by Madison Faye
“Yeah?” I snarl, ducking low. I’ve got Taylor tight in my arms, my gun ready. “And what the fuck does that entail, exactly?”
“If you can be a smart fucker and let this drop, all we want is the girl.”
My eyes narrow, and my jaw clenches almost painfully.
“Not fucking happening,” I snarl.
The man laughs again. “Well, then we’ll take the two fucking million dollars her uncle owes me.”
Taylor stiffens and whirls to me. “What?” she whispers.
I scowl and glance out the broken window. I don’t see Bear, but there’s four of them out there—three with machine guns, and the one with a handgun. That’s the guy talking, and he looks a bit older than the others.
“And who the fuck are you?” I yell.
He grins. “The man Matt Conway owes two million bucks to. My name’s Johnny Spirelli.”
I groan, my gut sinking. The guy grins.
“I’m guessing by your lack of witty response that you know who the fuck I am.”
Yeah, I know who the hell this shithead is. I was never in the life, but I did hang with some guys back in high school who ran with a tougher crowd. In the scheme of the world at large, Johnny Spirelli is a nobody. He’s insignificant. But around here? He’s the closest thing to a mafia don this town has ever seen, and I know for a fact that he does not fuck around.
“Sounds like you’ve got a bone to pick with Matt Conway,” I grunt. “I don’t see how this concerns her.”
“Well, I do,” Johnny grins evilly. “And believe me, it definitely concerns her now.”
Movement catches my eyes, and my gaze drops. There, behind my surfboard rack, is Bear. He looks like he’s been hit again, but he glances up at me, out of sight from Johnny and his boys, and holds a finger to his lips. He brings his gun up a gives it a shake, and I nod as quietly as I can.
“Get down, baby girl,” I whisper.
“West?”
“Just get down, and cover your ears,” I growl. I glance at Bear, and he holds up three fingers.
“The girl, asswipe,” Johnny yells. “Now, or we’re coming in there shooting until we get what we want. Understand?”
I glance at Bear, and he holds up three fingers again, and then two.
“Hey asshole,” I spit at Johnny. “Get fucked.”
Bear holds up one finger, and then makes a fist. It’s go time. He pops up firing, and so do I from behind my doorway. Bear knocks off one, and I pop another. Johnny screeches and ducks behind the Jeep as Bear and I move out from our cover and advance.
My eyes sweep the sand… one body, two… fuck. I look at Bear the same time he looks at me, and my gut clenches.
“Where the fuck is four—”
“West!”
It’s like a knife in my gut, and when I turn, it twists there. The fourth asshole has slipped around the house through my backdoor while we’ve been shooting. I know this, because now he’s standing at the top of my steps on my porch, one arm around Taylor’s neck, and a gun pointed at her head.
I snarl and lunge for them, but the man shakes his head.
“Uh-uh!” he hisses. He’s shaking, and clearly in way deeper than he signed up for. But that doesn’t change that he’s got a gun to her fucking head.
“Not another step!” He frowns. “Hey, boss?”
“Nice work, dumbass!”
I glance back and smirk when I see Johnny with his hands up in the air in his knees with Bear keeping him there with his gun.
“Look at me,” I hiss to the guy. He looks like he’s losing whatever cool he had left, and fast. And that’s not fucking good right now.
“Stay back!” He warbles out.
“Look at me,” I hiss. “This ain’t your fight, and she’s got nothing to do with this anyways. Let her go, man. Let her go, and I swear I’ll drop this gun, okay?”
He swallows, his eyes darting from me, to his boss, to Bear, to me again.
“Uh… Boss?”
“Not him!” I hiss, moving closer with my gun raised. My eyes go to hers, and hers lock on mine. And I know no matter what, there is no fucking way this asshole is going to harm a hair on her head. Not today, not fucking ever.
“Last chance, man,” I growl. “Just walk away. It’s that easy.”
“No, it ain’t!” he sobs. He presses the gun harder to her head, and I swallow the roar. He’s losing it, and that means this is about to go nuclear.
