MARK TOOK his weapon out of his holster and joined the rush downstairs to the cells. He wanted to get Rann more than anyone. The man had nine lives and had already managed to kill two officers, one with his knife and the other with his own weapon. Mark ran down the corridor opening fire with two others shooting at three of their own men who had helped Rann. As Rann turned to reply with his own weapon, shooting another man, Mark wounded him in the shoulder and the top of his leg determined to bring him in alive. It was enough to knock the man off his feet. Mark ran towards Rann as he crawled into one of the cells to take cover. He followed him.
Rann struggled to his feet, blood pouring from his shoulder and leg still aiming his gun.
“This is the end of the road, Rann. Give it up.”
The man laughed.
“It is never over. If I die, someone else will come to take my place.”
“Ideas come and go and so will this one. Your vision for life will die out. Surrender. You aren’t going to make it out of here and you are losing too much blood. I will kill you before you even try.”
Mark moved closer, aiming his Glock 17 at Rann’s heart.
“You are him, aren’t you?” Rann was laughing amid the grimace of pain.
Mark remained silent.
“You will never possess her. She likes the danger too much. I don’t think you can handle that.”
Mark twisted inwardly. Rann was probably right.
“Give it up.”
“Never.”
Rann discharged his own gun but Mark was already moving before it reached him, and he discharged his own weapon. The bullet caught Rann square in the chest and he fell to the floor, no longer a threat.
Chapter 13
Helena’s heart began to pick up a faster rhythm when she saw him walking towards her. It had been a week. A week filled with tears and so much soul searching while locked away in her hotel room. Why was he here? Along with her need for him, the anger at his abandonment was still strong and she could not meet his eyes. He simply nodded to her as he approached.
“Good Evening, ma’am. I just need to speak to the team. How are…”
“Fine. I would like to return to my room,” she snapped to one of her guards cutting Mark off and ignoring him. “Do I need to be delayed here?”
“No, ma’am. Please come this way,” the officer said leading her away from Mark and the others with a second officer to the lifts.
She could feel Mark’s eyes boring into her back as she walked away. She had blocked the psychic connection they shared as much as possible, but she could still detect his hurt and his frustration were still raw, and he’d expected to have a conversation with her at the very least. He’d also expected her to have come to him by now, but Lord Fox had his own lesson to learn. She was now calling the shots in her life and he would have to come and get her and make her submit to him. That was the way she wanted it. Helena Wright chased after no man. If he wanted her, he would have to come and get her.
Helena could sense him watching every curve of her body move in the figure hugging light grey business suit as she walked with her officers to the lift. A small smile of triumph briefly lit her lips but as she stepped into the lift and turned around to face the lobby of the hotel her face was professional and uncompromising even when he glanced towards her and held her gaze as the lift doors closed.
They walked along the dimly lit corridor without saying a word. It made her feel very alone. No one on the team ever said more than two words to her and the isolation was proving too much. She was toying with the dangerous idea of finding a way to dump her guards and just take off, run away to some other country and hide and start living again, maybe a Greek island when her thoughts were stopped by the loud blast that came from her hotel room knocking her off her feet and down the corridor.
Helena found herself lying on her back somewhere along the corridor. Two of the three security men already stationed at her hotel were walking around dazed. One of them was lying prostrate and not moving. She could feel he was dead instantly. It made her tearful. A shadow fell over her, then the person bent down. Male fingers trailed softly across her cheek. Mark.
“Helena, are you okay?” he demanded leaning over her with fear in his eyes.
“I think so. I have to stop this before anyone else gets hurt and loses their life. I can’t be responsible for any more deaths.”
“Shh, this is not your fault,” he soothed. “We are going to get you checked out and moved to another hotel.”
“Mark, I have to go back in. I have to make the connection with Rann in his hospital bed this time. The latest suspects have revealed there are two more suicide bombs ready to go off in London. I’ve managed to stop them in Paris, Washington and the rest but not here. There are two of his council still at large and they are fighting to the death to keep his work and beliefs alive.”
“I can’t let you.”
“It isn’t your choice.”
“They will be found. They have leads. They can’t keep relying on just you. Helena, you are exhausted, and your emotions are shattered. Rann will hurt you. I won’t be part of that.”
“We don’t have time. I can do this. I promise I will be safe. Help me. I will take your direction,” Helena pleaded.
“That’s what you said last time, damn it. I am too close to you and I can’t protect you effectively anymore.”
“Please. I need you. I love you and I want to submit to you.”
“No. I’m sorry, Helena. I can’t be a part of this anymore.”
Chapter 14
Helena ran through the woods on Lord Fox’s estate just wanting to get away and find somewhere to let her frustrated, angry tears flow. When he’d refused to help her and left her in the care of a new security team, she couldn’t bear it. She’d stolen away from her team and driven all the way up to the estate to talk to him. Helena couldn’t live without him anymore and even if he wouldn’t help her, she wanted to submit to him.
