Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Tessa
After Paige drops me off, I do a little research on my neighbor, learning some very interesting things. Apparently, Case Callen is a retired RCMP officer that was undercover in an outlaw biker club for five years, which explains a lot. The information causes a bit of anxiousness since I’ve been messing with him but once I think about it, I decide if he were going to do something about it, he already would have. In fact, I’m starting to think Mr. Biker just might be getting off on our games as much as I am.
Smiling, I tuck the information away and open my word processor to write. And I do actually write. And I don’t stop for a solid five hours. The problem? It’s not the book I should be writing. Instead, I’m swept away in the hot erotic romance that’s been taking over my brain lately. The one that’s been inspired by my sexy-but-annoying neighbor. So naturally, it’s staring him. And the heroine? She resembles the most hedonistic parts of myself, parts I had no idea existed until I met Case Callen.
And the only reason I come up for air is because the hero of that story is banging on my door.
My face burns instantly hotter as I see him. If he only knew the scene that just played out in my head and found its way onto my word processor, he’d be blushing too.
I open the door but leave the screen shut with the eyehook still latched. While it wouldn’t stop someone who really wanted in, it will stop him. He may be big and tattooed but he’s way less intimidating than he looks. Especially now that I know he’s former RCMP. But that doesn’t mean my body doesn’t shiver at his visit though. It’s just shivering for a whole different reason.
“What can I do for you, Case?” I can smell his clean scent on the breeze through the screen. His hair, still a little damp, looks darker. He’s dressed in jeans, tight around his muscular thighs, a thick belt, and that form-fitting black Foo Fighters t-shirt again. It’s stretched around his substantial biceps, hard pecs and the bump of his nipple ring.
The shivers inside me turn to tremors and then into full-on throbbing as his grey-blue eyes assess me. I need to fan myself, only it’s not hot out and how would I explain that?
Tell me you’re a woman in your dirty thirties without telling me you’re a woman in your dirty thirties.
He places one of those delicious arms up on the door frame which gives me a better view of his muscled form.
“Open the door, Tessa,” he says on a graveled growl that makes me imagine my ovaries going off like firecrackers. “I told you we were going to discuss the diesel thief.”
Good. God. I need air conditioning. As soon as my money is released, I’m getting the biggest industrial-sized AC I can. And a fan, also industrial-sized.
Case clears his throat yanking me from my thoughts. “The diesel thief, Tessa?”
“I’m not involved in the neighborhood watch,” I say dryly, leaning my whole body against the opposite door frame while I examine my nails. They’re a little long… perfect for scratching a sculpted back.
Jesus!
“Unlucky for you, I am.”
My eyes flick up to his tight mouth and I swallow slowly, dropping my hands. His lips are full, framed nicely with his well-trimmed beard. No wonder he’s such a good kisser. His equipment is top-notch. He clears his throat and my eyes find his.
“How is that unlucky for me? I would think having a big strong neighbor paying attention and watching out for thieves is a good thing.”
“You’d think,” he says, his tone more serious than before.
Something’s shifted. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m not viewing this so much as a war anymore. I’m enjoying it too much now. And I might not be writing the book I’m supposed to be, but I am writing.
“Unless…” He cocks his head, his brow furrowing in obvious thought. He straightens from the door and loosely points at me. “You know who would think that’s unlucky?”
I shrug. “Tell me.”
“A thief.”
He deadpans me. And my gut flips. I can barely hold back a smile as I let my mouth bow in surprise.
“Is there one? Should I be worried?”
“Oh, yes, you should be worried all right.” He bites his bottom lip, dragging it through his teeth and I lick my own, a sudden image of my nipple replacing his lip.
I have no words. Words are gone. What are words again?
“I’ve found the culprit. And this is where your luck changes…” He leans closer to the screen and whispers through it, giving me a closer look at his beautiful mouth. “I’m willing to settle this without the cops.”
My gut drops. Cops? I never thought about that. He wouldn’t, would he? As former RCMP, would he have more pull?
