by Delta James
“Careful, cowboy or this city girl will put her boot up your ass.”
Kurt laughed out loud. “Oh, I like her. You tell him, Ms. Reid …”
“Finn, please. Does he always go so caveman on such short notice?”
“Not that I’ve ever seen. But when a smart man finds the right woman, civility toward any guy even thinking about making a move goes right out the door.”
“But, babe, I thought you liked it when I went caveman?” Croft asked, trying to sound innocent.
“You’re a jackass.”
“Your jackass,” he said, leaning down to kiss her lingeringly.
He opened the door to let her into the small building first.
“Just lock up when you leave, Croft. West of the trail?”
“Yeah, probably a good hour or so.”
The ranger tipped his hat. “Much obliged. Nice to meet you, Finn.”
“You, too, Kurt,” she called as he mounted up and headed down the trail. “You actually get to where those trails don’t bother you?”
Croft nodded. “Yes, but it takes a while. And for what it’s worth, I’m really proud of you for following me up the trail. You did great.”
“Thanks for talking to me all the way up. It helped.”
Croft reached for the phone and called the office. “Avery? It’s Croft. Can you get John and a couple of guys to meet me tonight at the office about seven thirty? We’ve got a situation,” he said, shooting a look at Finn. “Seems our client wasn’t completely up front with us about her brother’s circumstances. We need to be ready for an exchange tomorrow in Vegas at the Four Seasons. Any chance I can get you to fly to the South Rim with Gus and pick us up? He can ride back over to the North Rim and load up the stock and head home. We’ll see you when you get here.”
He hung up and turned to Finn.
“So, how pissed is your boss going to be?”
“John? He’s not the top boss, but I won’t lie to you, he won’t be happy. But we’ll get Christian back, and he’ll leave me to deal with you.”
“Will he know how you plan to deal with me?” she asked anxiously.
Croft nodded. “Probably. He deals with his wife, Mandy, the same way. I’m pretty damn sure that most, if not all, of the married guys in the company have similar relationships. I know Mac and Willa do. Nothing for you to be worried about.” He pulled her to him and kissed her hard. “And they’re probably the best marriages you’ll ever be around.”
“But we’re good … you and me … right?”
“If you’re questioning whether or not we’re together, you and I are going to have a major disagreement.”
“No, that wasn’t what I meant,” Finn said quietly.
He grinned. “Glad to hear it. If you’re asking if I’m still planning to put you over my knee when we get home? Count on it …”
“But nothing bad happened …”
“Nothing bad? Let’s see, you ran off in a wilderness area you have absolutely no experience in and were not prepared for. I had to come find you and then go deal with a notorious arms dealer to negotiate for the lives of you and your brother, which I wasn’t prepared to do because you lied to both me and the people I work for. What part of that don’t you see as bad?”
“That’s all from your point of view …”
“Baby, there is no point of view involved. The only thing that you could even dispute is that you were told they’d kill Christian if you didn’t come alone. But if you did any research at all, and you indicated you did, you knew that handling situations like this is our bread and butter. There goes that argument.”
“I’m not going to win this, am I?” she said resignedly.
“Nope, and fussing at me about it is only going to get you spanked harder and longer. You stay here, and I’ll turn on the A/C then go put the mules in the shady corral and make sure they have water.”
“I’m not some delicate hothouse flower. I’ll take care of Jasper,” Finn said as she tried to push past him.
Croft caught her by the arm and used her own inertia to swing her back around. Grasping her around the middle, he swatted her jean-clad rump several times with enough force that she danced at the sting.
“You will stay inside. If you aren’t careful, I’m going to use the time it takes for Avery and Gus to get here to give you that spanking you seemed determined to get.”
“You bastard!”
He smacked her ass with a great deal of strength and skill. “Better stick to jackass, sweetheart. I’ve begun to think of that as a term of endearment. Settle down, Finn.”
