Her Hero

by Jane Henry

  “Because it’s you,” she said before she could help herself. Maybe she was in denial. Maybe it had been sexy? Because now that his finger was there, moving with skill through her most sensitive parts, she realized just how very aroused she actually was. Just a few more touches and she’d come undone, right here over his lap, her throbbing ass against his erection, while his breath tickled her cheek and Donnie took control over her body. To her shock, he pulled his hand away, and gently pushed her so that he could hold her at arm’s length, her panties snapping back.

  His lips thinned as he shook his head sadly. “So soon after being punished, Grace?” he asked. His eyes had grown serious. “I thought you learned your lesson.”

  What?

  He lifted her and turned her torso, flipping her over his lap. She pushed against him, wanting to know what the hell he was playing at, but she was no match for him. He chuckled, holding her straight over his knees, her belly against his warm thighs, her fingers grasping onto his legs. “Uh uh, angel.”

  “Donnieee,” she wailed. He wasn’t going to… spank her again? Was he? Why else would he pull her belly-down over his lap?

  His large, warm hand rested on her aching backside. His voice was a deep rumble as he spoke again. “Did you lie to me again, Grace? I let it go once, but do you think I'll let it go again?”

  “No!” she protested. But, well, maybe she had. She hadn’t exactly told him the whole truth of what she knew, had she? “Well…” she faltered, “I… maybe I…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Now, now, Grace,” he scolded. “You already know what happens when you misbehave. Do you think I like when you lie to me?” She felt his finger on the edge of her panties, drawing them down slowly over her ass. She squirmed, warmth seeping through her, so turned on it wasn’t even funny. Unhurriedly, he dragged the thin fabric down her thighs, the heat of his fingers branding her as he slowly, so slowly, pulled her panties to her ankles. Then she felt his hand drift between her legs, spreading them apart, and one wicked finger was between her folds. He continued to admonish her. “What happens when you defy me, angel?”

  She closed her eyes as her head swam with arousal. Her mouth felt dry, and she forgot how to speak. To her shock, his hand came down in a sharp swat that made her gasp and arch her back, before he spoke again. “I asked you a question, Grace, and I expect an answer.”

  “I-I get spanked when I disobey you!”

  He growled his approval. “Damn right,” he said, with another sharp but not altogether unpleasant smack. It was hard enough she could feel it, but light enough that it was hardly unbearable. He continued spanking her with firm but sensual smacks, the warmth spreading over her naked skin. Pausing, his fingers explored her folds, and he made a tsking sound of disapproval when he found her wet for him.

  “Your body betrays you, angel,” he said with a dark chuckle. “You told me getting spanked by me wasn’t sexy.” The very tip of his finger circled her clit, making her arch her back in pleasure. He bent his head, his whiskered chin grazing her cheek before the deep rumble of his whisper tickled her ear. “Do you need a spanking, Grace? Do I need to punish you for lying?”

  And something clicked. She needed more. She needed him to make her come. Arching her back, squirming against his touch to encourage him to touch her again, she moaned. “I’ve been so bad,” she whispered. “You’re right. I need a sp-spanking.” Her cheeks flamed saying it, but he knew how to handle her.

  He gave her two more stinging swats, but this time, her clit throbbed with each stroke of his hand, and then his fingers were in her, pumping in her core, before gliding deliciously through her arousal. She was going to lose it. She was going to come right here, over his lap, after being spanked. Grasping his leg, she wriggled, so close now she could taste it, on the cusp of losing control.

  His voice no longer teased. “Push that pretty little cunt against my hand,” he demanded. She felt one hand swirl through her hair, and with a firm, deliberate tug, her head pulled back. Oh God. Who knew getting her hair pulled like this would be so sexy? She closed her eyes. God! “Take it, angel,” he ordered, two fingers expertly stroking her while he tugged her hair again, a sharp but sensual ache she felt all the way down her spine. “That’s it, Grace. That’s my sweet little slut.”

