I let my hands drop from the wall and cup her face I don’t want to overwhelm her with my size. She’s so fucking small compared to me. She needs to eat and I want to be the one to feed her. Take care of her.

She belongs to you now. The thought crashes through my mind. A deep longing takes hold. I want that to be true. I feel protective of her. I know what I did in the shower was wrong. I don’t know what came over me, but I had to touch her. She makes me feel alive again. As if I’ve been numb and she’s brought me back to life.

The need to have her come undone in my arms clawed at me like nothing ever had in my life. I wanted to make her feel good. I wanted her to become addicted to me and all the things I could do for her so she’d never want to leave. I saw the need in her and I wanted to please her.

But when I laid her down on my bed, guilt rode me hard. Or I thought that was what it was, but the more I thought on it the more I think I felt guilty about not feeling guilty. If that even makes any fucking sense.

Her hands go to my chest, her fingers digging into my shirt. For once I wish I didn't have my shirt on, which hasn't been normal for me since I got my scars. I wanted her hands on my bare skin. To feel the warmth of her.

When she said she thought she should go I’d almost lost it. My razor-thin control almost snapped. If some of the men in my squadron could see me now. They used to call me Mr. Control. Now I have none when it comes to her. She shattered it the minute I saw her lying in the snow. I knew in that moment my life was about to change.

“I wanted you.” Her words are low. Almost a whisper. I tilt her head up, wanting to have her eyes on me. Eyes like nothing I’ve seen before. The deepest green I’ve ever seen. Such a contrast with her rich black hair and porcelain skin.

“Wanted?” I ask. Has something changed?

“Want,” she admits. I watch pink deepen on her cheeks. The sight makes my dick leak cum. I’ve been so fucking hard. Even after I came all over myself in the shower when she orgasmed for me. The water thankfully covered the evidence of my cum. I came like a teenager watching his first porno. It was almost embarrassing.

I haven’t had any interest in sex since before that bomb blew the hell out of me. I haven’t even taken myself into my own hand. There hasn’t been a drive. My focus has been on this town, cleaning up the mess the last sheriff left behind, taking care of my ma. All of those feelings and needs are now crashing down on me and driving me to her.

I suck in a breath.

“You’re so young,” I tell her. She’s barely eighteen. She has the whole world in front of her. But I’ve seen the world. So has she. It’s not all pretty. Monsters wait in the dark.

She needs you.

The thought pounds in my head. She’s already seen too much harshness and cruelty. She’s so small and innocent. I could shield her from it all. Take care of her.

“Do you not want me anymore?” I can see the vulnerability written on her face as she says the words.

“More than my next breath,” I admit easily, wanting to take the look off her face. I don’t ever want her to question the need and want I have for her. I want her to know I’ll always be here for whatever she might need. She’ll never find herself out in the snow all alone again with nowhere to go. Not as long as I breathe.

“Even after what Coach Snow told you? About me—”

I growl, cutting off her words. She widens her eyes. I want to tell her to fuck what Coach Snow has to say. I’ll be having a talk with the principal about her in the very near future. I knew she only used my Catherine as a reason to call me. We weren't two minutes into the call and she was edging for a fucking date. She never should have been the one to call me in the first place. She should have reported concerns to the principal, then he would have reached out to me if need be.

I don't like the thought of anyone using my Catherine. It pisses me off. It didn't help when I walked into the living room and saw Catherine gearing up to leave. I’m sure the look on my face scared her. I never want her to fear me in any way. I want her to run to me, not from me.

“Coach Snow only made it clearer to me that you need someone to look after you. To take care of you. I'm going to be that someone. I want you, Catherine. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

“You don’t even know me,” she whispers, disbelievingly.

“I feel it. If I’ve learned anything in my life it’s to trust my gut. That feeling brought me to you yesterday. I knew you were going to go back to that house. Knew that you would be locked out and I was going to be there to make sure you were okay. I obsessed over it all day.”

Her mouth parts a little. “I feel it, too. When you picked me up, I wasn't scared. I felt safe. Then when I woke up in your arms that feeling was still there, only I felt it even deeper,” she confesses.

I smile at her. God, she’s so fucking beautiful. Earth-shaking beauty mixed with a sweet innocence. How could I not want her? Need her?

Her arms slide up my chest and lock around my neck.

“Kiss me again.” She tilts her head back a little more, offering me her mouth. My eyes go there, remembering the sweetness of her kiss before when we were in the shower. When all my control snapped.

“I don’t think I should right now,” I tell her. I’m on a razor’s edge after her saying she should leave, and I think if I kiss her now I won't stop until I’m buried deep inside her, claiming her in the most primal, basic way. Marking her inside and out.

Her lips pull tight into a line. Her eyes drop away from mine.

