Burned

by Stone, Piper

  At first, there were two shadowy figures creeping along the back edge of Hawk’s property. Huddled in layers of clothing, I didn’t need to see their faces to realize they were the same assholes as from the bar.

  I spotted the other two in the front, inching closer to the house. Rusty hadn’t bothered to hide his identity in any manner. I’d caught his eager expression, the evil grin on his face.

  I would never forget the jerk’s singsong voice as he’d called out for me.

  “Come out, come out, wherever you are. The boys and I are gonna have some fun with the bright little star.”

  Shuddering, I clawed at the bathroom counter, trying to shove away the memory.

  There’d been zero reception on the phone Hawk had left, the truck parked far enough away I knew there was no chance of getting away without being caught. What I hadn’t expected was the fire. I’d heard the whoosh from the bedroom and by the time I rushed into the living room, the entire back wall was on fire. Within seconds, the flames had leapt to the wooden beams in the ceiling. The stench of a strong chemical had been debilitating, adding to the acrid smoke.

  They’d known exactly what they were doing.

  I’d been forced out, commanding Buck to run toward the forest. I’d followed him, managing somehow to get a head start, but they hadn’t been far behind.

  Buck had fought bravely, snapping at all four men as they cornered me. I’d never forget the agonizing sound as Buck was struck, the shrill wail penetrating the forest. To see what I thought was his lifeless body had torn me apart, my feet stumbling over a massive log in my effort to lunge toward him, desperate to save him.

  I remembered little after that, with the exception of waking up in the cage.

  Relaying the story to Hawk had been excruciating. His reaction had been cathartic, a moment burning into my soul.

  The coldness in the man, the quiet calm building into what I knew would be a horrific battle had filled my heart with warmth.

  But my mind knew there was nothing good that could come out of his need for revenge.

  The glass of wine remained on the counter, only two sips taken. My stomach was burning with nausea, much like how my heart continued to race and every noise made me jump. I was still shocked that Hawk had brought in what appeared to be an army of burly men. The thought alone gave me a smile. I hadn’t learned their names, but I had the distinct feeling that I would one day.

  They were all heroes.

  Hawk had said very little on the ride away from the ranch and he refused to allow me off his lap. I’d been wrapped in a blanket and held like a baby, cradling by strong arms that had no intention of letting me go. I’d actually fallen asleep, the sheer exhaustion of the experience kicking my ass.

  Being in a strange house in a huge bathroom, candles lit and a bathtub full of warm water was a far cry from the metal cage; however, my nerves were still on edge.

  I knew this was far from over.

  Hawk’s cabin was gone, the fire spreading rapidly as I’d raced into the darkness. There was nothing I could have done. Shivering, I held my arms, grabbing a towel and turning on the water. The soot and dirt were caked, covering at least half my face. I’d never felt so filthy in my life. The way the assholes had put their hands all over me, touching and stroking as if they were allowed would likely fill my nights with vicious dreams.

  But in those dreams, I had a feeling I’d be the one retaliating.

  I rubbed the harsh cloth vigorously over my face, dragging the material back and forth until my skin was red. And still, the sense of being dirty was overwhelming. The knock on the door made me jump again, but I knew who was standing on the other side of the door.

  The man who’d saved me. My personal hero.

  “Come in.”

  Hawk slowly opened the door, casually walking inside with a drink in his hand. While his face was pensive, his eyes were twinkling.

  “You look good in a tee shirt and nothing else. Might have to keep you that way,” he said, the same husky and very sexy tone that would forever thrill me.

  “This old thing?” I tossed the cloth and shifted, smacking my hand on my hip. “Imagine me in sexy lingerie.”

  He advanced, taking a sip of his drink before placing it down with a hard thud and taking me into his arms. “Nah. This is much better.” Lowering his head, he hovered over me, his lips mere centimeters away. “I thought I’d lost you. Again. We need to stop doing this.”

  I slid my arms around his neck, rising onto my tiptoes. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, big fella.”

