by Billi Jean
“This bastard touched you?”
She winced and hugged her arms around herself. “Yes, he—” She broke off again, amazed at how hard this was.
“Mandy? You gotta be strong now. You gotta tell me everything.”
Everything. She looked at his hard expression and knew, simply knew that she couldn’t do that. Not everything, but she finally nodded.
“How long has he been after you?”
“Years.” She couldn’t meet his eyes when she said it, afraid of what she’d see. Mac couldn’t know when it had started.
“Is he a stalker?”
“I shouldn’t have come,” she whispered over his words
He stopped halfway to her. She watched him reach behind his back and pull a gun out that he set down on the table before he pulled her into his arms. He’d been armed the entire time. She hadn’t known.
“Sugar, you should have come to me right away. Even when you thought I was a cheating jerk, you should—”
“Mac, don’t. Just please, I don’t want to talk about this right now. Right now we should go somewhere safe.”
“You are safe, here. With me, you’re safe.”
She nodded against his chest, feeling the steady, strong beat of his heart against her cheek. His arms were so strong, so hard with muscles, but he held her carefully, so tenderly she wanted to cry.
“We do need to go, though. I’ll call the guys, we need the room swept, but I’ll get us somewhere safe, sugar. Don’t sound so scared, I’m right here, huh?”
She knew he was trying to ease her with humour, but the fear felt like it was strangling her. She’d never forgive herself if Mac was killed. Her attacker could do it too. He’d once called her and described exactly what she’d worn to work—even the short rain storm she’d been soaked in—then told her he’d watched her through his scope. She knew he could have killed her and had often wondered why he hadn’t.
“Mac, he’s dangerous. I shouldn’t have come here.”
“Mandy,” he breathed her name against her neck. Tears threatened to spill over at how gentle he was being. “You need to explain this to me, so I can protect you. Tell me what you mean, you shouldn’t have come. He followed you from Africa?”
“Mac, he warned me he’d kill me, kill me silently if he discovered I told anyone, anyone.”
“Son of a bitch,” he groaned into her hair and hugged her tighter. He simply held her for a wonderful minute. Long enough for the chill wrapping around her heart to ease. “Mandy, talk to me. Tell me when this started. Recently? When?”
He released her, tipped her head up, staring down at her silently until she reached up, and touched the scar along his jaw.
“It’s been going on for a while—”
“Son of a bitch,” he repeated and released her. He immediately began to pace the room like some big, caged tiger. Unsure how to ease his anger, she leant back against the wall, wrapping her arms around her middle, and simply waited for more questions.
“This? This is why you left?”
“Yeah, this is why I left.”
“Mandy, I don’t get it. I don’t fucking get it. You and Lacey. What is it with you two? What do you think we do? Me, Ace, Eagle? Dare? What is it you think we do?”
She frowned at him, more confused by him than ever. “You’re heroes, Mac, but even heroes can die.”
“I’m a damn killing machine. I kill for a living, Mandy. No cowardly rapist is going to kill me, Mandy.”
He got right in her face, plastering her back against the wall with his body and both of his hands near her head.
“He didn’t rape me.”
Mac eyed her for a long time, clearly not accepting what she’d said at all. She sucked at lying, but she’d only glossed it over a bit. He’d not raped her, exactly.
“Mandy, don’t lie to me. If he didn’t rape you, he did something. I need the truth. I can only protect you with all the facts, baby. All of it. I do this shit for a living, remember?”
“I know, but you can die too, it’s easy. Real easy. Just a shot from a higher place, right? And you’re gone. I wouldn’t, couldn’t chance that. I’m not willing to chance it now either.” He crowded closer, looking more upset by the minute at her. What did he want? This was why she’d left, yes, this was why. “Mac, step back. I’m tired and I’m not in the mood for this macho act.”
“I know you’re tired. So am I. I’m tired of guessing. I’m tired of being unsure what to do with you. Tired of walking on eggshells, Mandy. Of you dishing this shit out slowly. We’re doing this my way from now on. You have ten seconds to tell me what happened or I spank it out of you.” He pressed his erection against her slowly, letting her know how much that idea turned him on.
