Saved by Venom: 3 (Grabbed) (9 page)

He picked up one of the cutlery sets and handed it to her. “You don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that.” She opened the protective packaging and tugged free a fork. “The first couple of times I thought maybe you couldn’t remember my name.”

Her mischievous grin sent little darts of excitement right through his chest. The more relaxed she became around him the more of the real Dizzy he glimpsed—and he really liked her. “Your name isn’t an easy one to forget.”

She made a little laughing sound. “My real name is way worse.”

He’d been tempted to dig through her bag and peek at her official paperwork while she’d been sedated but it felt wrong to go through her things, even if they technically belonged to him now that she was legally his property. “What is it?”

She shook her head. “You first.”

“My name is Venom.”

“No,” she said. “The name you had before the academy.”

Before the academy?
“I take it Risk filled you in on our naming conventions.”

“He mentioned that you lose your birth name when you enter the academy and earn another name when you graduate.”

“It’s a way to build unit cohesion and brotherhood. The boys we were when we joined the academy disappear at the front doors. We’re all the same and all on equal footing. No one is richer or poorer. We’re just numbers.”

Her expression turned sad. “That sounds terribly hard for a little boy.”

He shrugged. “It’s not easy but it’s our way. Someday our sons will climb the same stairs to the academy’s front doors that I climbed and my father climbed and his father before him.”

Dizzy went perfectly still at the mention of someday having his sons. It wasn’t a secret that Grabs were meant to promote procreation of strong, healthy boys to fill the ranks. It was one of the reasons why only the bravest, toughest soldiers were granted the right to take wives by earning valor points. It weeded out the weak and the less deserving.

But he had only just Grabbed Dizzy that morning and already he was talking about sons.
What the hell is wrong with you? You’re going to scare her.

While he had been dreaming of starting a family for years, Dizzy was in her early twenties, still very young to be considering a family of her own. Would she balk at the idea? Would she follow Menace’s wife’s lead and petition for a birth-control implant?

“I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t want you to think that the only reason I entered the Grab was to get you pregnant.”

Shit.
That sounded even worse, didn’t it? He could just hear Raze laughing at him and encouraging him to keep digging.

“What I mean is that I want more than just children with you. I want the whole package.”

She studied him for a few discomfiting moments before finally saying, “You’ve probably just jinxed us.”

Bemused, he asked, “Jinxed? How?”

Her mouth slanted rather impishly. “You’re all puffed up about the idea of having sons. We’ll probably end up with a dozen girls.”

Dizzy’s playful reply set him at ease. Maybe they weren’t so far apart when it came to that issue. “If they’re as pretty as their mother I’ll be a very proud father.”

She waved her fork at him. “There’s that flattery again.”

“Is it working?”

“Maybe.” She rolled her top lip under to squash a grin. Turning her attention to the food, she asked, “What do you want?”

“You go first.”

“Um…” She poked at a few dishes before choosing a green salad loaded with fresh vegetables, a serving of steamed veggies in a tart sauce and some of the fruit. She gestured to the salad. “I can share this.”

He shook his head. “I had one with lunch.” Eyeing her choices, he pushed some of the grilled steak her way. “You should have some protein.”

She pointed out the bright-red beans on her salad. “These are protein.”

“I meant meat.” He remembered Vicious telling him that Hallie had been hesitant to eat what she wanted. Food insecurity was a real issue on Calyx and women tended to be underfed and malnourished. He gave Dizzy a scrutinizing glance. “You should probably have more protein in your diet.”

She made a face and shoved the dish back toward him. “I don’t eat meat.”

He gawked at her. “What do you mean? How can you not eat meat? It’s delicious.”

“I’m sure it is but it’s not for me.”

Venom couldn’t wrap his head around the idea of any person choosing to forego a juicy steak. “Why not?”

