Captured and Kept: A Dark Reverse Harem Romance

by Piper Stone

  “I don’t know if I can do that.” Dani struggled saying the words. “I thought I could stay disengaged, just enjoy my private fantasy, but the time spent with them allowed the girl inside to find solace, everything she needed. The mountains are so peaceful, and life is much simpler.”

  “Sounds like you wouldn’t mind living there,” Lisa said with a lilt in her voice.

  Dani studied the wine in her glass, remembering the very first spanking and the fact none of them had spoken. Primal was a perfect word. “I wouldn’t.”

  “Then I think writing the article will give you peace. I really do. Maybe an ending of sorts.”

  “Maybe.”

  Lisa exhaled. “You’re a tough cookie, girlfriend. By the way, do you know what today is?”

  “Wednesday. Last time I checked the calendar.” Every day seemed to run together.

  “No, well, yes, but that’s not what I’m talking about, goofy. Today, and right about this time of day is when those delicious cavemen would be coming to our little town, strolling down the street, all beefy and rugged.”

  Dani snapped her head in her friend’s direction before glancing at her phone, pressing it on in order to check the date. She counted in her head then a cold shiver trickled into every portion of her body, leaving goosebumps. “Shit. It is.”

  “I’m never wrong about these things. What if they decided to just show up?”

  Yeah, what if. Trying to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat, she awkwardly climbed off the stool. “Be right back.”

  “Uh-huh. I’ll be here waiting.”

  Dani knew this was foolish. Of course it was. They’d finished their assignment and were no doubt sitting on some tropical beach with a cabana girl serving drinks. They were never coming back to this town, but damn if she didn’t want to make certain. She moved out onto the sidewalk, looking up and down the street. Being close to Christmas, there was a lot of activity, tourists mixing in with the locals, several with colorful bags in their hands. She noticed more tall men than usual, but none of them were her cavemen.

  Her cavemen.

  Her entire body began to tremble. They’d never belonged to her. The shared respite had been delicious, but not real.

  The wind was blowing, snow sprinkling down as if from heaven above. Everywhere there were Christmas lights and she could even hear the sound of holiday music. Everything was magical, but not to her. She hugged her arms, shivering from the cold. How many wild and wicked dreams had Danger starred in? How many mornings had she awakened, hot and wet, her thighs covered in pussy juice?

  Too many.

  She wanted the fantasy. If only the reality could be even half of what she’d experienced.

  “Come back inside. They’re not coming, honey. I shouldn’t have mentioned the date.” Lisa’s comforting voice made Dani want to burst into tears.

  “What the hell am I going to do?”

  She wrapped her arm around Dani’s shoulders. “Oh, honey. You really cared for those guys. Why won’t you write the article? I know there’s another reason you’re hesitating. Talk to me. I’m your best friend.”

  Dani grimaced, her eyes never leaving the sidewalk across the street. “It’s complicated, Lisa. If I do, I could place their lives in danger.”

  “Hmm... It’s been six weeks. If something terrible was going to happen to them, my guess is it would have by now. I can only assume they were performing an illegal activity. Just don’t mention whatever they were doing. Make the article sexy, an extension of what you shared. You never know. Maybe the piece will go viral, Danger will see it and come running into your arms. At least he knows where you live.”

  “That’s true. I guess.”

  “Come back inside. It’s cold out here.”

  “Just a second.” Dani gave her a smile then walked toward the street, straining to catch the faces of anyone that could remotely be Danger. As if he’d actually try to visit her. She closed her eyes, envisioning his face. Jesus. What if she never got over him? Another chill raced through her. Lisa was right, time to go inside. She had to forget about the fairy tale.

  The second she opened her eyes, a jolt of electricity sliced into her heart. A single man standing across the street on the corner caught her attention. There was that same instant electricity, the tightness in her chest she’d felt every day around Danger. While the stranger was bundled up, he had a long beard, his stance just like what she remembered Danger had, all swagger and full of testosterone. And he was staring directly at her, as if beckoning to her.

