by Stone, Piper
He pushed, his actions gentle, at least at first.
“Relax and breathe, Kendra,” he ordered.
Oh, how I wanted to say something nasty to him, but I did as I was told, finally squealing when he pushed harder, forcing my muscles to accept the nasty invasion. The plug was one thing. This was ridiculous.
When he patted my bottom, I pushed up from the bed, trying to see what he’d done.
Exhaling, he pressed his hand on the small of my back. “Lie down. This will take a few minutes.”
“A few minutes for what?”
He knelt onto the bed, lowering his head as he shifted the hair from my face. “The warmth of your body will heat the ginger, allowing the juice to seep from the root.”
That sounded horrible, disgusting.
“Just relax, little pet. I have a phone call to make. Then I’ll return.”
I heard the sound of his footsteps, the closing of the bedroom door. I was mortified that he’d leave me alone like this. Moaning, I struggled to twist my head enough to see anything. When I finally managed to notice the almost white end, I pushed my face against the comforter and kicked out my legs. Was this what life would be like around them every day?
After a few seconds, I tried to control my breathing, counting to fifty. Then one hundred.
When I got to five hundred, I had to fight with myself to stay in position. Black roses. All I could see in my mind were black roses.
The color of death.
The color of decay.
Breathe and relax. Breathe and relax.
I began the count all over again. When I reached four hundred, I was ready to rip the damn thing out of my ass.
He finally returned and instantly, I could sense another round of anger had stormed into his system. I was expecting to hear the release of his belt, but there were no sounds.
Except for his heavy breathing.
Then I heard a whooshing sound, but not like from a leather strap. He moved to the side of the bed, allowing me to see what he held in his hand. It looked like a cane of some kind. A cane? I suddenly couldn’t stop shaking.
“This is birch, a cane I requested specifically.”
“Something to add to your collection to use on other women?” I asked, trying to keep the defiance out of my voice.
I failed.
He chuckled, but the sound was hollow. “There have been no other women for years, Kendra, at least not in the way we’re sharing. I had the implement in mind for you and you alone. Now, I’m going to give you thirty strokes, Kendra. I don’t want to have to start over, so stay in position.”
I fisted my hands, unable to take anything but shallow breaths.
The snap of his wrist seemed more pronounced, the whooshing sound something I would never forget. When he brought the cane down, striking in the middle of my bottom, my body didn’t hesitate to react this time. The anguish was instantaneous, forcing me to clench my buttocks. The moment I did, I threw back my head and cried.
“Fuck. Fuck!”
“Watch your mouth, young lady. The ginger intensifies the spanking. Given the fact you put yourself in danger, this round of punishment needed to be more severe.”
The way he issued the statement was almost instructional. My God, I couldn’t breathe, my entire bottom on fire and he was lecturing me. I clamped my hands around the bedding, realizing that I had to stay relaxed.
He delivered four strikes in a row, one coming after the other.
“Oh. Oh…” I twisted my head back and forth, tugging on the bedding. The pain was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before from both the cane as well as the ginger.
When he caressed my already aching bottom, I bit my lip to keep from lashing out.
“You’re doing very well,” he said oh-so quietly.
Then he began again, the snap of his wrist the only thing I could concentrate on. I found it impossible to stay in position, shifting back and forth with enough force I tumbled off the pillows. He sighed deeply before shifting me back into position, tapping my bottom twice.
Yeah, I got it. I’d fucked up.
I buried my face in the comforter, unable to stop a few tears as the spanking continued. There was no way to describe the agony, but when he stopped to caress me a second time, allowing his fingers to slid to my exposed pussy lips, the moan I issued was for an entirely different reason. I was aroused, my nipples aching and my pussy clenching, the subtle move causing another wave of stinging sensations.
“You’re very wet,” he whispered before dipping his fingers past my swollen folds.
“Mmm…” Before I realized it, I was bucking my hips, wanting nothing more than for him to drive his cock inside.
But that wasn’t going to happen, at least for now.
He began again, one crack coming after another. I’d already lost count, had no idea if I was moaning from the pain or some crazy round of pleasure. Unable to focus, I closed my eyes and did everything I could to stay in place, but when I kicked out again, he snapped the cane across my upper thighs.
“Oh!” I began to sob, the sound echoing in my ears. “I’ll obey… I just…”
Whether or not he’d finished his task, I was aware that he’d eased onto the bed, gathering me into his arms. It was so unexpected that I clung to him, trying to catch my breath as the tears continued to fall.
“You did very well. Just breathe for me, Kendra.”
It felt so good in his strong arms, the heat of his body. The raggedness of his breathing was the first indication that he was as turned on as I was, his hard cock the second. I eased my hand over his groin, caressing the same way he was kneading my arm.
After a few seconds, he let out a single moan before guiding me back onto my stomach. “Soon, baby girl. Soon.”
“No more!” My exclamation was more like a wail. I hated myself because of it.