“Baby,” I plead as I stroke her soft cheek with my thumb. “It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you. I want that more than anything. I just don’t think I’ll be able to control myself if I do. I barely held on in the shower.”

“What if I want you to lose control?” Her eyes come back to mine. She bites her lip. I pull her lip out from between her teeth. “I want you, too. I love when you touch me. The things you make me feel. I want more.”

I growl at her words.

“Please,” she adds.

I let go of her face, and bring my hands under her ass, picking her up, feeling her bare skin against my fingers. “You don’t have to beg me for anything, Catherine. I wasn't lying when I said I was taking care of you. That means with anything and everything you might want. You want this. I’ll give it to you without question.”

I carry her the rest of the way down the hallway as my lips find hers. When her tongue touches mine it’s like coming home. A peace that I haven't felt since before I became a Ranger slides over me. All the noise and worry that always ride on my shoulders fade from my mind and there is only her.

I lay her down on the bed, pulling my mouth from hers. We are both breathless. “Let go for a moment, baby.” She releases her arms from my neck. I stand up beside the bed, looking down at her.

Her black hair is spread across my pillow. Her lips are swollen from me devouring her mouth. Her eyes are only half open, brimming with lust. She looks like a wet dream come to life and I fucking love that I’ve made her look like this. Not only that, but she’s stretched out only wearing my shirt.

My whole body feels like it's buzzing with a primal need. I take deep breaths, trying to get myself under control. I want to make this good for her, not fall on her like some animal between her thighs and rut until I find release. No, I want this to be perfect for her. Make her body crave mine. Wash away any memories she might have of a past boyfriend or lover.

My body clenches at the idea of her having been touched by another. I know the thought is fucked up and barbaric, but I can’t help but want to find anyone who ever touched her and rip them to shreds. I don’t care that I’ve sworn to protect. I don’t think anything in the whole world would ever come before her to me. Not even my badge.

She reaches for me and I fall onto her. My body blankets hers as I take her mouth again. She wiggles under me, rubbing herself against me, and I’m pissed I didn't undress before I fell onto her.

I reach over my head, pulling my mouth from hers, and grab my shirt, ripping it over my head and tossing it away. She leans up this time and takes my mouth—she clearly doesn’t like us being separated for even a moment. Her hands run all over my body and I swear I think I’m shaking. I dig my hands into her thick hair, deepening our kiss.

She starts to jerk against me. I can feel her need growing as she mewls into my mouth. The sound is more than I can take and my cock jerks and cum starts to leak out. The sounds are so sweet and innocent.

I pull my mouth from hers, knowing she must need release, and I don’t want to torture her little body with need. I want to give her what she craves. I move my mouth down to her neck, kissing and sucking as I go.

When I get to the shirt shielding her from me, I reach for it and rip it down the center, never letting my mouth leave her. She gasps. “Oh God!” I smile against her skin but keep moving down her body and take one of her hard little nipples into my mouth, sucking and licking while she wiggles under me. I move to the other, giving it the same attention.

Her fingers slide into my hair. The simple touch has me moaning against her nipple. I release it and keep moving down her body. Her legs spread wider for me, making room for my broad shoulders.

I wrap my fingers around her thighs, pulling them even farther apart. My eyes lock on her center. I lick my lips when I see her glistening pussy. She lifts her hips a little and I glance up at her. She’s looking down at me, and our eyes connect. Her mouth is parted and she’s breathing as heavily as I am.

“Cole,” she moans. “I…I—”

Without taking my eyes off her I give her one long lick, dragging my tongue right across her clit. Her head falls back and she drops back down onto the pillow. Releasing her thighs, I spread her plump pussy lips, wanting to suck fully on her clit with nothing getting in my way. I try to slide a finger into her, but she’s so fucking tight I can only get my pinky in.

It’s a bittersweet feeling, having her tightness wrapped around my pinky. She’s so small and tight I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get my cock inside of her, but in this moment I don’t care. I’d gladly eat her pussy for the rest of my life and be content.

I suck her clit into my mouth, swirling my tongue around it as I move my pinky in and out of her. Her pussy clenches around me and her body jerks. I feel her legs start to shake as she screams out my name. Wetness floods her and I drink it up, but I don’t stop. Her body relaxes for a moment and I’m able to slide two fingers into her now.

“Oh God, Cole.” Fuck, I love how she moans my name. I feel more cum leak out of my cock. I pull back from her for a moment but still keep working my fingers in and out of her. Trying to get my cock under control, I take a deep breath, but it doesn't help as the smell of her fills my lungs.

Instantly my mouth is back on her. I ignore my cock and focus only on her and making her cum again. I want to feel it all over again. Drink her down. I find that special place inside her and move my fingers against it.

“Cole.” She says it with a wobble in her voice and her body tenses.

“Let go, baby. Take what I’m giving you. Trust I’ve got you.” She relaxes at my words.

