by Lilly Atlas
Logan shortened his stride, matching hers as they climbed the walk to his house. Chloe felt like she was trudging through quicksand. Each step was heavy with resistance stemming from her absolute dread of the following day. The slower she walked into the house the longer it would take for Logan to leave, right?
Wrong.
After unlocking the door, Logan stepped aside so she could precede him into the house. Always looking out for her. Never would he leave her with her back unprotected. Suddenly, Chloe had the overwhelming urge to send him off with something to make him feel special. To make him remember what was waiting for him back at home.
Midway through the foyer, Chloe spun and dropped to her knees. Her hands went straight to the button of his jeans.
“Chloe, shit, babe,” Logan started but it turned into a growl when she freed his cock from his boxer briefs without even pushing his pants down. “You don’t have to—oh fuck,” he said as she licked his slit. Immediately, he stiffened from the attention, going from semi-hard to full-on lead pipe in about two seconds.
“I do, Logan. I do have to.” She licked him again, loving the way his hips jerked and he ground out a string of curses. “I need your taste on my tongue. Need to send you off that way. To give you something. Something you can think about when you’re away.”
He looked down at her, lust burning in his gaze as he gave her a single nod. Chloe turned her attention back to the rigid erection in her hand. “Just so you know,” he said as she opened her mouth over the head of his cock. Chloe paused, mouth wide, and canted her gaze up to him.
“Fuck,” he whispered. “Sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.” He reached down to cup her jaw. “Just so you know, you don’t need to do a goddamned thing for me to think of you while I’m gone, Clo. You being you is enough to keep my mind occupied all the fucking time.”
Her heart swelled until it felt too big for her chest.
God, she loved him. Loved this man who had pulled her back into the real world when she’d been drowning under the strain of her issues and engaging in behavior that was sure to end in more harm than good.
Yeah, she loved him.
She just hoped she’d get the chance to tell him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHLOE’S GAZE MET Rocket’s, and for one second, he thought she was going to say something. There was a sadness in her eyes, not completely eclipsed by the lust, and he knew no matter what he did, he wouldn’t be able to dispel it tonight. The despair was a product of the circumstances, and he felt it as deeply as she did.
Giving in to Esposito’s demands was the last thing he ever wanted to do. Actually, it was the second to last thing. The absolute last, was to let Lefty get away with what he did to Chloe. And that was the one and only reason he’d be taking this job that would destroy what was left of his humanity. He could no more fight against his need to make that cocksucker pay than he could stop breathing. So the sadness would remain, for both of them, until he returned.
And he’d fucking return to her, even if his soul was in shreds.
The moment Chloe’s piping hot mouth closed around the tip of his dick, Rocket’s eyes crossed.
Shit, that felt fucking good.
He shifted his stance, widening his legs and locking out his knees to keep the weak fuckers from giving out.
As she sucked the tip like it was some kind of lollipop, her tongue found its way back to his slit. “Christ, Chloe, that mouth.” Curling his fists to his sides, he prayed to a God that had never listened to him before that he wouldn’t grab her head and fuck her mouth like his instincts begged. Last thing he needed was to freak her the fuck out when she was doing something he’d wondered if she’d ever be willing to do, given what happened to her.
“Hmm,” she hummed as her lips slid in a slow, torturous glide to the base of him. After holding the position for a few seconds, she backed off just as slow. Her cheeks hollowed and the suction ramped up, tugging at the skin of his cock until his hands were fisted so hard, his knuckles ached. Rocket groaned. Surviving this might be more hazardous than what Esposito had waiting for him.
She repeated the action at least a half dozen times, the same snail’s pace glide up and down, only each time she sucked him back, he edged a bit farther down her throat. Just as he was about to open his mouth and beg her to move faster, she took him all the way to the back of her throat and fucking swallowed.
“Shit!” Rocket shouted and her throat muscles clamped down on the tip of his dick.
