Burned

by Stone, Piper

  Woof!

  Kelly mumbled under her breath, no doubt another series of curse words as I moved toward the hallway. What in God’s name was I going to do with her? Bad men, huh? The story should be interesting.

  As I turned on the bathroom light, I noticed a heap of clothes in the corner by the shower. Hunkering down, I lifted a piece into the air. “Holy shit.”

  They were orange. Prison detail.

  The sinfully beautiful girl had broken out of jail.

  Chapter Two

  Kelly

  Asshole. Bastard. Jerkoff. Pinhead. Fuckhead.

  Just thinking the curse words fueled the fire burning... Ugh. Between my legs. I’d allowed the man to get to me in every manner.

  Hawk.

  Powerful.

  Rugged.

  Sexy.

  Dominating.

  Oh. My. God.

  There were no other words to think at this moment. Except for ouch. The asshole had actually given me a spanking. And he’d made me stand against a wall with soap in my mouth. Who the hell did he think he was, my father? I shuddered as I heard a low growl coming from the dog’s mouth, forcing me to turn. I gulped as I studied the massive beast, a perfect dog for a rogue like Hawk.

  Although he was one rough and tumble guy, sexy as fuck and...

  What in the hell was I thinking? He was likely some lumberjack or maybe a criminal himself, hiding out from those who would cart his ass off to prison.

  Just like me.

  I shuddered at the thought, tears forming in my eyes. I’d made a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to cry ever again, at least not for real. The bastards had done everything to destroy my life, lying and cheating. Granted, what had I managed to do about it? I shuffled a couple of steps, moving in the direction of the kitchen, the dog on my heels.

  Just stay here and we’ll get along just fine. I don’t want to be forced to turn you over my knee any time soon, Hawk had stated, lifting a single eyebrow. His voice had held the gruff tone of a controlling jerk, yet the huskiness was like smooth velvet slip-sliding across every inch of my naked skin, leaving me warm and fuzzy.

  He’d actually stated those words before sauntering off to the bathroom, casually as if I hadn’t seen the huge bulge between his legs.

  His muscular and sculpted legs.

  Chiseled cheekbones bracketing voluptuous lips.

  Legs meant to power his muscles as he shoved his cock deep inside.

  I was one stupid girl.

  I glared at Buck, making faces, trying to get him to hate me so he wouldn’t follow.

  But of course, just like the man carved straight out of some Montana boulder, the lump of fur did no such thing. He advanced, remaining a watchdog. “Don’t eat me. Okay? I’ve had a rough couple of weeks.”

  Woof!

  He gave me a cock of his head, gazing up and down in the same manner his master had done.

  I wasn’t exactly afraid of dogs, but I’d never had any experience around them, or any other furry creature for that matter. I heard the swishing of his tail back and forth as well as the sound of the bathroom door closing.

  “Shit.”

  That’s the exact moment I realized I’d left the jumpsuit in the bathroom, the location where I’d jerked it off. I fingered the tee shirt, the very first thing I’d found after... breaking in. The material smelled like him, all masculine, reeking of testosterone and timber. For the next few seconds, I allowed what was left of the wicked girl to slide into my mind, giving me the sultriest visions.

  His naked body, roughhewn and chiseled, long legs, and washboard abs. Strong arms that could protect me, holding me during a long winter’s night. And his lips... I brushed two fingers across my own, pretending that he was standing in front of me. Then I dropped my arm. Fantasies were just like lies.

  Hawk. The name suited the guy. I bit my lip, trying to keep my mind out of the gutter. I was in his tee shirt. I had eaten his food. I’d guzzled his liquor. Worst of all, I’d broken into his house.

  The sexy brute.

  The powerful six and a half foot god.

  The warrior.

  I rolled my eyes, hissing when my nipples hardened, the material scraping along my bruised backside a reminder that he was a take charge kind of man.

  Oh, hell, no.

  I didn’t need his help, or anyone’s for that matter. I could figure this out on my own. Then why was there a huge lump in my stomach, sliding all the way into my throat? I fell against the counter, shivering and not just from my state of undress.