  The twinkle in his eyes diminished, the coldness of his gaze almost startling. “I sent pictures to my buddy, the sheriff. He talked to your attorney. All charges are going to be dropped.”

  “Really? My attorney? The man is an asshole and has his hooks in that vile sheriff.”

  “Not necessarily. Gage thinks he’s one of the good guys.”

  I huffed, rolling my eyes. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  “I don’t think he wants to come up against me. Do you?”

  Another wave of heat shifted through every cell. I adored his dark and dangerous side. “Not for a second.”

  “Besides, I have an audio recording of what the asshole said. The jerk had no clue I was coercing him into talking. Arrogant bastard. There’s a video of the night in the bar as well. Everything is going to work out.”

  Relief flooded me but in truth, I knew there would be some other backlash. People like Rusty and those with power would never take this without retaliation. “This isn’t going to be the end. You know that.”

  He brushed his knuckles across my cheek, breathing a delicious swath of hot air across my face. I’d thought of nothing but his touch, his kisses, and the way he held me during my incarceration. The thoughts alone kept me alert.

  “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together. Cole gave us his house for the next couple of days and all you’re going to do is recuperate.”

  “He does have a beautiful home.” I drank in his scent, almost immediately intoxicated from his aroma. God, the man sizzled every cell in my body. My nipples hardened, my pussy soaking my already damp panties. I wanted nothing more than to block out the world, pretend that we had nothing in the world but each other. “I’m so sorry about your cabin. The fire burned hot, consuming the entire back wall within seconds. I tried to put it out, but there was little I could do.”

  “An accelerant was used. They wanted to burn you out.”

  When I opened my mouth, he placed his finger over my lips. “Shush. I’m still in charge.” With that, he crushed his mouth over mine, pulling me tightly against his body.

  I rubbed my fingers up and down his back, mewing from the feel of his rippling muscles. He was so tense, yet so very strong and I’d never felt so safe or... loved. I would never forget the words seconds before he walked out of the cabin door.

  “I love you.”

  They’d remained with me, comforting and protecting even when he couldn’t physically be there. As he slipped his tongue past my parted lips, rolling his against mine, my legs trembled. The strength and passion in his hold was energizing, allowing me to breathe again.

  Hawk eased his hand down to cup my bottom, grinding his already throbbing cock against my belly. Even with my exhaustion, nerves rattled beyond measure, I wanted this man. I had to have him.

  The kiss became a passionate roar, two people clinging to each, hungering beyond imagination. His tongue commanded mine, dancing both back and forth in an orchestrated dance of ravaging need. My heart raced, stars floating in front of my field of vision as he growled, more possessive than ever.

  His hand slipped under my shirt, fingers wrapping around the thin elastic of my panties. The snap of his wrist was forceful enough, the ripping sound of the thin material creating another wave of shivers skittering down the backs of my legs. This man had such incredible control over me, allowing longing and the sensation of security to meld together. So beautiful.r />
  So loving.

  So protective.

  Fisting my hair, he yanked back my head, dragging his lips across mine before easing them across to my jaw. The electricity soared between us as his rough tongue licked my heated skin, moving in an effortless fashion toward my ear. His husky whisper, the dark and dangerous promise, was enough to create a wave of prickles floating across every inch of skin.

  “I will consume you. I will have you always. I will never leave you, my beautiful and bad little girl.”

  The promise made, he tugged my head back even further, nipping and sucking on my neck, his sharp teeth biting down. I felt beautiful in his arms, so small and surrounded by the savage passion that was entrenched in this man. I’d never known such honesty, allowing me to trust all of him.

  His decisions.

  His needs.

  His cravings.

  Everything meshed together as one as he cupped my buttocks, squeezing. I was pitched into my own intense longing, shoving aside all that had occurred. All I wanted was his naked body pressed against mine, his fingers roaming over every inch of my skin. I wanted his mouth on me, licking and sucking. I craved his cock thrusting in and out, claiming the woman he’d professed his love to.

  And nothing and no one was going to stop me from getting what I wanted.

  No wretched cowboys.

  No festering nightmares.

