Breaking the Bad Boy

by Vanessa Lennox

  “Behind the fifth car on the left and the fourth on the right,” Winston said quietly.

  “Don’t forget the one under the broken light straight ahead,” Buck said and Winston laughed quietly.

  “I’m getting old.”

  “Okay, keep Joss out of it, Granddad,” Buck said. “She has the keys to the Jeep, but I’d rather you both just stayed here.” He kissed Joss briefly and powerfully on the mouth and turned and walked to the right. The closest guy would be the most eager, the one who manhandled his Duchess. He’d make short work of him and then look to see if the others wanted to come out and play.

  Buck started into an easy lope, and slowed down at the last second so the guy who was hiding behind the car couldn’t predict when Buck would be there. He popped out too soon, and Buck stepped back smoothly, away from his slow swing. Kids didn’t know how to fight anymore, he thought, too many computer games, not enough social interaction. It was a shame, he thought fleetingly.

  The guy righted himself and took another swing. Buck sidestepped it and slammed his fist into the kid’s gut, thinking he didn’t want a sore hand on his wedding day, in three days time.

  “Your brutish fingers probably bruised her beautiful skin, and for that I should make you bleed. But I’m getting married in a few days, and I’m feeling magnanimous,” he said to the guy who was now doubled over. Buck hit him on the back and he went to his knees with a grunt of pain. In a graceful motion Buck turned and gave a quick look at the one friend who was running at him. The third guy was thinking better of joining the fun. Buck was okay with that.

  “Your turn,” he said to the second guy with a wave of his hand. “You didn’t touch her, but you egged your friend on, and then you thought you’d have a little amusement with me. Well, son, here I am. Have at me, I’m just a man.” The second guy hesitated, but decided that Buck was, indeed, just a man, and he roared an epithet and charged. Buck shifted slightly and the guy ended up face down into the hood of a car, stunning himself and setting off the car alarm. Buck looked at the third guy, but only saw his back disappearing quickly around the corner. He turned to the first guy who was still catching his breath on the pavement.

  “Are we done here?” Buck asked the first guy. He nodded miserably. “So we’ll just go home, right after you apologize to the lady,” Buck said.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am,” he slurred.

  Buck looked up at Joss. “Good enough, Duchess?”

  “Yes,” she walked over and bent down to the man. “Are you all right? Do you need a doctor?” He shook his head.

  “No ma’am,” he said. “I’m good.” She looked at him closely and then nodded.

  “Okay,” she said and stood up.

  “Hey,” he said. Joss looked at him. “I really am sorry.”

  “I know,” she said and walked to the other guy. She could see his pulse in his neck, so she didn’t have to touch it. The guy started groaning, coming to. Joss didn’t want to get too close. “Are you all right?” She asked him.

  “What the fuck?” The second guy said as he struggled to get off the car. The first guy recovered enough to hobble over to them watching Buck as if he were a wild animal.

  “Come on, dude, let’s go,” he helped his friend up and together they climbed into a sports car and drove away. Joss saw Winston bend to put something shiny in his boot.

  Miri and Clint came out of the restaurant with their kids and saw them standing there and heard the car alarm. “Why are you still here?” Miri asked.

  “Oh, here are the keys, I did have them after all,” Joss said holding up the offending keys. “See you at the house.” They walked to the Jeep and she tossed the keys to Buck and climbed into the Jeep.

  They said very little on the way to the Rez, Joss thought it was just what they did. Buck reached over and took her hand.

  “After I beat people you’re not supposed to ask them if they’re okay, Duchess, it takes the sting out of it for them,” he said. She thought she heard Winston laugh softly behind her.

  “I was hoping to take the sting out of it. Violence perpetuates violence, and I didn’t want those guys looking for the next Indian slash White couple to torment as soon as their bruises heal, a couple that couldn’t defend themselves quite so… spectacularly.”

  “You are very wise, Granddaughter, are you sure you are not Navajo?” Winston said.

