by Stone, Piper
“Stay in position,” he commanded when I flinched.
“Yes, sir.” I struggled to follow his demand, my heart racing.
He continued, smacking one side then the other over and over again. I could feel the heat increase and knew my bottom would be red and sore for days. I needed this. I craved this.
Only Blade knew everything my body and soul required.
Blade rubbed my ass cheeks, the tips of his fingers dancing across my skin. With every touch, I whimpered, wanting to beg him for more.
And he gave it to me.
The strap cracked against my upper thighs, driving me into a state of heightened bliss.
“You’re doing very well,” he said, his tone dark and husky.
I was wet and hot, shame crowding into every inch of my mind. I was nothing more than a bad little girl.
Another series of hard smacks was given, his rhythm almost perfect as he whipped my bottom. I wouldn’t be able to sit for days. I gulped air, clenching my fists.
“Ten more.”
“Yes, sir.”
I was vaguely aware he’d issued a few words, but I could only hear my heartbeat, the echo thrumming in my ears. With every practiced spank, I was pitched further into quiet peace, accepting my punishment like a good little girl. I tried to stay in position, but knew I was kicking out as the heat on my buttocks increased.
Sensations rocketed through me, years of misery and fear releasing even as tears slipped past my lashes. This man had broken through my walls. He’d been able to see past the suffocating mask to the woman who desperately needed a firm hand and strong guidance. I sobbed, not because of the pain from the spanking, but because I knew this man was everything I needed and everything I’d ever craved.
Dangerous. Sexy.
Dominating.
I love you, Blade.
And the beautiful but damning words could never be said.
* * *
Blade
I wanted to ravage her, spend hours learning every inch of her body. I wanted to make her mine in every manner possible. And I wanted her absolute submission. The desire was stronger than ever. Unfortunately, thinking with my cock was going to have to wait. I wanted to have an opportunity to check out everything that Dwayne had admitted, without driving Crystal into a frenzied state.
I’d thought about at least removing, even crushing the battery from her phone, until I’d seen the incoming call that had occurred the same time as the call she’d made to Jessie. A little game of cat and mouse might be in order. She’d defied me in a manner few people ever had. My instinct had been working overtime, almost falling to the same conclusion. What I should do is take both of us far away from here, but Crystal wanted her life back. And I had no idea how I was going to go about doing that. The fact Crystal realized there was a connection with Ricardo and El Hefe was interesting, and after talking with Dwayne and seeing the news, I realized just how much danger we were both in.
Fucking fantastic.
If karma wanted me dead, by God she’d found the perfect way. I’d left a conclave of hell only to ride into a den of lions.
I tried not to pay any attention as Crystal dressed, but the allure of her beautiful body was strong, kicking my libido into overdrive. Spanking her had left me in a haunted place, my soul fighting what was left of my rational mind. Perhaps the discipline had been necessary. Perhaps I was nothing more than a fool. Everything about her was electrifying, drawing me closer into her web. I chuckled at the thought. I hadn’t allowed anyone, especially a female to get close to me since leaving... home. Fuck me. I hadn’t used the word ‘home’ in what seemed like a lifetime. My friendship with Breaker? I’d never learned anything about him, except for his taste in women and drink. The way of monsters.
“Did you know about this cartel before you joined up?” Crystal’s voice rang out, cutting through my thoughts.
“Did I know?”
“That they were murderers?” The words were biting.
I found myself bristling, if for no other reason than admitting the truth would further fuel her increasing disdain. “I knew enough.”
“Then why? You’re intelligent as well as articulate, at least when you speak in full sentences. How does a man like you get involved with such a murderous organization that you called it a family?” She walked closer, folding her arms. “Why? There had to be a reason other than the lure of money or some power trip. You had a family once. Didn’t you?”
“I had my reasons.” Family. The single word conjured up far too many distant memories.
“That you were ready to tell me before. So, confide in me. I’m obviously not going anywhere.”
