Page 6 of Backwater Bait

Moving farther into the dark, I make sure every step is deliberate and silent. This is my domain, and I know how to blend into the swamp. But no matter how hard I look, I can’t find any sign of an intruder. The corners are empty, the silence undisturbed except for the natural sounds of the night.

Frustrated, I lift the rifle and fire a couple of warning shots into the air. The sharp cracks echo through the trees, a clear message to anyone who might be lurking. Don’t mess with me. And definitely don’t mess with my woman.

I turn and make my way back to the cabin. The door creaks as I push it open, and Belle jumps, her eyes still wide, her breath coming in quick gasps. She looks like a deer caught in headlights, and it tugs at something deep inside me.

“Did you see anyone?” she asks, her voice trembling.

“No,” I say, my tone gruff. “But I sent a message. If anyone’s out there, they’ll think twice before coming back.”

She nods, relief flickering across her face. But I can’t let it go. I can’t let her off the hook that easily. “Look,” I say, my voice low and firm, “I’m done beating around the bush. You need to tell me what you’re hiding.”

Her eyes widen, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “I... I don’t know what you mean.”

“Quit stalling,” I snap, my frustration boiling over. “Beautiful, young girls don’t just wander into the bayou and decide to spend the night at a stranger’s house. What’s the real story?”

“I... I told you..,” she stammers, her voice shaking. “I just wanted to go for a midnight swim and then you found me.”

I step closer, my gaze locked on hers. “Stop lying to me, or I’ll pull you over my knee and spank the truth out of you.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but the words don’t come. The silence stretches between us, thick with tension. I can’t stand it anymore. I lose control, my emotions spilling over.

”Damn it, woman!” I curse with a hiss. ”What are you hiding?”

I grab her shoulders and press a hard kiss on her mouth, my frustration and need pouring into that single, desperate act.

She gasps against my lips, her body stiffening for a moment before melting into me. The kiss is rough, demanding, a clash of wills and desires. And when I start pulling her toward the cot, she doesn’t protest.

8.

Belle

The moment Arcade’s lips touch mine, it’s like a spark igniting a fire inside me. His kiss is rough, desperate, and filled with a hunger that I’ve never experienced before. It takes my breath away, leaving me dizzy and clinging to him for support. His hands grip my shoulders firmly, but there’s a tenderness there too, as if he’s afraid he might break me.

It feels so good to be wanted, to be cherished by someone as raw and powerful as Arcade. His presence is overwhelming, but in the best way possible. I melt into him, my body responding to his in ways I didn’t know were possible. Every brush of his lips, every caress of his hands sends shivers down my spine. I can feel his need, his desire, and it makes me feel like I’m about to be immersed in him, lose myself inside of him.

The flicks of his tongue, bring out something desperate in me and I yield to him, wanting to give everything he demands.

If it weren’t for his strength, for his arms holding me, I would’ve fallen. I’ve never in my life been power-hungry but for the first time, I’m hungering for the power in him. I want its pulse, its strength. A ripple blows up between my legs, making me cry out in shock. Arcade’s lips curve, his eyes holding me captive. They blaze with passion, with the wildness of a man who can barely control himself anymore. We waited too long. And he watches me almost with pity as if I know will have to suffer the consequences. I swallow, apprehension and excitement flaring in me.

Without breaking the kiss, he lifts me effortlessly into his arms and carries me towards his cot. The world around us fades away, leaving just the two of us and the heat between us. He lays me down, his body pressing against mine as he continues to kiss me, his lips exploring mine with a mix of urgency and reverence.

His kisses trail down my neck, and I gasp, arching into him. His touch is both rough and gentle, making me feel safe and desired all at once. My hands find their way into his hair, pulling him closer, not wanting to let go of this moment.

His sheets are cold against my hot skin, and I feel as if I’m levitating. My body starts to buzz at the sound of his zipper popping and he looms over me, big and burly and barbaric like a man from another time. My eyes flicker to his shaft and I nearly burst into tears. How will my body ever adjust to his? But my doubts quickly disappear the moment he penetrates me and I gasp, clutching him. Moisture pools between my breasts when he covers them with his big hands.

But then, suddenly, a feeling of unease washes over me, and I cry out, my voice trembling. “Arcade, wait... I feel like we’re being watched.”

Pulling back slightly, his eyes search mine with single-minded focus of a man who can only think about claiming me right now. “I’ve already checked,” he rasps, his voice raw and husky. “We’re alone. I promise.”

He brushes a strand of hair from my face and leans in, kissing away my fears. His lips are soft and reassuring, and slowly, the panic starts to fade. “You’re safe with me,” he whispers against my skin, his words a balm to my frayed nerves.

And then he starts to move.

His thrusts become more aggressive, more deliberate, as if he’s trying to prove his words with every touch. I can feel the sincerity in his actions, the depth of his desire to own me. It’s intoxicating, and I find myself responding until I scream his name. At one moment I even think I scream that I love him.

Each thrust makes me lose my mind. He lets out curses and snarls, against my throat and his body trembles with agony and arousal. I arch, writhe and twist and then everything bursts and comes falling down again, his hot liquid soaking into me and I pant. Arcade goes rigid, his jaw squeezing before he shudders and before he falls beside me. Letting out a grunt he pulls me to him. I smile in the dark. I never knew I could need a man so much, but now I do.

The Watcher

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