Vanguard Security

by S. J. Bishop

  “No, why?”

  “Do you want to help us make dinner?” There was an excited inflection in her tone as she rocked on her feet. “Pretty please?”

  I chuckled. “Are you sure your mom would be okay with that?”

  She tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Huh?”

  “Never mind.”

  She frowned. “So, you’re not coming?”

  “No, no, I am.”

  “Yippee!” She giggled with glee, grabbing my hand and tugging me out of bed. “This is going to be so much fun!”

  I followed her into the kitchen, where Cassandra was chopping some onions, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  She looked at me, her eyes narrowing, and pressed her lips together.

  “Hey, she’s the one who invited me.” I held up my hands in innocence. “So don’t get mad at me.”

  “He can help us, can’t he, mommy?”

  Cassandra hesitated before she eventually nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Goodie.” Kimmy pulled me to the table. “We are making my favorite!”

  “What’s your favorite?” I asked her. There were so many ingredients splayed out in front of us that I didn’t quite know what to make of them. I had never been much of a cook. Honestly, I didn’t know my way around a kitchen. Who was I kidding?

  “Lasagna,” she said with a smile.

  “Wait… Do you put onions in lasagna? Since when?”

  “They’re for the red sauce,” Cassandra explained as if I were an idiot.

  “Oh, alright. So, what do you want me to do?” I was a little hesitant to ask, knowing that I would no doubt make a total fool of myself.

  But, to my surprise, it was a rather smooth operation. Once we got into a rhythm, we kept a tempo in the kitchen, dancing around one another as Kimmy fluttered along the perimeter, handing over ingredients or giving her “professional” opinion.

  Soon, I found myself having fun. Somehow, I was actually enjoying the experience. Sure, I was a little awkward at first, but I soon got the hang of it. Besides, lasagna wasn’t all that hard – thankfully.

  By the time we settled around the table, I was proud of my contribution to the meal.

  “Mmm, yummy.” Kimmy smiled.

  “What did I tell you about talking with your mouth open?” Cassandra chided.

  “Sorry, Mommy,” she whispered, bowing her head before she continued to shove food into her mouth.

  I chuckled. This kid had quite the personality. I liked it.

  “Thanks for helping,” Cassandra said, much to my surprise.

  I looked at her, thinking for a moment that I had misheard her. “What?”

  “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

  “Did you just thank me for something?”

  “Yes,” she answered, slipping her fork between her lips.

  “You’re doing that on purpose,” I accused.

  “Doing what?”

  “Teasing me.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She feigned innocence, once again bringing the fork to her lips and wrapping them sensually around the tongs. Oh yeah, she was definitely teasing me. I could even see the naughty little glint in her eyes.

  Kimmy looked at us, confused.

  “Why don’t you go get ready for bed, Kimmy?”

  “But…”

  “Kimmy.”

  She frowned but eventually scurried off.

  “What was all that about?” I asked.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” She smirked.

  “I don’t get you. One second, you hate me. The next, you taunt me with bedroom eyes.”

  Her smirk just deepened as she cleared the table, placing the dirty dishes in the sink. “You’re delusional.”

  Before I could say anything, she left to check on Kimmy.

  I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to make sense of it all. Why were all women so damn confusing? Everything had to be some sort of game where the man could never win. Figuring I was better off staying out of it, I started washing the dishes.

  By the time she returned, I had finished placing the last plate on the dish rack.

  “You didn’t need to do that.”

  “Figured I’d try to get some bonus points with you.”

  She laughed. “Ah, so that’s what it is. Thanks, anyway.”

  “Seriously, what are you up to?” I asked, but again, she avoided the question. This time, she walked past me, her hips swaying from side to side. I groaned under my breath, wanting to feel that ass between my fingers, to pull her close and never let her go. If she kept up all this teasing, she would soon regret it.

  “Would you like to join us for some TV?”

  “Huh?”

  “Kimmy and I are going to watch TV. She’s probably going to ask you to join us anyway.”

  Shrugging, I followed her into the living room. There, the three of us settled onto the couch. Kimmy was comfortably nuzzled between us, happily watching her favorite cartoon series.

  As I sat there, all I could focus on was Cassandra’s weird shift in attitude. What had happened? What had caused this change? Or was she simply toying with me?

  I didn’t know, and it was killing me inside. Subtly, I glanced over at her, only to find her glancing at me.

  Our eyes locked. The air between us electrified. Desire intensified.

  There was no denying it.

  The attraction was there.

  14

  Cassandra

  My heart thumped in my chest. He had caught me staring at him. At first, I had intended for the teasing to be nothing more than payback for the abrupt kiss in front of Mavis, but now, I wasn’t so sure.

  I wanted him.

  The cartoon ended. “Can I watch another, Mommy?” Kimmy asked.

  “Sure, but just one more and then you have to go to bed, okay?”

  She nodded, her hands clasped around her ankles as she sat cross-legged, leaning forward slightly, her eyes wide, drinking in the colorful characters.