She’d caught him just getting ready to go out for a bike ride and their discussion had started well but erupted into a row and the long and short of it was, she couldn’t willingly submit to him or accept he wouldn’t help her, after all. She stormed off when she heard him call the head of her security team to tell them to come and get her, running onto the grounds of the estate not sure of where she was even going, just to hide her upset like a child having a tantrum.
Why hadn’t she been able to submit to him? It was what she wanted. No, it was what she had been craving for so long, yet that bloody stubborn streak inherited from her mother frowned on her for it and wouldn’t allow her to take the next step for her happiness. Who knew if they were all going to make it out alive with those suicide bombs? She had to find them and damn it, she needed Mark’s support and love to help her do it. Everyone was counting on her and the pressure was enormous. Why hadn’t she put herself first, just for once? He might get killed finding those bombs and then she would have to live with never telling him how she truly felt about him and their relationship.
The sound of a motorbike could suddenly be heard behind her. She hadn’t gotten very far, and Lord Fox was clearly not intending to allow her to get any further. She couldn’t go through the whole scene again until she’d got her head straight so she continued on hoping she could hide from him behind a tree or something. Naïve idea. The man never gave up until he got what he wanted, and Helena knew somehow, he would have her kneeling willingly at his feet in submission soon. But not today, she vowed. He had to give in return before that would happen.
Helena picked up her pace and hurried between the trees feeling the black Ducati getting closer. She glanced back to see him expertly weaving through the trees towards her. Her breath caught in her throat. He was nearly on top of her. She ran, determined not to let him win the game. He’d already made a fool out of her twice recently and she wasn’t about to allow him the chance of being able to do it again. When she looked back again, he had disappeared.
Briefly she saw a glimpse of sexy black leather and the metallic shine of the Ducati flash through the trees and she was forced to change direction. It felt as though he were herding her somewhere. She was getting deeper into the woods and she was getting lost. It was getting late and the security team would be here to pick her up and take her back to London. She couldn’t afford to get lost. She took another turn, but he was there again. Why didn’t he just come out and face her?
He was hunting her. That’s what it felt like. There was no getting away from it. Her eyes narrowed when she caught another a glimpse of him between the trees. Annoyed as she was, something deep inside was thrilled he was hunting her like prey and desperately wanted him to catch her. She knew now she would not submit of her own accord and all this time she had been waiting for him to make her. Until he realised it, the game would continue.
Catch me and make me kneel before you. I won’t be fully yours until you do.
She hoped he’d heard the words echoing in her mind. She had given him permission now to end this game of chase. Deciding to provoke him more, she pulled off her shoes and ran straight ahead. She had to reach the end of the woods soon. Maybe he would cut her off before she got there.
Helena didn’t see the tall brick wall marking the boundary of the Fox estate. She turned back to see Mark riding straight towards her. She heard him call out but couldn’t make out what he was saying, and she turned to stumble straight into the wall. Helena was knocked off her feet and for a second, sat dazed. Mark had stopped the bike and was getting off it in those sexy black leathers, removing his helmet and gloves before he came to tower over her fallen form.
“You should have known I wouldn’t let you get very far, little one,” he told her with his lip curling into a brief smile of satisfaction at having caught her. “I knew I would eventually have you at my feet, but it still isn’t enough. I need to break that will of yours, baby girl.”
She could see his blue eyes sweeping over her for any sign of injury but the only thing she had wounded was her pride at having not seen the wall.
He caught hold of the back of her hair and pulled her to standing. He tugged on her head and forced it back. Helena felt excitement rise inside her and her blood pumping faster through her veins.
“You don’t want me to give you a choice. And here is me thinking you were a modern woman who wanted to kick my ass and teach me a lesson for being dominant with you. But this is all a game. You want me to make you kneel, don’t you, baby girl?”
He looked down at her eyes searching for confirmation in them. She made sure he saw it loud and clear. He gave her a wide triumphant smile.
“Good. Then I won’t give you a choice. But there is something I must address first.”
Lord Fox started dragging his caught prey towards the Ducati at speed by her hair. When he reached it, he let go of her hair and using both of his hands took hold of the front of her blouse and ripped it open exposing both plump, juicy breasts barely concealed in the black, low-cut, lacy bra he’d bought for her. It was more for formal night time occasions but she’d worn it for him, to please Daddy. Her body jumped and shook with the force he used to remove the remnants of her blouse as he tore the garment from her throwing it to the ground.
“What are you going to do?” She was breathing hard with anticipation, loving his robust handling. It had been so long, and she sobbed at feeling the sudden gentle brush of his fingers down her arm.
“I am going to strip you naked for anyone to see and whip your bare bottom with my belt. I should have punished you when you disobeyed me in the remote viewing session, but I was so angry. Now it is time. You will be begging to kneel.”
Helena hadn’t expected another spanking but then she deserved it. She had broken Daddy’s rules. Still she couldn’t help clutching at the bare flesh of her bottom when her ripped skirt lay at her feet.
“Please don’t.” Her voice sounded timid, childlike again. It came easily, natural with him and was never forced. She saw the appreciation in his eyes when he pulled her hands away.
