Chapter 14
Maverick
I’d been around awe-inspiring women my entire life.
I’d firmly place my mother in that category.
I preferred their wit, strong opinions, and intelligent banter over entitlement or easy-breezy any day.
Except when formidability shoved aside common sense, which was what had occurred in the case of Alexia sending Tony away.
Maybe surveillance wasn’t in his skillset, but his only job was to keep her safe and to relay details of anyone he believed to be following her. I’d obviously underestimated her. That needed to change.
What also needed to shift was the portion of our relationship where she believed she had even limited control.
She didn’t. Or maybe I should say she couldn’t.
With no clear-cut evidence, I wasn’t about to divulge the existence of Raven Intel.
The members had been sworn to secrecy, vital for our protection from the prying eyes of law enforcement as well as a bullet from any number of criminals on our ever-growing list of those who should be eliminated from this earth.
In that regard, her ignorance about the existence of our group was in her best interest.
“You need to be punished.” I made the declaration as if by doing so, she’d accept without fighting me. Maybe I could add na?ve to the groups of words used to describe me. The spark in her eyes alone allowed me to see she had no intention of allowing me to punish her willingly.
“We’re in your agent’s office,” Alexia purred.
“I find it highly amusing you broke into his office, which is a crime and could get you arrested. You proceeded to act in the capacity of my attorney, which is a lie, and I could have you disbarred. Then after your egregious behavior, you decided getting a little kinky after tossing the man from his own office was perfectly acceptable. I wonder how his security guards would feel about that. Or the evening news.”
She was the single woman who brought out a mischievous side of me. Even my personal assistant, while cunning and masterful with my emotions, had yet to unlock the mischief door. I had to remind myself just like I’d done with her that this wasn’t a game, even if the caller pretended it was.
“You wouldn’t do any of those things.” Her tone was full of urgency because she didn’t know anything about my personality or what made me tick.
“Try me.”
She wasn’t certain of my intentions. Good.
I’d use that to my advantage. A lesson did need to be provided.
Perhaps then she’d think twice about putting herself in any kind of danger.
I needed time to investigate and with her unpredictable behavior, she was only managing to place a significant target on her back.
She licked her lips out of frustration. “You want to punish me in exchange for keeping my tirade a little secret.”
“Yes.”
“You’re serious.”
“I never joke about acts of discipline. Never.”
Groaning, she shoved her face into her hand before spinning around to face the mirror. “Get this over with.”
My throat was parched and the only thing that could quench my thirst was her sweet juice.
I reminded myself she was masterful in the art of playing people. “You defied me.”
“Yes.” And she was proud of doing so.
“You won’t do that again.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
I fisted a handful of her long hair, jerking back her head.
“No, you will not. I’ll do this every day if necessary.
” My cock twisted, the ache building. “Lean over the counter and spread your legs.” Backing away, I gave her room, raking two fingers down the length of her spine as I did.
Her shudder kept my balls tight as drums.
Her expression full of contempt, she took her time facing the mirror, even making a face after doing so.
Very slowly she lowered herself across the counter, spreading her arms and gripping the edges.
I waited until she moved her legs apart, taking several deep breaths at the sight of her glistening pussy.
She was enjoying this. She wanted the harsh punishment.
The ache in my groin escalated, my heart thudding.
She was no longer terrified of what I would do to her but was craving my darkness.
My God. Something broke inside of me, my needs completely unleashed.
I rubbed my jaw, slowing my breathing. If I wasn’t careful, I’d hurt her in my exuberance and that couldn’t happen.
I ran my fingers down her spine for a second time, delighting in the betrayal of her body. While her mind remained uncertain of our intense connection, every touch of my hand increased the same yearning coursing through me.
“Thirty strikes will be your punishment today.” What I craved more than spanking her was fucking her tight pussy. That would come. I only hoped Carter stayed away. If he didn’t… Well, he’d get an eyeful. Maybe that would be good for him.
