Assassin's Haiku (8 page)

“Diego, please,” she begged, her voice thin with restrained ardor.

Although he had planned to ratchet her passion higher, he couldn’t disregard her plea, as he lived to serve her, and anything and everything she asked from him, she would get. He grazed her pussy lips with his teeth while she bucked against his arm, and when he moved higher, dragging his teeth over her clit, she shrieked his name. Diego paused until she yanked at his hair, and then as he watched her expressive face, Diego covered her clit and sucked hard.

The impact was instantaneous. Haiku screamed, writhing like a wild thing under his arm, and it took more of his strength to control her. Diego slowly released the pressure, until the tremors rocking her body subsided and she lay limp in his arms, her muscles lethargic, her skin twitching with the aftermath.

She was so alive, so wonderfully human, and his rock-hard cock pulsed. He wanted to feel that unrestrained ardor around him. He wanted to be inside her as she came. Diego looked into her face. Her eyes were closed, and tear tracks left a trail of moisture on her cheeks. He kissed her lips as he settled between her thighs.

“Diego?” She gazed up at him. He saw wonder and dismay reflected in those blue eyes.

“One more time, Haiku.” Too selfish to stop, he pushed his cockhead past her plumped pussy lips. They throbbed a warm welcome, drawing him deeper.

“I can’t.” Even as she protested, she bent her knees, tilting her body up to better receive him.

He thrust his way home, and Haiku cried out his name, her legs wrapping around his waist, her hands clasping his back. She embraced him with everything she had.

Diego gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to come immediately. His control was strained, and her body was tight, the vibrations from the aftermath of her orgasm clenching and unclenching his cock.

He focused on Haiku’s pleasure, staring into her beautiful face as he pumped into her pussy. Her lithe body had been primed by her earlier orgasm, and he felt her passion swiftly rise again. Her eyes darkened from sky blue to navy, her cheeks flushed, and her lips parted. She held on to his shoulders, meeting his thrusts, lifting her hips.

His balls screamed for release, but he held on, because being inside Haiku was the best thing Diego had ever experienced in his harsh life, and he would make their loving last as long as possible. The time for gentle devotion had passed, and he surged into her again and again, fucking her with reckless abandon, their bodies smacking together until her pale skin was red and raw. Her moans and pants echoed in his ear, and he ground his lips against hers, trying to catch her breath, as he needed more of her, all of her.

“Diego,” Haiku cried, her fingernails digging deeply into his shoulders. She flew up into him, her pussy muscles clamping down hard on his engorged shaft.

When she released him from her tight grip, Diego lost all control. He came hard, shouting her name, cum shooting out of his freed cock into her vibrating womb. His body shuddered with bone-rattling tremors, and he pushed against her until their two forms became one.

Reasoning gradually returned, and with it, the realization that his big physique had flattened his smaller Haiku. Diego winced at his thoughtlessness and supported some of his weight with his elbows, but he didn’t withdraw. He never wanted to withdraw, because Haiku felt too good, too right.

“I love you,” she murmured into his chest. Diego couldn’t answer, overcome with emotion. She was his home, his sanctuary, and he would never let her go.

Chapter Ten

In the morning, the streets were unusually quiet. It had rained again in the early hours, and the acid bite of the droplets had chased away casual strollers, the rain giving the city a tart, clean smell. Haiku held on to Diego’s hand as she followed him through the maze of alleyways. He’d carried her for part of the way, concealing their home from the Agency sniffers. Although Diego claimed to like her scent, it irked her to have that human weakness. It put him and everyone else she loved at risk.

She put everyone she loved at risk; the Agency was after her. Diego had confirmed it, and neither of them knew why. She wasn’t special, unlike her kids. Her kids were special, and she could lead the Agency to them. Haiku skidded to a stop.

Diego pulled at her arm. When she didn’t move, he looked back, a question in his black eyes.

“They’re after the children,” she whispered, breaking one of Diego’s many rules. They were not to talk, as the Agency was able to track their voices.

Diego put a gloved finger over her mouth and nodded. She breathed a sigh of relief. He understood. He knew she was placing the children in danger by visiting them today. He swung her into his arms, grunting with the effort, and continued forward. That was another rule. Operatives could be following them, so they were never to backtrack.

