Chapter 5

Chapter

Five

C roft watched a small shudder wash over Finn and wondered if it was dread for the spanking she knew she had coming or desire for the loving that would come after. The intensity of his feelings as he’d turned her pretty bottom bright red had surprised him. What had started as a way to express his anger and his authority over her had become something far more important and intense—a primal way to express his need to dominate and possess her. When he’d felt her surrender to him and reciprocate those feelings, he would have been surprised if it hadn’t felt so right.

Her complete capitulation to him had come when she’d climaxed as he mounted her and drove into her the first time. He was looking forward to having her do it again. There really was very little in life that could match the feel of your hips slamming into a woman’s heated backside as your cock ravaged her pussy. Those feelings were magnified when it was your woman, and you knew she shared your feelings. He smiled as he felt his cock getting seriously hard.

He ran his hand possessively down her flank and drew her against his body to kiss her temple as he fondled her. There was no doubt about it—he had developed serious feelings for Finlay Reid. Those tender feelings were offset, knowing she had been lying to him from the moment they’d met. Had she not, he could have had a team assembled and ready to go. As it was, he doubted very much Reid would be at the meeting place. He hoped Finn’s brother still breathed, and Croft could bring him back to his foolish little sister—the woman to who he was rapidly losing his heart.

He retrieved the foil packets from the fire while Finn fished out the plates and eating utensils from his saddlebags and spread out a blanket for them to sit on to eat. He’d been happily surprised to find when he’d returned from the river, she had made a single bed for them to share.

“How did you end up a cowboy?” she asked.

Croft smiled, knowing she was making small talk to cover her nervousness. She had plenty to be nervous about. His hope she was more focused on just how hard he was going to punish her than she was on Reid’s disappearance or what he would find tomorrow. He wished he could offer her some kind of reassurance about her brother, but he wasn’t going to lie to her. All he could do was let her know, whatever happened, she wouldn’t face it alone. He was hopeful her concern about being put back over his knee would help her make better choices in the future.

“As you know, I come from an old and distinguished naval family. I was the first to become a SEAL. I saw way too much—too many things that could have been avoided or done better to preserve the lives of innocents. I lost faith those who were giving the orders gave a damn about what was right, moral, or honorable. When I finished my last tour, I was done. I wanted out and needed a place to go. I got on my motorcycle and headed west. When I looked over the rim of the Grand Canyon for the first time, I felt my soul start to heal and decided I didn’t want to leave. I’d always been good with animals, and the Rocking R was willing to take a chance on me. I traded in my motorcycle for a good horse and a good rig, started cowboying for them, got involved in rodeoing on the side, and never looked back. I needed something simple, something real, something I could hold on to in the middle of the night.”

“And now I’ve reopened those old wounds,” she said sadly.

“On the contrary. You reminded me why I became a SEAL in the first place. Mac and John did that a couple of years ago when I helped them with the apprehension of Simon Eastwick. It felt good to be part of something for the greater good. So, when Mac left the Marshals to found Wild Mustang, he persuaded John to leave as well. I was their first hire. Now, when I find myself under fire or going into hostile situations, I know I’m on the side of the angels. As I said, babe, this isn’t our, or even my first K&R operation.”

“I should have trusted you.”

“There was no way for you to know that. A bunch of scumbags beat your brother up and said they’ll kill him if you didn’t do exactly what they told you to do. So, you do it. Foolish? Perhaps, but also courageous, loyal, and loving. Not the worst three traits I could have in my woman. They help to offset the foolish part, which I mean to teach you not to give in to.”

“I’m not your woman,” she said softly.

He chuckled. “Yes, you are, and we both know it. I’ve been thinking with everything that’s going to happen tomorrow and all the things that could go wrong, I might be willing to postpone the spanking you’ve got coming until we’re both back up on the rim and know what’s what.”

“I suppose you expect me to thank you for that?”

“I do indeed. I want you to make note I said postpone, not forego.”

“You can’t just waltz into my life and take over.”

“Not only can I, I’m pretty damn sure I already did,” he said, laughing at her. “Give it up, Finn. We both know you’re mine… and that I’m yours. I make a really good living working for Mac…”

“I don’t need you to support me.”

