Team: Alpha (Knights of Ares) (19 page)

“We’re good,” he said leaning in to kiss her. “Just go and be there with him love,” he whispered quietly against her lips. “I love you Daisy, be there for him. We’ll stay as updated as we can and be waiting when he gets out. I’m going to get the munchkin something to eat and then we’re going to haunt the halls.”

Daisy nodded, “If you need anything Brenda will get me.” She looked to her friend, “Please?” when the woman nodded she smiled and ran down the halls, racing for the operating room and one of the loves of her life.

Honey looked up with wide eyes and a trembling lip. “He’s going to be okay, right daddy? He was hurt cause of me. What did I do that made that man want to hurt me?”

Lifting her onto his hip he held her close to him, “It wasn’t your fault that he was hurt baby, never think that. He was hurt because someone thought to harm you and, like me, he would do anything and everything to keep you and your mother safe. Mik will be fine, he’ll need some time to recover but he’ll be his normal grumpy and snarky self in no time.”

“Why aren’t the police here asking the questions too? Shouldn’t someone else want to know why my daddy was hurt?” She asked softly and leaned into Gareth. “I don’t like it that my daddy is hurt. I don’t want either of you hurt. I love you and you are all my family. You will find who did this, won’t you?”

“We will baby,” he told her hugging her tight. “As for the local’s, I’m guessing the Colonel may have decided to run a little interference for us. I’m sure we’ll need to chat with them eventually, but I’m just thankful they aren’t here right now. I don’t think I could deal with them on top of everything else.”

“The Sheriff is a nice man,” Honey admitted. “I like him. He doesn’t look at my mom like he wants to gobble her up, so that is one reason, but he also doesn’t tolerate anyone being mean to anyone else. He came to our school once and he talked about how it wasn’t nice to call people that were different by ugly words.” Like fag, retard and so on.

“Well that’s good love,” he said setting her on her feet. Taking her hand he looked down at her, “We need to feed you munchkin, so lead on to the cafeteria if you would please. Then we will come back and wait for your mom and Mik to see us.”

Honey nodded and slipped her hand into his and tugged at him for only a moment before leading him away from the front desk and down to the cafeteria. When they got in line one of the workers asked her why she was there tonight and she said, “My daddy was shot keeping me safe. He’s going to be okay though, right daddy Gareth?”

“He’ll be fine,” he said watching the woman. She seemed torn about saying something but wisely kept her mouth shut. “Get whatever you want poppet, whether your mother would approve or not,” he told her quietly.

Honey’s eyes went wide and she looked at the case, “I want the apple pie with the whipped cream on top; and can you put some chocolate over the top of it from the sundae bar, please?” She asked happily, “Oh and nuts, and ice cream.”

Wincing he nodded to the worker, “Whatever she wants,” he said. “You’re mother is going to kill me if you’re all hyped up on sugar baby girl. So I hope you appreciate this moment of ditching the norm for dinner in favor of sweets.”

“Oh I still want dinner too. Just dessert first.” She told him happily. “I want the open faced Manhattan for dinner, but that’s after I’ve had the pie with all the trappings on it. And don’t get that look daddy, I totally can eat that much.” And more.

“I know you can. I also know you will likely pass out after consuming that much food. You expect me to haul you around with all that added weight though?” Gareth sucked air through his teeth and shook his head. Grinning, he leaned over to kiss her forehead, “Get whatever you want, but you have to finish whatever you take baby.”

“I will.” She chose everything that she wanted and looked up at him. “And you are big and strong daddy. Besides, you missed carrying me around as a baby, and you want to carry me around now. Admit it.” She said with a grin and looked at him with eyes that were far older than her ten years.

“Get your food so we can go and sit,” he said rolling his eyes. “You are the child. You are not the adult around here despite how you sound all too often.” Looking up when the worker asked if he wanted anything he sighed, “Black coffee and I’ll take one of the Danishes; doesn’t matter which one.”

Honey took her tray and stopped at the cash register, “You have to pay here,” she told her father with a grin, “And then I promise that I will take it to the table and have a seat. But first, pay the lady daddy.” She snickered at her own words.

Shaking his head Gareth pulled out money, got change and picked up his coffee and Danish. “Lead on munchkin,” he advised. Following her to a table, he sat down next to her. Looking around he turned his gaze back to her finally, “How are you doing poppet?” he asked quietly.