My eyes swivel to her, and hers lock on mine.
“Had some fun earlier,” I smile through my fear and rage. “Surfing, I mean.”
She frowns, paling.
“You were a natural, baby girl,” I growl.
She frowns. “West?”
“Just remember how good you were,” I growl softly. “Remember surfing. Remember what I showed you.”
And suddenly, she gets it. I replay earlier in the surf, showing her how to drop onto the board for the wave and then pop back up.
Our eyes lock, and I see that she’s scared, but I can see how damn brave she is, too. She nods, her lips tight, and I steady my hand.
“Yeah,” she says softly. “Yeah, that was a lot of fun.”
“Now,” I hiss.
Taylor suddenly slams up, her head catching the asshole holding her in the nose. He sputters, and she instantly drops down, like she’s dropping onto a board. The guy looks completely stunned, but when I level my gun and snarl, he knows what’s up.
I squeeze the trigger, and he drops. And then, it’s over.
I rush to her, and she sobs as she collapses into my arms. I wrap them around her so damn tight, like I’m never going to let her go. Because I’m damn well never going to.
“You’re safe,” I whisper hoarsely into her neck. “You’re safe now, baby. You’re always going to be safe with me.”
She hugs me tight, squeezing me as I hold her possessively. I’m aware of Bear using his radio, and soon after, the sounds of police sirens hauling towards us. But I just keep holding Taylor.
Like I said, I’m never letting her go.
Chapter Twelve
Taylor
Even after the cops and the EMTs come, and after there are people swarming all over inside and outside of West’s house, he never lets go of me, except for a minute to let me put clothes on. Even then, he’s right there with me, eyes on me and around us, as if looking for trouble before it hits. And I wouldn’t change that for the world. Through it all, through the cops talking to me and everything, he holds me in his arms, tightly.
Keeping me safe. Keeping me his.
Eventually, the big cop who helped West, Bear, comes ambling over. He’s got his arm in a sling, but he grins when he strolls up.
“Nah, ain’t nothing,” he shrugs with a wince when I frown in worry. “Idiots were shit shots. Grazed me twice, that’s all.” He nods at West and sticks out his free hand. West shakes his hand firmly, and the big guy grunts.
“Really good work, man. I mean that. We could actually probably use you on the force, if you were ever interested.”
West arches a brow and smiles, but he shakes his head. “None, but I appreciate it. You sure you’re okay?”
Bear grins. “Takes more than some pea shooters to take down a Bear.” He turns to me and smiles. “Miss, we’re going to put you up in a hotel for a bit with an armed escort and everything. Can we call anyone for you? Your parents?”
I shake my head. “No, thanks. I’ll call them soon.”
He nods, and I frown.
“Um… my Uncle Matt?” I mumble, almost scared to hear the answer. After all, this is all because of him. I knew Matt was a scumbag pervert, but apparently, he’s been in very deep with some of the worst people around here. And two million bucks is way more than he could ever do with losing at poker.
Bear frowns. “We got him, just now actually. US Border and Customs caught him trying to slip into Tijuanna right after we sent the APB out.” He shakes his head. “Stealing from Johnny Spirelli isn’t t
he smartest fucking move, and that’s not all.”
I blink. “My God, what else?”
He glances at West, grits his jaw, and then turns back to me. “The other reason we’re putting you up in a hotel is that you can’t go home.”
“No shit, she’s not going back there,” West growls, hugging me close.
Bear grimaces. “No, man, I mean you can’t go back there without a damn hazmat suit. Turns out, Matt had a meth lab going in your basement, Miss Conway.”
My jaw drops, and West hisses in anger.
“Fucker could have killed her,” he hisses almost to himself.
“Well, he didn’t,” I whimper, turning and pressing my face to his chest. I know I’m safe, but it’s a lot to take in. But then, with his arms around me, I know I could face almost anything right now.
“West!”
We look up to see a dark-haired, good-looking built guy jogging over from a Jeep. West smiles as he gets close and shakes his hand.
