn’t think it was possible a woman like you could really care for a man like me.” He hunched his shoulders forward as a sense of defeat swept over him. This was an important battle, maybe the most important one of his life outside of finding his sister, and he didn’t know what to do, what action to take in order to secure victory. All his strength or knowledge couldn’t help him now.

  When she touched her hand to his chin and lightly pushed, he raised his head. This petite woman held his fate in her hands. He could no longer call her delicate or fragile. Her body was strong, but even stronger was her will. Not only that, but she was smart and kind and generous.

  She truly was special.

  And she was also frowning at him. “What do you mean ‘a man like you’?”

  He shrugged, uncomfortable having to talk about himself. But for her, he would do it. “I know I’m rough. I don’t have a lot of education. I went to work early in the mines on Quaros because I was big and strong.”

  A dumb ox some had called him before he’d beat the shit out of them, thus solidifying their opinion of him. His only excuse—he had been young, barely a teenager dealing with hardened men twice his age. If he hadn’t fought them, they would have targeted him as weak. And while the Marks brothers had always stuck together, it wasn’t always possible down in the mines. Too many times he’d been on his own, having to fight his way out of situations in order to survive.

  “Ian has a ton of education, but you’re smarter than he’ll ever be.” She grabbed onto the ends of his hair and tugged. “You can read people. That’s a huge skill. You act quickly when necessary. And you’re obviously talented with weapons.”

  “Yeah, I’m good at beating people and blowing shit up.”

  “Stop it. Just stop. People thought me dimwitted on Eden. I don’t have any formal education either. I can read and write and know plants. I have no idea about the world away from that planet. I understand money but have never had to use it. I don’t know how to go about obtaining the most basic things I need to survive. I guess I’m the dumb one.”

  “Don’t say that.” Fury had him narrowing his gaze and fisting his hands. “You’re kind and generous and brave and smart.”

  Her eyes turned luminous, filled with unshed tears. He almost panicked until her lips curved up into a smile. “I guess that means I like you, and you like me. Where does that leave us?”

  ****

  Lacey was almost afraid to believe Garth. He thought her smart and brave. Right now, she didn’t feel very courageous. She was scared to death.

  How would he answer her question?

  He leaned forward until their foreheads were touching, his breath warm on her face. “Stay with me. It will mean remaining in space, at least until we find Abigail. I know it’s a lot to ask. I know you need your plants, to grow things, but I’m asking. We’re mercenaries and traders. Angelina was a stowaway not long ago, but now she’s Amos’s woman.”

  “Really?” That was fascinating. The other woman was so poised and intimidating. It was hard to picture her as a stowaway. Angelina was the heiress to a great fortune. Even Lacey, who’d been cut off from every other world, knew the name Astoferus.

  “Yes, really. And I’m not going to tell you where we found Rory.”

  “Now you have to tell me everything,” she teased.

  “It’s their stories to tell.” His expression turned almost sly, one corner of his mouth rising. “If you stay, you’ll have plenty of time to find out.”

  “Enticement,” she teased, loving this playful side of Garth. He was always so controlled and solemn.

  “Whatever it takes.” He was deadly serious.

  “Whatever it takes?”

  He nodded and seemed to steel himself for what was about to come.

  She pressed her hands against his chest and took another in a series of leaps of faith. “All you have to do is ask.”

  Chapter Ten

  It seemed way too easy. Any other woman would make him grovel and demand he place the world at her feet in atonement for what he’d done. Not Lacey. He was done doubting her. He’d take her at her word. If she broke his heart, so be it, but he would never knowingly harm hers again.

  He’d never truly believed a woman as beautiful and smart as Lacey would ever want him. He’d given up hoping for more than the occasional tumble with a paid courtesan.

  But now that he had Lacey, he’d do everything in his power to keep her.

  He kissed her, loving the way she leaned into him and returned the caress. He groaned when her tongue touched his. Canting his head to one side, he deepened the kiss. She was sensual, but it was natural and almost innocent.

  It was also making him crazy with need.

  Take it slowly. The words became a mantra he chanted over and over, desperately trying to ignore the ache in his balls and the throbbing of his cock.

  He broke away from her lips and worked his way to her ear. Her fingers clenched his shoulders, digging in, grounding him. He took the lobe of her ear between his teeth and lightly tugged before shaping the delicate whorls with his tongue.

  Her breathing quickened. She whispered his name. He inhaled sharply. Making her feel good was his new favorite pastime. But soon their play wasn’t enough for either of them.

  “Can I take it off?” He tugged at the hem of her tunic. She nodded and raised her hands over her head, allowing him to pull it away. She wasn’t wearing a bra, which left her naked from the waist up.

  Garth placed his hands over her breasts, covering them easily. His fingers shaped the small, firm mounds, and her nipples pressed against his palms. When he ran his thumbs over the tips, she moaned.

  “Take off your shirt.”

  “Your wish is my command.” In his haste, he ripped the garment but didn’t care. The battlesuit beneath was too thick to tear with anything less than a point-blank, up-close blast from a laser cannon—and maybe not even th
at would do it—but he had it peeled down in a heartbeat.

  She traced her fingers over the few slight scars on his chest before leaning in to kiss them.

  “Lacey.” A knot formed in his throat, making it difficult to swallow.

  “You’re so strong.” Her clever fingers stroked his chest and torso. When she flicked her tongue over one of his flat nipples he almost jumped out of his skin. His cock was doing its best to escape his battlesuit, and the resulting conflict was painful.

  Breathing heavily, he rose to his feet and stripped off the rest of his clothes. She’d seen him naked before, knew what to expect. Still, he was hesitant to turn his back to her. And it was for that very reason he did just that. He wanted to remind her exactly what she was getting. He wasn’t handsome or unscathed. He was battle-scarred and rough-looking.

  Clothing rustled behind him. He swallowed, barely daring to breathe.

  “Come to bed.” Her soft words almost sent him to his knees. A part of him had still expected to be sent away.

  He slowly turned around and found her lying naked on his bed. Prowling toward her, he climbed onto the mattress on all fours, stopping only when he was close enough to kiss her. She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his spine. His scars didn’t seem to bother her at all.

  Taking his time, he worked his way down her compact body. He kissed and licked her breasts and nipples, lovingly caressed her slender torso. She giggled when he nipped at her hips and traced the edges of her belly button with his tongue.

  All traces of laughter fled when he settled between her thighs. The bed wasn’t large enough, so he was only partially on the bed, his lower half on the floor. He lifted her legs, settling them over his broad shoulders, which opened her completely to him. Her pussy was pink and damp. It reminded him of a lovely flower he’d seen once. He had no idea what it was called, but it had had a heady fragrance.

  Garth buried his face in her mound and inhaled her sweet musk. Her heels dug into his shoulders as she canted her hips upward. He nuzzled her damp curls before licking the slick folds from back to front. He explored and tasted, mapping all her contours with the tip of his tongue.