“I’m not happy that my daddy is hurt, but if you and mom both say that he’s going to be okay I have to trust that. I know you guys wouldn’t lie to me so I know he will be okay. I don’t like thinking of him with a hole in him. I think that him getting better will be him growling and grumbling a lot, but I think he won’t do it around me or mom.” She shrugged and took a bite of pie. “Am I right?”

“Don’t know about that Honey,” he admitted honestly. “Men are big babies on the best of the days when we’re sick or hurt. Some more than others. Mik is, at least I think he is, more the brooding and snarling sort. I doubt he’d do any such thing to you munchkin, but the rest of us will likely be fair game for his ill temper at being stuck in a bed for any length of time.”

“Well I will keep him company so that he doesn’t get too grumpy with you guys. I don’t want you to get mad at him because he isn’t feeling well.” Honey nodded at her own words and smiled, “That way you won’t want to take him out and beat him up when he gets to feeling better.”

“Probably a very good idea,” Gareth told her with a smile. “But you do have to go to school Honey and we’ll be on the farm most of the time during his healing I think. We’ll talk more about it later,” he said when she shot him a look of horror. “Maybe your mom will want him to stay at your place until he’s all healed.”

“Oh that’s a very good idea daddy. I will make her think of it and she will be so proud that she came to that conclusion. Watch and see.” Honey nodded sagely. “If she thinks that it’s her idea she will totally do it and I know how to make her think that.”

“Honey,” Gareth chuckled softly as he ran a hand over her hair, “Don’t manipulate your mother like that baby. It’s not very nice. You can suggest it, even ask for it but if she doesn’t like the idea we will stand by her decision.”

“But she knows that I do it and lets me do it all the same. Believe me, mom knows when I’m leading her in the direction that I want her to go.” Honey shrugged. “She does the same thing to me sometimes too. When she doesn’t want to take my choices away that is.”

“I’m now terrified,” Gareth had to admit. “Have you been guiding me and Mik around?” he needed to know the answer to that one. To think that she might have been pulling their strings was, quite frankly, terrifying. Definitely cute, but scary.

“Who me?” Honey smiled at him and then giggled. “Not a lot daddy but the uncles I have been. They are too easy but you and especially Daddy Mikhail are a lot harder. Like I said mom knows when I’m doing it and most of the time lets me, but when she doesn’t she tells me why.”

Groaning, he shook his head, “Honey baby,” he put his head down on the table. Where the hell was Daisy when he needed her for a little child rearing assistance? Lifting his head he looked at his daughter, “Can you do me a favor Honey? Just for a little while until Mikhail’s on his feet again. Go easy on your little manipulation racket please. Everyone’s going to be worried, distracted, and just plain run down from it all. So, until he’s at least up and wobbling around, please no pushing us around.”

“Don’t worry daddy I will save that for when he’s all better.” The child paused and turned worried looking eyes up to her father and asked, “He will be up and about soon won’t he? Not because I want people to do what I want them to but because I’m worried about my father. He’s going to be okay, right?”

“He’s a fighter Honey and he has you and D to think about as well. He’ll make it through. Stubbornness will pull him out along with your love. It won’t be immediate, of course. That you need to understand. It’s going to take him a while to regain his strength and get over the trauma his body took,” he said to her. Wrapping an arm around her Gareth drew her into his side, “It will likely be a couple months before he’s even remotely close to being his old self.”

Honey nodded and buried her face against Gareth’s side and let the tears flow. “And you will find out why that bad man wanted to hurt me?” She whispered ever so softly. “Why he was so ready to shoot me?” She was terrified. She put up a front, but she was scared out of her mind right now and was finally letting her father know.

Shifting his chair back Gareth lifted her little body into his lap. Wrapping her up in his arms, he rocked her slowly. “I don’t think he was planning on shooting you baby. I think he was planning on taking us out if needed and then taking you. The why though, I can’t answer. But when we find him, and we will find him, we will ensure he tells us.”

“I know you will daddy.” Honey gulped and petted her father, pressing her face against his chest to hide her tear stained face. “I believe you. It’s just so scary. Someone hurt my daddy because they wanted me or they wanted to hurt me. I don’t like that I’ve caused one of you harm, even if it really wasn’t me but someone who wanted to hurt me.”