  Holy hell, she loved this. Donnie Nolan was pulling her hair and spanking her ass, his fingers doing wicked things while he called her his slut. Yes. She wanted this. She was about to fly out of her fucking skin as he growled, insisting, “Come for me, baby. Fucking come.” This time, she obeyed, shock waves riding her body to ecstasy. She gasped and writhed as he stroked her. “Yeah, just like that. God, yeah, angel.” He continued to fondle and tease her as she rode her orgasm, whispering dirty, wicked things in her ear, until she lay, spent, over his lap.

  Her body felt limp, every emotion rent from her, as she lay unmoving.

  He caressed her back, his rough but gentle touch moving down to her aching ass, soothing the pain, his touch bringing home how pleased he was with her, how very much he cared.

  “That’s a good girl,” he whispered. “Time for bed, now, Grace.” She already felt half asleep. He turned her over and cradled her in his arms, holding her against his chest while he lay back on the pillows. Reaching for the covers, he pulled them up over her, tucking them up against her while he held her. She fell asleep like that, too tired to even understand what had just happened but too happy to care.

  “Morning, sunshine.” Donnie sat on the edge of the bed with a cup of coffee.

  Grace sat up. What time was it? Her eyes felt bleary, and her head fuzzy, reminding her of her need for coffee.

  “Seems the nighttime festivities wore you out,” he said with a chuckle, handing her a mug. She took a tentative sip and sighed. Delicious. Creamy, sweet, the rich breakfast blend she’d come to appreciate.

  Looking away shyly, Grace nodded. Uh, yeah, getting hauled over his knee and soundly spanked, then brought to climax while he punished her in the most delicious of ways? Those nighttime festivities had worn her the hell out all right.

  “You drink your coffee and listen up, babe. We’ve gotta talk about a few things.” Though he was nowhere as stern as he’d been the night before, his tone was serious, and to her surprise, she felt immediately willing to do what he said. Had the spanking the night before changed something?

  She sipped her coffee, nodding, as he continued. “I’ve got shit to do today. You’re gonna call your mom, and I’ll help you come up with a story that will keep her content for now. We still have some time before Mikey’s guys realize you’re gone, and I’ve got some guys looking into the situation. I’m gonna meet with them later and work out a plan. Yeah?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” she said, putting her mug down. “What am I going to do about work? You know I don’t want to run away, Donnie.”

  His lips turned down in a frown, and his brow furrowed. “I’ll take care of this,” he said sternly. “Don’t start giving me lip, Grace.”

  She squirmed on her still-throbbing backside. Nope, she wasn’t gonna give him lip.

  “Already took care of your work,” he said, taking a long pull from his own mug.

  She frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Had a word with your manager.”

  She blinked. “You… did?”

  Her manager was a power-hungry, middle-aged woman who’d been working retail since before Grace was even born. She clocked her employees the second they stepped in the door, and had a timer in the breakroom that she set when they took their breaks, an obnoxious fluorescent contraption suitable for keeping time at a basketball game. Her face was set in a perpetual frown, and Grace was fairly certain that she absolutely hated Grace’s guts.

  “What’d she say?” Grace asked warily.

  He shrugged. “Take all the time you need,” he said.

  Okay. Scratch that. “What’d you say?” she asked, shaking her head, absolutely bemused.

  He grinned, one of those
rare, panty-melting grins that made her heart forget how to keep a steady beat. “You let me worry about that, babe. I may have given her an ample tip to keep quiet.”

  Well, then. Grace couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Today, you’ll stay here while I have shit to do,” he said. “You can use my iPad, workout equipment, whatever you need. I got some books from Hillary loaded on the iPad. She’s one of my friends’ wives, and she writes those shit romance books you girls like. They sell really well, so maybe they’re good.” His lips pursed. “I wouldn’t know.”

  Grace snorted. She hadn’t cracked open a romance novel in her entire life, but she’d give it a go. Sure beat staring at his walls.

  “If you’re good,” he said, his brows pulling together as he sobered, “and by good, I mean you don’t move a fucking toe out of this apartment, then tonight I’ll order takeout and we’ll watch a movie or something. What do you think?”