Chloe chuckled and his eyes rolled back. Who the fuck knew the woman was so damned devious? Without warning, she finally picked up the pace. Rocket stared down at her, watching his length disappear between her glossy, swollen lips again and again. After she swallowed another time, he gave up on trying to be a gentleman. He could hold her hair gently without ramming himself down her throat…maybe.
He scooped up the tail of the braid Chloe always put her hair into when she got on his bike. After working the thick band off the end, he let her long wavy locks flow down around her face. It obstructed his view, which was unacceptable, so he gathered it up in a man-made pony tail, making sure to massage her head a little as he did it.
Chloe moaned and sucked him even harder. She smoothed her hands up his thighs. Sneaking one around back, she grabbed his ass and squeezed, making him shout another curse. The other hand moved slower but was no less devastating. She cupped his balls, giving a gentle pressure that had him clenching the strands of her hair far tighter than he’d planned. Chloe moaned again. The same damn sound she made when his tongue was on her clit.
Goddamn, she fucking liked having her hair pulled, didn’t she? He tightened his grip, taking just a hint of her control for himself as he held her head still and eased his cock back in her mouth.
Let’s test that theory, shall we?
With her mouth stuffed full of his cock, her gaze met his and she nodded around him. It was all the encouragement he needed.
He didn’t dominate her in the way he may have had she not been assaulted, but he held her head and kept his thrusts shallow. She allowed it, groaning around his cock and fondling his sac the entire time.
At one point, she growled a frustrated sound and swatted at the hand in her hair. Rocket released his hold immediately even as the vibrations from her throat nearly made him shoot off. Just as he was about to apologize for being a dick, the hand on his ass gripped him so hard her nails pierced his flesh in a pleasure pain that made him grunt. A second later, his dick hit the back of her throat, she swallowed again and tugged his sac.
“Holy fuck,” he shouted as the orgasm bowled him over. He pumped down her throat in spurts that seemed to last far longer than ever before. Chloe stayed with him, her throat working reflexively as she took down every drop.
His eyes closed as waves of pleasure shook him to his core. He’d never come like that before. Usually there was an obvious build up. A tightening in his balls and coiling in his stomach that timed with a tingle in the base of his spine. This time, he was feeling fucking good and then wham, he was exploding.
Chloe released his ass and his nuts then rose to her feet. With his eyes still closed, enjoying the few remaining tremors, he heard rather than saw her lick her lips.
Fucking goddess.
He smiled as he opened his eyes. Chloe stood before him with—what the fuck? Tears rolling down her face?
Motherfucking asshole. “Chloe,” he said in a voice that sounded like he’d been chewing gravel. “Shit, baby, I’m sorry. I’m a fucking asshole. I was too rough.”
What the hell was he supposed to do now? Hold her? Would that scare her? Back away? Would she feel rejected? Foregoing both of those options, he stood there like an idiot with his arms dangling at his sides and his words failing him. No surprise there.
Chloe’s head shook side to side rapidly. “No, no.” She sniffed and he wanted to kick his own ass. “That wasn’t it at all. I loved it, Logan.” She looked him straight in the eye, obvi
ously seeing his disbelief of her statement. “Loved. It.”
“So, why…”
She swallowed as fresh tears fell down her face. “I’m scared, Logan. I’m scared as hell.”
For him. Jesus, his heart actually hurt. “Baby,” he whispered as his arms closed around her. “Shh, I’m a mean motherfucker, Clo. And I’m damn good. It’s why Esposito came for me. I don’t fuck up. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“When I was, uh, on the floor,” she said, cheeks pink, eyes glistening and focused on his chest. “When I was on my knees, I almost begged.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Instead of going down on you, I almost begged you not to go. To stay here with me and forget all about Lefty.”
His eyebrows drew down. “Why didn’t you?”
“Because you would have listened. You would have stayed. Am I right?”
Had he seen her on her knees begging him to say, would he have given up a shot at Lefty? His sigh dragged out of him by the weight of her words. He captured her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head up to meet his gaze. “I would have.”
