Chapter 31 #2
Meanwhile, the little trickster had taken her place on the lounge, her front paws hanging over the bottom edge with her tail thumping on the armrest as she stared at us.
“You have a meeting. Remember?”
He slid his hand down to my bottom and with a quick snap of his wrist, he swatted me.
“Ouch!”
“And you, mischievous girl, are in need of a spanking.”
“I saved your life. Remember?” I gave him a pouty look, thankful that we had a little time just to be together. Without the fear of danger.
Or maybe that would always be in the equation. There were guards posted outside, although Vissarian had said nothing and certainly hadn’t pointed them out when we’d driven in. But I’d seen them outside the windows trying to blend in.
As if big guys in black fatigues could actually blend in with the stark scenery.
“While we’re not counting, I believe I saved your life three times.” His eyes were lit up like firecrackers.
“Tit for tat.”
He swatted me again. “Uh-huh. We both know better.”
His playfulness faded, replaced with a look of concern and also determination. “Antonio isn’t the issue. He will learn that he’s nothing but a cog in a wheel. My concern is how your grandfather will handle learning that you belong to me and not as a bargaining chip.”
“So definitive. You’ve made up your mind I belong to you. Is that right?”
“Let me ask you a question, Miss Bossy Butt. Is that something you mind?”
For a man who’d been nothing but serious in the beginning, being able to see both sides of him kept my legs quivering and my pulse racing.
“No.” Four days and both of us had lost our minds yet our relationship seemed steeped in the past, a dose of karma and a dash of magic tossed in.
“But I’m not willing to jump into anything. ”
“Good girl.” Was there just a hint of disappointment in his eyes? Perhaps. “Don’t worry, Fallon. You will be a part of future discussions. This is simply something I need to handle with my father by myself.”
“Because of Megan.”
“Yes. I owe it to her.”
I brushed the back of my fingers across his cheek. “I understand completely.” I backed away, immediately hearing Bella’s tail thumping with more excitement than before. I gave her a sweet look and I could swear the pup knew what I was thinking. “By the way, you look very warm. Why a suit?”
“Because it’s protocol and I never know who I’ll run into.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s going to do.”
“Meaning what?” He leaned back slightly, narrowing his eyes.
“Meaning.” When I shot my fur ball another look, I learned Bella could read minds.
She jumped off the lounge chair so forcefully that when her front paws hit him in the back of his knees, he was toppled forward.
Toward the pool.
Maybe my wicked mind hadn’t thought my plan through entirely since the two of us were pushed into the pool.
Immediately thrashing, my mouth filled with water. The moment I surfaced, I coughed to the point tears filled my eyes. Not from sadness or worry, fear or anger, but from the silly joy that I was able to have around Vissarian.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so alive and so free.
The brutal Russian came swimming up from the deep while the little minx dog stood on the side of the pool barking her pretty little head off.
“You are so going to get it for this,” he growled.
“I didn’t do anything. Your daughter did.”
He was momentarily shocked at what I’d said.
And so was I.
What in God’s name had possessed me?
Vissarian glanced over his shoulder as he ripped at his tie, grumbling under his breath in Russian no less. “Then you should pay for the sins of our daughter since you taught her that trick.”
“Oh, no, you don’t.” I wagged my finger at him, immediately fighting the water while moving backward.
“If you really think you can get away from me, you have another think coming.” He lunged forward and I squealed, immediately taking off swimming toward the other side. If I could manage to climb out, he wouldn’t be able to grab me.
Alas, it didn’t work. He gripped my leg, yanking me back by several feet, even walking across the pool with me in tow.
“What do you think you are doing?” I yelled.
“I think you know that answer. Providing exactly what you need.”
“Bella! Save me.”
“Don’t you dare, Bella, or no more biscuits.”
“You’ve been feeding her biscuits behind my back?”
“Like you said. She is my daughter.” With a huff, he plopped down on the concrete stairs leading into the pool, immediately dragging me over his lap.
I splashed, trying to gain some traction. He was having none of it.
Even with my clothes soaking wet, he managed to maneuver my shorts past my hips. No amount of wiggling stopped him from getting his way.
Damn the man.
He was far too strong and I was still exhausted from pretending to be some drug lord if only for a day or so.
“Don’t you dare!” I huffed.
“You should know better than to dare me, Captain.” As soon as he wrangled my thong down to my knees, he brought his hand down.
Nothing about the man shocked me any longer except for the light bulb he flicked on and off at a moment’s notice. From being eager and ready to break someone’s neck to this.
Yes, as I’d said from the beginning, the yin and yang of him was… fabulous.
The harsh sound of his palm cracking against my tender bottom caused a series of guttural groans. How could the man do this to me? Oh, yes. Because he thought he owned me.
He was even thumping his foot on the concrete while he continued the harsh spanking. What did he need, a rhythm box to help him with the horrible spanking?
I threw my arm back, my fisted hand accidentally catching him in the face.
He stopped short, not moving and I wasn’t certain if he was breathing.
“Oops,” I finally muttered.
“Oops is right. I’ll add another twenty onto your sentence.” While the playfulness in his voice remained, I knew what we were facing weighed heavily on his mind. He didn’t like being out of control for a single second.
His smacks were methodical, moving from one butt cheek to the other as I wiggled in his hold. All while Bella sat on her haunches, panting and I could see the smile on her face. She was a little mischief creator.
The pain increased, his strikes becoming almost brutal. He wanted me to remember this for a long time to come.
What, so I wouldn’t question his authority? Oh, hell, no, he didn’t know me very well.
After taking a deep breath, he rolled his fingers along my spine, lazily trailing a line down the crack of my ass.
“Later tonight, baby. Later tonight.” The timbre of his voice was dark and stormy, his unbridled need dripping in every syllable.
Did he think I would object?
The powerful man resumed the spanking, enjoying every minute of what he was doing. My stamping feet and frustrated moans only seemed to drive him further.
When he was finished, he pulled me into his lap. Beads of water trickled down both sides of his face. His suit was ruined, his tie a mess and in my mind, he’d never looked more handsome than he did at that moment.
The same beat we’d shared before occurred, his eyes dancing across mine. “You’re safe here with me, Fallon.”
“I know.”
“And I want you here. With me. If that’s something you’d like.”
I cupped his face, enjoying the private moment. They were precious to me. So many terrible things had occurred, yet I did feel safe when by his side. “We are quite the team.”
“Yes, we are. Only you’ll need to relinquish your title.”
“My title?”
“Yes. I will be the captain.” He lowered his face and I stretched my neck until our lips were just touching.
“Not a chance.”
He captured my mouth and sparks of light floated in front of my line of sight.
There were so many reasons I should slam on the brakes. I didn’t know him. He was a criminal. He had a background in violence. He lived a dangerous lifestyle. He was the epitome of a bad boy. He’d been my sister’s fiancé. Yet none of the reasons meant anything to me.
Because I knew that he would make me happy for the rest of my life.