Chapter Four
Daniel
I’m not in a hurry. Not even a little.
Every mile I drag out between Cindy and that bastard feels like a win. Like a tether pulling tighter between me and the little redhead sitting beside me.
I glance over. She’s curled up against the door, fingers absentmindedly tracing shapes on her thigh. Her lips are soft, pink, parted just slightly like she’s thinking…or dreaming.
She’s perfect.
I’ve never met anyone like her. Hell, I’ve never felt like this in my goddamn life. This pull, this ache. Like I’ve known her forever. Like she was meant just for me.
And maybe it’s reckless, maybe it’s insane…but I don’t give a damn.
I slow the truck as we crest a rise, gravel popping under the tires.
There’s one last spot I should check, an old burn scar near the river that tends to flare up with dry wind.
At least that’s the excuse I tell myself.
Truth is, I’m not ready to take her to town yet.
Not ready to let anyone else lay eyes on her.
“Won’t be but a minute,” I tell her, throwing the truck into park.
She nods, giving me that sweet little smile like she trusts me with her whole soul.
God help me.
I step out and do a quick scan of the tree line. No smoke. No hot spots. Just a patch of blackened earth slowly reclaiming itself. Satisfied, I turn back around, only to have the breath knocked out of me.
Her side of the truck’s open. She’s sitting sideways on the seat, legs dangling out, feet swinging lazily. Her little sneakers knock against the metal step. Her hair glows like fire in the sunlight, and her face is tipped up toward the trees, lips parted, eyes thoughtful.
She looks…small. Sweet. Adorable.
For the first time, a flicker of doubt hits me.
Damn, how young is she?
I watch her. I can’t help it. Can’t tear my eyes away. Something about her—the purity, the softness—makes my chest squeeze tight and my cock go rock-hard at the same time.
As if she feels the heat of my stare, her head turns. Our eyes lock. Her cheeks flame a deep, gorgeous red.
Goddamn. She blushes so easy.
I start moving toward her, slow and steady. I keep my eyes on hers, unable to look away. I’ve never been so mesmerized by any woman in my life. She’s bewitching, and she has no idea how much power she holds over me.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?” she asks in a soft, breathless whisper.
My throat works around a growl. I stop in front of her, close enough that my thighs brush her knees. My fingers trail up, catching under her chin, forcing her to tilt her head back and look at me.
“I’m wondering how old you are,” I admit, my voice low. Rough.
She swallows hard, her pulse fluttering under her skin. “Why?”
“Because the thoughts I’m having about you, darlin’…” My thumb grazes her lip. “I’m trying to figure out if they’re even remotely appropriate.”
“N-nineteen,” she stutters, ducking her head.
Relief. Hunger. Something feral stirs so deep I nearly shake.
“Nineteen,” I repeat, brushing my thumb along the apple of her cheek. “Then I guess it’s okay if I…”
I don’t even finish the sentence.
I crush my mouth to hers.
Her gasp is the last sound between us before everything melts away. Her lips are soft, trembling against mine, but when my tongue pushes between them, she opens for me like she was made for it.
Christ.
She tastes like heaven. Like honey and innocence and something that’s about to be mine forever.
My hands frame her face at first, but when she fists her little hands in my shirt and pulls, I lose it. I shove one hand into her hair, tugging her head back, taking her deeper. The other drops to her thigh, squeezing the soft flesh, dragging her forward until her legs hook over my hips.
Her little moans damn near break me.
I pull back only far enough to rasp, “You kiss like you’ve done this before, baby.”
She shakes her head, panting, eyes glazed. “N-no…I haven’t. Not like this.”
“Fuck,” I groan, pressing my forehead to hers. “You’re gonna wreck me.”
I step closer between her legs, grip her hips, and lift her off the seat just enough to settle her right against my cock, grinding up through my jeans. Her startled gasp turns to a needy whimper.
“You feel that, baby?” I murmur, grinding again. “That’s what you do to me. And I’m gonna make you feel good too.”
Her eyes go wide, her lips parting slightly, but she doesn’t pull away. Not even close. If anything…she shivers, her fingers digging into my biceps.
“Please…” she whispers, shaky, uncertain.
I drag my nose along her cheek, down to her neck. “Please what, baby? You want me to make you feel good? Want me to touch you?”
She bites her lip. “Yes, I…I want that.”
