Then Andy was swinging a roundhouse punch at a big Frenchman and Flynn focused on the fight at hand. The world faded to Andy’s weight on his shoulders, the signals to turn, the struggle to stay upright in the mass of writhing muscles, the sound of punches hitting flesh, curses and grunts, the smell of sweat and bruised grass.

  Blood dripped from Andy’s nose down onto Flynn, but he ignored it. There were only three giants left now, and he and Andy were under attack from the formidable SAS pair.

  Flynn jumped back, out of range of a punch that would have knocked out a horse, and felt something hit the back of his knee like a sledgehammer. His entire left leg was a useless blaze of pain. He turned his head and saw Hall behind him, foot still retracting from the kick.

  Flynn staggered, and caught the shoulder of the SAS operator to prevent himself from falling. 'Fuck off, man,' he said, but he had seen the kick too and didn’t push Flynn away. He backed off half a step.

  Flynn used the tacit permission to turn and attack the American Giant. Andy launched at his on top, delivering a series of surgically precise blows. The fact that they had shared obscene jokes and a six-pack of beer the night before did not stop him, or slow the retaliation from his opponent.

  The expression on Hall’s face confirmed what Flynn expected. The bastard was going to go for it again. Flynn deliberately turned a quarter step away, leaving an opening, and Hall went for it. He kicked at Flynn’s knee again.

  Flynn was ready. With one leg off the ground to kick, Hall was off balance. Flynn lashed out with a sidekick to the other leg and as Hall stumbled, he elbowed him in the side of the head.

  Hall hit the ground, yelling that his jaw was broken.

  His team mate on top fell too, but rolled to his feet. 'Oh man up,' he told Hall. 'You’re screaming like a girl. You’re a fucking disgrace to the team.' He stalked off, leaving Hall on the ground.

  The battle was not over. The SAS pair had enough of playing nice, and went on the attack. Flynn lost track of time as they battled, neither pair giving an inch.

  He was sweating and exhausted by the time the SAS pair went for a close quarter clinch. The two men on top swayed, pulling at each other. Flynn had no idea what happened, but suddenly, he was on the ground, part of a four man skirmish.

  They broke apart and looked to Fletcher for a result.

  ‘This is a first,' he announced. 'It was impossible to tell who hit the ground first, so I’m declaring a tie in this event.'

  With Fletcher’s announcement, Summer joined the crowd which was whooping and hollering their approval. Hall elbowed his way through, ignoring the jeers of his former outfit. Aiming a vicious look towards Flynn, he and his team left the arena. The crowd parted, and she was in direct line of sight with Flynn.

  Bloody and bruised, he looked like a conquering warrior. A shiver of excitement passed through her. As if sensing it, his eyes narrowed, and he stalked towards her, accepting congratulations as he moved though the well-wishers but never breaking eye contact.

  'You won,' her voice sounded husky to her ears. She wiped her damp palms on her fatigues, unable to stop staring at him.

  'Aye,' he said. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

  He hurried her past the supply tent and in the shelter of one of the abandoned houses; he cupped the back of her neck with his palm and drew her towards him.

  He claimed her with that kiss. She lost herself in it, and when he released her, she had to struggle to remember where she was. All her attention was on Flynn. The gold flecks in his hazel eyes were like tiny flames. She could lose herself in those eyes, spend an eternity staring into their green-brown depths and never get tired. Flynn’s breath fanned her face.

  In the distance, the crowd continued to buzz with excitement, as they headed for the mess tent, but they might as well have been alone. The perfect silence at the heart of a storm. Her and Flynn. She felt that he could see right through her.

  Summer’s breath hitched as a trickle of blood ran down the side of his face. 'You’re hurt.'

  'Do you want to play nurse again?' His question was light-hearted, but there was an undercurrent there, barely leashed control with a promise of something more.

  A memory of their one night together flashed into her head – a fully clothed Flynn taking her against the wall while she wore nothing but her heels. Her stomach clenched. This wasn’t a one-night stand. They were standing in bright sunshine in the middle of a deserted Scottish village. There was no privacy. It would be madness. The logical part of her brain flashed a warning.

