Chapter 12 #2
“A part of the nature reserve, but I don’t think anyone has discovered the location.” His tone was filled with something unusual. Happiness. “Come on.”
While the air was chilly from the elevation, the adrenaline rush remained strong, providing an elated kind of energy that pulsed through my veins like rocket fuel. “What did you bring?”
He laughed, turning to face me and cupping my chin. “You ask far too many questions.”
“So you’ve already told me.”
After placing the flashlight on the ground, he hunkered down, dropping then unzipping the duffle bag he’d brought with him.
Nothing could have shocked me anymore than seeing him yanking out a blanket of some kind, spreading it onto the grassy surface.
There’d been no indication he could be romantic at all.
None. A fire had just threatened his winery and he was pretending as if it had never happened.
“Kneel on the blanket.” His command was the same as normal, dark and dusky, creating dampness between my legs.
“Kneel?”
“You heard me.”
I did as he ordered, easing down, my breath skipping. What the hell was he planning? He didn’t bother removing any of the other items before sitting down beside me. When he took a full minute before saying anything, I realized I was a nervous little kitty cat.
“You seem to forget that you’re required to obey me.”
The dark, husky tone sent shivers down my spine. “I never agreed to that.” Maybe I was testing him as well as the way I felt about him. Somehow, I knew he wasn’t going to accept the tedium of my defiance any longer.
When he slowly turned his head, the few clouds whisking across the sky created a shadow across a portion of his face, but I was able to tell by one eye alone that he’d returned to his dark place.
“Yes, you did.”
Obedience was demanded.
Punishment not a choice.
“And I already told you why I followed you.”
He nodded, but only once. “Yes, you did. However, I don’t care. Lower your jeans and panties.”
There was no reason to scan the area, worrying about whether anyone could see us, but my reaction was instantaneous. Or maybe I was just buying time. Whatever the case, as had occurred almost every time we’d been together on any level, my mind wanted to obey him, my body craving his touch.
“Do it now or you already understand the kind of consequences you will face.” He was so calm, completely unlike the way he’d been barely an hour before.
I realized I’d already reached for the button on my jeans when my mind clicked into what he’d commanded.
The draw to him was even stronger tonight, the intense cravings more emotional than before.
This was his special place, another indication that he was letting me in, shoving aside his massive steel armor.
I was shaking by the time I peeled the dense material away, struggling to yank my pants down my hips.
He wasn’t a patient man, but he seemed so content tonight, alternating between watching what I was doing and staring out at the pristine scenery.
He was even taking normal breaths. However, I was able to gather a scent of his testosterone, ripe and full, his needs increasing with each passing minute.
When I’d done as he asked, I sucked in my breath.
That’s the moment he reached into the duffle, pulling out some horrible looking kind of paddle.
He’d planned this. Of course he had. I bit back a moan, jumping slightly when he smacked his hand with the thick wooden implement. Then he patted his lap.
The thought of being spanked here was as insane as it was exciting. And even stranger, I felt more protected than I had in my entire life. I eased across his legs, shuddering the second I did so. He was already hard, his thick cock pressing against his jeans. The man was insatiable.
He caressed my naked bottom, taking several deep breaths. “You’re far too important to me, Aspen. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I do know I can’t live without you.”
Were his words meant to be startling or an admission that he was falling for me? I wasn’t entirely certain, but at this moment, I didn’t want to break the bubble in my attempt to find out. I fisted my hands, taking several shallow breaths.
“This is going to hurt,” he admitted, his voice filtering down over me like a swath of velvet.
I didn’t even bother fighting him. There was no point. The man would always get what he wanted. As the paddle was brought down, I was struck by the sound of the wood thudding against my skin. I know I jumped, but it wasn’t from the pain, only the noise.
Montgomery immediately rubbed his hand from one side of my buttocks to the other before issuing four in rapid succession.
Now I felt the pain, a boost of the kind of agony that stole my breath and forced stars to float in front of my eyes. “Oh. My…” I was instantly lightheaded, bucking up from him involuntarily.
“None of that,” he whispered before pressing his hand against the small of my back.
