Page 56

C harmaine

“What are you doing?” I demanded as soon as Maddox rolled me over onto my stomach.

“Giving you what you deserve.” His whisper was husky, soft since we still had houseguests, two burly men sleeping in the adjoining room. At least I’d had the opportunity to remind him why furnishing the guesthouses was an excellent idea.

We’d had over two days of waiting for the article I’d penned to appear in the Chicago Sun . Two days of worrying and wondering if we’d done the right thing.

“What are you talking about?” I struggled in his hold even as he grabbed one of my arms then the other, yanking both over my head.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You defied my orders and sent the article off to your editor without talking to me.”

“Oh, that.” What the hell was he doing? Tying me to the iron posts on the headboard? Oh, no. He was not going to do this. I continued fighting him while he was wrapping something around my hands. Where had he gotten the rope? “You are so not doing this.”

“I suggest you keep your voice down or our guests will hear. Unless you prefer a little shame with your discipline. I have a feeling you’re a little bit kinkier than I originally gave you credit for.”

Maddox took his time even whistling as he pulled my wrists tightly together then tying both around the post. After finishing, he tugged to check that there was no chance of escape.

“Ugh. You bastard.”

“You know I like the dirty stuff. Right?”

“You are a horrible human being.”

“You should have remembered that when you decided to defy my command. By doing so, you could have placed yourself in harm’s way.”

“Whoa. You walked back in the door and suggested I send the article off. Including with the names of the people supposedly involved.”

“Oh, they’re involved alright. You saw that for yourself. However, the fact you disobeyed me isn’t something I can just let pass.” Satisfied, he moved a few inches away, gripping the shorts I’d stolen from his drawer to sleep in.

“It’s been almost three days.”

“Yep. So what? There are no time limitations.” He ripped the material down my hips, issuing a single growl after doing so.

“I’m appealing.”

“I’m afraid I’m judge and jury. There will be no appeals.” He tossed the shorts aside and reached for my thong. I wiggled, shifting from side to side.

“No. You’re not doing this. We agreed.”

He chuckled under his breath as he tugged at the lacy material, easily ignoring my shifting moves. Within seconds, he had the thong in his hand.

“I’ll scream. I’m certain Kage will come to my rescue.”

“No, he won’t, but you’re right. I don’t know Chuck very well. I need to make certain he won’t attempt becoming a hero in my story.”

As soon as I opened my mouth to protest, he shoved the damp material past my lips. Was he kidding me? I yelled at him through the lace, the muffled sound frustrating as hell.

I kicked my legs as he continued boosting the anticipation. In the bedside lamp, I watched as he moved into the bathroom. What in the hell was he searching for? I kicked out, trying to break free, but it was no use. He was right. The man had skills no one else in the world had.

Damn him.

When he returned in what seemed like an eternity later, he stood in the doorway.

Lifting our wooden bath brush.

No. No fucking way was he spanking me with that.

His grin was huge as he walked forward, even doing a little jig.

He’d warned me he was going to tame me. He was having way too much fun with this.

The bastard! I screamed, but the sound was muted.

Or maybe I hadn’t used the power of my vocal cords.

The last thing I wanted was to face an embarrassing moment. I continued wiggling as he approached.

The frown on his face was infuriating. What did the asshole do? He grabbed the pillow from under my head, shoving it under my hips so my butt would be in the air.

The scent of my arousal was mildly repulsive, at least at that moment. His scent lingered on my skin from the delicious round of passion, but he could forget about another one for a long time. Months. Years.

After placing the brush right by my side where I’d be forced to stare at it, he took a step back, using both thumbs and forefingers to make a frame with his hands.

If he dared take a photograph of me like this, I would stick a knife in his heart.

I should have followed my instincts before and gutted the man.

A wave of desire coursed through me. If I had, look at all the fun I would have missed out on.

He crawled onto the bed, lifting my shirt and sliding his hand underneath.

As he caressed my skin, I shifted back and forth on the pillow.

The way he was increasing the anticipation was killing me.

If he thought I craved pain, he was dead wrong.

I loathed it. Going to the dentist took an act of God for me to endure.

