by Kara Kelley
There was something about being across this mountain man’s lap that settled her. His hand landed again on the opposite cheek, and it felt sharp enough for her to wince. This time he didn’t give her time to mull it over, he just swatted again, and it bit like needles when it overlapped the other branding. More aware of the pain sensation, she clutched his pillow tighter. He continued then, steady and sharp until she felt every stinging spank with ardor and trepidation for what was to come. Could she handle all he decided she needed? The care with which he spoke as he spanked her made her start to choke up.
“Little girl, what you did was reckless, and I hope the sting on your bottom is telling you just how disappointed I am in your blatant disregard for yourself.” The swats got meatier, and at first, her eyes widened, but then she squeezed them tight. She squirmed across his knees, twisting to avoid his palm landing on an already burning spot. Her arm flew back and grabbed at his jeans-clad leg.
“I think this is just what you need to tell you how much I care about what happens to you. I haven’t known you very long, but I feel strongly that you’re a person who deserves a good life, not one who puts herself in the ground well before she’s even lived. I won’t hesitate to show you this as often as necessary, understand?”
His words had stung deepest of all, and she felt as if she had no oxygen in her lungs. She gulped suddenly, and when the air came back out it was in a wet rush that turned to a sob.
“Yes,” she gasped, as soon as she could find the word tangled among the emotion she was trying to control. More swats had her releasing her hold on Mike’s jeans and reaching back to cover her overheated skin. “I got it, Mike!” He grabbed her hand, pinning it in the small of her back. He leaned his hard abdomen against her. “Mike?” he prompted, in a whisper near her ear. “Hmm, is that what you call me?”
“Daddy.” The word flew out as the pressure of his body left her, and the sharpest spank yet landed low across both her burning cheeks. “I got it, Daddy. Please, no more!”
“Young lady, do you deserve this spanking?”
“Yes,” she choked out as he swatted, even lower this time, where the sting made her eyes pop wide. “Yes, yes, I do.” Tears came over her lids, and she let them take all the horrid fear and sadness with them. It felt amazing to empty the toxins from within her. It had always seemed pointless to cry before but now she realized it simply felt good. “Thank you,” she garbled, and he whacked so hard along the tops of her thighs that her legs kicked involuntarily.
“Ah, ah, okay!” she panted, knowing she couldn’t take much more. “I understand, and I won’t do it again!” Another yelp or two followed before she simply slumped, letting the tears flow.
“That’s my girl.” He stopped punishing her bottom and began soothing instead. His big warm hand roamed over her scorched cheeks, and he spoke gently. “Let it all go. Let me take care of you.”
Avery snuffled into his pillow and let the sensations from both his hand and his words soothe her. The flowing tears swept all the overwhelming emotions away with them. “Honey? Let’s get you on the bed.” He helped her up, and as they stood to face each other, he cupped her cheeks. Until that moment, Avery had been focused on the spanking and its purpose, but now that the giant bearded man looked down at her with his beautiful crinkled sexually charged blue eyes, arousal thrummed in her. Her eyes widened and then blazed at the realization that his caring but painful spanking had turned them both on.
“Daddy,” she whispered breathlessly. “I—”
She never got to finish as his mouth crushed hers. His lips and facial hair sent sensations through her that tingled in all the right places. She loved the taste of him and the scruffy but soft feel of his beard. When his mouth left her lips and found her neck, she lost all control. God, the way it felt, the roughness mingling with his soft, hot mouth, made her entire body come alive. Her thighs pressed as she felt more pooling warmth. His big hands grabbed her ass, and Avery hissed as he pulled her against him. She wrapped her legs around his waist to hold on. The buckle from his belt was cold against her naked pussy, and his hands clutching her ass made her nerves zing in reminder of the spanking he’d just given her, but all of it felt so damn right. She felt so damn alive. Pain and arousal mingled, making her feel an overpowering pulse of pleasure. “Daddy, please.”
His response was a growl into her neck.
