One hand released her waist and gently brushed across her chest until he felt what he was looking for. Her hardened nipples. Oh, this would do quite well. He gently lowered his hand beneath the top of her dress until his fingers grasped a nipple. He squeezed, while at the same time flicking his finger over her nub. Over and over again he teased her nipple and stroked her, all the while whispering to her. “Just relax,” he said. “It’s natural to feel excited now.” He was not new to this exchange of power. Women loved his strength and dominance, growing weak in the knees and wet between the legs when he overpowered them. His fingers nimbly pinched her nipples so that she gasped, stroking her pussy until her back arched and she moaned.
“Good girl,” he said, as she jerked beneath his hands. “Come for Daddy.” She groaned and bucked, writhing as she climaxed hard. He continued to stroke her, easing back gently as she slowed, until she lay completely spent over his knee.
He released her, turning her over so that she lay in his arms. Her cheeks were bright red, as he’d suspected they would be, but as he drew her close to his chest, her arms reached for him.
“Hush now,” he crooned. “You’re a good girl. What a very good girl.” He held her until she was breathing steadily, calm again, then he planted a kiss on her forehead and stood her up. “Now, little girl, I want it clear. You know why I spanked you?”
She nodded, swallowing, as he continued. “And you know that little bit at the end was your reward for taking your punishment like a good girl?”
Though her eyes cast down, she nodded again.
“Very good. Will you obey Daddy like a good girl now?”
Her eyes were softer when she looked at him. Could they be… trusting?
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered.
He could’ve shouted with glee. It was almost too easy.
Chapter Nine
Long is the way and hard, that leads out of Hell to light. ? John Milton
Patricia leaned in and gave Aida an impulsive hug before she left. Aida kissed the woman’s cheek and traced her hand on the tiny head of her sleeping baby, her hand trembling a bit. It both unnerved and panicked Aida that the only woman in their company was leaving, before Aida had even had a chance to get to know her. She hadn’t confided a thing to her, and Patricia would likely remember Aida and her ‘husband,’ as well as the rest of the crew, fondly.
At her home, she’d mourned the loss of her tutor and friend, Lucille, though she hated to think of Lucille seeing her now. But it was when she was alone like this, in the quiet of night, or on the endless hours upon horseback, that she remembered with fondness Lucille’s soft laugh and sweet instructions. Aida’s mother had died at childbirth, and Lucille had been the only woman Aida had ever known as mother and friend.
Sadness descended on her as Patricia took her leave. The irony burned. The very men who’d taken her had rescued the woman who now roamed free.
Cole and Preach had a hushed conversation before Preach walked away. The large man heaved Patricia up on his own saddle, behind him, so she held tightly as he picked up the reins. Aida did her best to feel nothing. Allowing herself to feel numb emotionally was a skill she’d learned long before she’d ever met Cole.
She watched as Cole came back to their small group, his hands hitched in his pockets as his dark eyes darted back and forth, from one side to the next, taking it all in. Her heart thumped in her chest. It infuriated her that her body refused to submit to her angry protestations.No,she didn’t want to feel safe when his arms wrapped around her at night.No,it wasn’t right that being intimately strewn over his lap had felt darkly erotic. What kind of a woman was aroused by being spanked so harshly? How could she have let him bring her to ecstasy over his knee, the man who’dtakenher from her home, an outlaw running from the law? The man who’dwhippedher? It was wrong, so very wrong. Yet when he came to her side and his warm, rough hand engulfed hers, she stepped instinctively closer to him. He squeezed her hand, then held on tightly as he gestured for her to hoist herself up on his saddle. He followed suit.
“Y’all know what awaits us at the next stop,” he said, as he rounded his horse and his dark eyes took in each one of his men. “I want every one of you focused on my instructions. You know the next town over who we meet, and y’all know it ain’t unlikely our faces are plastered onWantedposters. You know what to do. You know where we meet if we get split.” He paused. “You know where your allegiance lies.”
His speech left more questions than answers.
You all know.
Shesure as hell didn’t know. What did her father owing them money have to do with heading into the next town? She didn’t realize she was looking at Cole questioningly until his dark eyes met hers and warmed. Leaning close enough to her so that she could smell the leather and smoke that’d become a familiar scent, he whispered in her ear, “You don’t worry about instructions, honey. You keep your eyes on Daddy.”
Daddy.
She clenched her jaw and looked straight ahead, giving a small nod to show she’d heard him, furious that her heart tripped in her chest and her body pulsed with heat. “Simply perfect,” she muttered, now overcome with anger that Patricia and Preach were gone and she was left hopelessly attracted to a sadistic son of a bitch who made her call him Daddy. Excellent.
Cole gave her a sideways glance over his shoulder. “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Aida.” His voice dropped as he leaned back and whispered, “Careful, darlin’. You know what happens to naughty girls.”
She swallowed hard, willing herself to remain aloof and detached andnot arousedby his overt display of raw masculinity and power. He raised an eyebrow, she feigned obedience, nodding. His jaw clenched in reluctant approval as he pricked his spurs, their horse taking off at a gallop.
They rode hard into the night, stopping only for a brief spell to eat. She’d become accustomed to eating what she was served, under Cole’s stern, watchful eye, but the griddle cakes caught in her throat, dry and unpalatable. At home, she’d never been forced to eat what she didn’t like, and her father had fired chefs who hadn’t accommodated her particular tastes.
“I’m not hungry anymore,” she’d insisted, but she’d eaten hardly anything. She got to her feet, but he quickly took her by the elbow, bent her over, and gave her a good, hard swat. The other men hadn’t even flinched, but the correction in front of them mortified her and she’d reluctantly gulped down two more of the dry, flat cakes while Cole stood and watched, arms across his chest.Brute.
The gun had been a tragic mistake, now tucked away in Cole’s belt probably until such time he saw fit to give it back to Junior. She’d be an angel now, perfectly obedient. He’d have no excuse to spank her.
She wondered if he would find one. Though she feared punishment, a small part of her, a part that she kept hidden in denial, was attracted to his utter control.
As they began their journey again, the sun dipping low on the horizon, a chill crept over Aida, and she shivered.