Chapter 51

By the eleventh day, it seems like there are constantly cars driving along the road that slow or pull over to the side of the road. No one ever gets out and we can’t ever see who’s inside, but the cars are always black. They mostly look like rental cars, but I know better. On a few of the cars, I’d seen tiny little chrome crow emblems on them.

“They’re watching us,” Levi says, his eyes on the third black car today.

“Should I be out in the open like this?” I ask. It feels strange to still be out here knowing they’re watching me. How long before they change tactics?

“Everyone is on guard,” Levi murmurs, but when he realizes that doesn’t seem to relax me, he adds, “everyone knows not to talk to anyone or get out if they’re there. We’re almost done. Three more days and we can head back to the ranch.”

And while yes, everyone at Steele Mountain is aware, we can’t exactly tell the other ranches what’s going on. Ned is the only one who knows that it was a man who attacked us, and every now and then he comes around and asks if we’re okay, but we can’t confirm what’s going on. Still, I watch him notice the cars, and he often glances back at us, especially when we change up our pattern.

I don’t get on a horse again. Instead, I ride with Levi in the side-by-side and we always ride on the side of the herd opposite of the road. To anyone perceptive enough, they’d know we were up to something, but no one asks. Everyone keeps to themselves out here, but they won’t hesitate to step in if there’s trouble, I know.

Still, we’re all on edge and when we call it a night and start the campfires, I slump down on the small chair Naomi brought out. Besides the physical exhaustion, the mental load I carry is starting to wear on me, too. The longer we go, the more sleep I need, but there’s no way to get extra sleep. Not when we have to wake before the sun comes up.

No one has tried to slip into our camp again. My tent is now set up close to the guy’s cots, so they’d practically have to trip over them to get to me. It’s both comforting and scary. Each night, it gets harder and harder to fall asleep. Even Wiley’s cuddles are starting to fail.

“So, this is all because of an ex-boyfriend,” Dakota suddenly sighs, drawing all our attention. “Seems you had a thing for red flags, city girl.”

I grimace. “Not gonna lie. I wasn’t great at picking before. If I saw red flags, I’d just paint my nails to match.”

Wiley snorts. “You didn’t?”

I shrug. “I did at one point. But after Josh, I took a break and realized I was shit at picking them. I’ve been single for over a year now. I didn’t have any desire to find someone again until. . . well, you three.”

Wiley wiggles his eyebrows. “So, we broke you out of your celibacy.”

I roll my eyes. “Sure. If that tickles your fancy.”

Dakota shakes his head. “Still shit at avoiding red flags though.” At my curious look, he gestures to all of them. “We’re all walking, talking red flags.” He thumps Levi on the shoulder. “Especially Levi.”

Levi narrows his eyes. “Why exactly am I more of a red flag than you?”

“You almost killed a guy for touching Kate,” Wiley points out.

Levi’s scowl deepens. “That’s a green flag. I’m a protector.”

I snort and laugh despite the nerve-wracking situation I’ve found myself in. I can always count on the three of them to make me laugh. “Depends who you ask,” I point out.

Levi focuses his gaze on me. “What is it to you? Green flag or red flag?”

Hesitating, I pick at the food on my plate. I should probably say red. Most people would. But you know what? I like feeling protected. I haven’t ever felt so cared for as I have since they’ve all decided to help me. “Green,” I mumble, looking down.

“See!” Levi growls at Dakota. “She likes it.”

“That’s because Kate has her own red flags,” Wiley teases, bumping his shoulder with mine.

“Like what?” I ask, raising my brow.

“Oh, I don’t know. The gang trying to kidnap you?” Dakota says, reminding me again of my situation. But I don’t get a chance to deflate at the reminder.

“And William,” Wiley says, laughing. “A cat on a leash? I don’t trust it. You must be a witch.”

I can’t help but smile. “Maine Coons are just easy natured is all.”

“Still think you’re a witch,” Wiley teases. “But you can cast a spell on me any time, witchy woman.”

He leans over and presses a sweet kiss on my lips that has my toes curling in my boots. Still, there’s this overwhelming exhaustion around us, so he pulls away with a smile and we continue eating our food.

I look around at them, my red flags, and smile. If they’re gonna be red, I guess I should at least make it a carnival, right?

Kind of wish I had some red fingernail polish to tease them with.

* * *

I don’t know how long I sleep that night before I’m sitting up with a gasp, my nightmares echoing in my mind. I’d dreamed that a man came to take me in the night, and when I’d looked at him, he’d slowly morphed into a large crow that cawed in my face before digging its claws in my side. I’d come to just as he’d tried to drag me away.

