Page 36

TICK TOCK

H oax found me in the garage, hands deep in an oil-choked carburetor, the kind of work that used to soothe me before my whole damn life turned into a mess.

"Saw Croak outside her place again," he said, voice low, eyes watchful. "Third time this week."

I froze.

"You sure?"

Hoax nodded. "Same guy. Blonde prick. Stood across the street like he was just enjoying the weather. But I saw him at the clinic as well, talking to Henley too."

That got my blood boiling. Henley was supposed to work with us. The deal was that he'd be quiet, discreet, the kind of doc who kept his mouth shut as long as he got paid. In this case, he got paid in security from those fucking Bloody Scorpions. If he was crossing lines, Jameson needed to know. That kind of betrayal cut deep, especially when we were already drowning in blood and secrets.

We brought it up at Church that night. Jameson didn’t even flinch when we told him. He sat back in his chair, fingers steepled, eyes cold. Said he'd handle Henley personally, his voice steady, and we all could tell his wheels were already spinning. He remained calm, but I? I was vibrating with the need to move, to act. I wasn’t built for patience. I was built to break bones, and when it came to my woman, I wasn’t going to wait.

I rode straight from Church back to her place. Natalia opened the door in a faded tee and jeans, barefoot, her hair up in a knot like she hadn’t even tried. And somehow, she looked like sin on a Sunday.

"Gabe’s at a sleepover," she said without asking why I was there.

"Good. Because we need to talk."

She narrowed her eyes. "About what?"

I shoved past her, entering the living room. "About Croak. I know he's been around."

"Who?" She asked, seemingly confused.

"Croak. The Bloody Scorpion."

"Ohhh, that asshole," she lifted the laundry basket she had on the sofa and carried it down the hall to her bedroom. I followed her, room to room, confused as to why she didn't think this was serious.

"Why the fuck didn’t you say something?"

Her jaw clenched. "Because it’s my problem."

We were back in the living room, and I closed the distance between us. "No, Kitten. It’s our problem. You’re not alone anymore."

"I didn’t ask you to come back."

"And yet here I am."

"You think that means something? That after all these years you can just waltz in and..."

"Protect you? Damn right I will."

"I can handle this!" she snapped, her voice rising.

"Goddammit, you don’t have to. That’s why I’m here! That’s what I’m for."

She laughed, bitterly. "Is that right? Could’ve fooled me. Maybe you’ll run off again, just like last time."

"Like you?" I growled, stepping into her space, grabbing her wrist and hauling her against my chest.

The air between us turned molten. Her lips parted, chest rising with quick, shallow breaths. "Let me go."

"Not a chance."

I crushed my mouth to hers, all teeth, frustration, and years of hunger. She kissed me back just as hard, fingers clawing at my shirt, hips grinding against mine like her body remembered every filthy promise we never got to keep. When we broke apart, she gasped for air.

"You still mad?" I rasped, my hand sliding to her throat, fingers gripping just enough to make her look at me.

"Furious," she whispered.

"Good. Then you’ll let me fuck that anger out of you."

She didn’t answer. Just let me walk her backward until her knees hit the couch and I shoved her down.

"Get on your hands and knees."

Her eyes widened.

"Now, Kitten. Or I’ll put you there myself."

She obeyed with a low whimper, hands bracing on the cushions, her breath catching as she shifted into position. Her ass was round and perfect, denim molded tight across her curves, the fabric stretched thin like it was begging to be torn away. I grabbed her hips and pressed my mouth to the small of her back, biting down hard enough to leave a mark before dragging her jeans down to her thighs.

Her panties were soaked, lace clinging to her heat like a second skin. I groaned, running my hand over her soft flesh, admiring the way her ass jutted up for me, waiting, ready, her legs trembling just slightly with anticipation.

“You’ve missed this,” I growled, bringing my palm down hard on her ass. She yelped, her body jerking forward.

“You missed the way I spank you until your thighs are sticky and your voice is raw from begging.”

Another spank. The other cheek. This time slightly harder. She gasped, her fingers clawing into the cushion.

“That’s right, Kitten. Take it like a good girl,” I hissed, gripping her hair and yanking her head back until her throat was bare to me. I leaned in, bit the curve of her neck and she whimpered for me again, hips rolling back into me, grinding on my already hard cock.

“Tease,” I growled, palming her ass, kneading the heat, loving the way her flesh turned bright pink beneath my fingers. “This,” I spanked her again. This is punishment,” I whispered into her ear. “For leaving. For not waiting. For turning me on every goddamn time I see you and pretending it doesn’t mean anything.”

I bent down and bit her ass, hard, making her moan. My tongue soothed the sting while my hand slid between her thighs, stroking the wet spot through her panties.

