by Tina Gayle
She stiffened. “Let me?”
He tightened his arms. “With me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe your father would let us buy the company. We could pay him a share of the profits, and then he’d be free to take his new job.” He stared into her face. “That is, if you think you can work with me?”
She blinked. “Are you saying you want to run my father’s company?”
“Why not?”
“But . . .” Doubt glowed from her eyes.
“Look, Marohka, it could be the perfect solution for everyone. Your father will have his freedom while you can continue to work, which is what you want.” He ran his hands over her back. “And we could work together instead of being apart for twelve zitons a day.”
She relaxed against his chest.
“Do you think we can work together?”
“Yes, but . . .” Concern grew in her gaze.
He felt guilty for manipulating her, but he knew if they made it work, they’d both have what they wanted. “If you’re worried I can’t do the job, remember I know the business. I’ve been dealing with miners for years.”
An unspoken question flashed in her eyes.
“As for what’s in it for me,” he answered, “I’ll receive a new job with a steady paycheck, a chance to work with my wife, and, if I’m lucky, a way to stall the strip mining proposal my family wants to do.”
“What strip mining proposal?” She drew away.
He let his arms fall to his sides. Mentally, he landed a right hook against his jaw. She shouldn’t be exposed to his problems.
He walked to the long leather couch facing the twilight glow of distant mountains. He settled in the plush corner and stared at the scene outside the window. He gripped his knees with his hands.
How much should he tell her?
Chapter Nineteen
“Stihl?” Marohka walked in front of him and handed him his glass. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”
She sat beside him, and he slid his arm around her shoulders.
The unique scent of him under the spicy fragrance of his soap tickled her senses. To pressure him wouldn’t help. She’d tried to in the mating room and had failed. Stihl moved at his own pace. Rushing him only caused an adverse reaction. When he came to terms with his answer, he’d share.
She laid her hand on his thick thigh. He covered her hand with his larger one. The link between them grew stronger, but his thoughts weren’t open. She turned to the view outside the window and sipped her drink.
Small animals scurried across the land. A large bird, riding the wind currents, flew in the sky. The shadows on the ground warned the small animals of the killer luring overhead. They froze. She barely made out their shadows. Then, without warning, the bird dove for its prey. The rodent caught in the hunter’s talons lost its battle.
A shiver sped through her. The bird soared off to enjoy its feast. The other rodents, which escaped the claws of the flying beast, darted about with their early morning activities. One less stood in their numbers.
“I own Rock Ridge.”
She turned back to Stihl, nodded, and set down her glass.
“What you don’t know is the conditions around the mine.” He paused. She felt his struggle to explain his emotions.
“My grandfather not only left this land to me but also the controlling interest in our mine. But I have to meet certain conditions before I’m allowed to make all decisions regarding the mine.” His hand rubbed her shoulder. “One is to share the profits with my father and two brothers. The next is to settle down and raise a family.”
He fell silent.
“That’s where I come in,” she prompted.
“Yes. I can only maintain control, if the other members of the family don’t overrule me. My dad demanded I claim you as my mate as a condition for his continued support.”
As if spitting out the distasteful words, he added. “My brothers want control. They planned to unseat me, so they can increase our profit. They decided strip mining would unveil the ore much faster and increase their returns.”
“But it ruins the land.”
“Yes, but”—he toyed with her hair—“the land doesn’t matter to them. It does to me. They’re only interested in the money.”
“Yes, but now that I’m your mate, your father will give you his support, right?”
“Good question, but I’m not sure how long my father will hold out against my brothers. One is living with him, and the other is expecting his second child. They’re both applying pressure.” Stihl picked up his drink.
“I was hoping to pay them off with the commission I make on the Trisar deal. Then I planned on working on the mine’s produce rate again, but . . .”
He lifted his glass. “With the Trisar deal dead, I require a steady job. If I work for your father, we’ll be able to be together every day. And it will buy me some time.”
“How?”
“Well, if I support Tankton’s and Joha’s basic needs, then they can’t steal control of the mine. Hopefully, it’ll give me time to turn things around at our mine.” He finished off his drink. “And it will keep them from spending outside of their means.”
“Really?” Untrusting of his brothers, she didn’t believe they’d live within their means no matter how much money they possessed.
“No, but I can hope.”
“You know, if you’re working for my dad’s company, I might be convinced to help you with your mine.” She slid her hand along his inner thigh. “I could check out the problems and offer you a little advice.” She offered him a wicked grin. “Of course, it’ll cost you.”
He covered her hand. “I’m not sure I can afford it. I have a new wife, remember?”
She slid her hand from under his and worked her way slowly up his leg. “I’m sure we could work out some terms which would fit within your budget.”
