Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

M ac laid her down gently, barely managing not to chuckle when she winced as her punished backside made contact with the soft bed.

“Don’t you laugh at me. It hurts,” she admonished.

“I’m sure it does, Cowgirl. It’s a fearsome shade of red. Had you given in easier, it wouldn’t hurt nearly as bad. You’d best pay attention to the fact when you’re getting a spanking, I won’t even think about stopping until I feel you’ve given in and are sorry for whatever you did.”

“Is there any way we can negotiate about this whole spanking thing?”

“Let’s see… no. You misbehave, I’m going to put you over my knee and spank your pretty ass until you promise to try to do better next time. And given the state of your arousal when I joined you in the corner, I’m not going to try to figure out if there’s a better way to deal with you. I should have done that the first time you snuck out of the house on me.”

“Mac…”

“Shh, Willa. We’ll figure out the mustangs, too. I understand how important they are to you, which means they need to be important to me, and they will be, but we’ll do things differently, so you’re safe. Close your eyes, Cowgirl. I want to check the house real quick.”

“But you’re going to sleep with me, right?”

“You bet.” He grinned. “I’m going to come back to our bed, wrap you in my arms, and let you have a little rest before I wake you up and have at you again.”

She giggled. “That sounds perfect,” she said, yawning.

Mac made a tour of the interior of the house, checking the windows and doors one last time before returning to their room. He locked and deadbolted the door and put the keys in the nightstand on his side of the bed. Sliding into bed next to her and, he reached for her, and she snuggled into his body, sighing with contentment.

They needed to catch Eastwick and whoever he’d hired to hurt Willa. Mac wanted to be home in their bed with her safe, where he could spend at least a week doing nothing more than keeping her naked and fucking her hard enough, she’d have trouble walking when he finally let her come up for air. Once they were home, he wouldn’t let her leave his side until she had his ring on her finger.

W illa woke to her nipples being fondled and her clit being suckled. She moaned in pure pleasure as Mac increased the attention to her nether regions.

“Didn’t you get enough last night?” she giggled.

Mac had awakened her twice during the night, fucking her into oblivion both times. He’d tried not to cause her bottom too much additional pain, but there was something very sexy about lying on her back with her ass on fire as the man who had put it in that state of distress made her respond to his dominant lovemaking and climax numerous times before spending himself in her. Mac had relented the second time and put a soft pillow under her, which had helped a great deal, but the residual sting added to her highly and easily aroused state.

“Never. I’ve done without your sweet honey for five years, Willa. I have a lot of time to make up.”

He nuzzled her clit with his nose as he traced his tongue down to her pussy and thrust inside her, lapping up her essence as quickly as he caused her to produce it. He had his shoulders wedged under her thighs, using his hands to pleasure her nipples.

Willa screamed with pleasure. “God, Mac! I missed you.”

He stopped and drew himself up her body.

“Not nearly as much as I missed you. When I take you home, Cowgirl, and I’m finished with you, I doubt you’ll be able to sit astride a horse for a while.”

She looked up as he held himself off her on his strong arms and toes—almost as if he’d been doing a push-up. Willa widened her legs, then wrapped them around him and twined her arms around his neck, pulling herself up and into his frame. Slowly, Mac lowered them both to the bed, reaching under her and cupping her still-painful globes to steady her before driving his cock as deeply as possible. Willa bowed as she climaxed, calling his name again.

He nibbled along her shoulder up to her throat, then to her ear.

“I will never get enough of you. Never.”

He bucked his hips powerfully against her, making her entire, exhausted being respond to his. She clung to him and clawed at his back. Mac had her in her most primal state. He had pushed her past the point where she had any inclination to do anything other than feel and respond. There was no thinking, no arguing, just accepting his dominance. She was certain he understood she was agreeing to all the ramifications that went along with that acceptance. No longer would she be able to deny it.

“Give to me, Willa. I need to feel you give me everything,” he whispered desperately.

“Mac, please…”

He drove into her repeatedly, causing her to climax again before his own need for release and completion overtook him. He held her close, so she couldn’t move at all. He had all the control, and she reveled in his possession. She strove to meet his demand as she felt him pump his cum deep inside her spasming pussy. When he was spent, he kissed her deeply and with great emotion.

“Are you paying attention, Willa?”

She nodded with a smile.

“I love you. I always have, and I always will. I will not let you go again.”

