Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

N oel

This wasn't the brightest idea I'd ever had. I'd almost wrecked Kage's truck after almost running him over and that had been after I'd tried to punch him.

Here I was running into the surrounding forest having no idea where or if there might be another human being on this mountain. What I did know was that I was somewhere in a mountain range, maybe still in Colorado, maybe not. And there were bad men looking for both of us.

Yet I thought it a good idea to leave the warmth and safety of a cabin no one knew about to run away.

Yeah, I wasn't working with every brain cell, but I was angry with the man, furious that he'd duped me. I had no doubt any longer that he was prisoner number four-eight-two-nine-seven-six of the Red Onion prison system. I'd written him a letter, for God's sake. I'd been stupid enough to send him a picture of me.

While he shouldn't have discovered my identity, given I'd come pretty close to discovering him, anything was possible. That meant he'd stalked me. He'd used me. He'd purposely put me in danger.

Maybe.

I didn't know.

What I did know is that my mind, my heart, and now my body ached.

"Come on, Max. We need to find human beings. Somewhere. People must be somewhere. Right?"

I had no idea how far I'd gone but when I was finally out of breath, I turned around in a complete circle. Seeing nothing but white snow and trees everywhere, shadows already encroaching the area, I had to face facts.

I was fucking hopelessly lost and my savior no longer existed.

Or I was right and he really didn't care.

As I reached for Max, I noticed his ears had perked up. He wasn't growling but he was looking intently over my shoulder. I slowly turned around and there stood the man with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Do you really think you're going anywhere, princess?"

"Why are you calling me a princess?"

"Because at this moment you're acting like a spoiled brat. Now, I suggest you come with me and we can sit down and talk about this."

"Talk? You barely say a full sentence let alone string enough together to have a full conversation."

He walked closer and this time I was determined to keep my wits about me and hold my temper. There was no chance at getting out of here, at least not this way. As he trudged closer, I was allowed a strong whiff of his masculinity. He was all male and today, he had the scent of timber and dirt, rosemary and cigar smoke and I had never seen him smoke anything.

The combination was irresistible, so much so my heart fluttered. I took a solid long stride toward him as well, planting my hand on my hip as if that was going to scare him or make him feel the least bit intimidated. He was a solid seven inches taller than me and a whole lot heavier.

He was also someone that I wanted to keep my distance from but wasn't able to. He was powerful in some aspects, damning in others but the attraction was raw and real.

When we were only inches apart, his entire face shifted into one filled with lust. When he reached out to grab my arm, I was too quick for him, pulling it away.

But that was the moment I could tell he'd had enough of my games.

He jerked me against the heat of his body with such a tremendous amount of force I was pulled onto my toes, the air knocked from my lungs.

I didn't have a chance to try to free myself. He fisted my hair, twisting his hand to lift my chin. And without hesitation, he captured my mouth.

I'd been so intent on shutting down my emotions but at that moment, they shot into awareness, my mind spinning as fast as my heart was racing. I'd adored the taste of him before but something about this moment, in this dark and bleak place, made the taste of him even better.

He shifted his other arm down my back, cupping my buttocks. As he held me close, he ground his hips back and forth. It was his way of telling me he was taking what he wanted. I should be incensed, angry as I'd been before, but too much excitement tore through me. It was such a relief not to feel the terror from before, the horrible angst that had nearly driven me over an edge.

I was usually much stronger, but with everything that had gone on, it was more difficult than before. His kiss was rough, the man dominating my tongue, but it added to the constant shots of electricity flowing through us, the sense we had to live in the moment. I could tell by his actions he felt the same way.

He kept his firm grip, refusing to let me go, the moment of intimacy keeping me warm while the desire continued to build.

When he finally did break the kiss, he ripped my head back, growling like some beast in the forest before raking his teeth from one side of my jaw to the other.

I closed my eyes, panting as he dragged his tongue all the way around my mouth. It was sensual, the feelings amazing and I wanted this man right here.

Right now.

Maybe he sensed I was acquiescing, falling into his crazy spell that he'd used before, but he pulled away, gripping both my arms and shaking his head.

