by Piper Stone
“Relax, sweet girl. I may be a savage, but I will never hurt you intentionally.” As I broke the barrier, sliding just inside, she issued several whimpers, still clawing her way forward.
“Uh. Uh. Uh. Uh...”
I drove in an inch at a time, pushing past the tight ring of muscle. Her entire body trembled, her back heaving from the ferocity of her deep breaths. She was so damn tight, her muscles slowly opening up like a flower.
Soon, her moans of anguish became ones of pleasure as she started to relax. When I was fully seated inside, she arched her back, once again purring like a wildcat.
“Damn, you feel so good,” I managed as I slowly began a rhythm, one she soon matched with thrust after thrust. Within seconds, we became nothing but animals, our combined moans barbaric.
I could no longer see straight, my mind free of anything but taking her.
Fucking her.
Owning her.
I became a crazed man, thrusting hard and fast until my balls screamed for relief. When my testicles swelled to the point of no return, I threw my head back, roaring to the heavens above as I erupted deep inside of her.
For a few precious minutes, we were as one, forged by a need that neither could deny.
Yet one I was fearful would destroy us.
Finally, when we both stopped shaking, I eased us onto the rug, placing my leg over hers. As she reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers, I realized my breathing was still ragged as fuck.
But not because of exertion.
Because I wasn’t ready to care for anyone. In fact, I knew I could hurt her and that was something I refused to do. No one deserved my brand of crazy.
* * *
I wasn’t used to home cooking. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t remember the last meal that hadn’t been either rations or cheap fast food. It had never bothered me until now. Just having someone across the table from me was almost too much to take. Maybe I’d turned into nothing more than a savage.
The entire kitchen smelled of garlic and onions, warm bread, and Italian sausage. Almost like home. Almost.
Except I wasn’t certain I deserved a home.
My thoughts drifted briefly to Hawk’s encouragement to go to the gravesite. Hell, I wasn’t certain I wouldn’t be set on fire the moment I set foot onto such hallowed ground. Guilt continued to ride me, more so now that I was back in Missoula.
There were too many memories, bad decisions. Even now, I felt suffocated because of what I’d done.
Caroline had found candles in one of the drawers and a box of matches. She’d done her best to find matching plates and silverware, acting as if she was in her own home. While I didn’t stop her, my gut continued to churn. This wasn’t a relationship. We had no business being together. She would soon return to Nashville and I’d learn how to forge a brand new life.
Yet, fuck me if I didn’t want her here.
In bare feet and nothing more than my tee shirt, something she’d simply done after our incredible round of passion, she was spectacular.
And the strangest part? She’d actually gotten me to laugh more than once.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she said after a couple of minutes of silence. She pushed her plate of pasta away, pulling her wine closer as she shifted on her chair. Even the way she leaned forward, her long hair pulled to one side, had a surreal effect on me.
I looked away, toying with what little was left on my plate. “Just a lot on my mind.”
Another quiet moment settled between us as she sipped her wine.
“Where are you staying?” I asked, simply trying to make conversation. I honestly didn’t have any intention of continuing whatever we were sharing, even though every ounce of me strained hard against my own internal advice. My thoughts on owning her were ridiculous. She wasn’t the kind of woman who could be owned.
“My cousin. She’s an attorney in town. It’s funny, Brandy chastised the hell out of me then suggested I seduce you.”
I almost choked on my wine, finally lifting my eyes to meet hers. “Interesting cousin.”
“I really don’t know her even if she is family.”
“Why are you really here, Caroline? I know exactly what you said, but I honestly think you used Jasper’s frequent phone calls as an excuse.”
She glanced away, staring out of the window into the darkness. She’d insisted I leave the drapes open in order to catch watch the moon rising over the mountains. There was such a unique quality about her, a desire to explore the world, even if she had no idea what might lurk in the shadows.
