Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

Z ara watched Noah as he drove silently toward some destination she knew nothing about. She couldn’t help the way her arousal had spiked when he’d stormed onto the plane. Her thoughts had all tumbled together. It appeared as though the tranquilizer hadn’t done any lasting damage. God, he was sexy. How had he found her so fast? He looked good enough to fuck on the floor of the hangar. Her nipples were beaded and being rubbed in a not-so-good way by her bra. If she took her bra off, maybe Noah would rub or suck them in a very good way. The bulge in the front of his jeans indicated he was happy to see her.

“Noah?” she said quietly.

“What?” he snarled.

No doubt about it, she had definitely provoked the beast. He was majorly pissed. A warped and completely inappropriate thought entered her mind, and she gave it voice before she could stop it.

“What part are you planning to bite?”

“What?” he asked in a confused tone of voice, glancing over at her.

“The last time I bit you, you told me that if I did it again unless it was out of passion, you’d bite me back and in a place more sensitive than my hand. I was just wondering if you’d given that any thought.”

“The only thought I’m having right now is how to get you safe enough so I can welt your ass for this stunt. And don’t you doubt for a minute it will happen. Nasty-tempered, foolhardy, pigheaded vixen.” He took a deep breath. “Are you all right?”

“I suppose that depends on how serious you are about taking your belt to my butt.”

“I don’t make idle threats, sweetheart. Once we’re safe, you and I are going to have a long and painful discussion about your behavior today. We’ll need to be able to hole up for a few days as you won’t be able to sit or walk when I’m done with you.”

“Ghazil,” she said, concerned. “If they knew about my flight…”

“We’ve already moved Ghazil.”

Noah continued to put distance between them and the airport. He was headed for the harbor. Before they could continue their conversation, the phone rang through the car’s audio system. Noah used the hands-free feature to put it on speaker.

“Taylor.”

“Noah, it’s Avery. Are you secure? Do you have Zara? We’re getting conflicting reports coming out of Mykonos.”

“We’re in the SUV. I think I can just make the next speed ferry back to Greece. That should put us ahead of anyone in pursuit. I have Zara with me.”

“Is she safe? Unhurt?”

“Safe enough and unhurt for now. They tried to take her out at the airport. We just barely got away. What do you know on your end?”

“Mac is questioning Fariq.”

“Get Croft to do it and let him know Fariq’s at the heart of this thing?—”

“He’s what?” Zara asked.

Noah turned to her. “I’ll fill you in later.”

Avery laughed. “I think that’s why Mac decided to do it. Croft is in almost as nasty a mood as you, only he can’t do anything about it. Finn is pretty upset by the idea that Reid is involved?—”

“Reid’s involved?” Zara asked.

“Again, sweetheart, I’ll fill you in. Ghazil said he had a place on the Amalfi Coast he thinks is secure, but at this point, I don’t trust anybody who isn’t us.”

“Agreed,” said Avery. “What do you need? Do you want me to bring the plane to get the two of you?”

“No, I think we need to have a presence closer to the action, and I need to have Zara with me.”

“We can watch over her for you.”

“I know, but for right now, I need her close. She knows more than she’s shared, probably more than she even knows.” He turned to look at her. Zara couldn’t meet his eyes. “But she’s going to tell me everything ,” he said, stressing the last word. “Aren’t you, sweetheart?”

“I have—” she started.

“Rhetorical question, Zara. You will tell me everything… one way or another.”

“I hate to interrupt your little love spat,” Avery said, “but where do you want to go?”

“Noah? It’s John. We’ve got the FBI outside with a warrant for Fariq. We’re going to have to give him up if he wants to go. We figure Reid’s the one that set them on us.”

“That would be my guess. You guys secure everything on your end. I’ll coordinate with Thom. I think he needs to stay in London.”

“I agree. Check-in when you can and keep Zara safe.”

“You guys stay safe, too.”

Zara watched him disconnect before turning back to her.

