23. Mika

23

MIKA

J avier is waiting for me with a bottle of water at the barn door, and I smile gratefully as I pull Titan to a halt. Sliding out of the saddle, I give the young colt a carrot and a pat on the neck before handing the reins to Lupe and watching the duo walk inside. As Javier holds out the water to me, I gladly take it and crack the lid to guzzle the refrigerated liquid. It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden a horse, let alone two babies in a row who require a lot of patience, strength, and attention. It doesn’t help that my body was already exhausted when the day began, thanks to Alfie’s insatiable appetite. Not to mention, I’m ravenous after only a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs that I’m sure I burned through before the end of Fate’s workout.

“Javi, I’m taking a ten-minute break,” I say.

“ Si, se?orita. ”

The barn manager flashes me a white-toothed smile, and I do my best not to hobble as I head toward my office. Alfie’s men start to follow, but at the door, I stop and turn to glare at them.

“You have enough men securing this property that I’m sure I can enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet without your protection,” I state, and I step inside my office, closing the door firmly behind me .

I don’t know how Alfie does it. Admittedly, he usually only has two guards following him, and they seem to have some unspoken understanding of his boundaries because they’ve never tried to follow Alfie into my office. But it’s driving me crazy, and I can tell it’s bothering the horses, too. The grooms seem much more comfortable with the presence of an armed guard, at least now that Alfie’s men don’t appear to be holding them hostage or acting like slave drivers. Even Francisco has calmed down and gotten back to work.

After what happened yesterday, I imagine most of the grooms are grateful to be under Alfie’s protection. He did save their lives when he made the call to stop unloading supplies from the trailer, and I suspect, because of that, they trust him more when he says we need protection. But I feel like a caged animal after having men with guns prowling the grounds all morning, and I was grateful to get a break from them while I rode Titan. That horse is high-strung enough as it is. I did not need them freaking him out around every turn.

I groan as I ease into the chair behind my desk, aware of every tired muscle as I slowly lean back and prop my feet up on the corner. I’m sorely tempted to take a nap, but I don’t have time for that. Instead, I unlatch my helmet and set it on my desk, and then I untie my hair, shaking it loose to let the sweaty curls air dry for a minute.

Sighing heavily, I close my eyes. What am I doing with my life? I went from a proper horse trainer to Alfie Bonetti’s new obsession in the span of a week, and it feels like I had absolutely no say in the matter.

Oddly enough, I feel more content than I have in a long time, in some ways. I’m less alone, less determined to keep the world at arm’s length—and yet, at the same time, I feel like that’s exactly what I should be doing if I want to survive Alfie’s crazy world.

I glance down at my watch, surprised that my ten minutes are almost up. I’m so tired, I lost track of time. With monumental effort, I lower my feet back to the floor and try not to sound like an old lady as I push against the desk to stand. But I pause, and my heart jolts as I hear raised voices down the alley. My pulse quickens as I rush across the room and snatch the handle, wrenching the door open to see what’s wrong this time.

“Where is she?”

I recognize the deep, commanding voice right away—before I see Alfie’s tall, lean figure silhouetted by brilliant sunshine as he stands in the barn doorway. My breath catches as he strides toward me. A few locks of his usually perfectly styled dark hair fall across his brow, and his hazel eyes blaze as they meet mine. He’s angry with me. This time, I’m confident about it as he grasps my arm and steers me back toward my office.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to crush the tremble in my stomach, but it’s nearly impossible as a fresh dose of adrenaline rushes into my veins from the heady combination of fear and anticipation. I’m confused by why he would be back so soon and why he looks so mad, but as he slams the office door behind us and turns on me, I know it must be something I did.

“The men are here for your protection, Mika. You can’t just command them to stay at the barn while you go riding off. What if something happened and they couldn’t reach you in time?” Alfie looks furious, but his voice is low and even—so low it sends a shiver up my spine. He grips my upper arms, giving me the slightest of shakes in his frustration as he towers over me.

My heart hammers against my ribs, and the inviting scent of eucalyptus and patchouli makes it hard to think straight as Alfie crowds my personal space. Like a Pavlovian effect, I feel hardwired to get aroused by his proximity, and I press my thighs together as my core starts to ache. I need to pull myself together if I’m going to win this argument.

“They were spooking the horses.” Jerking my arms from his grasp, I turn my back to him and walk to my desk. I need to put some space between us and get my thoughts in order. I rest my hips against the edge, leaning my palms against its surface to give my tired legs a break. “And the racers need exercise.”

Alfie’s eyes rake over me, making my mouth go dry as he studies me appreciatively, even though he’s angry. When my tongue darts out to wet my lips, his gaze flicks up to catch the motion.