Alexia took several deep breaths, studying me in the mirror before pressing one palm against the tempered glass. I’d be damned if she wasn’t calculating her control around me.
I caressed her bottom, my fingers enjoying the warm touch. I opened her legs even wider, sliding my fingers down the crack of her ass to her swollen pussy lips, darting two fingers just inside.
“Oh,” she whispered, her single moan invigorating my senses, piquing the cruel man who’d been born inside of me the night I’d captured the fucking bastard.
After rescuing her, it had taken almost forty-eight hours to follow the trail of breadcrumbs, finding the killer sipping a tall glass of bourbon on the deck of his ocean front home in Naples.
He’d only been somewhat surprised I’d found him.
But he’d known me by name, even offering his hospitality.
With his grand surroundings, his extreme wealth highlighted in every detail of his opulence, a bad taste had formed in my mouth.
I’d learned exactly what I was made of on that night, the man I’d become. Cruel and without remorse.
Yes, he’d tried to sneak away, but I’d captured him after a short chase. He’d enjoyed every moment, insisting he’d been testing my skills. The fucking bastard.
After his capture, I’d lost all sense of humanity as well, almost allowing my extreme desire to slit him from ear to ear to take over. If it hadn’t been for Max, who’d remained vigilant as any partner would, I likely would have crossed more than one line that fateful night.
I’d regretted following the letter of the law ever since. While I’d never told anyone, I didn’t need to keep anything secret when spending time with my friends. They’d all experienced at least one vulgar, horrific crime to bring them to the point of crossing every line of decency.
Raven Intel members had jumped over the wide gorge and I was thankful we had.
More so now.
That would help me from second guessing what would need to occur should I discover the identity of the copycat.
Or the real killer.
While she continued tempting me, never blinking, the tip of her tongue darting across her bottom lip, I unfastened my belt. Methodically. With forethought. As if we had all the time in the world when my instincts screamed things were about to become explosive.
When the thick strap was free in my hand, she shuddered visibly.
“You will never do this again,” she told me, her nose wrinkled from her defiance.
“I hope I won’t need to, but I won’t hesitate to do so if that means keeping you alive.”
I delivered a harsh crack across both buttocks, closing my eyes when I heard her instant cry. My throat remained dry, the sight of her lithe body driving me crazy. I brought the belt down four times in rapid succession, the sound crackling in the air.
She jerked up, pushing her legs together, her gasps for air a clear indication of the pain I was inflicting. I brushed my fingers across her lightly reddened skin, the thought of marking her permanently never far from my mind.
“Remain in position. I don’t think you want me to start over.”
She closed her eyes, her fingers now white knuckled, but there was no mistaking the look of determination on her face. Her refusal to allow me to break through her strong defenses was yet another stumbling block.
The bastard had forced walls to be built from cinder and steel. She’d ceremoniously shut herself off from the world, acting as if she didn’t need anyone. I couldn’t blame her. Basically, I’d done the same thing. But that was no way to live.
I brought the belt down several additional times, finding it difficult to breathe.
Her muffled wails permeated my eardrums as her body undulated with each stroke, continuing to echo long after there was no sound in the room.
The fact my vision was suddenly foggy, preventing me from my usual level of concentration remained troublesome.
Did the woman have any idea the kind of effect she had on me?
Did she realize that the only peace I’d ever found was knowing I’d brought her home?
And did she have any inkling that by crossing the line, I’d all but dragged us both into harm’s way? What did it matter at this point? I couldn’t seem to get enough of her, the longing far surpassing any concept of being forbidden.
I continued the spanking, stopping when her bottom had turned an even shade of red, running my aching fingers through my hair then twisting the belt around my hand.
Just the sight of her glistening pussy was pushing every boundary.
I thrust several fingers inside then rolled my thumb around her clit.
Her moans of agony shifted to those of pure ecstasy, her long eyelashes skimming across her cheeks creating another round of arousal. My balls were tight as drums, my cock shoved so hard against my zipper I should be the one crying out in pain.