  I was petrified.

  Woof! The single bark seemed more encouraging than threatening.

  “Yeah, you’re right. I created a mess. The least I could do is clean it up.” But I wasn’t going to walk around like this. Not in front of him.

  Bad girl. Get your mind out of the gutter.

  I dared to lean over, reaching out toward Buck then yanking back my hand. Dangerous, huh? When he gave me the big brown doe eyes, I succumbed, scratching Buck behind the ears.

  My thoughts shifted to succumbing to the rugged man in the shower.

  Another roll of my eyes was followed by a quick check on my resolve. “Are you going to follow me into the bedroom?” Buck merely trailed along behind me. Hawk must have a pair of shorts I could wear.

  Everything in my life was in complete disarray. They had to be looking for me by now. And they would find me, no matter who they came up against.

  Somehow, I had a terrible feeling that I’d simply disappear.

  I couldn’t tell Hawk the truth, no matter how many spankings he gave me.

  Then what the hell could I tell him? He would never believe me in the first place. No one would, but I was determined to prove my innocence.

  * * *

  Ten days earlier

  I glared at my ringing phone, chastising myself for not tossing it like the rest of my previous life.

  In the trashcan.

  How dare he call me. Again.

  How dare he think he could woo me after the bullshit I’d put up with.

  How dare he even imagine for one second that I’d come crawling back to him, pretending his infidelities and callous attitude didn’t matter.

  How. Dare. He.

  I shuddered, turning off the ringer and shoving the phone in my back pocket. Josh was a pompous asshole, pretending to love me. Given the rather whispered words he’d said during his last voicemail, my guess was he’d just finished fucking some ingénue with big tits, hiding in the bathroom in order to try to reclaim what he believed belonged to him.

  Asshole.

  “What kind of a man are you looking for, sugar?”

  Sugar. She only called me that when she was going to pick my brain or infuse naughty ideas into my head. I bristled initially, trying everything to get Josh out of my mind. Why the hell couldn’t he just leave me alone? I’d finally managed to build another life, only crying once after running as fast and hard away from what had been a beautiful home.

  A fake home.

  A fake fiancé and a fake life.

  That seemed to be exactly what I was used to.

  “You alive over there, sugar britches?” Sherry chortled, breaking me free of the chain Josh still seemed to have firmly planted around my neck.

  At least for now.

  Chuckling, I gave Sherry a sideways glance before shifting a group of dirty glasses into the bus pan, grabbing a towel and waving to a group of regulars as they left the bar. When the door opened, I could see the heavy rain starting to fall, the single clap of thunder giving me the same heebie-jeebies that always happened during a storm. Snow was expected for later in the week as another cold front rushed in. I had to admit, I’d only been here a few months and I wasn’t thrilled with the weather. “I told you before, my BFF, I’m not into finding a man. Not now.” Not ever. I was finished with the male species in every regard.

  That was the only sane decision to make. Make money. Find a better place to live. Purchase a house.
Montana seemed like the ultimate location to restart my life. I hissed under my breath, trying to give Sherry a smile. She’d heard enough of my woes to last a lifetime.

  At least she’d been kind to me from day one. We’d connected immediately, our friendship keeping me grounded. She even knew all my dirty little secrets. Well, almost. I would keep one very important secret to myself, protected just in case. I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought.

  Rich families had a way of thinking their shit didn’t stink, including Josh’s. Both he and his father had made mistakes, ones I’d found. The information I harbored might prove to be useful one day.

  I hated the thought. I wasn’t the kind of girl to seek revenge, but all the ugliness from the breakup had driven me to unimaginable lengths to protect myself.

  Sherry snorted as she grabbed a glass, pouring a beer from the tap. “A hot little dish like you? Come on. You could have any man you wanted, sugar. Besides, you need a big, fat dick.”

  “Shush!” I threw a glance toward the closest customers as a heated blush crept up from my bust line.

  “Oh, hell, girl. They’ve heard worse. Nothing wrong with getting laid.” Her giggle was almost infectious.

