Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

B ella

The brutal crack of his hand not once but twice was jarring.

Maybe I was in shock, but I didn’t move. Heck, I couldn’t breathe from the frigid air.

Prickly points of electricity jolted every nerve and tendon in my body. I kicked out, trying to plant my foot on any part of his body to drive him off. However, with a man like Jagger, when he put his stubborn mind to something, there was no turning back.

He would always be successful in getting what he wanted.

His hum intensified the moment, making it almost surreal. Here I was, outside on the night after a deep snow, ice crystals all over the railing from limited melting, steam from the hot tub washing across my back.

If this wasn’t a sinful moment, I didn’t know what was.

Jagger was having a good ole time spanking me like a wayward child, bringing his hand down in a perfect rhythm. I wanted to scream and throw a tantrum, but even with the roaring noise of the bubbling water, I held back.

I could only imagine what people would think if they saw us.

Maybe we were a little nuts.

I wiggled and gyrated my hips to no avail, the cracking sound of skin connecting with skin becoming a strange but powerful aphrodisiac. Panting, I finally dug my nails into the wood, the pain jetting through me irritating and deliciously enticing.

My pussy already ached, throbbing deep to my core. Whether from cold or arousal, my nipples were hard like diamonds. But one day soon I would get the man back.

“Ouch!”

“Hush, little girl. This is exactly what you need and deserve.”

“No fair.”

“All is fair in my world when I say it is.”

His big he-man attitude was attractive. Maybe a little too much so. I’d seen the look of fury in his eyes. He would never allow Joel to get away with hurting me in any manner. I liked that.

Who was I kidding? I adored his vicious need to break my ex’s neck.

A smile flew across my face and I finally closed my eyes, accepting my punishment. I could easily get used to this man.

Maybe far too easily.

He rubbed my aching bottom, likely gathering heat in his hand. But he started up again, one brutal strike coming down after another. I was almost in awe, a strange place to be when someone spanked you. Maybe a small part of me believed I deserved such harsh punishment.

Whatever the case, I was shivering all over and there was no way the electric sensations were for any other reason than being with him.

“Four more, lovely lady.”

My heart fluttered when he called me that. It was a term of endearment, one I doubted he’d offered to anyone else in his life. I really did want to get to know more about him, but that would take time as well as peeling layers away from the onion.

I was certain he felt the same about me.

The four strikes were equally as savage, the heat on my bottom a direct conflict of the chill in the air.

When he lifted me off the railing as if I weighed nothing, a rush of air was pushed from my lungs. He cradled me against him as he’d done so many times, the sound of his boots thumping against the deck somehow comforting. He didn’t seem to care as he dropped to one knee, easing me into the water with utter gentleness.

If only I could take a picture of the naked man in boots and nothing else. I was certain the town gossip would be hotter than normal. Exhaling in appreciation, I moved to the other side of the oversized hot tub, already basking in the warmth of the water.

Even if my butt hurt and likely would for a few hours.

He knew how to provide a decent spanking.

The thought made me blush.

Jagger was still in the mood to taunt me, taking his time removing his boots. The lighting presented a gorgeous figure of perfection for a few precious seconds before he slipped into the water.

We swam around each other for a full two minutes before he advanced. He was without a doubt a true predator, the look in his eyes confirming my belief. But I was a girl who wanted to be caught, captured, and kept for a long time.

Could I stay here and be happy?

I’d been so uncertain before, but I knew I could find a fabulous life here. If only I allowed myself to do so. Maybe things would work out. Maybe…

He pushed me back against the solid surface, his growl a clear indication of what he had planned for me. I teased him by rubbing my leg against his thigh, pursing my lips on purpose as well.

The way he spun me around in the water made me laugh. “What do you want, big man?”

“Not grumpy dude any longer?” he asked.

“Oh, you’re grumpy as hell, but I kind of like that. You’re a bit ruffled.”

“I’ve been called many things, lady, but not ruffled.”

I brushed the back of my hand across my face. “There’s a first time for everything. Right?”

“Yes.” When he captured my mouth, I moaned immediately into the kiss. Just the way he held me was special, entirely different than before. We’d bared our souls, allowing the other to learn our darkest secrets.

The thought of doing so was still painful, but as he kissed me as if I’d never been kissed before, all the fears slowly started to melt away.

