Page 9 of Scythe (Devil Daddies MC #2)

H e’d forced himself to stay away on Tuesday when she hadn’t called for a bedtime story. Maybe she wasn’t that into him. Scythe dismissed that worry quickly. She wasn’t skilled in concealing her emotions. Winnie was attracted to him. Just as he was to her.

Scythe had, of course, texted to make sure she had transportation to and from work. Her polite response had arrived within seconds. Had she been waiting to hear from him?

By Tuesday at seven p.m., he couldn’t focus at Inferno anymore.

He alerted the other Devil Daddies and headed out.

After pulling into her driveway, Scythe cut off his engine and parked his bike.

He studied the dark windows before checking the time.

Eight fifteen. His Little girl wouldn’t have gone to sleep that early.

He had a feeling the stack of papers in her bag wasn’t a onetime occurrence.

Tonight’s pile would have taken her several hours to correct.

A vibration rumbled inside his cut. Scythe grabbed his phone to check the screen. Winnie. He quickly accepted the call. “Chipmunk. You’re not asleep.”

“I heard a motorcycle and thought of you. Can you read me a story now? I didn’t want to bother you last night.” Winnie spoke in a hushed whisper.

“I can. That motorcycle was mine. I’m in your driveway.”

“Really?” Her voice squeaked with excitement,

“Where’s your room, Little girl?”

“On the backside of the house.”

“I’ll see you in five minutes. Open the window for me,” Scythe instructed as he got off the bike.

“I’m on the second floor. I’d let you in the back door, but I don’t want to wake Mom,” she said quickly.

“Trust me, Chipmunk. I’ll make it to you. I’m coming around the house.” He disconnected the call and stowed his phone in his vest.

Reaching the backyard, he spotted a massive oak tree. Nice. That would help him get to the second floor. One set of windows glowed with light. A limb extended within three feet of the sill. Easy.

Scythe jumped to grab the lowest branch and swung his legs up to wrap around it. In seconds, he navigated to a higher branch and then over to the branch that led to the illuminated window now filled with a familiar face. She hurriedly slid the lower pane open.

“You are going break your neck,” she whispered furiously. “I’ll just open the door for you and you can tiptoe inside.

“I’m good. I climbed a few trees in my youth. Step back, Winnie. I don’t want to hurt you.”

She scrambled back as Scythe moved down the limb to the spot closest to the opening. Balancing himself with the branch above him, Scythe paused and considered the best move. He could dive in, but that was a head injury waiting to happen. Glancing up at the branch above him, he made a new plan.

His motorcycle boots were a bit of a liability, but he managed to stand, using smaller branches to steady himself.

He sidestepped to a spot where the thick branch dropped slightly.

Launching himself upward, Scythe grabbed that limb, holding his breath.

Would it support him? When it only creaked a bit, he maneuvered hand over hand until he dangled close enough to the window to swing his legs inside and drop to sit on the windowsill.

Arms wrapped around his torso. “Gotcha!”

Holding onto the window frame, Scythe slid his hips inside and lowered himself to the floor. Winnie climbed onto his lap, scattering kisses all over his face. She wore fuzzy slipper socks and an oversized nightshirt decorated with what he suspected were chipmunks.

“That was crazy. You aren’t ever to do that again,” she scolded between pecks as he enjoyed her greeting.

“We’ll get a fire ladder, and you can let me climb up to you,” he suggested, rubbing her spine to reassure her.

She stopped and leaned back to meet his gaze. “That’s a good idea. Wait! Are you planning to visit often?”

“Yes.”

Winnie tilted her head as she considered his short answer. “To read me a bedtime story?”

“I needed to hold you, Chipmunk.” Scythe cupped her jaw and drew her forward. He kissed her lightly before deepening the exchange. She responded eagerly, wiggling closer and wrapping her arms around his neck. Her eagerness fueled his desire.

When he lifted his head a few minutes later, she kept her eyes closed and licked her lips. His cock twitched against his fly, already on alert.

“Little girl, you’re killing me,” he groaned.

Her eyes fluttered open to stare at him with passion-clouded eyes. “That was a solid A. I don’t think you need the notes I wrote down for you.”

Unable to resist, he grinned at her. “Oh, yeah. I need to see those notes. My goal is an A+.”