“Let me go!” she cried, managing to kick him in the shin sideways.
Three more times, he struck her backside, which now seemed like it was covered by a hundred or more bee stings.
“Quit! Do I need to pull those jeans down and sit in that chair to give you a proper spanking?” said Croft angrily.
Finn’s only response was silence.
“Do I?”
“No!”
“Then knock it off.” He swatted her once more before she ceased struggling with him. “That’s better. Now, go sit down while I take care of the mules.”
Finlay walked over to the small love seat and sat down. Croft shook his head at her obvious attempt to not do what she’d been told. She watched him through the window as he unsaddled both Jasper and Sam, stowed their gear, threw them some hay, and made sure they had water. As he headed inside, she hurried back to her seat. No use making him angry that she hadn’t stayed where she started.
Croft entered the building and pulled her into his arms. He was still hard for her. She could feel it through his jeans. He cupped her ass and rubbed her against his fly, ramping up her excitement. He reached between them and unfastened her jeans, slipping them and her panties down past her sore bottom before sliding his hands between her legs. He smiled as he discovered the wetness waiting for him.
“Ah, if I only had time.”
“You do,” she moaned.
Finn found it hard to believe that she behaved so wantonly with Croft. The need he was able to create in her was tremendous and something more than she had ever experienced.
“Not to get it done right, but you get on your knees and suck me off. I’ve been hard for you since this morning.”
“What about me?”
“I have plans for you when we get home.”
“What kind of plans?” she asked suspiciously.
“That depends on whether you manage to behave yourself from here on out. Get on your knees, Finn, and show me your mouth has a talent for more than arguing.”
She knelt and opened his fly to be immediately confronted by his engorged cock. Finn moistened her mouth, and Croft pushed his staff past her lips and to the depths of her throat, giving a heavy, satisfied growl.
“That’s good, babe. Take it all,” he whispered grasping her head and slowly began to plunge in and out of her mouth.
Finn began to lick his staff, bringing her hand to grasp it at its base. She sucked on the lower end as he withdrew, encouraging him to sink his shaft back down her throat. Croft wound his fingers in her hair; she couldn’t move away or distract him from the rhythm he wanted to create. Finn focused on keeping her jaw loose and her throat open so he could fuck her mouth as she sucked, licked, and nibbled on him. With the hand wrapped not around his base, she reached up to fondle the rock-hard balls behind it. She was certain she could feel when they started to release his cum so he could shoot it into her belly.
She wasn’t overly fond of swallowing a man’s cum, especially if he was doing it at the back of her mouth. With most men, Finn had found that she who is giving the blow job controls the blow job. Not with Croft. He held her in place and fucked her mouth. In the same way he had steadied her hips so that he could hammer her pussy the night before, he now held her head as his movements became more frenzied. She felt his precum on her tongue as he rammed himself to the back of throat and began to pump his creamy essence down her thro
at and into her belly, grunting with a kind of animal satisfaction.
Croft helped her to her feet, rubbed his hand between her legs, and pushed his hand up under her shirt and bra so that he could fondle her nipples then pulled her jeans back up and closed them.
“No,” she cried in frustration.
He chuckled. “Yes. There’s more than one way for me to punish you. Administering the spanking you deserve here and now would take more time than I’m likely to have before the chopper gets here. So, you can just be horny for the next little while like I’ve been for you all day. You be a good girl and, after the meeting, I’ll take you home, get between your legs, and ride you so hard you’ll go hoarse from the screaming. Avery and Gus should be here any time.”
“It will take longer than that even by helicopter.”
“Regular civilian chopper, yes. But we have special dispensation to have quasi-military attack ones. Not only are they armed, they fly a hell of a lot faster. They should be here any time. I want you to behave yourself.”
“Are you bringing me to the meeting?”
