Fertile: A Dark Sci-Fi Reverse Harem Romance Read online

  She reminded me of my little sister, the light in her eyes snuffed out. I bit back another cry as I moved to jump out of the truck.

  Josie shot her hand around my arm, pulling me back with more strength than I could have imagined given her sickly condition. She looked me directly in the eyes. There was no cloudiness to them, no confusion, only determination.

  “What’s wrong?”

  When she spoke, her words were strong, the tone thick with conviction. “The hero will save us. The prophecy is set in motion. Be prepared for many will die but you will live in glory.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Scorpio

  Failure.

  I’d failed my mission, the one Sergeant Cross, in full charge of the huntsmen pack, had assigned to me and me alone. Find the key. He was confident that I could do so. I’d been given limited details about where to find the damn thing, but little or no reason why it was so important. I’d brought my entire pack to the godforsaken warzone in an effort to fulfill my duties.

  And I hadn’t been able to complete the task. Were there solid reasons? Hell, yes.

  I couldn’t risk any additional lives, including Alex’s. I would be ostracized upon my return, if not killed for my inability. I’d accepted the fact. Sighing, I fisted my hand, resisting screaming into the night.

  The president’s daughter. Once considered American royalty. I’d never seen a picture of her or heard any personal details about the Pentigrass family. Some thought the poor bastard had been in over his head or simply a fucking fool to accept the job. There’d been limited celebrations when her father had been elected, especially since only the Elite had been allowed to vote. Almost immediately dissention had set in.

  I’d heard about it on one of the ham radios while sitting in the middle of the desert, burying another group of bodies. I remember cursing the man for no other reason than everyone believed the fucker to be a figurehead, a pretend symbol of hope. He’d tried to alter the wretched course, abandoning rules that had been established a few days after the first strike. He’d even required the assholes holing up in the glorious underground facilities to live in Washington amongst the people.

  How the hell long had that lasted? He’d almost been killed twice before going into hiding. At least Alex’s story should be entertaining.

  There was a time I believed in the sanctity of government. My father had instilled certain levels of respect in me even before I’d been drafted into military service, receiving the highest honors. What I’d learned the moment our team was driven to one of the hardest hit sections of America was that the edge of chaos had been hovering over the country for decades. The series of great bombs had merely been aftermaths of bad behavior, greed, and entitlement.

  Humans paying the ultimate price.

  Gunner was privy to our travel plans, as well as our destination, requiring us to change them by adding over fifty additional miles to the trip. Our communications were down, our inability to contact our city or the other huntsmen leaving them wide open for an attack. We had to get back before Gunner was able. I would find my revenge one day, but there were more important things at hand.

  I moved inside the abandoned farmhouse and into the musty kitchen, the location I’d directed she be held, waiting until I was ready to talk to her. My anger hadn’t subsided to any degree, but I was no longer certain if my rage was directed at myself alone. Yanking out one of the chairs, the scraping sound as the wood hit the cracked tile floor startled her. I straddled the back of the old wooden chair, folding my arms over the edge.

  Alex recoiled at seeing me, a hint of fear in her eyes. She should have shown that in the beginning instead of her constant defiance. I’d run out of patience.

  We’d found an abandoned farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, a keen find given we could hide the truck and horses in the barn for the night. There were eight of us and the two women, ten others having made it out during the first run.

  That left eighteen dead. We had no time for proper burials, no words that would send the fallen huntsmen on their way. With no communication, we had no backup of any kind. We were on our own with a solid three hundred miles to go.

  We’d been lucky enough to find a few supplies in a cellar, including a couple bottles of liquor. The location of the property had likely prevented vandals and thieves from raiding, although there were some signs of previous squatters.

  Three men stood watch, allowing me time to spend with her.

  I twisted the cap on one of the bottles, yanking the two glasses that had been set out closer. As I poured us both a drink, I could hear her heavy breathing.