He stalks slowly across the office toward me. “My men said you’re riding the horses yourself with just one groom going to the track with you,” he says, his voice almost a growl. “Why?”

“I gave the riders the day off. I—thought they might need it after yesterday, and I don’t want them to see the barn in this kind of upheaval.” The grooms I couldn’t spare. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to take care of all these horses by myself, but if I can avoid losing a jockey by shielding them from the conflict, I’ll do what I have to because good riders are rarely available for hire.

“So, you just decided to disregard the instructions I gave you when I left this morning and ordered my men to do the same?” He steps between my feet, and a spark of energy ignites the air.

I tip my chin up to glare at him. “They were getting in the way. They clearly know nothing about horsemanship, walking right up behind Fate. She could have kicked one of them if I didn’t tell them to back off—and they pace. That kind of energy makes the animals nervous. How am I supposed to teach your horses that people are a positive thing with all that going on?”

“Damn it, Mika.” Alfie grasps my jaw as he leans in to plant his other hand on the desk beside my hip. It brings his face level with mine, and my breath catches as he peers deep into my eyes. “I get that you care about the horses, but why do you always have to fight me? Can’t you take a second to think about your own safety for once?”

It’s hard to focus on my argument with his lips just inches from mine, the heat from his body warming my skin, and my pulse quickens. “I was thinking about my safety—considering I’m the one riding the horses your men keep spooking. I don’t want them around the arena because I’d rather not fall off when they do something to make one of the babies bolt. I let them be there for Fate’s run, and even she had something to say about them, so don’t tell me I’m overreacting. I’m being reasonable here, Alfie.”

“And it wouldn’t be reasonable to just let the horses have a day off?” he asks, his nostrils flaring .

“No,” I insist stonily, crossing my arms defensively over my chest. “These are serious athletes who deserved care and respect—Fate ran a race yesterday. Or did you forget? How would you like it if you had a hard workout and then someone made you sit in a small room all day with no ability to stretch your legs? Besides, can you even promise me this will be just one day?”

I can tell my words are getting through to him, and he doesn’t like it. His jaw clenches, the tendons popping beneath his dark five-o’clock shadow.

Why is he so sexy when he’s pissed off? Maybe it’s because it’s such a genuine emotion, but I can’t help noticing that his hazel eyes seem to turn a molten gold when he glares at me, and his proud lips curve into what could almost be a smirk if he didn’t look so furious.

“I’ll speak with them about setting up a perimeter that will make the horses more comfortable,” he concedes, and the tension in my chest starts to loosen.

Arms relaxing, I let them fall from my chest, and my shoulders drop. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Silence stretches between us as our argument comes to an end, and my pulse flutters as Alfie doesn’t step back—or remove his hand from my jaw. Instead, his thumb traces an absentminded bath along my cheek, making my skin tingle. In place of the anger, a different kind of charged energy fills the space, and a shiver of anticipation races up my spine.

“Was that the only reason you came all this way?” I sound breathy and swallow hard to rein in my growing arousal. “To scold me?”

“No, I also came here to punish you for disobeying me,” he growls, and my stomach plummets.

“Punish me?” I huff, my exasperation too much to contain, but I immediately regret the sound when Alfie’s eyes spark dangerously.

“You think I’m joking, vitale ?” His voice is terrifying in its softness, and cold fear trickles through my veins. Alfie straightens, his hands going to his tie as he slips it free of its knot. “Take off your clothes.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks, and shock mingles with my embarrassment as I realize I want to find out what kind of punishment he has in mind. Trying to hide the shaking in my fingers, I’m slow to do as he says, leaning down to remove my half-chaps and barn boots before stripping off my shirt. Alfie watches me closely as he lays his suit jacket and tie across the wooden back of a chair, then he unbuttons the sleeves of his burgundy dress shirt and rolls them up to his elbows.

Heart racing, I hook my thumbs into the tops of my jeans and slide them down my legs. I feel almost as if I’m hovering outside my body as I obey him without question. This isn’t like me. I don’t take risks, I don’t just do as I’m told, and I definitely don’t strip naked for my boss in my office while the horses are waiting for their exercise and the grooms are just on the other side of the door. But the curiosity that Alfie’s unlocked in me—this dark, untamable desire—is too enticing.

I step out of my jeans and straighten, fighting the urge to cover my exposed body with my arms. Alfie’s gaze slides hungrily over my naked flesh, and the smile that curls his lips makes my heart stop for just a moment.

“Good girl,” he praises, the words unleashing an unexpected rush of arousal deep inside my core. “Now, bend over your desk for me.”