I wrapped my fingers around the blanket, tugging and twisting as he delivered two more.
Then another two.
I kicked out like a little girl having a temper tantrum, several whimpers slipping past my lips.
My body’s reaction no longer surprised me.
I was wet and hot, the scent floating into the night air.
I closed my eyes, pressing my face against the warmth of the blanket, waiting for the next series of hard smacks.
“You’re so disobedient. This is what you’ve needed for so long. Isn’t it, Aspen?”
His question seemed rhetorical, as if the man knew everything about me. My needs. My wants. My dark cravings. Maybe he did. “Uh-huh.” A light tap of the paddle made me squeal. “Yes, sir.”
“Then you’re getting everything you need.” He resumed the spanking, bringing the paddle down so many times I lost count.
I knew I was whimpering, tears even forming in my eyes, but I was also floating above the stratosphere, staring down at what was happening.
How could a brutal spanking shove me into ecstasy?
When I realized the hard round of discipline was over, I almost begged him for more.
That was crazy. That was… sighing, I took pleasure in the way he continued to comfort me, murmuring filthy and delicious things while I took my time to relax and breathe.
As I was finally eased to my knees, I had to blink several times in order to focus. He pressed his hand against my face lovingly, rubbing his thumb back and forth across my lips. Then he let me go.
No. No!
I almost reached out for him, but I restrained myself.
“Would you like some wine?”
Laughing softly, I tugged my panties into place, fighting with my jeans. “Yes. This is unexpected.”
“You don’t know everything about me, Aspen, nor do I know much about you at all.”
I shifted onto the blanket, crossing my legs. My bottom ached like a son of a bitch, but the anticipation of actually being able to have a full conversation with him was amazing.
He took a deep breath, pouring a hefty amount into a glass, taking his time before he handed it to me. The spark was the same as we touched, his eyes lighting up as if fueled with fire. Smiling, he pulled another glass into his hand.
“You are right. You deserve to know what’s going on.
I had two phone calls in less than a week regarding the contracts you mentioned.
From what the representatives told me, the wines were not selling as expected so they would not be renewing the contracts.
The words were almost identical.” He chuckled as he leaned back, studying the sky once again.
“I haven’t delved into the financials for more than the past four years, but that’s bullshit.”
“I know that. However, given they honored the contract, I couldn’t fight them.
Hell, my father hadn’t been the best negotiator, but he’d fought to get those contracts signed.
He’d been so proud of being able to do so.
That’s the only time I was glad he was dead so he wasn’t forced to learn what had occurred. ”
“You think this Prescott Westfield is behind that?” I knew I had an incredulous tone in my voice.
“I know it, Aspen. Before you ask why, I’ll tell you.
About six or seven years ago, a rumor started that Prescott was in negotiations with some very powerful people to form a business alliance.
These are the kind of people that you don’t fuck with.
With their combined money and influence, they could dramatically alter Napa Valley by building a fancy resort complete with a huge casino and expensive condos as well as a massive hotel. ”
“But he needs more property in order to do that.”
“Exactly.” He held up his glass, allowing the moonlight to cast a shimmer across the cabernet’s surface. After taking a sip, he whispered something that I couldn’t understand, but I could swear it was some form of American Indian language.
“The rumor turned out to be the truth.”
Montgomery laughed. “Yes, but Prescott did his very best at keeping it a secret for a long time. Not long before my father’s death, he’d found enough evidence through some people he knew that allowed me to continue delving into the truth after he was gone.
Unfortunately, I waited, then with what happened to Carmine, I just couldn’t do it.
A few weeks ago, I began against in earnest.”
“So, with Prescott’s power and influence, he was able to convince the various vendors not to renew your contracts. My guess is that also included the grocery store chains.”
“You’re very astute.”
I took a sip of my drink, thinking about what he was saying. “You don’t think the Kingstons can rebuild, which means it’s ripe for a sale.”
“Yes. Let’s say that his insurance covers the buildings and equipment as well as a portion of the plants needed for him to start over, it would still be years before he’ll have a full production.
Even with what inventory he has stored off the property, he won’t make the required payments he already has. ”