Page 5

CHAPTER 5

L ovelyn blinked and attempted to wrap her mind around what had just happened. It would likely be easier if she could breathe. Or hear anything over the ringing in her ears. Of the two, breathing seemed the more pressing issue.

She tried to wiggle out from beneath the Viking stone wall that had collapsed on top of her. The man must weigh a ton. Maybe more.

With all the dust and debris floating in the air, was it any wonder she now had to sneeze? What had exploded? And how? One minute, she was defending her Viking’s back, and the next, she was tossed to the ground with him on top of her.

Even though the Society was trying to recapture her and a two-ton Tillie was squashing the life out of her, tingles zapped in places that should not be zapping. No normal woman would react like that in such a dangerous situation. There was something wrong with her.

That being said, there was much to appreciate in having a man the size of a Greek god protecting you, to the extent that he would use his own body as a shield. And if what pressed against her bottom was what she thought it was, it seemed his god-like proportions extended to every part of his body.

Her Viking pushed off the ground, first taking the time to unbuckle them. “We’ve got to move.”

She yelped as he pulled her to her feet and dropped to one knee, facing away from her. “Climb on.”

What? “Climb on what?” Because he couldn’t mean what she thought he did.

“My back. Climb on so I can get us out of here.”

“I can walk. I’m too heavy for you to carry on your back.”

He glared at her over his shoulder. “You have until I count to one to get on my back.”

Stubborn streak activated. “What happens after one?”

Her stubborn streak must have shown on her face, as he didn’t answer her question. Instead, he snatched up her backpack and said, “One.”

After seizing her upper arms with hands so large his fingers overlapped his thumbs, he slung her onto his back. As soon as she landed, he grabbed her butt. Yelling, “Hang on!” he pulled her tight against his hips and raced toward the front gate.

With no other choice, she wrapped her legs around his hips and clung to him like a baby monkey. Bouncing on his back was frightening at this height, so she leaned to the side to see where they were headed.

He bounced her extra hard. “Keep your head down!”

She did as she was told, but not before seeing all the men standing around the gate firing weapons into the compound. Her heart froze. Why were they running toward the armed Society guards who were more than willing to shoot at them?

Wait, those weren’t security guards. Whoever they were, they were firing into the compound to give Viking time to get them out. Just before they reached the gate, Lovie looked back at the compound. Unable to stop herself, she stuck her tongue out at the General when she caught his eye.

Of course, Viking saw her. Even through all the gunfire, she understood his guttural, “You’re not helping.”

He crossed back through the same meadow she had been staring at since arriving at the compound. Did he not notice the fence? How was she supposed to get over a fence that high, topped with what appeared to be razors and spurs?

Viking squeezed her bottom. “Hop down for a minute.”

He helped her to the ground and reconnected them with his belt, this time without going through a loop on either belt. He must have known he might have to do this, or he wouldn't have had a belt long enough for it. It was time for him to share his plan. “What are we doing?”

He grinned at her. Grinned! “Ever been rock climbing, fairy cat?”

“Well, no. But we’re not at a rock wall. We’re at a fence.”

“That’s true, but the concept is the same. The only way off this property is over that fence, so that’s where we’re going.”

Was he speaking a different language? He must have been, because in English, what he said made no sense. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about getting us out of here, fairy cat. Hold on tight.”

He glanced at the top of the fence, the part covered with circles of barbed wire, and wedged the tip of his boot into a link of the fence.

“Wait. You’re planning on climbing the fence? With me on your back? Are you crazy?”

“Yep. Hold on tight!”

As though she had any other choice, she wrapped her legs and arms around him, tightening her grip. “Was this always part of the plan? ”

“Yep,” he repeated. “Why do you think I have the extra-long belt?”

Well, there you go. She concentrated on deep, even breathing while clinging to him, trying to recall every video she had watched of baby spider monkeys clinging to their mothers as they swung through the trees.

When his foot slipped, she tried to stifle her squeak of terror. Her stomach was knotted so tightly even Alexander the Great couldn’t undo it. And then the strangest thing happened.