  “I’m pretty sure I’m mostly Viking,” she said. “I’m not sure they were known for their compassion.” She turned in her seat to face him. “Will you bring your girlfriend to my wedding? I would love to meet her.” Buck coughed and Winston looked at her with a shocked expression.

  “How?”

  “There are no secrets on the Reservation, Granddad,” she said and turned back around.

  “Duke has, indeed, found his Duchess; she is your equal in every way. Stop up here, I will walk the rest of the way home, I think. I have much to think about.”

  “I can drop you off at her door if you like, Granddad,” Buck said with a grin.

  “I believe I would like the walk; she’s not far,” he said and Buck stopped the Jeep. “And you need to clear the air. Goodnight children.”

  Buck watched Winston walk away from the Jeep and turned to face the woman he loved.

  “I’ve freaked you out,” he said mildly.

  He saw her nod slightly in the light from the dash. “You were just so cruelly efficient,” she said quietly. “And you were so happy.” He chuckled softly and she looked at him confused. “And it was surprisingly erotic.” He had moved quickly and effortlessly with sinuous brutality, which both shocked and aroused her.

  “I will never hurt you, Duchess, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” he said.

  “Oh, I know, I know you won’t, I hadn’t even considered that,” she said.

  “What then?”

  “I’m unaccustomed to violence, I guess, and it seems to follow us. I just want to be done with it,” she said. “Now I sound petulant, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be, it’s perfectly understandable.” Buck climbed out of the car and walked around to her door and opened it. He took her hand and helped her out and then he climbed into her seat. He smiled at her and hauled her up into his lap, holding her and breathing her in. “I love you, Joss; I have to keep you safe. If that means thumping a couple of horny college kids periodically, so be it.” Joss huffed out a small laugh and Buck grinned at her. “Aren’t you, at the very least, happy I enjoy my work?”

  She kissed him. His hand went to her hair and he ran his long fingers through it as he explored her mouth with his own. A thrill ran through both of them, it was elemental and overwhelming. He pulled away from her and put his forehead to hers. “Erotic, huh?”

  “Oh God, yes, terribly erotic,” she whispered.

  “I’m going to embarrass Winston in a minute here; you drive me crazy, Duchess. Let’s go to bed, I need to hold you; have you naked against me.”

  “I’m yours. I am forever yours.”

  ***

  Joss woke again to giggling, but this time Buck was not in bed with her. Three very excited children were on the bed grinning at her.

  “Good morning, Auntie,” John said.

  “Good morning, guys,” she said leaning back on the head board.

  Buck walked in looking gorgeous with a cup of coffee for her. She smiled up at him and it took his breath away.

  “Scoot over, Graham, that’s my woman you’re monopolizing,” he said and his nephew climbed over her to her other side. Buck sat on the bed with his long legs up on the counterpane. He leaned over and kissed her. “Good morning, beautiful.” She reached for her coffee and he smiled as she gulped it down.

  “We decided to show you how to shoot a bow, Auntie,” Emma said.

  “Great, I’d love that. What a good idea,” she turned to Buck. “You probably already know how, huh?” He grinned at her.

  “Um, Navajo,” he said pointing to his chest and they both laughed. “I’ve
done it a time or two, but I think Eddie’s the expert. He said he’d love to show you,” he said rolling his eyes.

  “What?” Joss asked.

  “Nothing, Duchess,” he leaned over and kissed her again.

  “If you guys will give me two minutes, I’m going to get dressed and go for a run. How much time do you have?” She asked Emma.

  “About eleven minutes,” she said precisely.

  “Out then, we’ll come out in a bit,” Buck said and the kids scrambled off the bed. “I better go, too, or you’ll never get out of here.” He stood and went out with the kids.

  Two minutes later Joss was in her running clothes holding her sneakers and an empty mug. The kids surrounded her.

  “Okay, when are you home from school today, so we can get started on the archery lesson?” Joss asked the kids.

  “Three thirty. Uncle Eddie!” Emma shouted into the kitchen. Eddie’s head popped out of the kitchen and he smiled broadly and the rest of him came out.

  “Hey, Joss,” he said. “So, you want to learn how to shoot a bow?”