She gasped and shoved against his chest with her palms. “Mac! Stop being a jerk. Is this how you talk to someone you care about?”
“One…”
She let her head fall back against the wall and snapped her lips closed. If he wanted to bully her, he was in for some surprises. She didn’t answer to threats. She never had, and he more than anyone should know that.
You did for that sick bastard. You ran when he threatened Mac.
“Two,” Mac growled right into her ear.
She pushed at him, but he didn’t even move a centimetre. “I’m not even slightly amused. Stop.”
“Three.”
He chuckled when she tried shoving harder and had the nerve to nip at her throat. “Four.”
“This kind of intimidation might work better if a spanking didn’t sound like fun, Mac.”
His eyes seemed to pin her in place easier than his bigger, harder body pressing tightly to hers. “Oh, baby, I want to spank that sweet ass you’ve been swinging around in that damn bikini. Five—”
“What? There were plenty of other women there for you—”
“Sugar, there has never been an ass I want more than yours. And if you think that stupid shit, brat, you deserve a spanking that doesn’t include fun. Six, seven—”
She tried to duck under his arms but he caught her immediately so his front was to her back. The full, hard length of his erection shoved against her butt teased her in so many ways she wanted to hit him. Did he know how many times she’d fantasised about him making love to her this way, from behind, his hard cock so tight and thick that he impaled her? Mac had been amazing in her fantasies—so turned on his penis had felt like velvet-covered steel. Now he used this—something she’d dreamt of—against her and called her a brat? She pulled away and around to face him again.
“Oh, like you ever were into me. I always trailed you. Your little lost puppy. You had your share of women, don’t lie!”
“That’s sealed it, you’re going to learn you’re the only fuckin’ woman I’ve ever wanted, but you’re not listening, baby. Eight, nine—”
She buried her face against his T-shirt and cried. It was just too hard, him being here, the nutcase now here, and Mac demanding things of her she just didn’t want to tell him. If she described the attack, he’d want to know where it had happened, what had been said, what had been done, everything. She couldn’t tell him everything. She just couldn’t.
“Ah, shit, sugar. I won’t spank you if you’re that upset. It wasn’t going to hurt anyhow.” He sounded panicked but still amused.
“Mac!” she wailed his name on a sob. “Stop teasing me and acting like a jerk. This is serious.”
He pulled her tighter to his chest and ran his hand over her hair. “Shh, baby, shh, I am a jerk.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You’re not. You’re just trying to be.”
“Tell me when.”
She exhaled heavily into his chest and relaxed against his bigger, stronger body. He stayed silent, for once letting her have time. Of all the questions he could have started with, this one wasn’t the one she wanted to answer, but she sensed he was shying away from asking for more details.
His phone buzzed, startling her, but he didn’t budge.
<
br /> “I’m not getting that until you talk.”
“You’re so bossy.”
He tipped her head up with his finger and brushed her tears off. “So many tears. Baby, talk to me. I can’t protect you if I don’t know—”
“All right. I was attacked right before I left.” She watched him closely, the worry that he’d think less of her suddenly hitting her hard. Before she could completely freak, he leant forward and leaned his forehead against hers.
“Mandy, why—”
“I didn’t tell you because I couldn’t, okay?"
She watched his eyes darken, but for once he didn’t argue. Instead he caressed her arm and sighed heavily.
“Mac, I wasn’t raped. I wasn’t.”
He jerked back and glared at her for that. Not exactly the reaction she’d expected.
"Baby, do you think you being attacked but not raped is easier for me to hear? You were alone, unprotected, and someone hurt you."
She kissed him, cutting his words off in mid-rant. She felt him stiffen, then slowly, so slowly, he pulled her tighter, and took her mouth in a kiss that left little doubt what he still wanted her.