  She ignored it.

  'Yes.'

  Summer followed him through the uniformed crowd to the tent. You’re mistaken, she told herself. Nothing is going to happen. Flynn disappeared into the tent and she hovered outside. They couldn’t. Not here. He wouldn’t expect her to …

  Flynn reappeared carrying a rolled-up sleeping bag and a medi-kit, which he handed to her, 'This way.'

  They clambered over the broken stone wall and walked towards the shore. The sun beat down on her head. Behind them, the sound of celebration faded into the distance as the soldiers headed to the mess tent. The air was still, broken only by the sound of sea birds and waves crashing against the shore.

  Flynn paused on the overgrown path to pick some small red berries. 'Wolfberry,' he said as he popped one into his mouth. They’re not quite ripe yet, but when they’re ready …'

  His wicked grin told her that he wasn’t only talking about the fruit. He picked another and offered it to her. Flynn was teasing her. Well, two could play at that game. Summer opened her mouth obediently, sucking on his index finger as she took the glossy red berry from him.

  Flynn groaned.

  'Mmmm,' she said as the taste hit her tongue. It tasted a little like a raspberry, but with a different texture. She savoured it before she swallowed. 'It is heavenly.'

  'You think so? It’s not fully ripe yet.' Flynn laughed and then his expression turned serious. 'Not really ready yet. Like …'

  Summer waited for him to finish the sentence but he bent to pick some more berries, filling the pocket of his cargo pants. The man was maddening. How could he almost say something and pull away like that?

  They walked on until they came to an old wooden gate and he helped her climb over it. The sandy path led down to a semi-circular cove, a small sun-trap sheltered by jagged cliffs. The afternoon sun beat down on her heavy uniform. The fabric was beginning to chafe. Why hadn’t she worn her shorts? Without the cool breeze, she would bake in this jumpsuit if she had to wear it for much longer.

  Flynn picked a spot that was sheltered from the sea breeze and laid the sleeping bag on the sand. Summer looked around her. Unless someone came into the cove, they couldn’t be seen. Excitement trailed down her spine like an icy finger at the prospect of what was to come.

  He pulled his sweat-stained t-shirt over his head and tossed it over a silvery-grey tree trunk, before lying down on the makeshift bed and propping himself up on his elbows. 'Take off that uniform, soldier.'

  The quiet command in his tone made her reach for the zipper. Was she really going to do this? In broad daylight, only minutes away from the others. Low in her abdomen, desire unfurled like a sail in the wind.

  Flynn’s eyes narrowed. 'Don’t even think of disobeying me.'

  Summer ran her tongue along her lower lip, tasting the sticky residue of the berry. She reached for her zipper.

  'Shoes first, then the rest, slowly.'

  Summer toed off her pumps. With teasing slowness, she pulled down the zip to expose the pale lace of her bra beneath. She slid the uniform off one shoulder and then the other, all while keeping her eyes on his face.

  She shimmied out of the suit and it pooled at her ankles. Stepping out of it, Summer tossed it onto the driftwood trunk beside Flynn’s t-shirt. The matching cream lace panties should have been demure but judging by Flynn’s expression, they weren’t.

  'Anything else? Sir.' She added the last word, remembering when Flynn had collared her as if he owned her. Despite the warmth of the sun, she shivered.

  Flynn patted the sleeping bag beside him and reached for the medical kit. 'Let’s see what we have here.'

  Summer knelt, expecting him to take out something so that she could tend to his cut. She was surprised when he removed a larger packet and tore it open with his teeth. 'Tourniquet,' he announced. 'Give me your hands.'

  He grasped both of her wrists in one hand and eased the tourniquet over them with the other and tightened it. 'Lie down. Arms above your head.'

  She swallowed hard. This wasn’t the romantic interlude she had imagined. Flynn was in full Dom mode now. She lay back.

  'Good girl,' he said. Flynn traced a path with his finger from her throat, down through the valley of her breasts before pausing at the lacy edge of her panties. 'I don’t think you’ll need these.'

