Scorpion: A Rough Romance (Montana Bad Boys Book 2)

by Piper Stone

  “I am... fine,” I managed, still shaking all the way to my toes.

  “Let’s get you into a warm shower.”

  “I’m fine.”

  After cutting the engine, he slowly turned his head in my direction, his dazzling lavender eyes flashing both amusement as well as refusal to accept my answer. “My house. My rules.”

  “Yes, sir,” I challenged.

  “Just remember. I am your master.”

  Master. Even the way he said the word was thrilling.

  “However, you’re going to wait right here until I check the house. You got it?” The tone of his voice changed entirely as he eased out of the truck, pulling his weapon from behind the seat.

  I watched as he checked the ammunition, scanning the perimeter before giving me another hard look. “Okay.”

  “I’m not fucking around about this, Caroline. I doubt whoever the bastards are will stop at just the truck. If you hear anything, get the hell out of here. Do you understand me?”

  When I didn’t answer, he growled.

  “Do you?” he repeated.

  All I could do was nod. He closed the door, moving with stealth-like actions around the corner of the building, the gun positioned in both hands. I’d never felt so helpless in my life. I shifted into the driver’s seat, glancing into the rearview mirror, only able to catch a single glimpse before he disappeared. I thought about the file I’d taken from the bar without telling him. While he’d be pissed when he found it missing, I had a feeling Brandy could help provide some answers. At least she’d be able to tell me what the various codicils of the agreement meant.

  And who owned the holding company.

  While I had my suspicions, I knew that prying into Scorpion’s family had the potential of closing the door between us. That would crush me, but it was a chance I was willing to take in order to help him find answers. I brushed my fingers across my lips, still tingling from the intense round of passion. He’d actually been gentle, bringing me to moments of ecstasy that I hadn’t thought existed. When he was on top of me, his cock sliding so deep inside, I’d never wanted to be anywhere else but in his arms.

  Then there was the magical sunrise. Breathtaking. He’d shared the incredible place with me and no one else.

  My mind shifted to what Scorpion had told me about his friend. The guilt he carried was going to crush him one way or another. Whatever the full story, I realized it might never be told. The past was obviously far too painful for him.

  I leaned over the steering wheel, forced to accept the fact I had strong feelings for the hulking cowboy, so much so that I could see myself staying in Montana. Hell, would he even want me to?

  What are you thinking, girl? Life isn’t about dreams coming true.

  My little voice was right. The whirlwind romance was incredible, but certainly not a relationship in the making. Maybe I was fooling myself that he was a hero after all.

  The crack of a tree limb forced me to jump, a single yelp erupting from my mouth. Scorpion’s face remained dark, his eyes returning to the anger I’d seen at the bar, yet he motioned toward the ranch.

  Grabbing my clothes, I followed behind him and into the house, noticing the gun shoved into the waistband of his jeans. He truly was a dangerous man.

  “Make yourself at home. I have a few phone calls to make. Time to figure out what the hell is really going on.”

  He didn’t bother turning in my direction before walking into the kitchen. The passionate man who’d held me as the sun rose was gone.

  In his place was the bad man he’d warned me about more than once.

  And there was no doubt he would have his vengeance.

  I debated leaving, returning to Brandy’s for a shower, but a part of me wanted to continue what had been started. As I moved into the hallway, I heard his gruff voice on the phone, although I wasn’t able to hear the words. I didn’t need to in order to understand how angry he was. His entire body was wired with a penchant for violence, the need something that had started long before joining the Marines.

  Could he even learn to tolerate being away from the battle zone?

  As I started the water, the shiver trickling down my spine had nothing to do with the cold. I had a terrible feeling that something tragic was going to happen to Scorpion. When I was able to stand under the water, I planted my hands on the tile and lowered my head, studying the way the water formed ringlets before it slipped down the drain. While the house was nothing special, a small ranch that had seen better days, I could envision it being a home.

  Maybe I could learn to ride a horse, even try my hand at planting a garden. Flowers. Beautiful, vibrant plants in huge pots positioned right on the porch would be lovely. Christ. What was I thinking? That wasn’t going to happen.

  The blast of cold air was swift, the terror real and as a hand wrapped around my throat, yanking me back, I froze.

  Until I inhaled, his rich, exotic cologne filtering into my entire system.

  “You scared me,” I managed, taking several shallow breaths. “You are a very bad man.”

  Scorpion chuckled as he slipped his hand down my chest, flicking his finger back and forth across my nipple. “You finally believe me.”

  “Mmm...” I nuzzled against him, savoring not only the heat of his body but the way his cock was pressed between my legs. The man was insatiable, his hunger knowing no bounds.

  “I refused to leave you alone. You are mine to protect.”

  “To protect, huh? Is that all?” I tipped my head, trying to search his eyes.

  Issuing a husky growl, he lowered down, kissing my cheek then dragging the tip of his tongue across to my ear. “You are mine. Period.”

  The words were thrilling, if only said in the heat of the moment. “Possessive.”

  “Absolutely. I’m still famished and this time, I’m going to fuck you in that tight ass of yours.”