“Let’s just say I fucked up my life, or what I thought was going to be my life. I had no plans on coming here. I’d done enough research on Raunchy Ride and the surroundings to make a determination that it wasn’t a good fit for my dad’s firm.”
“Then what changed your mind?”
As she lifted her wine, swirling the glass back and forth, I could see a look of contempt in her eyes. “Let’s just say I needed a change in scenery as well as a couple thousand miles away from Nashville for a little while. Why don’t you like being back in Montana?”
The girl was masterful at changing the subject. If I had to guess, I’d say she’d broken up with her boyfriend, although I had the distinct feeling there was more to the story. “Too many bad memories here. I’d honestly wanted a fresh start.”
“One thing I’ve learned, Scorpion. You can’t run from tragedy, heartache, or mistakes, not until you’re truly ready to move on.”
“And are you?”
Caroline gave me another naughty girl look, completely avoiding the question. “You didn’t like the food.”
My reaction was natural, a huge smile crossing my face. “You have to be kidding me. I ate two plates. I’m stuffed. You have no idea how amazing your home cooking tasted to me.”
“Then what’s really bothering you? Raunchy Ride or this tragedy you’re running from?”
I sat back, tapping my fingers on the table. Confessing my sins wasn’t going to be a part of the evening. “I’m not sure what the hell to do with the bar or the ranch.”
“You know my thoughts.”
“It’s more complicated than simply making the decision to renovate. I’m not certain I even want to be in the bar business. I’ve never worked a day in my life inside any kind of nightclub or restaurant for that matter.”
“That’s what excellent employees are about. By the way, the bartender you were talking to knows what he’s doing. He refused to take guff, cut people off, and had the waitresses under control. And I think you can trust him. I wasn’t drunk the entire time I was there, Scorpion, and I am very observant. Of course, you don’t want to hear a damn thing I have to say so...” She lifted her glass of wine, giving me a sly grin.
I inched closer, tugging on the collar of the tee shirt. “Sounds like you know what you’re talking about. It also sounds like you’re bucking for another spanking.”
She wiggled on her seat on purpose, giving me a pouting look. “No, I do not need another spanking, thank you very much. However, I have worked just about every station in a club, including the position of bar manager. So, yeah, I know a thing or two. I started suggesting bands for my father before I was old enough to even be inside a bar.”
“So, you’ve been a bad girl your entire life.”
“Maybe, but I adore the atmosphere, at least most of the time. The excitement of the crowd, the rush of adrenaline, and the ability to bring happiness is amazing.” Her laugh was sultry. She took my hand into hers and instantly, the flash of electricity was even more powerful than before.
“Sounds like you know from experience, and I’m not talking about being in the audience.”
She wrinkled her nose as she looked at my bruised knuckles, shutting down as she’d done before. “You could have been a prize fighter.”
It was my turn to chuckle. “I don’t have the temperament to follow the rules. I’d likely beat the guy to death for pissing me off.”
�
��You really want to be a badass. Don’t you?”
No one had ever asked me that question. They’d just assumed. “I’ve done some bad things in my life, Caroline. I’ve hurt people. I’ve killed people.”
“In the line of duty.”
I hesitated. Just the way her eyes shimmered, as if she was reaching right through, trying desperately to yank out some man hiding behind my dangerous persona. Sadly, she might learn the hard way that that man didn’t exist. “Let’s just say that I did what I felt was necessary at the time.” I lifted her hand, studying the few scratches that remained from her fall. When I traced my index finger down one of them, she shivered visibly.
“I want to get to know you, Scorpion. I know that sounds crazy, but I fear you’ll never let me in.”
“I’m a complicated man according to most.”
“Maybe so, but I think you’re just afraid to let go,” she whispered.
As she licked the rim of her glass, I realized that she’d managed to chip away at the boulder I’d been carrying on my shoulder for years. Maybe I was terrified to let go. So I changed the subject. “You love music.”
