He pauses. I feel a ‘but’ coming on.

“But I have a job to do here, lionfish. I have a job to do.”

“What job?”

He cups my face with his hands. They are cool. And reassuring. Like these hands can fix anything. “I know they tell you I’m crazy. And I am. But I’m patient, Harper. And I’m smart. I’ve outsmarted the most ruthless killers on this planet. I’ve outsmarted the highest government officials. I’ve outsmarted drug dealers, and kidnappers, and Admirals, and my mother. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“What are you doing?” I’m breathless listening to him. My heart is beating so fast I’m not sure I can stand up for much longer.

“Killing people, Harper. I’m killing people. Or at the very least… getting them all killed.”

“Who? What people?”

He leans down to kiss me again, his tongue probing for more attention. And then he whispers, “Everyone, Harp. I’m gonna kill everyone.”

“How?” My legs get weak but James cups my ass and lifts me up, pushing me against the wall.

“Sasha.” And then he laughs.

Chills run up my spine. “But you already killed Sasha.”

He nuzzles his mouth against my neck and laughs. “Please, Harper. A little faith. I’m a sick asshole, but I have never killed a little girl and I’m not gonna start now.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You don’t need to.”

“That’s not fair, James. I’m not some helpless child. I’m lethal in my own right.”

“This isn’t your fight, lionfish. This one’s mine. So save your moves for something else.” And then he kisses my mouth and slaps my ass. “I got this. The only thing I want you to do is let me fuck you. Let me make this world safe for us. And let me keep you forever.”

I thread my hands through his hair and breathe him in. “My James.”

“My Harper. I want to marry you. I want to take you away. Somewhere safe, and quiet. Somewhere we can get to know each other for real. On our own time. Slowly.” He reaches up and brushes a stray strand of hair away from my eyes and tucks it behind my ear. “I want to make love to you under the stars. And sail around the world with you in a boat. I want you all to myself. I’m a stingy, greedy, killer. And I want you. I want to know you.”

“I want to know you too,” I say back, my words so soft they are just barely a whisper. “I’ve wanted you since the day we turned Six. I didn’t understand it, but the way you looked at me, I could feel the love. I could feel your attention.” My face begins to get hot and the tears begin to form. “I just want a simple life, James. I don’t need a fancy boat or a big house. I don’t need money. I just want you. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to fight the Company rules and traditions. I just want to run away with you and never look back. ”

He swipes a tear away. “I told you we can’t do that, lionfish. I told you they’ll never let us live. They will find us. I need to take them out.”

“It’s hopeless.”

“It’s not.” He reaches for me, placing his hand against my cheek. It’s cool and feels comforting. I’m warm from the tears and sadness. “I swear, it’s not hopeless. Sasha and I have a plan and it will all turn out fine.”

I turn my head to look at him and his mouth is there. A slight brush of his lips against mine. I open for him and his tongue flicks in, searching for more contact. Caressing me.

He kisses me for real this time.

There’s no hesitation.

Only devouring.

He kisses me like he’s the wind. Like he’s the sea. Like he’s the desert.

He kisses me and he tastes like freedom.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

James

Her sweet mouth might break me. Her soft fingers reach for my cock, squeezing it like she’s desperate. Her slim hips angle towards me as I press against her. I lift her shirt over her head and relish the blush that forms on her cheeks. Her breasts firm up, her nipples peaking as I look at them. She unbuttons her shorts and lets them fall down her hips until they hit the floor.

“Fuck,” is about all I can manage. This girl is perfection.

And then she reaches for the rumpled dress shirt of Vincent’s that I’m half wearing. She unbuttons it from the bottom up and then her fingertips brush against my shoulders as she slides the shirt down until that too drops to the floor.

She unbuckles my belt next, letting the two ends fall alongside my hips as she works the button and the zipper of my trousers. A hand reaches inside and wraps around my cock. I tilt my head back and close my eyes. “Put me in your mouth, Harper.”

I keep my eyes closed as I feel the soft heat of her breath when she comes closer. The first swipe of her tongue across my tip makes me moan. But when she opens her mouth and allows me to fill her up, pushing my cock to the back of her throat—I lose myself. Fuck.

I grab her head and pump into her. She gags and tries to pull back, but instead of letting her get away, I stop moving so she can recover and keep me in her mouth. “Shhh, my lionfish. Just relax.”

She gets it under control and flattens her tongue against my shaft, moaning. The fucking moaning kills me. Her vocal cords vibrate, sending the sensations right to the most sensitive part of my cock.

Her hand cups my balls, kneading them and caressing them, and I take that as her signal that she’s ready to proceed. I pump a few more times in her mouth, and then, just before I know she’s going to gag, I pull all the way out and squat down to give her a kiss. “I love you.”

She kisses me back, her hands greedily reaching for my cock now that it’s out of reach.

“I want to make you come, James.”

“Baby, I’ll come for you any time, any place.” I stand back up and put my cock in her mouth.

And this time I take her hard. I fuck her mouth and make her drool. She doesn’t hold back. Not one bit. She takes all of me. She takes everything I give her. I press my balls up to her chin and then I come as she swallows me.

When she’s done, I take her hand and pull, forcing her to stand. And then I grab her around the thighs and lift her little body up until her pussy is right in front of my face and her legs are draped over my shoulders. She moans just thinking about what I’m going to do. She’s dripping wet before I even get started.