TV crews, local ones, and Manda’s team, are filming from various angles.
As he speaks on, a car pulls up fast, and both Art and Michael get out. I’ve never seen Art so pale, or Michael so red. The two of them look like polar opposites, hot and cold. I stifle a chuckle. Oh, this feels good.
”And let me give the stage to none other than our local girl gone big time, Manda!” The mayor claps, and the group applauds, some people whistle and whoop.
Things happen fast. The area is cleared further, and when everyone not in the video is blocked off by cones and roping, our private security guards and Manda’s both guarding the perimeter, she starts to sing. And her band plays. And fuck, but they sound good.
I step back beside Talia. “Did you hear about how they’re looping in feed of the cranes?”
“Their vid expert is going to loop pieces of it into the live feed, like stream it into the video,” she whispers. “I asked. They’re also going to add stuff to her blog, the enhanced video is for later.”
“I see. So one video live for her live fans, and another one later for everyone.”
“Yup. She’s famous for her pop-ups.”
“And she’s actually going to feature Mark in an interview?” I know I sound skeptical.
Talia shrugs. “I think so, because it feeds into the whole Manda is awesome and cares about animal rights image. Mark told her that all the big stars are doing it, and that saving birds in her own hometown area would be powerful stuff.”
“He's probably not wrong.” We both look over as Manda sways and leaps, performing acrobatics in skin-tight clothing. “Although look at her. She could sell anything.”
“Hey.” Talia bumps me.
“Oh, she’s not a tenth as hot as you.” I lean over to whisper into her ear. “I don’t want a bratty kid to whine and order me around. I want a woman who’s mine to pleasure and punish.” I slide my hand to her waist. “And for the record, your legs are sexier than hers. And your ass.”
Talia grabs my butt for a second. “Your ass isn’t so bad either.”
I laugh.
As Manda twirls, Art and Michael come up, anger filtering from their steps and faces.
“What in the hell is going on here?” Art gazes around, shaking his head. “I don’t understand. Is it the protest?”
“No.” I raise my eyebrows.
“But the singer is here. And the crowd. On the site. Dane, the legalities of this are going to kill us.”
“I’ve already cleared it with legal and HR.”
“Why would you want a protest?”
“It’s not a protest. It’s a music video. She’s talking about how much she cares about the cranes and how she cares about environmental issues. Save The World With Manda.”
“Jesus, Dane. After we ruin their forest?” He throws up his hands. “Are you fucking insane? The public will skewer us.”
“She’ll talk about how we’re paying to relocate them, actually.”
“We… what?” His jaw hangs.
“Move them.” I enunciate. “To another breeding swamp a few miles away.”
“We don’t have the budge—”
“It’s out of my own pocket,” I snap.
The mayor comes up with the local Channel 3 crew. “Dane.” He pumps my hand, his smile broad, his suit impeccable. “Are you ready to do this?”
As he speaks, Michael’s opponent for the senate run, DeShaun Winters, comes up in a suit and a smile. Stands beside the mayor. Shakes his hand.
“Do what?” Michael speaks for the first time, his mouth twisted into a scowl. But he’s not stupid. As he looks from me, to DeShaun, to the mayor, his face changes, and I swear he’s practically feral. “You’re going to be sorry,” he warns me.
But I don’t pay attention. “I’m ready.” My voice is firm.
The mayor’s aide puts out an arm. “Step back, please.” And I almost burst into laughter at the look on Michael’s face.
The camera blinks on.
“I’m Mayor Price, glad to be here with the CEO of Danton Carter Construction, who’s bringing jobs to the local area. And in addition, they’re working with the environmental group to move our local claim to fame, the Moorish Cranes from the woods to a nearby breeding ground. We’re also excited to have another local, DeShaun Winters. He’s running for Senate, and he’s always been a big supporter of environmental concerns, and prosperity for our community. DeShaun.”