I slipped my arms over his shoulders, delighting in being able to tug on his long hair. His thick beard scratched me more than it had before, which allowed a bubbling laugh to surface. It broke through the kiss and I pushed him away by a few inches.

“You don’t like my beard,” he said gruffly.

“I don’t think there’s much about you I don’t like.”

Our lips were so close together, only centimeters apart. He was breathing heavily, his haunted eyes dipping down low.

“Where is this going?” I asked, which shocked me. Only hours before I’d done everything in my power to shove him away.

“I don’t know. Does it matter?”

“Not right now.” The admittance was freeing. Whatever this would turn into had allowed me to feel something I’d never felt before.

Someone who truly gave a damn.

Not because he wanted to have arm candy on the side or because he needed a family to show off to the press and his associates. Jagger was real and we were right here together.

He kissed me again, more roughly this time, acting as if maybe this was the last time we’d be able to connect. As our growls and moans filled the night sky, I wrapped both legs around his waist. The warmth was incredible, but the feel of his weight was even better.

As the pure intimacy continued, I felt every muscle that had remained tense since I’d gotten here fall away, relaxing because I knew I was safe.

Even if just for now.

His tongue dominated mine, pushing a level of heat I’d never known existed before. They were dancing together, but I knew he would completely dominate mine. That was the kind of man he was.

With the sky clearing, the moment he broke the kiss, I glanced up at the stars. I used to make wishes to them, only to find out not one had come true. But I made another one, my mind hopeful.

That I could make Danger Falls my home.

Jagger shifted his hand between us, pressing the tip of his cock against my pussy. He wasn’t blinking, barely moving as he studied me with such emotion in his dark eyes. The moment he slid his shaft inside, I clung to his shoulders.

On this night and for whatever time we could carve out, we were as one. No matter what happened, I would remember this very moment as one of the best in my life.

“So tight,” he whispered and drove the last few inches deep inside.

“So huge.”

His grin was lopsided and, in the twinkling, vividly colored lights of the hot tub, I could tell he was lost in his own level of pure ecstasy. I never would have believed he could find such peace in sharing something between a man and a woman. Maybe first impressions weren’t my strong suit.

As he pulled out, I jutted my hips forward. I needed him inside of me as much as I did the air I was breathing. He sensed my longing, driving inside with careful actions. But I pressed him harder. I needed the roar of excitement and the rush of adrenaline. He repeated his actions, still watching me carefully as if I was going to break into a thousand pieces.

I knew now I was much stronger than that.

So many emotions rushed into me as we fucked… no, we made love. There was no other way of looking at the tenderness laced with the rough need we’d both shared. He still never blinked, his entire face contorted in worry and confusion.

About how he was feeling.

He spun me around again and I shivered to the core, even throwing my head back as a beautiful sweep of ecstasy began a powerful journey from my toes to my core. In those incredible seconds, I did what I could to drive the orgasm away. Losing this moment would be painful.

But my body refused to obey my deepest thoughts and needs.

The dazzling sensations rocketing through me were even better than the climaxes he’d provided before. How could a man so insanely gruff be this amazing in… hot water? The thought brought another smile to my face.

His smile as he watched me was wry, as if learning my body meant he had full control over me.

I wasn’t certain there was a single ounce of me that minded.

As our fucking heated to an explosive point, bubbles splashing over our bodies, the orgasm hit me harder than I’d believed possible.

There was no way to bite back a slight scream and instead of me being forced to slap my hand over my mouth, he did so for me with a rough kiss.

I couldn’t get enough of the taste of him, floating directly into nirvana as my shattered body responded to the pure ecstasy. Only when I started coming down from the spectacular high did he let himself go, falling into his own state of nirvana.

Squeezing my pussy muscles, I was able to bask in his moment of bliss as he threw his head back. I felt the moment he erupted deep inside, filling me with his seed.

Whatever the future would bring, this moment belonged to us and us alone.

From being around Jagger, I’d learned that life wasn’t just about everything being black and white.

Or good and bad.

Right versus wrong.

Gray was allowed to seep in and those who were lucky and in tune with the world around them could appreciate it.

In a short period of time, he’d taught me all about seeing the different shades of evil, providing a light I thought I’d never see again.

If only this could last forever.