“Hush baby, no one is going to hurt you. Not while we and your uncles are around. I promise you that and you know I’m damned well not going to let anything happen to your mother either. I will find a way to keep you and your mother safe,” he whispered into her hair. Pressing a kiss to her head he leaned her back, “Finish up your food love. We need to get back upstairs so we can get news.”

“Yes, but if they were out of surgery already mom would have sent someone for us.” Honey didn’t move though, she instead pulled her food closer and stayed on her father’s lap, “Am I too heavy dad? If so I can move.”

“You will never be too heavy to sit and cuddle in my lap darling. Even when I’m ninety and frail as a dry twig I will still want you to crawl into my lap and let me hold you. As to the rest, I know they’d get us word but I plan on going up and being nosy and pestering them until they tell me something just to shut me up. Then I need to call the uncles and tell them what happened,” he muttered. “If they haven’t already heard from the Colonel.”

“Oh no. We didn’t tell them. You should call them daddy. Use your cell phone while we are still here in the cafe so that you will have reception.” She nodded, smiled and added, “And don’t worry daddy. When you are frail as a dry twig I will hold you.”

“I’m going to hold you to that poppet,” he murmured softly. Pressing a kiss to her forehead he reached over and pulled her tray closer. “Eat while I talk to the lads.” Digging out his cell he placed the call and waited. “Marius, it’s Gareth,” he said quietly. “I need you to gather all the lads up. Mik was shot and is currently in surgery,” he gave some more details and where they were before hanging up.

Chapter Fourteen

“It’s been three weeks Daisy,” Mik grumbled as he moved to the bathroom. “Enough is enough. You’ve coddled me so much that I’m likely good for the next six lifetimes.” Stopping in the doorway he turned, “I am having a shower, alone a
nd no; you cannot sit in here in case I fall and need help. I’m fine. Go annoy Gareth for ten minutes please,” and promptly shut the door in her face.

“I think you should do it.” She blurted. “If you had the tech you wouldn’t have been hurt as badly as you had been, right? You should do it.” It had been driven home to her just how much of a protector that her men were, that all of them were. It was unfair of her to ask him to not do something that came so naturally to him. “I love you and I want you to be happy but I also know that you have to protect others as well. So yes, I think you should do it.”

The door opened slowly until he was staring at her through the opening. “You said you didn’t want us to do it Daisy,” he told her quietly. “What has changed your mind about this? And if you say my getting shot; I’m not buying it. I’ve been shot, stabbed and other things before. You’ve seen the scars, so what’s really going on?”

Daisy moved closer to him. “You died Mikhail. On the operating table. Twice. Jesus I could have lost you forever.” She knew that he hadn’t been told that, she had asked them to not tell him, that she would. “If you had the tech you wouldn’t die on me again. I.” She was crying, damn-it. “Mik I love you so much and it killed me when that happened. I can’t lose you like that. Never again. Please don’t ask me to.”

Sighing, he caught her arms and pulled her into his. Wrapping her up in his arms he pressed a kiss to her hair. “I’m here now and that’s all that matters Daisy. Do you honestly think I’d go and make your life at all easier by dying? I’m here for the long haul, all the good and bad times and everything in between. So suck it up buttercup, you’re stuck with me. Besides, if I did kick the bucket, you know I’d come back and haunt your ass.”

“Well don’t. You should do it.” She told him with a smile. “You know that you want to. I know that Gareth wants to as well. I know that you only didn’t because of me and now you should.” She murmured. “So yes, you should do it. Besides, it might be kind of neat to see what kind of stamina that you would have then as well.” He already could keep going and going and she loved it.

“You’re complaining about my stamina?” he asked narrowing his eyes on her. “This is the first I’ve heard about it. Quite frankly I’m not sure how to take such a complaint.” Sighing he shrugged, “I’ll think about it,” he said and kissed her. “Now go, I’m having a shower, alone. No more stalling me.”

“Why don’t I shower with you?” She asked and chewed her lower lip. “I just.” She sighed. “I want to touch you, need to touch you. It’s killing me to know that you are going to be in the shower and naked, that you are going to be fisting your own cock as you get cleaned up. And no, I’m not complaining in the least darling. You and I both know that you have more stamina than I ever will.”