DeShaun steps up. “Partnership and preservation go hand in hand. We can maintain the past as we build a beautiful future. That’s one of my core values that I’ll bring to DC if I’m elected...”
Michael vibrates with anger; not just your everyday emotion, but the rage of a man who’s been bested. Embarrassed. The white-hot brand of revenge probably in his soul.
I’ll have to watch out for him. But it’s worth it.
By inviting DeShaun here, it’s clear that both Mayor Price and I support him for Senate. The other city council members are eager to throw in with the winning boat, and they come to me—shaking my hand, smiling.
I know it. Michael knows it. I’m in for the next project here in Mapleton, and I did it without sucking up to him or caving into his demands.
As soon as the interview is over, I step aside. “Michael.” I give him a broad smile.
“You probably think you’re pretty clever.” He scowls. I can see his pulse in his neck.
“The information you have on Talia”—I pierce him with my gaze—“is not for public consumption.”
“I do what I want.” But his eyes stray past me to the mayor, to the other council members. And although he’s puffed up, I think he’s deflating in his soul. He knows he’s lost.
Talia comes up beside me.
“You do what’s smart,” she corrects, “for you. And releasing anything on me would not be a wise idea, Michael. It would look vindictive and petty. And what you know isn’t even complete.” Her voice is calm and I’m so fucking proud of her right now, I can’t even express it. “Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to be called out for trying to slander someone with the wrong information?” She continues, “Keep in mind, too, that anyone can dig. What if I wanted to dig into your background? Think there’s anything there worth finding?”
He sputters.
She smiles. “Worth thinking about, right?” She turns to me and says, “We should go.” Then she looks back at Michael. “I think the other council members wouldn’t look too highly on your recent shenanigans, Michael. Nor would anyone who might even contemplate supporting you for a Senate run. I recorded our conversations, by the way. The one where you tried to blackmail me into writing articles for you.”
“I never said anything—”
“It’s a matter of public perception. Are you willing to roll the dice?” She raises her brows. “See you.”
And as we walk away, she squeezes my hand and whispers, “Fuck, that felt good.”
She drops my hand. “I’m just going to hang with Lem for a few. Be back!” She hurries away up to her friend, and I smile to see her so happy.
Art makes his way over to me, still pale, eyes furious. “You have a lot of nerve.” He shakes his head and points. “This is a complete spectacle.”
I look him in the eye. “It’s a shame we had to provide a circus just to get a job in town, don’t you think?” I gesture to Manda. “The performers are pretty on the eyes, though, you gotta admit.” I chuckle when he doesn’t. Then I punch his shoulder, not too lightly. “And we even have our share of clowns.”
“Fuck you.” It’s a half growl, half whisper. A muscle twitches in his jaw. “You are the biggest…” but he stops talking before he tells me what I am. Maybe he’s not sure. “I guess you win.” He sounds so sad.
We stand together silently as Manda gyrates.
“Art.” I take a breath and turn to him. “We don’t need to be adversaries. This place will run better if we’re on the same page. It’s what your father would have wanted.”
<
br /> “You have no idea…” he begins, reflexively. Then shakes his head. “At this point, I don’t think I even know what Father wants. Wanted.” He crosses his arms.
“Art, I want this place to succeed.” I touch his arm, gently this time. “I mean it, man.”
He looks at me and wipes his eye. “I know you do.” I’ve never heard his voice this tired, seen him so slumped. “I know.” He clears his throat and looks away. “It’s just… he didn’t pick me.” He looks at me, supplication in his eyes. “What was I supposed to do, just give in? I looked like an idiot. I had to take a stand.”
There’s nothing to say to that. It’s something he’ll have to work through on his own.
He looks around the area, at everything going on. “I guess you do care about this place.” Grudging respect colors his tone.
“So you gotta back off,” I tell him. “Give me more room to work as the interim CEO. You know I’m right about the code issues, the wiring. And about Hector. We don’t fire people for mistakes. Even if we can get away with it with clever legalities and a bulletproof HR team.”
