“No. I’m just going a little stir-crazy. How about packing a bag?”
There was no visible tension rippling across his face, and his eyes didn’t bounce around the room, so she guessed nothing tragic had occurred. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She liked surprises—sometimes. “How long will we be gone?” Their sudden departure didn’t make a lot of sense, but she would love a change of scenery. However, she was safe here—or so they’d promised.
She planted one hand on her hip. “What’s really going on?”
He smiled and stood. Riley closed the gap between them faster than she could react. “Let’s get something straight, sugar. We do what I say, okay? Trust me when I say I am always thinking about what’s best for you. Now can you toss a few things in an overnight bag or do I need to drag you out of here with nothing?” He winked and her pussy throbbed.
Her damned hormones blocked her logic. Think. An overnight bag implied they’d be back tomorrow, but could she handle being with him every minute of the day? What if he kissed her again? Would he run away a second time? Even though Gavin convinced her all was well between her and Riley, should she risk it?
“Sugar?” He tilted her chin up with a finger. “Do I need to paddle your fanny?”
The image of him spanking her made her body heat. Ever since that kiss, she’d been contemplating what it might be like with him. His propensity to have everything neat and in perfect order screamed control freak implying he’d be a tough Dom. The big question was whether she was ready to be with him. She feared she might compare the two men and find one of them lacking, though in all honesty, only Riley could possibly lose. Gavin was perfect.
Riley’s chest expanded, and an undercurrent of tension filled his face.
She could see arguing was useless. “Okay.”
He grinned. “Okay, you want me to spank you, or okay you’ll pack?”
She so wanted to say the first choice. No one had paddled her before, but since she loved the pain when Gavin had pulled and twisted her nipples, she could only imagine what a paddling would be like. Her panties dampened at the thought.
Uh-oh. Were they in danger, and Riley said nothing because he didn’t want to scare her? The second choice would be the best in that case.
“Brooke. I’m serious. When I give you a command, obey me. Your life might require it.”
Oh, my God. Here she was daydreaming, wasting precious seconds. “I’m gone.” She rushed toward her room and his laughter followed her down the hallway.
This time, her distraction hadn’t caused a problem, but in the future it might. To show him she could do as he asked, she tossed the smaller of the two bags on the bed and threw in whatever would fit, unsure of what she’d need. She hadn’t fully unpacked, so getting ready was easy. She returned in less than ten minutes with her coat in hand.
“I’m good.”
He’d packed faster than she had, but that didn’t surprise her. “Put on your coat.” His command came out almost too demandingly. What was up with that?
She placed the bag on the ground and slipped one arm in the sleeve. Riley stepped over and lifted the other end to help her. Once she was dressed, she thought he’d pick up his bag and head out.
Instead, he leaned over and lifted her hair from her neck. His eyes turned dreamy and lips slightly parted. “Did anyone ever tell you that you have the prettiest hair?”
She’d been mocked for its frizziness for years. A few months ago, she had it straightened, but with her crazy store hours, she let it go. Right now, it was a mass of unruly curls instead of pure kink. “Gavin said he liked it.”
“I do, too.”
He inhaled, and her insides melted. His finger traced a line from her collarbone up to her ear and her pulse sped. If he kept this up, she’d have to drop to her knees, lower her gaze, and place her hands behind her back to show him she could be a good little submissive to his manly ways.
Why don’t you?
She wasn’t that bold yet, but now that he got her thinking about spankings and obeying him, her arousal spread from her tits to her pussy. Dear God. A few days ago, she only dreamt of being with a man as virile as Gavin. Now, it seemed, she had two men she wanted. Whether she could handle both was anyone’s guess.
He leaned over and sucked on her earlobe, causing tiny explosions all over her skin. Her mind splintered. What was he doing?
She cleared her throat and tried to tamp down the lust soaring through her. “I thought you said we’re going someplace special.” Her words came out strangled.
He stepped back and winked. “We are, so if you would stop distracting me, we can get on our way.”
She’d never distracted a man in her life until she’d met them. “So it’s my fault?” Flirting with him was something new to her, but she liked the freeing feeling.
Riley picked up both bags and stepped toward the garage. “Come on.”
She trotted after him. He stepped outside through the people door instead of opening the garage door, probably because only her car was parked inside. She shivered. It had started to flurry, and the wind was howling.
Brooke lowered her head to protect her face against the elements. “Do you think it’s okay to be driving in this stuff?”
Riley stowed the gear in the back and opened her door. “Yes, now get in. Please.”
He wouldn’t get any argument from her. It was brutally cold out. She slid in quickly, but he took longer than expected to hop in. Fifteen seconds later, he closed the door and started the engine.
“Were you checking the neighborhood to see no one was watching us?” He acted like Gavin had at her parents’ house.
“You catch on fast, sugar.”
After letting the engine idle for a minute, he pulled out of the drive.
“Where are we going?” She’d asked before, but maybe this time he’d tell her.
“You are a curious one, aren’t you? Only because you’ve been through a lot will I tell you. I thought we’d go to Mountain Mesa.”
Mountain Mesa sat nestled in a beautiful mountain range. But why would he want to go to such an isolated place? “Is there something you want to show me there?”