“I have to go out.” I couldn’t even look her in the eyes.
Snorting, she shook her head. “You actually refuse to tell me any truths. I care about you, Blade. I shouldn’t. God knows I shouldn’t, but I do.”
“No, you shouldn’t.”
“You keep telling me you’re the horrible person then you do everything in your power to get me to adore you,” she quipped. “And I do. I just... do.”
I had no idea how to counter her comment. “Crystal. Don’t.”
“I know. Don’t give a damn about you. You’d prefer to be alone. Blah. Blah. Blah.” She hissed and looked away, the tension returning. “You left this job you seemed to love because you didn’t want a woman and a child to be killed. To me, that states very clearly that you’re one of the good guys.”
“I already told you. You don’t know me very well. And I had no love for what I was doing. I loathed every minute of every day. The blood on my hands finally stained what was left of my heart.” Why did the words seem to echo? An intense pain formed behind my eyes, snapping at my mental capacity. We were both lost in a sea of violence with no end game that would allow us to come out unscathed.
Inching even closer, she rested her hand on the kitchen island. “Trust me for a change, Blade. You asked me to trust you so at least indulge me with the real reason you had no other choice but to give your life over to a monster.”
Now just didn’t seem to be the right time. Was there really any good time to explain why you sold your soul to the devil?
“I’m going out and you need to listen to me very carefully.” I slapped the clip into my Glock for a change and slipped it into the waistband of my jeans before walking around the island. She backed away, a disgusted expression on her face.
“Stay inside with the doors locked. Do not defy you again.” She laughed bitterly after saying the words.
I eased a strand of hair from her face before lifting her chin with a single finger. “I know I sound harsh but there is no room for error. Any additional mistakes made will be our last.” I rubbed my thumb across her lips, taking a deep breath as the sensations prickled my skin. “I won’t be long.”
“Don’t go. Please.”
Exhaling, I tossed my head in the direction of the counter. “There is a burner phone. I purchased two. The second number is programmed into this one.” As I handed her the cell phone, I could tell how much she was shaking.
“Where are you going?” she asked, her tone hushed.
“To find out information.”
“On the Desperados or on this Sanchez family being in town? Or maybe Carter?”
I exhaled before taking a look out the bank of doors. High tide was rolling in.
“The mark on your back is a brand, isn’t it?” Her words were laced with such defiance.
Shooting her a look, I clenched my fist in an effort to release my anger. “Yes, Crystal. El Hefe enjoys branding his people. It’s a statement to anyone in and out of the cartel. Plus, he enjoys inflicting pain.”
“And you don’t?”
“No, the fucking truth is I don’t, except for women who need a hard spanking. Is that what you wanted to hear?” I crowded her space. “Or do you want to hear details of what I was required to do, the anguish I was required to inflict? Huh? Will that keep you away from me?”
&
nbsp; “You’re a bastard.”
The hard crack of her hand across my face was fitting, the jar creating a ring in my ears. “Yeah, I am.” Everything was spinning, my heart racing as the past slipped into the forefront of my mind, dragging me into my own private hell. I could see images of Dane, his broken and beaten body. I’d never forgotten the way he’d looked at me, pleading for me to leave and to allow him to die.
But I’d refused. Instead, I’d taken his place, accepting his debt to the man who’d stripped both Dane and me of our self-worth. Closing my eyes, I tried to force away the ugliness, but you can never run from your past forever. I was angry, ready to lash out at the world. Grabbing her arms, I towered over her, leaning down until our lips almost touched. “There is no excuse for what I’ve become. None.”
“I want to hear the truth. Tell me why you joined. Tell me why you had to get away. Tell me!” She pressed her palm against my chest, her nails digging in. “You owe me the truth!”
“Because I paid my brother’s debt and the asshole refused to let me go.” The words rushed from my mouth, a biting and nasty statement that I’d held in my heart for far too long.
“Your brother?” she asked, her eyes opening wide.
