by Piper Stone
“What the hell is really going on, Scorpion?” Hawk exhaled, running his hand through his hair.
“It doesn’t smell like this has anything to do with Billy getting fired or even the discussion you had with Kane. It’s too extreme, unless Jasper had promised Billy something.” Mustang shook his head, shifting his gaze toward the fire once again.
“Or Cashen,” Hawk added.
“Yeah, I know,” Scorpion growled.
“I’m going to have a word with the sheriff. She was helpful with the investigation on Drake’s murder.”
Scorpion nodded. The entire conversation piqued my interest. Who was Drake?
“What are you going to do?” Mustang asked.
“Hunt. No one fucks with my world.”
As another small explosion occurred, the heat forcing everyone to back away, only Scorpion stood in the same place. When I heard his next statement, a cold shiver raced down my spine.
“And I’m going to shoot to kill.”
Chapter Ten
Scorpion
Money.
It had never mattered much to me. Even though I’d grown up on a ranch, it had been inherited from my grandfather. While my father had attempted to keep it a working ranch for a few years, by the time I was ten, he’d sold the cattle, keeping only a few horses. The house had always needed work, the barns mostly falling apart. I had to wonder if he’d gotten anything decent out of the property when he’d sold it.
I’d also wondered why he’d been the one to inherit the property, Jasper given no part of it. Perhaps that had been the reason for their bitter feud.
The agreement bothered me more than I wanted to say. While I hadn’t been able to read the various passages and exceptions, I wondered if Jasper’s attorney even knew it existed. There was no indication it had been drawn up by the firm he’d been using. Maybe he’d prepared it years before. There were several conditions within the agreement, but it did answer the question of whether Jasper owned additional land surrounding the bar. But was the holding company referenced the same?
The other financials remained sticking in the back of my mind. Maybe my uncle was keeping secrets, but from whom and why? And Mustang had been right. Why risk arrest simply because I fired Billy? I doubted Cashen would stoop this low, but Billy certainly would. Still, something wasn’t adding up.
I took one last look at the hunk of twisted steel then shifted my gaze toward the deputy’s vehicle as it left the scene. He’d taken a report, but with little to go on, it was doubtful any arrests could be made. While a forensics team would remain on site, attempting to find evidence, I knew there would be nothing discernable. Just like the brick through the window. And I knew without a doubt there would be no witnesses who came forward.
After breaking up an earlier fight, the single one of the evening, Hawk had shared more of what he knew about Cashen and Billy. While Cashen had been rumored to use strong arm tactics as well as giving favors within his ranks of the city council, he’d never been officially accused of anything egregious. Billy, on the other hand, was a loose cannon, although he’d yet to violate his terms of probation.
However, the shit wasn’t going to stop here.
I walked away from the burned-out shell of the old truck, almost feeling a certain amount of guilt since it had belonged to my uncle. At least I’d taken the time to move the Corvette to a storage unit. Sighing, I noticed Caroline waiting, hovered against the building. It was almost four in the morning, the crisp air turning cold. She hadn’t even worn a coat. Damn city slicker.
“Go home, Caroline.”
“Thought I’d give you a ride,” she said without looking into my eyes.
There were far too many emotions racing inside of me, the dichotomy kicking me in the ass. My actions swift, I cupped her chin, dragging her toward me, my fingers digging into her beautiful skin. “You should have figured out that it’s far too dangerous to be close to me.”
“Yeah? Well, I’m not going anywhere, cowboy. You can try and push me away, but it’s not going to matter. I will keep coming back.”
“Why? Why the fuck do you need to turn this bar into some hoppin’ club, Caroline? It’s always going to be a piece of shit by reputation alone.”
“You fool,” she whispered. “This has nothing to do with the bar. I’m hanging around because of you.”
The rush becoming more intense, I fisted her hair, yanking her onto her toes as I crushed my mouth over hers. Every muscle in my body was tense, the adrenaline sweeping through every cell, but my utter intoxication was all about her.
The woman I craved.
The one I couldn’t seem to get enough of.
The one I needed in my life.
As I dominated her tongue, the beast unleashed, she slid her arm around my shoulder, her fingers brushing back and forth across my neck. Her touch was everything I longed for, yet her presence brought a round of fear into my system. I refused to allow anything to happen to her.
Even her slight whimpers were enough to set me on fire. I needed to clear my head, but I couldn’t do it without her.
When I broke the kiss, she licked around my lips before easing back. “You’re some kind of kisser,” she purred.
She knew exactly how to reach the man inside.
“You got your keys on you?” I asked as I rubbed my index finger on the side of her face.
“Of course.”
“Then we’re getting out of here and I’m driving.”
Caroline shifted her hand into her pocket, tugging out a key fob. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere special to see the sunrise. You game?”
“With you? I’m game for anything.”
* * *
Humming. Caroline had been humming since I’d led her from the truck, the sound more beautiful than any music I’d heard in so long.
“Where are you taking me, bad boy?” she finally asked.
“Just a little further and I told you, it’s a special place, one that dreams are made of,” I answered, the flashlight beam highlighting the slender trail. While the moon was full, the denseness of the trees was almost foreboding. I’d driven here after leaving the gravesite, the memories even more powerful than before.
