Chapter 24 #2
“That’s my best friend,” she pointed out. “Remember Darlene? The woman who helped you find me? A true rebel.”
“Mmm… I think I like this girl.”
“Yeah, well, I doubt you should. Her dad is the chief of police.” She took a step away like I was going to have a seizure.
“Great. No wonder she hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you. She just worries when strangers suddenly make an appearance in my life.”
As usual, my thoughts drifted away. “Maybe I do like her after all. My baby needs protection.”
“From you? You’re right.”
A nagging feeling lingered in my gut, although I wasn’t about to say a word until I had the man checked out.
Was it possible she hadn’t recognized the stranger who’d made an appearance in her life?
Sure, anyone could purposely alter their looks.
I reminded myself that the dude had been wearing a ballcap.
Besides, the guy in the picture reminded me of one of those football players, big and burly. Not the sniveling man I’d noticed. Of course I could be making something out of nothing.
“Why don’t we try and get some rest,” she suggested, but the look on her face was borderline evil.
I pulled her into my arms, brushing the tips of my fingers down her back. “I didn’t tell you I was finished with you yet. Did I?”
“I kinda hoped you’d say that. But we do have a celebration to go to later.”
“I thought we were celebrating.”
“We are.”
“Then this is enough,” I told her. “More than enough.”
Even before I dumped her on the bed, a story on the smokejumpers was the lead on the morning news.
We both turned to watch and I could tell seeing the condition of the mountain was bothering her.
The aerial photographs from sometime this morning were horrific, so much so I tried to pull her away, but she fought me. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the screen with her lips twisted and her eyes glassing over.
“I need to do this,” she whispered. “I need to find the fucking asshole who did this.”
“Yeah, the guy needs to be tracked down.”
Sadly, one side of the mountain would be scarred for years to come. She shook her head and as soon as I sat down beside her, she grabbed my hand.
“I can’t imagine how terrified you were,” she said with quiet reverence.
“We both were, but we survived. I didn’t tell you, but Axe saved a dog while we were there.”
“He did?” She lifted her head, a bright spot in her eyes. “Was he up there all alone?”
“I don’t know. Axe kept him protected. We didn’t have time to check and see if he has an owner.”
“Is he keeping him?”
“He’ll do the right thing and see if anyone is missing the little tyke, but I kind of hope he does. He’s going through a rough time.”
“When I was at the Ziggy’s with my friends, the entire place was rooting for you.”
“Ziggy’s, huh?”
“A smokejumpers’ bar. For all practical purposes.”
I slid my hand behind her hair, cupping her neck. “You weren’t flirting with anyone, were you?”
“Moi? Never.” She batted her eyelashes, but I sensed her pain. “You’re a hero.”
“I’m nobody’s hero.”
“You’re mine.”
“I better be your everything, woman.” I started to push her down when she suddenly appeared on the screen.
“In an interview with Viper Locke’s girlfriend last night during the hours-long vigil,” the reporter on the newscast was saying, “I think Doctor Monroe expressed what so many people were thinking. From what we’ve learned from various sources, Mr. Locke refused to leave a second smokejumper on the mountain when things became dangerous.
Viper saved the man’s life and is the epitome of a true hero. ”
“Shit,” she moaned and as soon as she grabbed the remote, she tried to turn it off.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I want to hear what you had to say.” I snatched the remote away, holding it over her head.
“You really don’t.” She continued struggling with me, finally smacking me in the chest when I wouldn’t give it up.
“Let’s hear what Doctor Monroe has to say,” the reporter continued.
“Ugh,” Grace moaned, palming her face.
“Viper Locke is an incredible human being. On his way into town, he saved a starving dog he found on the side of the road, choosing to adopt him rather than to hand him over to animal control. He’s kind and loving, thoughtful in every way and I can tell you in all honesty, that he’s one of the bravest men I’ve ever met. He’s just… perfect.”
She stood with a defiant look on her face as her interview went on, angry that anyone had dared try to make it sound like I was a bad man. Everything from the look on her face to the way she was about to throw a punch created a flurry of emotions that I hadn’t anticipated.
“See, you shouldn’t have heard that,” she grumbled.
“But I did. Is that the way you feel?”
“Yes. Are you angry with me?”
I brought her hand to my face. “How could I be angry with you. Except for one little thing. You encouraged an arsonist.”
“I did not.” But she knew she had, actively trying to wiggle away from me.
“Then what was that about?”
“Just a little… don’t fuck with me attitude.”
“I don’t want you doing that.”
“You’re worried about me.”
My sigh was heavier and louder than I’d intended. “I don’t like what’s going on.”
“You think there is something to my concern?”
Shit. She’d backed me into a corner. “Alright, listen. There were tire tracks on the road leading away from the barn that weren’t mine.”
“I knew it! I knew it!”
“Yeah, well, it could just be some kids out for a nice hiding place to smoke dope.”
She wrinkled her nose. “But what if it’s not?”
“I’m going to have a chat with the fire marshal, but…” I could tell she was excited. “But you’re going to leave that to me and don’t get your hopes up.”
“Maybe I should talk to her.”
“No. Not going to happen.”
“You’re not my boss,” she insisted in the same rebellious manner she’d used on television.
I took a deep breath, flicking off the television and placing the remote on the dresser. Then I had a brilliant idea. “I can tell I need to work on keeping you in line.”
“Ha. As if that’s possible.”
“Well,” I said as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, which I doubted she could see from where she was sitting. “I have a way. But maybe I’ll need to perfect it from time to time.”
“Oh, yeah. What’s that?”
With my eyes on the prize, I grabbed her wooden hairbrush, moving quickly toward the bed. She noticed what was in my hand a split second before I tossed her over my lap. “A spanking a day should keep the rebellion away.”
“Oh, you are so… horrible.”
I cracked the wood against her backside, grinning like some loon when she yelped. “You bet I am, but one who is determined to keep you safe.”
And I was. The guys were right, especially Axe. Everyone had a story, a reason they did what they did, whether a good or bad deed.
I brought the brush down a few more times, enjoying the thudding sound made when the wood connected with her quickly reddening skin.
Ellie May yawned, stretching and making cute noises.
“You’re disturbing the dogs,” she moaned, struggling to get off my lap.
“They’ll get over it.” I continued the spanking, moving from side to side.
She wasn’t having any of it, pushing up from the bed. I finally had to wrap my leg around hers to keep her from managing to slide off. Her pussy lips continued to glisten and my cock was already awakening once again, eager and ready to slide as deep inside as her body would allow.
But I continued, twirling the brush several times before cracking it against her sit spot.
“I will so get you for this,” she growled.
“And I hope you try.”
I continued her discipline, her growls turning to yelps and moans. Yes, daily spankings were certainly in order for her.
All while trying to figure out how best to develop a plan. I would and as soon as that happened, I’d go after the son of a bitch.
Maybe I hadn’t learned from the past.
If he attempted to lay a single hand on her, it would be the last thing he did on this earth.