“An A+ doesn’t exist, Scythe. An A is the top.”

“We’ll see,” he teased. “You might invent a new level for me.” When she appeared skeptical, he laughed quietly.

“Kiss me, Little girl.” To his delight, she initiated the next round. He shifted his hands to her ribcage, brushing his fingers along the swell of her breasts. When she wiggled to both sides, he glided his hands to her back, concerned he was moving too quickly for her.

Winnie lifted her mouth from his to beg, “Please. Will you touch me?”

“Where, Chipmunk?”

“My tatas,” she whispered and then added, “You can say no. It’s okay.”

“I’m never going to refuse to caress you, Little girl,” he promised. “Let’s get you comfortable on my lap.”

He lifted her and resettled her with her thighs spread and wrapped on either side of his body. Scythe caught a quick glimpse of her silky curls and strangled a groan in the back of his throat. She quickly pushed down her nightshirt, not aware she’d already tempted him.

“Perfect. Could these be chipmunks?” he asked, trailing a fingertip over the cotton material.

Winnie nodded before shivering as his fingers slid over her. Scythe detoured to brush the sensitive side of her breast. Her nipples pressed against the fabric, luring him on. He drew a spiral around her before flicking his thumb across the taut peak. Her breath came in a shaky exhale.

“Can you tell me what you like?” he whispered.

She shook her head desperately.

He cupped her other side in his hand and caressed both nipples through the soft fabric. Her eyes closed, and she bit her lower lip. Scythe lifted his hand from her to run his fingers over her mouth.

“I need to hear your sounds, Chipmunk.”

Her eyes flashed open, and she nodded.

“Yes, Daddy,” he suggested.

“Yes, Daddy,” she repeated obediently.

“That’s my good girl. That deserves a treat, right?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Oh, another reward,” he promised. Leaning forward, he trailed kisses down the cord of her neck to the hollow of her throat. Scythe nipped and caressed his way to her nipple and paused, letting his hot breath sink through the thin material. She inhaled sharply, lifting her beaded bud to his lips.

Of course, he closed his mouth around her offering and pulled it gently into the heat of his mouth. Winnie arched her back, presenting herself to him. Scythe brushed his tongue over her nipple, wetting the material as he teased her sensitive flesh.

Before moving to repeat the special treatment to her other side, he rolled her nipple between his teeth.

Scythe listened carefully to her breath for that quick inhale he’d already learned signaled a spike of arousal for her.

When she pushed her pussy to his pelvis and gyrated against him, Scythe’s hands tightened on the treasures he held.

Damn, she was temptation incarnate. All sweet innocence and sensual moves. If she was as inexperienced as he believed, she was naturally responsive and eager.

He dropped a hand to her bare flesh above her knee and glided his hand under her nightshirt. She stilled and then wiggled as if straining to get closer to his touch. Scythe gripped her thigh, tethering her in place. He waited to speak until her gaze met his.

“Little girl….”

“I’ll give you an A+! I have gold stars!” she blurted, interrupting him.

His automatic smile at the reminder of her grading system evaporated at the panic on her face. “Winnie….”

She shivered like an abandoned colt. “Please don’t tell me you’re not interested in me. You climbed all the way up here to break up with me?”

“I’m not breaking up with you, Chipmunk. Let’s get that straight. Okay?”

When she nodded, still breathing way too fast, he added, “Let me help you. Inhale deeply with me, Little girl.” He inhaled audibly and watched Winnie follow his instructions.

“Hold it for three seconds. One, two, three.” He counted slowly before adding, “Exhale everything out of your lungs.”

Her breath whooshed out, and she sucked air back in.

“Keep trying to slow down. Everything is okay. Exhale and then let’s count to five as we inhale.”

He led her through the cycle of slow breaths in and slow exhales until the tension in her body visibly faded. Her shoulders settled into place, and the rigidity of her muscles softened.

“That’s my Little girl.”

“I’m sorry. Panic attack, I guess.”

“How about if we talk next time if you feel like you are going to panic?”

“I don’t get them often. Never at school. In my classroom, I’m totally in control and relaxed. It happens around men. I—I haven’t had much success dating.”

“Have people been mean to you?”

“College was a nightmare. I dated a frat guy, and he dumped me when I started liking him too much.”