“Put your feet down,” he demanded. She did, and he lowered her to stand.
“Arms up, little girl.”
She smiled at the hooded desire in his eyes.
“You’re gorgeous,” she whispered and lifted her arms for him. He groaned when he pulled the shirt up, exposing her beautiful, heavy breasts. He licked his lips as he tossed the clothing over his shoulders.
“No, honey, you are. Absolutely fucking stunning.” His hands found her breasts, and as they filled his palms, his thumbs played with her puckered buds. His callused pads circled them, tightening them further until they all but ached for his mouth. He pulled her closer and sucked her lip between his, nibbling it as she moaned.
“Lie down.” He released her, his gruff demand making the pulse between her thighs hasten. She was frozen by her body’s reaction to this man. “Little girl, if you don’t do as you’re told, I’m going to take my belt to your lovely ass.”
“Oh.” She fell back on his bed, her arms above her head and her hair spilling across his sheets. He watched, a satisfied smile spreading across his mouth.
“Open for me, honey.” She licked her lips slowly, and his smile turned predatory. His hand went to his belt, and he started to unbuckle. “Keep your hands where they are,” he added, raising one brow as she began moving.
A cry fell from her lips, and she pulled her legs up and apart for him. He reached one of his long callused fingers out to slide ever-so-lightly from the top of her mound right down her lips to her opening. Intense sensations scattered throughout her and her trailing whimper turned to his name. She squirmed as he dipped into her core and ran his wet finger up to find her nub. He growled and fell to his knees. Grabbing her legs, he yanked her so her bottom was at the very edge of the bed. The friction woke the burn on her backside and she whimpered. He turned his head, chuckled and kissed the inside of her knee.
“Another reminder to behave,” he murmured against her skin, his breath hot and moist. His facial hair heightened every sensation, and she felt shivers everywhere as he trailed right to the top of her thigh, stopping only for a little lick and nibble in the middle before continuing till he reached the opposite knee.
“Baby, you’re mine,” he said gruffly, clutching her hips tightly and diving for her center.
She twisted and squirmed, clasping the checkered blanket in her fingers. Her head shook back and forth, and he continued to flick, swirl, and suck her, but when he slid one finger and then two inside her and pumped, she screamed a curse and fell over the edge. “Yessss.”
She opened her eyes after a moment and watched him as he reached an arm over his shoulder, took a handful of shirt and yanked it over his head. His naked chest was tawny even after the long winter, and his hard pecs were scattered lightly with blond hair.
“Don’t move an inch.” He stood and left, returning with a foil packet. “Annie is the smartest goddamned old lady in the world!”
He yanked down his jeans and the white thermal long underwear beneath. His cock was thick, long, and hard, and it twitched for her. She had never thought of the male anatomy as beautiful, but this man’s was. After sliding the condom on, he leaned forward, caging her between his strong, muscled arms. His mouth found hers, and her eyes fluttered shut. His wavy hair was loose, and it tickled her face. She felt his cock at her opening, and before the pulsing aftershocks from her orgasm had fully abated, his cock drove in, filling her completely. When he released her mouth, he dragged his teeth gently along her bottom lip, and she gasped. He felt so good inside her, and the building of pleasure was sweeping her up again.
“God, y
ou feel so good,” he murmured as he pumped in rhythmic strokes, but her taste of pleasure was quick before he stopped.
“No,” she cried. “Please don’t stop.”
“Over and up on your knees, baby,” he said, his voice graveled with desire as he pulled himself from her. She whimpered at being separated from him but rolled onto all fours.
“Oh, woman, you are so hot like this.” He gently pushed her forward so her chest was flat but her ass high. First, he rubbed and massaged her tender cheeks, then gave her a hearty smack and buried himself inside her deeply enough to make her call out in both surprise and pleasure.
He filled her so perfectly, as if he were made for her. He reached around her hip and ran his rough hand smoothly down her belly, his fingers finding her freshly sensitized nub. The dual sensations took her up intensely again.