“I don’t like”—his voice rose when she reached her destination—“credit.” He gulped. “I’d rather pay in advance.”
She slid her hand over the growing bulge beneath his pants. She shifted on the couch and found the button on his pants. “I’m sure something could be arranged.”
He stopped the progress of her hand. “I like to know the cost before I agree to any services.”
She allowed her gaze to follow a path over the clasp of his pants, across the wide width of his chest to his face. A wicked smirk danced about his mouth. “Very wise. You wouldn’t want me to take advantage of you.”
“Or me of you.” He caught her hands on his chest and drew her onto his lap. “If you look into the problems at the mine, you have to do it because you want to and not for any other reason.”
Marohka straddled Stihl’s lap. Her dress rode up the sides of her legs. The center of her heat nestled against the thick bulge in his pants. She ached to have him deep inside her. Thoughts of the mine were no longer an issue. She focused on other things.
“Marohka,” he whispered. His stare revealed his struggle against his own desires. “You need to know what you do or don’t do for the mine has nothing to do with us.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” She lifted her hips. “I still expect to be paid.”
“Oh, I’ll pay.” His hands, which sat at her waist, slid down her legs and caught the hem of her dress. “Just name your price.” His hands moved back up the inside of her thighs, and his eyes glittered with lust.
“I want . . .” Her breath caught in her throat. His thumbs stroked the tender skin between her legs. Passion bloomed.
His hands stilled. “Where’re your underwear?”
“What?”
“Or were you planning on seducing me?” His fingers toyed with her thighs, and his thumbs stroked her sensitive flesh. His dimple flicked beside his mouth.
“I decided to be prepared in case you . . .” She ached, and she let her head fall forward onto his chest.
“So what’s your price?” His lips moved over her face with seductive li
ttle kisses. “Just tell me, and I’ll comply.”
His fingers skimmed the edge of her heat. She couldn’t handle anymore of his teasing and reached between them to yank the button on his pants free. She dug for him, found his thick rod, and tugged it free of his clothing. She slid over his pulsing sex. His fingers continued to tease the juncture where their bodies met.
Losing control, she rode him until her body, mind, and soul screamed with her release. Then she collapsed on top of him. He rolled her onto the couch, unable to let her rest until he found his own release. After all, he wanted to make sure she received her money’s worth.
* * * *
The black marble mountain formed the huge face for the dark savage mouth, which stood open in front of her. The entrance sent chills of apprehension along Marohka’s spine. Her heartbeat increased, and her palms grew sweaty. Pictures flashed in her head of the mine’s walls chomping down on her, crushing her in a rock slide feast. Her father said she had an overactive imagination, but she wouldn’t allow her silly fears to control her actions.
She crunched back and forth on the gravel path in dusty boots to generate some heat in her limbs. The nippy wind escaping from the mine urged her away from the entrance. Dressed in thick layers of clothing, she’d warm up once they started moving. Then, she’d also be able to conquer her fears.
It’s just because you’ve never been in this mine. She shoved her metal hat back on her head and waited for Stihl to activate the torches. There is nothing to be afraid of.
The torch lit, he turned. “You ready?”
She nodded with a smile. He didn’t need to know she dreaded their adventure.
“Most of the miners work out of the north entrance. They’re not currently working in this part of the mine, not with all the cutbacks we’ve made.”
She followed behind him looking at the light gray support beams lining the walls. She focused on their strong support. She noted the reinforced post at each cross section were in good condition with no stress or cracks in the beams. The light color of the metal revealed their age. “How long has the mine been operational?”
Ahead of her, Stihl stopped by a switch and activated the torches lining the wall. She stood a few leg-lengths away.
“The mine has been in my family for the past forty years. This was the original entrance.” He stopped and looked around. She stepped to him, and he clasped her hand. “After a few years, my grandfather opened a second shaft because my mother disliked all the miners hanging around the house.”
Stihl shook his head. A pensive smile curved his lips. “The miners were a little rowdy back then. At least one fight a day broke out. The men not working instigated wild parties in the evenings. Some, you could say, got a little out of control. With colorful words flying and the men’s unruly antics, Mom demanded my grandfather relocate the opening away from the house.”
He laughed. “She wanted to save her children from the unsightly elements of the world, but it didn’t work. My grandfather enjoyed giving her grief, but the vein in this section played out or he wouldn’t have moved it.”
Marohka scoured the walls, searching for any indication of armidiggos in the area. After a few twists and turns, Stihl halted at a fork in the tunnel.
“That section has been closed for awhile. The ore played out.” He pointed to the left then turned to the passage on the right. “We backtracked and found another stratum of ore down there, but it played out as well.”