“I’m not going to give you anymore, Kendra.” He removed the ginger, walking into the bathroom as he’d done before. I could hear him cabinet doors opening and when he returned, he had a bottle in his hand. “You’re going to bruise. I’ll try and make you more comfortable.”
He sat down, pouring some kind of cream into his hand and very gently he applied it, rolling his fingers over my heated bottom with the care and tenderness of someone who actually gave a damn. After a few seconds, the stinging ceased, allowing me to control my breathing.
His actions continued for another minute and when he rose from the bed, there were so many things I wanted to say to him. As he placed the bottle of lotion on the dresser, he hesitated. “Try and get some rest. We’ll be leaving early in the morning.”
“Are you coming back?” My question seemed to surprise both of us.
“Later. I need to know what we’re going to face when we return.”
“And what about me?”
Sebastian turned to face me, staring down with all the angst that I’d felt all day. “I can’t let anything happen to you. You are a target and whether or not you like it, we’re the only ones who can keep you safe.”
“You really think Gabriel is coming after you?”
“Us and yes. It’s just a matter of time.” He walked toward the door, stopping before he reached for the handle. “You might not believe that I care about you, but I do. I’d like to be your savior, the hero you’ve likely been searching for your entire life, but I’m a flawed man, broken to the point I’m not good for anyone. However, I’ve accepted that I care about you deeply and always will.”
As he walked out, the heaviness of his words sent a chill through me. He’d made the decision to remain alone and lonely for the rest of his life.
I buried my face into the pillow, fighting another round of tears. There was no sense in becoming emotional. There was no reason to fall into the same sadness.
With the exception of one.
I was falling in love with him, with all three of them.
Chapter 14
Sebastian
Walking away had
been like shoving a dagger into my heart. It had ripped away a part of me, forcing me to see what kind of man I’d become. It wasn’t simply about being ruthless or a cold and calculating businessman any longer. I’d turned into a carbon copy of my father, unable to care for anyone, including myself. I owed her more than a broken man.
Hearing her sobs had been far too emotional. While I stood firm behind my belief that she needed a lesson for her bad behavior, it seemed I’d broken some barrier that I’d never intended to cross.
I’d fallen hard for the girl.
This wasn’t just about a weakness. The way I felt about her was more intense, powerful in a way that I couldn’t control. There was no science behind my emotions, no way to rationalize my feelings. I was overwhelmed by them, controlled by them.
I needed them in order to survive.
As I stood outside, remaining under the overhang, the sound of the waves crashing and the rumbles of thunder matched the way my body responded to hers. I couldn’t get enough of her. I was unable to process my needs along with keeping her safe. The two didn’t mix. I had to keep my edge or Gabriel would get the best of us.
After at least five minutes, I finally walked back into the salon. The looks that both men gave me were telling enough. They remained concerned I would fuck things up. That was certainly my record, taking matters into my own hands, refusing to back down. What we were dealing with was something else entirely.
“You left her alone?” Dax asked, more demanding than even before.
“We need to find answers and she needs time to reflect.” I realized my answer sounded ridiculous, at least the second half. She was just as confused as she’d been before and I couldn’t blame her. I’d punished her instead of comforting her, but I’d meant what I’d told her. I would protect her with my life.
No matter the consequences.
“Jesus,” he sputtered before walking toward the bar and making a drink.
Darkness had settled in, rain pelting down over the yacht, lightning in the distance.
“What the hell have we gotten on information about Mr. Laurent?”
Chase looked up from one of the onboard laptops. “He’s just as much of a ghost as I’d expected, but I have feelers out. Sadly, I’ve lost the connection with this damn storm rolling in.”
I figured as much. Even the phone reception was shit. We were sitting in the middle of the ocean with no way to gather additional information. That didn’t sit well with me at all. I had found out that there were vicious rumors regarding Extreme, some members of various business sights smelling blood in the water. That wouldn’t bode well for our stocks.
“From what little I managed to find, Richard Tredegar has been keeping a low profile,” Dax added. “He hasn’t been seen, even by his employees, since we left.”
Of course he was in hiding, fearful of what we would do.
“I’m curious. How much did your father owe to this unknown individual when he died?” Chase asked as he moved away from the computer, pouring a drink for himself.
“Does it matter?” There was perhaps one man who could find out if Kendra’s dreams were real.
“I can’t imagine that Mr. Laurent would go to all this trouble if the amount is paltry.”
He had a good point. “I don’t know the exact amount. That was certainly not discovered by any member of law enforcement and even the information I found in my father’s things didn’t go into detail, but in piecing together several files, my belief is somewhere around a half million dollars.”
“Whoa. That’s enough to piss me off,” Dax said, snorting.
“Maybe so, but this has more of a personal feel to it,” Chase added.
“Yeah, it does.” There was no other reasonable response. “Did you manage to get through to your contact, Dax?” We were lucky that one of his other friends from college had been hired by the US Marshal Service. I was beginning to believe I’d been right about my first assumption with regard to Kendra’s parents.