“Cops don’t scare me, Case Callen, but sure, come on in. Let’s discuss your problems .” I flick the hook out of the eyelatch but don’t open the door. Instead, I yawn, making my way to the kitchen table. He needn’t know my body is vibrating wildly with needy excitement.
I lean my ass against the table as he walks in, noticing how much of the doorway he fills as he does. It gives me further wanton vibrations and his stern expression isn’t helping either, so I plop into one of the chairs and cross my legs for good measure. God help me if he notices my weakened knees. Power like that would go straight to his head.
“Okay Sunshine, here’s how it’s going to go…”
I cut him off, rudely. “Do tell, Mr. Biker.” I roll my eyes. “I’m riveted.”
He points a long finger at me. “That stops now.”
I press my thighs tighter, his sudden sharp tone like a striking flare inside me. No wonder Gary never lit my fire. He was as spineless as a cephalopod and apparently I like my men with all the backbone. “And what pray tell is ‘that’? ”
“Your rude brush-offs. Your haughty attitude.” His hands go to his narrow hips. “You lack manners, Ms. Harlow, and we’ve already got enough to deal with today, let’s not tackle that too.”
What the hell does that mean? Sitting forward swiftly, I start to rise. “Excuse me?—”
He cuts me off. “Sit your ass down before I make sitting your least favorite pastime for a lot longer than I currently intend to.”
Gasping loftily, I head straight for him, hand poised to… I don’t know what, cause I sure as hell have never slapped anyone in my life and don’t plan to start now. He grabs my upper arm, spins me, shoves me against the table’s edge. Pinning my hand into my lower back, he lands a swat to my ass so sharp, I yelp. And before I can even catch my breath his lips are at my ear, his hot breath tickling the overly sensitive skin of my neck.
“Care to try that again, Sunshine?”
Jes us. A moan escapes my lips. One I hope to god he didn’t hear.
“That was assault,” I say, my voice cracking. Still pinned, my skin buzzing where his palm touched me, I struggle against his grasp. If I don’t escape and get some distance from this man, I might combust. Or strip naked and throw myself at him, pussy first.
“Prove it,” he says, still trapping me between his hard body and the table. “I can prove you syphoned my diesel with the camera footage from my property and the three cans full on your deck, but can you prove I touched you?”
He’s waiting for me to speak but I’m absolutely incapable. Camera footage? Shit, shit, shit.
“I can tell you right now, there isn’t a mark on you… yet . And oh, I plan on marking you, but Sunshine, I’m going to make you beg me first. Because if there’s one thing you need more than my hand on your saucy ass, it’s to be knocked down a peg or two.”
He releases me and I spin to face him. It takes me a second more time than usual to snap back because I’m more than a little breathless. “You’ll be gray, toothless with a shriveled dick, and balls that touch your knees before that ever happens.”
“Return my diesel,” he says pointing at the door, his eyes pinning me in place.
I clench my jaw. “No.”
He cocks one sexy brow and fishes his phone out of his pocket. I make the mistake of looking down as he does and see just how hot and bothered my neighbor is. I swallow hard. His dick is impressive.
“You’ve got three choices here, Sunshine. One, you return the diesel now . Two, we call the cops and let them figure it out. Or three, you beg me, nicely, to punish you. After that, when your ass is good and sore and I think you’ve learned your lesson, I’ll take the diesel back myself and we let bygones be bygones.”
I don’t move. I don’t even breathe. What the hell kind of options are those? He looks at his watch and I swallow hard.
“You’ve got two minutes to decide.”
I gather a breath, panic welling. Although this no longer feels like a sexy game, I’m still throbbing, soaking wet, and quaking with need.
“Fine!” But I don’t say any more.
He crosses his arms again. I don’t know if it’s the sheer size of them or the gesture itself that has my skin tingling with electricity, but I clench my jaw and try not to pant over the sculpted beauty of them.
“Tick-tock. The guys were just cleaning up when I left. They’ll be leaving soon.”
“I said fine, didn’t I?”
“And what does fine mean, Sunshine? Return the gas? Deal with the cops? Beg for punishment?”
