Page 26 of Provoking Bryan

“That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” Bryan challenged, leaning closer. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

Sara’s gaze darted away, her composure slipping. “I… I can’t,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Bryan softened, his frustration giving way to something deeper. “You don’t have to do this alone, Sara,” he said, his tone gentler now. “But you have to let me in.”

Her eyes glistened, the vulnerability in them catching him off guard. “I don’t know how,” she confessed.

“Then let me help,” he said, reaching for her hand. His grip was firm, grounding, as if he could anchor her with touch alone.

Sara hesitated, the tension in her body palpable. But slowly, she exhaled, her fingers curling around his. “I’m scared,” she admitted quietly.

Bryan nodded, his thumb brushing lightly against her knuckles. “So am I. But if we lean on and trust each other, we can get through this. Together.”

The words hung between them, a promise neither had spoken aloud before. For the first time, this thing between them felt less like a battle and more like a bond.

When she’d finished her meal, Bryan looked at her and watched a shiver run down her spine. He made himself comfortable on the pallet and extended his hand to her. “I believe you owe me five. I think we should start the same way we mean to go on, don’t you?”

Sara nodded, taking his hand and allowing him to strip her jeans and panties down to her knees. He guided her across his lap, allowing her to find a balanced spot. He couldn’t believe he was about to do this. He’d gone through the training but had then taken a step back, worried that being a member of Club Southside might cost him professionally, but now he didn’t care.

In a matter of days, he’d begun to need Sara Gray more than he needed the air that he breathed. He lifted his hand and then brought it down in the center of her ass. There was a satisfyingly loud smack and gasp from Sara as she reached for his ankle, holding on. He smacked her ass a second time, watching the pink color begin to rise.

Although he wanted her to know this was discipline, he couldn’t help his own physical reaction—his cock was hardening, and arousal was rushing through his veins. He smacked her twice more and was fairly sure that the sting was sparking along her backside. At first her body was tense, but as he landed the last smack, Sara sighed, and her body went limp.

“That’s five. You did well,” he said as he helped her up and pulled her onto his lap, her jeans and panties still down around her ankles. He suppressed a grin—his sub, his woman had enjoyed her discipline. She was wet. “If I had the time, we’d do more proper aftercare.”

“Yes, Sir,” she whispered as she leaned against him, nuzzling his neck. “The chopper…”

“Not to worry. They’ll never know. I’ll make sure we’re ready to go when they get here.”

“Thank you, Sir. I think I needed that more than you know.”

Bryan chuckled. “Don’t know about that. You may be leaving a spot on my jeans, but trust me when I tell you, my cock is going to hurt until it gets back inside you.”

“Then we’ll have to make sure it gets what it needs”

As the distant sound of the chopper reached their ears, both knew the fight was far from over.

Bryan’s hand tightened around hers as he helped her to stand and gather their things. “I want you to get on the chopper and stay put. I’ll make sure the chief gets our gifts and then we can get out of here,” he said, his voice steady. “It’s not over yet.”

Sara nodded, her jaw set with determination. “Let’s finish this.”

8

BRYAN

The roar of the chopper’s blades grew louder as the Cerberus extraction team approached, kicking up dust and debris. Bryan squinted against the wind, his arm steadying Sara as they moved toward the landing zone. Her weight leaned into him just enough to remind him of the bullet graze she was too stubborn to let slow her down.

“I’m fine, Bryan,” she said through gritted teeth, her voice barely audible over the din.

“I’ll decide that,” Bryan replied, his tone sharper than intended. He didn’t have the patience for her bravado, not after what they’d just been through.

The chopper touched down, and two operatives leapt out, their sharp gazes sweeping the area. One of them, Kane Chaplin, approached with a confident stride. His eyes flicked between Bryan and Sara, pausing on the way her arm rested against Bryan’s shoulder.

“Doc,” Kane greeted, his voice neutral but his expression anything but. “Sara. You look like hell.”

“Feel like it, too,” Sara muttered, but her lips twitched in what might have been a smile.

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