She couldn’t visit the orphanage, ever. Pain cut through her. She missed the children so much, and they would miss her also. She’d been a constant in their swiftly changing world, and to never see them again… Haiku blinked away tears of frustration. Diego nuzzled her hair with his chin. It was a comforting gesture, reminding her that she had him. She wasn’t alone.

“Why are you carrying Mommy?” a boyish voice asked anxiously. Shit. That voice belonged to Jacob. Haiku turned her head, appalled that he’d put himself in danger yet again. He stood before them, his hands balled into fists, his feet apart. He was dressed all in black, as Diego was.

“Are the Agency monitors deactivated?” was Diego’s only answer. They were close to the orphanage and well behind Rebel lines.

“Of course.” Jacob scowled, his seven-year-old pride offended. He considered himself in charge of the orphanage’s security. “Is Ku-Ku hurt?” Small hands touched her arm.

“No, I’m not hurt. You would know if I was, remember?” She smiled reassuringly, and he nodded gravely back. Haiku didn’t know how the link between them worked, only that it did. “Diego is tricking the sniffers.” Because she was being tracked. She’d put them all in danger with this visit. Her smile faded. “You shouldn’t be outside, Jacob.”

Diego surged forward, not waiting for the conversation to end.

“Jacob?” Haiku looked back over their shoulders at the boy. Jacob trailed behind them, imitating the rhythm of Diego’s walk.

“Don’t be mad at me, Mommy. I’m protecting the others, like you told me to,” Jacob grumbled.

Giving him the job of protecting the other children had been the only way to prevent him from following her everywhere. “I’m not mad.” She was worried. There was a difference. “But you can protect the others from inside the compound.” He was safer inside the walls. He was alone on the streets. There’d be no one to assist him if he got into trouble. Haiku tucked her legs close to her body as Diego entered the drop shaft.

“Naw. It is too noisy. Miss Beth cries when I make the bad men go pop.” Jacob slid in beside them, his head pressed against her leg.

“Pop?” Diego repeated. He raised a dark eyebrow in question.

“It’s nothing,” Haiku hurried to reassure him. Layers of building whizzed past as they were lowered soundlessly into the depths of the city. “A figure of speech.” She would allow Diego to get to know the children first before burdening him with their various challenges.

“I make them explode.” Jacob exercised no such caution. “Pop.” His hands shot apart dramatically. “Their blood and guts go everywhere.”

Haiku felt faint at his graphic description. She’d heard it before, and she’d always felt the same way. No child should have to witness such gory deaths.

“Em says when I get big, I’m going to be a great ass-in like you.” Dark eyes shone with hero worship.

Diego grunted, and a higher-pitched grunt immediately echoed in the shaft.

“Jacob only makes the bad men go pop when there’s no other choice,” Haiku explained. Her sweet little boy wasn’t a monster. Jacob knew the difference between right and wrong.

“And what does he know of choices?” Diego’s face was hard.

Haiku opened her mouth and then closed it again. Diego was right. Jacob didn’t have anyone to teach him about choices. Deciding who should and shouldn’t die was beyond her experience. Silence filled the small space. All she could do was love Jacob and hope that was enough.

Her friend Beth waited for them as they stepped out of the drop shaft.

“Thank goodness you’re here, hon.” She rushed forward, her beautiful face beaming.

Beth appeared happy and healthy, much to Haiku’s relief.

“The kids have been waiting for you all day.”

Diego lowered her to the artificial turf floor, his arms lingering around her waist as he scanned the orphanage grounds. He was looked for possible danger, Haiku knew. He protected her.

The area was safe, because the children wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t. She gave him a reassuring smile before turning her full attention to Beth. “Did Emily tell you I was coming?” As Haiku stepped away to hug Beth, Jacob wedged his small form between her and Diego.

“Yes, and she, thankfully, was right this time.” The gorgeous blonde grinned at Diego as he nonchalantly picked Jacob up by the shoulders and moved him to the side. “The kids were worried, Bea especially. She has been crying for her Ku-Ku and throwing things since we left.”

“Throwing things?” Diego frowned. Worry lines were etched between his eyebrows.

“She’s a baby,” Jacob said with disgust. He grabbed Haiku’s hand, glaring at Diego defiantly.