“I didn’t say you did, but I also know you come from a shitload of old money. Your family makes mine look like paupers. My point was, I don’t need your money. I have an excellent pension from the Navy, live pretty minimally, so haven’t spent a lot, and get paid well for what I do. I figure if we combine that with what I guess you make as a renowned photojournalist, we can build a good life together. We’re going to have to talk about some of the places you stick your nose into…”

“It’s my job.”

“And you’re at a point you can pick and choose what assignments you take. I’m not telling you to take pictures of sunshine and rainbows—that’s not who you are—but going behind the lines in Fallujah and into some of those remote places where they really hate women and in particular, uppity American ones like you, is something we’ll have to negotiate about on a case-by-case basis.”

“I suppose we’ll do all the negotiating while you beat my ass?” she said, trying hard not to laugh.

“Depends on whether you’re willing to be reasonable, but lie to me, go behind my back, do something as stupid as this, or flat-out disobey me, and you can expect to find yourself facedown again, getting your fanny turned bright red.”

“You expect me to agree to that?”

Croft laughed again. “Baby, did you miss the part where you already did?”

“It’s not funny.”

“It is. Not forty-eight hours ago, I thought you were a major pain in the ass and couldn’t wait to get rid of you. Now, I can’t imagine how I lived this long without you or what I would do if I ever lost you.”

“I don’t get you. One minute, you’re this macho, over-the-top alpha male, and the next, you’re this sensitive guy who’s as in touch with his feelings and more willing to express them than anyone I’ve ever known.”

He grinned at her. “I know, babe. I’m complicated.”

She laughed and looked as though some of the tension had left her body.

“Why don’t we get Jasper and Sam and take them and our dishes down to the river.” He stood. “You can hold the boys while I clean up or vice versa.”

“My choices are wash dishes or hold mules? I’m holding the mules.”

“Fair enough,” he said, helping her to her feet.

They gathered their things and headed down to the river. Both mules had impeccable manners, and he had no concerns turning them both over to her while he washed their things. He grinned. It seemed Jasper had become fond of Finn and was as interested in interacting with her as he was in getting a drink. Once Sam realized he was missing out on her attention, he began to demand his fair share.

Croft leaned back against a rock by the bank and enjoyed just watching her in the moonlight. She looked up to see him smiling at her.

“What?”

“Nothing, sweetheart. I’m just enjoying watching you.”

“You like looking at me, sailor?”

“I’d like looking at you a lot better if you were naked.”

She gathered the two lead ropes in one hand and splashed water at him, causing him to dance away from the river’s edge. Finn came out of the water, leading the two mules on one side and wrapping her arm around his waist with the other. He stopped and picked up two pieces of dried wood.

“Do I dare ask what those are for?”

“To upend your boots on so they’ll dry better overnight.”

“Are you planning to get me out of my boots, sailor?”

“And everything else you have on,” he said as they reached the rock overhang and returned the mules to the area they’d set up for them. He watched her place the things they’d used to eat close enough to the fire, they would dry. She glanced over at him but seemed to become shy when she saw he was watching her intently.

“What’s bothering you?” he said as he walked over to her.

“This. You. What’s going to happen tonight, tomorrow, for the rest of our lives. It’s just a lot, Croft.” She pulled away as he reached for her. “I don’t know much about you. Hell, I don’t even know your full name, and I’m letting you order me around, rearrange my life, and tell me how things are going to be.”

Snaking his hand out, he caught her arm with surprising strength and drew her to him.

“First, you don’t pull away from me… not now, not ever. Second, I’m not telling you anything you didn’t already know. Third, what’s going to happen tonight is pretty much the same thing that’s going to happen every night, every morning, and whenever else I’m horny. I’m going to fuck you until your screams are reverberating all up and down the canyon. Fourth, I’ve been pretty clear about me. I would remind you that I’m not the one who’s been lying from the day we met and before that to the company she hired. And last, William Emerson Crofton, Junior. My family calls me Billy, which I hate, and Emerson isn’t any better, so from the time I entered Annapolis, I’ve gone by Croft. Anything else?”

