Chapter 6
Later that evening, Rosa sat in a roomy chair that she suspected was Street’s favorite.
She squirmed on the wide seat. Two people could fit in here easily.
The image of Street holding her on his lap as they relaxed or watched TV popped into her mind.
A thrill zinged through her at that pleasant thought but was quickly squashed.
Nothing that special ever happened to someone like her.
“I don’t like whatever just raced through that brain of yours,” Street growled.
“Sorry,” she said flippantly as she pushed the fantasy to the back of her mind to imagine again when she was alone.
Street stood and prowled toward her. He loomed over her, bracing his hands on the arms of the well-padded chair. “I like that expression worse.”
“Oops. I’ll start humming show tunes in my head,” she promised. Of course, she couldn’t remember any of those so she could only stare at his handsome face and try to compose her expression to hide.
“Nope. That’s not working.” Street scooped her up in his arms and lifted her from the seat. As she clutched his shoulders, he turned and dropped into the chair.
This is nice. Rosa allowed herself a second to appreciate how good being in his arms felt before she scooted forward to get off his lap.
“Double nope.” He dragged her back close to him. “Tell me what’s running around in your brain as I enjoy holding you close.”
“Come on, Street. This isn’t how my life goes. You’re being way too nice to me,” Rosa said, struggling to slide off to the side.
“Triple nope. Sit still or I’ll have to deploy my secret weapon.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked, pushing at his chest. She didn’t want to give up. Rosa had learned long ago that revealing any weakness resulted in people taking advantage of her.
“You asked for it. I’ve imagined doing this all day.”
Street wrapped his hand around her high ponytail and held her head steady as he captured her mouth.
Rosa froze as his firm lips moved against hers, coaxing a reaction from her.
Damn, he’s a good kisser. She stopped trying to distance herself from him and wiggled closer as desire flooded her body.
Squeezing her legs together, she felt the wetness building between them.
He rewarded her by rubbing her spine with his free hand. Street deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue along the seam of her lips. Rosa couldn’t help herself. She opened her mouth, welcoming him in. Street’s flavor delighted her. How could this man appeal to her so much?
He tugged slightly on her ponytail, sending a thrilling hint of pain through her. “Stop thinking, Little girl,” he growled before lowering his lips to hers.
Street didn’t hurry. His slow, deep kisses excited her to her core. Heat built inside her abdomen as he showed her just how patient and coaxing he could be. A moan of need slipped from her throat.
“I know, Little girl. I feel our attraction too. You’ve been so brave. Can you let your Daddy take care of you?”
She blinked at him. The lure of allowing someone else to be in charge sounded heavenly. While she hadn’t known him for long, Street had shown he wanted to protect her. She wanted to trust him so badly. Slowly, Rosa nodded, taking a chance. Please don’t hurt me.
“Good girl.” He lowered his mouth to that delicious spot where her neck met her shoulder and offered a soft kiss first, before the heat of his breath puffed out on her skin.
He bit her lightly, tantalizing her with a slight zing of pain that she’d never realized she needed.
His tongue smoothed over her skin, making her shiver with desire.
Rosa stroked her hands over him, exploring and caressing Street’s hard muscles.
The memory of him stepping out of his shower, wet and chiseled, returned.
She needed to see him now. Reaching over his shoulders, she grabbed the soft, worn material of his T-shirt and yanked the barrier between them up.
Immediately, Street helped her, tangling his fingers in the material and lifting his head to drag the garment off. He tossed it away carelessly. “Touch me, Little girl,” he told her in a raspy voice harsh with need.
She loved hearing how she affected him. Rosa didn’t understand how this had exploded so quickly between them, but she refused to question it. For once, she wouldn’t second-guess anything.
His hands cupped her breasts, and she quit thinking.
Street kissed a trail over her borrowed T-shirt to one taut nipple.
That hot breath flowed through the fabric as he exhaled and then wrapped his lips around his target.
