Grace was right. Duke was a wicked Internet ninja.
Veronica thanked all the readers graciously, thanked the admin privately for her help, and signed off. She looked up at Duke and he said, “We don’t even need to book air travel. Who’s up for a trip to Dallas?”
Dallas was hours away and it was already late. Hank settled his stare on her as if he’d read her mind, and she pressed her lips together, stifling the reply that she hated inconveniencing all these wonderful men. Hank knew it, and he nodded in approval before he voiced his opinion. “I’ll take Veronica to the Hourglass Inn. We’ll bring her laptop with us and wait for word from you.”
Travis said, “I can’t wait to see this son of a bitch face-to-face.” As a game warden, Travis had arrest authority that surpassed even Hank’s capability so it was logical for him to go with Kemp and the guys.
Kemp whistled the theme to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, as he started gathering his equipment and packing it away. “The Suburban is gassed up and ready. Ace wants us to stop by and pick him up.”
Duke turned to her and said, “When I get back from Dallas, I’ll do some checking on Brent Haygard. See if there’s more there to worry about than just a lazy bastard who wants you to come back so he can keep freeloading.”
“Good,” Hank said. “I’d rather be safe than sorry where that jerk is concerned.”
Feeling humbled, Veronica rose from her seat and hugged Duke, Kemp, and her men. “Thank you, guys. I’m so lucky.”
Kemp’s smile transformed his face into a sweet visage and she knew exactly why Summer adored this man, along with his brother in arms, Ace Webster. “I’m bringing the duct tape with me on this trip, Veronica. That bastard has more than earned it.”
She kissed his cheek in gratitude. The world needed more heroes like the ones filling this room.
Hank was taking her to the Hourglass Inn until they made contact with the odious person behind BookAddictedWhore. There was no point in opening herself up for attack, especially since she’d done her best to rile BookAddictedWhore up. The threat to shoot her was likely only that, but Hank wasn’t letting that go and she didn’t blame him.
* * * *
Veronica opened her mouth as Hank held out a forkful of his omelet to her. The Hourglass Inn Bed & Breakfast in Divine had been wonderful. Heat crept into her cheeks every time she happened to notice the red velvet bondage sashes still tied to the framework of the four-poster canopy bed.
Hank had made another of her fantasies come true after she’d read to him from the rough draft of Bound at the Bed & Breakfast. He’d tied her to the posters on the bed and flogged her with a soft deer hide flogger until the boundaries between pain and pleasure had blurred. He’d brought her to orgasm with his final strokes before climbing up on the bed behind her and fucking her against the damask rose wallpaper until she’d climaxed again.
The encounter had inspired her and she’d tossed and turned after they’d dimmed the lights. Hank had finally taken her in his arms and said, “Nika, you need to get it out of your system or you’ll never sleep. Go, beautiful. Go write.” She’d kissed him before taking her seat at the little desk and writing deep into the night.
Occasionally, her eyes had drifted to the powerful man slumbering in the big, rumpled bed and her heart had felt like it was swelling.
When she’d returned to the bed hours later, he’d taken her into his warm, strong arms and made love to her again, this time with heart-wrenching tenderness.
His cock had still been embedded deep inside her as they’d drifted off to sleep spooned together, since they were no longer using the condoms. He’d never gone completely soft and she’d stayed aroused, even as she dozed.
She’d awakened later to find him hard as a rock inside her. She’d stayed still while he slept, so turned on she was practically vibrating with the need to come but reluctant to awaken him because he needed his rest. His hands had felt so hot, so possessive, as he held her tightly to him in his sleep. With his body tilted slightly over hers, the sensation of being pinned down and so encompassed by him had made her heart pound. She’d finally reached a point of arousal where she trembled uncontrollably, and he’d chuckled behind her and said, “Can’t stand it any longer, Nika?”