Again, I fight the urge to fan myself all the while fighting my anxiety. “And I suppose you’ll be spanking me as punishment?” I ask because he could have some other way of making my ass good and sore. And that thought makes my gut lurch. I’m just not sure if it’s in excitement or fear. When did I get so kinky?
“Thanks to Tank Long, I know it’s not a foreign concept to you. And it certainly isn’t one to me. I’ll be fair though. But, Tessa, you need a good hard spanking. More than anyone I’ve ever met.”
There’s a rush of heat between my legs and I feel a little faint. “Yeah, I don’t think so, perv. I’ll return the diesel when everyone leaves.”
He chuckles humorlessly. “Nope. Wasn’t one of the options. Now or never. And the perv part is right, but it’s not over the spanking, although that’ll be plenty satisfying. It’s over what else I know you need more than anyone I’ve ever met. A good hard fucking. And you’ll be begging for that soon enough too.”
I laugh at that, but it sounds as fake as it is. “You just want to humiliate me.” I scowl, narrowing my eyes on him. “You get off on it.”
“You can learn a lot from humiliation, Ms. Fancy Pants. And imagine how humiliating it’s been for me. The lumber yard, my contractor and his crew, they all think I’m an idiot or whipped by my gorgeous neighbor. How can I expect anyone to respect me when I can’t even keep my site from being tampered with? I’m going to lose my badass biker card, Tessa.” He smirks and it eases my nerves.
I purse my lips, breathing out through my nostrils and look away. He’s right though. But instead of letting myself feel some humility, my sassy attitude shows itself.
“So, what did you learn from your humiliation?” I shouldn’t have said it, I know it. But damn it, I can’t keep my mouth shut.
His face darkens as if a shadow has been cast across it.
“That both Tank Long and your grandmother had the right idea in dealing with you.”
I shift on my feet, taking my weight off my bad ankle. “What?”
“It’s true. Your grandmother told me you were going to be difficult long before I bought this property. Told me how best to deal with you.”
I’m one hundred percent speechless now. Looking away, I fight to keep my emotions at bay.
“So, cops then?”
My head snaps back to look at him, angry tears burning behind my eyes. He’s smiling. It’s not a cruel smile, but smug and even though I damn well deserve it, it pisses me off.
“No,” I grumble, barely audible.
He nods curtly. “Okay. Beg then .”
If my jaw got any tighter, it might crack. Did Gran foresee me coming back here? Did she know Gary would cheat? Did she think this man… no, this brute, would be good for me?
“I’m not joking Tessa, beg me to spank that naughty ass of yours. It’s time we work things out. Get on the same page here so we can move on. This is the only way.”
“Spank me,” I say without feeling, even though I am nothing but feeling right now.
He closes the distance between us until there’s only a foot separating us. He raises his phone, showing me the already keyed in numbers for the police. Then with his free hand he tips my chin up so we’re looking each other in the eyes. “You can do better than that, Sunshine. Ask properly or I press dial.”
I growl, ripping my chin out of his grip. Balling my hands into fists, I slam them against my sides. “Please… punish… me.” I grind out the words.
He shakes his head slowly and presses his lips. The lips I remember quite well being both demanding but soft and oh so skillful.
“Tell me you deserve a hard spanking.”
If looks could kill, he’d be dead. I need a new tactic though. I’m Tess Harlow, the queen of getting the upper hand. I smile my sexiest and nibble my bottom lip.
“Please, Case,” I say breathily. “I’ve been a bad, bad girl.” I lick my bottom lip slowly, noting the way his eyes follow my tongue. “And I need to be disciplined. Punish me. Oh, please, Sir.” A breathy gasp comes out of my mouth, and I push out my bottom lip out in a pout. “I need it so bad. Spank me till I’m sorry.”
He grins boyishly and it throws me off. Asshole. Hot, hot, asshole.
There’s heat in his eyes, and it’s molten, I focus on that, but he blinks it away and I wonder if I’d even seen it at all.