It’s a wonder I didn’t scream, but I somehow kept it back. Instead, I’m covered in a cold sweat and I’m panting so hard, my heart thunders in my ears. Fuzz is fast asleep in his pouch hanging from the top of the tent despite his penchant for exploring, so at least I hadn’t rolled over on his or something.

The fire outside the tent is low, and when Dakota dips his head in at the sounds of my movement, I’m not surprised. He likely heard all of my fear in my gasp and came to investigate.

“You okay?” he whispers, his eyes searching around my small tent.

“Yeah,” I rasp quietly, shoving my hair out of my face. “Just bad dreams.”

He seems to hesitate, as if he wants to go back to watching out for trouble instead of dealing with my emotions. I’m surprised when he kicks off his boots and climbs into the tent with me instead.

“What are you doing?” I ask, staring at him as he sits cross-legged beside me. There isn’t much room inside my tent. It’s only big enough for two max, but despite his height, he manages to fit himself in the free space beside my sleeping bag.

“I’m gonna help you sleep better,” he says, before reaching over and closing up the tent flap.

I narrow my eyes despite my exhaustion. “How exactly?”

He focuses his eyes on me. He’s really an attractive man. I don’t know how he hasn’t married someone by now and assume it’s only because he had no interest to. His beard is filling in since he hasn’t shaved since before the drive. He could have in the camper they park for us, but I assume it takes too much time each night after all the herding, so he just doesn’t. He often has a short beard, but right now, with it as full as it is, it gives him a devilish look. He’s not wearing his hat right now, his hair tousled from his own sleep earlier. He must have switched with Levi at some point.

“By making you too tired to have nightmares,” he says. His eyes flash. “Now take off your clothes.”

“You think you can just come in here and order me around?” I growl, crossing my arms in a huff.

“Yes,” he answers. And then he waits, his eyes on me.

My instinct is to fight him on it, to refuse to take off my clothes. But the other part of me wants the release, wants him to help me. So I roll my eyes after a few minutes and pull my shirt over my head.

“Fine,” I grumble, undressing all the way and sitting before him naked. There’s a bit of a chill in the air despite it being almost summer. His eyes focus on where my nipples pebble and he hums low in his throat.

“Touch yourself,” he orders.

“What are you gonna do?” I ask.

“Watch,” he says. “For now.”

I sigh and lean back, part of me enjoying this game. I’m already wet when I reach between my thighs, and I circle my clit, spreading my wetness around. He watches, his eyes riveted to the movements of my hand. In the low light around us, it’s hard to see much, but I know he sees. His perception of me gets me hot, and I start to move my hand faster.

I moan softly.

“You can’t be loud,” he whispers. “The others need their sleep.”

“Right,” I gasp, stroking myself faster. But I moan again, and he growls. This time, the sound is threatening.

“If you can’t be quiet, I’ll make you be quiet,” he grunts. “Turn over, ass in the air, face in the pillow. For every sound you let out, I’m going to make you come.”

I freeze. “What?”

“Did I stutter, Kate?” he asks, his eyes on me.

“No, but. . .”

He leans in, his face dangerously close to mine. “Turn over, Kate,” he growls softly.

We stare at each other for a moment before I do as he says, rolling over.

“Ass up. Face in pillow,” he repeats.

I do as he says, putting my ass up before pressing the side of my face into the pillow.

“You’re being such a good girl for me,” he purrs, and I feel him move behind me. His hand comes down gently on my ass and begins to caress me. “So compliant. So ready.”

“Please,” I whisper as he strokes a finger along my ass but not down to where I want him. I don’t even know what I’m really asking for. Him. His cock. It doesn’t matter. Just something.

“I bet you’d look so pretty on your knees looking up at me, begging me to fuck you,” he groans. “I bet you’d beg for my cock in your throat.”

“Yes,” I rasp. “Yes. I want you.”

His hand trails lower, his fingertips just barely grazing my pussy lips, teasing. “You don’t even know the monster I am yet.”

“I don’t care,” I whisper. “I don’t care.”

His hand stills. “You will,” he answers, just before he presses a sudden finger inside me.

I gasp as he curls his finger inside me. “Face into the pillow. If you wake them up, you’ll get no orgasms and I’ll leave you here needy,” he warns.

So I shove my face into the pillow and gasp into that. As a reward, he adds another finger and begins to pump them inside me, stroking until I’m writhing beneath them. I come so fast, I think it must be from some sort of witchcraft. I’ve never come so fast just from fingers before, but when he reaches up with another hand as I come and starts to overstimulate my clit, I cry into the pillow. When I try to move away, he bites me on the ass. Legit bites me. I jump and gasp, terrified to wake the others and stop this. I need more. I need all of him.

“Hold still,” he growls softly, pumping his fingers faster. Another orgasm starts to build immediately.