  Without thinking, she stepped off the curb, moving toward him. As Dani started to wave, she watched in slow motion as another girl ran up to the stranger, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  Beep!

  * * *

  “I heard you almost got yourself killed yesterday.”

  Glancing up from her desk, Dani groaned. Jacob at least had an amused look on his face. “Who hasn’t heard?” She’d kicked herself several times for being so foolish. Danger wasn’t the hero in a romance novel.

  “Small town. You know how news travels.” Jacob inched further inside her cube. “Question for you. Have you thought any more about writing the articles you promised?”

  Dani knew he’d eventually want answers as well as an article. “Yes. Maybe. Hell, I don’t know what good it would do now. I waited too long since writing the teaser.”

  “Nonsense. Dani, I’m not certain what happened to you on that mountain and there’s a part of me that wishes I would have flat out denied I’d even accept an article. You put yourself in a hell of a lot of danger.” He half-heartedly laughed. “But we’re a struggling newspaper. The truth is, we might be shut down by February.” His voice was decidedly lower in volume.

  “What?”

  He glanced around at the other cubicles. “I haven’t told any of the other employees about my suspicions, so please keep the information to yourself. Circulation is down. No one is purchasing printed copies any longer and even online, we’re just not performing. I’ll admit that certain articles might put some sizzle into a dying platform, if only for a few months. Maybe I’m just grasping at straws, but I’m willing to do that in order to keep fighting. Did I ever tell you that after your initial story, we sold out every newspaper that day and online reads were up two hundred percent? We even garnered dozens of subscriptions. There’s no other reason than people want sensational news. They want to read about creatures of the night or men who very well might be real cavemen. They want an escape from their daily existence, if only for a few minutes a day.”

  “I...” Dani wrinkled her nose. “I’ve been thinking about how to approach it, but nothing seems right. I also don’t want to seem like a fool. Stupid girl goes into the mountains all alone, hunting four dangerous-looking men. I could be the laughing stock.”

  “First of all, you’re not stupid and people love the hint of comedy you have in every piece. Play up the fact you risked your life if you want to. People appreciate the fact some reporters tell it like it is. Put whatever spin on it you’d like. Make the story all about fantasy. Just think about it.”

  The way her boss talked about the entire experience was completely romanticized. Then again, the time spent certainly was full of kinky romance. Her nipples hardened at the thought. “You know what? I will.”

  Jacob nodded. “That’s great to hear and I appreciate it. Just let me know.”

  “Jacob, can I ask you a question before you go?”

  “Shoot. You can ask me anything.”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip, debating, but her curiosity was killing her. “Do you know anyone named Wolf?”

  He furrowed his brow and rubbed his jaw. “I don’t think so.” Then a light flashed in his eyes. “Wolf Christopher. It’s been years since I’ve seen him, but we’d developed an interesting friendship, he and I. If you can call it that.” Chuckling, he narrowed his eyes. “Why in the world are you asking?”

  “What’s he like?”

&nbs
p; Jacob blew out a long breath of air. “Wolf was always over the top at everything he did. I do mean a wild man. Wolf is his nickname, but everyone called him that, even howling after doing so. Bartholomew just didn’t suit him.”

  “Wow. I guess not.” She casually wrote down the name. “How did you know him?”

  “Little known fact, my dear. I used to be a college professor. Seems like a lifetime ago. He was a student in one of my classes. Brilliant but a troublemaker. Still, on the day he graduated, he was hand selected to work with the CIA. I was shocked to tell you the truth. We stayed in touch for a couple years, right up until... Well, until he had some difficulties. I haven’t heard from him in over two years.”

  “That’s fascinating,” she half whispered, trying to push back a smile.

  “Why do ask? That was a long time ago.”

  “Just something I was reading.”

  Jacob lifted an eyebrow. “Can’t lie to an old newspaper man.”

  “He’s a man I met in passing. Said he knew you.” She tried to smile, uncertain she wanted to share the news.