“Alfie—” My eyes flit to the door as I start to second-guess what we’re about to do. With my whole world falling apart around me, I don’t think now is the time I should be doing anything to confirm Francisco’s suspicions that I’m sleeping with the new barn owner.

“Do as I say, Mika, or I’ll bend you over the desk myself, and then I’ll have to punish you for disobeying two commands.”

Anxiety coils in my stomach at the promise in Alfie’s words. The air feels cool and electric, raising goosebumps across my skin as I pad silently past him to the edge of my desk. I keep the surface well organized and clean, so there’s not much in my way. Still, I hesitate, my heart in my throat, and I debate whether or not I can actually do as he says. I glance over my shoulder, hoping I’ll find some compromise in Alfie’s gaze. Instead, I see him reach into the forgotten bucket of colorful riding crops tucked into the corner of my office. With a smirk, he pulls one out with a hand-shaped leather keeper, and he tests it on his palm. He gives a low chuckle before seeming to decide against it. Slipping it back into the bucket, he pulls out a more traditional crop with a flexible brown leather tip.

Air rushes past my lips, and my stomach clenches as I realize what kind of punishment he has in mind. “Alfie,” I hiss, white-knuckling the edge of my desk as my heart breaks into a sprint.

His eyes flick up to meet mine, and his smirk spreads into a wicked smile as he straightens. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Mika, but I will teach you a lesson for ignoring my instructions.” His steps are slow and even as he approaches, making my heart flip-flop uncomfortably. “Now, don’t make me ask again.”

“And if I refuse?” I really don’t know how I feel about Alfie spanking me with a riding crop—not right here, in my office, where anyone could hear.

Alfie runs the soft leather tip of the riding crop over my lower lip before placing it gently beneath my chin. Adding just enough pressure to tilt my face upward, he leans in until I can feel his warm breath whisper across my skin. “Then I’ll tie you down before we begin,” he murmurs.

I shudder, sucking in a shaky gasp as I try to make sense of the arousal throbbing between my thighs. I should not be excited by that, and I’m determined not to show him how his words affect me, so I glare at him as I lean slowly over the edge of my desk until my breasts find the cool surface. It feels good against my flaming cheek, and I close my eyes, focusing on that sensation and the solidity of the wood as I grip it firmly. I’ve never been spanked in my life, and being completely naked makes the humiliation of it even more intense.

Soft leather traces down my spine, and my eyes fly open, my lips parting at the deceptively pleasant sensation. My shoulders, tight with the expectation of pain, start to relax, and I glance back at Alfie, trying to anticipate what’s to come.

He smirks at me and slips the crop between my thighs, tapping them lightly. “Wider,” he commands, putting a knee inside mine a second later to guide my legs open .

Heat pounds through my core, and I press my lips together to stop myself from talking back—or worse, moaning with pleasure as he runs the leather tip up the inside of my thigh and brushes it across my clit. He swipes it playfully between my spread cheeks. The throbbing pulse at the peak of my thighs grows more persistent, and I bite back a whimper.

“You really do have the most perfect ass,” he says, smoothing his warm hand over my curves and kneading my sensitive flesh. “I can’t wait to see what it looks like after I’m done. I think seven strokes should be enough to leave an impression ,” he teases darkly. “I want you to count each one out loud, Mika.”

His hand leaves my skin, and my stomach quivers as a fresh wave of fear launches all my senses into overdrive. The coarse grain of the desk’s wood scrapes against my hard nipples, and the cool air makes my skin feel drawn and tight. The familiar fresh-pine-and-horse scent in my office does little to ease my tension, and I taste the coppery tang of panic as it starts to rise in the back of my throat. The crop hisses as it cuts through the air, the sound warning me a second before it licks across my flesh, and I yelp—more out of shock than any actual pain.

“Answer me, Mika. Tell me you understand the rules,” Alfie commands.

“I understand,” I gasp, heart hammering so violently against my ribs that I think Alfie must hear it from where he’s standing.

“I understand, sir ,” he corrects me, running the crop lightly over the curve of my ass in silent warning.

My skin burns with indignation, and for a second, I debate if I should just stand up and tell him to go fuck himself. But the thought of him tying me to the desk and then spanking me makes me hesitate. “I understand, sir ,” I repeat through clenched teeth.

“Good girl,” he praises, and I gasp when he strokes two fingers between my folds as a reward.

My core clenches, my clit twitching at the unexpected pleasure that crackles up my spine, and my stomach quivers at Alfie’s low hum of approval .

“We haven’t even gotten to the fun part, and you’re already dripping, vitale ,” he murmurs.

