Rider nodded. “He didn’t know who you were at the time. But a few minutes later he passed by Anton’s office and heard the man telling Zane he had to fight and win to get his woman back.”
Zane squeezed Abby’s shoulder. “And he called you?”
Rider nodded again. “Like I said, he’s one of the presumed good guys. I’m not sure why these guys fight for Yenin, but he has some sort of hold over them. Other than that illegal activity, it seems there are a group of fighters who live relatively clean lives. I don’t think they do Yenin’s dirty work. They stay low, fight, and send every dime they can afford back to Russia.”
“How do you know all this?” Zane asked.
Jacobson chimed in next. “We’ve been following these guys for over a year. We know when every Russian in this city eats and when they take a shit.” He winced and glanced at Abby. “Sorry.”
Rider continued. “Anyway, Mikhail called me. He knew something horrible was about to go down, and neither him nor any of the other guys he trains with are interested in participating in anything that sinister.”
“Why did he call you?” Abby asked.
“Probably because he had my number.” Rider shrugged and glanced at Zane. “I’m sure he has yours too, but you were busy.”
“Quite.” Zane rolled his eyes. He turned toward Abby. “Like I’ve told you, we train with these guys sometimes. They often come to the gym and work with us. Even though they fight in unsanctioned venues, they need people to train with that will give them a challenge. We have each other’s numbers.”
Abby bit her lip. This was beyond complicated.
Rider cleared his throat. “So, I called Jacobson, and then I jumped in the car with an officer who was on duty and headed toward the warehouse myself. I knew the SWAT team would move in and take over. I wanted to be close by in case…” His voice trailed off. The “in case” was obvious. Zane was his friend. If there had been anything he could do, Abby was sure he would have done it. In fact he had.
Zane reached for a bottle of water from the center of the table and twisted the cap off with one hand. He took a long drink and then handed it to Abby. “So I fought Dmitry. Before that, Leo fought Ivan. I watched them. They were the ones to help get me out of there and meet up with Abby and then Rider.”
Abby twisted in his arms. “The man who must be Leo grabbed me the first second I was separated from Anton. He lifted me in his arms and ran from the building. I don’t know why I trusted him, but eventually I stopped fighting. I was out of options, and I didn’t want to get shot. After he shoved me into the limo and we took off, he explained that he was going to make sure I met up with you.” She gripped Zane’s forearm, her heart pounding once again. The adrenaline wouldn’t stop.
“I was in a similar situation relying on Ivan. He drove to an arranged spot, and that’s when I was reunited with Abby in Leo’s car.” Zane stared at Jacobson.
“Where was Yenin? How did you get separated from him?” Jacobson asked Abby.
“I have no idea. After the first gun shot rang out, he jumped from his stool and fled. He tried to tug me along, but I broke free.”
“Who fired the first shots?” Zane asked.
“Our guys,” Jacobson answered. “They were shot into the air to create a diversion. We knew Abby was inside that warehouse, and then we saw you in the cage,” he said to Zane. “When people scrambled, it made it much easier to take down Yenin.”
“Wasn’t he armed?” Zane asked.
“He wasn’t personally armed. Frankly, I think he’s a pussy. His entourage of men were armed, but they were stationed at the doors, not next to him. He was easy to spot because he perched himself front and center on a stool with an unwilling woman at his side.” Jacobson stood. “I’m sorry. I need to wrap this up and go deal with Yenin. The streets of Vegas will be a little bit safer tonight.” He turned toward Abby. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow to see if there’s any other detail you remember.” And with that, Jacobson was gone.
A quiet woman with kind eyes came in as soon as Jacobson left. She set several items on the table and turned toward Abby. “You’re Abby Burns, right?”
“Yeah.” Abby rolled up her sleeve, realizing this woman was taking her blood sample.
“This’ll just take a second.” Abby turned toward Zane and sighed, and moments later the woman was done. She left hastily.