Oh, sweet fucking girl.
“Good.” I nip her throat. “Because you’re mine now. And I’m gonna take such good care of you.”
I slide my hands under her thighs and hoist her up, tossing her over my shoulder like it’s the most natural thing in the world. She yelps, but it turns into a giggle as I slap her ass lightly.
“Daniel!”
I grin as that giggle turns into a moan when I let my fingers drift up higher between her thighs. She’s so soft and warm, and I can tell she’s already dripping for me.
Hauling her to the back of the truck, I lower the tailgate and set her down on the ledge. I stand between her spread legs, her little shorts pulled tight over the curve of her hips. My hands trail up the soft skin of her thighs, hook into the waistband, and I tug.
“Lift for me,” I growl.
She does, blushing shyly, eager, hips rising. Fucking offering herself like she knows exactly what this means.
“Good girl,” I praise, sliding her shorts and panties down in one smooth motion. She’s bare, glistening, soft. The sight steals my breath.
I grab one of her legs, toss it over my shoulder. The other hooks up on the side of the truck. Perfect. Spread wide. Ready for me to show her what pleasure means.
“D-Daniel…what are you—”
“Shh, baby,” I murmur, dragging my thumb through the wet, silky folds of her pussy. Her hips jerk in response, her thighs trembling slightly. “I’m just gonna taste my girl.”
The first swipe of my tongue sends her arching up with a strangled cry. So goddamn sweet. I lap her up like a starving man, sucking her clit into my mouth, flicking, teasing, loving every breathy sigh, every moan.
“Oh…oh my God…”
“That’s it,” I groan against her. “Let me hear those pretty sounds.”
I slide a finger into her…and freeze.
Holy shit, she’s tight. Virgin-tight.
I pull back, looking up at her flushed, dazed face. “Baby…have you ever…?”
She shakes her head fast, cheeks flaming. “N-no…I’ve never…I haven’t…I mean, not with anyone.”
Possessiveness explodes inside me like wildfire.
“Fuck,” I rasp, cupping her cheek. “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have done this here.”
She shakes her head, biting her lip shyly. “Don’t apologize. I…I liked having you there…your mouth on me…”
“Yeah?” I grin, my chest tightening with an indecipherable emotion.
“Yeah.” She nods again, her cheeks exploding with color. “I…I’ve never felt so good.”
“Never?” I ask, trailing my thumb over her slick entrance, circling. “You’ve never even touched yourself?”
Her face grows even redder. She buries her face in her hands with a whimper. “I…maybe, not a lot…”
Fucking hell. I chuckle darkly, leaning in, licking a slow stripe over her clit again. “Poor baby. No wonder you’re dripping for me.”
I press a kiss right against her swollen little nub. “Don’t worry. I’m gonna show you how good it feels. Gonna teach you everything you’ve been missing.”
I slide a finger into her and she lets out a shocked gasp, gripping my hair. I pull my finger out and slide it back in, watching her face. She closes her eyes and throws her head back, her hips bucking slightly against my hand.
She makes quite a picture, lying in the back of my truck, half naked, all spread out before me.
Damn.
I continue to fuck her with my finger, aware that even adding one more might be too much for her this first time. She’s already so close, gasping at every new sensation. I want to give her the world, want to show her how good her body can feel.
Slowly, I begin to stroke my thumb over her clit with every thrust, leaning up to catch her lips with mine. She responds eagerly, allowing me to claim her mouth thoroughly.
She’s practically writhing against me now, and her already-tight walls are getting even tighter. “Yeah, that’s it, baby. I want you to come for me when I tell you to, alright?”
She nods frantically, so close to the edge. “Yes, Daniel, please—”
I press kisses to her neck, and then lean back so I can watch her face, continuing to work her pussy with my fingers. “Let go for me, baby. Come. Now.”
She gasps, her body stiffening, face overcome with pleasure, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. She lets out a moan as her pussy walls convulse around my finger, and I hold her through it, stroking her hair and telling her how good she is, how perfect.
I want more than anything to take this further, to show her the highest heights of pleasure. I want to slide my cock inside her heat, claim her thoroughly and permanently. But this is not the place.
Her first time should be special. Just like her.
I slide my hand out of her, then lean in to kiss her thighs.
Gently, I ease her leg down from where it’s hooked over the edge.