“Did I cause this?” she asked quietly.

The idea that not listening to Noah had somehow started the snowball that had avalanched into this mess was upsetting. His hand came to rest on her thigh.

“No, sweetheart. This is Reid’s fault. He involved Finn, who talked to you. All you did was what you had to do.”

“I could have listened to you,” she said.

He surprised her by laughing. “You could have, but you didn’t and probably won’t in the future.”

“It’s not funny, and I feel somehow responsible.”

“You aren’t,” he reassured her. “And now that we know there’s a lot more in play, we can act accordingly. Fariq could have asked to leave at any time. There’s not a lot we could do to stop him. The FBI is just a show of force on his part and Reid’s way of ensuring we wouldn’t try to hold him.”

“Reid’s involved.” She shook her head in disbelief. “How could he involve Finn like that?”

“First, Finn isn’t some na?ve neophyte. Had it gone down the way Reid thought, it would have been over and done with and none the wiser. But when it started to go sideways, Springer grabbed Finn. My guess is he thought to use her as a bargaining chip to take on Reid. What neither of them counted on was Finn, like you, is not inclined to take orders and has a nose for a story. Want to clue me in about what you know that you’ve been withholding?”

“I need you to know, I never thought it was relevant to anyone’s safety. Gerold Springer is a German nationalist with fascist leanings. He didn’t impress me as the guy Fariq would groom to take over. He’s basically a thug in a Saville Row suit. The rumors are that there is an heir apparent, but he is very elusive. How did you find out about Reid?”

“Ghazil knew.”

“He didn’t tell me.”

Noah barked a short laugh. “Sweetheart, if you know Ghazil at all, you know he keeps secrets. He keeps less from us because we have him on a rather large monthly retainer.”

“That rat! That’s how you knew where I was going to be.”

“Only because I asked the right questions and frankly, let him know you were my woman. For all his faults, he really does have a romantic side.”

“I’m not your woman.”

“Yes, you are, and you know it. One of the things that will be included in that long discussion you and I are going to have is the status of our relationship.”

Noah said nothing more but checked the mirrors of the SUV several times. They barely made it onto the speed ferry, which would take a little over two hours to get them back to the mainland. Noah had tipped the man directing cars to let him have the last place in the corner—where he would have an unimpeded view of anyone trying to approach their vehicle. After turning off the engine, he faced her.

“Is that all of it?”

“Pretty much…”

“All of it, Zara,” he grumbled menacingly.

“It’s nothing I know for sure…”

“You have good instincts. Let’s hear it.”

“It’s just that none of this makes any sense unless there is something big happening… like 9/11… something of that size. Nothing goes on in global arms dealing without Fariq being a direct part of it or with at least his tacit agreement. And the guy who coordinates that? Some shadowy figure he’s grooming to take over. Now we know that figure is Reid.”

“But why?”

“That I don’t know… maybe he was radicalized when he was in school, or maybe he just wants the kind of power and money Fariq has. We don’t know that for sure. But where does Springer fit in?”

“My guess is he planned to use Finn against Reid. And Fariq is just sitting back to see who comes out on top. If Reid can’t handle a thug like Springer, he’d never be able to hold Fariq’s organization together.”

Zara nodded.

“We may not have enough to take to the authorities and have him arrested, but we know enough to safeguard ourselves and move against him.”

“Or maybe you just let them go and stay safe.”

“They sent a hit team after you in London, and they had a sniper in Mykonos. You can’t hide forever, and my guess is Finn isn’t safe either. No, we need to take them down or at least cripple them, so they are no longer a threat.”

“Do you think you’re the first people to try to take Fariq on?”

“No, but we’re the ones who don’t have to play by the rules. Fariq took on the wrong set of men and damn sure came after the wrong women. We’ve always prided ourselves on just getting the job done and letting law enforcement worry about bringing them to justice. The flip side of that is you screw with us, and we won’t wait for law enforcement to take you down. We’ll come after you with everything we’ve got. It’s part of why we can do what we do so effectively.”