“I...” She looked down, her face flushing. “I do. Ever since I was a little kid, I couldn’t do anything without having music on. Country music. Rock music. Hell, I went through a phase where I adored opera music, if you can believe that. But country is in my heart and soul.”
She was hiding something just like I was; a part of her that was too painful to talk about. Maybe she and I had been drawn to each other for no other reason that we were both shattered.
“You know, you could hire a better band than that crap I heard last night. They were absolute shit.” Laughing, she pressed her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, they were crap, but I’m not entirely certain I would know a decent band if I heard one.”
Her eyes glistening, she leaned forward. “Maybe that’s where I can help you.”
“No, you don’t, but a nice try.”
“Oh, come on.”
A hard crash forced me immediately from my chair, the force tossing it against the wall. “What the hell?” I moved quickly toward the drawer where I’d stashed my weapon, removing and checking the ammunition.
She rose to her feet, holding onto the back of the chair.
“Stay right here. Do you understand me?” I barked, already moving toward the door, turning and giving her a hard glare before switching off the light. “Do not freaking move.”
“Okay.”
As I walked into the living room, the only light the limited flame from the fire, it took me only a few seconds to determine the source of the sound.
I immediately moved toward the picture window, yanking back the drapes and peering outside. The sliver of moonlight allowed me to catch a glimpse of the taillights of a large pickup truck, red in color, seconds before I heard the screech of tires as the driver floored the accelerator.
“Fuck.” Flipping on one of the lights, I noticed she’d disobeyed me, moving a few feet into the living room.
Then I noticed the brick, some kind of note attached.
“What the hell?” she asked in a hushed manner.
“I thought I told you to stay put.” Crouching down, I eased it out of the broken glass, the white note covered in what appeared to be blood. Goddamn the motherfucker. Now I was pissed.
“What does it say?”
I rose to a standing position, glaring out the window. “It says ‘get out of town or else.’” A few seconds later, I broke into a dark chuckle. “The motherfuckers don’t know who they’re dealing with. Game on.”
Chapter Eight
Scorpion
I shoved my way into the building, immediately moving toward the elevator and slapping my hand on the button. After only a few seconds, I cursed under my breath and headed for the stairs.
I wasn’t a patient man.
And the fucker had crossed a line.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I made it to the fifth floor in record time, fueled by adrenaline and the kind of rage that had gotten me into trouble more than once. In addition to the brick being tossed into the house as a warning, all four tires on the truck had been slashed. Even Caroline’s rental truck hadn’t been left unscathed, a key run down the driver’s side. What was worse was that I had a feeling we’d been watched, which meant Caroline could also be in danger.
And the red truck? If I had to make a guess, I’d say Billy likely owned one.
I’d spent the morning boarding up the window and making arrangements for a new one. And that had been before breakfast.
I’d protected Caroline during the remainder of the night, although I’d done so from my perch on the couch, my weapon in my hand. She’d refused to follow my orders, remaining sequestered in the bedroom. At least she’d finally fallen asleep a little before two in the morning.
Fortunately, the rest of the night had remained without incident.
Sending her on her way just after sunrise, including forbidding her to return to the ranch or to Raunchy Ride had been difficult as hell. My guess was that the assholes would figure out the identity of my house guest without any problem.
At least the fuckers hadn’t found the garage, but the Corvette was definitely getting moved to a more secure location. I knew exactly who was responsible for the damage, although the asshole responsible had left no evidence behind. Still, I’d provide a warning of my own.
When I found the office, I simply walked in, glaring at the receptionist. She seemed startled, getting to her feet instantly. “Is Mr. Kane in?”
“Yes, he is, but... do you have an appointment?”
I grinned and winked. “Darlin’, I don’t need one.” I shifted down the single hall, scanning from right to left, ignoring her cries. I would find the fucker. Of course, the asshole would be at the end of the corridor, likely in some posh as fuck office.
