Page 18 of Lord of Debauchery

“Now we’re heading back as I said before, and you will be punished.” I shouldn’t feel surprised by anything else she did, but when she kicked me hard in the shin, I had to fight to keep from making a painful sound myself. I had a feeling she was finally the one shocked when I easily threw her over one shoulder, immediately trudging through the forest back toward the house.

Or so that’s where I hoped I was headed.

She’d had a definite advantage over me, likely knowing the woods like the back of her hand. Still, I was pretty good with directions, something taught by Pops just in case a difficult situation arose such as being kidnapped.

“Let me go, you bastard,” she moaned as she pummeled her fists against my back.

“No can do. You did this to yourself.”

“You’re insane. You break into my place. You force me to cook for you and your… men. You tie me to the bed and you refuse to leave. I think I have every right to try and get as far away from you as possible.”

“Here’s the thing, princess,” I said in return just to annoy her. “You’re in as much danger as I am and with you being outside, you have a much larger target on your back.”

“You’re just saying that to scare me.”

“Am I?” Maybe it was this moment when I realized just how important a flashlight was. I hadn’t thought to carry one in my various vehicles or what I called my favorite tool bag. The contents included a share of typical tools because I’d learned they came in handy during an interrogation.

However, after tonight, I’d include a flashlight or two.

“You’re such a bastard,” Kenya barked, bringing me out of my thoughts. “I will get you for this.”

Goddamn, the woman could make me smile. “What did I say to you earlier, darlin’? It will be so enjoyable to watch your skills in action.”

She continued fighting me, even more in earnest after I’d told her she was in danger. Perhaps her concept of what danger was consisted of something entirely different than I’d experienced. The girl was far too lithe and strong and when I made a turn like I remembered she’d done, she took that opportunity to pitch her body hard against me.

It had been so unexpected that I managed to trip over an unseen limb, doing my best to keep her cradled in my arms as we both tumbled forward. She took the brunt of the hard hit, the full weight of my body landing on top of her. At least from where we’d landed, I had a clear view of the exterior lights on her fine establishment.

Her breathing was more labored, and I instantly became concerned I’d crushed her in the fall. Somehow, she’d managed to hold onto her purse through the chase. That also amused me.

I cupped the side of her face, as she did what she could to shake my hand away. “Are you hurt?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

The way she was squirming had a single effect. It made me even more aroused than before. I wasn’t certain how my cock could ache any more than it did at that moment. Usually, I would call my behavior reckless but with the moon finally slipping through the thinner line of trees, the bright beam seemed to highlight the two of us perfectly.

Of course, I wasn’t the kind of man to believe in serendipity or whatever that shit was, but her lips had become far too irresistible. They were full and lush, rosy-red like apples, without needing lipstick. I was floored how much electricity soared through both of us. I was also fighting to keep some sense of control, but it was impossible.

So I kissed her. It wasn’t just my usual casual kiss before I enjoyed fucking a woman, almost as if I felt obligated to do so. Kissing Kenya was passionate, ripe with such intense desire I was thrown by the sensations rushing all the way down my spine. I wasn’t certain I’d ever had this kind of reaction to anyone, let alone someone who had trouble branded on her forehead.

But as I thrust my tongue inside, the taste of her reminded me of the apples I’d thought of before, so sweet I could do this for hours.

Something else that wasn’t like me.

As imagined, she fought me at first but within seconds, she wasn’t pummeling her fists against my shoulders any longer but clenching my shirt. She was even doing her best to arch her back, lifting and bending one leg to push against mine. I could swear there were bells going off somewhere. What wasn’t there to enjoy about the woman?

I finally pulled back into rational reality, breaking the kiss. Yet I still couldn’t help myself, sucking on her bottom lip. When I eased my head back by a few inches, I could tell she was as contemplative as I was, trying to figure out why our chemistry was so strong. The answer wasn’t going to be easy, nor would it happen right now. We were still out in the open and that needed to take precedence.

As I stood, reaching out for her hand, she acted like she wasn’t going to take it. Whether or not she could see my admonishing gaze I wasn’t certain, but finally she slapped her hand into mine.

I pulled her up, intertwining our fingers together this time and half dragging her to the back of the house. I noticed Camden in the distance, walking the grounds as he would any military compound. At least we should be able to get through the night.

The moment I had her inside, she tried once again to jerk from my hold, but I wasn’t going to play dumb any longer. Especially since her skills were apparently more than what I’d expected.

I did take her purse from her shoulder, gingerly placing it on the floor near the refrigerator.

When I spun her around so her back was against me, wrapping one arm around her waist and planting my other hand around her throat, she stiffened. Especially when I lowered my head, pressing my nose and mouth just under her ear. “Listen to me very carefully. As I told you several times before, I enjoyed dinner and the time we spent together. I appreciate all you’ve done but I was deadly serious about you following my rules for one major reason. Keeping you alive. The bastards who chased us began in my hometown, torching a brand-new recording studio that had nothing to do with any aspect of illegal crimes.”

“So what?” she hissed. “That has nothing to do with me.”

---