  His words were even more exciting than before, the vibrations of his voice echoing in the dense space. He yanked me further away from the wall, kicking my legs apart, far more aggressive than he had been.

  He pinched my nipples as he lowered his head, nuzzling against my neck. When he bit down, a single whimper escaped my mouth. He was taking what he wanted.

  And he wanted me.

  His woman.

  His possession.

  I closed my eyes as he twisted my hardened buds, pain slipping into every muscle. Breathless, I took shallow breaths as he dragged the tips of his teeth up and down my neck, as if he was very thirsty. As if he was going to consume me.

  Even though the water was extremely hot, cascading over both our bodies, goosebumps popped along every inch of skin. I couldn’t believe how electrified I was, my entire body tingling even as the agony became more biting. His roughness was exhilarating, forcing flashes of light in my field of vision.

  “Oh... Yes...” I whispered after he released my nipples, crawling his hands down my stomach, a single finger teasing my clit. I was so wet, my pussy aching. He had a way of making me feel so alive, a live wire that required more and more current. He was my drug, one I required in order to survive.

  The thought was as ridiculous as it was all consuming.

  “Such a bad girl. My sweet brat. My little filly. I’m going to fuck you long and hard.” I adored his sinful words, the way he took control.

  He pushed his finger between my swollen folds, swirling it in a sensuous manner.

  “I should give you a spanking every day. Perhaps I will,” he continued.

  “But I’ve been good.”

  “You are never good, my sweet Caroline. You are delicious.” He shifted his hands to my hips, pulling until I was forced into a deep arc. When he issued several cracks against my bottom, the anguish was even more intense than before, the water somehow amplifying the pain.

  I couldn’t keep the moans from filtering into the bathroom, although my pussy was quivering, as if I actually enjoyed the punishment. The water streaming over my head, I lifted my fa
ce, the spray almost as invigorating.

  Scorpion smacked me from one side to the other several times then without hesitation, he drove his cock into my channel. The force was tremendous, pushing me up onto my toes.

  “Oh, God.” I didn’t think anything could feel more exquisite than the way he’d made love to me at the lake, but I was wrong.

  The electricity between us exploded as he pumped hard and fast, his guttural sounds matching my own, his fingers digging into my skin. I was breathless, my heart racing.

  He continued thrusting several additional times, alternating giving me several swats. I could feel the heat rising on my skin, my bottom already sore. When he pulled out, I tensed, gasping for air. He pushed the tip into the crack of my ass, finding my dark hole. As he drove his shaft inside, I could no longer think clearly.

  The anguish quickly morphed into something spectacular, my heart now hammering to the point I couldn’t focus.

  “Yes!” he roared as he held me, blowing hot air across the nape of my neck. As he began to thrust in and out, he let off several low animalistic sounds. He was a true beast.

  A predator.

  A protector.

  During the next several minutes, he plunged into me like a crazed man, a savage with nothing else on his mind but fucking me.

  Ravaging me.

  Everything became a delicious blur, my muscles stretching to accept the thick invasion then clenching. Every time he plunged in deep, I was thrown against the tile. All I could concentrate on was the sound of skin slapping against skin, the powerful hunk teaching me about absolute domination.

  I could tell he was close to coming, his entire body shaking, his grip even firmer. I kept my eyes closed as I squeezed my muscles, smiling when I heard his ragged exclamation.

  “Fuck!”

  As he erupted, filling me with his seed, the fragrance of our combined sex was an intense aphrodisiac and I wanted his scent to cover me for hours.

  Days.

  Weeks.

  I bit back a cry then tipped my head, resting it on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around me.

  “You feel so good, Caroline. Damn good,” he whispered in a raspy voice. “But you need to leave here and never return.”

  “What?”

  “This is too dangerous for you. Stay away from the ranch as well as the bar. I refuse to allow anything to happen to you. Not when... Just stay away.”

  “I don’t understand. I thought you wanted me with you.”

  He kissed the top of my head then pulled away, immediately stepping out of the shower. I was stunned, unable to move, but I heard his muttered words seconds before he left the bathroom.

  “More than you know.”

  * * *

  I remained foggy as I stepped out of the truck, smoothing down one of two business-style dresses that I’d brought with me. I grabbed the file as I stared at the sign on the door. Graham, Parker, and Whitfield, Attorneys at Law. By the time I’d managed to get back to the townhouse, Brandy had already left for work, her curt note giving me an indication of her current mood.

  We are going to talk tonight.

  I couldn’t wait for several hours, merely changing clothes and heading to Brandy’s office. I had a terrible feeling that whatever phone call Scorpion had made would escalate the situation. I’d tried to clear my head, pretending that Scorpion’s words were just an indication that he cared about me, but my insecurities prevented me from accepting the rationalization.

  At least I could provide some kind of evidence that there was something significant going on with Raunchy Ride. Or maybe I was sticking my nose in where it didn’t belong and I should leave town.

  I was finished with second guessing myself. I was still attempting to do my job, although I was no longer certain Scorpion would ever have an interest in providing real entertainment at the bar. As I walked into the building, I was taken aback that the law firm obviously controlled the entire location, dozens of attorneys listed, including Brandy, although there were no suites mentioned. All visitors had to go through reception.