Her legs are trembling, her nipples straining through the fabric of her shirt.
Her body is literally begging to be fucked, and my cock is more than ready to oblige, but I’m determined to do this the right way.
It’s so damn hard, though.
Christ, I love how sweet and pliant she is right now. Blushing. Breathless from her orgasm. A little shy…but not scared. Not a hint of fear. That’s good.
I carefully tug her panties and shorts back into place, but my hands linger. My thumb traces her hip bone before I pull the waistband snug.
“Good girl,” I murmur, smoothing her rumpled shirt down over her stomach.
She looks up at me through her lashes, lips parted, cheeks a deep rosy red. And damn if it doesn’t make something primal pulse hot through my veins again.
Nine years. I’ve got nine years on her. I shouldn’t want her like this. Shouldn’t feel like…like she’s mine. Shouldn’t feel like I’d kill anyone who so much as looks at her wrong.
But I do. God help me, I do.
I don’t give a damn how little sense it makes. I want her. I’ll have her. And the way she’s looking at me right now, the way her fingers are clutching the hem of her shirt… yeah. She wants me too. Even if she doesn’t fully understand it yet.
It makes me dangerously happy.
When I’m satisfied she’s dressed, at least as much as I can stand her being dressed, I lean in, cupping her face and gently brushing my lips over hers.
Her stomach rumbles loudly, interrupting the moment, and she jerks back with an adorable gasp, both hands flying to her belly. “Oh my God.” Her face turns crimson. “I’m…I’m so sorry.”
I choke on a laugh, dropping my head against her shoulder. “Jesus, darlin’.” I’m grinning like a fool as I pull back. “That was the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. Are you hungry?”
She groans and buries her face in her hands. “No. Absolutely not. I am not hungry.”
“Liar,” I chuckle, sliding my thumb over her bottom lip. “Lucky for you, I know exactly what you need.”
I carry her back to the passenger seat, and then press a kiss to her temple before stepping away. My hands already feel too empty without her, but I force myself to round the front of the truck and climb in.
Reaching behind the seat, I grab the lunch bag I shoved back there earlier—a half-wrapped sandwich, some beef jerky, and some snacks I had lying around the cabin.
I pass the bag over to her. “Here. Eat.”
She hesitates, nibbling her lip. “Are you sure? I mean…it’s your lunch.”
I level her a look. “You think I’m gonna sit here and let my girl go hungry?”
My girl.
Yeah. That came out without thinking. But I don’t take it back.
Her fingers tremble a little as she opens the bag, but the second her eyes land on the bright red pack of Twizzlers…her whole face lights up like it’s Christmas morning.
“Oh my God…you have Twizzlers?”
Her voice goes all squeaky with excitement, and she grabs the pack like it’s made of gold.
“I love these! Like, love -love. I used to get them every Saturday when my dad and I went to the movies. He always teased me because I’d pick Twizzlers over popcorn every single time.
” She’s rambling now, tearing the plastic open with nimble fingers, eyes shining.
“Everyone’s always like ‘Red Vines are better’ but they’re wrong.
Twizzlers are elite. Peak cinema snack—”
I stare. I can’t even help it.
Her whole face is glowing with this bright, open joy, her legs swinging from the seat, her curls bouncing every time she tips her head, grinning at the candy like it’s the best thing in the universe.
And something inside me cracks wide open.
It’s not just lust anymore. Not just possessiveness.
It’s something bigger.
Something warmer. Deeper. Fiercer.
God, look at her. So pure. So untouched…
Mine .
I reach over, tucking one of those wild curls behind her ear. She startles slightly at the touch, then leans into it.
“You’re somethin’ else, darlin’,” I murmur, my thumb trailing down her jaw. “Swear to God.”
Her grin softens. She pops a Twizzler between her lips, biting down, and giggles. “You think I’m weird now, don’t you?”
“I think you’re…perfect,” I say, my voice dropping to a whisper.
For a second, neither of us says anything. The air shifts again. Thicker. Heavy with something neither of us knows how to name.
And then reality edges in.
It’s getting late and the skies are darkening. I should be thinking about doing the responsible thing and getting her back to her family…even if every muscle in my body rebels at the thought.
I don’t want to take her back.
I don’t want to let her go. Not now. Maybe not ever.
Before I can think better of it, the words spill out of my mouth. “Come home with me, Cindy.”