However, the time alone had been peaceful as well as refreshing. While I could never imagine sharing the location with anyone else, here I was bringing Caroline after knowing her for only a couple of days. There was something about the girl that yanked at every emotion, as if I’d known her for years.
Caroline glanced in my direction, almost tripping then laughing, the blanket she was carrying nearly tumbling out of her hands. “Where did you get the blanket?”
“You’d be surprised what cowboys carry in their trucks. Hawk loaned it to me.”
“Hawk and Mustang. Then who is Drake?”
“Hawk’s brother. The reason for his return to Montana. Hawk went through a rough time in his life, but he’s found his heart and his home.”
“I’m so sorry. I hope they found his killer. The three of you seem close. Did you serve together?”
“I don’t know the whole story. I’ve only spent a couple hours with him, other than at the bar. We were friends from the time we were teenagers, even enlisting together. We went through bootcamp as a posse. That’s what we called ourselves, but as you can imagine, we were sent to various locations. When we went to independent contractor work, we all ended up in Afghanistan.”
“I didn’t even know contract work existed,” she said quietly.
Sighing, I could feel myself shutting down. “It does.”
“And you don’t want to talk about it.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to. There are things that happened that are difficult to put into a tidy box. Coming back to Montana wasn’t easy.”
“That’s why you want to sell the bar.”
I stopped walking, lifting her chin with a single finger. “Did anyone ever tell you that you ask too many questions?”
“Yea
h, I’ve gotten that before. Too bad, buster. I want to know more about you.”
“Maybe you won’t like what you find.”
She rose onto her tiptoes, pressing her lips against my cheek, her hand pressing against my chest. “Did anyone ever tell you that you worry too much? I’m not here to judge you.”
Closing my eyes briefly, I allowed the sensations from her touch to cascade down the length of my body. “I’ll keep that in mind, sweet Caroline.”
“By the way,” she purred as she eased back, her hand still clutching my jacket. “Aren’t you worried about lions, tigers, and bears eating us for breakfast?”
I threw my arm around her, pulling her close. “If you see a lion or a tiger, then I think we’ve gone a little too far. Bears might be an entirely different story, but they don’t eat much.”
She punched me in the gut with her elbow, jumping as she heard the hoot of an owl. “See?”
“I have a very big knife and a gun. Don’t worry.”
“Such a he-man. Do you always try to be the hero?”
Bristling, I could tell she noticed, stopping and lifting her gaze.
“You don’t like being called a hero. Do you?” she asked.
“That’s because I’m not. Let’s just drop it. Okay?”
She frowned but we continued walking and I was able to catch a slight shimmer of water just up ahead.
“I’m sorry about your truck. That’s why you hid the other one. Isn’t it? You were afraid someone would damage it.”
“When you come into a situation like this, always a possibility. People don’t like change. They also don’t like a new Marshall in town.” I almost laughed hearing my words. As we broke through the trees, the moonlight shimmering across the lake, her reaction was instantaneous.
“Oh! This is beautiful.”
“I thought you might like it. This is a special place.” I moved closer, feeling both a sense of loss as well as a moment of rebirth. However, the two were driving a stake into my heart.
“How did you find this place?” She moved closer to the water, her hair flowing in the light breeze. She threw out her arms, taking an exaggerated breath. “Incredible.”
There was no way to avoid my attraction to her, no matter the reason. I took the blanket out of her arms, finding a flat spot on the turf and spreading it out. Then I took her hand, pulling her down with me. After turning off the flashlight, I folded my arms over my legs, staring up at the moon.
She huddled closer, putting her arm through mine and peering at the stars. “You don’t really get to see the stars in Nashville. Some people say that’s the city where dreams come true, but I can tell you that those kinds of dreams don’t really exist. This is exquisite.” She yanked the ponytail holder from her hair, shoving it into her jeans and taking a deep breath. “Maybe if I wish upon a star, all my dreams can come true.”
“Maybe.”
Shaking her head, she pointed up into the sky. “See that right there?”
“Where?”
She took my arm, lifting it as she grasped my fingers, using her index to point once again. “That star that’s brighter than all the rest. Do you see how it’s glowing?”
All I could do was keep my eyes on her face, her expression filled with joy over something so simple.
“Look, Mr. Marine. I don’t want to have to pull out my big guns,” she barked.
“Yes, ma’am.” Inhaling, I allowed her perfume to tickle my nose, filling my nostrils with the most exotic scent. My cock was already hard, my hunger growing to the insatiable point. I followed her gaze, able to see the exact star she was talking about. “It is beautiful.”
“I wish I may, I wish I might, wish upon a star tonight.” As she closed her eyes, she exhaled, her dazzling smile remaining.
“What did you wish for?” I whispered.
“If I told you then it wouldn’t come true, although I will admit I’m not expecting it to. Dreams seem pretty rare these days.”
“Hmmm... I think dreams do exist. They just need to be tempered by life, but it’s like catching a falling star; once you grab on, your life will be changed forever.”