“Hey, brother.” He turns and grins at me. “This is Gerard, and this is Taylor.”
“Nice to meet what all the fuss was about,” Gerard grins. West growls, and the other guy laughs. “His bark is way worse than his bite,” he chuckles before turning to Bear.
“Heard you managed to fall on some bullets.”
Bear rolls his eyes. “Something like that, yeah. Clumsy me.”
“Seriously, buddy.” Gerard winks at him. “You good though?”
“What do you think?”
Gerard laughs. “Atta boy.”
Bear sighs and glances back at the mob of cop cars. “Alright, well, we should get you over to that hot—”
“I don’t need a hotel,” I blurt. Instantly, I blush, and I turn to see West smiling at me curiously. “I mean—”
“Yes,” he growls. His arms tighten around me, and his eyes blaze into mine. “Yes, you’re staying here.”
The grin spreads over my face, and I just want to melt into this man right here and now.
Bear clears his throat. “All due respect, a hotel might be—”
“I’m safest here,” I whisper, looking West in the eye as I say it. I turn and see Bear and Gerard glancing at each other and then turning to grin at us both.
“Well, alright then,” Bear grunts with a raise of his brow to West. “You sure?”
“This stubborn bastard?” Gerard chuckles. “Yeah, he’s sure.”
“I’m sure,” West growls fiercely. His grip on me tightens, and I shiver heatedly.
“Just the same, we’re going to be posting someone up at the top of your drive, by the road.” Bear nods at Johnny as they push him into the back of a squad car. “Pretty sure you and I dropped whatever muscle that douchebag had on the payroll. But, just in case, you know?”
“I appreciate it,” West nods. He sticks his hand out and shakes Bear’s good hand. “And thanks for the backup today. I mean it.”
“Anytime, man,” Bear growls thickly. “And nice shooting.” He turns and gives me a smile and a nod, then he finally lets the EMT guys who’ve been looking concerned nearby bring him into the ambulance.
Gerard clears his throat. “You want me to stick around?”
“Not a chance,” West chuckles, giving me a squeeze.
His friend laughs. “Alright, well, behave, you two.”
I blush fiercely and grin widely.
“I’ll keep my ear to the ground and let you know if I hear any further ripples with this Johnny bullshit, alright?”
“Thanks, brother,” West grunts, shaking his hand.
We watch, his arm still around me, as Bear, Gerard, and the rest of the cops and emergency responders pack it up and head out. My eyes drop to the dark spots on the sand where Johnny’s guys were before the coroner took them away. West frowns and turns me gently to look into my eyes.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I smile, hugging him tight. “Yeah, I am.”
“It’s okay if you’re not. That was…” he frowns fiercely. “That was a hell of a day.”
“More than a few firsts,” I giggle. And when he blushes, I laugh even more and stand on my tiptoes to kiss him.
“So wait, when were you going to tell me you were in the Marines?”
He grins. “Guess I’m full of secrets you’re gonna have to discover.”
“Well, speak for yourself,” I say with dramatic wave of my hair. “I am full of secrets, mister.”
“Guess I’m going to have to drag them out of you,” he purrs lowly, pulling me into him. I gasp as his lips trace over my earlobe. “Might be I have to use my tongue to do it.” His words make my core clench with anticipation.
My lips find his, and I moan as he thoroughly kisses me. My hands are all over him, and his slide down to cup my ass through my shorts. But suddenly, he pauses and pulls back with a knitted brow.
“What is it?”
West sucks his teeth. “I know this was…” he grins. “I know before was your first time, baby girl.”
I feel my cheeks redden and my panties grow hotter as I nod.
“But were you… I mean are you on…” he clears his throat, and my blush grows hotter.
“Birth control?” I croak out.
He nods, and my gut sinks.
“Uh…” I look away, my own brow wrinkling as I take a breath and shake my head.
“No,” I whisper. I look at my feet, waiting for him to get angry or for him to walk away. When he says nothing, I swallow, and I drag my eyes up to his face.
…And West is grinning, hugely.
