Unfinished Hero 03 Raid (25 page)

Spot was lying on the floor inside the backdoor, his enigmatic kitty face studying
my movements. I didn’t know if he wanted me to let him out so I would cease my work
and give him cuddles or so he could do his best to draw my blood.

Grams’s house was in the residential area of town, two blocks down from the end of
the businesses, one block in. As we were somewhat removed from the big city, not a
suburb but not far away, thus we had wildlife
,
but the scary stuff didn’t stray into town
,
making clawless Spot a ready-meal should we let him out. Still, we didn’t let him
out, just in case.

Therefore, being confined indoors was one of many things that didn’t make Spot happy
,
and I suspected he was studying me and plotting ways to draw my blood.

“See my precious girl’s decided to play with fire,” Grams told the backs of her eyelids.

I pulled a bow tight on an afghan and looked at her.

Then I looked at Raiden in jeans, a now sweaty tee and running shoes, mowing my grandmother’s
lawn.

I looked back at Grams.

“Yeah,” I answered softly.

“Mm-hmm,” she mumbled ambiguously.

“It’s not mine to share, what he’s shared with me, Grams, but you were right. He’s
dangerous,” I told her.

“Know that,
chère,
” she replied.

“He’s also worth the risk,” I finished.

Her eyes opened and came to me.

“Talk in town and lots of it. Shocked you and that boy haven’t received your invitations
to be grand marshals, sittin’ on a float in the parade the town intends to plan to
celebrate your
togetherness, what with them bein’ beside themselves with joy their local hero’s courtin’
the town’s sweetest girl.”

I knew she was worried
.
I didn’t want her to think I was going in with anything but my eyes wide open
,
but I couldn’t stop the goofy smile that I knew hit my lips.

Grams wasn’t done

“
Those in the know about that fire withi
n, that would be his Momma and his baby sister, they got all kinds of faith in you.
Especially with
Rachelle practically havin’ the menu planned for your wedding and Ruth
ie Miller grumbling about the bike s
hop bein’ closed, seein’ as she
wanted to buy
her boy a bike so he could ride alongside his girl.”

The news of Mrs. Miller and Rachelle approving was so welcome I had to bite my lip
so I didn’t break my face smiling huge.

I felt Grams eyes sharpen on me and my smile faded.

“Don’t get ideas. That boy’s behind won’t mount a bike, precious. He might blow one
up in a military exercise
,
but he’s not gonna ride alongside you while you mosey into town and pick up salad
fixin’s for dinner.”

This was true. And it was funny.

I beat back the laughter and agreed, “I know, Grams.”

Her voice got sharp when she warned, “Do not take this lightly, child. You knew the
danger, you still made a decision, took on this job and now you got people countin’
on you
. H
is Momma, his sister, me, the town and, most importantly,
him.
”

My amusement fled
.
I held her eyes and nodded.

“Proud of you,” she said and she sounded it.

My heart warmed
,
but the smile I gave her was shaky. “Thanks, Grams.”

“I’m proud
,
but that don’t mean I’m not worried. Fire’s gonna get hot,
chère.
You made your choice. You do what you gotta do to take the heat.”

I nodded.

“Hope I live to see it,” she continued and my heart lurched.

“Grams
—
”

“Want one thing before I die: to know you’ll go on after me and do it safe and happy.
That boy’s got the capacity to give you both, he doesn’t destroy you in the process.
I hope I live to see him battle that blaze so he gives my girl safe and happy.”

“You’re going to make me cry,” I warned.

“Boudreaux do not cry,
chère.
You know that. Place to cry, on the back porch in the sun is not it.”

I pulled in a deep breath through my nose and again nodded.

“There’ll be good times, Hanna. Fill yourself up with them, hold onto them tight,
‘cause when the bad times come, you’ll need them,” she advised.

“Now you’re scaring the pants off me,” I told her.

“Boudreaux don’t show fear. There’s a place to feel fear and on the back porch in
the sun is not it.”

I avoided her eyes by setting the afghan I’d finished aside and getting another one.

“Listen to your Grams, precious,” she ordered.

“I’m listening,” I told her, shaking out a blanket in preparation for folding it.

“You keep your chin up, you control tears and fear, you’ll be all right,” she told
me.

“Okay,” I replied.

“Proud of you,
chère,
” she whispered.

I looked at her and smiled. “Love you, Grams.”

“I know, child. What do you think’s keepin’ me on this earth? Not easy to let go that
kind of love. That kind of love’s got the power to hold you tethered to a world you
should have left a long time ago.”

Oh my God.

Tears stung the backs of my eyes. I dropped the afghan and moved to her. Then I pulled
her little, bony body in my arms and hugged her as tight as I dared.

She hugged me back.

Then she pushed me away, demanding, “Need a refill of tea. And get your boy one. He’s
losin’ water.”

I pulled myself together, did as I was told and discovered I was right. Spot was lying
in wait
,
not for cuddles but for blood. I discovered this when he hissed and launched an attack
on my ankles the minute I stepped inside.

I stopped and looked down at him. “You don’t fool me, buddy. I know you love me.”

He reared back, hissed again, batted my toes then jerked away. He ran-waddled down
the hall and disappeared.