She nodded. “Thought so.” A sad laugh left her as her hands circled his waist. “And as much as I want that, I know you. Letting him slip through your fingers goes against who you are. You’d do it for me, but it would kill a part of you. And I need all of you, so I can’t do that to you. So I didn’t ask. But you have to promise me—”
He kissed her then, still holding her chin. A kiss of gratitude, devoid of the hunger and fury circulating in his blood. There’d be time to indulge in that later. Now, he needed to show her what he could never express with words. Show her how much her sacrifice meant to him. She was willing to endure weeks of hell worrying and being clueless as to his wellbeing because she knew he had no choice but to do whatever it took to get Lefty within reach. To let this go would be to deny the man he was at his very core.
“I promise,” he said as he broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers.
“You don’t know what I was going to say,” Chloe said with a half-hearted grin.
“I promise to come back to you.” He released her chin but she didn’t look away. Instead, she nodded.
“You better,” she whispered.
He kissed her again, cupping the back of her head. This time, their mouths nipped and explored as heat exploded between them. Still holding her head prisoner, he used his free hand to unbutton her jeans just enough to slip on in. “I promise.” And he only said it because it was true. Nothing would keep him from returning home to her.
“Logan,” she moaned against his mouth as he worked his fingers in her pants.
“Need to see you come,” he said, lips still dueling with hers. “Should drop to my knees and eat you till you’re screaming, but I need to watch this beautiful face tip over the edge. When I’m gone, I want to close my eyes each night and see yours dazed with pleasure.” He pressed the heel of his hand against her clit. With a jerk, she arched into his hand. “Knowing I can come home to this will be the reason I get through this fucking shit show. So that means you get my fingers and you keep your eyes wide the fuck open. You good with that?”
“Y-yeah, I’m so good with that. And you’re much better with the words than you think.”
His lips curved and he gave here one more quick, hard kiss as he closed the hand at the back of her head. Hand full of her silky hair, he had her just where he wanted her. Unable to break from his hold. Unable to focus anywhere but on him.
Without letting up on the pressure, he slid his fingers farther into her jeans. Chloe moaned as he caused the heel of his hand to drag along her ultra-sensitive clit. Ridding her of the garments would take too damn long, so he hooked a finger around her—goddamn, he’d love to see her in noting but this, and maybe some fuck me heels—thong. He eased two fingers into her drenched heat. Being unable to spread her legs due to her jeans, she felt even tighter than usual. Her pussy clenched as though trying to suck him as far as his fingers could reach.
He didn’t move, just held them still wedged deep inside her. “Got pretty fucking wet sucking my cock, didn’t you, baby?”
Chloe nodded as best she could without having control of her head.
“Guess you liked it. Having me buried in your throat. Hearing me moan your name. Swallowing my cum. You like that, Chloe?”
“Jesus,” she whispered. “Yes, Logan, I freakin’ loved it. You’re killing me. Please move your fingers.”
He chuckled. “Please move my fingers? Hmm, what do you mean?”
The cutest fucking scowl he’d ever seen appeared on her face. “Logan,” she said, probably going for stern but it came out far too breathy and needy.
Damn, he liked her this way. On the knife edge.
Apparently, she grew tired of waiting for him because she began rocking her hips, shamelessly fucking herself on his hand. He gave her a few minutes to work herself over, mesmerized by the lip tucked between her teeth and the soft mewls that vibrated her throat. Leaving her tomorrow was going to gut him in a way he’d never experienced before. Through countless dangerous missions, he’d never left someone he cared about behind.
And he cared about Chloe with a ferocity he’d never thought possible.
Trust in his brothers was the only reason he’d be able to leave.
Arousal coated his hand, warm and slippery as she moved faster. “It’s not enough, please.” Her eyes were growing heavy lidded, but she did as he commanded and kept them open.
Time to reward her.
“Tell me what you need, baby. Say it.”
“I need you to fuck me with your fingers, Logan. I need you to make me come before I lose my mind.”