  Her heart soared. Her entire life was in disarray. She had no idea how she’d get out of this mess or what her future held. But right now, right here, as she sat in his bed and stared at him with what she knew to be starry-eyed adoration, she could only nod. “Yeah,” she breathed, burying her face in her coffee cup for another sip to swallow against the ridiculous surge of excitement she felt.

  He nodded, once, and placed his cup down on the bedside table. “Grace?” he asked, all trace of teasing gone now as he eyed her long and hard.

  “Mmhmm?” she said, looking at him shyly.

  “I mean it, babe,” he said, his voice getting that low, grumbly sound she knew well. She nodded, as he continued. “I have serious shit to do today. I cannot monitor your every move. I need to trust that you’re not gonna leave this place. This is where you’re safe. You get me?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “I get you.”

  “Good,” he said, with a nod, as his brown eyes pierced her and his jaw set. “Because you know exactly what will happen if you leave.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Don’t you?”

  She nodded. “Uh huh.”

  He narrowed his eyes, his arms crossing on his chest. “Tell me, then, angel. What happens if you leave this apartment?”

  God! He wanted her to say it? She looked away and couldn’t meet his eyes, but her response wasn’t good enough for him. He leaned over, grasping the back of her hair and pulling her head back. Shit, that was sexy and scary all at once. She swallowed, her eyes shifting to his.

  “Tell me,” he growled. “Tell me what happens if you leave this apartment. I want you to say the fucking words.”

  “You’ll punish me,” she said in a rush of words, her pulse spiking.

  He tugged her hair again. “You leave this apartment today, after what happened last night, and I swear to God I’ll take my belt to your ass. You get me?”

  She nodded. Satisfied with her answer, he released her. She got him all right. What she didn’t get was how she could be scared, chastened, and turned on all at the very same time. She had no idea what tomorrow would bring, or how she’d get out of her predicament, but there was one thing she knew for sure. Things would never be the same again.

  Chapter 5

  “So… you took her from your brother’s house and brought her to The Club?”

  Blake’s voice on the phone carried the deceptively mild tone he often used when he was pissed off, and the hand Donnie had braced against the casing of his office window clenched into a fist. He’d told Blake everything that had happened in the past two days, barring any of the events that had occurred after the demo last night, of course, and had admitted he needed Blake’s help. He owed Blake huge, and never wanted the man to regret taking a chance on him all those years ago, but this was Grace’s life he was talking about here. Pride had no place in this conversation.

  “Yeah, boss. I did. It’s the safest place,” Donnie confirmed, repeating words he’d spoken earlier.

  “Uh huh. So you said. I’m just wondering why you trusted Slay’s guy Lucas to take charge of the brother, who’s fucked six ways to Sunday, incidentally, since he knows where all of your cousin Mikey’s bodies are buried, literally. But you wouldn’t trust Lucas to find a safe house for Grace.”

  Donnie gripped his phone tightly, watching the sun glinting off the cars parked outside, and fought to keep his breathing even. He knew what Blake was seeing here, what he wanted Donnie to admit. The man wasn’t wrong. But Donnie hadn’t had a chance to untangle his own complicated feelings about the woman who was currently upstairs sleeping in his apartment. He was in no place to have this conversation with Blake.

  “Figured it was better to keep ‘em separate,” Donnie hedged, turning away from the window and throwing himself into his desk chair. “Besides which, Grace isn’t exactly a willing guest here. The woman has zero sense of self-preservation. She refuses to leave town, and I’ve already had to threaten multiple times to tan her ass if she leaves my apartment without permission.”

  He hadn’t realized that his voice had become a low growl until Blake spoke again.

  “You’ve threatened multiple times?” the man repeated. “Huh. You must be losing your touch, Master Nolan.” His voice was tinged with amusement now, and for some reason that grated on Donnie even more than the annoyed, mild voice had.

  “That’s because Grace isn’t my submissive,” Donnie returned, trying to ignore the fact that he’d lectured her, spanked her hard, and brought her to orgasm mere hours ago. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

  He grabbed a pen and began tapping it on his desk, then recognized the nervous habit for what it was and immediately threw the pen back down in disgust.

  “Hmm,” was Blake’s reply. Then he cleared his throat. “Well, in any case, we’ve got a situation to deal with here. I’ll assemble the troops.”