“I trust you,” I hear her say, making warmth fill my chest. I latch on to her clit and move my fingers inside her. Her legs shake all over again. She chants my name as she comes undone, and a scream leaves her lips as her pussy clamps down on my fingers. I lick and suck, wanting to get every drop from her, wanting to wring out the orgasm.

When her body goes completely limp. I give her clit one last kiss and move back up her body, kicking my pants off as I go. Her eyes are closed as I lick and kiss at her lips. They slowly part for me and I slide my tongue in, wanting her to taste her own passion. What I did to her.

“Hmm.” She moans and kisses me back lazily.

After feeling her tightness around my fingers I ask her what has been lingering in the back of my mind since I slid my finger inside her.

“Are you a virgin?” Her eyes flutter open. She bites that lip again. I move my hips a little, my cock rubbing against her clit. She jerks, and I know she’s still sensitive from the two orgasms I gave her.

Releasing her lip, she licks it before finally giving me a small “yes.” I stare down at her. A swirl of emotions moves through me. I like the idea of no one ever having her like this, that she will be mine in all ways, but I dread pushing inside her and causing her any pain. The thought of hurting her burns deep in my gut.

“We can stop now if you want. We don’t have to do more.” I have to pull the words out of me. As much as I don’t want to hurt her, I still have the primal need to claim her in all ways. To bind her to me in the most barbaric way.

“I want all of you. I want you to be my first.” She cups my face with a gentle hand.

“Only,” I correct. There isn't going to be another after me. I’ll be her first and last. “Say it, Catherine,” I command.

“Only.” She smiles as she says it. A tight band in my chest releases. I kiss her deeply, pouring everything I can into it. I want her to know how much this means to me.

I use my knee to push her legs apart a little more as I rock back and forth, mimicking sex. It doesn't take long until her hands are everywhere on me, her little fingers digging into my back, her hips matching my rhythm.

I slide down a little, the tip of my cock breaching her opening. She gasps a little and I freeze. My eyes stay locked on her. “More,” she tells me, and I give her what she asks for, sliding in a little more. A small moan leaves her lips.

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” I tell her as I thrust all the way into her. I take her mouth in a kiss, and a little yelp escapes her mouth into mine. I don't move. I just keep kissing her. Letting her body get used to the feel of me.

I pull from her lips and kiss her face all over before moving to her neck and up to her ear. I tell her how perfect she is, how I’ve been waiting for her, how she belongs to me now and I’ll spend my life giving her everything she will ever want or need. I slide my hand between us and stroke her clit.

Those little heavy breaths are coming from her lips. Her hips rock. My cock leaks cum inside her, wanting to move so bad, but I hold still for her. I’d do anything for her. I feel it all the way down to my bones. She’s my one. For the first time I’m thankful for the bomb blasting my shoulder to hell. It sent me home. Sent me here to her. Where I needed to be. To protect and care for her, that most precious thing in the world.

Her pussy begins to clench over and over again as I stroke her. Her back arches as her hard nipples graze my chest. More cum leaks out of my cock and it jerks inside her. I firm my jaw, using all the power I have inside me to keep from rutting inside her little body.

“I need you to move.” She’s trying to move her little hips back and forth, and my own have her pinned to the bed now. I pull out a little and thrust back inside her. Her full lips part into an O shape.

I stroke her faster with my fingers, needing her to get closer to her orgasm because I know I’m not going to last long. Fuck, I haven't even masturbated since I came back home. Sex hasn’t been on my mind, anyway. In fact, I was even more turned off to the idea when I got home and every woman, single or not, was trying to get into my fucking pants.

I don't seem to have that problem with Catherine, though. I’m ready to go off any second. I could spend a week inside of her and still not want to pull out of her, but I don’t think her little body could handle that.

Yet, my mind whispers.

I move a little faster and Catherine’s eyes are falling closed. “Eyes, baby. I need them on me,” I grunt as I move. Her eyes slowly open. They are filled with so much passion it almost knocks the air out of my lungs.

Tilting my hips, I hit the perfect spot inside her, and she moans out my name. Over and over again I thrust in and out. My balls are growing tight and I’m about to burst any second. “Baby, please, I need you to cum for me. Give it to me. I need to feel that pussy of yours lock down on my cock. Claim me.”

At my words her whole body jerks. Her pussy latches down on me. I grunt as cum spurts from my cock and I feel like I’ll cum forever. I fill her up as I keep thrusting, the cum already sliding out of her pussy and between us. When I’m finally emptied my body goes lax, melting into her. I bury my face in her neck, feeling like I can’t move.

She strokes my hair tenderly, and I kiss her neck before I pull up and look down at her. She has the biggest smile on her face. I know that I’m going to spend my life making sure that smile never leaves her face.