Page 6

CHAPTER FIVE

I solde left the kitchen, and despite the animated conversation, Johnny G felt her absence in his bones. He polished off what was left on his plate, muttered a cursory good night, and, ignoring everyone’s curious glances, fled to the privacy of his bedroom. There, he proceeded to pace in an impatient circle. He rubbed his tingling fingers, but the prickle stubbornly clung to him. If anything, it was as strong as when he held Isolde’s hand. This monumental first touch had shocked the breath out of his lungs, and in front of witnesses, Viper and Sydney. Two people he barely knew.

What in the world had possessed him to hold her? To kiss her delicate fingertips, no less. Separation and ignorance, his last safety net, had kept his control in place. But Johnny Gun had crossed the final boundary and nothing would be the same again, for him or for her.

Now he knew exactly how she felt: the warmth and softness of her skin, and the soaring exhilaration that came with contact. In essence, he was fucked, addicted to the end of his days. His spirit would forever crave her touch .

In his mind, a distinct path stretched into the future before him. And he knew what must be done. He’d be damned if he didn’t take Isolde with him. No other way existed for either one of them. They were a pair. She was his, and he belonged to her. His heart had known this truth for a long time. Her touch tonight had confirmed it.

Isolde was his baby girl. End of discussion.

Those who disagreed could go to hell over this. Deacon would have to accept their union. Gomez and anyone else would eventually get over it.

From this point forward, her safety, happiness, and, most of all, her pleasure would be under his care. A hundred thoughts he’d ignored since the first day he saw her rushed to the forefront: Isolde, pliant and sweet, her beautiful naked form, a submissive’s offering in his arms. Trembling in the throes of ecstasy, she begged for his caresses…

Shaking his head, he sent the vision from his mind and welcomed the rescue plan in. The Wolves could attack without warning or before the Dalton and Garden City crews made defensive preparations. That was what he would do.

First step in the strategy was to find a safe location for Isolde. He’d wait another day at most for Stew’s information. Next step was to remove her. Quietly. Somewhere between steps one and two, he’d inform her of his plans. But this was a very busy clubhouse. Somehow, he needed to find time alone without raising suspicion from the curious and explain what he intended to do and gain her acceptance. He was a Dominant, not a tyrant.

He squinted at the window, then glanced at his watch. Ten o’clock wasn’t terribly late. He lifted the pane, stepped through to the damp grass, and waited a moment to orient himself. Viper had mentioned Isolde’s bedroom was close to the front of the clubhouse. Hunching down, he stole to the left.

The first bedroom he passed was dark. Maybe his calculations were off and she was already asleep. If he didn’t find her, he’d return to this one and wake her up. This was his best opportunity to explain the plan privately, and time was ticking against them. The vision through the next window he encountered gave him a start. Deacon’s window was open. He was distracted reading a book. Johnny G hunched down and quietly passed by.

He continued along a solid stretch of exterior siding. The next window he found had its sheers closed, but offered some light. A woman’s shape moved inside the room, and his heartbeat quickened. He’d recognize Isolde’s beautiful form anywhere and anytime.

Johnny G tapped gently on the glass. She stopped, then rushed to the window and pulled the sheers without first checking to see who it was. Bad habit. Despite being relieved he’d found her room, Johnny G frowned. He’d have to teach her a few no-noes.

Her beautiful green eyes, now dark in the night, flew open at the same time she raised the window pane. “Johnny,” she whispered.

“We need to talk,” he whispered back before he climbed in and closed her window behind him.

The urgency of the plan had consumed him on his way here. He’d thought of nothing else, including the outcome of his actions. But now, a realization gripped him. For the first time ever, he stood in Isolde’s inner sanctum.

As he studied her private space, the details of her personality revealed his every secret hope. Johnny G smiled as he admired her collection of stuffies, pink lights hanging on the wall over her headboard, and flowery bedspread. The brown rabbit nestled between multicolored cushions on her bed was the final detail. A woman with a secret Little personality had decorated this room. His heart warmed with the urgent desire to hold her in his arms while declaring his eternal love and protection .

With her cheeks flushed a bright red, Isolde reached for a robe on the bed. She wore a set of adorable yellow pj’s with stars and rainbows. His surprise entrance had shocked and embarrassed her, and she was going to hide who she was.

Not from me , his mind clamored.

“Stop.” He shook his head, and she let the robe drop. “Please. Don’t put the robe on.”

She pressed her hands to her chest. “But?—”

Moving a step closer, he touched her silky cheek with just his fingertip. The careful gesture made no difference. The contact electrified him again. “You are…so beautiful. And I… I love…love…everything about you.” He dropped his hand. “You were made for me. Couldn’t you guess when we met? Didn’t you recognize me? I’m your Daddy, and I’ve waited all my life to find you, my Little girl.”