  He tugged them off and tossed them on top of the other clothing before turning his attention to her bra. Instead of removing it, he drew the lace away from her hardened nipples, plumping the tender flesh until he was satisfied. Reaching into his pocket he took out a handful of wolfberries. Flynn squeezed one of them, allowing the juice to drip onto her heated flesh. Summer squirmed and was rewarded with a stern look.

  She held her breath as he did the same with her other breast until a trail of juice slid into the hollow between them. She clenched her teeth, trying not to move. Her hips rocked involuntarily. She wanted him, wanted his hands and mouth on her. But Flynn was mercilessly patient, taking his own sweet time to work her into a helpless frenzy. 'Please.' A tiny whimper escaped.

  'As you’ve asked so nicely.' He took one nipple between his teeth and bit lightly, sending a sizzle of pleasure and pain straight to her core. Summer arched and cried out as his hot mouth seized her, stroking the tender flesh with his tongue. She fought against the desire to move her hands, wanting nothing more than to hold his head there as he sucked hungrily.

  He turned his attention to her other breast, and she whimpered. It was too much. 'Flynn, I can’t, I … Please, I need to come.'

  Flynn raised his head. His eyes were almost black with desire, the gold flecks glimmering. 'Not until I say and only if I say.'

  He licked greedily at the hollow between her breasts, removing all traces of the wolfberry juice, before taking a meandering path along her abdomen. Summer closed her eyes, focussing on the sensation of his mouth on her skin. When he slid between her thighs, forcing them apart, she moaned. Then he was gone.

  Summer heard rustling and she opened her eyes. Flynn was searching the medical kit. What was he up to now? She was on the edge, barely hanging on. The urge to squeeze her thighs together to get some relief was overwhelming. 'What are you…?'

  'Have you ever played doctors and nurses?' Flynn gave her a wicked smile. Without waiting for her response, he unrolled a cotton bandage. He raised her left knee, passing the bandage around it. The last loop of the bandage he fixed to the centre of her bra and tugged, making sure that it was firmly in place.

  Summer wriggled. She couldn’t move. A cool breeze blew in from the sea. In this position, she felt exposed, helpless and unbearably excited. She could do nothing without his permission. Flynn was in charge and, god help her, she had never felt so hot. But she would never admit it. Not to him.

  'Do you like that?' he asked.

  Summer tightened her lips and refused to answer.

  'Oh, I think you do. Let’s see if we can make it more interesting.' He reached into his pocket and took out a berry with which he caressed her bottom lip. 'I want you to hold this between your teeth. If you bite it, everything stops. Do you understand?'

  'Yes,' she croaked out the word.

  'And I’ll be doing my best to make sure that you do. Now, close your eyes.'

  'Bastard,' she got the word out before he popped the berry between her teeth. Surely Flynn couldn’t be such a sadist? She held the berry carefully, not wanting to squash it.

  With her eyes closed, each sensation was heightened. She could hear the waves crashing on the beach and a seagull overhead. She could smell the tang of the sea air. A rattle distracted her, followed by the hiss of an aerosol. What was he?

  She jerked in shock as an icy film was sprayed on one nipple and then the other. Summer struggled, trying not to bite down on the berry. Swear words came out in a muffled, incoherent jumble. Contrasting with her sun-heated skin, her nipples were icy cold, diamond hard peaks that almost hurt.

  But his hands and mouth were warm as they caressed her skin, teasing a path to her core. Summer arched her hips and received a sharp pinch on her nipple. She concentrated hard, trying not to bite down. It felt too good. He couldn’t stop now.

  A hot breath fanned her mons, and she shivered as Flynn traced a slow torturing finger around her clit. He plunged it inside her, and she gave a muffled cry, scrunching her eyes tightly shut. Don’t bite. Don’t bite.

  'Mmmmm, hot and sweet and so very wet. Now open your eyes. I want you to watch.' She forced them open, blinking, and the smouldering heat in his glance made her shiver. Flynn pumped his finger slowly inside her, the delicious sensation against her sensitive nerve endings making her want to scream. She clenched her inner muscles seeking more pressure and received a sharp tap on her thigh.

  'Naughty,' he said. 'Only when I say so.'

