Unforgettable (12 page)

“Tell me.”

He scowled. “I don’t think your accident was actually an accident. We’re having your car looked at. The brakes were possibly tampered with.”

She sat, suddenly feeling weak. “Oh God. I just figured the mechanic was inept and did something to my car he shouldn’t had. But they’ve found me, haven’t they? They tried to kill me.” Fear curdled in her stomach, making her nauseous and light-headed.

“Maybe.” He crouched before her, grabbing her hands. “Damn, your hands are freezing. This is why I didn’t want to tell you.”

“I needed to know, Galen. This is my life. I have to know so I can protect myself.”

He growled. “I protect you. I will not compromise on your safety, Eden. I stand between you and those who threaten you. Always. That is non-negotiable. You will stay here, under my protection until they are found.”

“And just how are they going to be found unless we draw them out?” she asked. She knew Rick was looking for them, but he had no leads.

Galen glared at her, his eyes shining. “My woman will not be used as bait.”

“Well, your woman says she will be. I’m going to ring Rick and suggest that right now.” She stood, moving towards the phone when suddenly he stood in front of her. Eden gasped in shock.

“How the hell can you move so fast?” she asked. He’d been across the room.

“You are going to go and have a nap. You will not be calling Rick and putting yourself in further danger.”

She placed her hands on his hips. “Listen, buster, you’re not the boss of me. I don’t know exactly how our relationship worked before, but I am not going to put up with you ordering me around now. And I feel fine. I do not need a nap. Get out of my way.”

He raised his brows and took a step towards her. She took a step back, swallowing at the dark look he sent her. “So you feel better?”

She nodded and took another step back as he continued to move toward her.

“Your bruises?”

“They don’t hurt. Not anymore.”

“You won’t go to bed for a nap?” He took another step forward.

Eden came up against the wall and nodded, raising her chin with false bravado. “I’m fine. You can stop smothering me.”

“All right. I will. But if you’re well enough to argue with me and make foolish suggestions then I guess you’re well enough for that spanking I owe you.”

Her jaw dropped. “What? No!”

He raised his brows, his face as calm as his voice. “You still need time to recover? I can put you to bed right now.”

“Grr,” she growled. “That’s not fair.”

“Nap or spanking. Your choice,” he said arrogantly.

“Some choice,” she muttered. “I don’t want either.”

Galen held out his hand. “Come here.”

Eden walked reluctantly towards him and grabbed his hand. He immediately tugged her closer.

“Clothes off,” he demanded.

“What?” She crossed her arms over her body, as if she were already naked and trying to cover herself. “Why?”

“Because it’s what I wish. Off. Now.”

Slowly, she drew off his t-shirt. He’d insisted she wear one of his, liking the way she was surrounded in his scent. She wasn’t wearing a bra, her small breasts bobbing slightly as she pulled off her shorts. Her panties were lavender and made of delicate lace. Galen resisted the urge to draw them off himself, to forget about her spanking and draw her over his lap for an entirely different reason.

As if sensing his thoughts, her movements became slower, more sensual as she stripped off her panties. She placed a hand on her hip, pushing her chest forward.

“You know, there are more enjoyable things we can be doing. Is there not some other way I could make things up to you?” Her gaze lowered to his cock which was pressing tightly against his pants. But he didn’t give in to his urge to take her. Instead he raised an eyebrow.

“Are you trying to distract me with sex, brat?”

“Is it working?” She batted her eyelids.

Galen barely held in his laughter. It wouldn’t do for her to see just how tempted he was.

“That’s ten extra, kitten.”

“What?” she wailed as he grabbed her hand once more. “No, Galen, please,” she begged as he drew her over his lap, positioning her so her torso was well supported by the sofa. He didn’t want her thrashing around and hurting herself.

“Give me your hands.”

“What? Why?”

“Eden,” he simply said, his warning clear in his voice. She placed her hands behind her against the small of her back; he held her wrists together with his hand.

“I don’t want you thrashing about. I want you to stay very still. Understand me. I don’t want you bumping your bruises.”

“Then don’t spank me!”