  I did my best to focus on the television, but the fact that Emil was sitting so close had me a little unnerved. I wanted to keep him at arm’s length but at the same time, I wanted nothing more than to rest my head on his shoulder. There was just something about him that made my heart race like none other.

  It didn’t make any sense. I was rational. Logical. Yet I yearned for a man who would only cause me trouble. But sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants.

  About a half hour later, I guided Kimmy to bed, holding up the covers as she shimmied underneath.

  “Can you read me a bedtime story?” she asked, giving me puppy dog eyes.

  “You’re already past your bedtime, sweetie. Not tonight.”

  Kimmy frowned.

  “Aww, come on. Are you really going to deny her a bedtime story?” Emil appeared at the door, leaning against the frame, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked like a typical bad boy, and yet I knew, deep down, that he had a hidden soft side.

  That side came into full view as he walked up to Kimmy’s bookshelf, pulling out a bright pink storybook. He sat down on the edge of her bed and began to read about a fairy princess and her frog prince. His soothing voice quickly put her to sleep, but still, he continued to read, as if lost in the tale.

  At the end, he closed the book and smiled. Without a word, he placed it back on the shelf and left the room.

  I kissed the top of Kimmy’s head and turned out the lights before following after him.

  He was already shirtless by the time I walked into the guest room. He turned around, his abs rippling underneath his skin.

  My breath hitched in my throat at the sight of him, my eyes wandering along his muscular physique as my mind conquered up what he must look like without the rest of his clothes on.

  He smirked. “May I help you?”

  I gulped down my lust and took a moment to clear my head before I stepped forward. “I need some answers.”

  “Oh?” He
tilted his head in question.

  “Why did you choose a life of crime? From what I can tell, you aren’t all that bad. If you were, I wouldn’t let you anywhere near my daughter. You treat her with kindness. You saved me from getting ran over. I don’t get it. All the reports of you said you were a hardened criminal.”

  “I am.”

  “You don’t seem like one,” I insisted.

  “Looks can be deceiving,” he said. “No one would look at you and think you served in the army.”

  I blushed slightly. “Still.”

  He sat down on his bed, placing a hand on the spot next to him and beckoning me to join him.

  I hesitated, fearing that I would lose my resolve if I got too close to him. In the end, however, I sat down. Our knees touched, and I was acutely aware of the warmth radiating from his body. A part of me just wanted to end this silly charade and follow my heart, but still, I held back.

  “I suppose I chose a life of crime because I felt like I had no other option.”

  I listened to him, promising myself that I would not interrupt until he was completely done with his story.

  “When I was discharged from the SEALs, I felt like a failure. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I tried to get a job, but no one wanted to hire me. I fell on some pretty hard times, and with no money to pay rent, I found myself on the streets. One night, someone offered me fifty bucks to work as a bouncer at this nightclub. I ended up breaking up a pretty gruesome fight. Got thirteen stitches right above my eyebrow.” He paused to point out the faint scar he still had there. I had never noticed it.

  Without thinking, I reached forward and touched it, my fingertips lightly tracing over it.

  He didn’t move, giving me the chance to do as I wished.

  As our eyes locked, I could feel something inside of me change. I felt sympathy for this man like I hadn’t before. I had been so righteous in my position that I had naively believed that all criminals chose their path. “Then what…?” I asked, my voice soft.

  “Well, I kept getting jobs. I didn’t care who hired me, so long as they paid. I was just glad to have a roof over my head. Then… I met Stacey. At first, everything was perfect. She was an amazing fuck. We had a lot of fun, but I soon learned that we weren’t meant for each other. I was just using her as a placeholder for the pain I didn’t want to face. That’s why I treated her so poorly. I’m…” he paused. “I’m glad she found someone who could treat her right.”

  “What about you…?” I whispered.

  “Me?” He laughed. “There’s really no hope for me. No one wants a guy like me in their lives. I’d only cause them trouble.” His eyes darkened, depression painting his face.

  It felt like my heart was breaking into a million pieces. I knew he was telling the truth. Gently, I took his hands in mine, squeezing them gently.

  “Well, I do.”

  15

  Emil

  My mind grew blank for a moment. “What?”

  “I want you,” she whispered, leaning forward until our lips nearly collided.

  Still, I could not believe what she was saying. This had to be some sort of trick. A cruel, cruel trick. “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do.”

  “Then prove it.”

  She hesitated.

  “I knew it.” I frowned, cupping her cheeks in my hands, my thumbs caressing her skin in an affectionate manner. “I don’t know what happened to you in your past – what he did to you – but you didn’t deserve it.” I shook my head. “I know it sounds like complete hypocrisy coming from me, but a girl like you doesn’t deserve to go to bed alone every night – to raise a child by herself. I can’t imagine how hard it truly is.”

  She looked into my eyes for a moment before closing the distance between us. Our lips crashed together, latching into a passionate kiss. I was taken by surprise, shocked that she would dare to make the first move.

  In fact, she was so eager that we ended up falling back onto the mattress, our lips still dancing. I held onto her hips, squeezing her tight just to make sure she was real.

