Little One

by Darcy Dawes

I guide her again and my balls tighten at the sight beneath me. It’s what fantasies are made of. She glances up at me as she takes my cock further in her mouth, watching for encouragement. I nod and smile and groan as she takes me deeper before bobbing her head up and down. The movements feel uncertain and innocent but God does that add to the appeal. This innocent little thing sucking on my cock is going to linger in my mind for-fucking-ever.

  I let her suck my cock for a while longer but I can tell her jaw is getting tired so I draw her to her feet. “I can’t wait for you to do that again but for now, Little One, I need that tight pussy of yours.”

  She gasps when I draw her naked body against mine. I kiss her deeply and her nails dig into my arms. I step back toward the bed and lie down. She straddles me and I grin. “That’s where I like you see you. Ready to ride my cock.”

  “I need you, Valentine.”

  “You’ll get me.” I help her position herself over my cock, holding it up for her to slide down. “Do it slowly, so I can watch your pussy sink down onto my cock.”

  “Valentine,” she protests. I know she wants to be riding me as fast and as hard as she can but I want to treasure these moments.

  “Do as I tell you, Little One.”

  She lowers herself slowly and I have the perfect view of my cock splitting her folds. I fight the desire to close my eyes when her heat surrounds me. When she’s all the way down, I take hold of her hips and draw her body forward so her breasts crush against my chest. Then with my hands back to her hips, I guide her up, and slam my hips into her body. She squeals.

  I do it again and again, using her body like a fuck toy. Slamming into her over and over until she screams and comes apart. I quickly flip her over and ram myself back into her. Gray clenches her eyes shut as a second orgasm tightens her pussy. A few more strokes and I’m spilling myself inside her. I rock out the last few waves of pleasure then press a kiss to her head before withdrawing.

  “I love you, Little One. I’ll do whatever I have to do for you. You know that, right?”

  She nods.

  I wonder if she really gets it, though. If she really understands that if it comes down to it and I have to choose, I’ll die for her.

  Chapter Twenty

  Gray

  We hike back to the nearest town. Valentine’s makes a call to someone—I don’t know who but I’m guess one of Danny’s most trusted guys and arranges for someone to pick us up. There isn’t much need for secrecy at this point but I know Valentine would rather be in a familiar place before anything happens.

  When we climb into the car, I recognize the driver as Walker. He grins when he sees me. “Glad to see you’re alive, Gray. Looks like V has done a good job looking after you.”

  Valentine and I share a look and I nod. “He has.”

  Valentine takes the seat next to Walker. I miss his company and the touch of his body but don’t complain. I don’t need anyone asking questions about us just yet. Not until Danny is safe.

  I try to listen to them talking but the engine and road noise drowns most of it out. All I know is that Valentine vouched for Walker and that means I can trust him too. At some point, I fall asleep and I wake up when it’s dark. I blink, the lights from passing cars blinding me. Valentine peers over the seat and smiles.

  “Hey, Little One. Ready for a quick break?”

  I nod, recognizing my need to pee and eat. Walker pulls over at the next rest stop and we walk into the small shop there to grab food and drink. I stop off at the restroom but Valentine grabs me as I’m coming out. He pushes me around the corner, out of the sight of the car.

  “I just need to kiss you.” He takes my face in his hands. “It’s fucking torture not touching you.”

  “Then do it.”

  He groans and leans in. His lips crash into mine and I can feel his pent up desire. His tongue sweeps into my mouth and he holds me tight before breaking away.

  “Only a few more hours and we’ll be home,” he tells me.

  I nod. “What did Walker say?”

  “That if anything happens to you, Danny will find a way to come out of jail and torture and kill me.” He says this with a sort of half-smile.

  “And?”

  “He’ll help me protect you. We’ll bring Cooper into this as well. They’re the only ones, though. We can’t trust anyone else.”

  “Because it might be one of Danny’s guys.”

  Valentine leads me back to the car. “Or one of our rivals has reached their way inside our organization. Either way, we know they’ve got inside info. We’ve known that since they found the safe house.”