Before the conversation could continue, the phone rang again.

“Taylor.”

“Noah, it’s Thom. Are you guys on the ferry?”

“Yeah. What have you got for me?”

“We have a man who is going to pick up your vehicle on the ferry and turn it in for you. There will be a car waiting to take you to a private airport outside of Athens. They’ll fly you into Monaco. We have an old fishing cottage outside town that should work well. I’m headed there to finish up the communications setup and general security.”

“But it’s private and secure, right?” Noah asked.

“Yes, very, but also very defensible.”

“So, you’ll be there and gone before we arrive?”

“No, is there an issue?”

“I just need some time alone with Zara. We have a few things to iron out.”

Zara was listening to the conversation and didn’t like the sound of that. The muscles in her ass and her pussy tighten for the same reason. She had no doubt Noah intended to turn her ass a deep shade of red before he worked her pussy over with his cock. One she dreaded and one, God help her, she wanted more than life itself. She needed to feel him mount her, thrusting in and out and filling her in a way no one had ever done.

“What I’m going to do is just finish work and fine-tuning. The majority of the security system work has already been done. I was planning to get there later today, but I can come tomorrow afternoon if you’d prefer,” Thom said.

“That sounds good.”

“If he doesn’t think it’s secure…” Zara started.

“We can change our flight plan and head back to Wales. I’d rather we go to ground quicker than that, but if you prefer Wales…”

Thom laughed on the other end of the line. “I’ll leave that to you two. Let me know if I need to make other plans. Otherwise, I’ll see you late in the day tomorrow. Why don’t you send me a list of things you need once you figure it out—you know pantry items, extra pillows…”

Zara reached up and punched the button, cutting off the conversation.

“Does it bother you at all that I’ll never be able to look this guy in the face and not be absolutely mortified?”

“Why? Because he knows you answer to me? Trust me, it’s no different from what he sees every day. And at some point, I’m hoping he’ll take a certain blonde pilot in hand. We don’t try to rub anyone’s nose in it, but we’re a small, tight-knit family, and there are very few secrets. But you do get points for thinking about seeing Thom in the future.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want to humiliate me.”

“I didn’t humiliate you.”

“He’s not stupid, Noah. He knows you plan to spank me.”

“Of course, he does, but that shouldn’t be humiliating to you. If I wanted to humiliate you, sweetheart, I’d wait until he was there and do it so he could hear your caterwauling as my hand repeatedly connects with your ass.”

Zara rubbed her temples and slumped in her seat. “You really are infuriating.”

“What I am is pissed, and when we get to Monaco, you’re going to understand just how pissed. Jesus, Zara, you tranq’d me.”

“Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. You shot me in the ass first, remember?”

“I do, but I needed to stop you and knew I couldn’t trust you.”

“And I needed to meet with Ghazil, and I didn’t think I could trust you not to stop me.”

“Not the same thing and you know it,” he said through gritted teeth. “You would have caused a scene.”

“And you would have stopped me from doing my job. I will not give up my career for you.”

“I didn’t ask you to. We just need to find a way for you to do it that I can live with.”

“But it’s okay for me if I have nightmares about you when you’re off doing your job?”

“So, you’d have nightmares?” He suddenly seemed very pleased with himself.

“Forget it,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s pointless. When this is over, you’ll just tip your hat and ride off into the sunset.”

“Maybe.” He nodded.

Her heart started to shatter.

“Of course,” he drawled, “I’ll have you hog-tied and thrown over the front of my saddle when I do.”

“I detest you.”

He leaned across and kissed her again. “No, you don’t. But I suspect, after we get to Monaco, you’ll wish you did.”

“Why? What’s happening in Monaco? I thought there was a safehouse there. Do you think Thom is setting you up?”

“No, sweetheart. I’d trust Thom with my life. Hell, I’d trust him with yours. But did you forget the part where I told you I was going to welt your ass for this stunt?”

