Page 33 of Barron

Face-to-face and eyes locked with hers, he intensifiedhis rhythm, sending ripples from deep within her core to everywhere in her system. She allowed the wave to take her and dropped her head back, gasping.

“This is it, baby.” Barron pressed a finger to her clit, and her spasms exploded. He pressed his forehead against her shoulder, jerking in unison with her release. When the final ripple ceased, he rolled onto his side, taking her with him.

A soft moment passed in silence as she listened to his breaths and the beating of his heart. The intimacy warmed and reassured her spirit, but she had to ask. “What’s going to happen now, Daddy?”

“Happen?” His chuckle rumbled in her ear. “You have a spanking pending. I haven’t forgotten.”

“Not that. I mean, after this situation is over.”

“Yeah, I get what you’re thinking, and that’s my fault. There’s no over for us, Nugget. You’re my baby girl, and I’m here to stay. I’ll show you every day.”

She smiled. “Till we’re old and gray?”

“Till we’re old, gray, and beyond.”

Loud scratching sounds and soft whimpers woke Barron. He rolled onto his side. His mind still in the fog of sleep, he glanced at the clock on the nightstand and jumped out of bed.

“Yoanni, get up. We overslept,” he shouted, rushing to open the bedroom door. Caesar stood on the other side, tail wagging. “Morning, boy. I bet you’re hungry.” He made a pit stop at the bathroom, turned on the shower, and then continued to the kitchen to start the coffee maker.

Quickly, he poured kibble and water into Caesar’s bowls. His pup started eating, and Barron dashed to the bathroom to check on Yoanni’s progress. The running shower doused an empty stall.Shaking his head, he returned to her bedroom. There she lay, pretty as a doll, the image of a peaceful dreamer. Yoanni, a small smile curving her lips, had her arms wrapped around her teddy. This was new. She’d never held a teddy bear while sleeping before. The angelic pose gave her an air of vulnerability. Every protective instinct in him surged forward. No one would go near or touch her with evil intent. He’d make sure of that.

Barron sat next to her. “Wake up, princess.” He patted her rump.

“Hmmm? Ten more minutes, please.” She curled up her knees.

“I don’t know what time you told the captain you’d show up, but it’s eight thirty.”

“Oh my God!” Her eyes flew open. Putting the teddy aside, she sat upright.

“The shower’s running, and coffee’s brewing. Hurry up. I’ll shower while you get dressed. There’s no time for breakfast. We’ll pick up something on the way.”

The next thirty minutes went by in a whirl. Yoanni surprised him. By the time he came out of his bedroom holding a baseball cap and hoodie, she waited for him in the kitchen. Dressed in jeans and a simple top, she sipped her coffee.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Aren’t you a little casual for work?”

“It’s Saturday. Captain’s lucky I’m coming in at all.” She tipped her mug at Caesar. “Don’t you have you take him out?”

Barron jutted his chin toward the kitchen side door. “I guess you didn’t notice the doggie door. He comes and goes as he needs.”

“You’re right. I didn’t notice. That’s a good idea.”

“Makes my life and his easier.” Moving to the coffeemaker he refilled half his mug. “Ready? We’ll stop on the way for breakfast burritos to-go. I know a place.”

“Love breakfast burritos.”

“Okay, let’s go.” As Barron walked to the laundry room, Yoannifollowed him. “Stay. Be a good boy.” He spoke to Caesar, closed the door, and led Yoanni to the garage.

They barely spoke on the ride to the Mexican fast-food place. Yoanni fidgeted with whatever mysterious items existed within her shoulder bag, checked her makeup in the visor mirror, or simply looked out the window.

Barron wondered if she felt self-conscious about their passionate lovemaking and thought of asking her, but changed his mind. Yoanni’s life hadn’t been easy. Their distancing and breakup began the downhill roll. In the subsequent months, she’d spent trying times in Miami with her father’s illness. Then, she finally got hopeful news and came back to Garden City only to find precious items were missing from her desk. Days later, someone left a creepy doll hanging in her kitchen. Not to mention the paper with cryptic circles her neighbor found on her door. All things considered, she’d taken the veiled threats with more aplomb than some of his MC brothers would. She deserved a little space and silence.

He pulled into Mi Cielito’s drive-through, ordered, and paid. As he waited for their food to come out, he grabbed the black hoodie from the back seat and slipped it on.

“Why are you wearing that? It’s not cold,” she asked with evident curiosity.

“I’ll pull the hood and wear my cap when we get closer to the station. I have to hide my identity.”

“Oh, right. There’s no telling how busy the station will be. Weekends don’t exist for police officers.”

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