Chapter 8
8
DALLAS
I wake to a warm body wrapped around my own. Willow is pressed into my side, her dark hair fanning over my shoulder and her leg precariously wedged between my thighs. Blinking, I lift my phone from the nightstand where I laid it last night and check the time. It’s barely six in the morning, making me wonder what stirred me awake.
“Hewwo,” a soft voice whispers beside the bed before a tiny body climbs onto the mattress.
I freeze, unsure of what to do. But Juniper seems to know exactly what she’s doing as she wedges her tiny frame against my other side. My hand pauses midair before I press it against her back.
“What are you doing, Little Bit? Shouldn’t you be in your own bed?”
She lifts her tiny head, dark curls spilling down around her face. “I wannet to sweep in here,” Juniper says matter-of-factly. “You had a sweep over?”
“Um… I guess so.”
Juniper touches the black ink against my bare skin, making me stiffen.
“Dis is purty. Did you gets in truble for drawing on urself?”
“No. I’m grown. I don’t get in trouble.” I shift, praying she stays on top of the bedcovers. “I think you should go back to your bed, Juniper.”
“Nope. I gonna sweep here.” She nestles her head into my shoulder, her little fingers slowly tracing the compass in the center of the swirling lines along my chest and shoulder.
Eventually, her sweet snores fill the room, and I give up getting her out of the bed and lay there staring at the ceiling. It isn’t long before Willow begins to stir. Her eyes blink open, her body stiffening against me.
“Oh, shit,” she whispers when she sees the little girl splayed over my chest, my arm clutching her small back in a protective hold. “I’m sorry. Let me get her.”
Tightening my arm around Willow, I press her against me, “No, leave her.”
Willow’s gaze softens as she takes in her niece cuddled against me. “She’s never been around a man like this.”
“She wanted to know if I got in trouble for drawing on myself.” I laugh. “I’m not used to kids. I’m terrified right now, but she’s sleeping so peacefully, I don’t want to move her.”
Willow wiggles against me. “I need to use the bathroom and shower before she gets up.”
Releasing my hold, I let her climb from the bed. I can’t take my eyes off her as she walks across the carpet with all the confidence in the world. Her bare skin beckons me, so I slowly maneuver Juniper’s sleeping body off me. I slip off the edge of the bed and tug her to the middle, making sure she’s secure. Glancing at my phone, I note it’s barely after seven. Stealing one last glance at the toddler who has somehow burrowed under my skin and into my heart, I pad across the bedroom.
The shower has kicked on inside, making my cock ache with need. Casting one last glance in Juniper’s direction, I ease the door open and shut myself inside. Twisting the lock, I step fully inside and suck in a breath. Willow’s body is blurred by the opaque glass, but my body knows what it looks like. Shoving my boxers down, I tug the framed enclosure and step into the stall with her.
“Dallas.” Willow startles for a moment as she takes me in, but her eyes quickly fill with heat.
My hand grabs the sponge from the small shelf. Lathering it up, I glide the soapy poof ball across her skin. Dropping the loofa to the shower floor, I move my hand to her neck and tip her head back into the downpour of water. The water cascades across her skin, making my dick harder than it already is, but I shove down the need to bury myself in her for a moment. Slowly, I pour some of her shampoo into my palm and scrub it through her beautiful, dark locks.
Seeing the soapy mess flow over her breast, I can’t resist, and frankly, I don’t want to. Dragging my fingers down her chest, I cup her tit in my palm and rub my thumb across the hardened pink nipple, silently begging for my touch.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.”
“Juniper,” she whispers into the steam.
I shake my head. “Sound asleep.”
My knee pushes her legs apart as I slowly walk forward, her back moving toward the tile wall. As soon as she is pressed against it, I lace my fingers into her hair and press my lips to hers. Her hands smooth over my shoulders, her nails digging into the flesh as she pulls me tighter against her body. The water cascades down my back, the spray misting the air as we get lost in one another. Sliding my hands to her hips, I hoist her up and wedge my front against her.
The head of my cock brushes her sex, demanding entry. Willow reaches between us and feeds my shaft between her legs. Her warmth envelopes me as I drive fully inside her, and it takes everything in me not to blow my load right then and there. Knowing our time is limited before the sleeping angel wakes up in the other room, I thrust my hips into her. My pace is demanding, but Willow doesn’t seem to mind. Her finger swirls around her clit as I pound my cock into her. The combination of her pussy swallowing my shaft, with the heat of the water washing down my back, makes the sex electric. Willow cries out as her channel squeezes my dick so hard, I nearly black out. My cum spurts out forcefully inside her, coating her walls.
“Jesus. That’s one hell of a wake-up call.” Willow chuckles, her breath ragged from our early morning workout session.
“Sorry it was quick, but I don’t imagine sleeping beauty will stay asleep forever.” As if on cue, a pounding at the door startles me. “Damn, does she have a sixth sense or what? At least she waited until we finished.”
“Wet me in.” Her little voice filters through the door. “I need to pee.”