He shrugs. Stares straight ahead.
“I know your father built this place up. But things are different these days. Procedures as well as relationships. We have to change.”
He nods, once. “Yeah.”
Manda does a flourish and everyone claps. Random whistles ring out, as well as cheers.
“So why don’t you go to the hospice and be with him, Art. I’ve got things covered here. Probably get more done faster if you’re not around messing it up with Boyd.”
“Boyd’s an asshole.” He doesn’t look at me. “I probably shouldn’t have trusted him.”
“You’re just figuring this out?” I roll my eyes, torn between anger and sympathy. “Look, coming from a guy who’s lost his father. I don’t know what your relationship is like with Danton, but I do believe you’ll regret not going.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” He blows out a breath. He finally turns to look at me again. “I’m – sorry it came to this.” He waves a hand, possibly meaning the whole protest, but I think he means what’s been happening with him and me. The mistrust. The lies. His bad judgment.
“We can change it going forward.” I don’t apologize, because I’m not the one at fault. And I’m not sure I’m ready to forgive, just yet. First he needs to show me that he’s changed. But I’m willing to keep an open mind.
“Yeah.” He nods. “I’ll give you more time as CEO.” It’s as good a promise as I’ll get from him, and at this point, I’ll take it.
I look over where Talia is waiting. “I have to go.”
***
“Manda’s video is genius.” We’ve watched it all the way through, marveling at the way her team was able to create something so streamlined and professional on the spot. The footage of the cranes interspersed with her song, Important To Me, is brilliant. She has links to the Earth First site, and the interview with Mayor Price.
But what makes me really happy is the knowledge that we bested Michael, and Art, and their double-crossing complicated dirty machinations. And what makes me exultant is that we did it together: Talia and I. And both of us stayed relatively clean during it.
My company will get the next bid in town, which is good for Hector and the employees and the shareholders. The board at Danton Carter is pleased with me and won’t kick me out to be replaced by Art—at least, not yet. I’ve bought myself some time to win them over. I didn’t have to suck Michael’s dick. And Talia is happy because we saved her birds and because she faced off to Michael and Mark, and stood up for herself. And I’m glad about that, too. More than I realized I would be. It makes me feel good in my soul.
We’re at my place again, and her emotions are there in her face. As I’m sure mine are, too.
I give her a wicked smile. “You, my dear, have been a very bad girl.” I loosen my tie and toss it to the dresser. Unbutton my shirt.
“Oh?” She lounges on the bed in her bra and G-string. “How so?” She moves her head on the pillow and arches her back, making her breasts pop up. “I think I did well today.”
“You grabbed my ass no less than three times. In front of people.”
“Oh, that is bad. I should probably be punished.” She smiles.
“Well, I think so.” I discard the shirt. Unbutton my jeans, but leave them on. “So that’s what I’m about to do.”
“Hmm.”
She slowly turns over, striking a pose that showcases my very target—her gorgeous ass—and I nearly combust.
“You wanna tease me?” I kick off my shoes. Come closer to the bed. “You can stay just like that until I tell you otherwise.” I reach over and run a hand over the impossibly smooth, silky skin on her ass. Stroke.
She shivers and pushes up into my hand. I slap her ass once, hard. “No. You don’t move until you’re instructed.”
She moans, a little breathy sound. Goes still.
My desire spirals. “Good girl.” I run my fingertips down her spine and smile when she sucks in her breath audibly. Shivers under my touch.
“Because good girls”—I lay my hand on her neck, close my fingers. Not hard, but tightly enough to show ownership—“do what they’re told, if they want a reward.”
I press and feel her pulse quicken. She fucking loves this as much as I do, my dominance. When we play rough.
I bend down and crouch beside the bed. “Look at me.”
She turns those gorgeous wide eyes on me. Smiles.