“That sucks.” There had to be more to the story. Scythe paused to see if she would tell him the rest.

“Then another one asked me out and ghosted me. Then another. And another and so on. Turns out, I became the frat target. How many of them could date and drop me before I caught on?”

“Give me their names,” he growled.

“It was two states away and a few years ago, Scythe. You can’t hunt them down for stupid games they played in college.”

“I can.”

“I’m not going to give you that information.”

He looked at her sternly. “Tell me they stopped when you found out.”

“Oh, no. They got another frat house involved, so I couldn’t trust anyone on campus. I didn’t date after that. Well, except for helping Frankie in the library, if you’d count that as a date. Pretending our meetings were romantic made me feel better. You know, less of a loser.”

Scythe pulled her close and hugged her tight. “You could never be a loser, Winnie. They were, Little girl. I hope you realize you didn’t do anything wrong. They did. Assholes.”

She nodded against his shoulder, hiding her face.

“I’m not an immature college guy. I’ve never deliberately treated anyone poorly like that.”

She pressed a kiss to his throat. “Thank you. If you get tired of me, just tell me nicely. I’ll understand.”

“That’s not going to happen, Winnie. I’ve searched for my Little girl for many years.

The Devil Daddies told me when I found her, I’d recognize her.

After spending a few minutes with you, I knew they were right.

You are my Little girl.” He didn’t want to scare her with the truth.

To his delight, she looked at him like he’d just hung the sun for her.

He leaned down to kiss Winnie. This time, their exchange was sweet. Scythe lifted his head to meet her gaze. “What about you, Chipmunk? Can you see me as your Daddy?”

Winnie nodded. “I’ve read a bunch of books. The Daddies are always so handsome, and they care so much about their Littles. I never thought they existed, much less that I’d find someone who wanted to be my Daddy.”

A sudden yawn opened her jaw. Winnie slapped her hand over her lips to hide it. “Sorry,” she whispered a second later.

“You need to be asleep, Winnie. I came to read you a bedtime story. Let’s get you tucked under the covers.”

“You’re not going to touch my tatas anymore?” she blurted.

Her face immediately flamed red with embarrassment. He loved that her mouth shared information before she could stop it. That would be very handy as her Daddy. “I am definitely going to caress your sweet body, but I want you to remember it, not be half asleep.”

Winnie paused as if considering his statement and then nodded. “That makes sense.”

“I’m glad, Little girl. I want to rip your clothes off and have my way with you,” Scythe told her, holding her gaze.

“I’d like that too.”

“You’re going to more than like it when we make love for the first time, Winnie.”

“I wouldn’t grade that,” she rushed to reassure him.

“Oh, you’re going to give me that elusive A+.”

“If it kills me?” she teased.

“I’ll make sure you survive,” he promised. He wasn’t surprised when she changed the subject.

“You could stretch out with me and leave through the front door tomorrow when my mom is awake,” Winnie suggested and then glanced away as if she were sure he would refuse.

Scythe stood, lifting her with him. He balanced his precious armful with one hand and tossed back the covers with the other. Placing her under the covers, he said, “Scooch over, Chipmunk,” as he stripped off his cut and belt and threw them over a chair.

Her answering grin went right to his heart. Winnie moved to the far edge of the bed and laid down. She reached out to nab her stuffed chipmunk and pulled it to her chest as she studied him.

Back on the farm, his chores had built muscle naturally. These days, he maintained his strength in the gym with his MC brothers. He appreciated every crunch and lift as she scanned his body.

Scythe untied his boots and stepped out of those.

He stretched out beside her. Winnie immediately snuggled next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

Scythe drew the covers up to her chin, taking care not to smother the precious item in her arms. Tapping the stuffie’s nose, he said, “I bet this is Chippy.”

“Yes. He thinks you’re wonderful. And handsome too.”

“Thank you, Chippy. You’re a lucky stuffie to have Winnie love you. Now, we need a story. How about I tell you the one about when Chippy explored the house while you were at school last week?”

“I did find him in Mom’s room one day!”

“He’s very adventurous,” Scythe agreed and launched into an imaginary adventure for an energetic chipmunk like Chippy. Winnie’s eyes drifted shut after a few minutes, and her breath evened out. He studied her relaxed face for a long time before closing his eyes and allowing himself to sleep.