  My lungs burned for air, but still, I did not dare pull away. This moment was much too perfect. After having this woman push me away for so long, it felt divine to finally have her in my arms, to have her melt against me.

  Finally, however, she pulled away, a wild grin on her face. “I don’t want to be alone anymore. It sucks,” she said.

  I smiled. “You won’t have to be.” Quickly, I flipped us around, pinning her to the bed. “When I’m done with you, it’ll be impossible to go to bed without me.” With my smirk deepening, I leaned down, starting a trail of kisses that began at the hollow of her neck and climbed up to her ear. I nibbled her earlobe softly, feeling how her body responded to my touch.

  Already, she was lifting her hips into the air and grinding into me. In reaction, my cock hardened, twitching inside my pants, begging for release. For the moment, I ignored it, focusing instead on getting her excited. I would wind her up until she was forced to beg for it.

  Unable to resist, my lips returned to hers, kissing her even harder than before, our hearts beating as one. Slowly, my hand crept under her shirt, finding the clasp of her bra.

  Soon, it flew across the room along with her shirt.

  I took one look at her naked breasts and grinned like a madman. Oh, I would have my fun with her.

  “Emil…” she moaned, unable to utter anything else.

  The sound of my name on her lips turned me on, nearly driving me into a frenzy of lust. Somehow, I managed to contain my excitement as I leaned down, taking one of her nipples into my mouth and sucking on it slowly, my tongue flicking this way and that, making her howl with pleasure.

  I continued to tease her sensitive tits, biting and tugging at her nipples until they were rock hard little nubs.

  She arched her back, silently begging for more.

  With my other hand, I unbuttoned her pants, yanking them down over her wide hips.

  She shivered, goosebumps forming on her delicate skin.

  I hooked my finger into the waistband of her panties and tugged on it, feeling her wiggling underneath my body as the silky fabric disappeared between her folds. I teased her in this manner for a while, listening to her moans echo through the room. God, they were so sweet.

  Then, with a flick of my wrist, I ripped her panties right off of her body, throwing them aside.

  She gasped, looking at me with wide, almost uncertain eyes.

  I smiled at her, kissing her lips ever so gently as my fingers ran along her wet folds. Carefully, I pinched her clit between my thumb and forefinger, rolling it back and forth. I watched her hips gyrate into the air, her chest heaving as she tried to keep up with the pleasure coursing through her veins.

  I rubbed her a little faster, and her juices seeped out of her like a river.

  “Emil… please…” she whispered, her arms wrapped around my neck. Her fingers tangled into the base of my hair, pulling at it, while her eyes were full of desire.

  Unable to keep her waiting any longer, I unzipped my pants, finally freeing my cock. It sprang to life, rock hard and ready to plunge inside of her.

  With my hands on her hips, I leaned down and kissed her.

  She eagerly kissed me back, her lips giving me the consent I needed.

  Feeling high from the experience, I penetrated her. Instantly, her pussy tightened around me, her velvet walls gripping my cock and refusing to let go.

  I groaned at her tightness, my fingers digging into her supple flesh as I forced myself deeper and deeper inside of her. Once my balls were nestled against her, I paused, giving us both some time to adjust.

  She sat up, situating herself on my lap. With her hands on my shoulders, she started to slowly move up and down, taking the ride nice and slow.

  Like a couple of magnets, our lips came together and refused to come apart. I held her close, intoxicated by her honey-like scent and the softness of her skin. Everything about her was ev
erything I had ever wanted.

  Our movements became faster and yet remained in perfect sync like we had been lovers for all eternity. We moaned; our veins flooded with ecstasy as the moment reached its crescendo.

  I held back my orgasm as best I could, feeling my balls tighten.

  And then, Cassandra started to shake in my arms, her pussy quivering as it got tighter and tighter.

  The pleasure became much too great.

  Together, we orgasmed, crashing back into the mattress and breathing hard, smiles plastered onto our faces.

  “Wow…” she whispered.

  I just held her close, feeling like I never wanted to let her go.

  16

  Cassandra

  I lay awake for a while. With all of the excitement running through my body, it was impossible to fall asleep. Beside me, Emil snored softly, a look of happiness on his face. I cuddled up to him, locked in his embrace. A warmth spread through my chest, my heart swelling.

  It had been a long, long time since I’d felt this way.

  Still, had I made the right decision? I wasn’t sure. While it had felt right, there was a nagging inkling of doubt in the back of my mind that made it hard to accept what I had just done. Emil seemed sincere, sure, but it was possible that this was all just some sort of act to get me to fall for him.

  I didn’t want to admit it, but it was working.

  With my fingertip, I outlined his shoulder down to his arm. His skin was hot to the touch.

  He moved slightly, snuggling closer, as his embrace tightened.

  Gently, I brushed his hair out of his face, trying to figure out what I felt. On the one hand, I was happy. On the other, I was terrified.

  For the moment, I pushed away my fears, deciding that I deserved to be happy for once in my life.

  With this thought, I fell fast asleep in the arms of a… criminal.

  In the morning, I was awoken by a kiss.