Sometimes, I want to slap Alfie for being so damn cocky, and my cheeks flame as he discovers the mortifying truth that being humiliated is turning me on. But my embarrassment evaporates as he collects my slick arousal on his fingertips and strokes them over my clit, stimulating the sensitive nerves. I moan, my back arching and my hips rocking into his palm as my excitement intensifies.

“God, you are sexy ,” he groans, slipping two fingers inside my entrance and making me whimper. “But that won’t save you from your punishment.”

His touch vanishes, and a moment later, a sharp snap sears across my skin. I cry out, unable to stay quiet from the explosive pain—then hot, unexpected pleasure starts to throb deep inside me.

“Count, Mika,” Alfie warns me.

“One,” I groan, gripping the desk as I breathe through the overwhelming sensations.

He brings the riding crop down again, and this time, I’m prepared for it.

Biting back my yelp, I try to stay quiet as I grit the number two out through my teeth. “Three,” I gasp as the pulsing sense of excitement between my thighs intensifies, bringing the stinging pain from the crop down to a dull ache.

Alfie alternates between cheeks, choosing a fresh point of contact each time he spanks me, and as the fourth stroke lands on the meaty part of my ass, just above my thigh, I jerk forward with a cry. It hurts, but it also feels shockingly erotic, and as the pain dies, I moan lustily.

“Four,” I whimper, my clit so swollen with excitement I think I might come the next time Alfie hits me.

“You’re doing so well, vitale ,” he purrs, pausing my punishment to smooth his palm over my feverish skin.

I’m tender along the lines where the crop struck me, but Alfie’s touch soothes the burning pain, and I breathe heavily as my muscles start to unwind, my core throbbing more intensely.

“Your ass looks so pretty, all decorated with my marks. ”

I shiver as he traces the lines with a soft finger, and then he reaches between my thighs once more. Gripping the desk with all my strength, I turn my face away from Alfie, hiding it in my curls. He’s about to find out just how much he’s turning me on, and I’m mortified.

“ Fuck , Mika,” he groans. “I think this punishment might just make you come.”

I shudder violently, nestling my face deeper into the curve of my arm as I wish the earth could open up and swallow me whole. Then strong fingers comb into my hair, and Alfie slowly but firmly lifts my head, turning it until I meet his eyes. His expression isn’t smug or taunting, like I expected, and the heat of his desire is so intense, it melts me inside.

“Once I’m done punishing you, I’m going to fuck your dripping pussy,” he promises. “I’m so fucking hard right now it hurts.” He leans in, claiming my lips, his tongue stroking possessively into my mouth.

Every inch of me is pulsing with need, and I lean into the kiss, desperate for his touch. Fingers still curled in my locks, Alfie only pulls back to break the kiss after my lungs start to scream for oxygen, and his eyes hold mine as we breathe heavily together.

“You ready to take the rest of your punishment, vitale ?” he says softly, relinquishing the roots of my hair.

Biting my lip, I nod and rest my cheek back on the desk. I don’t even recognize who I am right now. I actually want him to get to seven because I’m wound so tight—I need the release he’s promised.

Alfie straightens, and the crop whistles through the air, raising the hair on the back of my neck. I scream my number five before I can stop myself, then—“Six!” I cry, giving in to the pleasure as I forget my attempt to stay quiet. If the men in the barn don’t know what’s going on by now, then they won’t ever find out, but I’m sure they’re all perfectly aware that Alfie’s made me his plaything, and I’m beyond the point of caring. In the heat of the moment, thinking about them listening to us is only adding to the forbidden excitement.

Alfie flicks the crop between my thighs for my final strike, and though the leather keeper nips my clit far more gently than he was spanking my ass, my nerves scream as soon as it makes contact.

“ Seven! ” I sob as the pain launches me into my climax, and slick arousal gushes across my folds. My pussy pulses and throbs, my clit fluttering frantically, making my core tighten as lightning races up and down my spine. I’ve never felt anything so agonizing and pleasurable, and it’s all I can do to cling to the desk, so I don’t melt into a puddle on the ground.

Alfie drops the crop with a heavy thunk , and both hands palm my burning ass cheeks as he gently massages the stinging flesh. Kneeling between my thighs, he spreads me open, and a moment later, his tongue strokes between my dripping folds.

I whimper, my hips jerking as his tongue soothes the crop’s sting on my clit, and when he wraps his lips around my small bundle of nerves, I nearly come a second time. Within seconds, my aftershocks are building into a fresh, pulsing desire, and I quiver as my body aches to feel Alfie inside me.

Alfie releases my clit, running his tongue along my slit one last time and flicking it playfully across my puckered ass.

Then he stands, and my pulse flutters as I catch the familiar sound of his zipper opening.