Brave Enough

Sixteen

"Who called?" Buck's voice is quiet and calm which scares James.

      "Colin. He can't find me but he's trying. He said I'll regret everything. I can't let him find out about you. Buck I can't lose you. I'm in love with you. If I lose you I lose part of my heart."

"Baby I'm not going anywhere. Maddie!" Buck slowly crouches in front of James. "Can I take you to my room?" He asks gently. She nods quietly and lets his arms wrap around her. He lifts her and backs out of the bathroom.

        "Buck? What's wrong? James?" Maddie asks walking into his room. She gasps when she sees James.

        "What's wrong Maddie? Oh shit. Buck what did you do to her?" Chimney asks.

       "Colin called her. Can we maybe do game night another night?" Maddie sits in the edge of the bed and pulls James into a protective hug.

"Of course. Make sure Athena knows."

****

"911 what's your emergency?"

      "There's a fire in my apartment building. It's getting bigger. Please we need help!" A young woman says.

      "Alright ma'am where are you?" James asks.

      "1528 McCain Street," the woman says. A loud boom in the background makes her scream. "Something just blew up! The fire is so much bigger now!"

      "What's your name?"

     "Maya. My name is Maya," she says.

      "Okay Maya. I'm Aless. I have help coming your way. Can you get yourself to safety? I don't want you in the apartment while it spreads."

      "I can't my grandma is here. I can't leave my grandma. She's in a hospital like bed. She can't move," Maya says. The line cuts off.

      "Maya?"

    "Turn on the news. Reports of a bombing are everywhere. On an apartment building on McCain Street," Toby says. James's stomach drops.

      "I just answered a call from an apartment on McCain. It got cut off."

"Excuse me is there an Aless Lainell here?" A woman says.

      "Dana? Is everything alright?" Cleo runs up to James. "Hey little one."

         "Cleo let's go to the kitchen maybe I can get you and your friend Lula a snack," Maddie says ushering the girls away.

       "I'm sorry to show up here. Buck told me to bring the girls here. I'm a little worried about my older daughter Maya. She's home alone with my mother," the color in James's face goes pale.

         "Earlier reports of terrorism have been ruled out. The police report the bombing was a ploy to distract from the kidnapping of a teenage girl. She has long blonde hair, green eyes, and a small scar on her left wrist," the news anchor says.

      "That's Maya. I know who took her. Joe Leraunt. Her biological father," Dana says.

       The phones ring. "911 what's your emergency?"

       "Aless. It's me Maya. Please help. My dad he's put me in the trunk. Please I don't want to go with him. I want my mom," Maya says.

      "Listen to me Maya. You're going to get through this. What kind of car did your dad put you in? What's the color?"

      "I think it's a Toyota. Dark blue. It's an older one. Smaller with four doors," Maya voice is hushed and she's crying. "Tell my mom and little sister I love them." The phone cuts out again.

       "Another explosion has hit. A firefighter has been thrown from the fifth floor balcony," the mention of a firefighter had James's attention. She watches as they lift him onto a stretcher.

       "Please let him be okay. Please," James quietly begs.

****

      "Thank you Aless. I don't know what I would do if I had lost Maya. Thank you for letting us stay here until she was found. Hopefully Joe will go where he deserves to be."

      "Absolutely Dana. Thank you for watching Cleo. She loves hanging out with Lula." Cleo and Lula hug goodbye before Dana takes Lula's hand and guides her out of the call center.

      "Baby? Where's Aless?" Buck asks the nearest person. James turns around and Cleo runs straight up to him.

      "Buck!!!" She shouts hugging him tightly. He flinches as she does.

       "Hey sweet pea. How are you?" He says sucking in a sharp breath.

       "Evan. What's wrong? Please tell me it wasn't you who got thrown from the fifth floor balcony," James walks over to him followed by Maddie. "Baby are you okay?" Buck's face is covered in cuts and bruises.

      "It was me. But I'm fine just a little sore," he pulls James in for a hug. "Are you two okay?"

       "Buck you were thrown from the fifth floor of an apartment building and you're asking if we're okay? Baby you're insane. We're fine. If you want to maybe you could come over and stay with us tonight? I can make you dinner?" James says hopefully. She leans in to his ear and whispers, "maybe we could take a relaxing bath together?"

       "Absolutely. Kiss me baby," Buck demands in a playful way and James does.

****

       "Are you feeling any better?"

       "Yes. Now will you strip down and get in with me? The water is going to get cold," Buck says. James strips down and puts one foot in the tub. Buck's hand snakes around her hip helping her balance. Once she's fully in Buck pulls her so her back is against his chest. "What happened to your back? You have burn like scars."

        "Um. Well when Colin was r... we were having sex. He liked to do breath and fire play," James says trying to remain calm. "Sometimes things would go wrong. It's nothing. Really Buck let's just try to enjoy our night."

       "He would rape you?" Buck's arms tighten around her. "I promise you you're safe with me. I will never willingly hurt you. I will always love and protect you. As long as I live."

"Please. I really don't want to talk about it. I just want to relax and enjoy each other's presence," she pleads.

"Okay baby. How about I pay you back for last night. I've been waiting a long time to give you that feeling." His hand lowers to her legs. "Is this okay with you?" He whispers into her ear. Shivers run through her body and she nods as he moves it lower finding her sensitive spot. One touch made her back arch. He rubs her softly and rubs his other hand up her body lightly tracing her chest scar before pinching one of her already hardened nipples.

James's hands grip the edge of the tub as he slides his fingers into her moving at a torturous rhythm. Her legs start to shake and within moments an intense orgasm ripples through her. Heavy breaths follow as she attempts to regain herself. "Buck," She says breathily. He kisses her back.

James turns around and straddles him. Looking into his eyes she smiles. "How did I get you?" She leans forward to his chest and listens to his heartbeat.

"You know it's beating for you right?"