Chapter Six

Max

I roll my neck in circles and climb off my bike, stalking into the general store without a plan in place. It’s not like me but sitting on this all night isn’t like me either. If I’d followed my instincts, I’d have kicked Collette’s door down too.

No more waiting.

She’s sliding on her jacket when I reach the front counter. I called earlier to see what time her shift ended. Noon, and now it’s eleven fifty-nine.

Do you know how much patience is required to wait nearly twelve hours for something like this?

She doesn’t notice me right away, so I take her in. Her little rounded belly tucked under a bright pink dress, her hair tied up in a messy bun, and the little tattoo I gave her is still on her right wrist. I’m not an artist, but a buddy of mine works at the tattoo shop in town and he let me borrow some tools. She gave me one too. We’ve got matching initials.

“Outside… now,” I grunt like a fucking caveman. I could’ve started softer, but this is what comes out.

I stand long enough to watch her eyes roll. “You’re relentless.” She storms away, heading for the back door.

I follow her out, stopping her in the back alley. “I talked to your buddy, the ex. He’s a real piece of shit. He’s out on bail, domestic violence. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What are you talking about?” She’s finally close enough that I smell her perfume and it’s like going home. Lemon and lavender with something in the background I’ve never been able to place. “You didn’t talk to him.”

“I did. He was hiding out up here but he’s on his way back to Wyoming now. But… he told me a few things first.”

She looks away and rubs the back of her neck. “Look, I can’t do this right now. You’re crazy and I—”

I lean into her lips and kiss her. It’s neither soft nor rough. It’s steady and firm. She backs against the brick exterior wall with a soft moan.

My hand is on her throat, hers winding through my hair. I rest my free hand on her stomach and roll it down over the bump, feeling my baby girl kick.

“We need a name.”

“Stop.” She’s panting as she says, “Seriously… stop. What are you going to do with a baby? You’re not the type, Max.”

The comment hits me like a ton of bricks. “I can be.”

Her brows narrow. “To what expense? You’d stop for a few years, do the family thing, then you’d get bored, and you’d be at it again. I’d lose you. She’d lose you. Everyone would get hurt.”

“My job isn’t safe, little cat. It’s never going to be safe. You’re right about that. There’s always going to be danger, but this is how I make money. It’s how I live. It’s the reason you love me.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong. I don’t love you for what you do.”

“You love me for who I am, and who I am is the reason I’m so good at this.”

She looks away and brushes a strand of hair from her face. “You’re so stupid.”

“And you’re so beautiful.” I land my hand on her cheek and palm over her panties with the other. She’s soaked.

“You’ve been a naughty, little cat. You know that?”

She whimpers, collapsing into my arms as though her knees are weak. “Stop.”

“I think you need to be punished.” I lean into her ear and growl, “Don’t you?”

My lips land on her neck and I drag in her scent before scraping my teeth along the edges of her shoulder. These are the moments I live for. The moments I can’t recreate on my own. The moments I’ve thought about every second of every day since she left.

“We’ve all moved on now. We aren’t the same people anymore.”

“You really want me to stop?”

She stares toward me and sighs. “You know I don’t.”

“Okay then, what do you want me to do?”

Her breath is ragged and quick, as though she’s desperate to be touched. “I don’t know… this is confusing. I’m all hormonal and—”

“That’s not what I asked, little cat. Do I need to punish you?”

She lets out a devilish grin as she whispers, “If you can do it right.”

I push her soaking panties to the side and slide two fingers into her core, thrusting in and out as she sighs against my shoulder.

A few feet away people walk past carrying shopping bags and boxes of baked goods. They’re none the wiser. No one knows that we’re here, that I’m lifting her up off the ground with each thrust.

Wet, hot, sticky heat coats my fingers.

Fuck, I’ve missed this.

“Where should I punish you? Right here for the town to see?”

She pants against my chest. “Just do it. Spank me!”

I bend her forward, lift her dress, and spank her round ass over and over again, leaving marks on her skin.

Her nipples pebble beneath the fabric of her dress, and I lean in to bite each one.