“And you expect me to walk calmly off this ferry with you and just go along?”

“I do. If you don’t give me your word, you’re going to do exactly that, I’ll put some sting in your tail right here and right now to remind you that you are going to do what I tell you.”

Zara glanced around. There was no one in sight, and she was quite certain he would do precisely what he was saying. Besides, he was right, someone involved in all of this had tried and come close to killing her twice. Twice, Noah’s fast thinking and reflexes had kept her out of harm’s way.

“I promise I’ll go with you to Monaco and won’t cause you any more trouble between now and then,” she said, her voice quivering.

“And after we reach Monaco?”

“All bets are off,” she said, trying to steady her voice.

Noah reached across and took her chin in his hand.

“It’s all right, Zara, I’ll keep you safe. If you believe nothing else, believe that.”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

When the ferry docked, they left the keys in the SUV and walked off with the other foot passengers. Noah had his arm around her waist. To the casual observer, they would look like a couple of lovers just returning from a day trip to the Greek islands, but his grip was more than casual, and she could feel the tension in him. Oddly, she found that reassuring. Noah was good at his job, and little would escape his notice.

As promised, there was a ride for them to the airport. They boarded the chartered plane and were in the air within minutes. Once in Monaco, they went through customs and picked up the new SUV Thom had waiting for them with the GPS coordinates already programmed. Noah drove the streets of the ancient city until they led up and out to the winding roads above it.

The navigation unit took them off the beaten path, and finally, they arrived at an unassuming little whitewashed cottage with a tile roof. They stowed the SUV in an outbuilding and headed inside.

“Do you mind if I freshen up a bit?” she asked.

“Sure, I just want to check in and let them know we’re here, then see what we can rustle up for dinner.”

“I can do that while you get things checked out. I don’t have to be a millstone around your neck.”

“You can be anything you want around any part of my body,” he teased gently. “Just go freshen up, and we’ll figure out what we want to eat for dinner.”

Entering the bigger of the two rooms, she realized whoever set it up had assumed they’d be sleeping together and wanted to be more annoyed than she was. She was happy to see the room had a large private bath, no tub, but the shower was huge. She smiled—big enough for her and Noah to share. She looked in the dresser and found a collection of jeans, leggings, and various tops to go with them in her size.

“Noah, they sent clothes. Real, honest-to-God clothes,” she called to him. She turned and was startled to find him right behind her. He moved swiftly and silently when he wanted to.

“I don’t know why. My plans for you don’t involve a lot of clothes,” he rumbled seductively and pulled her close.

She stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing herself against him, nibbling and licking the hollow of his throat. His low, rumbling growl was all the encouragement she needed. She tugged off the sweater she had on, and with it, her sports bra. His hands slid down her back and under the waistband of the sweats to cup her ass and bring her into direct contact with his groin. She smiled as the familiar bulge enclosed by his jeans nudged her mons.

He kneaded the firm flesh of her derriere as he maneuvered himself out of his shirt, letting go with one hand for her to pull his arm out of the sleeve, but keeping the other on her rump, ensuring she remained molded to his tall, muscular frame.

She reached between them to unbuckle his belt and unfasten his jeans, reaching inside to get her prize when he stayed her hands. He pushed her sweats down, gliding them over her behind and down her thighs as he kneeled, and she stepped out of them. Drawing her closer, he slipped his hand between her legs and briefly tugged her clit before pinching it… hard.

“What the fuck?” Zara gasped.

Noah stood, fisting her hair at the nape of her neck and briefly fondling her breasts until her nipples were pebbled and stiff, waiting for further and more focused attention.

“As I recall, I told you earlier today I was going to welt your ass, then fuck you so hard, you’d have trouble sitting or walking, and I mean to do it. Let’s go.”

He dragged her toward the bed while she struggled to get away from him. She thought about trying to bite him but reminded herself that hadn’t been effective and would most likely make him angrier.

“Noah, please.”