“Good enough, Tessa. Your begging lacked honesty, but I’ll let it slide and deliver anyway. Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
I narrow my eyes on him, but I don’t speak, mostly because he’s taking his sweet time unbuckling his thick leather belt and I’m trying not to let my knees buckle. I’m also not sure where all the oxygen in the room is, because it certainly isn’t in my lungs.
“Go ahead, get out of those pants, babygirl.”
“Don’t you dare babygirl me, Case. I’m not your babygirl and never will be,” I say knowing I will be replaying every second of this whole conversation later as I touch myself.
His hand flies out to yank me forward against his hard chest and just when I’m completely discombobulated, he lands a smack on my ass, jolting me against him and his huge hard cock. “Hurry up now, woman, I’m getting impatient.”
I grab my bottom in both hands, ignoring the tightening of my nipples which just brushed against his chest. “Fuck you.”
“If you ask nicely, after we’re done I’ll consider it. I can’t deny you get me all revved up, Sunshine. Now get going or we’ll be here all night.”
A zing shoots through me, landing right between my thighs.
I think by this point my panties are so wet they could be wrung out and I’ll die if he notices.
As soon as the pants drop to my ankles, I step out of them, portraying someone far more confident than I am. He bends to toss me over his shoulder, and I grunt.
“I never agreed to being manhandled,” I say, winded by the swift movement.
“Too bad.” He holds up his phone. “Feel free to call the police.” He laughs dryly. “But I recorded you begging me to punish you so?—”
“I bet you’ll play it later as you spank something else, pervert.”
He chuckles as he heads toward the screen door, and I start squirming.
“What are you doing?”
“Stay still. I’m only taking you to the porch. Unless you’d rather my crew watch instead of just listening?”
A string of curses fly out of my mouth and if he wasn’t so damn big and strong I’m sure I’d be flat on my face on the floor. Instead, I’m firm against him. So tight in his grip that he’s able to squat with ease and grab the milking stool.
“Now, feel free to holler and complain because this is going to hurt.”
“Fuck you.”
“We’re doing this on the porch is for two reasons, Sunshine. One, I don’t mind if my crew hears. I have a reputation to rebuild. And two, I need room to get a good swing on this belt as I whip your saucy ass.”
He plops down on the stool and dumps me across his lap. The stool’s short so he has to stretch his long, long legs out and my knees practically touch the deck boards, but I don’t complain. I don’t dare make a noise that anyone will hear. “We’re starting with my hand though. I want to feel that ass heat up as I spank you.”
“You’re a fucking sadistic asshole and I hate you.” The words aren’t much louder than a whisper.
“Okay, Sunshine.” The condescending prick sets the belt down in front of me, chuckles and pats my ass. “Don’t you touch that belt now, missy. Not until I ask you for it.”
I growl. “Oh shut up and get on with it.”
I shouldn’t push him in case he decides to take my panties down because he’ll definitely notice the arousal-soaked center. And that is the absolute last thing I want.
Case laughs. “You really are asking for this.” No sooner are the words out of his mouth the first several swats land. They sting but I’m not worried about the pain, it’s the embarrassing clap, clap, clap that echoes loudly from my porch that couldn’t possibly be mistaken for anything else, that has my attention.
It isn’t long before his hand picks up speed. I’m squirming, blocking the swats and swearing at him after mere seconds of the new rhythm. And thoughts of people hearing are replaced by me urging him to stop.
“Enough! You’ve had your fun embarrassing me. And my ass hurts plenty enough.”
“Honey, do you know how this works?” He shifts me, like a doll, which is another form of humiliation because I’m not a petite little thing like Paige. I’m lean but way taller than the average woman. Too bad he’s a giant among men.
“I’m in charge here. I know you’re used to being in control, but honey, no one can be in control while over someone’s knee getting their bottom spanked.” And when he moves me with complete ease, despite my struggles, to straddle one of his thick muscular thighs I want to crawl in a hole and have the earth swallow me whole.
“You son of a?—”
He stops me with a swat so hard I choke on my curse and tears spring to my eyes.
“Ow!”