“You made your choice, angel.” Smack! He wasn’t about to go easy on her. She’d placed herself in danger. She’d disobeyed him. In fact this called for more than just his hand.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

He watched the way her skin pinkened, heard her breath catch as she tried to hold in her tears. Like that would go on for long.

Galen spanked her hard, his smacks sharp and quick, covering her buttocks and upper thighs with burning blasts of heat.

Finally, she let out a sob. “Please, Galen, stop. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, honey,” he told her. “I’m afraid we’re only just getting started.” He laid into her steadily, until she was crying, sobbing, her pleas almost incoherent.

Finally, he stilled, satisfied with how red her bottom looked. He rubbed the small of her back until she calmed a little.

“I’m going to help you up, kitten. I want you to go into the bedroom and stand with your nose against the corner, and your legs spread. Understand me?”

She stiffened and he allowed himself a small smile.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No, sweetheart, I’m very serious. So serious that if you don’t do as I’ve ordered you to in the next two minutes then I’m going to take off my belt and give you ten swipes of it on your already very red and swollen bottom.”

With a loud sob, she let him help her up then padded off slowly to the bedroom, her red buttocks a beacon that held his attention until she’d disappeared from the room.

He shook his head then went into the bathroom to prepare the plug he’d bought for her earlier in the week. He hadn’t quite expected to use it this soon, but he should have known she wouldn’t be able to keep herself out of trouble.

Grabbing the small plug and some lube, he walked back into the bedroom and placed them on the small bedside table. Eden stood just as he’d told her to, her whole body stiffening as she heard him.

“Can I move now?” she asked.

“No talking while in the corner, kitten. And you don’t move until I say so.”

He positioned a couple of pillows, one on top of each other in the middle of the mattress, then turned to her.

“Come here then, honey,” he said, standing with his arms open wide. Eden immediately flew into his embrace, hugging him tightly. He rocked her.

“You know I only spank you because I love you and I never, ever want anything bad to happen to you. I nearly died when I found you gone, Eden. My life would be over without you. All I want is for you to listen and obey me when it comes to your safety. Even when you think I’m being overprotective and bossy.”

She nodded. “I understand. I’m sorry.”

“Good. There’s only a small bit of your punishment left.”

Eden gasped. “No, Galen, I can’t take any more spanking, please.”

“Shh,” he soothed her, running his hand over her back. “No more spanking. I want you to kneel over those pillows on the bed then spread your legs wide.”

She glanced up at him with wide eyes. But she slowly moved to position herself.

“Good girl. Now reach back and part your bottom cheeks.”

He thought holding herself open added a level of humiliation that she needed to remember this, to know that he was very, very serious about her safety.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to plug you, honey. You’re going to wear the plug and your spanking for the rest of the day and you’re going to know that I love you very much. Now do as I say.”

“It’s too embarrassing!” she wailed.

“Nothing is embarrassing between us, sweetheart. Now do as I say else I’ll go and get a wooden spoon and spank your bottom hole.”

With a cry, she reached back and parted herself for him. Galen grabbed the lube and kneeled behind her. He squirted some lube onto his finger and ran it over her asshole. Immediately, he tensed, trying to clench, to keep him out. He smacked one butt cheek. Hard.

Eden cried out.

“No clenching or I’ll get some ginger, trust me, honey, you don’t want that. Ginger stings something wicked. Now relax and push out as I press my finger inside you.”

“Oh God,” she groaned, but she did as he asked and his finger easily pushed through the tight muscle into her hole. He rocked his finger back and forth, swirling it around as she groaned from what he was sure was a mix of embarrassment and arousal. Eden had always loved anal play. Except during punishment.

Galen pulled back and slathered the plug in lube.

“Now here comes the plug. Big breath in. Very nice. Here it comes, breathe out now, honey.” He watched on, his cock hard as stone as her asshole enveloped the black plug inch by slow inch. Once it was fully seated, he twirled it a few times then gave it a firm pat before pulling back to look at his handiwork.

Eden’s breath was coming quicker, he’d bet anything she was aroused. Testing his theory, he moved a finger through her folds.

