Jimmy stops the truck behind The Mission, we haven’t said a word since I climbed in. I’m afraid to speak, of what I’ll say or remember. I’m in shock, numb from what has just happened in that warehouse and I welcome it because I’m not ready to face it. Jimmy turns his head toward me, and our eyes meet, I see anger, hurt, but most of all fear in them.

“Emma,” he rasps. “You’re bleeding.”

“Most of it isn’t mine,” I mumble.

Gently, he fists my hair, clumped together with drying blood, searching for wounds before pulling me into his arms. He holds me close, his grip squeezes the air from my lungs, but I won’t dare tell him to let me go. I feel the tears beginning to burn my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall, not yet. As suddenly as he pulled me close, Jimmy let’s me go and climbs out of the truck, making his way to the passenger side. He swings the door open, picks me up, and carries me inside, heading directly to the master bathroom. Leather, whiskey, and musk fill my nostrils as I rest my head against his shoulder. I continue to fight the tears, I’m not ready to remember. I just want to forget the past few days and go back to before it all happened.

I feel the cold countertop against the back of my legs as Jimmy sets me down, wetting a washrag in the sink. Jimmy begins to meticulously clean every part of my body, starting with my face, while placing kisses as he goes. I hiss in pain when he finds a cut on my face I wasn’t even aware of. I look in the mirror to see blood oozing from the wound and can’t help but remember how blood flowed from the slash across Javier’s neck when I sliced it to save my life. I shut my eyes immediately, hoping I can keep the thoughts away just a little longer.

Concentrating on Jimmy’s slow movements as he continues to free me of Javier’s and my blood, he tugs on my ruined shirt. “Arms up,” he says softly before pulling it over my head. Continuing to gently wipe away the dark red from my skin and cleaning my wounds, he inspects all of the cuts he finds before rinsing the rag with warm water and continuing on.

He keeps working in silence, never saying anything to me, painfully gentle as he cleans my skin. I want to feel his fingers on me instead of the rag. I want him to kiss me, tell me that I’m going to be okay, that he doesn’t think of me any differently, that he still loves me.

My mind is off and running when a slight tug on my hand brings me back, Jimmy’s eyes meet mine as he caresses my cheek.

His eyes look haunted, sad. I lift my hand and place it on his cheek, as our skin touches his eyes close, and he leans into my hand, letting out a deep breath.

With his eyes open, he inches closer and places a gentle kiss to the left of my mouth. I begin to tremble at his touch, I must disgust him. The things I’ve done, I did for him, for us, but he doesn’t understand. Now I’ve killed someone, and he can’t see past that,

“Let go, Little Bit,” he whispers as he places a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“I’m afraid.” I lean forward and rest my head on his chest.

“No need, I’ll be there to catch you.” He wraps his arms around me as the tears begin to wrack my body. He pulls me off the counter and sinks to the floor, cradling me like a newborn in his arms. Gut-wrenching sobs rip through my body as I cry for all the things that I’ve been through, the things that I’ve done, but most of all for the man that saved me from myself. Through all of this Jimmy has been my strength.

As my tears begin to slow, he lifts my chin. “We all have demons, but you never have to carry them alone.”

“That’s some good advice, old timer. Maybe you should listen to yourself.”

I respond before I lean in for the kiss that I’ve been yearning for since he found me. Our lips touch softly, a slow burn kind of kiss. A moan escapes me as he stands and begins walking toward the shower. My hands are in his beard, a guttural groan sounds from his chest when I tug on it. His hands are in my hair, controlling my head as the kiss deepens.

Without breaking our kiss, he sets me down on my feet and rids us both of the rest of our clothes before turning on the shower. He backs me against the wall, caging me in. Leaning my head back, I watch him watch me. He brings both of my wrists over my head, threading our fingers together.

“You’re beautiful.”

My breathing hiccups, another tear escapes my eye, and he kisses it away before kissing my lips again. He leans his forehead to mine. “Let me wash the blood from your hair.”

All I can do is nod.