  “Get on with it, Scorpio. I know you all hate me.”

  I sat quietly, nursing the glass of bourbon and studying her pensive face. “We have no time for hate, Alexandra, simply truths.”

  “I need to check on Josie,” Alex said quietly.

  “The girl is fine. She’s sleeping.”

  “She has a fever, which could mean a disease of some kind.”

  I chuckled, taking another swig. “As I said, she’s fine. Likely the stress and trauma.”

  “Yes, Doctor.”

  She continued to try to goad me. This time, I refused to take the bait.

  “Why did one of your men betray you?”

  “Because he has no integrity,” I answered, although I knew he’d done it for money.

  “You mean he knew about the payoff all along.” She tossed back her drink, cursing under her breath. “What do you want from me, Scorpio? I have no idea why my life is worth so much. I don’t have secrets or some military weapon worth money. My family wasn’t wealthy.”

  “I want the truth, any information that might prove to be helpful. Your worth means anyone close to you is in danger. There has to be a reason.”

  “I don’t know. It’s been almost six years since the murder of my father. Six years of living in the forests, foraging for food like an animal. Six years of wishing that I’d died with them.”

  “But you were hunted.”

  She opened her mouth before biting her inner cheek, shaking like a leaf. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “Uh-huh. Did your father give you anything? Something to keep in secret?”

  “No. Nothing. All we had was burned and trust me, we had almost nothing,” she half whispered. “I’m nobody any longer. The chancellor won. You know that. No one can challenge him. I overheard your men talking. I know you believe the scavengers are working with the government to eradicate as many laborers as possible. Why? He needs workers.”

  I sighed, easing off the chair and leaning against the counter.

  “Except the huntsmen. You’re collecting supplies and any ammunition you can fight to wage another war, trying to gain power. That’s it. Isn’t it?”

  Her voice was melodic, filtering into my ears. I didn’t answer her.

  “Oh, my God. I’m right. I’ve heard you are thousands in numbers and that you have control over one of the larger cities, complete with weapons, enough to take over Washington.” She seemed excited at her summation.

  “What you’ve heard is greatly exaggerated, much like your belief that we were turned into little more than primal beasts.”

  “But your DNA was altered. You are different. Not only is that easy to see, but my father knew of the experiments that had started long before the first war. At least the United States had been planning for a horrific showdown for years. Sadly, their scientific experiments didn’t have the outcome they’d hoped for. The chancellor changed everything, destroying all the good intentions.” She looked away. The girl continued to lie.

  “And what did they hope for, Alexandra? You seem to have a great deal of information, much more so than a simple girl, even for the daughter of a former president.”

  “My father told me stories, but after we ran, he really didn’t want to talk about the experience.”

  I grabbed the bottle of booze, pouring another full glass. “All so interesting, Alex. What else did your f
ather tell you while he was in office? Weren’t you some princess, living the posh life?”

  Alex furrowed her brow, shaking her head several times. “Don’t treat me this way, Scorpio. I’ve done everything I could to stay alive, including facing the loss of my sister. God knows where she is today or even if she’s alive.”

  Her exasperation held a ring of truth. “I’m sorry about your sister. We’ve all lost someone close to us.” I rubbed my temple, refusing to give into the sadness. What I’d lost had been a lifetime ago.

  The tension remained thick.

  “Who did you lose exactly? You’re not a man who could love anyone. That’s also easy to see. You’re far too brutal and full of rage.” Her eyes opened wide as soon as she’d made the accusation. “That was shitty of me. I’m sorry.”

  I exhaled, fiddling with the glass. “I was a different man when I was a doctor. For a little while I believed things would work out. Maybe that’s why I’d looked the other way for far too long, allowing the chancellor to gain more power. And yes, I did love someone very special.” I closed my eyes, a headache rolling in. Why in the fuck was I bothering to tell her anything?

  “What happened to her?”