“I managed to get in a call, but it’s going to take some time and I’m not talking hours. I had to call in every favor to get him to agree.”
“Well, it’s necessary. We need to know what we’re dealing with.”
“A lot of ifs to consider.” Dax cocked his head.
“And ones that are necessary to weed through.” I hated the waiting game. However, our hands were mostly tied until we returned to the States.
Chase walked toward me, a drink in his hand. “Is Kendra all right?”
“As okay as she can be given the circumstances.” Maybe a drink was in order. “The jet will be operational in the morning.”
“Did Jean-Paul confirm it had been tampered with?”
I nodded as I poured a glass of bourbon. The rumble of thunder churned deep in my gut. Morning couldn’t get here fast enough. “Someone knew what they were doing. The instruments would have worked perfectly fine during takeoff.”
“Any idea who’s responsible?” Chase asked.
I took a solid gulp before answering. “Take a guess whose name appeared on the records?”
“Gabriel Laurent.” Dax shook his head.
“Okay, why would the asshole be so brazen?” Chase laughed softly.
“To send another warning, why else?” I moved away from the bar and toward the window, trying to take my mind off Kendra. It was nearly impossible. “To let us know nothing was going to stop him.”
“This asshole needs to be found.” Chase flanked my side. “Look, I can tell how much this is bothering you. My guess is you wanted to get away because of the anniversary of your father’s death.”
“I’m not sure that matters any longer.” But it did more than I wanted to admit.
“Don’t give me that, Sebastian. You can’t get over what happened all those years ago and it’s entirely understandable. However, at some point you’re going to have to let it go.”
While I knew Chase was attempting to comfort me, there was a snowball’s chance in hell that was going to happen any time soon. “One day, but only after I crucify Mr. Laurent.”
Chase sighed but remained quiet.
“Are we going to keep her?” Dax asked. The reverence in his voice was unmistakable.
I took a deep breath, looking from one to the other. The question was more difficult than I wanted to believe. I walked toward the window, staring out at the ocean. “She’s managed to get inside all of us. You both know that. I’ve never wanted another woman the way I want Kendra, and not just because of our electric chemistry.” Electric? The four of us were combustible; combustible and more passionate than I could have ever imagined.
“Agreed. She’s brought life into our black and white world,” Chase said, half laughing. “But the thought of being together, all of us is still daunting.”
“Should I remind you that she’s not a thing, a possession that we can just order to stay with us?” Dax’s tone was filled with audacity. “That’s not who we are. Are we?”
Another laugh pushed up from my gut. “If only it were that easy.”
“It’s going to need to be her choice.” This time, Dax was being definitive for all three of us.
“Yeah, you’re right.” I felt numb. Not because we were being threatened.
Because I didn’t want to lose her.
* * *
Kendra
Exhaustion had settled in, the lack of sleep during the last few days catching up with me. As I stood in the bathroom, holding the plug in my hand, I stared at the lubricant and grimaced. The last thing I wanted to do was wear the damn thing, but there was an entirely different part of me that wanted nothing more than to obey.
Why?
What had changed in me in such a short period of time? Sighing, I leaned against the counter, swinging my head and taking several deep breaths. After a few seconds, I opened the small vial, squeezing a dollop of the gooey stuff onto my fingers. Just applying the slick substance to the red rubber made me queasy all over again. My hands were shaki
ng as I rubbed the lubricant over the piece, almost dropping it twice.
There was no graceful way of sticking the damn thing inside my bottom. As I twisted around, studying a portion of my buttocks in the mirror, I wasn’t shock by the redness covering both cheeks. In fact, the sight was stimulating, sending tingles into every section of my body.
“What are you thinking?” Saying the words out loud me laugh, likely out of nervousness.
I took a deep breath before bending over, maneuvering my hand to try to stick the plug inside.
My hands were shaking too badly.
“Let me help you.”
I jumped, the surprise and horror of someone catching me providing another round of humiliation. Jerking up, I whimpered from seeing the man in front of me. Dax stood like he had before, his arms and legs crossed, an almost boyish grin on his face.
“I’m… It’s just…” My God. I couldn’t finish the damn sentence. What was wrong with me?
“It’s okay, Kendra. I can help you.” He walked closer, taking the plug out of my hand. “Just lean over the counter.”
“You’ve done this before?”
He chuckled. “Not in several years.”
“You haven’t shared in years. Do you have a girlfriend?”
Another chuckle erupted from his mouth although the glimmer in his eyes dimmed. He took his time, slowly pushing the plug inside, shaking his head as he studied my buttocks. “There’s been no time and not much desire. I thought there was someone special once, but I was wrong. Now, take a deep breath.”
I did as I was told, fighting the urge to bolt from the bathroom. I wasn’t surprised at his gentleness, his persona so entirely different than the others. I’d wondered more than once how they’d even become friends.
A flash of pain quickly morphed into a dull ache as my muscles accepted, followed by a rush of excitement that I wanted to hate but I couldn’t.