“I’ve never been so scared in my life, Little Bit.”

I close my eyes and absorb his presence. “I never lost faith in you. I knew you would come for me.”

He lets go of my hands and adjusts the water. “Did he force himself on you?”

“No.” He lets out a long exhale. “Thank God.”

Jimmy removes the shower head from the holder and motions for me to turn around. He carefully rinses my hair of the dried blood, even taking the time to shampoo and conditions my long locks.

Once my hair is clean, he hangs up the shower head and grabs his body wash to clean the rest of my skin. I watch his concentration as he works, avoiding the worst of the slashes, to keep his touches clinical but I’m turned on nonetheless.

Stopping his hand, I look up into his eyes. “Please touch me, give me something good to remember about today.”

I need him to make me feel whole. We’ve both been through hell today but we came out alive, on the other side, that's the most important part.

“Please just let me clean you,” he whispers, his eyes pleading with mine. Dropping my hand from his arm, I let him take care of me. If this is what he needs, I won’t stop him. After rinsing the suds from my skin, he quickly washes himself before turning the water off and grabbing our towels.

Drying off and wrapping the towels around us, he lifts me back on the countertop to put a bandage on my head and once again check the cuts.

“Doesn’t look like you needs stitches,” he mumbles.

Using butterfly bandages to keep the deeper cuts closed, he makes sure everything else is superficial before stepping away from me.

“I need you,” I plead as I reach for him, my hand searching for his. Pulling him back toward me.

Cradling my head in his hands, our lips meet as a growl rumbles from his lips. I pour all the feelings I don’t know how to voice into our kiss. Sliding my hands up his chest and locking my arms around his neck, my hips grind against him.

“If you don’t stop, I’m going to fuck you like a bitch in heat.” He’s breathing jagged as his control slips.

“Do it. I’m not made of glass, I can take it.”

His hands grip my hair as he possesses my mouth while pulling me off the counter to stand in front of him. He slowly removes our towels, allowing his hardness to push against my stomach.

With his lips barely brushing mine, he whispers, “Turn around, hands on the counter.” I spin around, placing my hands on the cool countertop and watch him in the mirror. Widening my stance, I sway my hips and watch his control slip a little more as his eyes zero in on my ass.

Catching my eyes in the mirror, he steps up against me, pressing his chest against my back. I let out a strangled moan as he slides his hand down my stomach and through my folds while his other hand splays across my chest, anchoring me to him.

“Keep your eyes open, watch me fuck you, claim you.”

I can’t speak, I’m captivated by his hands bringing me so much pleasure. His scarred and callused hands brush against my soft, creamy skin. Two thick fingers slide inside me, stroking my walls as I sag against him. Waves of pleasure overtake me, I let him have his way with me.

Jimmy’s palm pressed against my clit as his fingers stroke me deeper, finding that magic spot that only he can. My pussy clenches as my knees threaten to give out. My orgasm crashes into me, keeping my eyes open is impossible as my entire body trembles.

“Look at me,” he breathes in my ear.

“Oh… oh God… Yes, please… fuck!” I can’t form a coherent sentence, making Jimmy chuckle in my ear.

When my orgasm crests, he thrusts deep inside of me, forcing me to cum again.

“Fuck, Little Bit. Your pussy feels so good.”

“Fuck me, please just fuck me!”

Picking up speed, he fucks me like I begged him too. Both of us find ourselves in the pounding of his hips against my ass. Changing the angle, Jimmy pulls my shoulders to his chest, arching my back then taking full advantage of my exposed neck.

“You’re mine.” His thrusts punctuating his words. “Say it, tell me who you belong to.”

“You, I’m yours.”

“And this pussy, who owns this tight little pussy?”

“Oh, God!” My orgasm is climbing, I’m so close.

“If you want to cum, tell me who owns this pussy!”

“You, Jimmy!” I shriek, pass the point of caring.

Slapping my clit to the rhythm of his thrusts sends me spiraling over the edge once again.