I went to the kitchen, thinking that my days were filled with work and my evenings
were filled with Raiden. I needed to figure out how to spend some time with KC so
I could share things I needed to share without sharing things I couldn’t
,
and load up on more resources to fight fire so I’d be prepared when the time came.

Because no matter how good it was, and it was good, always underlying it was the understanding
the time would come. I knew because I felt it and my wise grandmother told me.

And I had to be ready.

Chapter Fourteen

Scorched

Sunday evening…

I parked my Z next to Raiden’s Jeep, got out and jogged on my toes to the side steps
of his place.

He’d taken off early yesterday morning on unexpected business, which stunk, but he
phoned an hour ago saying he’d be home soon and telling me to meet him at his place.

So I’d had
my first almost two days without
Raiden in a week.

I should have taken this time to phone KC, get her up to speed and load up my resources.
More to the point, I should have taken this time to phone my pregnant friend and make
sure all was good in her world too. She had a toddler, a husband who worked long hours,
a huge house and volunteered at three charities.

Both of us being busy, it wasn’t unusual for days to pass where we didn’t check in,
even weeks sometimes. But since she had a lot going on in her life and I did
,
too, this was not one of those times I should allow things to slide.

I just didn’t do it
.
I didn’t know why.

Maybe I was holding this time precious.

Maybe I was just an idiot.

I determined I’d call her the next day as I jogged up the steps and stopped outside
Raiden’s door.

I knocked, calling, “It’s me!” I turned the knob and stepped in.

Raiden was at the kitchen-ish area wearing cargos, boots and a skintight tee.

My belly fluttered
.
I smiled and greeted, “Hey,” as I turned and closed the door.

I turned back, saw he’d turned fully toward me and I was about to take a step toward
him before he said, “Stop.”

I went still and my head tipped to the side.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Don’t move until I tell you to and then do exactly what I tell you to do.”

Oh my God.

He was in the mood to play.

Instantly, I felt myself get wet between my legs as my heart started hammering and
every inch of my skin began to tingle.

He leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms on his chest, his eyes moving
over me
.
I added my nipples getting hard to the rest, marveling at the same time
,
glorying in the fact I had all that from him with a few words and a look from across
a room.

As the seconds slid by, my breath began to get heavy.

Suddenly, he asked, “Trust me?”

“Yes,” I answered immediately.

“Then on all fours, baby, crawl to me and do it slowly.”

Oh God.

I didn’t know if I could do that. I didn’t know why
,
but I didn’t know if I could do it.

I held his eyes.

“Raiden,” I whispered.

“Do you trust me?” he semi-repeated.

I swallowed before I nodded.

“All fours, Hanna. Slow.”

I closed my eyes telling myself this was Raiden. He wouldn’t humiliate me. He wouldn’t
debase me. I could trust that he would lead this to something good.

I opened my eyes again, kept them on him and slowly dropped to my knees. Keeping my
head back, I fell forward to my hands.

Then, as he asked, slowly, I crawled toward him.

My stomach lurched when I was almost there and he uncrossed his arms and moved toward
the bed. Confused, guessing, uncertain I liked this, the word “solitaire” on the tip
of my tongue, I followed him.

He stopped at the foot of the bed.

I stopped two feet away from him, neck arched way back, eyes on his.

“Closer, Hanna, then up on your knees,” he ordered.

Fighting my nerves, I moved closer then got on my knees. I still held his gaze but
my face was in line with his groin.

Okay, this could be better.

Maybe.

His hands went to his belt but his gaze stayed locked to mine as he pulled himself
free.

“Hands on my hips, give me your mouth, honey,” he demanded.

Okay, this was better.

I did as I was told. I opened my mouth in preparation for taking him
,
but I didn’t give it to him. He took it, sliding inside.

Yes, this was better. So much so, I moaned against his cock.

“Fuck, my girl likes my cock,” he growled, sliding in and out of my mouth. “Hand in
your shorts, Hanna. Touch yourself while you suck me off.”

Okay. Yes. Totally.

This was better.

I left one hand at his hip
. Th
e other one I used to open my shorts then I slid my hand inside. The minute my fingers
touched the slick skin, I whimpered.

I sucked, I licked, I touched myself, my hips rolling and pressing into my fingers
and I moaned against him. It was good, way good, tremendous and I worked him harder,
urging him to take my mouth with my hand it his hip.

“Gentle,” Raiden said, his voice hoarse. “I fuck your face, I do it gentle.” My mouth
sucking hard, my eyes lifted to his, he groaned, “Fuck,” and started thrusting into
my mouth.

Yes.

I was working him. He was taking my mouth
. M
y fingers were moving as desperately as my hips when he pulled out of my mouth and
hauled me to my feet.

“Clothes off, now. Everything. Then get ready for me. Hands and knees on the bed.”

Okay. Now this was
way
better.

Rushing, I carried out his commands.

No sooner was I in place then his cock slammed into me.

My head flew back and I came.

I wasn’t close to finishing when he pulled out, turned and lifted me and impaled me
on his cock. Then I was back to the bed, taking him until he thrust to the root, grinding
,
and he came for me, his face in my neck, his teeth sinking sharp into my skin.