His exhale was deep and long as he brushed his fingers down my spine to the crack of my ass. After opening my legs a few inches, he planted his feet on the floor.

Then the fun began.

The first strike of the brush against my bottom wasn’t too bad. Tolerable. The second, third, and fourth made me wince.

By the eighth, I was in full blown agony, writhing as he enjoyed the act of punishment.

My moans continued and he acted as if he was listening carefully. “Don’t worry, baby girl. This will all be over with soon enough.”

I would definitely get him for this when the horror was finished.

His happy-go-lucky face was matched with a snazzy little song he whistled while I endured anguish.

He issued several more, moving from side to side.

The heat building on my skin was mixed with the fire between my legs.

Why was I wet? Why was my pussy clenching?

Did he know me better than I knew myself and I craved harsh discipline?

“You need to learn my rules are the only acceptable ones.”

At least he didn’t control my eyes. I rolled them several times. Oops. He caught me, grinning like a Cheshire cat and bringing the brush down four more times.

Holy cow. I’d never experienced anything like this before.

Crazy heat.

Wildly pulsing heart.

Throbbing pussy.

This was ridiculous.

I kicked the bed and roared through the panties stuffed in my mouth.

But he kept going, adding another six before he took a deep breath.

Then he had the nerve to push the head, bristles and all, between my legs.

My pussy lips were swollen and the instant the nylon touched my sensitive skin, I jumped and jerked, pulling at the taut rope.

The pleasure was incredible, so much so the contradiction in sensations drove me to an intense high. He rubbed several times, my pussy on fire.

“Do you like that, wild child? Do you crave more?”

I moaned my reply, taking several shallow breaths as the scent of my desire created a fog around my eyes.

“This is what good girls get.” He didn’t stop, pressing the bristles in deeply enough friction was created. I was mad with longing, realizing only a few seconds later I was humping the brush.

Who did this kind of thing?

I cinched my eyes closed, basking in the moment until he cracked the wooden head across my bottom twice. My moan was louder this time. He resumed pleasuring me and I could tell his breathing was as irregular as mine.

The climax that rushed up from my toes was electrifying. Every muscle tensed and I jerked up as far as possible as the orgasm rolled through me. The moment was incredible, spine tingling to the point stars floated in front of my eyes.

When I started to come down, I smashed my face against the sheet, thankful the material was cool.

He stood, gently placing the bath brush on the nightstand before untying me. I didn’t move after he did. Not even an inch. That’s how amazing the rapture was, so completely overwhelming I was having difficulty breathing.

His gentle moves continued and he pulled the thong from my mouth, brushing hair from my face.

I finally rolled over, peering up at him as he studied me. His eyes were brimming with several emotions including the joy of having spanked me.

After crawling to a sitting position, I reached for the water. He snagged it for me. “Thirsty, baby?”

“Mmmhmm…” Our fingers touched as he handed me the bottle and I licked my lips in appreciation.

Right before I tossed the entire bottle in his face.

I burst out laughing, covering my mouth to keep from making too much noise.

He wiped his face, his chest rising and falling.

“Maybe that will cool you off, baby,” I cooed.

While he grinned, I could tell by the fierce look in his eyes I was in trouble. He lunged toward me, the weight of his massive body crushing me against the bed. As we rolled and I struggled to take control, we both laughed.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so free.

A sudden memory sparked my mind from the past. After making the call a couple of nights before, I’d hoped to have a return call.

There’d been nothing but silence.

Maybe I was wrong, but there’d been a time when the two of us had been close, not this close, but enough I’d known I meant something more than just convenience.

“What’s wrong?” he asked when he realized my mind wasn’t in the game.

I laid back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Which bad man is coming after us?”

“Don’t worry. You’ll be safe. I promise you that.”

I knew the plan in using the lure I’d suggested. It was a good one, but it still felt as if we were sitting ducks.

The three men had spent time booby-trapping the house and the immediate area surrounding it, but they certainly couldn’t protect the animals or other structures. Maybe we were fooling ourselves that we could handle an army of men intent on killing me.

“I know you’ll try. I’m not afraid of dying.”

“Let’s not worry about it right now. We’ll know if anyone is on the property. Cameras are installed everywhere. Everything is in motion.”