  “I don’t see you bringing a boyfriend around here.”

  Sherry rolled her eyes. “I don’t currently have one at the moment. However, I do have one hunk of a vibrator.”

  I burst into laughter, happy for the levity. “You’re terrible!”

  “Why you love me.” Sherry batted her eyelashes. “Truthfully though. You need to get out more. You’ve been here what, six months?”

  “The only man I want is at the end of a shotgun.” I was only half teasing. To say I was bitter was an understatement.

  After sliding the cold brew across the bar, she inched closer. “I know this guy. You won’t be sorry. He’s one hot cowboy.”

  “You mean he’s rode hard and put away wet,” I countered, moving behind her and grabbing several beers from a box, juggling to open the cooler.

  “Whoa, girl, you are so jaded. You never really told me about that boyfriend of yours back in Califor-ni-a. What the hell happened?”

  “Ex. He’s a forever ex. Don’t forget about that part and there’s nothing to tell.” Sadly, the asshole had called me several times, expressing his undying love, trying to tell me he was sorry. I didn’t buy a word of his bullshit. Marriage. As if I’d marry the jerk after all he’d done to me, the nasty words and horrific insinuations.

  As if I was the bad guy in the demise of our relationship.

  “What’s why you’re here, tending bar, when you should be the head of some friggin’ company or something,” Sherry said as she smacked me on the shoulder. “I thought you had it all, you know, the fairy tale.”

  Tending bar wasn’t necessarily by choice, but at least I was paying my bills. For now. “There’s no such thing as fairy tales, Sherry. Only ogres and monsters ready to carve out and eat your soul.”

  “Ouch. That asshole did a number on you. What about a sugar daddy? Maybe a huge inheritance?”

  “Right. Dream on.” I was poorer than a church mouse.

  Exhaling, I didn’t want to even think about Josh, Mr. Asshole from Califor-ni-a. This was a brand new life. All work and no play made for a successful woman. I wasn’t in the mood to buy any bullshit from a man, no matter how sexy or how many times my pussy clenched. No way. Not gonna happen.

  Forget it.

  “Uh-oh. Don’t look now, but we’ve got trouble,” Sherry hissed, shaking her head.

  I glanced at the door, grimacing as the four jerkoffs stood in the entrance, allowing rain to drench the recently renovated hardwood floor.

  I knew my best friend’s tone of voice. Sherry Piccolo wasn’t the kind of girl to be afraid of anything, but the rough and tumble riffraff had escalated in their bad behavior, wreaking havoc on the local businesses. She’d grown fearful of their antics.

  I wasn’t afraid, I was just one angry broad.

  I heard a collective groan from a few of the customers and sensed a mass exodus coming.

  What pissed me off more than the burly and unruly bastards was that the local sheriff and his cronies didn’t seem to care that they were destructive. The group of four guys had even been rumored to have been involved in several recent assaults while in the process of attempting to steal money and possessions from the good people of Hamilton.

  I watched as the jerks walked further in, pushing and shoving their way inside, grabbing a spot at the bar. While the locals were a hardy crew, everyone had grown weary of their bullshit.

  Including me.

  The front man swaggered through the premises as if he owned the joint, his shaved head and invasive tattoos giving him a bad-ass image. Tonight, he had a wild look in his eyes, as if he’d come to the bar for more than just a few drinks and causing trouble.

  “I don’t like that at all,” Sherry said quietly, her voice shaking. “They’re stinkin’ drunk. You know what that means.”

  “Yeah, well, they have another think coming. I’m not standing for this shit,” I hissed, seeing a steady stream of patrons leaving, some no doubt without paying their tabs. I couldn’t blame them. No one wanted to pick a fight with them.

  “Maybe they’ll just have a drink and leave,” Sherry suggested.

  No. They were here for another purpose.

  I’d heard all the rumor mills, the steady stream of gossip linking the group directly to the sheriff’s office and all his powerful buddies. There was even talk the four were considered henchmen, taking out anything and anybody standing in the sheriff’s path toward absolute power.

