Chapter Thirty-Three
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The ambulance was already coming up the drive when Brody and Annie stepped out of the forest. While Brody explained the situation to the paramedics, Annie sat on the ground and hugged Merlin. But Bella wanted attention too. By the time Brody had finished both dogs were clambering all over her and licking her face.
“Hey, take it easy, Bella. You too, Merlin, or whatever your name is.”
“I don’t want them to stop. I love this,” she exclaimed, laughing out loud.
“His name is Rocky,” the sheriff announced, striding up to join them, “and let me tell you, he’s one helluva dog.”
“Who does he belong to?” Brody asked. “I don’t remember seein’ him around.”
“No reason you should. He was old Jack Thompson’s dog, and Jack didn’t get out much. When some wild boys from across the river started giving poor old Jack a hard time, he adopted him, and Rocky put them in their place real quick. He was a great watchdog and never left Jack’s side. But Jack passed away a few months back, and when the animal control folks arrived to take Rocky, he ran off and hasn’t been seen since.”
“See! I told you he wasn’t a wolf,” Annie exclaimed, punching Brody’s arm.
“Brody isn’t far off, Annie,” the sheriff continued. “He’s a Saarloos Wolfdog. At least that’s what Jack claimed. I looked it up. They have more wolf in them than any other breed.”
“Well he saved us sheriff,” Annie declared, “and if it’s okay with you I’d like to adopt him.”
“Fine by me.”
“Brody? Do you mind?” Annie asked, staring up at him.
“I’d say yes if I were you, or Bella might just run away with him,” the sheriff interjected with a chuckle. “They sure look like they’re fond of each other. Now if you’ll excuse me, Geoff is bein’ brought out and I want a quick word.”
“I do too,” Annie said angrily, running towards the stretcher.
“Hey, hold up,” Brody called, but she was already on her way and nothing was going to stop her.
“Geoff, your office will receive a letter of termination from a lawyer in the next couple of days, and I’m suing you for everything I can think of,” she said angrily as she walked alongside. “And the minute I get back to the house I’m calling Julie Preston. That’s right, Geoff, Patty Henderson’s former PR agent. I’m going to tell her everything that’s happened, and do as many interviews as I can manage. In twenty-four hours everyone will know all about you, and your name will be mud.”
“You ungrateful cow, I made you a star! You can’t threaten me,” he retorted though grimacing in pain as he spoke. “Tell her, sheriff,” he added as the sheriff joined them. “Tell her she can’t threaten me like that.”
“She can talk to you any way she wants. You clobbered my deputy over the head with a heavy branch,” the sheriff snapped. “You’ll be facin’ charges here, and count yourself lucky I didn’t let Rocky attack you a second time. Get him outta here, fellas, before I permanently reshape his nose.”
* * *
As the deputies left to escort the ambulance to the hospital, Brody, Annie, and the dogs started walking down to the house while the sheriff climbed into his car.
“Hey, Brody I forgot to ask,” he called, lowering his window. “Do you want to press charges?”
“For what?”
“That bastard broke into your barn and stole those clothes.”
“I think kidnapping Annie and all the other crimes he committed will be enough. I suspect he’ll be lookin’ through prison bars for years.”
“You’re right about that. Okay, I’ll be in touch. I need to take your statements but that can wait until tomorrow.”
“Bye, sheriff,” Annie said gratefully. “You were amazing.”
“Nope, Rocky was amazin’. I just cleaned up. Bye now.”
“So, Rocky,” she murmured, reaching down to pet him as the sheriff drove away. “Do you want to be part of our family?”
“Family?” Brody repeated, taking her hand and pulling her into his arms. “You’ve got a whole other life.”
“I don’t see why I can’t have both. I can buy that field next door and build my own recording studio, and a house where the band can stay. The guys would love it out here.”
“That’s a brilliant idea, but what about your tours?”
“I think I’ve reached a point where I can perform in bigger venues and do less shows. I’ll figure it out. But, Brody, the most important thing is you and me,” she said, lowering her voice. “Yes, I love what I do—but I love you more, and if anyone’s going to manage me, it will be you.”
“How about I manage you right now?” he whispered, moving his lips to her ear.
“What did you have in mind.”
“First, you’ll soak in a hot, soapy tub, then you’ll lie on our bed, naked of course, slip on the blindfold you find on the pillow, and wait for me.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later, stretched out and filled with erotic anticipation, Annie heard Brody enter the bedroom. As he stretched out next to her, she was about to speak but he placed his finger on her lips.
“No talkin’,” he murmured, roaming his hands across her body. “You have pain here,” he said softly, stroking her upper arm. “I’ll take it away.”
She fleetingly wondered how he knew, but as his palm caressed her skin she felt a tingling sensation, and the ache began to subside. Continuing to roam his fingertips across the front of her body, he found all her sore spots and caressed away the discomfort, then rolled her over.
“Your poor shoulders,” he whispered, lightly kneading them. “There, that’s better. But you know my hands can carry a hot sting if I need them to, don’t you, Annie?”
A shiver of excitement suddenly rippled down her spine.
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m going to give you a reminder at least once a week.”
“Uh…”
“Is that a problem, darlin’?”
“Uh, no.”
“Just as well,” he crooned, then delivered a hard swat on her right cheek. “Balance, baby, we’ve gotta keep things in balance,” he continued, landing another on the left. “Punishment and pleasure, equal measures of both.”
He began spanking her in a steady rhythm, evoking gasps and cries, but just as she was about to beg him to stop he slipped his fingers into her sex.
“Is there something you want, Annie?”
“Yes, yes, please, sir, will you take me?”
Wordlessly straddling her thighs, he gripped her hips, pulled her up, and placing his hardness at her entrance, he slowly pushed forward. After waiting a moment to savor her warmth, he began to pump, thrusting slowly until her moans told him she ached for more. But wanting to see her, he pulled out and flipped her over.
“Damn, you’re gorgeous,” he grunted, gazing at her body.
Taking hold of her wrists and pinning them on either side of her head, he lowered his lips to her puckered nipples and drew them into his mouth. Urged on by her moans, he sucked harder, then shifted his attention to her lips, kissing her urgently while he positioned himself against her wetness and thrust forward. As she let out a muffled cry, he suddenly needed to utterly possess her. Vigorously stroking, he squeezed his eyes shut and relished the feel of her engulfing warmth.
“Please, sir…?” she suddenly begged. “I’m so close. Please may I come?”
“Yeah, darlin’, I’m right there with you.”
Accelerating and tightening his grip on her wrists, he lowered his chest so her nipples would brush against his wiry chest hairs. He knew it would be the spark to send her over the top, and with her cries filling the room, he surrendered to his sparkling explosion…
Long minutes later, curled in his arms, she whispered something he couldn’t hear.
“What did you say, darlin’?”
“I’ve have a song in my head about you, and I just thought of the title.”
“Go on.”
“The Cowboy’s Magic Touch.”