Chapter 2 #2
I decide to splurge and make them both croque monsieur. It’s a sandwich I love to make, and I know Oly loves them too. It’s layered with two types of cheese, ham, and creamy béchamel sauce.
As Harley eats, she starts peppering me with questions I can’t answer. I really like her, but I can’t have the men from my past coming after her when the time comes for me to leave.
Together we wipe down tables while we wait for the just-before-closing rush. She has a class on campus she needs to go to, but she always returns after.
“I’ll be back at five to help you close,” she offers just before stepping out the door.
“You know you don’t have to do that,” I tell her as I distract Oly with her play baking set so I can put macarons together and a few madeleines for the case later.
“I do. You’re my friend. I want to help you.” She leaves before I can say anything else.
Tears sting the corners of my eyes. When the bell chimes, I head to the front, Oly trailing along behind me.
I’m startled when I see Jim standing there. His eyes dart to Oly.
“I thought she had camp today, so we could have a private conversation.”
I’m thrown by the fact that he shouldn’t know that. How does he know? The hair on the back of my neck rises. Did I mention it this morning? I don’t think I did.
“Um.” I pause, not sure what to say, then decide to ignore it. “How can I help you, Jim?” I ask instead. “Are you interested in a loaf of bread or some sweets?”
“I’m interested in something sweet, alright.” He advances on me.
The bell chimes over the door, and I’ve never been so glad for a customer. I look up and see Kodiak walking into the shop. Just like earlier when Aftershock came in for Harley, Kodiak’s eyes are focused on me and not on Jim.
“Hello, Kodiak, Harley is at class right now.”
He doesn’t respond, but he finally looks at Jim.
“Hello.” His deep, gruff voice is intimidating, but it’s sexy as hell, as far as I’m concerned.
The bell chimes again, and this time a tall blond man in a leather cut like Kodiak’s walks through the door.
He glances around, taking in the place. He’s followed by another man in a cut, almost as tall as Kodiak but not as built.
He has short dark hair and a scruffy beard, like he skipped a day of shaving.
Both men look around but keep their distance from Kodiak and Jim.
Oly rounds the corner and goes straight to Kodiak, who immediately bends down and scoops her up in his arms. My heart is thumping so hard I’m sure everyone can hear it.
“Hello,” Jim finally says, backing away from Kodiak while keeping the other guys in view.
All three men are large and intimidating. They have an air of danger, but for some reason, I’m not afraid of any of them.
Kodiak
Icame here today because my sister texted me that some creeper was bothering Marnie. What I didn’t expect was to walk in and see my girl being cornered by said prick.
The fear in her eyes hits me as soon as she looks my way, and the beast that lives just under the surface is ready to rip this punk’s arms off and beat him with them.
Olympia walking over and asking me to pick her up is exactly what I need to calm my nerves. But I also need that anger to deal with this fucker. I kiss her softly on her cheek, and she giggles as my beard tickles her face.
“Beauté, can you do me a favor?” I ask, and she nods her head and smiles. “This is my friend Icarus. He’s going to show you something cool while I help Mommy get her new alarm set up.”
I look over as Marnie’s spine straightens.
She’s going to fight me on this, but I don’t mind using Oly to my advantage.
Icarus walks over and holds out his arms. Oly lays her head on my shoulder, and something deep inside me clicks.
I’m meant to protect this precious little girl. She and her momma need me.
“Hello, Oly, right?” Icarus holds out his big hand to her. “I’m Icarus, do you know what this is?”
He pulls a doll from his pocket, and I stare at him in shock. Where did he come up with that?
“This is Roxy. She belongs to a special person, but she told me you could play with her for the day. Do you want to play with her?”
Oly nods her head and practically jumps for him.
“Okay, while Momma and Kodiak talk, you can play with Roxy. I’ll show you what she can do.” He holds out his hand for her to take the doll, then opens his arms. She lets him take her, and Marnie comes around the counter.
“Where are you taking her?” Panic laces her voice.
“Just over here,” Icarus says, carrying Oly to a table and sitting down with her.
He’s not awkward at all holding her, and I remember the secret only a couple of us know. It’s why he’s so comfortable with a child. I bet this doll belonged to Eve when she was younger.
“It’s okay, sugar.” I pull Marnie into my side.
The guy looks between the two of us. “Is this your boyfriend? I thought you just moved here.”
“He’s my friend, Jim,” Marnie says.
“Getting there,” I say at the same time.
“Kodiak and I just met a couple of weeks ago at my grand opening,” Marnie says, deflecting the answer away from us being together.
“It was instant,” I add. “Thank you for keeping an eye on my girl for me. I hear you live in the same building.”
He bristles at that. Marnie starts to pull away, but I grip her hip, and she settles, finally understanding what I’m doing. She fits perfectly against me, and for a moment, I wonder what it would be like to always have her in my arms.
“Yeah, instant,” she says as she lays her head against my chest.
“Well then, I guess that answers my question about going out. Have a nice day.” Jim turns and leaves without buying anything.
I wait until he’s in his car and out of sight before I release her.
“Thank you. Hopefully, he’ll take the hint and leave me alone now.”
“Anything, sugar. Now I’m going to have these guys check out places to install the new security system.”
I look over at Icarus, who is showing Oly how Roxy can do stunts on a snowboard. “She better not attempt that the first time we get her on a board,” I tell him. He just chuckles and keeps playing dolls with her.
Wing walks over, and I introduce him to Marnie. He doesn’t shake her hand but just nods at her.
“Be nice, Wing,” I tell him, and he turns back to her.