“Don’t you Noah, please me. You earned yourself this set of stripes, and by God, woman, I mean to give them to you.”

Sitting on the bed, he threw her across one thigh, using his other leg to trap hers. Before she could make any kind of argument or formulate some kind of plan to avoid this, his hand came down and landed on her butt cheek with a resounding thwack.

“Owww…”

Zara realized Noah meant to see her royally punished for what she’d done but found it hard to continue thinking as his evil hand beat a steady rhythm on her upturned backside. She squirmed and yelped, and when she reached back, he simply captured both of her hands in his and used them to pin her down.

“You’ve got this coming, Zara. You shot me, you left me in Wales, running off without any kind of backup…”

“I’ve never had backup.”

“You have it now, and you’re damn well going to learn to use it.”

His hand bounced off her butt cheeks in an ever-increasing tempo of pain. The sharp staccato swats being dispersed fairly evenly all over her bottom were reigniting the banked heat from his previous spankings. Zara’s entire backside was on fire and beginning to swell. She knew from past experience, it would be red and heated to the touch before he was done.

When he was finished with the fleshy part of her ass, he moved down to swat her upper thighs and deliver punishing blows to her sit spots, splaying his hand, so a finger or two punished her between her legs as well. She yowled and fought, but he was too strong for it to do her any good.

“I’m sorry, Noah. Please stop. I’m sorry.”

“Are you?” he growled.

“I am. Please don’t spank me anymore. I won’t run off again. I learned my lesson.”

Noah snorted. “I doubt that.”

Zara heard the sound she had never wanted to hear again—the distinctive swish of leather being pulled from belt loops.

“No,” she cried, intensifying her struggles.

“Yes,” he whispered.

She heard his belt slicing through the air before it landed the first stripe of fire across the fullest portion of her bottom.

“No,” she screamed. “Noah, please, no!”

The belt descended, again and again, causing her to thrash on his lap, trying desperately to get away from the torturous weapon. Everything condensed to sound for Zara—Noah’s breathing, the leather whooshing through the air before it hit its target with a loud whack, and her wail in response. She had hoped never to hear the sound of a belt coming into harsh contact with her ass again.

Zara began to cry in great gulping sobs. Seven times his belt meted out the punishment he was determined she would receive. The first indication it might be over was when he laid the belt down where she could see it, then traced each of the welts he had placed. His touch was almost reverent but still made her inhale sharply.

Noah’s finger delved between her upturned cheeks and pressed against her dark rosebud, which gave way to his intrusion.

“Good girl,” he said when she did nothing but breathe heavily. “It’ll be easier on you if you just relax and accept my fingering you back there.”

“I don’t like it,” she said quietly, trying not to squirm.

“I don’t much care. You’re going to learn to do what I tell you. Right now, I’m telling you I mean to finger your asshole. Your job is just to lie here and accept that fact. If you can do that, you might find it’s not nearly as bad as you think.”

He released her hands and rubbed her back as he fingered her. She breathed a silent sigh of relief when he removed his finger and realized he was right—it hadn’t been that bad. Gasping when the single digit was replaced with two, stroking in and out of her at a leisurely pace, she could feel her arousal growing in response to his touch. It was bad enough to accept he was going to use her in this manner, but something altogether different to find pleasure. Zara could feel the evidence of her own desire becoming more urgent as his cock began to throb beneath her. She moaned, and he retreated from her dark hole.

“Good girl. You see that corner by the fireplace?”

“Yes,” she said, knowing what was coming.

“Go stand in the corner with your nose in it, push your ass out, and spread your legs.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Not an option. The only thing that happens if you don’t obey me is I’ll just use your juices to lube my cock and fuck your ass before you go stand in the corner. Either you’ll show me your pussy and pretty welted bottom, or you’ll show me your pussy, your pretty welted bottom, and the evidence of my cum leaking out of your bottom hole. Your choice.”

“I’ll go stand in the corner.”

“Good girl.”