  Somebody had to put them in their place.

  “Goddamn motherfuckers. I’m sick to death of losing customers.” I grabbed the empty glasses from the table, ready to head their way. Already the leader was leering in my direction, a prelude to fondling both Sherry and me as if we were their property.

  Fuck that.

  Sherry grabbed my arm. “Don’t do anything stupid, Kelly. You know how they are. Let’s just get them a drink.”

  “Yeah, they’re drunk and abusive. I’m tired of it.” Sadly, the owner of the bar did nothing to limit their activities. I’d finally reached my limit. The amount of money in tips lost because of their antics wasn’t doing my dwindling bank account any good. I acted as a manager, with no title and no benefits, but here and now I was ready to make certain decisions.

  “Just be careful. You know who they’re connected to.”

  “Woo-hoo! Let’s get this party started!” one of them yelled.

  Sighing, I merely nodded as I headed around the bar. Within seconds, the leader of the motley crew grabbed my ass then yanked me in between his legs and smack up against his throbbing cock. I could smell the stale stench of cigars and booze covering every inch of his nasty body.

  “Get your motherfucker hands off of me, you loser, or I’ll cut them off.” The words erupted from my mouth before I could stop them.

  “Oh, hot mama!” one of the others said, inciting the others to laugh.

  “She’s a handful,” another huffed. “I think I know what we need to do to her.”

  I struggled to get out of the leader’s hands. I’d heard his name more than once. Rusty Miller was considered dangerous, even a bit crazy. The other three followed him like lap dogs, keeping the larger man protected.

  Rusty leaned down as his grip tightened. He shifted me back and forth as he nuzzled into my neck. “I came to take what belongs to me.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” A wave of fear trickled down my spine. He’d overtly flirted, fondled, and made lewd remarks for weeks, even cornering me in the bathroom on two occasions, but this was new.

  And for the first time, I was terrified.

  I felt the rough slather of his tongue on my neck seconds before he cupped and squeezed my breast. The wash of blinding agony yanked the breath right out of me. Gasping, I attempted to drive my elbow into his stomach. That set
him off. Suddenly, the tip of a blade was shoved against my neck.

  “Listen up, bitch. You’re coming with me. My boys and I are going to have our way with you.”

  “Jesus. Let the girl go!” the terrified and strangled voice came from the crowd.

  The other three moved to a standing position, forming an arc around Rusty.

  “Now, I don’t think there’s anything for ya’ll to see here,” Buzz snorted. He was certainly known as an enforcer, his time spent in the military making him just as lethal as Rusty.

  Everyone in the bar seemed to back up, pretending they weren’t seeing anything.

  And they certainly weren’t going to cross the jerks by coming to my aid.

  I managed to catch Sherry’s eye as she took cautious backward steps into the shadows. I could only pray that this time, she would call the sheriff’s office. I doubted the sheriff’s office wanted a full blown attack on their conscience.

  Rusty growled under his breath then licked and nipped my earlobe. “I can’t wait to be inside of you.”

  “Get your hands off me, Rusty.” I only half whispered the words, trying to keep a calm in my tone. I was losing the battle, the pain biting.

  He wrapped one arm around my throat, holding me in place as he ground his hips back and forth. “I’m gonna fill that sweet little mouth of yours to keep you quiet.”

  When he jerked me, cutting off my air supply, stars floated in front of my eyes. The sound of ripping floated into my ears as he yanked the knife down my shirt, the sharp edge cutting through the thin cotton easily. I couldn’t believe no one was coming to my rescue. I would have to fend for myself.

  I tried to keep my wits as he started tugging me toward the door, wincing when his fingers slipped inside my bra, pinching my nipple. Oh, God. No! I reacted on instinct. I knew that if he managed to take me away from this bar, I would have no recourse, no manner of getting away from them.

  Terror and adrenaline fueled me. My muscles tensed and all time seemed to shut down as I reacted, kicking him in the shin. The force was just enough he released his grip, howling in pain. I shifted, twirling around to face him, using every self-defense training session I’d taken to save my bacon.