Just as I’m coming down, he pulls out of me and spins me around to face him, groaning into my mouth as he devours my lips. Lifting me, my legs wrap around his waist, pressing his cock harder against me as we walk into the bedroom. He sits on the edge of the bed, stilling my movements he growls, “Ride my cock, Little Bit. Use me for your pleasure.”

Sitting up, I line up my dripping core with his cock and take all of it in one motion. Throwing my head back, my moan is long and loud as my body stretches to adjust to his intrusion. He lets me take him at my own pace, giving me control to ride him as fast or slow as I want.

“You’re so big, so deep like this,” I whine while my body relaxes. “No one will feel as good as I do buried deep inside you.”

Gripping my hips, I can feel his eyes glued to my body while he watches my pleasure.

“Fuck, Little Bit. You’re perfect.”

I ride him with abandon, chasing the orgasm that will soften my heart once again. My pussy tightens, clenching hard, and my legs tremble as I get closer to the point of no return. Rubbing my clit in tight circles with his thumb, an orgasm takes over me. Lifting his hips, Jimmy thrust into me as deep as he can, elongating my pleasure.

My body falls to his chest, soft and sated. Keeping his cock deep inside me, he rolls us over and slows his thrusts. He makes love to me, worshiping me with slow and deep thrusts.

“I love you Emma, so fucking much.”

“I love you too, Jimmy. You saved me.” Pulling his lips back to mine, I kiss him again.

Deep kisses that steal our breath as we use our bodies to communicate the love we feel for each other. The climb to completion is slow but intense, shaking breaths, pounding hearts, and trembling bodies.

I lay awake, just watching Emma sleep. I know it is creepy, but I can’t seem to shut my eyes after finally getting her back to sleep. It’s been a week since she’s come home and everything has gone back to normal, at least that’s what she wants everyone to believe.

I hear her sobbing in the shower and the screams she tries to muffle in the pillow when she awakens from nightmares occasionally. I wish there was something more that I could do for her other than remind her that she is safe. I look at the nightstand and notice her phone sitting near the clock, it reads four a.m. Without thinking, I grab Emma’s phone and scroll through her contacts looking for the only people I’m sure can make this better.

“Hey sweetie, why are you awake so early?” A sweet motherly voice comes over the speaker.

“Good morning, ma’am. This is Jimmy, I was hoping to speak with you about Emma.”

“What’s wrong with my baby! Darrell!” I wait patiently for Emma’s mother to calm down before I begin telling them how Emma and I met. I can hear her mother silently crying as I finish up the story, waiting for them to respond.

“Why are we hearing this from you and not our daughter?” Her father growls through the phone,

“I understand your frustration, Sir. Emma has wanted to stand on her own and get through this. Unfortunately, she isn’t faring too well. I have tried my best to be there for her, but I think having her mom and dad would help.”

Her parents aren’t even here, and I can feel the sweat beginning to form on my forehead. I hold my breath waiting for one of them to respond.

“We’ll be there in a day or two. Don’t think it slipped past me that you’re almost twice her age. However, you’ve taken care of my baby girl, and Justin hasn’t put a bullet between your eyes. I guess the least I can do is give you the benefit of the doubt.”

Without giving me a chance to respond, he hangs up. I let out the breath I was holding. That went better than I thought.

“Calling to tell Mommy and Daddy on me?” I nearly drop the phone as Emma slides her arms over my shoulders.

“They can help, Little Bit,” I respond. Placing a kiss on her arm.

“I know, but I didn’t want to have to tell them how bad I screwed up again.” I can hear the defeat in her voice. She needs to know how strong she is, how far she has come from the scared little girl I found cowering in the closet all those months ago.

“You are the strongest person I know. You have come so far, shit you dealt with my stubborn ass. That’s an achievement right there.” She giggles in response.

“If you say so, but are you ready to meet daddy dearest? He did teach Justin how to shoot.”

“And I taught Justin how to shoot better, I’m not scared of him. There’s only one thing that scares me anymore,” I say, pulling her around to sit in my lap. She snuggles deeper into my chest, placing her ear directly above my heart.