Rider turned toward Zane and Abby. “Why don’t I take you two home? I’m sure you could use some sleep.” He stood. “We can pick up with anything new tomorrow.”
Abby’s boss stood also. “I’ll check in with you in a few days, Abby. Stay home. Recuperate. Don’t worry about your job. It isn’t going anywhere.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”
Her boss left first.
Zane helped Abby to her feet. She looked at Lauren. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Rider nodded. “I’ll take her back to my house for the night. I think she’ll be safe now. The reality is, although I’m sure Anton was originally out for revenge against Lauren, in the end this was about money. He saw an opportunity to make a buck off Zane and he took it.”
“I heard some of the bets people were making. They were outrageous,” Zane added.
Abby’s brain felt like it actually hurt. Too much information to process. She doubted she’d be able to fall asleep for a week. But that wasn’t going to keep her from trying. She needed a shower and a bed in that order. She lifted her gaze to Zane. “Can we go home?”
“Yeah, baby.” He held her firmly against his side.
Rider stepped toward the door. “Let’s get you guys home. I’ll send some guys to get your car from the casino.”
Chapter Seventeen
Abby couldn’t stop shaking. She rode in the back of the squad car with Zane. Rider drove. Even though it was Vegas and the air was still warm late at night, she couldn’t stop the chill she felt.
Zane helped her into the house and immediately led her to the bathroom. He flipped on the hot water to fill the tub and then turned toward her. “Let’s take a bath. The warmth might help you stop shaking.”
The idea sounded heavenly. She wanted to wash off the filth of being in the presence of Yenin.
Zane worked the buttons free down her tuxedo shirt and eased it over her shoulders. “Are you injured anywhere?” He lifted her wrists and checked both sides. They were pink from being tied together, but the skin wasn’t broken.
“I don’t think so.”
Zane lowered the zipper on her skirt next, and it fell to the floor.
Forcing her brain to cooperate, Abby kicked off her shoes and stripped off her ruined hose. While Zane removed his own clothes, she managed to divest herself of her panties and bra too.
Zane took her hand and helped her into the tub, climbing in behind her. He settled on one end and tugged her down between his legs so her back rested against his front.
Immediately the hot water soothed. She took several deep breaths and closed her eyes as some of the tension leaked out of her.
Zane pressed her head against his shoulder and kissed her temple from the side. “Relax, baby. Your entire body is stiff.”
“You fought for me,” she whispered as the events of the evening crashed in from all sides.
“What?”
“You fought for me. You would have beaten Dmitry in order to win me.” She twisted her neck and sat up straighter to meet his gaze. “Oh my God, you fought for me.” She nearly shrieked that time.
Zane gave a wry smile. “Of course I did.”
This was serious. Zane could have been injured or even killed trying to save her.
He brushed her hair away from her face and furrowed his brow. “What’s the matter?”
“What if the police hadn’t arrived? What if you had lost? What if your friend had killed you?”
“Well, first of all, it wasn’t quite that dramatic because like you said, Dmitry is my friend. He wouldn�
�t have let me lose.”
Abby gasped. “He would have let you win?”
“I believe so. It sure seemed that way. We had to put on a good show, but in the end he wouldn’t have let anything happen to you.”
“In the end he saved my ass, and yours.”
“Yes, he did.”
She leaned back against him. “I’m never going to be able to sleep. I don’t even think I’ll ever be able to turn out the lights.”
Zane reached for the soap and started washing her. “You will. Eventually. It’s understandable. Don’t beat yourself up over this. You were kidnapped and held hostage. People don’t rebound from that in an hour.”
She closed her eyes and let him wash her. It felt good to be pampered. And unbelievably her body came alive under his touch. She didn’t think she would be capable of anything sexual after what she’d been through. But she was wrong.
When they were both clean, Zane didn’t move to get out. In fact, he added to the hot water and eased her back against him again. He stroked his fingers up and down her belly forever, gradually reaching higher and lower with each pass until he came close to her clit and grazed the undersides of her breasts.