Looking at her, he gave in with a sigh and moved so she could pass him. “If you even once say I shouldn’t do something, then I’ll tire myself out. I will toss you out of the shower onto your ear. Got it?” he asked moving to tug his shirt off over his head.

She nodded and looked at the healing marks on his chest. She licked her lips and looked up at him and whispered, “I’ve missed you Mikhail. I’ve missed having you making love with me. I’ve missed you fucking me. I want and need you, are you feeling well enough yet to have me yet?”

“I felt well enough last week when you were still insisting on fluffing my pillows,” he muttered pushing off the sweat shorts he’d been wearing. “I’ve been up and moving since week two Daisy. Working out and rebuilding my strength and stamina for the last two weeks.”

“Good.” She looked to his cock as it sprang free from his shorts and licked her lips. “Damn I think I forgot just how fucking big you are.” She moaned. “I need you Mikhail, in the shower, I want to feel you inside of me again, if you are up to it?”

Dropping his chin and then raising it he lifted a brow, “I think I could manage something,” he said drily. “Though if I get any more up I may need a doctor to figure out how to get me down again. Or a really sexy nurse perhaps if there’s one ready to be hands on.”

“Definitely hands on.” She moaned. Moving to him she stripped out of her clothes and then reached out to touch his cock. The heat of his shaft, the ability to touch him again. “Oh God I’ve missed you so much.” She had not been with either of her men since Mikhail had been shot.

Cupping her face, Mik leaned down to kiss her as she stroked his cock. Backing her to the vanity he lifted her up onto it. “Shower in a minute, I’ll fuck you again in there but I need you now.” Stepping between her legs he knocked her hands away and thrust his cock into her waiting pussy.

“I couldn’t agree more.” Wrapping her legs around him she held onto him tighter and lifted her ass to take him deeper. “So good.” She moaned. “I’ve missed having you inside of me.” She told him and rode him harder and faster. “More.”

Grabbing her hair he tugged her head back as he slammed his cock into her again and again. “I’ve fucking missed being buried balls deep in your body,” he whispered against her lips as he nibbled. “Never again will I go so long without you. I won’t.”

“Good.” She let her nails scrape over his chest and shivered. “More.” She wrapped her legs tighter around his ass and tugged him deeper. “God it’s been too long since having you inside of me.” She would never go this long again without making love with him, she couldn’t.

Biting her chin, he scraped his teeth down her throat. Biting her shoulder, he put his mouth on her and sucked hard enough she’d likely have a mark there. Thrusting his cock as fast as he could he dropped his head to her breast and bit her lightly, his tongue sliding over her soft flesh.

Daisy shuddered with her orgasm and held onto him. “God you are so good.” She held onto him as she did so. “No more will we go that long again. I swear that this has been far too long.” Not only had he been missing her but she had missed them as well. “God I love you.”

“No more,” he whispered as his cock jerked in her pussy once more. Lifting his head he kissed her hard, his hold not softening on her, “I need you again already. But I really need that shower. I’ve had enough of the sponge baths that were nothing but maddening. Especially when you weren’t willing to touch me how I wanted, where I wanted.”

“This is very true. I had to keep myself in check, like whoa!” She ran her hands down his shoulders and then arms. “I really think that perhaps we should go and take our shower and then you can have me again in the shower, out of the shower, as much as you can take me.”

“Don’t make promises you won’t let me keep babe,” Mik said lifting his head to look at her. “Because I’ve got a lot of pent up sexual need and plan on testing just how bendable you are. I plan on working you over so much you won’t be able to move for a week let alone think of moving; if you’ll let me that is.”

“Good.” She said with a nod. “I will let you do anything you feel that you can do. It doesn’t matter what it is because I need you. That’s what I need, no matter what.” Simply because he was hers and it had been a damn long time without him.

“About fucking time,” he growled and kissed her. Pulling his cock from her body they both groaned. “Come on, in the shower so I can take your ass this time. You need a little punishment for keeping me from you so damned long.”

Daisy smiled, it wasn’t a punishment to her. She knew that it would feel every bit as good in her ass as he did in her pussy. “Anything you say. I really think you should spank me too.” She said with a smile. “I know that Gareth will more than likely spank me for keeping him from me too. Neither of you have been fucked since you’ve been hurt.” She didn’t think he knew that, at least if the flicker in his gaze was anything to go by, he didn’t.

