by Jinx Neale
Faith made another run for it, but he was too fast, his movement blurred as he captured her. It wasn’t fair. He flipped her over the end of the bed and pulled off her pajama pants. When she kept on struggling, Zane pressed a large hand down on her back. Faith kicked out feebly, but he was so strong. She hung over the end of the bed, her body trembling with anticipation. A glance over her shoulder showed Zane’s face set in stern lines, the leather belt still clutched in one hand. He wanted to punish her with that—a strip of leather still warm from his body. A surge of lust rolled through her. God help her, she wanted this, almost as much as she wanted him.
Zane’s lips were feather-light as they traced her spine. “You need this, Faith, I can smell it on you.” His hot breath gusted over her back and she stifled a moan.
“Pretty panties,” he told her, right before he ripped them in half and threw the shreds on the floor. Faith gasped. “Much better.” He ran a possessive hand across her bottom. “Your skin is like silk.” One long finger delved between the crease in her buttocks. She craved his touch, those hard hands so capable of violence, now so gentle on her skin. Zane paused, stroking her bottom. “This is going to hurt, Faith, I won’t lie. But it will help you to remember not to put yourself in danger.”
Then, the belt fell across her bottom like a stripe of fire. Faith screamed and tried to scramble off the bed.
Zane pushed her back down. “Oh, no, you don’t, you bad little girl. You will lie still and take your medicine.”
She didn’t want this. The pain was too real, jerking her from dreams of desire to raw reality. Zane was no dream lover, he was man and wolf, here and now, bent on her submission. Could she really give it to him?
Thwap! The leather slashed against her skin. Faith shuddered at the impact, swallowing a sob. It was so intense, lying here half-naked at Zane’s mercy, accepting his punishment while she longed for his possession. Thwap! Her bottom throbbed, heating beneath the kiss of the belt. Another couple of strokes and she whined, her aching cheeks unused to discipline. Zane stopped, fingering the welts the belt had raised on her bottom. “All right, Faith?”
Her skin was on fire, but it was clear Zane meant to punish and not wound. “I’m okay.”
“Good.” He sounded relieved. Maybe he did care as much as he claimed to. “Five more, I think.”
Five? Faith gripped the quilt with both hands and endured the remaining strikes in a haze of pain and burning desire, as each stroke of the belt lit an answering fire in her pussy.
“A very pretty pink and punished ass,” Zane said approvingly, as he brushed her bottom lightly. He spread her legs. “You look very wet, little girl.” Faith shuddered, humiliated by the evidence of her desire, while still craving his touch. Was there something wrong with her?
Zane stepped away, threading the belt through his pants. Faith turned over, glaring at him through her tears, her bottom swollen and on fire.
Zane’s gaze softened. “I know you think you hate me right now, but this was for your own good. Are you going to listen to me from now on?”
Faith wasn’t going to give in—not when she had tried so hard and so long on her own. “Get away from me!”
“Faith…”
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. Zane dodged it easily. “Calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down after what you did.” Faith groped for her jeans, yanking them up over her blazing bottom. She ignored the pain and stood on shaky legs. “Just get out of my sight.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t like getting ordered around.”
“Join the club,” Faith spat at him and turned her back. She waited for him to approach, demanding her surrender, but he didn’t move, didn’t speak. She didn’t want to give him permission, she wanted him to take her, so she wouldn’t have to make the decision to yield to him. Instead, Faith heard him walk away, waiting until his steps receded before bursting into tears. She was sore and tired and so confused. Her body had turned traitor, yearning for the man who had punished her, her pussy aching almost as much as her bottom. At least, her heart was still untouched—wasn’t it?