  “So we have an easy way to let them know we’re back.”

  “We do,” he says, grimly. “Once we’re safely at your house and protection is set up, I’ll tell a few people we’re back and that we think the danger is over. That should have them crawling out of the woodwork.”

  A gnawing feeling sinks into my belly as I climb into the back of the car. A few hours more and I’ll be back in the line of fire. And I’ve put Valentine and his friends in it too. But can I really sit around and wait for my brother to be killed? Not to mention I’ll have to be looking over my shoulder forever. As much as I want to escape all of this with Valentine, I don’t want to be fearing for my life forever. What if we do end up having a child? Can I live with myself for putting them at risk?

  I twine our fingers together and watch the lights go by. There’s no more conversation between Valentine and Walker. I guess there’s nothing more to be said. We’re going to try to take on the bad guys with three trained killers and one girl. I must be mad.

  Dawn flickers over the horizon when we get to my house. It looks different with the grey light trickling over it. It doesn’t seem to feel like home anymore.

  Valentine exchanges a few words with Walker and I hear him mutter something about hanging around in the area after he talks to Cooper. Valentine escorts me out of the car and into the house. Nothing has changed since we left but I don’t know why I expected it to. I glance upstairs and consider the last time I was in my bedroom, fantasizing about touching Valentine. Little did I know...

  “What is it, Little One?” He throws his bag on the sofa and kicks off his shoes.

  “I was just remembering the last night I was here.” I can’t help but smile. “I couldn’t have imagined that things would change so much between us.”

  “I’m glad they have.” He opens his arms to me and I press myself against his chest. The feel of his muscles and his solid heartbeat provide me with a renewed strength. Whatever we face, we’ll face together and we’ll win, I’m sure of it.

  “I thought I’d die from wanting you.”

  “Imagine how I felt. I had to protect you and that meant keeping my hands off you.”

  “Thank God you didn’t.”

  He draws back and tilts my face up with a hand. “Whatever happens, Little One, I’ll never have any regrets.”

  “Neither will I.”

  “Good.” He releases me and does a quick loop around the room, checking the windows. He points a finger at me. “No driving me crazy today, Little One. I need my head clear. If you want to sleep, go ahead.”

  “I’m not tired.”

  “Well, then all we can do is wait. Walker will let people know we’re around and where we are, then he’ll return with Cooper. They’re going to keep watch from outside. I’ll move the security system out there. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch them before they’ve even stepped foot in the house.”

  “And if we catch them, then what?”

  Valentine’s eyes grow cold. “I’ll get all the information I need.”

  A shiver trails through me but I’m almost glad to see the old Valentine here. He’s the man I need right now. The one who will get the job done.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Valentine

  Walker nudges me awake. I groan and put a hand to my neck. Sleeping in the pool house isn’t the best way to get a good night’s sleep. I squint
at the security TVs and stand to peer out of the window.

  “What time is it?” I ask Walker, my voice gritty. Three days and no sign of anyone coming after us. Three days of sleeping in the pool house and being apart from Gray. I hate it but it’s the only way I can keep her safe. The first sign of trouble and I want to be on those guys before they get anywhere near her.

  “Two.”

  I nod. We’ve been taking turns, keeping watch. “Has Cooper checked in yet?”

  “Just a few minutes ago. All quiet.”

  I stare up at the dark house. I don’t know if Gray’s sleeping but I doubt it. None of us have managed much these past few days. She looked tired yesterday and I wanted nothing more than to pull her into bed and have her curl up next to me. Surely they’ve got to make their move soon.

  Unless we were wrong and maybe they don’t want Gray anymore. Maybe now that they’ve got her brother, they’re done. If they are, then my next job is to get Danny out of jail. I have a pretty good idea how to do that but Gray isn’t going to like it. Just the thought of what I’ve got to do scratches at my gut like I’ve swallowed a box of nails.

  I stand and motion to the chair. “Your turn.”