“Oh, honey, this going to be torture for you, isn’t it?” he said as he pulled his fingers back, wet with her moisture. Torture for both of them unfortunately. He shifted, trying to ease the ache in his balls.

“Please,” she begged as he flicked her clit. He drew back as her breath started quickening, knowing she was just a few strokes away from completion.

“Sorry, kitten, no pleasure after punishment. Now, how do you feel about that nap?”

He chuckled as she groaned. But she allowed him to help her lie down on her side, the plug settled nicely between her well-spanked cheeks.

Galen stayed with her, rubbing her back until she fell into a deep sleep.

With a soft kiss to her forehead, he lay beside her, just happy to hold her.

Chapter Nine:

Strong, sleek muscle rippled under silken skin. Dreamily, she watched as Galen raised the axe again before bringing it strongly down, easily splitting the large log in front of him. Standing at the window, sipping her coffee, Eden was transfixed by his half-naked body.

She’d been soundly turned down when she’d offered to help. He wouldn’t even hear of her going out in the cold, let alone hauling heavy logs around. She probably should have felt smothered, but instead she felt warmed by the way he took care of her.

The ringing of the phone interrupted her musings and she turned, moving into the kitchen to pick up the receiver. Finding her boss, Rosie, on the other end she was soon in deep in conversation.

*****

Galen had only one thought on his mind as he entered the cottage, and that was to find his mate and drag her off to bed. He’d known she was watching him as he chopped wood, it was the reason he’d taken off his shirt. Knowing how responsive she was he was sure he’d find her very accepting of his planned afternoon activity.

As he walked through the cottage he heard her voice. Certain that no one could have entered the cottage without his knowledge; he nevertheless quieted his step, moving stealthily in case of danger.

 “Of course I’m fine to work. I’ll come in for the breakfast rush tomorrow morning. No, no, I feel fine. All better. Okay, Rosie, see you tomorrow.”

He waited until she’d ended the call to speak.

“You are not going back to work.” He didn’t care how arrogant he sounded; there was no way she was going back there.

Her eyebrows rose, the only expression that showed on her face as she stared up at him silently. “I don’t recall asking you.” Her voice was a quiet monotone that only fueled the flames of his temper. He was not backing down on this.

“You will obey me in this, Eden. You are not going back to work. You’re not strong enough. You have to quit anyway, it might as well be now.”

“First of all, mister.” She pointed a finger at him. “Just because I’ve been letting you boss me around for the last couple of days does not mean that I answer to you. I am not going to ask ‘how high’ when you say ‘jump’. I’ll let you drive me. In fact, you kind of have to, I don’t have a car anymore.”

Galen clenched his hands. The lion paced, demanding her submission.

“I will have your obedience in this matter, Eden. As your mate it is my responsibility and my pleasure to see to your safety. I don’t like you working in that diner. We don’t know that your crash was an accident, and until I know it is safe you will not leave this cottage!” The last word came out on a roar, and her eyes widened as she took a quick step back. Galen felt sick at the flash of fear he saw enter her eyes.

“If I stay here I’m letting them win. And what do you mean by mate? What are you keeping from me, Galen?”

Hurt colored her voice, but he couldn’t let it sway him.

“You know everything you need to know,” he stated arrogantly, clamping down on the urge to shift into lion form and show her exactly what he was keeping from her.

Twin spots of red shone on her cheeks as her hands clenched themselves into fists. She spoke between tightly gritted teeth, “Get out.” She was sick of being lied to, being kept in the dark. This was her life. If he couldn’t be completely honest with her then she didn’t feel the need to listen to his arrogant orders.

Taking a step forward he growled when she took a few steps back, keeping herself out of his range.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Kitten…”

She held up a hand, shaking her head. “Just don’t. If you can’t be honest with me then I don’t want you here. Just leave.”

“No.”

Accusation flowed like liquid lava in her voice. “You know more than you’re telling me. You’ve lied to me.”

“I am not leaving you. You are my mate. You may think you don’t remember me, but deep down you know that you are mine.”