Her breathing increased. She finally felt warm. Hot in fact.
“Abby?” Zane whispered.
“Yeah?”
“Sub for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let me dominate you. Trust me to make your body hum.”
“Isn’t that what you always do?” How was this different?
“Mmm. I want to up the stakes a bit. It will help you release the tension.” He kissed her neck, and she tipped her head the other way to give him more space.
“Okay.” Her nipples stood at attention, and her pussy flooded under the water. His words alone, the promises he made, drove her arousal sky high. She clenched her legs together between his.
Zane nibbled a path up her neck to her ear. “I’m gonna push you. I want you to trust me. You won’t regret it.”
“Okay.” The word came out on a weak breath.
Zane smoothed his hands down her thighs until he reached her knees. He lifted her legs and draped them over his own, spreading her wide.
Abby moaned, already so horny it hurt.
Zane set his palms on her inner thighs and stroked the sensitive skin without touching her center. He continued to kiss her ear until she shivered. He lifted his knees, forcing her legs wider. “So sexy, baby. I love when you’re open for me like this.”
She let her head roll farther to the side as his breath hit her ear. Her arms were pinned at her sides under his.
When his fingers finally grazed her lower lips, she lifted her hips.
Zane grasped her thighs again and held her down. “Uh uh. Let me, baby.” He resumed his light touches to her outer sex.
She needed more. She willed him to stroke deeper, her hands fisted at her sides.
Instead Zane abandoned her pussy altogether and smoothed his hands up her body until he cupped her breasts, his thumbs flicking over her nipples. “Love how your breasts swell under my touch.” He nibbled around her ear again.
She didn’t respond, though if she had, it might have been to scream from frustration. She could feel his cock pressing into her lower back. Why didn’t he get the show on the road and press into her?
He set his lips on her ear again. “Let’s go to the bedroom, baby. The water’s gonna get cold again.”
Abby nodded.
Zane wiggled out from under her and stood, hauling her limp body up with his. He lifted her from the tub and stood her on the mat. “You steady?” he asked before releasing her.
“Barely.”
Zane stepped out behind her and grabbed two fluffy towels, handing her one while he dried with the other.
When she finished, she started to wrap the towel around her middle. It felt awesome to be clean. Just knowing Anton touched her skin anywhere made her sick to her stomach.
Zane grabbed the towel before she finished and set it on the counter. “You won’t need that.”
He set his on top of hers and lured her toward the bedroom by the hand. When he reached the bed, he sat on the edge and pulled her between his legs, facing him. He cupped her face with both hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Trust me?” he asked for the third time.
She nodded. “Of course.”
“I want to spank you.”
She flinched, but held his gaze. He didn’t allow otherwise.
“It can be an amazing way to release stress. I know you’ve never tried it, but until you have, you can’t realize the adrenaline rush. After what you’ve been through tonight, you’ll relax much better after submitting to me.”
She chewed on the inside of her cheek. It seemed ludicrous. How could she possibly release stress by letting someone spank her? She was a grown woman.
“Remember the woman you saw at the club on the cross?”
She nodded. That woman had indeed been enjoying herself. She seemed to have slipped into a trance. “She was like hypnotized or something.”
Zane smiled. “It’s called subspace. People often describe it as feeling like they disconnected from their body, or like they have a natural high. It can be incredibly pleasant.”
“I don’t know, Zane. That’s a huge step.”
“I know it is, baby.” He pulled her face closer. “And I think you can handle it. If it gets to be too much, use a safe word. Red. But I’m a good judge of where you’re at. I would never push you further than I thought you could handle.”
She shivered, once again, feeling a chill that wasn’t from the room.
Zane pulled her the last few inches and kissed her gently on the lips.
She relaxed against him, grabbing his forearms as he deepened the kiss to something much headier. His tongue delved between her lips, and she melted into his taste. Gradually she relaxed enough to slump against his front. Her nipples grazed his chest, making her moan.