"You can't do that shit. I can't protect you if you run off halfcocked. We are in danger. What do I need to do to help you understand that? To tell you I don't want anything to happen to you? I don't. I feel the need to protect you on every level and it has nothing to do with some crazy scheme you have running around in that mind of yours. I can't be the good guy you need, but I can save your life. Work with me."

"I… I will."

"Uh-huh."

I wrinkled my nose, still uncertain how I should or could feel. "It would appear I have no other choice."

"No, you don't, but I'm going to try and make certain you do work with me."

I don't know why I didn't figure out what he was doing but when he lifted me off my feet, tossing me over his shoulder, I couldn't react at all for a full minute. I thought he was taking me into the house but instead, he was trudging deeper into the woods. Suddenly, he stopped, managing to snap off a twig from a tree with his bare hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I told you. Teaching you a lesson," he said in his rough and tumble voice before plopping me down on my feet. I didn't have a chance to object or argue with the man as he deftly unfastened my jeans, spinning me around and pinning me against a tree.

"Whoa. Hold on. This is crazy. I'm not a child."

"Then don't act like one. This should help. It'll calm you down if nothing else."

I seemed frozen in time or because of the weather, but when he jerked my jeans and panties to my knees, I finally managed to let off a shriek.

The sound echoed in a forest leading to nowhere. No one was coming. There was no sign of intelligent life out there. I sensed it in my gut.

Kage wasn't a man to waste time, bringing the switch he'd collected down on my bottom.

What. The. Fuck?

I opened my mouth in a silent scream. I was incensed, my mind a big blur, but as he brought the switch down three more times, something very odd happened. It was as if he knew all about discipline. I did feel somewhat calmer, at least not as completely terrified or panicky as I had before.

The man was determined to bring me into line, the whooshing sound adding to the heated anticipation, the bursts of anguish spiraling all throughout my entire system. But the brutal round of discipline wasn't just helping me breathe and feel calmer; I was feeling wet and even hot, although I should be freezing.

I found myself clinging to the tree, holding on as if for dear life. I had no idea what Max was doing but I had a sense he was watching us intently, likely cocking that head of his in his attempt to figure out what was going on.

My breathing was rapid, frost dripping from every heated breath. I kept my eyes closed, shocked I wasn't still fighting him. Probably because I knew there was no sense in bothering. He was strong. He was capable. And he was very determined in all things.

I was pushed into pure euphoria, which didn't make any sense and the moment my pussy clenched and released not once but three times, I was certain I would have an orgasm. That was crazier than anything else.

And all of this was completely nuts.

Our meeting.

The fact he'd hunted me down. That he'd saved my life.

I was scared yet felt protected.

The whooshing sound continued, his hard strikes crossing my upper thighs. Only then did I jerk back, finally able to find my voice.

"Stop. Just stop. I will follow the rules. I promise."

"Yes, you will and we're almost done. Only ten more."

"Fucking no way."

"Baby, stay in position or I will make it twenty and I don't think you want to be out here in the cold and wild. There are man-eating critters out here."

I could swear I heard glee in his voice from trying to scare me. Well, he was doing that just fine. I tensed, clawing the bark of the tree as he brought the damn thick twig down two more times and I swear it set me on fire. Now I was panting and writhing, longing to cry out to Max to help me but I knew what the pup's reaction would be.

He wouldn't care.

He'd been trained by this… reprehensible yet sexy man to be the sweet and loving dog I knew him to be. Maybe he was just as confused as I was. Hell, I was thrown into a deep vat of quicksand, unable to make any rational sense of any of this.

"You're doing pretty damn good for a terrible driver."

His words were gruff, dragging me out of my quandary and deep hole I'd pitched myself into.

"I am not! I'm an excellent driver. I just…"

Of course he'd take that moment to issue three or four more in rapid succession, acting as if it was his life's work to keep me in line.

I only figured out the horrible moment was finished when he tossed the stick to my side.

"That should do it but there's more where they came from if necessary." He didn't ask, he simply jerked up my panties and jeans, but not before daring to caress one side of my aching, overheated bottom then the other.

The sensations were even more pronounced than before, the touch of the rough pads on his callused fingers doing wonders for my libido. Once again, I was hot all over, trying to control my rapid breathing.

I simply allowed him to redress me as if I was helpless. When he'd finished buttoning my jeans, as he'd done before, he swung me around to face him, cupping both sides of my face.