“Yes, you may have answers to questions they have that I don’t. But you’d best lose the attitude and come clean about everything you know. I think we’ll get Christian back alive and relatively unharmed, but we need to know everything you know to try and ensure nothing goes sideways at the last minute. Besides, Fariq wants your brother to be able to speak to you, and I want that done at headquarters. I want the people I work with to meet you and get a feel for who you are before we decide whether it’s better for you to stay back at the base with a heavily armed guard, or I take you with me to the exchange.”
“You’re going to let me come to the exchange?”
“I haven’t decided, and believe me, I will be the one who decides. But Fariq wants you there. He thinks your brother will be more inclined to go along and take the deal if you are, and I think he’s probably right, but there will be ground rules if I let you go.”
“I would think your superiors would make that decision.”
He laughed. “You obviously don’t know John or Mac. John’s the only one here right now, but once he knows you answer to me, what you think about putting yourself in harm’s way won’t mean anything. Don’t try me, Finn. While spanking is a good way to correct a naughty girl’s behavior, there are other ways to humble her wild spirit and remind her who is dominant.”
“Wh … what do you mean?” she stammered.
“Remember that back door you say you don’t want me to use? I found that a bit of ginger can provide a ready remedy for a bitchy attitude and bring the lesson home quite effectively.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I?” he said, looking at her levelly.
Finn had no doubt that not only would he dare, he was quite capable of doing so and coming up with even less-desirable things. She wanted to hate everything about his idea, but there was something about it that made her private parts tingle. She couldn’t figure out Croft or her feelings for him. One minute, she was madly in love and wanted to plan a life with him, and the next, she wanted to run like hell and tell herself she never wanted to see him again. The prospect of the latter made her catch her breath and fight back tears.
Croft must have recognized the upset in her face and body. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Instinctively, she clung to him.
“We’ll get Christian one way or another,” he said softly. “I’ll take care of you, Finn — always and forever.”
“Croft, I don’t want to mislead you, but I’m not sure I can do this or even want it.”
“You’re just scared, babe. Remember when we were coming down from the North Rim? I led, you followed, and we made it just fine. I won’t lie to you. You’re going to mind me, Finn.”
“No, I’m not … not always. It’s not in my nature.”
“Then you’ll get disciplined. Fair warning, I’m going to deal pretty harshly with anything that could get you seriously hurt or killed. But never doubt my feelings for you or that I’ll love you just as hard.”
Oh God, he’d said it. He’d used the word love. She wasn’t ready to hear love. She needed to focus on getting Christian back safe and sound. She truly believed Croft and his firm was the best way to do that. What happens afterward … that was something yet to be decided.
Chapter 8
It wasn’t long before the chopper arrived and an older man in a cowboy hat got off and trotted toward them.
“Gus,” said Croft, extending his hand.
Finn noticed that good manners seemed to be ingrained in Croft and were reciprocated by those around him. The man shook his hand and nodded at Finn.
Croft smiled and beckoned her forward. “Finn, this is Gus. He’s Willa’s head wrangler and a good man to have around. Gus, Finn Reid.”
“Ms. Reid,” acknowledged Gus with a tip of his hat.
“Finn, please.”
Croft continued, “I left Sam and Jasper over in the corral. They’ve had food and water but we just came up the trail so they’ve had a long day.”
“Don’t you worry about them. We dropped off one of our boys on the other side by the truck and trailer. We’re both going to head for each other and, when we meet up, I’ll load them and head for home. Nice to meet you, Finn. Croft, good to see you.”
“Gus?”
The older cowboy turned to look at him.
“Finn is going to be staying at my place for a while.”
“Is she?” Gus said grinning at him. “Then, Finn, I’m really happy to meet you.”
Finn watched as he headed toward the mules who brayed a greeting to him.
“So, is that a thing with you?” she asked Croft.
“What?” he asked.
“Laying claim to me anytime you introduce me to someone?”
He laughed and pulled her into his arms before kissing her soundly and leaving her breathless.