  I loathed the fact my hand was shaking. “Let’s just say it didn’t work out as I’d hoped.”

  We were both quiet, watching the flickering flame.

  “Here’s the ugly truth. I was an attorney working with the government during and after my father was elected. Yes, privileged. I’d been allowed to go to law school as long as I promised to work for the government directly, not my first choice, but I felt I could help in some small way. My father also believed that I could strengthen his position, attempting to bring back democracy. My duty was to expose those threatening the safety of the country, helping to provide security and freedom. There was an entire team. I was good at my job, able to thwart off at least two attacks on two major cities.” She kept her words even. “For a little while, I loved what I was doing.”

  I lifted an eyebrow and held up my glass. “So Diesel was right to be overly cautious. You were part of the system. Did the chancellor lure you back to work for him exclusively?” I had to ask the question, even though I knew the answer.

  “How dare you!” Jerking up from the chair, she raised her hand to slap me, her entire body shaking.

  I snagged her wrist, pulling her close, drinking in her sweet essence. “I believe you, Alex, but I won’t say I’m sorry. I’m programmed to distrust. I was bred to lead, including flushing out traitors.”

  “Yeah? You ask me to surrender to you, yet you fight everything I tell you. I know I lied, but I have no way of knowing who to trust either. I’m not your enemy. It’s obvious the chancellor wants me dead for whatever reason. I’m not making that up.”

  Her line had been drawn in the sand. I curled my lip, desire lifting its wretched head. Her scent alone was far too intoxicating.

  “Understood and you must learn to trust me. I will never let anything happen to you. That is my duty as your mate.” Refusing to let go, I pulled her closer until our lips were almost touching.

  “You say that with disgust in your voice. Why do you care? Why?”

  I brushed my lips against hers, my cock twitching. All the anger, the deceit and the sadness that I’d kept bottled up for years was ready to explode. The words spewed from my mouth. I prayed that I wouldn’t regret them. “Because you mean a great deal to me.”

  “The drugs. That’s the only reason,” she shot back.

  The memory of the young girl’s face was firmly planted in the forefront of my mind. The same eyes. The same small dimple on her chin.

  “In another time and another place, I promised I would save you. I wasn’t able to then, but I will now.”

  “What?” Blinking several times, she seemed shaken until her eyes captured the same memory. “You. The prison. Oh, God, I remember.”

  She shuddered as I crushed her mouth, her other hand slamming against my chest. Then she curled her fingers around my shirt as I pulled her onto my lap, slipping my tongue between her pursed lips.

  The taste of her was even sweeter, driving me to an intense level of desire. She was my weakness, a hunger that refused to be denied. I released her wrist, cupping the side of her face, my fingers digging into her porcelain skin.

  Moaning, she clung to me, grinding her bottom against my throbbing cock as she tangled her fingers in my hair.

  The kiss was powerful, electrifying in a way that was almost suffocating. I had to have her, to fuck her and fill her.

  But there was more.

  Emotions that I’d thought had been tossed away, never to be felt again. The fire had been reignited, burning every cell and muscle, dragging the hunger from a deep place. I sucked on her tongue as I held her, savoring her soft purrs and whimpers.

  My thirst increasing, I eased her onto the table, ripping at her pants as she tugged on my shirt. I pushed her hands away, a reminder that I was in control. She was mine. All mine. I yanked her pants down, immediately pushing her legs up and back, exposing her beautiful pussy.

  Breaking the kiss, I growled as I licked and nipped her bottom lip, moving to her chin and neck, suckling her sweet flesh.

  “Oh, yes...” Her moans were guttural, almost inaudible as I yanked her shirt, dragging it over her head.

  Easing back, I took several deep breaths, admiring her beauty in the warm light. “So beautiful. So sexy,” I whispered in a husky tone before dropping my head and sucking on her nipple.