“Are you?” She fixed her beautiful green gaze on him, and a small smile curved her full lips. “I’ve lived in a fantasy world since we met. I think of you all the time, and I miss you. Awake or asleep, you’re in my mind and heart, Johnny.”

“Daddy,” he said, cupping her cheek with his palm, hungry for every thrilling sensation she elicited in him. “I’m your Daddy. You’re mine and I came to get you. Do you know why?”

“Yes,” she sighed. “I think I do.”

“Think? What does a Daddy and Little girl relationship mean to you?”

“I…” Her cheeks flushed, and she stole a quick glance at a shelf holding stuffies and several paperbacks. Squinting, he read one title sideways. A smile tugged his lips as he walked over, picked up one of her books, and brought it back to her.

“Tell me about this?”

Shaking her head, she looked down. Gently, he lifted her chin, and he saw that her eyes sparkled more brightly than he’d ever seen them .

“Rule number one. When Daddies ask, little girls answer. Otherwise, a punishment follows. Daddies don’t like to wait. Do you understand? Unless you’re not sure about this…us.”

“No.” Eyes wide, she shook her head again. “I do. I’m sure. I am your little girl. But I need guidance.”

Gently, he caressed the soft line of her jaw with the back of his hand. “Okay, baby girl. Guidance begins now. Tell me about this book.”

He’d read the title, and he understood why she had it on her shelf. But she had to take the first step and obey.

“I found it on the internet. When I started reading, it was like the author understood me, heard my thoughts, and knew what I liked. So I bought more, trying to learn about the lifestyle.”

“And? Tell Daddy your thoughts.”

“Oh.” She covered her face with her hands.

“Drop your hands this minute. Never hide your beautiful face from me.” He exhaled. “Well?”

“I—I want you to take charge…to dominate me, show me things…like in the books. Oh, please, no more. I’m embarrassed.”

“There’s no reason to be embarrassed, and you won’t need your books anymore. You have me. Together, we’ll explore dominance and submission and all the pleasures of a Daddy/little girl relationship. From this moment forward, I’ll take care of your every need and desire. There’s nothing I won’t do for you. You have my heart and my soul, little one. That’s what it means to be mine. What do you say?”

“I say yes,” she sighed. Johnny G leaned his forehead on hers, absorbing the emotions assailing his soul and heart. Love, tenderness, and joy. Words he’d told Barron months ago returned to him: “I don’t need or want years and months of dates and conversations to know her. My soul recognized Isolde in the moment.”

He should be ecstatic. Isolde wanted him and his kind of love. But the dangers surrounding her put a damper on the situation. Holding her hand, he tugged her to sit next to him on the bed. “We need to talk.”

“Um, I don’t like your expression.”

“What I’ve learned isn’t good. What I have in mind is going to piss off your father big-time. It can’t be helped.”

“So tell me.”

“Do you know why I came to Dalton?”

“Well, sure. My father and the Dalton chapter were threatened. You came with the others to protect the Devils’ Spawn clubhouse.”

“Not the clubhouse. You’re the one in danger. The Wolves want to kidnap you. Over my dead body.”

Isolde frowned. “Those bastards…” She lowered her eyes for a long moment. When she glanced up again, anger twisted her beautiful face. “Makes sense, taking me. That would hurt my father.”

He squeezed her hand. “You’re something else. I told you you’re in danger, and your concern is for your father. But you’re right. Taking you is a sure way to destroy Deacon’s life. They plan to sell you on the black market.” He tangled his fingers with hers. “None of that is going to happen.”

As her eyes darted side to side, her skin paled. “How are they going to do this?”

“The truth will shock you. The Dalton crew has a snitch, and this a-hole is feeding information to the Wolves.”

“No… One of our guys? Can’t be. Who hates my father so much?”

“Doesn’t have to be hate or resentment, sweetheart. Sometimes it’s money. My guess is the cartel doing business with the Wolves paid him well to betray Deacon.”

“You just got here. How did you get all this information?”

“Moves and countermoves. We also have our inside guy. Thanks to him, we were alerted to the Wolves’ game.” In broad strokes, Johnny G told her about the information Shifter had gathered before he rode up. He gave her the highlights of the night. His ride with Viper, the private conversation with Stew at the bar, what the Hell Knight had recommended, and his offer to help.

“I saw Viper go soon after you left, and I wondered why,” she mused.

“He wanted me to meet Stew. He’s the one who told Shifter about the chatter. I’m sure Viper never imagined we had a snitch in the crew. This brings me to my next point. As soon as I learned you were the Wolves’ real target, I wanted to get you out of the line of fire. Tonight, Stew supported my idea.”