“There is no escape naughty little girl,” he told her while undoing her bra. “I need to do this to discipline your recklessness and I need to do this for me, little one. I won’t let you go this time.”
There was a sense of urgency in his voice. It was his way of bringing her back to him and grounding her in his care and protection. Now that her anger at him had dissipated over the past week she could allow herself to feel just how shook up he had been when she was nearly raped. He believed he had let her down and for the last week he had been considering walking out of her life for good, unable to bear the guilt and the torture of not being there for her. She read his thoughts quickly knowing he was reading hers at the same time. That was the last thing she’d wanted her handsome Dominant to feel. He was right about everything and she’d made it worse by walking away from him just to show her own stubborn strength and ignoring his rules on her protection as her man, Dominant and Protection Officer. She hoped he would forgive her. The discipline he bestowed on her would hopefully be a start. She was only safe and protected when with him, no one else had ever come close.
Mark spun her around to face him and raised her arms up above her head just as she felt the cups of her bra fall away exposing the plump mounds and dark erect tips pointing at him. Deftly, Lord Fox pulled the straps and cups of her bra up her long slender arms to her wrists and intricately twisted and turned the straps and cups in a way that brought her wrists together and bound them. She couldn’t help but look at him in surprise.
“It is surprising how many uses a bra has. Next time I will use it to gag you and stop your bleating when I spank you over my knee,” he told her forcefully as she felt her nipples brush the sleek, black leather biking jacket he wore and his hands running down her back while his eyes swept over her body as though he had been deprived of it for far too long. “Now, it’s time to get your ass over that bike. I can’t wait to tame you anymore,” he said with strong annoyance returning in his voice.
So, there will be a next time.
He was holding her hair again using it to push her down onto all fours and then using it as a lead to take her to the bike.
“Keep to heel,” he ordered, stopping to tap her backside with a quick slap when her movement became tardy and she struggled to crawl in the undergrowth over the moss and twigs. It made her think of those glorious days in the house when he’d shown her who she truly was and just how much he loved her. She wanted that back more than anything.
He reached down and pulled her up to standing, lifting her now struggling form over the bike. Spanking was one thing but a whipping with his belt, and not the riding crop he’d used before, made her nervous. It was going to hurt more, of that she was absolutely convinced and despite her great need to prove she was his submissive her nerve was faltering.
“I’m not sure about this. It will hurt.”
“Yes, it will. It is meant to, but I will only ever lovingly discipline you, little one. Daddy would never hurt you,” he soothed before flinging her sideways over the saddle of the Ducati XDiavel leaving her feet above the ground. She could feel the sun penetrating the canopy of trees to warm her back as her small curved form hung over the bike. The Ducati was still running, and she could feel the pulse of its engine throbbing beneath her.
“Let’s get these off. I hate you wearing them. What did I say about Daddy’s rules, darling? No panties unless I allowed it. I want you free and accessible at all times, little one. You’ll take an extra five strokes on that beautiful bottom of yours for that indiscretion.”
She felt his hand smooth over the lacy thong and the skin of her butt to warm it for punishment. She couldn’t move so her struggles were useless.
“Please, Daddy I will be a good girl. I learned a lot about myself this week, I thought about everything you said.” Her sentence was finished with a cry when Lord Fox took hold of the thong at the top and pulled it away from her body snapping the flim
sy material, so it came easily away from her body unfit for wear ever again.
“That’s good to hear, little one. But nothing is going to stop your punishment.”
Helena heard the sound of a belt buckle being undone and then the leather belt being pulled through the loopholes on his trousers to freedom. Anxiously she bit her lip then tried to plead like a little girl.
“Please, Daddy, I have learnt my lesson. Being away from you this last week has been too much to bear. I have already told you. I have been punished enough.”
He didn’t answer her. All she could hear was a sudden whoosh of air above her bottom and the folded belt striking one tender pale bottom cheek. Another creak of leather and the belt was being raised again. Helena’s eyes stung with hot tears and her bottom lip was trembling as her body rose and bucked with each application of the belt. It hurt more than any other spanking or whipping he had given her before. Every stroke brought her tension, hurt and fear to the surface and forced her to expel it with her tears, whimpers and yelps as he took her to task with his belt over the soft leather seat of the Ducati that brushed her clit with every rise and fall of her quivering, hot, stinging bottom provoking a pleasure pain response that drove Helena to distraction. Time after time, he whipped her butt finding a new fresh source of tender pain in an unstruck place bringing a fresh batch of cries and tears to echo through the woods scattering the birds and the squirrels from the branches to scamper across the ground to forage for a nut and watch the spectacle before them with interest.
A short while later, Lord Fox turned his attention to the backs of her thighs to burn them with the belt, each stroke coming in hot fast succession leaving her exhausted, limp and breathless, the fight and resistance gone from her. Finally, the discipline ended as quickly as it began, and she collapsed sobbing on the bike, so much so she thought she was going to fall, and Mark had to act quickly to support her. She saw the belt being flung across the ground away from them and then felt the gentle touch of his hand on her back and the second cupping one fiery buttock.
Protecting Helena Page 13
