Chapter Six
Jen
It’s too cold, the ground is too muddy, and last night on the local news they were talking about a tick infestation that was taking over the county. At least five people got Lyme disease over the weekend, and I don’t want to be one of them.
I stare down at the ground as Atlas and I walk hand in hand into the woods, the collar on my sweater tucked up around my neck to block the wind that won’t quit.
My hand, though, my hand is nice and toasty thanks to the giant man holding on like his life depends on it.
I have to say, he’s a little too convincing at all this.
I don’t like it, and if I’m really honest, I’m kind of sort of considering changing my mind about the whole thing.
I mean, what was I thinking? I bought this place to be my sanctuary.
If this guy is living an acre away, he’ll most definitely ruin that.
Something tells me boundaries will be crossed.
Plus, what do I really know about him, other than he has the same sort of sentimental attachment to land that I do.
I mean the man was in prison. I know about the robbery, I read that much online when he started coming around here weeks ago, but who knows what else he’s done.
“I didn’t kill anyone,” he groans as though he already knows what I’m thinking.
“What?”
“You went quiet and we’re walking alone in the woods, so I figure now is the time you’re wondering about all the crimes I’ve committed.”
“Pretty astute for a guy who claims not to understand feelings.”
“Oh, I understand them. I just don’t know what to do with them.”
I shake my head. “Why’d you want to rob the bank, anyway? That’s a pretty high-profile crime.”
“I was fucked in the head back then.” He turns toward me, shaking his head, his big hand still in mine.
“I thought the world owed me something. I’d worked hard, built a construction company up from scratch in the Springs, and I lost everything with the recession to some new guy.
I got bitter, angry, and I acted accordingly. ”
Why does this only raise my confidence that he’s a swindler? Hell, even the robin tucked into the oak tree in the woods is trying to warn me with a very persistent song of caution.
“Why didn’t you try to open your contracting business again?”
“Because I had buddies all over the state who were losing contracting businesses. We’d all found our little corner until Mike Wilson moved to the Springs with his giant, mega, somehow still small-town company.
He suddenly had the monopoly on everyone and everything.
People trusted him blindly, and it killed us small guys. ”
“I think my friend Mabel works for his company. She’s got a big crush on him that won’t quit.”
“Well,” Atlas nods and glances toward the treeline, “I wish her luck. The man is ruthless.”
“How? He came to town with a bigger business and washed out the small guys? That happens all the time. There are plenty of people that don’t run off and rob banks because of it.”
“Fair,” he chews the inside of his cheek for a moment before speaking, “but if you knew who this guy was, you’d think differently. Trust me.”
“Who is he?” I cross my arms over my chest and stare up at the giant, my hand already missing his. “I should know so I can tell my friend.”
“How long has she worked for him?”
I shrug. “Close to ten years.”
“She knows who he is then. No way in hell she doesn’t.” He holds up his palms like he’s done with the conversation. “The guy frustrates the hell out of me, and I don’t much like talking about him.”
“It’s funny the way we hate people who remind us of ourselves, isn’t it?” I tilt my head to the side slowly. “Do you hate him because he could do something you couldn’t?”
“You really like being punished, don’t you?”
I nod slowly and bite back a grin. “Am I making you mad?”
“Very,” he growls low, his voice laced with venom.
I should probably run a country mile away from this giant man who I’ve just pissed off intentionally, but instead, I lean closer. “So, what are you going to do to me then? What’s my punishment for making you so angry?”
He groans low under his breath, grips my arm, and tugs me close against his chest until I feel his hot breath against my cheek. “I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to hurt.”
“Yeah?” My clit throbs and my panties soak at the thought of it.
“Yeah.” He glances behind me as though he’s looking for something very specific. “There’s a boulder behind you. Pull up that skirt and bend over.”
Adrenaline rushes through me at the thought of what comes next, though I don’t let him have it that easily. “No! You’re not going to—”
“Quit pretending you don’t want my hand on your ass. My cock is about to explode.”
My clit twitches and warmth crawls up my spine in a swell of heat that I’ve never experienced before, and suddenly, without realizing what I’ve done, I’m bent over the cold mossy rock at the edge of the property with my ass to the wind.
“Fuck,” he growls low and takes my hand, placing it on the hard bulge behind his jeans, “you see what you do to me? Getting me all fucking mad like a naughty, little bunny.” His breath is heavy as he steps behind the rock and wallops my ass once, then twice, the vibration sending a sweet shock to my pussy that soaks the cotton still sheathing that part of me.
“Oh, I can do worse,” I pant as my ass bounces against his rough hand.
“You’re trouble,” he groans, smacking my bottom again, a breeze cooling the red-hot heat he leaves behind. “You’re trouble, and you’re doing it on purpose.”
It’s true, I did make him angry on purpose, and I’d do it again and again if it ended up like this.