He seemed to know exactly what turned her on and concentrated on delivering pleasure.
He ran a palm down her abdomen to one bare thigh and gripped her slender leg tightly. “Stop me now, Little girl.”
She shook her head. She wouldn’t deny herself this time. He offered a delightful escape from her reality.
“I make you mine and you stay mine. I won’t let you leave. Whatever’s going on with you will involve both of us.”
The allure of having someone on her side made her crave saying yes. Her inner voice told her she’d be stupid to trust a man she’d met less than forty-eight hours ago. Slowly, she shook her head, dropping her eyes to the carpet. “I can’t promise you forever, Street. Will you settle for tonight?”
“No, Little girl. I won’t. I can’t. And you can’t either. I’ll wait until you decide we’re worth the risk,” Street said. His voice echoed with sadness but didn’t hold an ounce of doubt. He needed everything from her. He wanted to be her Daddy.
She moved to slide off his lap, but his arms tightened around her.
“Stay here, Little girl. Let me pretend for a bit longer.”
Her eyes stung with tears at the sadness in his voice.
Rosa couldn’t bring herself to deny herself the sweetness of his embrace.
She curled up on his chest and tucked her head under his jaw.
His slow heartbeat sounded beneath her ear.
Surrounded by his arms, she relaxed and drifted off to sleep, feeling safer than ever before.
“No! No! Get away!” Rosa flailed her arms, trying to get free. Trapped by terror, she controlled her volume to not wake up her mother. This would be her fault again.
The rush of cool air on her skin jolted Rosa from her nightmare as she finally rid herself of the covers that trapped her like arms. She panted into the quiet space around her as her gaze darted around the room.
Thankfully, a small nightlight dimly illuminated the new space.
She was safe. Her stepfather couldn’t get her here.
An overwhelming need rose inside her to find the only man who’d ever made her feel safe. Rosa threw herself out of bed and dashed down the hallway to the darkness filling the main bedroom. Drawing on her memory, she edged forward toward the bed.
Street’s breathing changed. “Little girl? Is everything okay?”
Using his voice as a locator beacon, she hurried forward and bumped into the mattress. “I found you.”
“You did indeed. Did you have a bad dream?”
Rosa nodded and then, realizing he couldn’t see, she answered, “Always.”
“Do you want to come sleep in Daddy’s bed?” Street folded the covers away from him. “Let me put on some boxers.”
She climbed into bed before he could get out. “I’m good on the edge.”
“Rosa, I’m not wearing anything.”
“I promise. I’ll stay right here. You can sleep however you like.
” She stretched out on her side, clinging to the side of the mattress.
The mattress tilted slightly under his weight, creating a slide for her body to ease down to his.
The feel of his warmth around her soothed something deep inside her, making her feel safe.
“You are not going to be comfortable, Little girl. Let me tuck the covers around you so you don’t freeze.”
As the material touched her skin, the old nightmare rebounded into her mind. Frantically, she pushed the sheet and comforter off. “No, no, no! You can’t trap me again!”
Immediately, the threatening bedclothes vanished. “Shh! Little girl, you’re okay. No one’s got you. Let’s take some breaths together to calm down. Put your hand on my chest.”
She reached out blindly and pressed her palm against his hard muscles. His crisp chest hair tickled her skin, reminding Rosa that this was Street. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She slowed her breathing to match his. After several rounds, her fright faded away.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m sorry I tucked you into bed so snugly. I bet you woke up and panicked.”
“It’s not your fault I’m weird,” she said.
“You’re not weird, Little girl. Traumatized, I would say. I hope you’ll tell me what happened to you someday, but now you need some sleep, so you won’t be groggy tomorrow.”
He stroked his hand through her hair, smoothing the long locks from her face.
She closed her eyes, loving his magic touch.
All her worries melted away. The comfort of not needing to be vigilant allowed her to melt against him.
Safe in Street’s bed, she relaxed and fell back to sleep, imagining the luxury of having him close forever.