  And no court of law.

  This wasn’t the end but the beginning of something amazing.

  I wiggled back and forth, undulating my hips, the friction driving us both insane with need.

  He took a step back, breaking the connection, the expression on his face wild and crazed with desire. Cupping both sides of my face, he took several deep breaths, filling his nostrils and lungs with my scent.

  As if terrified he’d forgotten.

  There was no wasting time. I ripped at his clothing, trying desperately to free him from the tight confines. He was my drug and I needed my fix here and now, without any hesitation. Our breathing heavy, I reacted to his barbaric growls, tugging and yanking until his shirt was pitched to the floor, his jeans peeled back and his massive and gorgeous cock in my hands.

  Only then did I take a deep breath as I caressed the base of his shaft, licking my dry lips, my thirst off the charts.

  “I want you,” I managed to whisper, my voice unrecognizable as it dripped with primal lust.

  His face was pinched, his eyes mere slits as he dragged the tee shirt over my head, tipping his head back and howling like a true savage. The sound was utterly breathtaking, filling me with a heightened level of ravenous hunger. He kicked off his boots, his eyes never leaving me as he shoved his jeans past those perfectly chiseled hips.

  I could never get enough of his naked body; the ruggedness of his broad chest, pectorals that were carved from granite, and hips deliciously outlining his perfect cock. No other man was quite as roughhewn. I backed toward the tub, easing one leg into the soapy water.

  Daring him.

  Enticing him.

  I wanted to be surrounded by warmth, his body nestled close to mine.

  He advanced like the true predator he was, his chest rising and falling in an exaggerated fashion, those dazzling ice blue eyes roaming over me in a feast of their own.

  I bit my lower lip to keep from moaning and beckoned with a single finger, drawing him closer. Easing into the water, I finally purred, knowing the sound alone would drive him crazy.

  “Be careful, little girl,” he warned, coming within inches of the porcelain tub.

  “Or what?”

  “Or I’ll eat you alive.” He eased into the water, immediately yanking me toward him, forcing my legs to wrap around his hips. He held me aloft, tilting his head back and forth, his breathing ragged. “I want you.”

  “Fuck me.” The words were the only ones I could mutter, the only ones necessary. As the tip of his cock pressed against my pussy lips, parting them in a far gentler manner than normal, I held my breath. There was nothing like being consumed by him. All of him.

  He cupped my breasts, still keeping me aloft and away from the delicious prize. Teasing me.

  Taunting me.

  I clung to him, digging my nails into his shoulders, my heart racing as jolts of electricity bounced from cells to muscles, tendons to the very core of my bones. He could have no way of knowing what he did to me, the way my entire body responded to his touch alone.

  A smile curled on his lips, his eyes now glassy as the savage beast took over. Guttural sounds oozed from his throat, pushing past his full lips and blanketing me like smooth velvet. His control was intact as he eased me down inch by inch, spreading my lips, allowing my aching muscles to grasp on.

  His thumbs moved around my sensitive nipples, making them nothing more than hard pebbles, aching to be plucked. Twisted. I craved the pain from his actions, the shattering moment when anguish turned into ecstasy. I no longer cared if this was indecent or impure or if I should feel guilty.

  I wanted him—all of him. My rock-hard, amazing man.

  I threw my head back, staring up at the ceiling as he yanked me all the way down, his cock filling me, spreading me. My muscles clamped around the amazing invasion, quivering and spasming almost immediately.

  He kept me at a distinct arc, lowering his head until he placed one nipple inside his hot mouth, licking and sucking, his tongue swirling in lazy circles.

  My fingers dug into his skin, trying to hold on, lost in the reverie of sublime bliss. I dug my knees into his sides, rocking up and down, no longer able to see clearly. He jutted his hips up, taking my every hard drive as he pinched my other hardened bud between his fingers, twisting and turning just like I’d craved.

  “Oh, God. Oh...” The moan was little more than a breathless whisper, my throat clenching and holding back a scream. I rocked him hard and fast, more animal than human, water splashing over the edge of the tub as we moved together as one.