  “Yes, and by all accounts you’re the man to teach me,” she said pulling on a shoe.

  “All accounts? Even Duke?” He turned and Buck came out of the kitchen next. He simply nodded at Eddie. Joss pulled her other shoe on and Buck leaned against the door jamb watching her. “I can be here by three thirty.”

  “No you can’t,” Clint said looking nervous.

  “Yes I can,” Eddie said.

  Joss wondered what was going on between them and looked at Buck who winked at her. She stood and picked up her coffee cup. “No pressure, Eddie, if you have something else to do.”

  “Two minutes, kids,” Miri said coming into the room and looking around. “What?” She looked at Clint who looked a little gray in the face. She touched his neck to feel for a fever, but there was none. She turned to Buck.

  “Clint’s afraid I’m going to hurt Eddie when he makes his move on Joss,” he said. Joss’s mouth fell open, but no one else seemed surprised.

  “Time to go, kids,” Miri said and herded them out of the house to the car. Joss looked at Eddie and he smiled shyly at her.

  “I’ll just go for a run then,” she said and handed Buck her coffee cup and walked out the door and began her run. She sure as hell didn’t want to remain in the testosterone laden house with the three of them. Buck wouldn’t hurt him; Eddie hadn’t so much as brushed up against her. He was getting as bad as Brent.

  Brent was showing up tomorrow, she thought excitedly. And then she was getting married the next day and then leaving for their honeymoon. Buck hadn’t told her where they were going on their honeymoon; only that she didn’t need to pack anything but her birth control. Clearly he didn’t anticipate leaving the hotel room much, and she was okay with that.

  A car slowed behind her and went at her pace for half a block, but when another car came it passed her at a good clip. She wondered if people in Flagstaff ever went running if the drivers didn’t know how to deal with them, but then she saw another runner and her mind wandered again.

  Once Buck showed back up she didn’t have any space in her brain for anything but him. The closing of the Durer exhibit took up a few brain cells, she thought, but thinking of the museum just made her think of Peter. Peter hadn’t really helped her merely out of the goodness of his heart. He made it quite clear that he wanted to try with her, even before she went to Montana, but she had put him off. She was not the woman for Peter. She couldn’t see Peter dealing with the three college kids in a restaurant parking lot, and as brutal as Buck was she had to admit it was a tremendous spike to her libido watching him get all Jason Statham on their asses. She really loved the bad boy in him.

  Even as she left the house she looked back at him indolently leaning against the door jamb, eyes half closed in amusement and lusty thoughts. Yawning Lion was the perfect nick name for him, and Yawning Lion made her weak. Ever since their first time together in the dingy motel room he had made an all out effort so that she had the best sex of her life, and yet, it wasn’t all about sex for him.

  It was hard not to compare and contrast, even though it hardly seemed fair to Gunter and Billy. For them it was all about the sex. They were boys, she had to remember, and John Buckingham was a man, and he loved her. That made all the difference.

  Another slow car passed her as she turned a corner headed back to the house. She recognized the car. Ew, it was some loser watching her run. She picked up the pace, and by the time the car passed her for the third time she was under the front porch memorizing the license plate, but not getting a good look at the man driving as he turned his head away from her. She went inside and wrote the number down on the pad in the kitchen, then started her stretching. Buck walked in on her to watch.

  “This is my favorite part of your run,” he said and reached for her, pulling her close.

  “Ugh, I’m nasty, and getting you nasty,” she said.

  “I like you nasty, Duchess, I want to have you all over me,” he took her hand and led her to the guest room.

  “You’re a little kinky, aren’t you?” She said laughing. He cocked an eyebrow at her.

  “Because I like the way you smell?” He licked her bare shoulder. “And the way you taste.”

  “Yeah, that.”

  “Do you want to shower; because right now I would very much like to press you up against the door and sink myself into you while I inhale your… nastiness?”

  “How could I possibly choose shower over that?”