“You’ve been holding out on G since I was shot?” he asked staring at her. “Damn D, that’s just plain cruel and unusual punishment. Especially for the man that gave you Honey,” he shook his head. Moving to the shower he turned the water on, “That’s bloody mean.”

“I couldn’t think for the first days after you were shot and then I knew that until you were healed and able to make love with me as well I couldn’t make love with Gareth.” She shrugged. “Believe me, he’s tried to get me to change my mind, but I couldn’t.” Until Mikhail. “He may have given me Honey but you gave me life Mikhail. You gave me hope.” She didn’t think he would ever fully understand just how much she loved him.

Frowning at her, he shook his head, “I don’t understand Daisy,” he admitted. “What do you mean?” he asked taking her hand to draw her to him. Sliding his arm around her waist he pulled her against him, “He’s part of your life too, our life, why would you refuse to be with him until I was up and mobile again?”

“I couldn’t make love with one of the men that I loved when I knew that the other was suffering. It was better for all three of us to ache and hurt instead of just one. I love you too much to ever let you hurt alone, ache alone. We are family. All of us. Yes he is a part of my life and yes I do love him like crazy but you are as well. You are my heart Mikhail and have been from the moment you bought me that rose.”

Wrinkling his nose he sighed, “You would bring up the rose,” he muttered. “Why can’t women forget things like that?” he asked stepping into the shower with her. Backing her into the corner he leaned in to rub against her, his lips moving over her shoulder and neck lightly.

“Because it was the moment that I knew that my heart would never belong to just one man, but two. It was the moment that I knew that there was no one else for me, just the two of you. I love you Mikhail, and you damn well love me too. Admit it.”

“You know I do Daisy, I have since I met you,” he said quietly lifting his head. Looking into her eyes he tipped his head, “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, wanted to love and will ever love. You are everything to me.”

“Good.” She said with a smile and reached up to pull him closer. “That’s good enough for me Mikhail. Now then, you need to get clean and do some more fucking. I think you said something about punishing me?”

Nodding he kissed her, “That I did. And I will punish you for the last week. But only part of it will be in here, the rest will be on the bed once I have you tied down. And then you will be fully at my mercy for as long as I feel like keeping you there.”

“Tied down? That’s something you’ve never done before.” They had both subdued her but never tied her down. “I think that I’m really looking forward to this.” She confessed. Turning to give him her back she looked over her shoulder at him and winked, “Come on big boy.”

“I’ll tie you up with silk scarves and then you will be punished, slowly, carefully and thoroughly,” he murmured. Smacking her ass hard he smiled at her, “Right after I have my way with your ass of course.”

“Good.” She braced her hands on the shower wall and looked back at him again. “I trust you Mikhail. I’m not sure that I could let Gareth tie me down, not because I don’t trust him, but I think more because I don’t think that he would like it as much as you sound like you do. With you liking it the way that it sounds like you do, it’s going to be damn great to be me.” She hoped that made sense to him.

Frowning at her he shook his head, “Maybe I’m not as well as I thought I was. I bloody well understood that. If that isn’t a scream out to the universe I’m not fully back I don’t know what is.” Smacking her other ass cheek he smiled and rubbed the skin gently. “We’re both going to enjoy having you tied down. Or, rather, I will,” he chuckled softly and smacked the opposite cheek.

“Oh I am certain I will enjoy it as well.” Eventually. “Mikhail, enough teasing, please.” She begged and pushed back against him. “It’s been three bloody damn long weeks.” She moaned. “Fuck me. My ass is begging you to fuck it, just please, fuck me.”

Chuckling, he stepped in and pressed his cock to her anus. Catching her hips in a tight hold he thrust into her in one long push. “Oh fuck yeah,” he groaned out, his fingers biting into her flesh. “God I can’t believe I forgot how tight your ass is.” Pulling nearly all the way out he slammed back into her.

Daisy dropped her head to the shower wall and pushed back against him. “And I forgot just how good it feels.” Her skin had gooseflesh covering it from head to toe. Her whole body was sensitized to his touches. “That’s so good Mik, God so good.”