“Nice to meet you, Marnie. I’m not very talkative,” he says, and I nod in agreement. “You’ve got some serious security flaws. Only one lock on the front door, no glass-break sensors on the windows, and you should have a motion detector for when you’re closed.”
“I know, but the landlord wouldn’t cover those improvements, and I just can’t afford them right now,” she says, turning away.
I have a feeling she’s hiding something, but I don’t press. She’ll learn soon enough that I won’t put up with secrets between us. I wanted to stay away from her and Oly, but I couldn’t. In the last two weeks, I’ve struggled not to come here every day and check on them.
“I already got permission from the landlord for the upgrades,” I say.
“What part of ‘I can’t afford it right now’ did you not understand?” she snaps, her hip popping out.
I press into her, and she steps back against the counter. I don’t give her an inch. Again, I notice how perfectly she fits me. Because I’m so big, some women feel too small for me, but not Marnie. She has the height, and she has curves too.
“Did I ask you for money, sugar?”
She shakes her head.
“Just say thank you.”
Her eyes bounce all around the room, avoiding mine. She works those fucking red-ass lips between her teeth. I want to kiss her, but I don’t. She isn’t ready, and I know one taste wouldn’t be enough for me.
“It’s on Shock. He wants to make sure Harlowe is protected when she’s working here. Besides, think of Olympia. She’ll be safer now while you work. Just like in the Lower 48, we have crime here too.”
Her eyes drop, and so does her cute chin. I honestly regret using Oly against her because it’s the key.
“Okay. Thank you,” she says.
I step back and watch her shoulders drop as she turns away. I swear I hear a sniffle. But when she turns around, she’s got a fake smile on her face and turns to Oly.
“Douce fille, I’m going to pull some bread out of the oven. Be a good girl. I’ll be right back.”
She heads for the kitchen, and I call Vortex.
“Yeah, Prez?”
“Ready?”
“I am.”
I flip my camera around, and we discuss the system I want installed. I lied about Aftershock wanting it in. It’s all me.
Besides the issues Wing pointed out, Vortex finds a couple more problems. The camera facing the cash register has been hacked, and the feed is being sent to a remote setup. He’s going to try to track down who’s behind it. For now, Vortex shuts it off and secures the feed.
I don’t know if it’s the landlord or a former tenant, but I’m glad we caught it. I don’t tell Marnie. Vortex will figure out what’s going on, and if someone has ill intentions toward my woman, I’ll take care of the fucker.
She steps out of the back numerous times to check on Icarus and Oly, who are still playing together. Now they’ve moved on to moving around the dining room with the snowboarding doll, making it look like she’s riding down a mountain instead of just doing tricks.
At one point, Marnie walks over to talk to Icarus.
“You’re really good with little kids,” Marnie says.
“I have a little sister,” he responds, surprising me. “When I used to compete, she would come watch me.”
“Compete?”
“I was an X-Games snowboarder, competing with them before I went to the Olympics. Had to quit because I got hurt. I flew too close to the sun.” He jokes with her.
“Ah. Icarus. I get it now. What about Wing?” She points to where Wing and I are taking measurements while Vortex works on a plan.
“He’s a pilot.” He doesn’t explain further.
I wait for her to ask about my road name, but she doesn’t.
By the time we leave, my sister is back from her class. I notice the ladies have grown close in the short time they’ve known each other. I hug Oly and wish Marnie would hug me, but I walk out with a burning need to feel her against me again.
Acouple hours later, I’m walking through the local grocery store, trying to figure out what I’m going to have for dinner.
Harlowe is out with Loki tonight. I head down the frozen aisle toward the meat department when I see her.
Oly is perched in the front of the cart as Marnie navigates the aisles, looking just as focused as I am.
Even though I only saw her a couple of hours ago, I can’t stop myself from watching her for a moment.
Her black capri retro pants hug her curves perfectly, outlining hips that I’ll grip as I drive my cock into her body.
Her long legs are trim and sexy in the polka-dot heels.
But the black-and-white striped long-sleeved shirt hugging her breasts and revealing her trim abs makes my cock rock hard.
As if she can sense me looking her over, she turns. The blush tinting her cheeks hits my cock even harder. I walk over to them, basket in hand. She smirks at me but drops her eyes. She always seems so innocent, even though I know she’s not a virgin.
“Kodak,” Oly says when she spies me. She can’t say Kodiak. “I have a dolly.” She holds up a doll, similar to the one she was playing with earlier with Icarus. “Momma got for me.”
“I see that, beauté. Have you been a good girl for Mommy?”
“Yeah. I want quich Loren for dinner, but Momma says I need more potein.”
I want to chuckle at how she pronounces words, but she’s trying so hard.
“Quiche Lorraine is really good. Protein helps you grow up big and strong like me. I like Hachis Parmentier, Coq au Vin, and Boeuf Bourguignon.”
Marnie licks her top lip.
I lean in and whisper so only she can hear me, “Sugar, keep offering, and I’m going to take you up on that. That sweet-ass tongue will be tangled with mine before you realize it.”
She blushes again, then bites her bottom lip.
“I want to bite those lips and suck them into my mouth, along with some other lips of yours,” I say in her ear.
“Momma says it’s rude to whisper around others,” Oly says, and I throw my head back, laughing full-bodied. It’s so freeing being around these two.
“You’re right, beauté.” I chuck her chin, and she laughs.
“Thank you for everything you’ve been doing, but—”
“Don’t finish that sentence, sugar. Give me time. I can see you’re scared. I’ll be here when you’re ready. Now go find this beauté some protein. I’ll see you around.”
I lean down and kiss her forehead, then do the same for Oly before turning to walk away. I need to get out of here before I throw Marnie over my shoulder, Oly over the other, and storm out of the store with them.