  He intertwined his fingers in my hair, keeping me in place, driving his cock all the way inside until the tip hit my womb.

  And still I wanted more, craved everything this man had to give.

  I pinned my knees against him, taking gasping breaths as he powered into me. Releasing his hold, he pushed my head down, forcing our lips together. He maintained the hold, his hand cupping the back of my head, growling noises slipping past his lips. A smile curled across his mouth, the evil enchantment of the look in his intense eyes beguiling.

  He wasn’t finished just yet.

  Hawk pushed me back until I was half out of the water, crawling around me until he faced the opposite direction. “I’m going to fuck you in that tight ass of yours.”

  I was breathless, desire spinning throughout every cell. When he slipped the tip of his cock between my ass cheeks, I gasped, grabbing both edges of the tub. Very slowly he lowered me down, still holding me aloft, his cock sliding into my puckered hole.

  “Hawk. Oh, God.”

  “You ready, sweetheart?”

  “Yes. Oh, yes.”

  With one guttural groan, he yanked me down, my muscles aching the moment he thrust all the way inside. My breath was stolen, my grip on the cool porcelain tightening and water lapping across my skin. It was as if he belonged buried deep inside, filling and fucking me.

  He undulated his hips, rocking up and down as he drove long and hard, every sound spilling from his mouth savage in nature. With every brutal plunge, I fell deeper into a whirlwind of pure bliss, squeezing my muscles over and over again.

  “Fuck,” he huffed as he cradled me against him, his callused hands cupping my breasts, fondling my nipples.

  I lolled my head against his shoulder, languishing in the sensations. Pain and pleasure mixed together, my pussy still clenching even though my ass was filled with his glorious cock.

  He pinched my nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, twisting and pulling, drawing them into aching peaks. Finally, he slid one hand into the water, fingering my clit, blowi
ng hot breaths against my neck. “Do you want to come?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Are you going to be a good girl?”

  “Yes... Yes, sir.”

  “Do you belong to me?”

  I opened my eyes, blinking in order to focus, more satisfied than I’d ever been. “Always.”

  He rolled two fingers around my clit, taking his time as he slowed his rhythm, the power of his thigh muscles taking full control.

  There was no way to describe the feelings shifting into my body or my mind, a dazzling array of lust-filled thoughts remaining.

  Every thrust became harder. Faster. His entire body tensed, his fingers driving deep into my pussy.

  I opened my legs as wide as possible, my knees hitting the side of the tub, my heart racing from excitement. Our passion had never been this intense, the hunger so great. Steam and water covered every inch of our bodies, the heat building to a combustible level. He rubbed his thumb around my clit as he jammed all four fingers inside my pussy, my muscles tightening with every brutal plunge.

  Then the orgasm erupted. “Fuck. Fuck!” My scream filtered into the room, echoing as I gasped for air. My entire body shook violently as he continued fucking my asshole. Sweet Jesus, I could no longer breathe.

  Or think.

  Or care.

  This moment was everything.

  I heard the change in his breathing, rapid and struggling. I squeezed with everything I had as another wave shot through me, weakening every muscle. “Yes. Yes!”

  When he threw his head back and roared, the tone so deliciously husky, I could only smile.

  I had no idea how long we struggled to breathe normally, our bodies still as one, his cock buried deep inside, throbbing to the beat of my heart. He wrapped his arms around me, nuzzling into my neck and pressing kisses along my heated skin.

  “That was... incredible,” I finally managed, uncertain if he even heard my words.

  “You’re the one who’s incredible,” he whispered.

  I caressed his arm, rubbing the tip of my finger back and forth aimlessly, knowing that there were so many unanswered questions, riddles to this ungodly puzzle that we had to solve. I was beginning to wonder who I was, my purpose in all of this. For some crazy reason, I remembered the last phone call I’d received from Josh. I should say calls. He’d actually called me three times in the course of thirty minutes. However, I’d never had an opportunity to hear his latest message, everything I’d been wearing taken from me the moment I was arrested.