She wrinkled her dainty nose. “That’s not a story you want me to tell over dinner.” When he sat there waiting patiently for her to continue, she rolled her eyes and said, “When I was a kid my dad sent me to spend a week with his sister on her husband’s sprawling farm. It was the fall, during the annual hog slaughter. Let’s just say that seven days of watching
that
cured me of any meat cravings.”

He had never witnessed such a thing but had always assumed the process from pasture to table wasn’t particularly nice. Even though it didn’t bother him to consume meat, he didn’t want to upset Dizzy so he started to set aside the steak he loved so much.

Her warm fingers clasped his wrist to stop him. “It doesn’t bother me to watch other people enjoy meat.”

He cast a skeptical glance her way. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. My best friend chows down on slabs of meat in front of me all the time. It’s not a big deal.”

Though it was selfish he experienced a wave of relief. The idea of having to sneak his favorite foods wasn’t one he relished but he would have done it for her. “We’ll have to make sure there are other protein sources in our kitchen for you.”

“Can you get fish up here?”

“Sure.”

“I don’t mind eating fish occasionally, especially the fresh stuff they catch down in Blue Shores. We used to go down there every summer for vacation. It was a beautiful place. So much cleaner and prettier than The City.”

The peek into her past left him with so many questions. From what he knew of the society down on Calyx there weren’t many people who could afford a summer getaway. Had she come from a wealthy family? Why was she living in a tiny apartment if her family had money?

And then there was the issue of her father. Did she realize the man she called Dad wasn’t her biological parent?

Tucking into his meal, he made pleasant conversation and hoped not to rouse her suspicions. “Your father enjoyed the sea?”

She shook her head and swallowed her tiny bite. “He couldn’t stand it so he spent most of his time at the casino there. My mother loved the ocean and the beach so we would have girls-only days on the sand. She said being at that seaside hotel reminded her of the happiest summer of her life.”

“And what summer was that?”

“The one where she and my dad made me,” Dizzy said with a sweet smile.

His gut clenched. She clearly had no idea what her mother had truly meant and he wasn’t about to be the one who burst her happy little bubble. Not yet at least. The truth would come out soon but he had to find an easier way to deliver it.

Speaking to Risk as soon as possible jumped to the top of his list of priorities. He didn’t want the surgeon to reveal the information about her DNA before he had a chance to prepare her. Dizzy needed a little time to get used to being his mate and living in this new society before he started tearing into the wall of secrets between her and her parents.

“Can we visit Blue Shores?”

He didn’t miss the hopefulness in her voice. “Sure. It will have to wait a few months. We can’t possibly get the travel clearance while I’m on honeymoon leave but I’ll file the permits and work it into my schedule.”

“I think you’ll like it there.” She stabbed her fork through some of the leafy greens. “I want you to see it the way it is now, just a sleepy, easy place, before they build that monstrosity of a base down there.”

Venom heard the distaste in her voice. “We need a land-based center of operations for this sector. From what I understand, the Blue Shores community welcomed the possibility of a base there and the financial incentives that come with it.”

Her shoulders bounced. “They’re not like the rest of our settlements on Calyx. They’re a fairly autonomous group out there. They were the first to break away when our ancestors were given the planet by your people. Long before the settlers who founded Connor’s Run,” she added. “You’ll understand more about them when we visit. They’re just…different.”

A thrill of excitement rippled through him at the thought of going on vacation with Dizzy. He’d never really had a true vacation. Oh, he took mandatory leave like every other soldier, but he generally coordinated with Raze or Menace or some of his other SRU buddies to hit up one of the pleasure ports. Sex, gambling, sports, films—it started off fun enough but by the third or fourth day he started to dread getting out of his bed. It was so…empty.

Of course, going on vacation with Dizzy meant he would have a much better reason for not wanting to get out of bed. Technically they were in bed now and Venom didn’t want to budge. He eyed the reclining chair where visitors were supposed to sleep.

Not a chance in hell…

A short time later, Dizzy anxiously eyed the closed bathroom door. Any second Venom would step out of there freshly showered…and then what?