"You will learn I'm the only way you can stay alive, sunshine. Try and keep that in mind and our stay together will be pleasant instead of difficult." It was as if he was practicing to become a big he-man in some competition, tossing me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing for a second time.

As soon as he started trudging back through the snow to the cabin, I noticed Max. I'll be damned if his tail wasn't thumping back and forth. The little shit had enjoyed the show. Little betrayer.

The moment Kage walked past the truck, I realized just how close I'd come to wrecking it. He stopped long enough to yank both the keys and the bag I'd brought with me into his other hand, using his butt to slam the door. Every step he took, I was reminded of the harsh spanking, my bottom on fire from the way the material of my jeans was rubbing back and forth.

To think the man had full control over me was insane but it was the truth.

Maybe I'd eventually wake from this nightmare but to what? Another one? I couldn't believe he'd looked me up. How had he known the details? The only way he could have discovered my true identity was by knowing someone in the justice system.

That only added to the same question I'd asked before.

Who the hell was this man?

The partial easy answer was that this man was a looker. Between his brawn and his windswept hair, there was no woman alive who could deny he had the sensual appeal of a lion searching for his mate. Every aspect about him and his prowess was meant to either seduce or intimidate, depending on the target. Just the way he looked at me was the thing dreams were made of, or maybe the sinful kind of fantasies I could only discuss in detail with someone like Zoe.

Even the scent of him, the heavy dose of cedar permeating his skin was the kind of aphrodisiac I couldn't resist. No woman could. All the reasons were right there in the front of my mind as to why this wasn't a good idea.

Including the possibility of losing my sweet Max.

Zoe had warned me not to write the man another letter because if a single person found out, we'd both be eliminated from the program.

I'd fight any fucker who dared tried to take Max away from me, which is maybe why I was surrendering to his seductive methods.

Or maybe I'd already been driven insane.

And more important, was he as dangerous as I believed him to be?

I was certain he'd simply drop me to my feet, allowing me to brood on my own after we headed inside, the man slamming and locking the door, but as with everything else, I was dead wrong.

He did place me on my feet, but he had no intention of letting me go off by myself. I could tell that by the way he dropped the bag, slowly turning around to face me.

In those beautiful moments of the way he was looking at me, clearly undressing me with his eyes, I sensed a complete change in him. It was quite possible I was feeling it myself, the hunger unbridled but it was all about the connection I felt with the man. Brutal or not, an ex-con or not, I suddenly didn't care.

He'd allowed me to feel something so special the other night, an explosion of sensations that had just been awakened to an even more heightened level.

I was as crazed with desire as he was, the need becoming insufferable.

But he wanted to ensure I knew I wasn't the one in charge of anything. He advanced, ripping off the jacket I'd found, grinning like some crazy man as he held it out, taking a few seconds before dropping it to the floor. His breathing was labored and as he jerked at the huge shirt I'd found, pulling it from my body as if it was no hindrance, I issued a harsh moan. Next were the boots, even dropping to his knees to remove one then the other.

He was far more melodramatic than before, tossing them with verve. Or maybe he was just out of patience with me, tired of my antics. While he was in the same position, he unfastened my jeans, this time being more careful to ease them down my legs. I was still conscious I wasn't wearing a bra because in the few items I'd shoved into the bag before he'd dragged me out, I hadn't thought to grab one.

It was a silly thought to have as this man undressed me roughly, lifting one leg and the other so he could rip the unwanted material away. It was odd that I was now completely naked while he was fully clothed.

He wasn't bothered in the least, rubbing his huge hands up both of my legs as he spread them apart. Oh, God. He could see how wet I was, easily able to tell from my scent of desire that was already wafting between us.

I was so embarrassed yet entirely too exhilarated. It was crazy to want this but here I was in his control, longing to let go all over again.

I sensed he knew that by the way he moved closer, pressing his hot lips against my stomach. The sensations rocketing through me were incredible, so much so I eased my head against the door to try to curtail my lightheadedness.

It wasn't working.

Excitement tore through me that was completely out of my control.

My heart was thudding, my pulse racing from adrenaline and God knew what else, and I couldn't breathe. Or think. At least rationally. He kept my legs spread wide, blowing his extremely hot breath across my pussy.