He led her into the tunnel on the left. “For some reason, I’ve always felt we made a mistake in closing this part of the mine. But my grandfather didn’t agree with me so he started digging a shaft in another section. That’s why we haven’t seen any miners. They’re all in the other area.”
A rocky dirt wall stood in front of them, blocking their way. Stihl stopped. “I thought with your talent, you might be able to tell me if I’m dreaming.”
She freed his hand and examined the small enclosed area. Tiny rocks scattered across the floor. The walls, decorated by dark ribbons from the rain that seeped down into the ground, were thick and unyielding. The dank air lay heavy in her lungs. The walls slid closer.
She drew in a few deep breaths to help her concentrate. The torch in Stihl’s hand failed to light the area, but she knew where to search for the small almost invisible pinholes. Going to one knee, she scanned the base of the wall for the small droppings. She could detect a tiny sound ringing in the distance. Armidiggos were close.
Concentrating on where the noise was coming from, she tried to determine in which direction the Armidiggos where burrowing. A crunch echoed through the tunnel. She shifted her head. The footsteps grew louder on the gravel floor. She turned.
“I think you’d better stand up,” the male voice demanded.
“Tankton, what are you doing?” Stihl said.
A large, broad-shouldered man blocked the tunnel. Her gaze fell to the scope of a very mean looking gun aimed at her chest. The world narrowed down to that weapon.
Each detail rang in Marohka’s head in her defense teacher’s voice. “A four-five-six omomagnum is crafted out of high-quality steel and has a seven-mm barrel with pinpoint ammunition. The bullets disintegrate a person’s internal organs without leaving a mark on their skin.”
The man’s pudgy finger rested on the trigger.
Following the man instructions, she rose to her feet with extra care so as not to alarm him. “Who are you?”
“My brother,” Stihl snapped. “What is this about?”
“Oh, come on, Stihl. Dad says you’re the smart one.” Tankton kept his gun trained on her, but his wild eyes darted between her and Stihl.
“I’d think it’d be obvious. I don’t want you to have control of the mine. At first, I thought it’d be easy enough to just eliminate Marohka, but well . . .” Tankton shrugged, and his gaze shifted to Stihl. Tension filled the area. “Now, it doesn’t matter anymore. Either one of you will do.”
His words cut deep into her heart. To hear these sentiments from someone he loved had to be hard for Stihl.
“Then let Marohka go. If you kill me, you’ll get the mine.” Stihl stepped closer to her.
“I don’t think so.” Tankton shook his head. “You’ve been in the mating chamber for a couple of days now. Chances are Marohka is carrying your child.”
Her hand covered her stomach.
“I don’t want a baby stealing Dad’s heart. He might decide to carry out your wishes for the sake of the child.” The hand holding the gun waved with regret. “No, it’ll be better to snuff both of you out at the same time.”
“Are you going to shoot us?” She worried about the new life growing inside her womb. “Won’t someone notice that we died from gun shot wounds?”
“Oh, she’s clever.” Tankton raised an eyebrow. “What? Do you want to help me plan your death?”
Stunned, she remained quiet.
“No?” Tankton smiled and turned to his brother. “It really is a shame, Stihl. If you’d only been less diligent, I could’ve gotten you out of this arrangement.”
“What do you mean?” Stihl grabbed Marohka’s hand. She held it tightly and shifted closer to his side.
“Who do you think poisoned her at the theater, or caused her alba-ox to take a flying leap off the canyon trail?”
Tankton gave a sneering grin. “Don’t tell me you forgot about my special skill?”
Stihl’s head fell to his chest. She squeezed his hand, and his head lifted. “I should’ve known. You pulled those kinds of stunts when we were kids by making my alba-ox act up.”
Marohka wondered if the man was crazy. “Did you also set fire to the cabin at the Trisar’s mining camp?”
“No, I had someone else do it for me. A good plan too, until Cyd woke up and alerted the miners.” Tankton edged his way back down the tunnel. “But I guess dying in a cave-in is more fitting. You’ll both be buried alive in the mine you so love, Stihl.”
Tankton grimaced at the dirt walls. “I hate
this place, but I think it’s the perfect death for you, Stihl. All I have to do is activate the charges on the supports in the tunnel. And just like that, I’ll be free of both of you.” He showed them the device in his free hand.
Stihl released her hand and started forward. She grabbed his arm. “No, Stihl.”
“Better listen to her. I don’t want to shoot you.” Tankton’s voice cracked. “I didn’t plan for things to turn out like this, but it’s the only way to secure my future.” A flash of regret passed over Tankton’s face.