“Daddy,” she whispered with her eyes shut tight. She panted a beat or two as he pounded against her ass, his hammering enhancing his finger play. “Don’t stop, ever. Please. I’ve never felt so… Please,” she pleaded. With him inside, she felt complete, emotionally and physically. The sensations rose in her, tightening her every muscle. His thrusts slowed, and every sensation was heightened. Her tongue, the roof of her mouth, even her fingertips—they all tingled with pleasure. Flashes danced behind her eyelids, and she held her breath as she went to the farthest edges of ecstasy.
It only took a few seconds of his slow, measured strokes before his release followed. Mike gave a guttural moan, fisting her hair and kissing her nape possessively. He whispered against her earlobe, “You are more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen.” He slipped out of her but immediately grabbed her hips and roughly pulled her until he cradled her ass against his groin and pulled them to lie on the bed.
“Thank you,” Avery said, emotion clogging her words. “Thank you for caring and thank you for making me feel more wanted than I’ve ever felt in my life.” He raked his fingers through her hair, running his nails against her scalp, before entwining her wild curls in his hand. “Honey, I have never wanted anyone more than I wanted you today. And maybe neither of us understands it, but I do care. There’s something about you…” She rolled to face him, cutting his words off as her mouth found his. Her kiss was desperate, as were the hands that clung to him.
He let her fall asleep in his arms before he gently rose, cleaned up, and got dressed. He went to check on the stew. It would be done soon, so he began kneading the bread he’d set to proof earlier.
He didn’t regret a moment with her, but at the same time, he worried. He didn’t even know her name, and even though his instincts told him she wasn’t anything more than a good woman in trouble, he doubted himself suddenly. What if he were aiding and abetting a murderer? Bank robber? He hadn’t watched the news, read the paper, or listened to the radio in years; he avoided it actually. Ever since Prescott, and Ella, he didn’t want to know what was happening in the world.
Mike punched the bread harder, adding more flour as it stuck to his fist. His heart pounded as Prescott’s charming smile widened in his memory. Had he been caught? Mike had no idea. And it wasn’t his job to worry about that anymore. His world now consisted of this mountain, this cabin, and he didn’t want to care about anything else.
He flattened the dough and paused. What he felt for the woman was crazy. He didn’t know a thing about her. Nothing. And yet, his heart both slowed and sped at the thought of her.
Chapter Seven
“Hey, how come you left me, Daddy?” Mike turned to see his little girl leaning against the bedroom door with mussed hair, a sleepy smile, and his checkered shirt only covering half of her. His cock pulsed to life again and he put the dough into the oven.
“How come you’re out of bed already, little girl?” He went to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. With her face pressed into his chest, he could blink away the sickening feeling his grim thoughts left.
“How’s your bottom?” he asked when she pulled back, thankfully after enough time that he could settle his nerves. She turned and pulled up the shirt, so he got the full view of two blushing cheeks. Then she peeked at her bottom over her shoulder. He clenched his jaw as she took her free hand and rubbed.
“Little tender but mostly just warm. I can’t say I don’t like it though.” She grinned over her shoulder at him. “The feeling reminds me.”
“Reminds you of what?” he asked, liking her response. It made his groin twitch again.
“Reminds me my daddy cares.” She cleared her throat and turned back to face him. “Would it sound awful if I said I’m wet from even thinking about it?” She looked down, and he ran a finger along her jawline to tip her face back up.
“I like all that very much.” He leaned down, placing his lips mere millimeters from hers. “Very much.”
* * *
“Mike?” she whispered against his mouth. She wanted to tell him her name at least, if not the rest of her story, but when he pulled back and his brow lifted, her heart flipped. What if he decided she was a thief and turned her in? He cleared his throat.
“I mean, Daddy?”
“Yes, little girl?”