“What is that, and please don’t say something cheesy like ‘losing you.’ I would really like to not throw up in my mouth.”

I can’t help but chuckle in response. “Alright, can you settle for a kiss?”

“A kiss from you? I would never consider that settling.”

Emma needs stability right now, the comfort of being at home where she grew up. Her life will be quiet and simple, it will let her heal. She needs to remember who she is, that she’s a survivor, she’s strong.

“Little Bit, please listen. I love you with everything that I am, but I can’t help you. Better yet, I don’t know how to help you. You need to go home, be with your family, get therapy and try to put your life back together after what happened.”

She immediately pulls away from me. “I can heal here, with you. I don’t want to leave you. “

Her entire body is trembling as she speaks, I’m not even sure if she is aware of it. “I will always be here, remember, where you go I will find you.”

“If I leave, I won’t come back for a long time. I’m going to finish school and everything. It may be a whole year, if not more before we are together again,” Emma’s voice sounds like she is mourning. Mourning our love, like it is doomed from the start.

“I miss you when you aren’t near me. With every breath I take, I miss you. While you were with that madman, I felt like my entire world was crashing down. This isn’t the end for us, there is no me without you, Emma.” I scoot closer to her, leaning my front to her back wrapping my arms around her.

I feel teardrops against my skin. “What happens when some Starlet comes into the bar and makes you realize the broken little girl you’ve sent home isn't worth the time?”

I spin her around before she can continue her statement. “You listen to me, Little Bit, there was, is, and never will be anyone else in this world for me. What happened when you discover that this old man has nothing to offer you? That I do nothing but hold you back from all your hopes and dreams?”

Just the thought of her being in someone else’s arms rips a hole in my chest, but this is what she needs. I need to let her go for her to be whole again, to be the feisty spitfire I fell in love with all those months ago.

“I’m going to miss you so much.” Her voice breaking rips my heart apart. We both know that this is for the best, neither one of us likes it, but it has to be done.

“I’ll miss you too, baby. So fucking much.” We sit in silence for a minute, wrapped in each other's arms absorbing as much comfort from each other as we can.

“Are you sending me away because you don’t want me anymore?” Her voice is just above a whisper, like a little girl who lost her favorite teddy bear.

“Emma. I want you every day for the rest of my life.”

“I killed someone, I have their blood on my hands.” Tears begin pouring down her cheeks. I can’t imagine the pain that she has been going through or the courage it has taken for her to finally let me know how she has been feeling. I want to beat the shit out of myself for making her believe I didn’t want her, but this isn’t about me.

“Emma, I was a sniper for the SEAL’s for a very long time. All of those deaths were premeditated, done on purpose.

“You are not a killer. You defended yourself against a man who had abused you, tormented you, and tried to kill you. Think of how many girls you’ve saved because he’s gone.”

She doesn’t say anything, but by the sound of her tears, she heard every word I said. I hope it sinks in, that she remembers what I said when the doubt tries to push its way back in because I mean every word.

“You know that better not have been a marriage proposal because I will have to respectfully decline,” she responds with as she wipes the last bit of tears from her eyes.

I know that this is the end of our serious conversation, but she has had a small breakthrough. I can only hope this decision to go will help her move forward, one step closer to being back to the person she was before all this happened.

I spin us around so I can pin her body to the bed. “Little Bit, when I propose you will know it. There will be no mistake when I declare my love for you and ask you to be mine forever.”

Reaching up and wrapping her arms around my neck, she says, “Well don’t keep me waiting too long, Jimmy. I can’t wait to tell everyone that I belong to you.”

I lean down to give her a kiss but stop short before our lips meet and whisper, “I don’t need to put a ring on your finger to let people know you are mine. It’s in every beat of my heart.”

“Awww, Jimmy, your so damn cheesy! Kiss me now, or lose me forever!” She giggles.

“My pleasure, Emma.” I lean down and silence her with a searing kiss.

We may not know what the future holds for us, but one thing we do know is that no matter what life puts in front of us we will overcome it together.