Zane broke off the kiss. “Will you let me spank you, baby?”
She hesitated. “You’ll stop if I don’t like it?”
“Absolutely.”
She stared at him.
“What’s the worst that can happen?”
“I disappoint you,” she muttered. That was her main concern. What if she hated it and it was something Zane really needed in their relationship? She was afraid to find out. She really liked him. She more than liked him. She was in love with him. No way would she say it out loud yet, but she knew it deep inside. It scared the hell out of her to take this next step. So much more important than sleeping with him.
“Oh, baby. Never.” He narrowed his gaze and lifted her chin with his thumb. “Never. Do you realize how much you mean to me? I know we’ve only known each other a few weeks, but it seems like longer. I can’t remember what it was like not to be with you. I don’t even want to know. I would never be disappointed in you. If you don’t like it, we won’t do it again. Your call entirely. I don’t want you to think spanking you is a deal breaker. Not even close. I’m getting my cues from you. I think you’ll enjoy it. I think tonight is the perfect opportunity for you to give it a try. Your entire body is revved and anxious. Let me take that stress away.”
His words rang in her head. Do you realize how much you mean to me? I don’t want you to think spanking you is a deal breaker. Not even close… She found herself nodding consent. Worst case, she called red and Zane stopped. She knew he would.
“I need you to say it out loud, baby.” His intense gaze still bore into her.
“Please spank me.” That sounded so awkward.
Zane smiled. “Safe word?”
“Red.”
“Good girl. Use it. Nothing we ever do or don’t do will change the way I feel about you. If you never submitted to me again, I’d still be by your side. Ecstatic like I won the lottery. Use the safe word.”
“Okay.” She swallowed. He meant every word. And those words meant the world to her.
&
nbsp; Zane gently nudged her back a step and pulled his legs closer while he guided her to one side and then pressed her lower back so she leaned over his lap. “Lie across my thighs, baby.”
His lap? He was going to spank her over his knees? This hadn’t occurred to her. The idea was so foreign, she’d only been able to visualize the woman on the cross at the club. Instantly wetness filled her pussy. She took a deep breath, unable to understand why she would be aroused by the notion. She was losing her mind.
Zane helped her lie across him so her upper body rested at a slight angle on the bed at his side. Her toes still reached the ground. When he had her where he wanted her, he set one hand on her lower back and squeezed her butt cheeks with the other. “No pain from the puncture?”
She shook her head, biting her lower lip. Her pussy flooded with need as he stroked her skin.
His hand massaged up and down her ass and thighs for so long, she almost grew too relaxed under his touch. “I’m gonna start easy and build up.”
She didn’t respond. Her hair almost concealed her face as it fell across her cheek.
The first swat was easy enough. Still she flinched. Her thighs stiffened. The second spank landed on her other cheek, and then Zane rubbed her ass again. She felt the slight burn. It wasn’t so bad.
His hand roamed up and down her thighs. And then he swatted her again, harder this time.
Abby jerked under his spread fingers on her lower back. The sting raced up her spine and down her legs. It wasn’t unpleasant, though. In fact, she felt warmer. Even her face felt heated.
Zane struck her again, and then squeezed her cheek. “You okay, Abby?”
“Mmm hmm.” She wasn’t really sure what she was. She teetered on the edge of someplace unrecognizable. Her mind warred between finding his actions humiliating and arousing. She gritted her teeth as the wetness at her entrance increased.
His next two strikes landed at the juncture of her thighs and her ass cheeks.
There was no mistaking the direct effect on her clit. Her pussy throbbed with need. Her eyes opened wide at the shock. How was she aroused?
Zane squeezed her cheeks again, one at a time, rougher than before. His touch soothed. “Baby, the pink marks are so sexy. You’re doing so good. Can you take more?”
The Fight Club - Boxed Set Page 126