* * *
Faith woke up before dawn, restless, her back damp with perspiration. Her dreams had been dark, full of shadows and teeth. Shivering, she pulled on her robe and made her way, yawning, down to the kitchen. A cup of hot tea was in order. She plugged in the kettle, gazing out the window while she waited for it to boil. The promise of dawn touched the horizon with the barest finger of rose. Tea made, Faith grabbed the blanket from the couch and went outside to sit on the steps, wincing when her bottom, still sensitive, hit the bare wood. Zane had made his mark on her in more ways than one. It confused and excited her. Quelling her teeming thoughts, Faith breathed in deeply of the cool, still air. It smelt sharp and fresh, overlaid with the scent of pine and fallen leaves.
The vague feelings of apprehension left by her dreams faded as she sipped her tea and looked out over the yard. A flicker of movement caught her gaze, where a deer bent to nibble the grass, all strength and grace. Sensing her, the deer looked up, ears flicking in alarm. Faith stilled and the deer, judging her no threat, bent to the grass again. She felt a presence behind her, and Zane sat down on the steps. The deer cast another look over its shoulder at the predator seated beside her, and fled into the dimly lit woods.
“What are you doing out here?” Zane’s voice rumbled in her ear, his hard warmth a solid pressure against her shoulder.
She edged away. “I woke up early.”
Zane picked up a curl and wound it around his finger. “Bad dreams?”
Faith jerked her head away. “How did you know?”
“Sometimes people have trouble adjusting to the altitude.”
“It’s not that. The air up here is sweet, energizing. My dreams were full of dread. As if something awful was about to happen and I couldn’t stop it.”
Zane picked up her hand. “I want to help you, Faith. I’m not sure how.”
She pulled back. “I appreciate that, Zane, I do. What I need to do is get back to work. And back to my own house.”
His profile was stern in the dim light. “You still have another day left in our agreement.”
Faith sighed. Why did it feel like she was always giving in to him? “All right. What are your plans regarding Alton?”
Zane grabbed her hand again. “You agreed to let me take care of that.”
“Of course,” she said sweetly. “You don’t want me to worry my pretty little head.”
She heard his rough inhale. “Faith,” he warned.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Wasn’t I deferential enough?”
“Faith, that kind of attitude will get your bottom warmed again.”
She sprang up from the step. “Quit trying to control me, Zane Hunter.” She slammed into the kitchen, tossing the rest of her tea in the sink.
Zane followed her inside. “Don’t run away from me.”
Faith backed up against the sink, lifting her chin in defiance. “I don’t belong to you.”
“So you keep telling me. Who are you trying to convince? You, or me?”
Zane’s words hit home, targeting the fear that held her back from claiming what she wanted. “Look,” she told him, “just give me some space.”
“No.” Zane prowled toward her, predatory grace in motion. Faith was caught, held in his ice-blue gaze. Her fingers curled over the edge of the counter, restraining the overwhelming need to sink into his arms. His hand rose between them, to cup her between the legs, the individual imprint of each finger searing her pussy. “This is mine now, Faith. I have claimed you and you will obey me.”
Faith shivered before snorting delicately as she shoved his hand aside. “I don’t think so.”
Zane’s response was to push her against the counter, his cock hard and heavy as it pressed against her stomach. “Really,” he murmured. His lips touched her throat, soft as sin. God, he wasn’t playing fair. Zane’s mouth moved hotly over her skin. He kissed her ja
w and then her cheek, his stubble scratching gently against her. Her nose was full of his scent—the fresh smell of the forest, overlaid with the growing tang of his arousal. Her body reacted to the enticing aroma, softening, her pussy soaked with the evidence of her arousal.
Then, Zane claimed her mouth and her thoughts fell away. There was only warmth and wetness, a sweet pressure that opened her lips to allow his tongue to surge deep inside. He growled and grabbed her hips, holding her hard against him. Faith opened to his touch, craving his possession like a flower yearning for the sun. One hard thigh thrust between her legs. She moaned at the delicious pressure on her clit. And then her brain kicked in and her eyes flew open.
Zane’s gaze, hot with intent, blazed into hers. “Stop looking at me like that,” he murmured.
Faith’s gaze collided with his. “Or what?”