  “What a minute, you saw him?”

  She shifted uncomfortably. “I think so. I mean, I only knew this man’s first name so maybe it was someone else.” Oh, that’s lame, Dani. She hadn’t determined up to this point whether she was going to change the cavemen’s names for the article. Maybe she should.

  “There’s something you don’t want to tell me?” Jacob had a wry smile on his face.

  “Not really.”

  “Uh-huh. Well, if Wolf is interested in you, young lady, I’d beware. You know what they say about a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” He laughed again. “Let me know about that article. Don’t forget the one on the ice cream store either. I know it’s winter but...”

  “Yes, sir. I won’t forget.”

  Dani tapped her pen as he walked away, finally tossing it. After he was out of sight distance, she opened Google, searching Wolf’s name. She found very little initially, almost as if the man didn’t exist, but she had other sources, and ways of finding people she’d learned over the years. After thirty minutes, she was able to make a connection that Bartholomew Christopher was indeed hired by the CIA. There was almost nothing written about him until two years previously. The single article indicated he’d been implicated in some serious accusations because of his connection with William Thoreau, a brilliant scientist turned corporation mogul. The man was reportedly worth millions.

  William was also considered a dangerous man, now being hunted for crimes against the country. There was nothing else about the implications, as if the entire situation had been swept under the rug. She jotted down notes, trying to find out more. At the time of the article, Wolf had all but disappeared. The connection was far too interesting. Was William the infamous Mr. X? After a few additional minutes of surfing and finding little more than Mr. Thoreau’s supposed net worth, she gave up the search.

  For now.

  She glanced at her briefcase, eyeing the spiral bound notebooks. What could it hurt to actually type her handwritten notes, just in case? “Hmmm...” Grabbing the group, she gingerly placed them on her desk, rubbing her hand over her sketchbook. She’d looked at them the first couple of days after her return, then hadn’t been able to stomach doing so. Taking a deep breath, she opened to the first sketch, a smile crossing her face. Danger was so handsome. When she saw the fantasy drawing of all four men in front of the fire, beads of sweat popped over her lip. Every woman should be allowed this kind of erotic adventure.

  As she turned page after page, she kept the smile, realizing that her time spent with all four men had been exactly what she’d needed. A release from her self-imposed bonds. She’d pushed for an assignment of her own, just like four rugged men. And she’d called the man she adored with all her heart a coward. Well, who was the coward now?

  She pulled up a blank page on Word and opened to her notes. If women wanted a fantasy, she’d give them one. Hot. Sultry. Kinky. Spanking. Romance.

  By the time Dani glanced at the clock, she was shocked to see it was almost eleven at night. She hadn’t paid any attention to the time. Over fifty pages had been typed, sorted, and put into three articles for distribution.

  And she’d decided to use the names they’d given her. There was no way to connect them with the real men anyway.

  Stretching, she yawned and read the articles over one last time. They were damn good, perhaps some of the best writing she’d done in a hell of a long time. Were they good enough to keep the reader’s interest?

  For a little town like Baker City, this was a sensational article. A scintillating dream full of dangerous activities and wild creatures in the woods, including the cavemen. She’d already scanned the single photograph and when she pulled the photo onto her screen, the sweet memories surfaced one again. She rubbed the tip of her index finger across Danger’s face on the screen before attaching everything to an email. Her hesitation was only a few seconds before she hit send. Maybe this was exactly the thing to do in order to get the man out of her system.

  Turning off her computer and grabbing her things, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had to face facts. Danger would forever hold a place in her heart.

  * * *

  “Fantastic article, Dani. When is the next one coming out?” The woman’s grin was infectious, the other customers in the store, all of them women, were smiling as Dani walked up to the counter.