“Who owns you, baby?”
She licks her lips. “You do.”
“I mean it.” I reach out and cup her chin.
“So do I.” Her arm starts to move reflexively, as if she’s about to put her hand on top of mine, then she stills it. Keeps gazing at me.
I smile. “You’re quite obedient.”
“Just for you, though.”
“That’s how I want it. Just for me.”
I put the other hand onto her face. “Always for me.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah?” I lean in and brush her lips with mine. “You’ll be my good submissive girl in the bedroom all the time? You want it like that?”
“As long as you do things I like.” She smiles, and all I can think about is having those lips wrapped around my cock.
“As long as you obey, then I probably will.” I bite her bottom lip and she moans. Then we’re kissing and she has her hands wrapped in my hair, tugging my face closer. That’s not allowed, per se, but I have to kiss her first before pointing out that she’s already broken the rules.
When we pull apart, both panting, I tap her cheek lightly with my palm. “Are you supposed to touch me unless you’re instructed?”
“Well, how should I know? I think a good dom would make the rules clear.” She shrugs, as best she can in her position. “Maybe you need dom lessons.” She giggles. “I can Google a few things… aaaeek!”
She squeals as I stand up and grab her and flip her around, getting her over my lap. Now I’m sitting and her pretty ass is positioned in the perfect way for a spanking, her soft body pressing into my thighs.
“Dane!” She cries out, wiggling. But I can read her tone, and she likes this.
“What did we just say about obedience?” I tug the waistband of her G-string and snap it.
She shifts on my legs. “That you need to get better at saying what you want.”
“Ooh, is that right? Take these off. We’ll have a good conversation about it right now, Talia. Except you’ll be naked for it.” I pull at her panties. “Go on, reach back and slide them down. I’ll wait.”
She reaches back with her free hand and pulls, and I assist them down her thighs, calves, and finally off her perfect feet. I toss the fabric onto the bed.
“Now spread your thighs a little so I can watch you get wet while I punish you.”
“Who says I’ll get wet?” But she does it. And she already is.
I laugh. “I think we both know how much you f
ucking love this.” With both hands, I collect her long hair from her shoulders into an ad hoc ponytail. Wind it together into one hand.
“But this time, I’m going to make it a little harder. Just to remind you who’s boss.” I tug her hair.
She squeaks.
“You’re going to lie nice and still while I spank with my hand, and if you’re good, I’ll go easy with you when it’s time for the belt.” I lower my voice. “It’s entirely up to you how sore your ass gets, Talia. You behave well, it’ll be sore for a day. You disobey, it’s more like a week. We clear?” I tug her hair harder, pulling her head up.
“Ow. Yes!” She pants a little bit and there’s some anxiety in her voice. But her body is still soft on mine, and she moves her thighs back and forth. She’s still into it.
Good, because I want to teach her a lesson. And I need her to let me do it.
I maintain a good grip on her hair in my fist. Keep it taut.
“Count these first ones,” I tell her.
I bring down my hand, a nice firm slap across her left buttock. Designed to sting, harder than a typical warm-up spank.
“One. Ow.” She breathes out.
I spank the other cheek, a little harder.
“Two. How many are you going to give me?”
“That’s up to me. Don’t ask again. Asking unnecessary questions means an extra stroke with the belt, on top of the ten you’re already getting.”
“I’m sorry. Ow! I mean, three.” She shifts on my lap, and this time I think it’s because her ass is starting to sting.
I rub her soft skin, then spank a few times in quick succession, so fast that she doesn’t immediately count, probably not expecting me to switch it up like this.
“Ow, four, five, six. I don’t know! Seven? Dane.”
I land another flurry of spanks on her thighs. “Keep up, Talia. You just earned an extra with the belt.”
“But you’re going too fast….”
I spank her a few times again. “Count quickly. You’re a clever girl.”
Hammered: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Hard n' Dirty Book 5) Page 19