  Alex arched her back, her eyes remaining wide open to watch as I ravaged her hardened bud, sucking and biting down. I couldn’t get enough of her, rolling my lips to her other nipple as I pinched and twisted the first.

  “Oh. God!”

  I shifted one hand, lightly rubbing the tips of my fingers down her side, swirling around her breast, brushing down to her hipbone.

  She opened her legs even wider, a gift for the barbarian she couldn’t trust. Whatever our connection, Diesel had been right. What we shared was about much more than sex.

  My possession.

  A piece of my heart.

  The concept was a harsh tug at my soul, almost pulling me into the darkness. I closed my eyes briefly, rolling my lips down to her bellybutton, allowing my tongue to trace circle after circle as she shivered in my hold.

  “Mmm... So good,” she muttered.

  The scent of her was undeniable, bolstering the crazed hunger clawing at the surface. I gripped her thighs, holding them wide open as I languished over the area just above her pussy, dragging my tongue back and forth.

  Shuddering, she tossed her head up, taking scattered breaths.

  The second I swirled the tip of my tongue around her clit, she jerked up from the table, panting. I slid the flat of my hand along her stomach, pushing gently as I licked and sucked on her tender tissue. Her juice already covered my tongue, sliding down my parched throat, the taste exquisite. All I could think about was ravaging her, licking until she came several times.

  I issued a series of husky growls, blowing a swath of hot air across her pussy before devouring her, feasting savagely. I buried my face as my cock continued to grow, slickening my mouth and nose as I thrust my tongue inside.

  “Fuck...” Her subtle whimpers turned into ragged moans.

  “Pinch your nipples for me,” I commanded, rubbing my fingers along her sweet pussy lips.

  “Mmm...” She did as she was told, cupping her breasts and squeezing, pinching her nipples between her thumbs and forefingers.

  “Pain and pleasure. You’re going to get used to it.” I thumped down on the chair, shifting my hand as I pumped several fingers deep inside. The way her muscles clamped around the invasion brought another round of shattering electricity shooting through me. I lapped her cream, savoring every drop as I added a fourth finger, using my thumb and wiggling around her puckered asshole. I wanted nothing more than to shove my cock deep inside.

  And I would.

  More
than once.

  The second I slipped my thumb just inside, she let out a muffled scream, immediately sucking in her breath. “Oh!”

  “Do you want more?”

  “God, yes. Please.”

  With every swipe of my tongue, every thrust of my fingers plunging in a brutal manner, I could tell she was yanked into a heightened level of nirvana. But she needed to be taught a lesson.

  Again.

  Jerking up, I grabbed her legs, holding them together as I swatted her ass several times, moving from one ass cheek to the other in rapid succession.

  She wrinkled her nose as she closed her eyes, whimpering as the spanking continued, but unlike before, she wasn’t fighting me.

  The sting on my hand seemed more intensified, driving the beast from his hiding place. I had difficulty focusing as I peppered her bottom with hard smacks until her skin was a blushing pink. I lifted her legs even higher, reveling in the way her pretty little pussy lips peeked out, swollen and glistening. I smacked her there several times before opening her legs once again.

  This time, as I lowered my head, I slid several fingers into her pussy then moved to her asshole. She held her position, taking gulping breaths as I resumed licking her, going up and down the entire length of her pussy.

  “Can I come? Please? Please?” Her question was little more than a purr, her lower lip quivering as she stared down at me, her eyes unfocused.

  “Not yet.” I blew across her sensitive skin again before sucking on her clit, rolling my tongue in languishing motions. She became crazed, her body bucking, her hands shaking as she attempted to continue obeying, her fingers plucking and twisting her nipples.

  I smacked her pussy twice before burying my head once again, using my tongue in orchestration with my fingers, pumping hard and fast. I knew she couldn’t hold back much longer.

  “Let me come. Please. Please...”

  “Come. Now!” My command was deep, ragged as my own desire was reaching a boiling point. The almost desperate hunger I felt could not be denied.