Ah, how special, his name on the door in bright brass. I burst in without knocking, interrupting what looked like a business meeting.
“What the hell?” the man behind the desk demanded as he rose to a standing position. The other two men jerked up, moving away from the asshole’s desk. Of course, they wouldn’t want to get in the middle of what could be a rough exchange.
Within seconds, the receptionist also entered the room.
“Mr. Kane. This man just insisted on seeing you,” she said, her voice shaky. “Do you want me to call the sheriff?”
“That won’t be necessary, Violet. I’m certain this is just some kind of misunderstanding,” Kane said as he glanced up and down. If he was disturbed or even knew who the hell I was, he was hiding it well.
“Are... are you sure?” Violet muttered.
“Just close the door behind you.”
I studied Cashen Kane. It was funny that he didn’t look as large in life as his pictures indicated. Perhaps he’d been standing on a podium of some kind.
“Just who are you, son, and what the hell are you doing barging into my office?” Kane insisted.
I studied him briefly before turning my acid glare in the directions of the other men. “I’ve come to give you a message and one both you and your son need to heed.” I ran my arm across his desk, tossing everything he’d been working on, including his laptop, onto the floor. Then I reached into the satchel I’d brought with me, yanking out the brick and slamming it on top of his desk.
The sound boomed into the room, all three men jumping, two of them exclaiming as if a bomb had gone off. Only Cashen remained calm, a grin sliding on his face. It was the kind of expression that let me know I’d been right.
I leaned over, planting both fists by the massive chunk of stone. “My warning? Stay the hell away from my bar, my house, and my truck. I am an expert marksman, specially trained in the Marines. I assure you that if there are any intruders on my property again, I won’t hesitate to use my weapon. Are we clear, Mr. Kane?”
It was funny how he
was suddenly silent.
Chuckling, I gave all three another glance before turning away and walking toward the door.
“Welcome home, Cooper. Or should I just call you the Scorpion? It would seem your military career is tainted.”
I stopped in my tracks, barely shifting my gaze over my shoulder, the rage to the point I was seeing spots in front of my eyes, yet I was able to see the glib expression on his face.
Cashen walked around his desk, stepping over the debris. “Yes, I know all the ugly details about your last mission, the one in which you let your team member fry. From what I heard you should be behind bars. I suggest you reconsider your threat. And yes, I know all about my son’s firing. That was an... unfortunate mistake but he served his purpose at Raunchy Ride and won’t cause you any issues. However, you won’t like tangling with me.”
I kept my glare on him for a full minute before walking out and closing the door.
The motherfucker had no idea what he’d just done. I would destroy him.
* * *
As I rolled the truck onto the long gravel driveway, I allowed the blaring music of the country station to fill the voids in my mind. The grip on the steering wheel was tight, my hand aching from the force I’d used since turning down the road leading to the last place I’d expected to visit. Everything was an ugly blur, Cashen’s words regarding the mission in Afghanistan difficult to get out of my mind.
He’d stated them as if he’d been there. As if he’d known what had happened on that horrible night. Swallowing hard, I glanced out the windshield, the blur of the various gravesites because of my inability to focus.
Or maybe because of the tears that threatened to form.
I hadn’t shed a single tear since losing Snake. Not one. The psychiatrist assigned had deemed it PTSD, an overwhelming level of grief. Maybe there was a portion of my inability to embrace the sadness that had something to do with the extreme emotion. Sadly, I knew the real reason.
Guilt.
I could have saved him.
I could have prevented the wretched events from occurring.
I could have...
Sighing, I pulled the note into my hand, the one Hawk had given me of the location of Snake’s gravesite. I knew approximately where I was going, but with every mile and every few yards in which I got closer, I had more and more difficulty proceeding. What the fuck was wrong with me? Didn’t the man deserve the honor and respect of my visit? Didn’t he deserve to hear my apology, one that I’d never been able to give him when he was alive?