“Oh,” he said with a chuckle. “Why didn’t you say—”
“Logan,” she growled.
He chuckled again but this time gave her what she wanted. He curled his thick fingers, dragging them along the wall of her pussy as he withdrew. She gasped, fisting his T-shirt.
They stared at each other as he fucked her, plunging deep and grinding his palm against her clit with every forward lunge. Chloe met him with heavy thrusts of her hips. She whimpered, cursed, and moaned all the while keeping her gaze fixed on his. As predicted, her eyes grew hazy and unfocused the closer she got to coming.
“Logan,” she cried as her legs began to tremble. “God, I’m close. More, more, more.” She was babbling now, a combination of words and sounds making less sense by the second.
God, she was beautiful. Trusting him to take care of her. Something passed between them as they stared at each other. Something powerful he’d never be able to walk away from despite the many reasons he should.
He fucking loved her. And the love was returned. She was shit at keeping her feelings off her face. But neither said it. Words weren’t necessary. The emotion was palpable between their locked gazes.
He’d give her the words too. But not until he put Lefty in the ground. Lefty was the last tether to what had happened to her. And once that rope was cut, she’d be free to live again.
“Oh, my God,” she shouted as she grabbed his hand and held it deep inside her. He pressed hard, letting her grind down on his hand for all she was worth. Her eyes fluttered as her pussy did the same.
“Eyes open,” he growled, rotating his palms as best he could in the small space.
Rocket crooked his fingers hard inside her, hitting that rough bundle of nerves that had her screaming his name.
She flooded his hand as her pussy squeezed him again and again. Chloe’s entire body quivered with the force of the orgasm rocking through her. “Holy shit, holy shit,” she chanted again and again.
They stood there for a long while, Chloe occasionally shuddering and Rocket with his hand buried inside her. When she finally sagged against him, he released her hair and held her close.
“I’m gonna be okay, baby,” he whispered as he slowly inched his hand out of her pants.
Chloe shivered as she nodded against his chest
.
“Come on, let’s get a little sleep.”
The moment they crawled into his big bed, Chloe curled into him, wrapping one arm and leg over top of his body. She held the back of his T-shirt fisted in her hand. Even enough distance for air to flow between them seemed too much. The orgasm helped, and within minutes, her breathing evened.
Rocket remained awake throughout the night memorizing the feel of her soft body molded to his. She held tight, even in sleep, as though afraid he’d disappear before she woke. Part of him was tempted to slip out in the a.m., but she’d be devastated if she woke alone.
As it turned out, Chloe sat up in bed just as he was loading his tactical bag. Sleepy eyes followed him around the bedroom while he gathered the small amount of supplies and clothing he planned to take. The rest would be provided by Esposito. Except his rifle and a few other weapons of choice. Those he kept in a safe beneath his home and he wouldn’t be traveling without them.
A horn honked outside. The driver Esposito sent. Even though she couldn’t see the driveway from where she sat on the bed, Chloe turned toward the window. Her throat worked as she swallowed what was probably tears.
“Clo,” he said. Sure enough, her eyes were misty when she turned back.
“Logan,” she said, voice cracking. “You promised.”
He moved to her, catching her face between his palms. “I sure as fuck did. I’ll be fucking back.” Then he kissed her with a desperation he’d never felt before, trying to pour all the love, all the words he couldn’t yet say into her.
She clung to his shirt, tears wetting both their cheeks.
The horn blared again, popping the bubble that had surrounded them for a few seconds. Rocket ripped his mouth from hers and grabbed his bag. Without another word or glance in her direction he strode straight out of the room, down the stairs, and out to meet his fate, leaving his heart behind. He couldn’t have so much as spared her another glance. Had he seen the tears or the attempted bravery in her eyes, he’d have caved and told Esposito to go fuck himself.
And he’d have lost his shot at Lefty forever. Because Esposito wouldn’t just let the bastard go. He’d take Rocket’s chance at vengeance for himself.