She twirled some of her hair around her finger and thought about the dinner. In some ways it had been very much like a first date. Except that it had taken place in a hospital bed while she was half-dressed and looking like a hot mess.

As she played with her hair, the scent of the shampoo provided by the hospital wafted toward her nose. It wasn’t unpleasant but it was a bit too stringent and manly for her tastes. Surely they had stores that sold feminine soaps and shampoos? She hoped so—otherwise Venom was going to have to get used to snuggling up to a girl who smelled like one of his comrades.

Thoughts of snuggling with her giant sky warrior left her feeling a bit lightheaded. It wasn’t the sickness that made her feel that way. No, it was the memory of Venom’s thick, corded arms wrapped around her in the bathroom while she washed her hands. Even though he had shifted away from her she’d still felt the very hard—and very big—evidence of his attraction toward her nudging her backside.

When he had dropped those ticklish kisses on her neck she’d nearly fallen into the sink. Her knees had gone all wobbly and her tummy had trembled wildly. If a couple of kisses and a hug did that to her, how the hell was she going to survive Venom making love to her?

And he wanted to make love to her so badly. There was no doubt in her mind about that.

When he had accompanied her into the bathroom for her shower she’d been sure he would try to finagle his way into the stall with her. He had surprised her by giving her some privacy and space. Though he wouldn’t leave the room he’d turned his back and kept his arms crossed. A few times she’d caught him sneaking peeks in the mirror but she couldn’t fault him for that. Had the tables been turned she would have wanted to get a glimpse of his naked body too.

Even though he was obviously trying to be respectful of her need to recuperate he couldn’t hide the burning lust darkening his blue eyes every time he looked at her. Considering how long he’d waited for the chance to have a wife she couldn’t really blame him for being so hot. That he’d shown this much restraint proved his self-control.

Her experience as a young woman living alone in The City taught her to be wary of men who were so kind and gentle. Usually they had ulterior motives. But she didn’t think Venom was one of those men.

Talking with Risk had given her some insight into the man who had snatched her from the planet’s surface. He had survived so much to earn the points needed to enter a Grab. He seemed to want nothing more than to take care of and love her. After being emotionally and physically abandoned by her father after her mother’s traumatic death, the idea of having someone to lean on for support was incredibly enticing.

She wasn’t silly enough to think that it was going to be smooth sailing between them—they’d only just met, after all—but she had a growing hope that life with Venom could be very good.

First they would need to deal with that bossy streak of his. She felt conflicted when he gave her orders. She naturally rebelled at the idea of being told what to do by anyone…but she would be lying if she denied there wasn’t some tiny part of her that found Venom’s commanding nature rather exciting. There was something about that gruff voice of his that made her shiver inside.

The bathroom door opened and Venom exited in a small cloud of steam. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head at the sight of his half-naked body. She had to clamp her teeth together to keep her jaw from dropping. It was rude to stare but she just couldn’t help herself.

Oblivious to the way he affected her Venom strode into the hospital room and dropped his neatly folded uniform onto an empty chair. He wore only black shorts and when he bent down to adjust the boots he’d left under the chair she got a rather enticing view of his taut backside. The sight inspired some rather naughty visions of this gorgeous man between her thighs, thrusting into her and showing her all the secret delights of a marriage bed.

A wicked thrill raced through as she ogled his massive and muscular body. He straightened up and walked to the end of her bed. She took in his broad chest and toned arms. Tattoos marked the right side of his body, swirling around his arm right down to his knuckles and arcing up the side of his neck. His left side remained bare. She had heard they reserved the left side, the side closest to their hearts, for telling the stories of their families while the right side told of their military history.

“Do they bother you?” As if self-conscious, he ran his hand over the dark ink.

She was surprised to see such a tense set to his square jaw. “No. Why would they?”

“Some of your women don’t like them.”

“I think they’re beautiful.” At his funny face, she added, “You know, in a manly sort of way.”