“You’re soaked for me already, Kitten,” I growled. “Fucking soaked.”

Then I flipped her onto her back, pulling her jeans and panties off in one rough yank, spreading her wide. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes dark with want, lips parted as she panted beneath me.

“Feisty little kitten,” I said as I climbed over her, my mouth hovering just over hers.

“You like it,” she breathed, her hands curling around my arms.

“I fucking love it,” I whispered, then claimed her lips again with a bruising kiss.

I moved down her body slowly, dragging my tongue across every inch of skin like I was memorizing her all over again. Her shirt tore beneath my hands, her bra flung across the room without care. My mouth latched onto her nipple, sucking hard, teeth grazing her until she arched into me with a broken moan.

By the time I reached her core, her thighs were already spread, her scent thick and sweet. I ran my tongue down her slit, groaning at how wet she was for me, then looked up at her with a smirk.

"You taste like sin, Kitten."

I licked her with slow, deliberate strokes, flicking my tongue over her clit and watching her body react. Those trembling thighs, the way her hands gripped the cushions like she was holding onto any bit of sanity yet at the same time debating whether or not to get away. I nibbled her clit gently, then sucked hard, making her cry out. I didn’t stop. I circled the sensitive nub with my tongue, then flicked faster, pressing her thighs wide open so I could see every reaction. She whimpered, moaned, her back arching as she panted my name.

"That’s it," I whispered against her pussy. "Let me hear how much you missed me."

Her hands flew to my hair, fingers tangling in the strands as I nuzzled deeper, biting softly, licking harder. When I sucked her clit again, I slid two fingers inside her, curling them just right, and she choked out a sob of pleasure. Her hips bucked, but I held her down, owning every inch of her with my mouth.

I didn't just devour her. I took my time torturing her with slow licks and sharp nips until she was begging, until every moan turned into desperate whimpers, and every breath was a plea for more.

"Fuck, Daddy…" she moaned for me, and I grunted in satisfaction.

The second the word left her lips, my cock twitched with a violent jerk, my control unraveling

I slid a finger inside her, the slick heat of her pussy clenching around me like a fucking vice. Then another.

"Tight as ever," I growled, more to myself than her, my fingers pumping with only one goal in mind. To make her scream.

"Please," she gasped.

I looked up. "Please, what?"

She whimpered.

"Say it, Kitten. Use your words."

"Please let me cum, Daddy."

I growled again and added a third finger, pumping harder, sucking her clit like I was starving.

“Anything for my sweet pet.”

When her orgasm hit, she screamed my name, her body thrashing beneath me. I didn’t let up. I didn’t stop until she begged me to. Then I kissed her inner thigh, wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and stood up.

She sat up slowly, eyes hazy, lips swollen. Her tits slightly shuddering as she watched me unzip my jeans and let my cock spring free. She licked her lips and dropped to her knees. And when her mouth wrapped around me, warm, wet, and perfect, I groaned so deep it rattled my bones.

I curled my hand around the back of her head, guiding her rhythm, watching the way her lips stretched wide over my cock, how spit mixed with precum and dripped down her chin like a beautiful fucking mess.

"That’s it, Kitten," I whispered, gripping her hair. "Take Daddy’s cock. Show me how much you missed me."

Her moan vibrated down the length of me, and I groaned in response, holding her in place as I began to fuck her mouth slow and deep.

"Look at you," I snarled, voice a low growl. "So desperate for it. You missed choking on me, didn’t you?"

She moaned around my cock, her tongue dragging along the underside in slow, reverent licks that made my eyes roll back in my head.

She tried to take a break, but I was already buried deep in her throat. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as I held her there for a heartbeat, two, then pulled back, letting her breathe before pushing back in again.

I watched her fight for every inch, heard the wet, obscene sounds of her lips sliding over me. The way her throat convulsed around it. My hand gripped her hair tighter, tugging, guiding, punishing.

"That’s my filthy girl," I muttered, hips starting to twitch. "Daddy’s little slut."

Her hands clawed at my thighs, nails digging in like she wanted to ruin me just as badly as I was ruining her.

"Fuuuucckkk…" I groaned. "You’re gonna make me cum, Kitten."

She hummed around me, sucking harder, and I knew if I didn’t stop her, I’d explode right there.

I yanked her off with a snarl, cock glistening with her spit, throbbing with need.

"Not yet," I growled, panting as I looked down at her. "I’m not done with you. And when I finally cum, it’s gonna be buried deep inside you, where you fucking belong."

She whimpered, her mouth wet, her eyes wide and glassy, looking up at me like I was the only god she’d ever kneel for.

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