“You’re not going to spank me?” The relief in her voice was almost palpable.

“You don’t think you deserve to get spanked for slipping out of our bed, creeping out of the room, and running off, pretending to be some kind of fucking superhero? I won’t lie to you, Finn. I’m going to blister your ass when we get topside, but I need you to be able to ride out of here, so I’m going to settle for just fucking you so hard, you’ll remember why you fell for me and which one of us is calling the shots.”

“But, Croft, I could help…”

“And you will. You can be the most help staying where I know you’re safe and going for backup if I don’t get back on time.”

“He’s my brother,” she said stubbornly.

“You’re my woman,” he said heatedly. “That, Finlay Reid, tops all other concerns. Finn, seriously, I need to know you’re going to do what I tell you.”

“You think he’s dead, don’t you?”

“No, I don’t. I don’t think they’ll kill him until they have this flash drive. That’s why you’re taking it with you.”

“No. They’ll kill you and Christian both if you don’t give them what they want,” she cried.

“Given what you said, this isn’t the first rodeo for these clowns. They know what they’re doing. I wish I could tell you I’ll bring Christian back tomorrow, but I won’t lie to you. I’ll be shocked if he’s even there. Tomorrow is about them knowing you aren’t in this alone, that you have hired a professional team with a solid reputation to represent you. The firm has already established when we negotiate, we represent the family or the individual. We don’t give a rat’s ass if the hostiles ever get apprehended. Our only concern is bringing the hostage home safe and sound. If we can do that by paying them whatever asking price we settle on, we’re good. We’ll hold up our end, but if they fuck with us, if they kill the hostage or us after we’ve paid in good faith? We will rain a level of hell down on them they never knew existed.”

“Why don’t I know all this?” she asked, fascinated.

He grinned. “Because we’re that good. All the firms that offer K&R insurance know who we are, and most have us on retainer. A lot of guys at Interpol and law enforcement know as well. As I said, Mac has been very successful.”

“Croft?”

“Yes, babe?”

“Will you take me to bed and fuck me?”

He laughed. “On one condition.”

“Seriously? Now you want to negotiate?”

“Nope, not a negotiation. More like either this or that.”

“All right, I’ll play.”

“You need to get that through your head—I’m not playing. Not now, not ever.” He looked at her sternly and was relieved when he saw her body lose the tension it had been holding, and her eyes softened.

“I hear you,” she said quietly. “What’s the condition?”

“Either you acknowledge once and for all you belong to me,” he said, shaking his head to silence her protest before she made it, “and I belong to you.”

She smiled seductively as she ran her finger down the middle of his torso.

“What’s the ‘or’ side of that statement?”

“Or,” he said, wrapping her in his arms, “I’ll beat your ass until you do.”

She laughed. “You’re such a jackass.” She held up her finger and placed it against his lips. “But you’re my jackass.”

“Yes, I am.” He grinned. “Now, Ms. Reid, I believe I told you I preferred seeing you naked.”

“First, help me with these wet boots, then I’ll get completely naked, and you can have your way with me.”

She sat on the flat rock by the campfire, and Croft bent down and pulled her wet boots and socks off, then laid the socks on the rocks that formed the campfire ring and set up the two sticks close to it, upending her boots onto them. By the time he finished, Finn was, as promised, completely nude.

He knew his smile had to be predatory in the extreme. That was how he felt—as though he was the predator, and she was his prey. Only the screams he intended to elicit from her wouldn’t be of fear or pain but of repeated ecstasy as he took her long and hard. He wanted to ensure she forgot, at least for a while, her fear and concern for her brother and thought only of the amazing future they would create together.

Croft had long ago given up believing he’d ever find a woman he could share a life with. Seeing Mac and Willa and the other relationships of the men he worked with had given him a glimmer of hope. Finding Finn had been nothing short of a miracle. He had yet to determine whether he was going to beat Reid to a pulp for putting her in this position or express his undying gratitude to him for being so stupid to have gotten her involved.

He only prayed he could give Finn her happily ever after.