When he leans down and runs his tongue along my ass cheek, I nearly come undone right there. A soft cry escapes the pillow, and he freezes. I’m panting, my fingers curling into my sleeping bag, as I wait to see if the others wake. Levi’s soft snore echoes around us and Dakota starts to slowly move his fingers again, driving me insane.

“Be careful,” he murmurs. “You almost stopped it all, Kate.”

If my face wasn’t buried in the pillow, I’d tell him to fuck off and then demand he fuck me. As it is, I nearly scream when his mouth is suddenly on my clit, his tongue swirling around it. I jerk forward, crying into the pillow, trying to stay quiet. His fingers continue to work me until I come around them again, my release dripping down his fingers and starting to drip onto the sleeping bag beneath me.

He groans so softly I almost miss it. “I can’t resist you,” he whispers, before his fingers disappear completely. I tilt my head to the side, panting, searching for him. There’s the jingle of a belt buckle and then a zipper being undone, and I stop breathing. When I hear him moan and see him stroke himself once, twice, my legs begin to shake.

How am I supposed to stay quiet now?

“No sounds,” he orders as he kneels down behind me. “Or else.”

I nod feverishly despite not being sure if I’m capable of keeping quiet. When he presses his head into my folds and swipes the wetness around, I clamp my lips shut. His hand grips my hip tightly as he teases. Unlike me, he keeps quiet. The only way I know he’s enjoying himself is the gentle breathing I hear from him and the pauses when he’s really enjoying the feeling. He reaches forward and threads his fist into my hair. He shoves my face into the pillow roughly just before he slams his cock deep inside me.

I scream into the pillow, the cushion capturing most of the sound as he presses my face in hard. It’s almost painful as he pushes me in, almost threatening. He jerks me up and I have just enough time to take a breath before he presses my face down again and slides his cock out and back in roughly, fucking me so hard, there’s no way I could be silent otherwise. His other hand presses down on my lower back, forcing my arch, pressing my ass higher as he pins me to the sleeping bag. I come apart beneath him, my pussy throbbing, my release squirting around his cock inside me. His breathing stutters as I pulse around him, but he doesn’t stop. He fucks me rough and slow, his cock hitting deep inside me, causing a little pain and a whole lot of pleasure. Every so often, he pulls up my head so I can breathe, my nails digging into the sleeping bag beneath me as I lose myself over and over again.

I lose count after the fifth release, my body a quivering mess, my lungs screaming as the times between him lifting me grow further and further apart. When he suddenly wrenches me up with my hair, I grunt in surprise and pain. His hand wraps around my throat and cuts off the sound before it can grow any louder and my fingers claw at his hand.

“Shh,” he whispers in my ear. And then his hand moves from my neck to my mouth, covering it completely, leaving my nose free to breathe. His other hand grabs onto my stomach as he begins to move again, fucking up and into me, making my eyes roll back in my head. “That’s my good girl,” he coos in my ear. “You’re fucking gushing around me. Do I feel good?”

I nod, my fingers clutching onto his forearm where he covers my mouth.

“Good,” he moans, so soft, I barely hear it. “We’re gonna come together this time.”

And then his stroke speeds up and I realize there’s no way I can be quiet. His hand will muffle the sound, but not fully, not like the pillow. I try to tell him, my fingers clawing at him, but that only makes him moan softly and fuck me harder. My cries start to increase, growing louder and louder, and his other hand moves from my mouth to my throat again.

He cuts off my air. I can’t breathe. I claw at his hands, but he starts to really fuck me, his cock slamming inside me over and over again. The sound of our skin slapping is loud in my ears, and then it’s not as my vision starts to blacken.

I explode, my pussy clenching violently, my eyes rolling back in my head.

He groans in my ear. “That’a girl,” he purrs before he gasps and buries his teeth in my shoulder to mask his own sounds as his warmth fills me and begins to drip down my inner thigh. His hand eases on my neck, and I gasp in great gulps of air, my vision swimming briefly before it clears.

Dakota chuckles and strokes his hands down my body. “What I wouldn’t give to do this in the light,” he whispers. His lips trace along the place he bit me, kissing it, caressing me. “Next time, I’m going to fuck your throat. You won’t be able to make a sound then either.”

My pussy clenches and throbs, but I’m exhausted, my body pulsating with our releases. He carefully pulls from inside me and lays me back down on the sleeping bag gently, so at odds with the way he fucked me. He reaches around and grabs some cloth before beginning to clean me up with it. I let him, too tired to do anything more than gasp when his hand glances over my clit.

“Get some sleep,” he orders, before lying down beside me and spooning me, his arms warm and protective. “I’ve got you, little troublemaker.”

And so I do. I float off into the ether.

The nightmares don’t come after me again that night.

Big bad Dakota keeps them away.