Page 56 of Taken By the Convicts
Her smile reached her eyes as her hands locked behind his neck and drew him down on top of her. He slid into her slowly this time, the frenzied need to claim her no longer consuming him. She’d accepted his ring; no one could take her from him, not even the men of their unit.
Chapter Fourteen
REECE
Reece placed his wrist against the bunker’s access panel and held the door as Melina stepped through. Melina had no clothing. He’d retrieved her boots from the cave where he’d found her, but those bastards had burned her clothing, intending to keep her naked permanently. Reece had to wrap her in all the blankets in his cache, but she was shivering like crazy.
“Did you find her?” Ivan called from a distance away. It wasn’t like the man to yell out in the open where anyone could hear, but Reece had been gone for two days.
Reece opened the door wide, so Ivan could see her, then he gave her a little nudge to go down the steps. She needed to warm up. He let the door shut behind them.
“Mel!” Zev said, racing up the steps. “You’re an icicle. Let’s get you warmed up.” Zev lifted her, never even looking at Reece.
Before Reece reached the bottom of the steps, the door above opened. Ivan.
“What happened?” Jayce said from the bottom step.
Reece raised a brow.
“Right. Can’t talk. Fuck. Okay, we’ll wait for Zev. He took her to the shower to warm her up. You probably need the same.”
Jayce’s behavior surprised him as he led the way to the shower, as if he intended to ensure Reece warmed up as well.
“Hold up, Crusher,” Ivan said. “I need to know if anyone’s tracking you.”
He shook his head.
“No one to worry about then?”
He held up two fingers and sliced across his throat.
“Hawke’s men?”
Another nod.
“Fine. Shower and meet me in the kitchen when you’re done.”
Ten minutes later, Reece stood in the kitchen, showered, dressed, warm, and some meat in his belly. After his last swig of water, Ivan carefully assessed him and then laid into him.
“You don’t leave here unless your emotions are under control. Do you fucking understand that?”
He nodded. It’s not like he could do anything else, especially argue.
“And you don’t walk away from that door unless you’re sure it shuts all the way. You put your hand on the fucking handle and make damn sure it won’t open again, that no one can get in or out without the right tatt. The only reason she got out was because you failed to secure the door. If I didn’t need you so badly, I’d kick you out of this unit. Screw up again and I’ll find another soldier.”
“He’s not a soldier,” Zev said in his defense, appearing in the doorway.
Crusher pushed Zev back into the hall. He didn’t need Zev defending him. Reece had screwed up, and the unit had nearly lost Melina as a result. Ivan was right to chew him out. And replace him if he endangered the unit again. He wouldn’t screw up again though, not with her at risk.
“How is she?” Ivan asked Zev, who lingered in the hall.
“Tired, but happy. She’s wearing a thumb ring. Made of leather.”
Ivan stepped up really close to Crusher. “You’re Bacculan, aren’t you?”
Crusher dipped his head slowly with his eyes remaining on Ivan. With one look, he both acknowledged his heritage and warned Ivan not to mess with the mating ring.
“I don’t give a fuck if you ringed her. She’s inmyunit. If you fuck up again, Crusher, you better pray I don’t kick you out of here because no matter what, she’s staying.”