Laughing, he walked over to the side of the bed. She took advantage of his closer position to reach out and touch one of the tattoos. He inhaled a sharp breath and she instinctively pulled back her hand, worrying she’d crossed some line. Grabbing her wrist, he dragged her hand back to his arm. “I want you to touch me. It surprised me. That’s all.”

With his fingers wrapped loosely around her wrist, Dizzy traced the symbols on his skin. How long had it been since a woman had touched him like this? Too long if his heavier breaths were any indication.

Her finger moved to a series of squares with slash marks through them. He had them rolling up his biceps and onto his back. “What do these symbols mean?”

Venom didn’t answer her immediately. Seeming reluctant, he explained, “They mark my confirmed kills as a sniper. Every box equals five.”

“Five?” Her astounded reply escaped her lips before she could stop it. There were just so many of them on his skin. She didn’t have the stomach to add them up.

“Yes.” The harsh, pained whisper of his voice cut her to the bone. She could feel the cold waves of regret and discomfort radiating from him. Venom dropped her wrist and took a step back. “I’ll put on a shirt.”

“Stop.” She reached for him, clasping his hand and tugging him down onto the bed. He watched her with a mistrusting eye, almost as if he feared what she would say next. Fully aware this was a chink in his emotional armor, she wanted to tread carefully. “I can’t even pretend to understand what war is like.”

“You probably understand better than most brides.” His thick finger moved aside the thin collar circling her neck to touch the gnarly scars dotting her skin.

“Maybe,” she said uncertainly. “Venom, I don’t know you that well—but I don’t think you’re a monster. I think you’re a highly talented soldier who did his duty. I won’t judge you for carrying out orders.”

“Maybe not,” he said quietly, “but these tattoos will be a constant reminder of the things I’ve done and of the lives I’ve taken.”

Searching for the right words, she swept her palm over the markings on his hard biceps. “This is your past, Venom.” Her hand moved to his left arm where the skin remained pristine. “This is your future. That’s all that matters to me.”

He swallowed hard, his throat moving, before taking her hand and dragging it down to the space above his heart. “
You
are my future. This is
our
future.”

The huskiness to his voice made her chest tighten. Since surviving the bombing Dizzy hadn’t really allowed herself to think too far ahead. In the back of her mind, she secretly doubted there was a future. Terrorists like the Splinters wouldn’t stop with one bomb. No, they were biding their time and waiting for the next opportunity to strike.

She had allowed herself to plan as far ahead as next month. Thinking in short-term bursts—tomorrow or next week—didn’t make her nervous. After all, she had design and production deadlines that had to be met—but daydreaming about five years down the road? Never.

Sitting there with Venom, Dizzy allowed herself to imagine for the briefest of moments what her life could be like in a year or two. She remembered all the things he’d talked about wanting with her, especially a family, and liked the possibilities that flashed before her eyes.

“Have I gone too far?” Her hulking sky warrior stared at her so intently. “Is it too soon to talk about our future?”

She shot him a bemused glance. “Venom, you snatched me out of a forest and put your collar on me. Moving too fast happened around five minutes after I left that cold, muddy pen.”

“Fair enough,” he said with a short laugh. He brushed his fingers through her loose hair. “When you think about the future, what do you think about?”

“Security.” The answer came swiftly. “I’m so tired of being afraid.”

Compassion softened his expression. “I’ll protect you.”

She figured if any man in the universe could pull off that promise it was Venom. “Yes, I think you will.”

Feeling braver than ever, she leaned forward and planted a kiss right on his mouth. He reacted with some surprise at her aggressive move. In the short time they had been together she had been too shy or uncertain of him to let down her guard. Not anymore.

When she looped her arms around his shoulders, Venom relaxed and slid his hand to her nape. Cupping the back of her head, he took control of the kiss she’d initiated. With any other man it would have annoyed her to lose power but there was just something so damn intoxicating about the way Venom naturally assumed the dominant role.

And the man could kiss!