Relief expanded in her chest so badly she felt like she might suffocate. “Mac, kiss me harder,” she whispered, holding back the tears that threatened as soon as he pulled her in tighter and deepened their kiss. He caressed his big hands over every inch of her he could reach and, without consciously thinking about it, she rubbed back into him. He groaned into their kiss and cupped her breast, rubbing her tight nipple with his fingers. She moaned, remembering how she’d loved his lips sucking on her nipples when he’d finally filled her with his hard body.
He pushed her sundress up until she felt him cup her ass with both hands. He groaned as soon as he did.
“Damn, you’re killing me, sugar.” He brushed his fingers over her hip then lightly over her pussy and stole her breath away. “You in no panties. Damn, baby, you’re so damn soft and sweet I’m close to coming just touching you again after so long.”
“Mac.” She dug her fingers into his shoulders, feeling the muscles flexing under her hands before she skimmed her palms over his neck and into his hair. The silky strands fascinated her but she wanted more, more of him, more of his kisses. She tugged his head down and took his eager lips. He kissed her like he never wanted to let her go.
With a rough groan, he found her clit with his fingers and broke the kiss. “Fuck, you’re bare. Son of a bitch, baby, I’m going to come in my damn shorts. If I do, I swear, I’m spanking you.”
“Mac!” She shivered at the words, tingling all over.
“Come for me, sugar. Give it to me.”
“Mac, oh, Mac!” She was wet, so close to coming her thighs trembled. Her breath left on a gasp when he dug his big erection against her hip as he slipped a thick finger inside her. “Oh, God, yes, Mac, more.”
“Mine, baby, never again will someone touch what’s mine,” he growled in her ear. She sobbed his name again, and rubbed her face against his jaw. “Never going to let anyone harm you again, Mandy. Come for me, sugar. Give it up.”
“Mac, oh, God, you need… I need.”
“Take it, baby, come for me.” He added another finger and rotated his grip on her so his palm pressed into her clit. The shot of pleasure that speared up from where he held her was so intense she couldn’t move. She simply hovered there, so close to coming she didn’t dare breath. He started fucking her with his fingers and when he did, she ripped at the buttons of his jeans and pulled his erection free.
Mac shoved his hips forward groaning heavily into her mouth when she stroked him firmly, just the way he’d showed her he liked it.
“Yeah, yeah, sugar, give it to me. Come on, baby, come on.”
His erection spilled warm, silky pre-cum adding to the slip and slide of his velvety flesh thrusting between her hands. Another long shiver raced over her skin as she realised he was mimicking the same movements with his big fingers. Her pussy tightened around him as her climax hung just out of reach.
“Yeah, there, Mandy.” He gripped her neck lightly and tilted her head to slide his tongue along hers in a mockery of sex. That was all it took. She spun out of control. The orgasm was so intense she would have fallen if he’d not been holding her pressed to the wall. Almost as soon as she began to shudder in pleasure, Mac called out her name as his big erection pulsed. Seconds later she felt his hot cum spill over her hands and wet her dress. She sobbed when he broke off the kiss to groan her name repeatedly.
Seconds, minutes, hours later the room stopped spinning. She was still shaky and trembling, but Mac met her eyes with such an intensely sexual look, she knew they’d barely scratched the surface of what he wanted. He slowly eased up and slid his fingers free with a low groan. As she watched him, he lifted his hand and slowly sucked each digit.
She blinked, nearly coming all over again from how sexy that was.
“Baby, you drive me nuts,” he groaned and took her mouth. She met him head on, kissing him so deeply she could taste herself on his lips. She stroked his cock, making the flesh tighten to that intense hardness she wanted. He slowly eased back and gradually pulled away, watching her closely, as if she might regret what they’d done.
“You’re so big, Mac.”
He snorted and shook his head. “I made a mess all over you, sugar.”
“I don’t mind,” she told him shyly. She’d loved it.
“Yeah, sure you weren’t just avoiding a spanking?”
She laughed and kissed him several times all over his grinning face. Her heart felt full, so at peace she could barely keep back the tears.
A pounding on the door had him hauling her up tight and turning them to the wall. They were both breathless but she knew the little time he’d given her was at an end.