  Then I was forced to wait.

  For almost an hour.

  By the expression on Brandy’s face as she came to meet me, I could tell she was pissed. Even her mouth was pinched. She noticed the file in my hand and shook her head. “I take it you found something.”

  “Something significant, or so I think,” I said in a hushed voice.

  “Come to my office. We can talk.” She led me down a hallway and into her office, closing the door with a hard thud. After walking around her desk, she moved to the window instead. “I totally understand that you have a thing for Scorpion. I even get you feel this need to help him with the bar.”

  “But?”

  She groaned and turned to face me, finally tossing a newspaper in my direction. “You didn’t think someone torching a car in the parking lot of Raunchy Ride wasn’t going to make the news? It might be on page four, but it’s there. Imagine what I thought. I told you that Billy was dangerous.”

  “I’m not entirely certain what happened has anything to do with Billy.” I glanced at the black and white photo, the same trickle of fear I’d felt earlier pooling in my stomach.

  Sitting down, she folded her hands. “You need to stop playing amateur detective, Caroline. A brick through a window then a car fire. The violence is escalating. Whatever the reason, you’re not going to figure it out.”

  “And you were going to ask some questions.”

  She shrank back, glancing out the floor-to-ceiling window with a bird’s-eye view of anyone coming or going. “I did and was told that the person who was Jasper’s attorney is out of town on vacation. Everything you’ve heard is true about the will. Evidently, Jasper was made several offers to sell the property in its entirety, but he refused, insisting he was going to renovate. Unfortunately, the cancer Jasper had was aggressive, taking his life months earlier than he expected.”

  Vacation? That was going to piss Scorpion off as well.

  I slid the file across her desk.

  “What’s this?”

  “Financials from a holding company as well as an agreement regarding the parcels with initials on the pages. I barely had a chance to glance at them, but within the agreement, there appears to be conditions.”

  “What does this have to do with Jasper?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to find out. Why would an agreement with his name on it be stuck in files about some holding company? From what I read, there are so many conditions.”

  “That’s not necessarily abnormal,” she said as she opened the file. “Often with business transactions there are caveats to a sale going through. If there was an offer made, maybe the one presented to Jasper required a change in zoning and he couldn’t get it done.”

  “That’s why Billy Kane was hired.”

  She wrinkled her nose, an odd look crossing her face. “Maybe.”

  “But he didn’t sell the property so why keep him?” I mused, more talking out loud than anything. “Brandy, I think Jasper might have had the agreement created, not whoever was offering to purchase the property.”

  Narrowing her eyes, she glanced at me before finding the paperwork. I could swear there was a knowing look in her eyes. “Okay, that’s interesting. What is this holding company?”

  “That’s what I’m asking you, but whoever they are, the financials indicate the company is worth a significant amount of money.”

  Brandy lifted a single eyebrow. “If you’re looking for a pot of gold, I don’t think you’re going to find it in Jasper McKenzie’s estate.”

  “I don’t care about a pot of gold and neither does Scorpion. What I do care about is the reason someone is out to get the man I... that I like very much. This isn’t about some bar brawl. Someone doesn’t want Scorpion to remain in town. I think they desperately want him to sell the bar and leave.”

  “But why? Hell, he’s already indicated he’s going to sell the place. Right?”

  Sh
rugging, I brushed my fingers across my lips, the action more out of nerves than anything. “Maybe someone simply wants to make certain that happens. I think he’s leaning toward staying.”

  “Good for him.” She shook her head then flipped through the agreement, leaning over her desk after reading several passages. When she closed her eyes, I had no doubt in my mind that she knew more than she was letting on.

  “What is it?” I demanded, jerking to a standing position. My gut had told me that coming to Montana had some purpose. And Brandy was a part of it.

  After a few seconds, she pushed the papers aside. “Look, everything I’m about to tell you is a breach in my fiduciary duty and could get me disbarred.”

  “All right. Keep going.”

  “I’m serious, Caroline. Not a word. Promise me.”

  Nodding, I could tell she was bothered by what she was going to say. “Not a word.”

  “I told you that I knew Jasper. What I didn’t tell you is that he came to me only days before his death.”

  A cold shiver trickled down my spine. “For what purpose?”

  Brandy shifted to a standing position, moving closer to the window. “You were right with your assumptions. Jasper was worth a hell of a lot more than people knew about.”

  Fuck. I knew there was more to Jasper’s estate. “O-kay. So what does that have to do with you?”

  “He was a smart man, purchasing several properties close to Raunchy Ride over the years. You have to understand that the bar existed long before Jasper took it over, but up until recently, the location was considered unmarketable. He did what he could over the last ten years in order to make the bar more profitable.”

  When Brandy stared out the window for a few seconds, I could tell the entire situation was weighing heavily on her mind.

  “Jasper and I had dinner a couple of times. He was such an enigmatic man, full of life, at least until the cancer took him. When he came to me, I was surprised since he already had an attorney.”

  “Why did he come to you?” I asked quietly.