“Wow. Profound and said from a true grinch. I’m impressed.”
I yanked her down and rolled on top as she continued to laugh. After pushing away hair from her eyes, I kept my hand against her face, amazed that she’d even want to spend time with me. “I’ll have you know that I have been known to be very profound.”
“Uh-huh. Tell me how and when. You need to let me be the judge.”
“I thought you said you weren’t judging me.”
“Oops. I lied.” Another giggle slipped past her lips but as it slowly faded away, she brushed her hand against my chest, sliding her fingers ever so slowly over my shoulder.
“I don’t know what’s happening between us. I wasn’t looking for anyone.”
“Trust me, I had no intention of caring for anyone ever again, but...” she whispered, biting her lip as her words trailed off.
“But?”
“I care about you.”
“You’re a very special woman, Caroline. I just don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then don’t.”
Her two little words were more profound than anything I could ever say.
There were a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t allow myself to care about her, but all I wanted was to have her in my life. I only prayed to God I wouldn’t destroy her or worse. She was far too precious.
I eased the weapon onto the grass, pushing it aside. If anyone attempted to interrupt us, I’d choke them with my bare hands.
As I crushed my mouth over hers, she moaned into the kiss, her body trembling. Every protective part of me had been forced to the surface, my longing to keep her safe only further fueling the anger that dwelled within. But for this moment in time, nothing was going to bother us.
God help anyone who tried.
Our tongues entwining, her hunger was just as intense as mine. She pushed at my jacket, struggling to roll the dense material over my shoulders. I refused to break the kiss, fighting with the material and tossing it aside. I rolled to the side, able to brush my hand down her arm as she pushed the palms of her hands against my chest.
The moment I dominated her tongue, pulling it into my mouth and sucking, a whimper escaped from deep within her, the sound melodious. She continued to fight with my clothes, tugging on my shirt until she was able to slide her hands underneath.
I threw my head back and roared, her touch forcing my balls to tighten until they ached. Her touch alone seared my skin, the flames deep within erupting into a firestorm.
I had to have her.
I needed to be inside.
I refused to take no for an answer.
Everything a wondrous blur, I ripped at her clothing, tossing her shirt to the side, growling like a wild animal. The beautiful creature hadn’t worn a bra and the moment I cupped her breasts, rolling my thumbs across her nipples, she shuddered visibly. I rose onto my knees, jerking my shirt with one hand then lowering down until I was able to take one of her tender buds into my mouth.
The taste of her was just as sweet, just as enticing. I was so damn alive, invigorated from simply being with her, yet drunk from the taste. I pinched her nipple between my thumb and forefinger as I swirled my tongue around the other, fueled by her soft mewls, the way her body undulated.
“Mmm... So good,” she whispered, running her fingers down the length of my chest and unfastening my belt.
“Be careful what you ask for, little brat,” I huffed, rubbing my lips back and forth across her stomach before engulfing her other rock-hard bud. I bit down until she cried out then pulled the tender tissue between my lips.
“I’m not asking. I’m ordering you to remove your clothes.”
Without hesitation, I jerked her arms over her head, straddling her as I gazed down into her beautiful eyes. “You’re not in charge, lady. You will never be. I’ll be your master and you will follow my rul
es. You know what happens if you disobey me, don’t you?”
She nodded, a mischievous look on her face. “But only if you can catch me.”
“You are such a brat.” I shifted both her wrists into one hand as I danced my fingers down her stomach, rubbing her denim-covered mound. “I can tease you relentlessly for hours. As I said, I’d be very careful about the choices you make.” I eased my fingers between her legs, rubbing vigorously for a few seconds then stopping altogether.
“Oh, don’t stop.”
“Then what do you say?”
“Please?”
I shook my head. “Not good enough.”
“Please, sir?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.
“How about, ‘please, sir, and I’ll obey your rules no matter what you command.’”
Caroline made a face. “Please, mean sir. I will obey your rules no matter what you command, however, I will never stop being a brat.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “And I would expect nothing less.” I unfastened her jeans, rolling down the zipper as she closed her eyes. “Keep your hands over your head.”
“Yes, sir.”
After letting her go, I waited for a few seconds before crawling my fingers down her stomach, shifting further down on the blanket until I was able to peel away her jeans. I tugged them over her hips, taking her panties at the same time.
She shuddered, every inch of her body covered in goosebumps, the purrs and slight moans continuing. But she obeyed, even intertwining her fingers together in an effort to mind me.
I blew across her skin as I rolled the jeans down her thighs, taking my time then tugging off her shoes. She had no idea how enticing she was in jeans and a tee shirt, her Converse sneakers matching the color of her shirt. Cherry red, exactly the way her bottom had appeared after spanking her. I grinned from the evil thought, my desire like a wild animal.
I pulled on the last few inches until I was able to release her from the tight confines. Her skin shimmered in the moonlight, glistening as if sparkling with diamonds. When I raked the backs of my fingers along the inside of her leg, she trembled.
“Relax, my gorgeous brat, and enjoy.” As I stood to remove the remainder of my clothes, she watched my every move, her eyes darting back and forth.
