Three

As the next week passed Kylie settled more firmly in her place in the family. She spent her days at the garage running the office with Angel. In the evenings she joined the others playing cards or PlayStation, watching TV or movies, or just hanging out. Every night she went to bed, and every night she woke crying from nightmares and memories.

Dom spent the week telling himself that a romantic relationship with Kylie was out of the question. She was way too young for him, he was way too old for her. So he focused on being her friend. Treating her as he would Mia. Except every night when she woke crying. Then he would go to her room to comfort her.

Then one night during her second week with them, everything changed. After Kylie had calmed down from her nightmare, Dom went to leave.

"Dom," she called softly, stopping him, his hand on the doorknob. He looked back at her over his shoulder.

"Yeah, Little Girl?"

"Will you stay with me?" she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

"If that's what you want Little Girl" Dom agreed then her picked her up in his arms and stood. He then settled himself in the middle of her bed and held her in his lap. He laid back against the pillows and she stretched out on top of him. She laced her fingers together and settled her chin on them, on his chest and smiled up at him.

"Thank you" she whispered, embarrassed by her tears, but so grateful that he was here with her.

"Anytime, Little Girl, anytime you need me. Comfortable?" he replied smiling at her.

"Mmm" she mumbled turning her head to the side and resting her cheek over his heart. She could hear it beating, steady and strong. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep feeling completely safe for the first time ever.

Dom felt her breath on his chest and realized how they were both dressed, her in an old oversized t-shirt and him in a pair of loose boxers. He felt her soft weight against him and was again filled with desire for her. She smelled like flowers, soft and feminine. Her breath against his chest was warm and moist. He groaned and quickly reminded himself that he was there to comfort her only, he kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes. In minutes he too was asleep.

F&F

Dom woke to the sound of birds singing. From the intensity of the sun light he could tell it was late. Next to him Kylie stirred. He reached out and brushed the long curls back from her face, his thumb caressing the side of her face. Unable to stop himself he brought his mouth to hers and softly kissed her lips. She sighed contentedly against his lips and he kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and opened her lips beneath his. His tongue plunged into her mouth, tasting the sweetness of her. His hand slid beneath her t-shirt to cup her breast. When his thumb began to circle her nipple she moaned and arched against him. He pulled his mouth from hers and he rained kisses over her jawline, below her ear and down her neck.

They were both drawing ragged breaths when he finally pulled back and looked into her indigo eyes. He knew they had to stop, she was so young, so innocent. He knew he would have to be the one to stop, even though he wanted nothing more than to make her his.

"I think it's time for us to get up, Little Girl," he said sliding his hand out from beneath her shirt. He leaned down and placed one last gentle kiss on her bruised lips. He climbed over her and stood up. Then he offered her his hand and when she slipped hers into it, he pulled her from the bed.

F&F

Over the next week Dom was conflicted over his feelings for Kylie, and it showed in his actions. During the daytime he treated her the same way he treated the other girls and Mia. But at night, when her nightmares returned, when she woke crying, then he would go to her room to comfort her. He would hold her close, breathing in her sweet scent he would kiss away her fears. He would feel her relax, her sobs subsiding, and know he should leave her then, but he didn't. Every night he would lay down with her snuggled against his broad chest and fall asleep with her in his arms. Every morning he would kiss her and caress her, forgetting all the reasons not to. And every day he would lecture himself on how it wasn't going to happen again.

That Thursday he met up with Hector, who wanted to know if he was going to race the next night. Dom asked what Hector had in mind and discovered that Hector was setting up races at an abandoned air strip west of LA. It had been weeks since a race had been held, well a legal one, which is all the team participated in now. He couldn't wait to take Kylie.

"Count us in," he said grinning. He nailed down all the details and headed back to tell the team.

When he filled them in at dinner everyone was psyched and ready to race and make some money. Hector had set up ten races and Dom had told him the team would race in five of them. They would dominate the races, but leave openings for some of the others to show their stuff. After the group broke up, into couples, mostly heading off together Dom approached Kylie.

"So, Little Girl, you gonna be my good luck charm tomorrow night?" he asked his finger caressing her upper arm.

She felt little shivers run up and down her spine as she gazed up into his dark chocolate eyes. He had her totally confused. Most days he treated her like a little sister, the same as he treated all the girls, but each night he held her in his arms and chased away her demons, and each morning he drove her crazy with desire. His hands and lips explored her body awakening in her a hunger she'd never known before.

"If you want me to be," she answered, knowing that she'd do just about anything he asked her to. She looked up at him from beneath her lashes and felt her body begin to heat up. She loved the way his t-shirt molded to his upper body, hugging the six pack abs and broad shoulders. She unconsciously began worrying her lower lip and Dom groaned. In slow motion he leaned toward her, his eyes on her lips.

"Hey, Dom!" Vince called from the kitchen.

Startled, Kylie jumped back. Dom studied her from half closed eyes. He yelled back to Vince and running his hand softly against her cheek, he turned and left the room.

F&F

Kylie hung her head, the taunts being shouted at her echoing over and over in her mind. You're useless. You'll never amount to anything. No one else will ever want you. Can't you do anything right? She tossed and turned in her bed as the taunts continued to rain down on her. Stupid. Idiot. Suddenly the voice changed. The person berating her was no longer her step father, it was Dom. She whimpered and cried out his name.

"No, Dom. Please . I can do better. I'm sorry," she cried and suddenly he was there, holding her, comforting her.

"Kylie, honey wake up, Little Girl. It's OK, Baby, it's OK," his voice crooned in her ear. His strong arms cradled her against her chest, his large hands caressed her back.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Don't be mad, please don't be mad," she repeated over and over until his comforting finally broke through and she drifted off to a quiet sleep.

Dom settled back against the pillows, keeping her cradled on his chest. He brushed her long wet curls back from her face and she shuddered. He kissed the top of her head and patted her back. His mind was filled with the words she had been crying. It was almost as if she were apologizing to him, as if she were afraid of him. God, what is going on inside her head?

He continued to hold her. His mind going over it again and again and getting nowhere. Finally he allowed himself to relax and enjoy holding her close. A short time later he too drifted off to sleep.