“Behave, Sunshine, because this is going to get a whole lot worse sooner if you don’t. And trust me, you want time to adjust.” He starts up his punishing swats again and I’m holding my breath and fighting to control my emotions.
How bloody humiliating is it to be spanked like a naughty little girl over your sexy neighbor’s lap? God! Except my clit is throbbing with every single swat and I’m way too aroused to care.
And that arousal numbs the discomfort of his hand when it picks up speed once again. I moan and move my hips because each and every hard swat he lands, pushes my swollen needy clit against his thigh in the most delicious way. My face heats further when he stops and gives my ass a dirty squeeze.
“Are you enjoying this little spanking, Ms. Fancy Pants?” He rises, tugging me up with him.
I shake my head, afraid if I speak he’ll hear the huskiness in my voice.
“While I’d like to give you a sexy spanking that you’ll enjoy, this one isn’t it. Hand me the belt and let’s get to the part where you regret your bad behavior.”
I don’t move. “Get it your damn self.” I look to the belt curled on the deck beside us. “And if you think I’d ever let you touch me in a sexy way you’re delusional.”
His big hand grabs my throat, his thumb shoving my chin up. “Fight me all you want, Tessa. I will win. You will learn not to cross me.” With his free arm around my waist, he pushes me back, spins me, and leans me against the railing, his hand, now cupping my nape, holding me there.
“Don’t move, woman. We’re just getting started.” With a booted foot he knocks my feet apart.
I swallow hard as he scoops up the belt. The jingle has frisson shivering through me as more juices flow from my pussy. The first stripe makes me lurch forward and hiss. My foot flies up to protect my ass.
“Fuck.”
“Now that’s what I like to see.” He gives one of those dry chuckles that make me want to mount him while simultaneously castrating him.
I gasp again as the belt lands in fast burning strikes across my panty covered cheeks, stealing my breath. I rise on tiptoes, concentrating on all the ways I can make his character suffer in my current work in progress.
I’m so caught up in my fantasy of Case losing his dick in a terrible motorcycle accident, I don’t notice he’s stopped. At least not until I hear Jake’s screeching and Case’s cursing. I turn, and holy shit, Jake is flapping his big wings, feet straight forward, attacking Case with his foot spurs.
And instead of helping my neighbor from my attack chicken, I grab my ass and burst out laughing.
Case throws up his arms to protect his face, the belt dropping with a clink to the porch. I watch in amusement, clutching my stomach, near tears from laughing until he takes a swing at Jake.
“Don’t you dare hurt him!” I squeal.
Case shoots me a look through flailing feathers and growls at me. Then he reaches out and grabs the rooster by the legs. Jake is suddenly flapping upside-down, screeching.
“Gotcha,” he says and looks at me again. “I wasn’t going to hurt him, for fuck’s sake. I’m not a monster.” He stomps down the stairs and carries the rooster to the coop.
“Jake, you can wake me up every day for the rest of your life and I will never yell at you again,” I call and scramble into the house, locking all the doors. And when Case pounds on the back entrance a few minutes later, I ignore him.
“Tessa, we aren’t done until I say so.”
Both hands find my hot bottom and I rub the throbbing away. Unfortunately, the throbbing there is far less prevalent than the other part of me pulsing for attention, but damn it, I refuse to rub it away. It’s a matter of principal.
Instead, I sit on a pillow and start tapping away at my keyboard again. And that’s where Paige finds me the next morning, still in my underwear, bleary-eyed and smiling.
When I get up to go grab my stuff for the beach—the first thing on our list for Girls’ Weekend — she shrieks.
“He followed through on his threat!”
I spin, shocked. “How on earth…”
“Better wear a wrap over your swimsuit, Tess. Your ass is telling a story I’m not sure you want published.” She bursts out laughing and I scowl, pointing at her.
“Not another word, Paige, or I’m definitely firing you.” I narrow my eyes on her as she doubles over, laughing harder.
Changing tactics, I say, “Keep that up and I’m not giving you details.”
I smile smugly when she closes her mouth so fast her teeth click.
“That’s better.”