“You gotta be strong, baby. Okay?”
She nodded against his chest and he cupped the back of her head.
“Mac? Mandy? You two in there?” Ace called.
“Mandy, you have to trust me now. Do what I say. Without questions, okay? We’re going to have to leave this party.”
She closed her eyes and exhaled heavily. “I trust you.”
He ducked his head and captured her lips quickly. He gave her a fierce look as he pulled away. “Damn, that’s good to hear. Now go clean up, put on something else, and come back out. I’ll inform the guys. Then you need to tell me what happened.”
She glanced at the door once, then up at him, seeing only the same intense expression he’d worn before. “Okay.”
“Good, sugar. Damn, I messed up your pretty dress.” He grimaced at the big wet stains but she smiled up at him and cupped his face with her hand.
“Guess you’ll have to buy me a new one, huh?”
His expression eased, and he grinned down at her. “Yeah, one with a back, too,” he said.
Chapter Nine
Ace, Dare and Eagle all filed in with Ace shooting him a calculating look as he passed. “Mandy in here?”
“Fuck me, what is this?” Eagle called. Daren swore from where he stood looking over Eagle’s shoulder.
Ace glanced at the note in Eagle’s hand for a second before he sat on the bed. “Where?”
Mac nodded to the wall separating their rooms. “In her room.”
Ace scanned the wall like he could see through it. Probably could. Ace was one hell of a strategist. “When?”
“Just now. Maid said a guy wanted in to leave a note, but she didn’t see him.”
Dare snorted. “No fucking doubt she didn’t see him, or she’d be dead, huh?”
Mac froze and they all stared at him. “Shit, she went back down. I didn’t—”
“Dare, go check on it,” Ace said, “Eagle get a crew in there. Check the place. Mac, you need to get your head on straight, man. What else?”
“A knife. Six inch, throwing dagger. He stabbed the bed with it. He’s made contact, but she claims he didn’t rape her.”
Ace whistled low and
Daren swore again. Eagle looked ready to kill someone.
“She claims. What do you mean by that, man?” Dare asked.
Mac shot him a look and saw how tight Dare was holding it together. Mandy had always been everyone’s little girl, like a little sister to these guys. Only she wasn’t little any longer, and instead of them watching out for her, they’d all let her down. Him included.
“She said he attacked her, but didn’t rape her. Doesn’t add up. If he didn’t rape her, he did something to her.”
“Fuck,” Eagle swore, rubbing both of his hands over his face and back over his blond high and tight. “Look, Mac, if the sick shit is on her this quick, it doesn’t matter if he raped her or not, get it? She’s scared, has to be, and you need to just give her time, let her tell you what the bastard did, but in her own time.”
Mac nodded. He got that. But not knowing what she went through was eating him up.
“This why she left?” Ace asked.
“Might be more to it,” Mac said, taking the chair opposite to Ace. “I have to talk to her alone.”
Ace nodded. “Think she wants Lacey here?”
Mac thought about it, but shook his head. Lacey had no idea about this. If she had, she would have said earlier, much earlier. If Mandy wanted to talk to Lacey she could, but, for now, he wanted her here, safe. “I think she’s good here.”
“Look we should smoke the guy out, but with the cartel out—and yeah, they’re out—we can’t stay here. All of us, here? Field day,” Daren said.
“Yeah, the shit’s hitting the fan for sure, boys,” Eagle grumbled. “We’ll check on the maid and the room. Stay tight.”
“Watch your six, man,” Dare murmured, squeezing his shoulder when he passed. “And our little girl, ‘kay?”
Mac nodded, watching Eagle reach the door and pull it open, Dare a step behind him. The blast detonating down the hall blew both men back into the room along with half the hallway. Mac flew backwards taking the chair with him so they both hit the wall first then crashed to the floor.
Next to him, he watched Ace shake his head to clear it and narrow his eyes at the destruction. That look Mac knew meant death to whoever had done this come down on Ace’s expression. Mac nodded through the ringing in his ears.