Riley glanced over at her then back to the road. “Sugar, what say we explore it together?”
She still didn’t understand. “There’s not enough snow for cross-country skiing.” She sucked on skis anyway.
“I’m thinking about a nice bed-and-breakfast with a fireplace in the room and a cozy restaurant where they serve kick-ass beef.”
Had he picked the spot so he could seduce her? Nah. Men didn’t do that with her. Dare she hope Riley was different? “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Not getting anything past you, am I?” He winked again.
Finally, he admitted he had a hidden agenda. “No.”
“Even though Gavin and I have taken every precaution to safeguard the house, it’s not foolproof. I thought you might like to have a break. Being away from town should guarantee your safety.”
She liked the guaranteed part. She leaned her head back and relaxed. The idea of not worrying about that creep finding her did hold a lot of appeal. “You aren’t just trying to get me alone in a hotel room so you can have sex with me, are you?” Oh, God. She’d just blurted out her deepest wish. Now what would he think of her?
“Sugar, do I seem like the type of man who needs to stoop to devious ways to get a woman in bed?”
She couldn’t tell if that was a put down or just a statement of fact. She decided it was fact. Not only didn’t Pleasure have a lot of eligible bachelors, most of the ones they had weren’t as hot as Riley.
When Gavin, Riley, and then Dylan and Gabe moved in, the rumor mill had gone crazy. Women were trying to figure out a way to meet them. “No.”
“You see? I’m thinking of what’s best for you.”
Maybe he was telling the truth. She wanted to apologize but couldn’t find the words. “Did
you pick Mountain Mesa because it’s in the opposite direction of Bozeman?”
He glanced over at her. “Yes.”
“Have you ever been there?”
“No.”
Good. She loved exploring an area with someone who hadn’t been. The weather, however, might prevent them for doing much. In the summer, the trip would take about ninety minutes. No telling when they’d arrive this time. She shouldn’t complain. The creep who was after her would never find her.
As they climbed in elevation, the snow thickened. She would have suggested they turn back, but the whole point of leaving was to get away from the potential danger. They were about an hour out of Pleasure, when flashing lights glowed in the distance. Riley slowed.
She clutched her seatbelt. “You don’t think it’s a trap, do you?”
He shook his head. “No one could know where we’re headed. Gavin only suggested we leave when he called.”
“They could have hacked into your cell phone and followed you with your GPS. There’s only one road out, so it would be easy to position someone out here pretending to be in distress.”
He lifted his cell from his pocket and turned it off.
“A little too late, don’t you think?” She shouldn’t have been flip, but her anxiety had gotten the best of her.
“Relax, sugar. I’ve got everything under control.”
Hopefully.
Because they were headed up hill, he slowed. The glowing lights drew near. She glanced at the gas gauge and noted it was full. At least they wouldn’t run out of gas. The broken down car, partially off the road, had its hood up.
Riley tapped the wheel. “Looks like they’ve been here a while.”
“How can you tell?” She ran her gaze over the car but nothing clued her in.
“No steam is coming off the engine.” He pulled behind the stranded car.
“You’re going to stop?” Her voice escalated to a higher range.
“I like being a Samaritan.”
“I hope you brought your gun.” It could be a trap.
“Always, sugar.” He grinned, acting way too self-confident.
“Next time we leave the house, maybe you could lend me a spare weapon.”
He cocked a brow. “Hold that thought while I help this poor traveler.”
Hold that thought? His stall told her he didn’t want to address her concern.
Riley put the car in park, reached across to the glove compartment, and withdrew a gun. In the process he’d brushed her leg, causing all sorts of sparks to light her up. Just being with him did something to her insides.
He slid the weapon into the inside pocket of his coat and looked over at her. “Stay here.”
“Where would I go?”
“Good question. I’ll leave the engine running so you’ll keep warm, but if anything happens, get the hell out of here.”
“And leave you?”
“Yes.” His tone came out sharp.
He exited the car, shielded his eyes, and rushed to the driver’s side window. He tapped on the stranded motorist’s window, and the person inside rolled it down. She held her breath, half expecting the person behind the wheel to raise a gun and shoot, just like the driver had with Gavin.
Chapter Eleven
Gavin always said stakeouts sucked, especially in the dead of winter, but if it meant they could catch the man who’d come after Brooke, he’d sleep in the damn snow.
Mason’s informant told them about a factory on the edge of town that doubled as a clothing manufacturing plant during the day and a place to mix and package drugs at night. A man by the name of Carlos Diaz owned the factory, but when Gavin had called Justin and asked him to look up the name, Diaz wasn’t in any database. That meant either the owner was clean or very lucky to have avoided detection.
Mason had been in contact with the FBI, but they, too, had reached a dead end. To see the factory first hand, Gavin drove past the building. The front was brick with small-paned windows on the top half. A few had louvered windows presumably for ventilation, and a couple of them remained open. Because it was during normal business hours, Gavin parked down the street and waited for the evening shift to arrive. From the back of his SUV he dragged his case and set it on the passenger seat. It contained not only his sniper rifle, but an assortment of other guns, as well as a camera with a long lens. What may look like an ordinary factory on the outside could be a drug den inside.