Hissing, my breathing was heavy, the weight of the truth crushing down on me. I backed away, moving toward the bank of doors and glaring at the ocean. “Yes. My brother. My brother is alive because of choices that I made, decisions that I wish I could take back.”
“Oh, God. What happened?”
I could just see her reflection in the clear glass, the worried look on her face. She cared about me, which is more than I’d ever experienced from anyone since joining the cartel. “I just...”
“Please, Blade. Allow me to be your friend.”
An odd sense of peace crawled its way into my system, trickling around my veins and creating warmth. I was finally able to speak, to tell a story that had haunted me for so damn long. “Dane was a year older than me. He was always the troublemaker and the dreamer in the family. He and I were so close as kids and I looked up to him, which my parents hated. Dane never got along with my father. They argued all the time about his grades and all the times he was suspended from school. Dane goofed off and after graduating high school, worked some odd jobs, one turning into another. My father was on his back every day about going to college, but Dane wanted nothing to do with that. He kept thinking he could make it big doing other things. After a nasty argument, he packed his bags and left in the middle of the night.”
“I’m so sorry, Erik. I don’t know what to say.”
I almost laughed hearing my given name. “Yeah, I was and still am a fuckin’ mess. For about three years, I heard from him on and off. He seemed to be doing really well, but what I didn’t know at the time was that he was lying. By then I’d graduated high school and was in college. I was in Duke, believe it or not. One day he called me and said he’d finally found his place.”
Crystal placed her hand on my arm but remained quiet. I was empty inside at this point, merely telling a story that even my parents refused to hear.
“He seemed like he was on top of the world. Then all communication just stopped. I knew he was in Florida, or at least I thought he was still there. Something in my gut told me he was in trouble. I did everything I could to find him, but it was like he’d vanished. After a couple days, I couldn’t take it any longer. So, I decided to go to Miami to find him. Let me tell you, I wasn’t prepared for what I found. I turned over every ugly rock in my search, pissing off a hell of a lot of people. I turned into a different man, brutal and angry. No one was willing to give me answers, but I finally found the right source.”
“This family?” she whispered.
I nodded as images flashed by one after another. Every street I’d gone down. Every dead end. The bastards who lied to me. “He’d hooked up with Diego Sanchez and from what I’d been able to find out, Dane had moved up the ranks quickly, until he was caught embezzling funds. At least that’s what I finally beat out of this little prick one night.”
“They killed him?” Her hand squeezed my arm and she pressed her body against my back. The warmth alone was comforting.
I laughed, trying to abate the tears. “By then, I’d asked too many questions and Diego knew my name as well as my intentions. He was in a teaching moment, as he liked to call them, so he gave me an offer. Dane could live if I agreed to pay or work off his debt.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Oh, no, I’m not. You were right. I had no true understanding of what I was getting myself into. I was just a stupid kid from New York but there was no other choice I could make. After Dane was well enough to travel, I put him on a train with explicit instructions to my parents to move and forget I ever existed. Since I couldn’t pay back the money, I accepted the deal.”
“Oh, my God. How much did Dane owe?”
“He’d gambled away most of the money to a tune of over four hundred thousand dollars.”
“Is Dane still alive?”
“I... don’t honestly know. My parents did as I asked, packing up and leaving Rochester. The last time I heard from them, they were heading west.” I wasn’t ready to tell her the rest of the story. I wasn’t even certain if I was living a pipe dream.
Crystal kissed my shoulder, her fingers touching me so delicately. “You saved your brother’s life.” Her whisper burned into the back of my mind, leaving me sick inside. Sick and ready for any and all consequences.
“Yeah and in turn I lost my soul.” The admittance was easy. The realization one I could finally accept.
“Then allow me to give it back to you.” She swept her hand up to my neck, swiping the tips to my jaw then brushing them across my lips. “Allow me to share your pain. My pain. Blade...”