  He put his lips to hers and pulled her shorts off and unbuttoned his jeans. Pulling back for a second he stripped her shirt off and then her sports bra as she unbuttoned his shirt. He dropped his pants and placed a finger into her and widened his eyes and smiled.

  “You’re a little kinky, too, Duchess. Just a little dirty talk and you’re game,” he smiled and she laughed. “Hold on to me, Duchess.” He lifted her leg to his hip and held it there as he lowered her right on top of him. She gasped and he put her arms around his neck. “Wrap your legs around me.” He said and she lifted her other leg up and hooked her ankles together behind him. He began to move inside her and she gasped again. His hands went to her hips and he pushed her down on to him and thrust up into her.

  This was new for her, and she was astonished at how deep within her he was. It was exquisite, and she started to tremble with the anticipation of her orgasm.

  “Let it happen, Joss,” he whispered to her and she did. Her head thumped the door behind her as her body arched meeting Buck’s thrusts and she cried out with pleasure and he followed her almost immediately making his own surprised sound. He held her, unwilling to disengage, wanting her around him forever. “I love you, Joss. God, I love you so much.” He said into her neck.

  “I love you, Buck.”

  “Did you hurt your head?” He smiled.

  “Not that I noticed,” she smiled back. “Are you going to put me down?”

  “No, I don’t ever want to let go. But gravity has its own plan,” he said and she unhooked her legs from around him and eased down, his hands gently cupping her butt. “Come to the bed, my Duchess, let’s do that again.” She smiled at him.

  “Really?”

  “Really. This time we’ll take our time,” he said.

  ***

  “You didn’t hurt Eddie, did you?” She said later as she ran her fingers through his sweat dampened hair.

  “Eddie?” He asked, and then remembered and he smiled at Joss. “No, I won’t, either, he’s a good kid. Clint was just nervous. I had a reputation at one point; it made an impression on Clint.”

  “Because he fell in love with your little sister and by your own account you were over protective. You probably scared the poor man.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right,” he laughed.

  “You bad boy,” she said and he rolled to kiss her.

  “Don’t you forget it,” he said into her mouth.

  ***

  “What’
s this?” Buck held up the license number Joss had written earlier. She leaned over him and looked.

  “Oh, it’s stupid, but a car passed me three times on my run this morning. That’s the plate number,” she said drinking her coffee.

  “I trust your instincts. Was it a little red sports car?” He was thinking of the college kids last night.

  “No, it was a big American sedan, kind of old,” she said.

  Buck pulled his phone out of his pocket and made a call. “It’s Duke, I need a favor. Yeah,” he walked into the other room and Joss picked up the newspaper without really reading it. It was nothing, just some loser, she told herself. Then why was she so eager to write the number down? Her instincts. She didn’t know anyone in Flagstaff but Buck’s family, but by his own admission Buck had enemies, and to get to him they might use her, or God forbid, the kids. Good instincts, Joss. “Thanks man,” Buck hung up and looked at her.

  “Does the name Elgin Chee mean anything to you?”

  “Chee was the biker leader, wasn’t he?”

  “It’s a fairly common name on the Rez, Duchess, but yes, his name was Chee. Did you get a good look at him?” She shook her head.

  “He turned away,” she said, and realized it had been deliberate, he was afraid she’d recognize him. She shivered suddenly cold. She didn’t like thinking about those men who followed them around Montana, and she hadn’t even considered that they would be here in Arizona, but this was where many of the Navajo were, and they were Navajo. She suddenly didn’t feel like a genius.

  Buck knelt in front of her. “I can tell by your face that you’ve figured it out.” She nodded.

  “Unless I’ve missed something,” she said.

  “That’s doubtful.”

  “So, if they can’t hurt me they’ll go after your family. They know where we are. How do they know where we are?”

  “There are no secrets on the Reservation. ‘Tall Duke back from up north with his beautiful Amazon blonde bride,’ that’s all they’d need to hear to be curious. Hear the name Natani, scope out the few Natanis on and off the Rez, see the beautiful blonde Amazon bride out for her morning run; begin planning the revenge.” She shivered again. Buck pulled out his phone again.