Jacob thought everyone younger than him was a baby. “Bea is four years old,” she explained. Bea was also telekinetic, so when she threw things, she threw everything she could get her mind on. “Where is she?” Haiku should calm her down before she saw the other children.

There was a thump to their right. It sounded like a plastic block thrown at the wall.

“Guess.” Beth grinned as she tilted her head toward the small standalone structure.

The new orphanage was set up to resemble the one they had abandoned, the similarities designed to bring some continuity to the children’s lives.

“I left her in there. We had to isolate Bea because of her difficult mood, and we knew you’d want to see her first.”

“I do.” Haiku reached for the lever handle to the door.

“No.” Diego covered her hand with his. “I’ll go in first.” He swung the door open, and Haiku held her breath. The room was eerily quiet as Bea stared at him, the little girl’s pink eyes widening with wonder. Soft stuffed toys hung in the air around her, suspended by nothing. Diego perused the room, his black-eyed gaze missing nothing. He breathed in deeply and then stepped back. “It is clear. I’ll wait outside.”

His voice scared Bea. Her baby face screwed up, and her cheeks grew redder and redder. Bea was about to continue her temper tantrum. Beth rushed to the little girl’s side, trying to distract her with her clapping hands.

“Are you sure?” Haiku didn’t want to desert Diego, but it would be easier to calm Bea without him, as the child associated all men with the nasty men in white.

“I’m sure.” Diego pulled her close and kissed her forehead. Bea wailed, and toys swirled in a vortex of fury. “Go. While you…” He waved a gloved hand at the fuming toddler. “I wish to speak to Jacob.”

“Okay.” That sounded ominous. Haiku gave Jacob her best you-better-behave look. “He’ll show you around the orphanage.” Jacob folded his arms and stuck his bottom lip out, his expression dark. “I’ll join the two of you as soon as I can.”

Chapter Eleven

Diego waited outside the structure for several long minutes, listening as Haiku soothed the moody child. The girl had been encircled by floating toys, but nothing in the room was a possible weapon, and that was the only reason he allowed Haiku to enter. Even knowing she couldn’t be harmed, he didn’t like it.

He didn’t like their surroundings. The space was too brightly lit, giving the appearance of midday underground. There was too much color, with the walls painted in reds and blues and greens, the floor the bright green of fake grass. There was too much noise. The screams and laughter and racket of children pierced the air.

“You worried?” The grave little boy by his side peered up at him.

“Yeah.” He worried. He worried too much. Diego rolled his shoulders. The emotion was unfamiliar and damn uncomfortable.

“That’s silly.” Jacob scoffed. “I’m not worried.” He drew his tiny body up. “Bea is a big baby, but Ku-Ku makes us all better.” The way he said “better” snagged Diego’s attention.

He studied the child. “How?” Jacob had a world-weary air around him, as though he’d seen too much, and it brought out Diego’s protective instincts, which was ridiculous. The kid was a stranger, and he owed him nothing. Diego scowled. If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up responsible for everyone he met.

“She loves us.” Jacob mirrored his scowl. “And it makes us better.”

That could be the boy’s opinion. Some children, Diego supposed, having never been one of those children himself, thought love and a mother’s kiss made boo-boos better. But Diego had to admit that his own skills had improved since meeting Haiku, since being loved by Haiku, and he was no child. “You have blood on your boots.” Diego had noticed that right away but hadn’t said anything in front of Haiku, the scent of death a familiar one. It was blood, but not the child’s blood.

He makes the bad men go
pop. Jacob casually rubbed the blood off with a piece of scrap paper and tossed the remains into the trash receptacle. The kid was a killer.

And Haiku loved him. Diego had seen the emotion shining in her eyes, softening her sweet voice. Hope clawed up his gut to hang off his heart. Maybe her love for him would last as well.

Jacob straightened, meeting Diego’s gaze. “The blood makes Mommy’s mouth go like this.” He pursed his lips in a humorously accurate imitation of Haiku’s horrified face, and Diego’s lips twitched.

“She loves me, but she doesn’t understand.”

Jacob said it like Diego did understand. Diego snorted, and the child snorted also. He understood nothing.

“She’ll be a long time. You wanna meet the others?”