  Relief made a knot unclench in Donnie’s gut. He’d expected no less from Blake, knowing the man as he did, though the fact that Blake would always have his back was something Donnie never took for granted. Still, he knew Blake was not happy with the situation.

  “I need you to know, boss, that I woulda never brought her here if I thought it endangered The Club. This place is my priority, and I—”

  “Don,” Blake interrupted. “I know. I trust you. My concern over this situation has nothing to do with The Club, or even with your Grace.”

  Donnie frowned. “All right.”

  “I’m worried about you,” Blake continued. “You’re not just my employee, you know that. Elena and I consider you family. Your cousin is bad news and I can’t say I’m excited that you’ve been dragged back into his shit. But I respect that you did what you felt you had to do. Now the guys and I are gonna help you. Right?”

  “Right,” Donnie said gruffly. “Thanks, man. So you and the guys will come here tonight?” Blake knew the Club South was closed that evening, and would provide the perfect cover for a meet. Plus, it ensured that Donnie could stick close to Grace.

  “No,” Blake shocked the hell out of him by saying. “Not there. I’ll call Tony. I bet we can have the back room at Cara.”

  Cara was the Italian restaurant that Donnie’s friend Tony, who also happened to be his boss Matteo’s younger brother, owned in the North End of Boston… miles away from The Club South.

  “Boss, I really don’t feel comfortable leaving Grace…” Donnie said.

  “Hell no,” Blake agreed. “Bring her with you. I’ll bring Elena, and I’ll see if the other guys wanna bring their wives, make it a family thing.”

  A family thing… Because Blake’s crew: Dom, Matt, Tony, Slay, Paul, and the rest, along with their families, had somehow morphed into the world’s weirdest, best family.

  Something warm and pleasant unfurled in Donnie’s chest, even as he forced himself to say, “Do you think it’s safe, dragging them into this?”

  “You said your brother is covering for Grace, and you trust him to do that because he owes you. Mikey won’t even know she’s missing for another half a week, and wou
ld have no immediate idea that you were involved even if he did. True?”

  “Yeah,” Donnie agreed reluctantly.

  “Plus, Don, recall that our friends are a lot better trained and a fuck of a lot better connected than your average group of guys.” Blake’s voice was amused.

  Donnie snorted. Matteo and Slay were retired Marines who still did security and investigative work, Blake himself was a former soldier... and there wasn’t a single one of those men Donnie wouldn’t want beside him in a fight.

  “Right,” he admitted.

  “Right,” Blake repeated. “I’ll report all of this to the guys, let them make their own decisions. But that girl is gonna need some support, Don. If she’s been living under Mikey’s thumb for years like you said, making some friends in the outside world is imperative. And there are no better women than this bunch.”

  Donnie sighed. Blake was right, but the knowledge that Grace needed other people rankled on some level. Donnie liked the idea of Grace relying on him… maybe a little too much. He knew that once this was over and Grace was safe, their time together at The Club would be over. Grace would move on to choose her own future, and live the life she should have had; Donnie would insist on it. And she couldn’t ask for better friends to help her with that than the wives and partners of Blake’s crew.

  Donnie and Blake agreed on a time, then Donnie ended the call, throwing his phone down next to his laptop. God, he was fucking exhausted.

  Already this morning, he’d had to deal with Julie’s sudden appearance, approximately twelve hours before her scheduled shift, bringing donuts and coffee for the construction workers and a flirtatious smile for Donnie. That smile had killed any hope Donnie had entertained that Julie might not have read too much into his overly-enthusiastic demonstration last night. And, in truth, Donnie couldn’t totally blame her. He’d brought this on himself. Yeah, he’d told her he wanted nothing beyond a business relationship, but the spanking he’d delivered last night had been far more passionate than the distant, clinical demonstrations he normally delivered, and there was no doubt Julie had noticed. Julie had no idea that he’d been fantasizing about having Grace splayed out on that spanking bench, that he’d imagined Grace’s ass at his mercy. He’d have to quadruple his efforts to keep his distance from Julie now, or talk to Blake about reassigning her to The Club’s Boston location.