Zane moved restlessly between her thighs. “Or you’ll be on your hands and knees on my bed.”
Faith swallowed. “And?”
Zane nuzzled her neck. “With me fucking you until you scream for mercy.”
Faith shivered, even as her hands clutched his hair. “No.”
“Your mouth says no and your body says yes. If you were a wolf, I would have taken you the night we first met. It’s only a matter of time before it happens, Faith, you might as well accept it.”
She was not going to let her hormones rule her life. Faith pushed against his chest, willing her fingers not to curl against the muscled planes. She wanted the pleasure he offered, God help her. But she wasn’t going to abandon herself to any man’s mercy. “Back off.”
Zane froze for a moment, his hot breath gusting against the sensitive skin of her throat. Then he stepped back and lifted his hands in surrender. “I won’t force you, Faith. I wouldn’t do that.”
Faith pushed past him and fled up the stairs to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. She leaned against it, her heart hammering, waiting. Would he come to her anyway? She strained to hear him. But there was nothing but silence and the feeling of being alone once more.
* * *
Zane returned outside after Faith went back to bed. He sat on the step, one fist opening and closing in frustration against his thigh, while he kept watch through the rest of the night. A black wolf sidled around the house, barely visible in the gray light. Brock. He stopped at the foot of the steps, panting. Zane motioned him to wait and went inside to grab a pair of pants and a sweatshirt. He tossed them to the bottom to the steps and waited as the wolf contorted, bones sliding and transforming in a way he knew was painful. Brock rose to his feet and pulled on the clothes.
“Anything happen?”
Brock shook his head. “All quiet. Dad came by about an hour ago to check up on things and then trotted off home.”
Zane shook his head. “Vaughan isn’t going to stop with threatening Faith. I smelled him in the woods last night. He’s been pushing into our territory for too long to stop now.”
“I don’t know where he’s staying.” Brock shoved an impatient hand through his hair. “I checked out his usual haunts—cougar and man—couldn’t find him.”
Zane grunted. “He knows he’s in my sights now. I got in a few good shots when I caught up with him in the woods last night, before he shifted and took off. Damned cougar is fast.”
“He still hunting alone?”
“Think so.” Zane frowned. “I haven’t scented any others.”
“Cougars,” Brock said with disgust. “They can’t even work with each other.”
“True. But Vaughan is smart as well as vicious. It’s only a matter of time.”
Brock nodded. “We’ll keep on it. I’m going to go find some breakfast.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Any time.” Brock crossed to the path leading into the woods, breaking into an easy lope as he passed into the shadows of the trees.
Zane went back into the house. Breakfast sounded good. He started the coffee and found a package of home fries in the freezer. He put them in the oven and started frying some bacon. Maybe a good home-cooked breakfast would soften up his reluctant guest. He would have to deal with Lynch today, if Faith decided to go through with her plans to depart tomorrow. But he couldn’t leave her here alone while he went. Maybe Mom could take her shopping in Saranac Lake, while he tracked down Alton Lynch in Tilney Mills.
Faith wandered into the kitchen, yawning, her hair tousled.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
She blinked at him. “Is there coffee?”
Zane poured her a cup and added cream, handing it to her with a smile.
She eyed him suspiciously. “Are you always this cheerful in the morning?”
“Yup. Annoying, isn’t it?”
Faith grabbed the cup. “You have no idea.”
He laughed and dished up bacon, eggs, and fried potatoes. “Even though you don’t usually eat breakfast.”
“Are you kidding? It smells fantastic.”
She sat down, wincing a little, and Zane hid a smile. He liked that she could still feel his hand on her.
“So, I have to go into Tilney Mills today and I was wondering if you’d keep Mom company while she goes shopping.”
Faith’s brow furrowed. “Trying to get rid of me?”
“Uh, no. I thought she could use the company while I take care of some business. I’m not real sold on you being alone.”
“Do you think Alton would follow me up here?” She sounded skeptical.