“Crap.” Willow disentangles from my body and quickly rinses off her body. “Um… I’m not sure what to do.” She pushes open the stall door and starts to step out. “Hang on, baby.”
I rinse off just as quickly and follow her out of the shower once I turn it off. “It’s fine. I’ll cover up with a towel.”
Willow holds my gaze before nodding. With a quickness, we both dry off. Willow fastens a towel around her body, covering herself up as I do the same around my hips. Juniper smiles at me when Willow pulls the door open.
“Hewwo.” She pushes inside, pushes her pajama bottoms down, and climbs onto the toilet. “I gots to go.”
I press my lips to Willow’s forehead. “I’ll step out and throw on my clothes.”
Once I’m in the bedroom, I find my discarded clothes and tug them on. As I have my shirt on, my cell phone vibrates across the wooden surface of the nightstand.
The morning sun filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I’m still basking in the shower's afterglow with Willow, my skin tingling from the heat of the water and the closeness of her touch. My mind keeps wandering back to the way her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, the way her moans echoed off the tiles. It's a moment I want to relive over and over again.
As I sit here, my mind drifts to Juniper, her niece. That little girl has somehow burrowed her way under my skin in a way I didn't expect. Her curiosity, everything about her, tugs at something deep inside me.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand, breaking my reverie. I pick it up and see Drake's name flashing on the screen. With a sigh, I swipe to answer and bring the phone to my ear.
“Hey, Drake,” I greet him, my voice still rough from sleep.
“Dallas. I’ve been digging into Willow’s situation,” Drake replies. “It's not good, man. I’ve found some things that are… troubling.” He sighs.
Before I can respond, the bathroom door opens, and Willow steps out, looking radiant despite the early hour. Juniper follows, spots me, and immediately makes a beeline for the bed. I hold up a finger to my lips, silently signaling for quiet. Willow nods, understanding, but Juniper just giggles and climbs into my lap.
"Is that a kid I hear?" Drake asks.
I can’t help but smile as I balance the phone on my shoulder and wrap an arm around Juniper. “Yeah, that's Juniper. Willow’s daughter.”
Drake laughs outright. "Never pegged you as the family man type, Dallas. "
"It's… " I’m seconds from saying it’s not what he thinks, but looking at the little girl in my hold, I know I’d be lying. “Different,” I admit, looking down at Juniper, who was now playing with the buttons on my shirt.
Drake sighs into the phone. “Look, her sister was more involved with some shady characters than we initially thought,” Drake explains. “I’ve got a friend in law enforcement who pulled some strings. Turns out, her sister is tied to a couple of guys who don’t shy away from using violence to get what they want.”
I swallow hard, the implications of Drake’s words sinking in. "So, what do we do?"
Drake is silent for a moment, then he says, “We need to figure out a plan before whoever she’s hiding from finds her. Because make no mistake, Dallas… Willow’s hiding. I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Fine, see you in a bit.” As I end the call, I feel a small hand tugging at my shirt. I look down to see Juniper gazing up at me with curious eyes.
"Dallas, who dat?" she asks innocently.
"That was a friend of mine," I reply, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "He's going to help me with something."
"Help Wiwwow, too?" Juniper’s eyes were wide, hopeful.
"Yes, sweetie," Willow interjects softly, coming to sit beside us on the bed. I hadn’t noticed, but at some point during my call, she slipped on a sundress. "He's going to help me, too."
Juniper seems satisfied with that answer and settles more comfortably into my lap. Willow gives me a grateful look, her eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and apprehension.
"Thank you, Dallas," she whispers, her voice barely audible as she sits down beside us on the bed.
"We'll figure this out, Willow.” Reaching out, I take her hand in mine. “You're not alone anymore. But there are going to be some questions you have to answer. Uncomfortable questions, okay?"
She nods, but I can still see the shadows of fear lingering in her eyes. "I just want to keep her safe," she murmurs, glancing at Juniper, who has rested her head against my chest.
"You both will be," I promise. "We'll sort this out, and we'll make sure whatever you’re running from is ended."
For a moment, the room is silent, the weight of unspoken fears hanging in the air.
Juniper shifts in my lap. “I hungry.”
Willow smiles and reaches out to tug her from my grasp. “Let me go get her something to eat before your brother gets here.”
Hearing her call Drake my brother creates an unease in my chest. Tilting my head, I stare at the ceiling, the uncertainty of what lies ahead swirling in my mind. Standing, I pad my way out of the room and ease myself toward the kitchen. When I get there, the sight in front of me stops me in my tracks. Willow has Juniper standing in a chair at the stove. She holds the little girl's hand in hers as they stir something in a big pan. Seeing them awakens something inside me I hadn’t thought possible—something I was sure I wanted to avoid. I must make a noise because Juniper turns to spear me with the biggest grin I’ve ever seen.
“You hungy?”
Smiling, I saunter to where they stand. “I sure am, Little Bit.”
Wrapping my arm around Willow, I lean in and press my lips to her ear.
“I never thought I would want a family, Willow,” I whisper. “But now that I’ve found you… I’m not letting you go.”