It wasn't often I'd felt comfortable with any man, pre or post trauma, but Kage had a way of making you feel wanted. As if you were the only woman in the world. The moment was pure sin, the idea that we were in a broken-down cabin in the middle of the mountains making this that much more salacious.

Even the way he growled like a beast added to the filthy and dangerous concept, enough that I could see little speckles of stars in my periphery of vision. But when he dared drag his rough tongue along the inside of my right thigh, I was certain I couldn't stand any longer. Thankfully, his hold was firm. He wasn't going to let me go this time.

He repeated the sinful action with my left leg, licking closer to nirvana, every sound as if he was a predator. My experiences up to this point had never been wild, of course never kinky. This was both in my mind, not that I'd know kinky if it bit me in the ass.

I laughed nervously, blinking six times to try to focus so I could get a handle on what he was doing. The moment he swirled just the tip of his tongue around my clit, I slapped one hand on top of his head, doing my best to encourage him to continue.

Okay, so it was my sordid way of trying to beg him not to stop without muttering the words. That would be far too embarrassing and I had a few things to feel shame about already.

Including acting like a child.

As he swiped his tongue back and forth, my tender bud became extra sensitive and I shifted against the door.

Mistake.

Big mistake.

My butt hurt. So much so I doubted I could sit comfortably for a long time. That's what he'd intended, the horrible bastard.

It seemed Kage meant business, licking me more intensely, rolling his big, fat tongue up and down the length of my pussy. Seconds later, I realized my toes were no longer touching the floor. He'd lifted me by several inches, his face now buried into my wet heat. I was fascinated by the fact he wasn't straining, wasn't affected at all by holding me in the air.

He was simply making me feel as if every nerve ending was on fire, my blood starting to boil. I ran my fingers through his thick hair, marveling in the way the dampness from his exhausting day felt on my fingertips. He was all male, full of testosterone and hunger. What could be a better combination, especially in his perfectly chiseled body?

As he lifted my legs a little higher, forcing them to bend at the knee, I slapped my hands over my head as if there was something to grab onto. Another nervous laugh bubbled up from my throat, my mind turned to absolute mush because of what he was doing.

This was joyful, amazing and I never wanted it to end.

He licked even more fervently, driving his entire tongue into my tight channel where my pussy muscles clamped down immediately. Somehow, he was ambidextrous enough to continually roll his huge thumb around my clit. That only heightened the crazy pleasure, pushing me closer and closer to a powerful orgasm.

But I knew the man would tease me, ensuring I knew he was the big man in charge. He pulled back, barely licking me, pressing kisses on one thigh then the other. I wiggled and moaned, once again pressing my hands down on his shoulders.

"Please. Please don't stop. I just…"

"Say that again, sunshine," he growled. "Be nice. That gets you more sugar."

He called this sugar? I was thrown into another wave of extreme pleasure, my breathing labored. "Please, oh big man, god of lust and incredible with your tongue, please lick me. I need to come."

His laugh was deep and dark, his breath even hotter than before. "That's a good girl. It wasn't so hard, was it?"

I bit back a semi-nasty retort and when he buried his face once again against my slickened folds, shaking his head back and forth, it was all I could take. The orgasm rushed all the way up from my toes, crashing into my system with so much heat and pressure no sound popped from my open mouth. I could no longer see, the beautiful stars becoming a dense fog.

I'd never experienced this kind of rapture before and as he refused to stop, keeping me on the giant wave, I could feel every muscle stiffening, white-hot heat surging through my loins. The pure ecstasy continued for at least two full minutes and when he finally slowed and I started to slide down from the intense plateau, I lolled my head. I was exhausted, beads of perspiration trickling down the back of my neck and my pussy still clenching and releasing.

However, I knew this wasn't the end.

This was just the beginning of a long night of sin and shame.

And this wasn't just about letting go any longer or the dazzling effects of finding a man who knew my body like the back of his hand.

This was about being reborn, learning to live all over again.

For some crazy reason, a couple of tears slipped past my lashes. If only the rugged man knew what he'd managed to do in such a short period of time, maybe he would charge me the same exorbitant rate as my shrink.

Or maybe he would run far away, thinking me far too crazy for his tastes.

Either way, I would enjoy this moment for a long time to come.