  Cooper shakes his head. “Something is going to happen tonight. I can feel it.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Sounds crazy wanting someone to come after the woman you love but I want it done already. I want to look them in the eye and blow their brains out for trying to hurt her. I want her to finally feel safe. The only way I can achieve that is by luring them out.

  Cooper sits and I check the security feed. I had everything moved out here so I could keep an eye on her. From the pool house, I’m close enough to cut off anyone trying to get to her. I’ve double-checked all the alarms and motion sensors. If someone tries to get to her, I’ll be there in seconds.

  Just after three am, the radio crackles. I pick it up. “Yeah?”

  “Movement. We’ve got two cars. Looks like they’re stopping down the road and coming on foot.” Cooper tells me.

  “This could be them. Keep watch but don’t let them see you.”

  “Will do.”

  Walker and I watch the security cameras intently. The camera by the gate shows an alert and I spot two guys, dressed in black. They stay by the gates for a while, waiting for something. I scan the cameras for signs of others but there’s nothing.

  “Maybe they’re scoping the area out for now,” Walker suggests.

  “They’re making themselves pretty obvious. There’s got to be a reason why.”

  A flash of something on one of the cameras draws my attention. It takes me a moment to figure out what caused it. I peer out of the window at the side of the house. “Fuck.”

  Flames lick up the wall. Then there’s another flash and another and another. Soon the house is surrounded by flames, licking their way up the walls.

  “Molotov cocktails,” Walker confirms.

  “They’re trying to burn her out.”

  I snatch up my gun and flick off the safety. Walker does the same. I grab my phone and stab speed dial. It rings several times before going to voicemail. “Fuck.”

  Walker lifts his brows. “She’s not answering?”

  “She could have gone into the safe room without her phone.”

  “I fucking hope so.” That was the plan. First sign of trouble and she holes up in the safe room until I come and get her. She might have heard the noise and gone straight to it but a safe room can’t survive a house fire. If she stays in there too long, she’ll choke to death.

  I get on the radio again. “Cooper, be ready. If she doesn’t come out, they’ll go in for her.”

  “Got it. I’m on my way.”

  I watch the security feeds for a moment more. Black figures show on several of the screens now, approaching the house. My mouth dries, my heart pounds. Whatever happens, I have to make sure Gray is safe.

  “If anything happens, get Gray out.”

  Walker nods.

  I open the pool house door and we slip out, backs pressed to the cold wood. I head to the right first, edging around the pool and to the lawn at the side of the house where I spotted two guys. They don’t even see me before I take my shots. Two from me and one from Walker and they’re both down.

  “They’ll know we’re here now.” I lead the way, ducking into the trees that line the fences. The flames from the house cast an orange glow across the gardens and glass cracks as the fire begins to catch. Much longer and the entire bottom floor will be alight, and I’ll have no chance of getting to Gray.

  “Two cars. At least six guys. Maybe more,” Walker hisses.

  “I like our chances,” I reply. “Two down.”

  An exchange of gunfire tells me Cooper has found some more of these guys. As we come up onto the front lawn, three retreat in our direction, not spotting us until it’s too late. One is already hit and staggers back. Walker picks him off easily, leaving me to take out the two left. A tree to the right of me explodes, and shrapnel stings my face. A shot rings out from the distance and the second guy falls as I fire a round into the third.

  “Cooper’s still alive then.”

  “Five down, one to go.”

  “Could be more,” Walker says.

  “Let’s hope not.”

  The front door is open. Glass shatters inside and the heat from the fire touches my face. But there’s a clear path upstairs—a path the bad guys have taken, no doubt.

  “Cover me.”

  I don’t give Walker time to reply. As I rush into the house, there’s an exchange of gunfire. The chandelier above me explodes. “Shit.”

  Shards tear into my skin but I barrel ahead. I race upstairs and pause, my back to the wall. The fire hasn’t reached upstairs yet but it won’t be long before the house is a blazing inferno. I swallow the knot in my throat. If I don’t get to Gray soon, she’ll go down with it or she’ll be forced out into the hands of these killers.