“I don’t want to take any chances with your continued good health.”
Faith frowned over her second cup of coffee. “Do you really think he’s that much of a threat?”
“Like I said, no chances.”
“Sure, I guess. By the way, I like your mom.”
Zane smiled. “She likes you too.” He picked up their plates and carried them over to the sink. “We can do the dishes later. How about a walk before it’s time to leave?” Faith cleared the table as he tidied up the kitchen.
Zane took her hand. “Let’s walk along the creek.”
The water ran clear near the cabin, chuckling over rocks and swirling in little deep pools where trout lurked. Zane picked up a pebble and skipped it across the creek. He looked so contented.
“So, what do you do?” Faith asked.
Zane smirked at her. “I like walks on the beach and sunrises. But mostly rainbows.”
Faith rolled her eyes. “Besides that, what do you for a living?”
“Dad has his own contracting business. I’m the carpenter and Brock does the plumbing.”
That sounded interesting. “What kind of projects do you work on?”
“Mostly homes, handcrafted like my cabin. It’s a small but exclusive market.”
“You enjoy your job,” Faith observed. Zane was a man who was clearly happy in his own skin.
“I love it. Working with my hands, a lot of the times outdoors.” Zane grinned. “I even get along with my boss.”
“Lucky you.”
“We all are. But we work hard to keep things going.”
Faith kicked at some fallen leaves. The air was heady and full of enticing scents, going to her head like wine.
Zane glanced over at her. “You like it up here.”
“I do. I love the outdoors. We used to camp out in the backyard at one of my foster homes. The other kids would sleep in the tent, but I would always sneak out with my sleeping bag and sleep outside.” She smiled, remembering the big, untidy house in the country. “I would stare up at the sky and count the stars until I couldn’t keep my eyes open. It made me feel so big and yet so small at the same time.”
They were both silent, sharing a rare moment of communion.
“Time to get back,” Zane said, and they headed for the cabin.
* * *
Saranac Lake was a pretty town, the historic downtown area packed with galleries, artists’ studios, gift shops, restaurants, and small family-owned businesses.
“I’ve never been here
before.” Faith drank everything in, from the autumn gardens filled with chrysanthemums and gladioli to the brick and clapboard houses with gingerbread trim. “It’s lovely.”
“Isn’t it? I prefer to do my shopping here. There’s a great little grocery store that stocks lots of locally sourced food. We’ll find a parking spot.” Janet pulled in front of a bookshop housed in a red brick building with a bow window in front.
“Can we go in here?”
“Of course. We’ll go anywhere you like. I thought we could have lunch in town before we head home.”
Faith unfastened her seatbelt. “That sounds wonderful.”
“I’ll meet you back here in about twenty minutes.” Janet left her to browse in the bookstore while she stopped by the pharmacy.
Faith headed for the mystery section to check out the new paperbacks. She found one by a local author and browsed through the nonfiction section, selecting a book about wolves. She glanced through the table of contents: social structure, pack life, breeding habits. She definitely needed more information, Faith decided, and brought both books over to the cash register. She paid for them and found a seat by the window to wait. There were several other clients already ensconced in the worn leather chairs and they nodded at her pleasantly. This was her kind of town.
Janet returned and spoke with the girl at the cash register, who handed her a book from under the counter. Faith tucked her purchases in her bag and joined Janet at the front of the store.
“Faith, meet Clara. She recently moved to town.”
Clara was a pretty girl with a lovely smile and a head of red curls. Her cat’s-eye glasses framed large green eyes.
“It’s nice to meet you, Faith. We’re having a book reading next Saturday if you’re interested. A local mystery writer.”
Faith smiled and chatted, not making any commitment to attend, although it sounded like fun. She wasn’t in a position to make any plans, not until she knew if it was safe to go back home.
They visited the bakery next, where Janet bought several loaves of bread and a box of French pastries. “I know it’s an indulgence,” Janet said, with a guilty smile.