He rolled off her, drawing her next to his side, and more importantly, off her bottom, tucking her under his shoulder as he caught his breath and stroked her gently and lovingly.

“Mac?”

“Don’t start…”

“I’m not. I wanted to tell you something.” She raised herself up, so she could look down at him, hoping the depth of her feeling showed clearly in her eyes.

“I’m listening, Cowgirl.” He pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.

“I love you, too, and I’m sorry I waited so long to tell you.”

He reached behind her head and drew her down to capture her mouth, all of his love for her apparent in his kiss.

Willa reached up and traced the scars along his upper body, which told the story of his life. One she recognized from before. A bull had gored him when he was a teenager, but the others were all garnered in the last five years—a bullet scar here, a healed-over knife wound there, and now claw marks from their lovemaking. He’d grown older during the passage of time, so had she. She knew those scars had left their marks, but she believed now, the deepest one, the one that didn’t show, was beginning to heal. She knew she was responsible for that wound but also knew she would ensure he was made whole again.

“I’m going to hold you to that. Still want to call that lawyer on a secure line?”

She giggled. “Really wouldn’t have done any good, would it?”

“None whatsoever.”

“In that case, I think I’ll snuggle up with you and try to sleep. I didn’t get much last night.”

“I didn’t hear you complain.”

“Nor will you,” she sighed, closing her eyes.

M ac needed to get up and check in. Deciding he could reach John via his secure cell phone and not have to disturb Willa, he dialed John’s phone.

“Yo, Mac. I was starting to…” John stopped short. Mac was quite sure his good friend could see the top of Willa’s head resting on his chest. “So, that’s the reason you’re calling in a bit later than expected.”

“Yes, and you can laugh your fool head off and tell Mandy the two of you were right all along.”

“Does she know?”

“What, that you two never gave up on us figuring things out? I’m sure she does. She’s a bright girl.”

“I was being more basic… that the two of you are together again.”

“Maybe we’re not. Who’s to say I wasn’t horny and decided to fuck my ex-girlfriend.”

“Because nothing about you and Willa has ever been casual. If she’s curled up next to you sound asleep, you two are together. For good this time?”

“Absolutely.” Mac chuckled happily. “We put things right between us last night. I don’t know how we’re going to work it out, but I’m not giving her up. So, we need to catch Eastwick and the guy he hired to shoot my woman.”

“That poor dumb bastard. He never had good odds at getting away, and his chances have now gone from slim to none. I almost pity him.”

“Pity who?” Willa said, coming awake and looking at his phone. “Oh, hi, John.”

“Hi there, sleepyhead. Did you get any rest at all?”

“Not much, but I don’t care.” She hugged Mac close. “Kiss me.”

“I think she’s talking to you, Mac.”

“She’d better be.” He leaned down and obliged her. Willa closed her eyes again and drifted off to sleep. “Where are we?”

“We think we may have found the car rental for the guy who took a shot at Willa. We’re trying to trace him to whatever hotel he’s staying at, but Eastwick has disappeared into the wilderness. I hate to tell you this, but I think we’re going to need Willa to track him.”

“No.”

“Mac…”

“I won’t have it.”

“She’s the best. You know that. We’ll have her well protected, and you’ll be with her.”

“I won’t put her at risk.”

“She’s at risk as long as Eastwick is on the lam. If we catch the guy he sent, he’ll only send another. We need the bastard in custody, then tried and convicted. You know I’m right.”

“And I hate you for it.”

“I don’t doubt it. I’d feel the same way if the situation was reversed, but there is nobody better. I actually asked around, even checked with Gus, but kept getting the same answer. Willa is the best and knows this country better than anyone. Let’s catch the guy here, then you two can come back from the safe house, and we’ll figure out our next move.”

“John, somebody needs to go to Willa’s to set up an alarm system and make sure all the doors are reinforced with good strong deadbolts.”

“I’ll take care of it. Anything else?”

“If she’s going out with us, I want her to have a Kevlar vest.”

“Done. I’ll let you know when we get the hitman. You two all right there?”

“I’m righter than I’ve ever been in my life. So is Willa, other than a fetchingly red fanny.”

“About damn time. You keep her well-spanked and well laid, and she’ll settle in pretty damn quick.”

“That’s the plan,” Mac said, grinning at his friend. “Let’s plan to talk tonight unless you call to tell me good news.”

“You got it. And Mac?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really happy… for both of you.”

Mac smiled and disconnected the phone.