“Nah. When I want to lay claim to you, Finlay Reid, there won’t be a doubt in anyone’s mind about it. My guess is I won’t have to say a thing to Avery.”
Croft took her by the elbow and steered her toward the waiting helicopter. He helped her inside and seemed impressed that she knew how to strap herself in. Once he knew she was secure, he headed toward the other side to slip in beside the pilot, who turned to look at her. Finn was surprised to see it was a woman.
“Finn? I’m Avery. Good to meet you. I know your reputation. In fact, I know some of the guys you’ve worked with overseas. How comfortable are you in a chopper?”
“Very,” replied Finn.
“Good. Then, I’ll get us back to the office as quick as I can.” She turned to Croft who had buckled himself in. “The team should be waiting for us. John is none too happy.”
Croft grinned at her. “I wouldn’t expect him to be, but we’ll get it sorted out.”
Avery glanced between Finn and Croft. “Of that, I have no doubt,” she said, laughing as she took off and headed toward the headquarters of the Wild Mustang Security Firm.
The flight didn’t take long, and Finn was caught up in the beauty and grandeur of the landscape below her as Avery skillfully guided the chopper back to its home base. Croft took the time to point out several landmarks to her as well as the ranch he used to work for that abutted Mac and Willa’s place.
Finn admired the way their home and barn were set artfully into the landscape.
She pointed toward what appeared to be an old building made of rock and adobe set back from the house. “What’s that?”
Croft grinned. “That’s headquarters. It was an old abandoned building in a ghost town not far from here. Willa and Mac had it moved from there to here so it would fit in. It’s about the same age as their house, which was the original homestead of this property.”
“It’s beautiful. The whole thing. It looks like it was always here,” said Finn with respect.
“That was the idea,” added Avery. “Inside, the buildings are all state-
of-the-art, but if you just rode or flew by, you’d never know.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” said Finn, not failing to miss the look exchanged between Avery and Croft.
The chopper set down outside the building, and Croft got out as Finn started to unbuckle her safety belt.
Avery turned toward her. “John is pissed that you weren’t forthcoming with what was really going on. I suspect he’ll let you know but will then defer to Croft. Take a bit of advice from a new friend who has known these guys for a while and Croft longer than the rest of them: don’t do it again.” She reached back to Finn. “And we’ll get your brother. There’s nobody better at this than we are.”
Finn smiled as she grasped Avery’s hand. “Thank you.”
She turned toward Croft who helped her out, and they headed toward the building. Finn was a bit surprised when the chopper immediately took off.
“Where’s she going?” asked Finn.
“Avery is the consummate pilot. She’ll take it back to where we keep it … a bit off the grid, so to speak. She’ll get it gassed up and wash all the dirt and grit off. Then she’ll do a thorough inspection. If and when we need her, it’ll be ready to go. I suspect John’s given her the heads-up that we’re headed to Vegas, so she’ll make sure the company jet is ready to go as well.”
“You didn’t tell me Avery is a woman.”
Finn smiled at the curious look he gave her.
“I didn’t tell you she wasn’t. It doesn’t matter. She’s the best damn pilot I’ve ever been around and takes care of transportation and most of the operational stuff as well. She’s got special-ops experience and is a member of the team.”
Croft seemed surprised when she reached up to kiss him and grinned at him.
“I’m not sure why it makes me so happy that it never occurred to you to mention that she is female.”
“It’s irrelevant,” he replied. “But you behave yourself in this meeting. There’s going to be lots of questions, and you’ll probably get asked a lot of the same things more than once …”
“To ensure my story is consistent and that I’m not lying?”
Croft nodded as they headed into the building. Avery had been right, the historic outward appearance of the building gave no indication of the beautiful, modern interior. Once inside, a visitor couldn’t help but be impressed. A kind of open reception area that sat in front of an enormous glass-walled conference room furnished with a large table with chairs. On either wall were projection screens. Seated around the table were five men, none of whom looked pleased to be there.