She smiled. “I’m sure when you tell my father what you know, he’ll agree.”

He squeezed her hand harder, hoping to comfort her. “We can’t tell your father.”

“And why the hell not?”

“Hear me out. I’m not suggesting your father can’t be trusted. But for this scheme to work, we need him to be honestly shocked and angry in front of the MC. The success of our escape hinges on his behavior. Also, the fewer people who know the truth of your disappearance, the safer we’ll be. As it is, Viper and Stew know. I have a feeling Viper will tell Sydney as well. But not one of them will know our exact location. I will choose the final place, and I’m hoping when the Wolves hear you’re gone, they’ll change their minds about attacking the clubhouse.”

“Isn’t it a bad idea to go where no one knows? What if we need help?”

“Got that covered. Barron, my friend and brother in Garden City, will know where we are. I trust him with my life, and more importantly, should anything happen to me, he’ll make sure you’re safe. What do you think about my idea? Are you with me?”

“The Wolves might think this is a ruse. I mean, why would I just up and leave? ”

I’ve thought about that too. We’re going to send them on a different track. We’ll leave a note.”

Her pretty, dark eyebrows knit into a frown. “What kind of note?”

“A half-truth. You’ll explain to your father how when we saw each other again, we realized we wanted to be together and decided to elope. Something along those lines. Put the blame squarely on me. I’m much older, and with my experience, he’ll believe I swept you off your feet. That’ll give Deacon plenty to chew on and send the snitch in a different direction.”

“It’s not fair to you, Daddy. I want my father to like you. For me, it’s important the two men I love most get along.”

His breath caught. Her soft-spoken declaration wrapped around him and warmed his heart. The hardened knot in his chest loosened and dissolved. He’d carried the toxic burden after an endless string of failed, meaningless, and destructive relationships. In a moment, he felt years younger, hopeful, and, the rarest of emotions: deserving. He grasped her hands and kissed her fingertips. “Oh, baby. You bring me to my knees. I’ve loved you since day one, but I never dreamed you’d want an old guy like me.”

“But, you’re not old. Not to me.”

“To your father I am. He doesn’t approve of me. I think he suspects something, and after this, he’ll know for sure, and he won’t be happy.”

“That’s what worries me.” She touched his face. “I don’t think you should take all the responsibility for my escape.

“Don’t worry. I can carry the blame for a while. We’ll come back when the coast is clear, and then you can exonerate me if you like. Make me squeaky clean.” He caressed her downy cheek with the back of his fingers. “Are we in agreement, princess?”

“Princess, me?” She fluttered her lashes teasingly. Then abruptly, a shadow darkened her features. “Are you sure this is the only way? My father’s heart will break.”

“It will be hard for him, but only for a while.” He nodded. “It’s the only way I see. I’ve studied every angle and option, and I keep coming back to the same one. When the Wolves attack, you can’t be here. The variables are too risky, too unpredictable. A snitch I haven’t discovered, but who’s familiar with this clubhouse and considered a brother by everyone might backstab us to get his money and deliver you to the Wolves in the middle of the fight. No. I have to move you first.”

She took a deep breath. “Okay. I understand, and I agree. Now what?”

“Now you pack some clothing. Not too much. Enough to give the impression you decided to leave with me in a hurry and wait for my instructions. We have to keep this quiet. I know you’re fond of Sydney, but I’d prefer she didn’t know about this.”

“I am very fond of her.”

“I understand, but can you trust her?”

“She was my mother’s best friend. I’ve known her all my life. When Mom died, Sydney stepped in to help Opal and me overcome our pain and adapt to our new reality. She was hurting too, but she’s selfless and generous.”

“And very beautiful.” The comment slipped out without thought. He wanted to bite his tongue for speaking out of turn. Evidently, Deacon’s daughters hadn’t noticed the sparkle in Sydney’s eyes when she spoke to their father.

“Why would you say that?”

“No particular reason.” He shrugged, trying to defuse his mistake. “Just an observation. A man can notice and admire a woman’s beauty and want nothing with her. You live in an interesting clubhouse is all.”

“Oh, so there are no women in the Garden City clubhouse?”

“Blade’s wife and son live in their half of the clubhouse. Same setup as yours. She’s Little and he’s her Daddy Dom. Through them, I learned about age-play dynamic. I’ve been a Dominant all my life, but watching Blade and Cel interact, I realized something was missing in my life. I wanted a similar relationship.”

“So my stories didn’t exaggerate. Some couples do have Daddy/Little relationships.”

“Successfully and happily, I might add.” He chuckled. “I haven’t read your books, but I’m sure they’re accurate, or pretty close to the mark. Age play has been around for a long time. I can’t wait to show you how it all works as we go along. Most of the guys in Garden City are Daddies. But to me you’re the miracle. The way Deacon kept you isolated from the world, I’m amazed you’ve discovered this lifestyle is for you. I think your dad meant well, but it’s time you stepped out of the cave.”