There was no longer any world around us, merely two wounded creatures longing to find a revered peace. Any concept of cohesive thinking was sucked into a black hole, replaced by the burning desire that would never be sated. Never. Grasping her hand, I brought her palm to my mouth, pressing my lips against her heated skin.
“Oh...” Her lower lip quivered even as a nervous tic created wrinkles in her otherwise perfect skin. She clung to me as if holding on to a lifeline. I’d never wanted to protect anyone so much. I was overwhelmed with emotion, the kind of burning love that seared a hole in my heart.
“Listen to me. You are mine. Do you understand?”
“Yes, God, yes,” she exclaimed, panting as her eyes darted back and forth.
“You belong to me and will from now on. You will submit to my every command.” The words were issued from a dying man, no longer fearful of what I had to face.
Her head bobbed, her shimmering eyes infused with the kind of raw emotion left for lovers. “Yes, I’ll do anything you want. Forever. I am yours. Take me. Use me. Fuck me. Please.”
A single elongated growl slipped from the depths of my being as I lifted her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. Taking long strides, I moved to the bedroom, gently laying her on top of the comforter and leaning over. My breathing ragged, I darted my tongue across the seam of her mouth, drinking in her exotic essence as she rubbed her fingers through my hair. Everything about this was so wrong. Damning.
The kiss was more of a passionate roar, tongues entwining and hearts racing. Echoes thrummed into both ears, the pounding noise driving me to the point of madness. I wanted every inch of her skin in my mouth. I wanted to suck her dry, leaving her begging for more. And I wanted her to scream out my name as she raked her long nails down the length of my back.
Crystal arched her back, crushing her breasts against me, fisting my neck as she growled. I sucked on her tongue, savoring the sweet and delicious flavor as I slid my hand under her shirt, cupping and squeezing her breast. I wasn’t going to be gentle. This wasn’t about making love but taking the woman who’d offered her body as well as her will. To me. To the ugly beast. There was no holding back.
Pushing away, I yanked t
he gun from the tight confines, sliding it onto the nightstand then yanked my shirt up and over my head. I was hard as a rock, my cock pressing against the cold metal of the damn zipper, pinching to the point I wanted to scream out in primal pain. This woman was my drug.
And I would overindulge.
She struggled to sit, but I wrapped one hand around her throat, ripping the material of her shirt with the other. There was no fear in her eyes as I squeezed, only a sense of belonging. I was her master, the man who would drive her to new heights of pleasure and who would force her to bend to my will. “All mine.” The whisper was hoarse, laced with the gravelly tone of a predator.
Her eyes were luminescent as the sun crested through the open blinds, skimming a shower of glowing light across her skin. She rubbed my forearm, dragging her nails up and down in a languishing pattern. Skittering jolts of current trickled down the backs of my legs, beads of sweat forming over her upper lip.
I wasted no time removing the rest of her clothes, shredding her thin panties before bringing them to my nostrils, inhaling her intense fragrance. The scent of her was ripe with desire.
“God, yes!” she panted.
“Arms over your head.” The instruction was clear.
“Yes, sir.” Obeying instantly, she clasped her hands together as she gazed at me with lust-filled eyes.
Her moans were strangled, almost animalistic as I palmed the bed, lowering down until I could suck and bite down on her nipple. Pulling the tender flesh between my teeth, I flicked my tongue back and forth. The way she reacted to painful stimulus was overpowering, drawing the sadistic side from deep within. I moved to her other breast, every action brutal as I drew her already hardened bud into an elongated point.
“Fuck. Yes, I...” Crystal tossed her head back and forth, struggling to stay in position.
I licked down the center of her breasts, the perfect concaved ridge then continued my path all the way to her groin, cupping her mound.
Undulating her hips, she gave me the most wicked smile, as if knowing exactly what I was going to do to her.
“I’m going to feast on your sweet pussy.” I crawled onto the bed, blowing a swath of hot air across her naked stomach. “Then I’m going to fuck you hard and fast.”