Long, aching sighs fall from her lips as she jumps away, then toward my touch. I love her like this, squirming, whimpering, shivering.

“Okay, we need to go back to my place. I have to come.” She stares toward me with wide blue eyes. “And this doesn’t mean anything other than I’m super fucking horny.”

I spank her again. “You want to rephrase that?”

She pants against my chest. “This doesn’t mean anything.”

I laugh under my breath and take her face into my hand, redirecting her gaze toward me. My fingers thrust deeper into her core. “You want me to stop?”

Gushes of heat flood my fingers as she pushes her hips closer. “No, but I… I don’t want to lose you. I’m so scared to lose you.”

Rubbing her needy little pussy, I kiss her neck gently, then her lips, and her nose. “You’re mine, little cat. You and this little girl are all mine. Whether you let me in or not, that doesn’t change. I’ll fight for her. I’ll fight for you. So, give in now or later. It’s up to you.”

She pants and rocks against my touch for a long minute before finally surrendering. Tipping up onto her toes, her mouth meets mine, and her hands pull at my belt with desperation.

There was urgency before, but now we’re on fire, and I’m not sure how much more waiting I can take. It’s been nearly a year since I’ve had sex, and though I’ve jerked off to the thought of Collette dozens of times, nothing beats this.

With her soft hands on my skin, her sweet moans in my ear, her delicate kiss against my chest, I lift her leg and turn her forward so she’s facing the wall. My cock is hard, ready to go. I should wait, do this right, but I’ve already done so much waiting.

I pull my cock from my jeans and angle it toward her.

“Collette?” The voice is shattered and loud, coming from the end of the alley. I turn away, tuck my cock back in, and then start helping Collette with her dress.

“Mom?” She spins toward her mother, her jaw slacked. “What are you doing here?”

Her mother gasps. “Well, this is an alleyway,” she snips a pair of tongs together, “and I came to get the salad tossing things, remember?” The woman is clearly in shock. “Hi, Max. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. This is awkward.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Sorry,” her mother continues. “I thought maybe something was wrong. There’s a rumor going around about bounty hunters being in town.”

Collette turns toward her mom. Her face is dark red, and I’m pretty sure there’s a tear about to fall. “Yeah. Um… that’s Max, actually. You remember he’s a… yeah.”

I hold out my hand but thankfully her mother doesn’t reciprocate. This is the part I’m not good at. The reason I’m alone. I don’t know what to say to parents and I sure as fuck know I don’t deserve Collette. Fucking her in the alleyway pretty much seals that.

“Nice to see you again, Mrs. McAdams. You’re looking well.” What the fuck am I saying?

Collette laughs and glances toward me. At first the laugh is soft, but it turns harder and more insane sounding as the seconds pass. “Sorry… sorry…” She can barely speak. “It’s just… this whole thing couldn’t get any weirder. I mean, seriously, this is the stuff they put in movies.”

Mrs. McAdams steps toward her daughter. “Are you okay, dear? Maybe you should come home with me. We can get you something to eat, take a nap…”

“I think I’ll take you up on that,” she says, stepping toward her mother. “I could use some clarity.”

We all know that statement is directed at me. I’m the thing she needs clarity about. I’m the wreck that’s ruining her life. I’m the asshole who she’s been running from.

Part of me wonders if maybe I should let her go. There’s a chance she’s right. I’m impulsive, reckless, possessive, aggressive, and I don’t stand down from a fight. Those qualities aren’t the best when parenting a child.

Collette grew up with a father who balanced it all. He was masculine and brave, but also had a soft spot. I could’ve learned a lot from him. Hell, I could’ve learned a lot from any father figure, but I never had one. I raised myself, and I made life work. At forty-six I know there’s no going back.

This is who I am.

That said, I know that woman belongs with me.

I jog behind Collette and her mother. “Little cat, you’re not going anywhere.”

Her eyes are wide, and tears fall as she looks back. “What?”

I lift her into my arms and do what I should’ve done nine months ago. I take what’s mine. “You’re coming with me.”