Like our normal morning routine, I had another rabbit roasting over the fire in the cabin while I split some more firewood, and Juliana was bundled up on the porch, watching me.
I instantly reached for the gun at the small of my back when I heard a twig snap. “Easy,” Jaxon called from the edge of the woods. I slid my gun back into place and set my axe aside, turning to face him. “I’ve got some news.”
“I figured since you normally wait until she’s sleeping,” I gruffly noted, not at all amused that he had tried sneaking up on me. But I knew if Jaxon didn’t want to be seen or heard, I’d have never known he was near.
He nodded as he emerged from the woods. “James told me to deliver this news to you without delay.” I waited patiently for him to continue. “Would you like me to speak in front of her?” he asked me.
I nodded. “We’re out here in the middle of nowhere to keep her protected. If you have any news, go ahead and spit it out. She has a right to know.”
He nodded. “James and his men are closing in,” I relaxed slightly. “But there’s been some changes.” I clenched my jaw. Juliana came to stand beside me. I instantly wrapped my arms around her, pulling her tight against me. “Andres has upped his security around himself and his men.” Fuck. “James is having to cut through Andres’s resources first before he can make Andres disappear.”
I nodded once. Juliana was tense in my arms. I smoothed my hands down her back, trying my best to comfort her. “James wanted to send more men here—”
“No,” I instantly said.
Jaxon chuckled. “Exactly what I told him. I’ve got everything covered here, and you are with Juliana twenty-four-seven. She’s well protected. He needs the manpower.” I nodded in agreement. “He’ll send word once they get through to Andres.”
“Thanks, brother.”
If Jaxon was shocked by me calling him brother, he didn’t show it. But he may as well be a brother. He’d grown up with me and James – had been James’s best friend up until that fucking horrible accident James got into with our mother which cost him his memory.
Jaxon was one of us. Always had been.
He slipped back into the woods with a single nod at me. Juliana looked up at me. “What happens if they can’t get to him?” she quietly asked me.
I shook my head. “That’s not an option for us,” I told her honestly. “James will not stop until the problem is taken care of.”
She shook her head. “Andres is powerful—”
I pressed my finger to her lips, shutting her up. A frown pulled at her soft lips. “So are we, baby girl. I got hit with multiple murder charges to land my ass in prison.” Her eyes widened in disbelief, but no fear showed in their dark depths. “I should have gotten multiple life sentences, but instead, I served ten years. And I’m on parole for another two years. That’s it. Why? Because James has so many connections that it’s almost fucking unreal. He said he’d take care of this, and I trust him. Now, I just need you to trust me and to not doubt my family, baby girl.”
She blew out a harsh breath but nodded her head. “Okay,” she whispered.
I pressed my lips to the top of her head. “Go on and sit back down,” I gently ordered. “I’ve still got a bit to do here.”
She pressed a kiss to my jaw before slipping from my arms and taking a seat on the porch again. I cast her a smile before I picked up my axe and began swinging again, hoping and praying that my brother would stay safe during all of this bullshit.
I’d tear this world apart if something happened to him.
~*~*~
Juliana’s hands slid around my bare torso, her body pressing to my back. She was warm from sitting in front of the fire, and my chilled body instantly heated, drawing from her to warm up.
I shuddered when she pressed her lips to my spine, her lips leaving a trail of fire as she kissed down my back.
“Woman, you’re playing with fire,” I warned her, setting down the knife I’d been sharpening.
“I want to please you,” she said quietly.
I moaned low in my throat. This woman would be the fucking death of me. “And how do you plan to please me, little girl?” I rumbled, my cock straining against my jeans, begging to be buried inside of her wet heat.
She slowly stepped in front of me. I noticed she had removed her bra and jeans and was now only standing in front of me in one of my t-shirts, her bare thighs on display, her nipples pressing against the shirt, aching for my attention.
I stood still, keeping my hands at my sides as she pressed her lips to my skin, trailing a heated fire along my chest and abdomen before she slowly dropped to her knees in front of me, pulling the shirt she was wearing over her head, leaving her completely naked in front of me.
Fuck.
There was something about her eyes locking on mine while she was on her knees beneath me, nothing but trust in her eyes, that fucking drove me wild.
“Can I please you, Daddy?” she asked me.
Goddamn.