As he had back in the forest when he’d left her shivering with desire, he quickly wowed her with his skill. His tongue flirted with hers before delving deeper. She had never allowed the few men she’d dated to get very far with such passionate kisses. Considering she had sworn off sex before marriage to protect herself, she tried not to cross that line. Too many steps on the wrong side and it might prove too difficult to stop.

But all those old worries and roadblocks fled. Held in Venom’s strong arms she was powerless to deny him the erotic kisses he seemed intent on sharing with her. Nor did she want to deny him. God, she wanted it
all
.

When he sucked just the tip of her tongue she nearly died. Her heart fluttered wildly and she whimpered with need. He nibbled her bottom lip until her face flushed and she throbbed all over. Overheated and panting, she clung to him and wished he’d keep going.

A man cleared his throat very loudly from the doorway of the hospital room. Dizzy tore away from Venom in shock but he didn’t seem the least bit fazed. He forced her to meet his calm, assured gaze. His playful wink lessened her embarrassment at being caught making out like teenagers.

“Venom,” Risk said with teasing censure in his voice, “if you can’t let her rest, I’ll have to banish you to the waiting room.”

Venom grunted and sent the surgeon a daring look. “I’d like to see you try.”

Laughing, Risk walked toward the bed. “The dozens of sedatives at my fingertips might even the odds.”

Venom cracked a smile. “You always did like to play dirty.”

“I prefer to think of it as playing smarter.” Risk reached toward the neck of her hospital gown. In a movement so fast it startled her, Venom gripped the surgeon’s wrist. Instead of looking annoyed, Risk rolled his eyes. “Would you calm the hell down? I’m removing her life-sign patches so you two won’t be setting off alarms all night. The medics have other patients who need their attention.”

Venom released the doctor’s wrist. “I’ll do it.”

“Fine.” Risk shrugged and reached up to tap away at the screen mounted on the wall next to her bed. “I’m stopping your vital signs checks. You’ve been stable since surgery so there’s no point. We’ll get another read during your discharge exam. We also need to complete your intake exam in the morning.”

“What does that entail?” Her belly lurched as the possibility of painful procedures awaited her.

“Nothing scary,” Risk replied. “We were able to take samples for all of the necessary tests while we prepped you for surgery. We need to go over your medical history to make sure we haven’t missed anything small. That’s all.”

“Oh.” That didn’t sound so bad.

Venom carefully peeled the small silver squares from her upper arm and chest. “It will be quick and painless. We’ll be out of here before you know it.”

The idea of being alone with Venom made her heart race. When she had queued up to run in the Grab that morning she’d dreaded the idea of being alone with one of these scary Harcos males. Now she couldn’t wait for Venom to take her away to his home.

Risk headed to the large window looking out toward a central station where medics and doctors congregated. When he tapped the glass it changed from transparent to opaque to provide them privacy. “That’s
amazing
.”

Venom chuckled. “I can’t wait to show you around our quarters. You’re going to love the technology.”

Risk watched them with interest. Whatever he saw made him smile. “I’m off shift soon but I’ll see you two in the morning.” Pausing in the doorway, he pointed at Venom. “She’s still my patient, so behave yourself, Captain.”

Venom held up his hands. “I’ll keep my big paws above the sheet.”

Risk snorted and shook his head. “It’s not your hands I’m worried about, Ven.”

Venom balled up the stickers he’d peeled from her skin and tossed them at Risk. The surgeon displayed his whip-fast reflexes by catching them midair before they pelted his head. Still laughing, Risk chucked the small ball into refuse bin on his way out the door. “Have fun, kids.”

“But not too much,” Venom grumbled and slid off the bed. “Do you sleep with the lights on or off?”

“On,” she admitted. “Ever since…”

“The bombing,” he said with an understanding smile. “That’s all right. It won’t bother me to keep them dimmed.” He adjusted the lights to their lowest setting before returning to the bed and moving the sharp incline to its flattest setting. When he put his knee on the mattress to join her for the night she looked at him as though he was crazy. “What is it?”

She pointed out the obvious. “We’re not going to fit.”