Page 30 of Stealing Mercury
RomaCampsite,PlanetG-45987
EarthAlliance Beta Sector - Gollerra Border
2210.157
Mercury crouched on a sturdy tree limb. He had a good view of the clearing where Sam was making camp. She moved easily—uninjured, healthy, fit and full of life. He didn’t know how long he’d been watching. This new world was nothing like the domed city where he’d been created and trained, and his body had not yet learned its rhythms. Lo and Carn were close by, and they would wait as long as necessary.
His ears flicked in concern when Sam’s discussion with the whip-master turned tense.
Even though Mercury had known something would happen, rage burned through him when Drake abandoned her to Resler. The instant Sam’s body broadcast her fear, he exploded off the branch. The jolt of landing battered his body, but that didn’t stop him from launching into a run.
His muscles caught fire as he surged through trees and across the open ground. His surroundings blurred. The scent of Sam, the scent of her terror, filled his head and guided him through the blur.
Then he was there. Sam was trapped face down on the ground. Resler on top of her. Mercury dug his fingers into Resler’s shoulder and thigh. Satisfaction soared when he heard the man whimper and scented the stink of the man’s piss as he wet himself. Mercury chucked him aside, aiming for a large tree—not so near the collision would kill the bastard, but close enough to provide a rewarding smack.
He shook his body in a head to toe shudder to rid himself of the need for further violence and turned his attention to Sam. He dropped to his knees beside her, bent low to shelter her with his strength, and reached for her.
She scrambled with her fingers and toes to get out of his reach.
“No!” She thrashed, forcing Mercury to dodge kicks and elbows until he slipped an arm under her belly and pulled her back against his chest to control her fear-fueled movements.
Fuck, he should have been faster.
He kept his touch unyielding, but careful not to dig into her already bruised flesh, as he growled softly to his courageous little female.
As her movements stilled, he turned her in his arms, one hand cradling her skull. He pressed her face to his chest. Her hot breath puffed warmly against his perspiration-slicked skin, affirming that she was okay, alive and vital to his wellbeing. Nothing had ever felt better.
“Mercury.”
“I’m here,courra. No one will harm you now.”
Her fingernails dug small crescents into his skin as she clung to him. “How?”
He understood the question but wasn’t ready to answer. To risk her withdrawal.
All the times they’d spent with bars between them hadn’t prepared him for the reality of her body pressed to his. He wanted to comfort her. To provide a safe haven. He also wanted to claim her. Every instinct screamed that he should bind her to him, punish her for putting herself in such danger. Soothe all her hurts.
He lifted her higher and buried his face against her neck. Pressing his lips low along her throat, he nestled his nose against her jawline. He sucked in a deep breath, taking in her scent. He’d nearly lost her before they’d even begun.
His heart soared as she allowed his touch. She clung to him until he forced himself to loosen his hold, letting her ease back a few inches. Hair spilled around her in a riot of color. Her skin began to fade from gold to pink as he watched. Her big green eyes studied him in that way she had. So different from other humans. No greed. No calculation. No hate.
She blinked and looked around. Her gaze lingered over Resler’s unconscious form before coming back to him. “Drake?”
He growled low in the back of his throat. His muscles tightened with annoyance that she would still worry about the enemy. “Carn will have him by now. He’ll live. They both will. I remembered my promise. Even if they deserve worse than death.”
He stood, setting her on her feet.
Mercury signaled to Lo. His brother emerged from the shadows as he made a chuffing noise in the back of his throat.
Sam clutched Mercury’s arm as Lo’s gaze brushed across her before he leaned down and pulled Resler over his shoulder. Sam pressed against Mercury’s side as Lo padded back to the clearing with Resler’s limp body.
Mercury wished he knew what was happening in her mind. Nothing in her scent provided a clue.
Samantha tried to take a step but stumbled.
Mercury caught her, then pulled her back into his arms. “Lo won’t kill him.”
She took the support he offered, letting him hold her. Relief and worry tangled in a ball in his gut.