  I take a shallow breath. The smoke swirls through the air and clogs my throat. Gun ready, I peer over the top of the stairs. There’s movement to the right. Looks like they’re searching the bedrooms. Footsteps approach and stop. A door opens. I glance again and take my chance. I run up on the guy and bring the butt of my gun down on his head. He yowls and spins, clutching his head.

  His eyes widen in the gloom and he lunges for me, but I bring up my fist and connect it with his nose. Pain pulses through my wrist as his nose bursts open. Blood splatters across both of us. I bring my fist down on him again and he staggers to the floor. A swift kick to the head makes sure he won’t wake up.

  I turn at the sound of footsteps but it’s too late. A fist meets my gut and pushes the air from my lungs. Agony sears through me as I force myself to straighten. The guy brings up his gun and I swing up a fist and knock it from his hands. The guy recovers quickly, throwing a punch that grazes my jaw before I can let off a shot—something I’m reluctant to do in close quarters, especially if Walker and Cooper are in the house now.

  My ears ring from the impact and my jaw feels like it’s going to explode. Everything is growing hotter while the smoke clouds the room. I don’t have time for this shit. I bring my forehead into his face. The man howls. A knee to the stomach then to his smashed up face puts him on the ground. He stares up at me with a glazed look. I fire one bullet off.

  Pausing in the doorway, I listen for others. If Walker was right, there could be another. Maybe two. But there’s no sign of them and the smoke is growing unbearably thick as it rises. I keep low and make my way through the house to the main bedroom. I find the safe room door and bang hard. It only takes moments but it feels like forever before the door slides open and Gray falls into my arms.

  “I didn’t know what to do. I thought they were already in the house,” she declares. “I tried to call but my phone didn’t work in there.”

  A rush of cool air escapes from the safe room and I draw it in. “You did good, Little One, but we’ve got to get you out of h
ere. Keep low. Don’t take deep breaths.”

  “God, there’s so much smoke.”

  “Stay behind me,” I order.

  Taking her hand, I lead her out of the bedroom and across the hallway. A crack of gunfire makes me stop. Behind me, Gray squeals. Her hand tightens on mine.

  “Just stay behind me. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  I peer down the stairs to see what could be our final guy in the doorway. He peers around the doorway and lets off a shot, presumably pinned down by Cooper and Walker. He’s dripping in sweat and the fire makes an unbearable roaring sound, reminding me how little time we have left. Much longer and our escape will be cut off.

  I wait until the guy has his back to me and squeeze the trigger. He darts back in just as the bullet leaves my gun and skims his arm. He swears and slaps a hand over the wound before spotting me. He raises his gun and I dart back. The bullet blows apart the wall behind me.

  There’s a pause. My heart beats louder than the fire, even louder than the gunfire. The woman next to me reminds me of everything I have to lose.

  Next time I peer down the stairs, the guy has moved, tucking himself just by the bannisters and aiming up. I dodge a bullet by mere inches and force Gray further back against the wall. She coughs up a lungful of smoke and I curse. I’ve got to fucking get her out of here.

  Cooper and Walker will be closing in on him but there’s no time. “Stay here,” I order Gray.

  She nods, her eyes wide with fear.

  I hastily reload and fire twice down the stairs. I don’t waste any time hanging around. As soon as the shots are off, I barrel down the stairs. The guy swings around and shoots as I’m running. A burning sensation tears through my arm but I ignore it. I ram into him and throw him to the floor. His gun flies across the marbled floors and his head cracks against it. Dazed, he stares up at me.

  I shake my head. Fucking hell. “Cannon?”

  He narrows his gaze at me. “V,” he spits.

  Now I know where the inside info came from and how they knew so much about Danny. Cannon had been an ambitious guy—too ambitious for Danny. He was dangerous and we cut him loose. Chances are he decided to turn his attention to muscling in on Danny’s turf.