“Good,” he growls, and before I know it, he’s scooped me into his arms tightly and his lips are hungrily devouring mine.
That one word—good—has my whole body on fire for him. I know it might be reckless, especially since we barely know each other. But I know what I feel, and I know what I see when I see how he looks at me.
And I know what I want in life: I want the family I never really experienced. I mean, I have parents, but my house never felt like a home, or a family. I want that, more than anything, and when I remember West earlier talking about wanting a house big enough for a whole family, my body trembles, aching for him.
“I didn’t even think about it,” he growls into my lips. “Before, I mean, coming so deep inside of you like that. But it felt so right.”
“It felt so good when you did,” I gasp. I pull back, my eyes searching his. “I know… West, I know I’m young, and that we barely know each—”
“I know you plenty well, Taylor Conway,” he groans, his hands on my waist. “I know you’re beautiful inside and out. I know you’re brave and maybe just reckless enough to drive a man wild. I know you can hold your own, and you’re not afraid to jump. And I know I’m fucking crazy about you, and if you even feel a quarter of what I feel for you—”
“I’m fucking crazy about you,” I moan, crushing my lips to his eagerly. “I was crazy about you the second I saw you.”
“Well shit,” he groans. “Great minds think alike now don’t they?”
He kisses me deep, and then deeper, until it grows so hot that we’re gasping for air when we pull away to stare into each other’s eyes.
“Shit, it’s still so hot out.”
“Sweaty,” I purr.
“Sticky,” he growls.
His hand slides over the waist of my shorts, all the way to the front. His fingers pop the button, and I moan when his hand slips easily down into them and under my panties.
“West,” I gasp, clinging to him as his thick fingers push through my slippery, dripping wet lips.
“We better get these clothes off of you before you have a heat stroke,” he growls. I whimper when his hand slips away from me. But when he grabs me up to him, my legs around his waist and his lips bruising to mine, I’m all his.
He carries me into the house and into the bedroom. There’s bits of broken wood and glass everywhere, but the bed is clear. And right now, that and the two of us is all we need.
He
sets me down, and both of us rip our clothes off in seconds before I jump back into his arms. I whimper as our bodies—hot from the humidity outside—grind together. I moan, feeling West’s thick cock pulsing against my slit and my tummy, and when I tighten my legs around him, I feel my pussy glide up and down the underside of him.
Sticky precum leaks all over us both before he turns and sits on the edge of the bed with me in his lap. Emboldened, and feeling wild, I reach between us and wrap my small hand around his throbbing cock. I stroke him and raise up, still kissing him as I center him.
I can feel him hot, hard, and throbbing right against my slippery lips. And without another moment passing by, I start to sink down onto him.
“Oh my God!” I gasp, moaning loudly as inch after thick, throbbing inch pushes into me. I can feel my walls clinging to him and gripping his length tightly as he growls and grabs my ass. He thrusts, and I cry out into his mouth as the last half of his fat cock plunges deep into my willing pussy.
West groans, his mouth dropping to my nipples as I squeal in pleasure. I start to rise up, my hips rolling before I sink back down, taking him.
“Ride me, baby girl,” he hisses into my skin, his hands gripping me tightly. “Ride that fat cock until you give me all that cum.”
I gasp, throwing my head back as I start to do just that. I rock up and down, my hips rolling over and over as I learn to take him seamlessly. He fills me to the absolute limit every time, and the pleasure is almost overwhelming.
Up and down, I bounce on West’s huge, yummy cock as his hands grip my body tightly. His hand slides over my ass and centers on it, and when I feel his thick finger slide lower between my cheeks, I moan in forbidden ecstasy. His finger teases around my ass, and I barely slow my bouncing on his cock when he starts to press.
His thick finger eases into me, taking my breath away as I feel so fucking full. But it’s so good, and the naughty pleasure makes me squeal for more and ride him faster.
“Oh fuck, just like that, Taylor,” he groans. His lips find mine, and I whimper and squeal and moan into his mouth as he pushes me to the fucking edge.
“I want you to stay here,” he growls.
“Okay,” I moan.