He clicked the L-series lens in place and set the camera on his lap. If any suspicious activity occurred, he’d shoot the photos. Binoculars, however, were his first choice for surveillance as they provided the best vision. If the damned snow would stop falling, he’d have a better chance at getting a view.
Given the long surveillance, he only turned the car on periodically to heat up. After a few hours of watching, it had become too dark to see, forcing him to use his night-vision scope to pinpoint what was going on.
What he wouldn’t give to have ears on the inside. Too bad he didn’t know anyone who worked at the plant.
As he waited, his thoughts shifted back to Brooke. Ever since he’d left the house this morning, he’d worked hard to push her out of his mind, as such distractions could prove deadly. He failed. Gavin had never met anyone quite like her. Just thinking about her ripe, tight pussy, made his cock twitch. The way she kept her gaze downward with such respect still had his blood thrumming through his body.
He couldn’t believe the shy woman he’d first met could have been so explosive when making love. Who would have guessed she’d demand he tie her up? His cock hardened, and he had to adjust his balls.
Gavin allowed himself the luxury of picturing her naked with her arms above her head. Her breasts and pussy had been divine and so perfect. He loved how her face twisted and her eyes closed when her climax drew near, but it might have been her struggle to keep her orgasm under control that won him over. With a little more training, she’d be the best sub in the world.
When Riley learned of her true talent, he’d worship at her feet. Gavin was totally convinced she was the woman for them. The question was how well would she adapt to having two men dominate her? Brooke was strong and opinionated. If they approached her the right way—with respect and love, they might all find the ideal balance between dominance and submission.
* * * *
Brooke’s stomach tumbled. This vehicle breakdown could have been a setup.
Stop being paranoid.
Instead of the gun she expected to appear, a young woman exited the car and drew her thin coat around her shoulders. She shivered and pointed to the tire. Riley leaned into the cab and said something as if there was someone else there. He stepped back and then motioned for the woman return to her seat. Oh, my. Riley was a true gentleman and a real hero.
At first, she believed Gavin was the sensitive one and Riley worked more on the analytical level, but now she saw she’d been too hasty. Underneath Riley’s easy smile, he was all heart.
The woman eased back to her seat. He said something else and her trunk popped open. Riley shut her door, walked to the back, and lifted the trunk. Brooke hovered her hand over the horn to warn him should the lady be someone other than a stranded motorist.
Brooke glanced in the rearview mirror thinking perhaps an accomplice was close. While she’d never been the type to think such devious thoughts, after seeing that hooded man kill another with such ease, her beliefs had shifted.
Riley took out the tire and set it next to the wheel. A noisy gust swept across the road, and the spare fell over. She felt so sorry for him having to change a tire in the cold. Even now, their vision was poor. By the time he finished, he might not be able to see the road at all.
“Hurry, Riley.”
She didn’t say it loud enough for him to hear, but to send positive thoughts his way. Warm and toasty, she studied the man. He squatted, and his powerful legs bulged under his jeans. With seeming ease he removed the old tire and shoved on the new tire. A few quick twists, an
d the woman’s woes were almost over. He returned the bad tire to the trunk, along with the tire iron, and closed not only the back but the hood of her vehicle. Brooke didn’t believe in coincidences, but maybe this was what it seemed.
Several cars crawled up the incline and passed them. She watched for a dark-blue sedan with an NRA sticker on the right bumper. She admitted many cars might fit the description, but the probability of one having those exact characteristics and not belonging to the shooter would be slim.
She shivered as Riley tapped the roof of the broken-down car. Out of the corner of her eye a dark sedan drove by. Riley’s body blocked her view of the bumper. Damn. By the time the car drove past, it was too far ahead to see any sticker.
His door opened, and a cold blast of air entered. “All set.”
She debated whether to comment on the sedan. If she didn’t and it turned out to be the real deal, she’d forever kick herself. She told him what she’d spotted.
“Interesting.” The woman pulled onto the road and headed west.
“Interesting? That’s all you’re going to say?”
Riley faced her. “Let’s say that car did belong to the man who shot Gavin. Know that I’d love to get my hands on him, but there’s not much I can do now. I’m not about to race after him.” He must not have thought she was convinced. “Be assured that if I do meet him, he’ll end up the loser, not me.”
She loved his self-confidence. “I’m guessing your expertise isn’t limited to being a good shot.”
“No.” He held up a finger. “You don’t want to know my other talents.”
Should she quake in fear for his ability to kill, or be thrilled he’d be the one to protect her? She decided to focus on the latter.
She wished he’d elaborate on these other skills a wee bit, but apparently he was the type to keep such things to himself.
He pulled out on the road then glanced over at her. “Will it upset you if we continue toward Mountain Mesa in this weather?”
“No. That’s where we were going.” There was one other town between here and their destination. Assuming the blue car had belonged to the drug cartel, maybe the shooter would search there first. “When we do stop, do you think we could park in a more secluded spot so no one spots your truck?”
Monroe, Melody Snow - Bodyguards of Pleasure [Pleasure, Montana 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 11