“Never mind.” She tried to move past him to head to the bathroom to freshen up, but he stopped her with an arm around her middle. Pulling her back, he pushed her gently against the wall. His eyes were heated, his brow cocked and his mouth firm, effectively setting her afire. Taking her wrists, he pressed her arms against the wall above her head. His leg nudged between hers, so her naked pussy was flush against his thigh.
“I’m not letting you go anywhere,” he said, and this time he didn’t just put his lips near hers, he claimed her whole mouth. She weakened at the stroking of his tongue, and her clit blipped to life against his firm, thick thigh. God, what was it about this man that made him so damn exciting, so thrilling, so combustion-worthy?
She licked the lingering taste of him off her lips, missing the feel of his wiry facial hair against her soft skin. “Take me back to bed?” She frowned when he shook his head.
“My little girl needs to eat first,” he said, nudging her head so he could access her neck. She looked at his crotch as soon as he released her.
“I’m not hungry…” When her eyes found his, they burned with intensity.
“No, sweet one. You need sustenance before I wear you out in my bed.” He kissed her nose and released her. “Go now. Do what you need to do, and I’ll serve up the stew.” She pouted, and when she walked away, he smacked her ass.
“Oh! Ow! Daddy, you can be so mean!” But the half smile she gave him over her shoulder said otherwise. He chuckled, and she knew he loved their playful banter as much as she did.
Behind the closed washroom door, her face fell. How long could this last? Through the storm? Until he demanded answers? She sat on the edge of the tub chewing her thumbnail. The cold felt good on her warm ass, but her mind didn’t linger on the physical. Her thoughts were on the men who hunted her and the one who enraptured her. They couldn’t find her here, could they? And could she leave him if they did?
Hope fluttered in her belly. Mike lived completely off-grid. She was safe with him. Then again, even though the Jeep wasn’t visible from the road, the twisted guardrail would alert someone with authority soon enough. Besides, how long would her mountain man daddy put up with her secrets and half-truths? Her gut churned. She couldn’t keep him in the dark much longer. She was falling for him, fast, and his stern dominance made her want to bare herself completely to him. Would he help her or turn her in?
She dawdled in the bathroom, before gathering her breath to face him. She wouldn’t be able to hold onto her secrets much longer.
He had bowls of hardy venison stew, and something he claimed was homemade bread on the table when she returned. The smell made her mouth water. She was starving. The wind still howled outside, but the snow and ice had stopped. It worried her, but she focused on the food in front of her instead. The stew was too hot so she bit int
o the warm bread. Her jaw immediately stalled mid-bite. She swallowed the dry lump in her mouth and looked up at him with a pained expression.
“How old is this bread?” She banged the crusty lump on the table. His eyes narrowed. “It’s fresh from the oven.” She covered her mouth and giggled at his stern expression and crossed arms. “Who taught you how to make bread?”
“Do you always insult people who save your life, twice, give you several orgasms, and cook you dinner?” She looked skyward and made a show of thinking.
“No, you’re definitely the first. But no one has ever needed to be told this badly before.” She snickered when his eyes narrowed further. It made her belly dip. “Mike, it’s awful!”
“Oh, someone needs another trip over my knee.” He uncrossed his arms and picked up his bread. He broke a hunk off, scooped stew onto it, looked her straight in the eye, and shoved it in his mouth. “Mmm.”
“Bread is supposed to tear, not come off in hunks.” She pointed at the bread in his hand. “And Daddy? My butt’s still a bit sore, but I’d love some of what came after the spanking.” She bit her lip when his mouth quirked in a smirk he couldn’t quite hide.
“Your backside can’t be all that sore, little girl.” He scooped more stew onto his bread and eyed her, exchanging his smile for a weary look.
“It definitely is.” She reinforced her statement by wiggling on the chair and grimacing. “How about I pay you back for the rescue, spanking, tremendous sex, and dinner by giving you a good bread recipe? And showing you how to make it?” She took a big spoonful of stew.
He crossed his arms again, leaning back in his chair to examine her while she chewed, swallowed and took more. She did this until her bowl was almost empty before speaking again.