“My father’s changed. He used to be funny and open, but after my mother died, he turned grumpy and guarded. He shut himself off and us with him. I think he fears losing us too.”

“And this isn’t fair to you either. You have a right to live. When this is over, I’ll take you to Nightshade. It’s a kink club in Garden City where people like us can act out their desires and play in an accepting environment. There’s a whole world for you to explore, and I’m going to show you everything there’s to see.”

“You like this Nightshade place, don’t you?” Her eyes crinkled with mischief.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because you gave it a hell of an endorsement. Almost like a TV commercial.”

“Hmm… I think I have a brat in the making here.” Slowly, he stood and pulled her up with him. “Disciplining you is going to be so much fun.” He grasped her shoulders.

“Discipline?” she asked, eyes wide.

“Yes, princess. Discipline,” he crooned as his right hand slid to her hip and lightly sat on her butt cheek in an insinuating motion. “What all little girls need and secretly desire from their Daddies. A good spanking at the right time goes a long way to eliminate bad habits. Which reminds me.” He let go of her butt, then pulled her to the window. Picking up one of the sheer curtains, he said, “You have to be careful. Don’t just open the curtains and show yourself to anyone.”

“I didn’t realize. The sound surprised me, and I?—”

“No. You hear a knock at the door or a window, don’t go running to see who it is. Stop and peek first. Check who’s on the other side. Safety is everything, especially when it comes to you. My Little girl isn’t allowed to take chances or put herself in harm’s way. If I catch you opening a door or window without checking first, I’ll spank that beautiful heinie until you beg for mercy. Understood?”

Isolde’s hand went to her butt. She rubbed the cheek he’d fondled as if he’d spanked her already.

“Not yet, princess.” He laughed. “Soon enough, you’ll feel the erotic burn of your first spank, and your life won’t be the same again.” He kissed her forehead, then stepped out through the open window.

As he slid the pane closed from the outside, he whispered, “Remember to get a few things ready and choose one stuffie to take with you. Maybe the cute rabbit on your bed.” He winked. “Lock the window when I go. Try to get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning, beautiful.” He slid the pane down and listened as Isolde set the locks. Satisfied she was safe, he slunk back to his bedroom.

Deacon’s light was off as he passed. The man slept. Johnny G had a quiver of regret thinking about the anguish he’d inflict on Deacon very soon.

For the sake of Isolde’s safety, this pain was necessary. Eventually, Deacon would understand.

Endless minutes went by as Isolde—her heart and mind racing—stared at the spot in the window where her Johnny had climbed out. She was a mass of nerves and excitement.

My Johnny.

Yes.

Without any time to adapt, her fantasy had become a reality, and the realization was staggering. An abyss existed between the make-believe situations of her erotic books, fantasies, and fact. Life had thrust a monumental decision before her. Could she accept a flesh-and-blood Daddy Dominant in her life without holding back, obey his bidding in every way, change her behavior patterns forever? Because that was exactly what Johnny Gun brought with him.

Am I ready to commit?

Yes .

Doubts? Hesitation?

None.

Anxious?

Shit, yes.

Walking away from the window, she returned to the edge of her bed. She sat, and, with an ache in her chest, she studied the cute, precious items she’d collected ever since her Little personality woke up. Folding her arms, she evaluated the situation.

Johnny, she loved with every fiber of her being. Her feelings were crystal clear on this. That she wanted to spend her life with him was the biggest truth she knew. However, after the death of her mother, Isolde had learned to take her time making decisions. This situation broke the pattern. She would’ve preferred to go slowly on this. As she’d told Johnny, she wanted time to allow the men in her life to know and like each other. But the Wolves’ threat had brought urgency to their circumstances. The luxury of time had been snatched away. Tonight, she had a few hours to decide. Period.

Though Johnny’s plan seemed well-thought-out and rational, it would cause her father, Opal, and Sydney pain. Isolde hated doing this, but she’d left the word necessary out of that thought. In the end, the Wolves wanted her. If their kidnapping succeeded because of her timidity or hesitation, she’d be subjecting her father, Opal, Sydney, and everyone who loved her to a lifetime of pain and anguish.

After she weighed both options, Johnny’s escape plan won out. As for her concerns and questions, he was an experienced Daddy who’d proven his devotion to her. He’d promise to guide her through all the sexy mysteries and intricacies of a Little girl’s life with her Daddy. Already, he’d shown her a couple of dos and don’ts.

This was enough to morph Isolde’s last trace of doubt into happy excitement. Taking a deep breath, she strode to her closet and started to pack.