Excitement overwhelmed her fear. How did that make sense? It didn’t, unless she trusted the man carrying her. She trusted her Viking. And really, how could she not?

He’d gotten Zane out and to a doctor. He’d rescued her and even made sure she had her backpack. He had done nothing to earn her distrust.

So, she embraced her excitement and enjoyed the view. Look how high she was! She might even be able to ride a roller coaster if he were with her, and she’d never been able to do that before. No one had ever affected her like this before.

Despite his muscles straining and stretching, he managed to get them safely to the other side. Once they were back on the ground, he knelt again so she could stand while he unbuckled the belt.

Turning back to her once they were unattached, Viking placed his hands on her shoulders. “I know that was scary, little one, but I’m proud of you for being a big girl.”

Shoot! There he went again. He sure was dropping Little bombs all over the place. Was he giving her hints about who he was, or was she reading too much into his words? He’d have to be a lot clearer than that for her Little to slip out.

“But I wasn’t scared, Dad-- I mean Viking.” Gosh darn it! “I mean, maybe at first. But then it was just exciting. I could see for miles!”

Law’s head jerked back in surprise. And why wouldn’t it? She’d almost called him Daddy. Holy cowbells! Then again, he hadn’t pushed her away. Maybe he hadn’t caught her slip. Good thing he was so focused on her safety.

“It’s okay to be scared, fairy cat. I’d still think you were very brave.”

“But I wasn’t. I’m not just saying that. It’s true!”

His eyes still held doubt, but relief lingered there as well. It would have bothered him if he’d frightened her. That might mean he cared about her, right? At least a little bit. Her chest warmed at the thought. Not in the same way a Daddy cares for his Little, of course. But still, it had been so long since anyone had cared about her feelings.

What would it be like to have a Daddy who cared for her more than anyone else? She didn’t have what it took to get a Daddy like that. She’d never even been around any other Littles in real life. She wasn’t sure there were Littles in real life. It sounded too good to be true.

But it sure would be nice.

More gunfire in the distance sent them running until they reached the coolest truck she’d ever seen. It was shiny black with huge tires that elevated it higher off the ground than any truck she’d ever seen.

Law wrenched open the passenger door and lifted her into the cab. It was spacious. That made sense considering a giant drove it.

Pressing her back to the seat, he buckled her seatbelt and pointed a finger in her face. “Never open this door for yourself. Not if you know what’s good for your backside. Or the door of any other vehicle, for that matter. Do you hear me, little girl?”

She hid her smile. Oh yeah, her Viking could totally be a Daddy. And if Daddies were real, maybe Littles were, too.

She nodded. “Yes, sir.” He held her gaze, searching for something. Did he think she was lying? She was a very honest person. To suspect her of dishonesty was insulting, but she’d forgive him, just this once. He didn’t know her, and they hadn’t met under the best circumstances.

Dangerous ground stretched before her as long as he was nearby. She hadn’t wanted to say yes, sir. She’d wanted to say yes, Daddy. He wasn’t anything like the typical romance novel Daddy, but he had definite Daddy tendencies. However, she wasn’t ever going to call him that, no matter how tempting it might be.

Her Viking’s phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. The bearded mountain man’s face appeared on the screen before he connected. “Everything went as planned, bossman.”

The mountain man smiled. “Don’t call me that. And I don’t recall Deke taking that damn rocket launcher as part of the plan.”

Why would rocket launchers make her Viking grin? Pardon her French, but these people were crazy. Holy smoked catfish!

Bossman wasn’t finished talking. “You might as well head home. Bones says Zane is stable and he’ll be fine, but he wants to keep him in the hospital for a few days without visitors so he can rest. If you’re still planning for Zane’s sister to stay with you, there’s no sense debriefing at Sabre until Zane’s out. We’ll debrief then and see where we go from there. The Musketiaras are already asking to meet her. Consider yourself warned. We can’t put them off your girl forever.”

His girl? Oh, she couldn’t let her Viking’s boss think that. “I’m not his girl?—”

Her Viking interrupted her. “Roger that. I’ll talk to you later.”

Well! What was she supposed to think about that?