  He added a second finger, and she almost bit down. Summer twisted her head from side to side as he continued his sensual massage. His thrusting fingers moved faster, ramping up the intensity. She wanted to beg, to scream at him. Instead she concentrated on breathing and trying not to clench her teeth. The first wave of a massive orgasm shot through her. Like a tidal wave, it went on and on, destroying every shred of resistance in its path. So intense that she felt she was going to pass out. She couldn’t control herself any longer. She bit down. The taste of sweet-sour wolfberry flooded her mouth. Nothing had ever tasted so good.

  'Oh god, oh Flynn,' she wailed. They could probably hear her back at the camp, but she didn’t care.

  As the last shockwave of pleasure ebbed away, Flynn turned his attention to her clit. 'Please don’t.' she whimpered. 'It’s too soon. I can’t.'

  Flynn ignored her protest, tasting her with long slow licks. His mouth fastened over her sensitized clit, and she cried out when he took the tender nub between his teeth and nibbled lightly. With impossible speed another orgasm built into a sensual overload. Summer screamed out his name, mindless with pleasure as her body shuddered helplessly.

  'Poor baby,' he murmured as he cut the bandages from her and released her leg, rubbing her flesh, sending her into further tiny shocks that she couldn’t seem to stop.

  He cut the tourniquet from her wrists and rubbed them briskly.

  She couldn’t help him. She could barely move a muscle; she was a helpless creature with jelly for bones. Intermittent shudders passed through her for long minutes and Summer drifted sleepily with the sound of the tide. When she opened her eyes again, Flynn was staring at her. The brooding heat in his eyes told her that she was in trouble.

  'I do believe it’s my turn.'

  Flynn devoured her with his eyes. Every time he tried to talk himself out of getting involved with Summer, something like this happened. Now, with her sprawled out in front of him, all luscious inviting femininity, something snapped. He could not resist her. He could play at giving her a taste of life on the wild side, pretend he was indulging her taste for kink. But the truth was that he was caught in her web. God help him, he knew it was going to end badly, but he could not help it. He could no more resist Summer O’Sullivan than a child could resist chocolate. He was about to indulge, and knew he would pay the price.

  'I believe I owe you a punishment,' he told her, allowing a hint of menace to harden his voice.

  Summer blinked at him, startled. 'You mean that wasn’t—' She gestured at the rumpled sleeping bag.

  'Oh no, that was a warm-up, to get you good and receptive for your punishment. What do you think a girl who runs into a battle field deserves?'

  There was a sparkle of interest in her eyes. 'Um, a good tongue-lashing?'

  He fought not to laugh. God, she was irrepressible. No matter how mad she drove him, he loved her company. But he wasn’t letting her know that. 'No,' he said sternly. 'I was thinking of something with a bit more sting in the tail.'

  'You’re going to spank me? Aw, that’s not fair.' She looked around. 'Besides, there’s nowhere to do it.' She shot him a challenging glance, daring him to back down.

  'All operatives are trained to be inventive,' he told her.

  Flynn lifted her off the sleeping bag, tossed it over the beached tree trunk, then flipped Summer over and put her over it, arse up.

  'You’re a brute.' She glared at him over her shoulder, but made no move to get away.

  'And you’re a Victorian maiden?' He stood for a moment admiring the view. She had a world-class arse and this position showed it to perfection.

  He came up behind her and ran hand over her bottom, enjoying the feel of the silky skin. That olive oil did its job well. His first spank was no more than a tap, but she jumped and giggled. He did it again.

  He warmed her up gradually, taking his time before he increased the intensity of the spanks. She giggled her way through the first few, then began to curse, but settled every time he stopped to caress the pink skin. It was getting warmer and the contrast of the hot skin on her arse and the cool skin of her back was enticing. He could not resist dipping his head to string a line of kisses down her spine.

  'Mmmm,' she purred. It was the most enticing, encouraging sound he had ever heard. He spanked her again, loving the way her bottom absorbed the blows, the quiver after each one, the way she reacted. Some women endured a spanking. Summer gasped and yelped and shivered. He varied his strokes a little, seeing what made her react most.

  He spanked her with his fingers slightly parted, and she jerked in reaction. 'You bastard.'