  Dani had been a customer of Peanut’s Bakery, the one she’d written about two months ago, for weeks. Margie had been more than grateful, especially since business was up by over twenty percent, plying Dani with goodies almost every time she came in. She blushed as several of the women started asking questions, the barrage similar to what she’d received all week. She hadn’t expected Jacob to print the first article word for word. The entire front page had been covered with her words, her longings for the four men and every sordid detail leading up to her first... Well, she hadn’t gone into detail about her spankings, but smart and sassy women could read between the lines. While she should feel embarrassed, she was simply overwhelmed at the instant notoriety.

  “Wait. Give our gal some space. It’s not every day we have a celebrity in our mix, and one who’s spent time with four of the most gorgeous men on the planet.” Margie winked as she fanned her face. “Don’t know how you did it, sugar.”

  “What was Danger like, I mean really? Was he good in bed?” The woman stood with her hands together.

  “June! You can’t ask her that,” another lady huffed. “I can.” Everyone laughed as they settled around Dani in a circle. “Did he have a huge cock? Did you take them all at once?”

  “You know I can’t give you intimate details,” Dani scoffed, giving them an evil grin.

  “Oh, come on. Spill it!” Margie’s tone had a demanding quality.

  “Let’s just say Danger is well built. In every department.” Dani pursed her lips, issuing a slight moan. The crowd ate it up, crowding even closer. She honestly had no idea that she’d receive this kind of reaction. After reading the article in the paper itself, she had anticipated criticism coming from every direction. Although she’d never explicitly stated she’d slept with any of them, the subliminal references were intertwined all throughout.

  As the questions started again, she was almost thrilled to hear her phone ring. “Excuse me, ladies. My editor is calling.” She had to press fingers into her ear as she answered the phone in order to drown out the gleeful cries. “Jacob.”

  “If it isn’t my favorite columnist.” Jacob laughed. “I wanted to let you know I’m running part two in tomorrow’s paper.”

  “That’s great, I guess. Thanks for letting me know.”

  “And there’s more.”

  She heard the glee in his voice. “What? Should I ask or be terribly afraid?”

  He laughed more robustly than she’d ever heard. “It’s gone national. Started with a half dozen wire services, a few phone calls. I knew a few papers h
ad grabbed the article, posting links to our website. Now, I don’t have enough time to answer the requests. By this time tomorrow, you’re going to be in every major newspaper in the country.”

  “What?” The squealing of the woman behind her forced her outside the shop. “Repeat that.” There was no way she could have heard him correctly.

  “I said, by this time tomorrow, you’re going to be famous. I even had representatives from the Today show call. Get ready, Dani. This is exactly what you wanted.”

  Stunned, she almost fell against the side of the building. She was elated, shocked, and also filled with anxiety. The one horrific aspect regarding her notoriety was that someone would certainly pick up who she really was. Shit. Shit. Shit. And she’d be forced to live the nightmare all over again. And what about the cavemen? No matter where they were, one of them would no doubt see the article. At least she’d bet they would. Even being what she suspected as an ex-CIA agent, Wolf would still had connections. He’d be searching to see if they’d been compromised in any manner, especially by the woman they’d disciplined.

  Heat rushed up from between her breasts, sliding ever so slowly up along her jaw and cheeks.

  “Dani, are you still there?” Jacob asked.

  “I’m here. I’m just... Wow.”

  “I know. I’m very proud of you. The writing is excellent. You might even get a book deal out of this. And our subscription rate just skyrocketed through the roof.”

  Dani swallowed hard, echoes ringing in her ears. “I’m so glad. I’ll be in the office later. Okay?”

  “That’s great because we do need to talk about your upcoming work. I have some plans in store for you, young lady.”

  “Thanks so much, Jacob.” Ending the call, she held the phone to her head. She was sick to her stomach and her head felt like she’d been slammed with a bowling ball. Was there any way to stop the freight train? None that she knew of.

  She took a look over her shoulder at the women inside. If the folks in her town had this kind of reaction, she knew damn good and well the sensationalism would garner her far more than just fifteen minutes of fame—ugly fame. She was going to have to put a call into her father just to warn him.