I’d broken all three rules, a cardinal sin in the world I’d allowed myself to become embroiled in. However, there were some things that needed to be handled.

  While I’d struggled with the decision about what to do with Angelo, the fact remained that he couldn’t go unpunished. Through other contacts, I’d learned that he’d gone with his family on an extended vacation, the Florida trip coming out of the blue. I had the distinct feeling he’d been sent away until things cooled off. I’d been in Orlando for less than a day, the entire Disney World experience bothering me more than I thought it would.

  However, I would enjoy bringing Grady and Hope to the resort, fulfilling the boy’s dream. I tapped my fingers on the table as I adjusted my sunglasses. I’d found the perfect table for the purposes I needed, the location crowded with tourists. Thank God I didn’t have to wait but so much longer, the music far too happy for my dark mood.

  Angelo didn’t notice me at first, but when he did, he froze. I gave him a single nod then looked away. If the man was smart, he’d follow the cues. A few seconds later, the chair in front of me was scraped against the floor. I casually looked forward, taking a few seconds before removing my sunglasses.

  “Dominik,” he whispered, his voice shaking.

  “I’m certain you are surprised to see me, especially since you were prepared to hear about my death. I’m actually almost perplexed that you weren’t sent to kill me yourself.” I leaned forward, resting my arms on the small table. “Then again, you don’t seem to have the backbone needed to be an assassin.”

  “I don’t know what you want me to say, Dominik. If you’d just completed your task, then none of this would have happened.” Angelo was trembling, sweat beading along his forehead. He looked away, his breathing becoming raspy. “You know how Ivanov was.”

  I chuckled under my breath. “Perhaps. Unfortunately, you don’t know what kind of man I am.”

  “What do you want?”

  “What I want and what’s going to happen are two entirely different things.” I wanted him on the edge, nervous about what I’d do.

  “Please, don’t hurt my family,” he begged.

  “You know what? Today is your lucky day, Angelo. I’m not going to hurt either you or your family, but you are going to do something for me. If you do, then you don’t have to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life. If you don’t, you won’t know when I’m coming.”

  “Anything. I’ll do anything you want.”

  I’d always told Hope to be careful what she asked for.

  As I explained what I needed, his eyes opened wide. I knew it would be a difficult decision for him, but I was certain he’d do the right thing in order to redeem himself.

  If not, I would see him again.

  Chapter 17

  Hope

  “You look beautiful tonight.”

  Dominik’s husky voice sent a series of vibrations into every cell and muscle. We’d had been able to take fifteen minutes alone since he’d returned from his secret destination. I knew better than to ask him about it. I was simply grateful he’d returned in one piece. He’d told me that Lola and Tom were doing well. That gave me a sense of relief.

  “You’re pretty sexy yourself.”

  I noticed that he’d locked the door before advancing with two glasses of wine in his hand. The moment he handed me one of them, our fingers touched, and I was seared from the building heat.

  “I missed the hell out of you, Hope.”

  “You did, huh?” I fluttered away from him, taking a sip of wine. The French doors were open, allowing a light cool breeze to enter the bedroom. Grady was already fast asleep, the day’s events tuckering him out.

  “Absolutely. Do you know what I kept thinking about while I was gone?”

  “Do I want to know?”

  He chuckled darkly as he advanced, the look on his face just as predatory as the first time. Tingles swept through my system, my panties already dampened from the incredible anticipation of our night together.

  When he lifted my chin with a single finger, I took a series of shallow breaths. “About the discipline you need so desperately.”

  “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “What’s that American expression? Let me count the ways.”

  I bit my lower lip, giving him a pouty look. “That’s not fair.”

  “Oh, yes, it is. You disobeyed orders and went away from a secure location. You even stole a man’s truck in order to do so. I think that’s some pretty egregious rule breaking. Don’t you?”

  “I plead the fifth.” He towered over me in my bare feet, his masculine scent rocketing through me like a tidal wave.

  “That’s probably best that you do.” He took my wine from my hand, placing both glasses on the nightstand. Then he unbuttoned his sleeves, rolling them up past his elbows.

  I shrank back, even darting looks toward the door.

  “I don’t think you really want to try and run away from me. That would double your punishment.”

  “Oh. I’ll be good. I promise.”

  “I know you will. Now remove your sexy little dress and panties.”

  My nipples ached from the thought. Huffing, I realized I wasn’t getting out of this. I waited for a few seconds as he walked to his dresser, slowly opening one of the drawers. I could tell the man was trying to push my anxiety to a higher level by keeping me waiting.

  “Are you undressed yet?” he asked in a stern tone, although he already knew the answer given he was staring at me in the mirror.

  I quickly did as I was told, a warm flush shifting from my neck to my cheeks. When he turned around, he had some kind of paddle in his hand. Before he moved away from the dresser, he turned on some music, making it just loud enough it would mask the noise.

  Swallowing, I was dreading this round of punishment more than any other and I didn’t know why.

  Dominik placed the paddle near the edge of the bed then reached around me, grabbing my soaked panties.

  “Open your mouth,” he instructed.

  “Why?”

  “Because we don’t want to wake Grady, now do we?”

  I was mortified, feeling more like a bad little girl than I’d ever before. But I obeyed him, opening my mouth as wide as possible. When he balled and shoved my panties into my mouth, another jolt of embarrassment shot through me like a cannon. I couldn’t believe he was doing this to me.

  Every action he made was deliberate, the mean man taking his time sitting on the bed. Then he took my hands, guiding me closer. “You disappointed me. You almost got yourself killed. That would have crushed me, Hope.”

  All I could do was look into his eyes to know he was telling me the truth.

  “In order to keep you safe, you need to learn to obey me. I’m going to help you be able to do that by punishing you when necessary. From what I can tell, that’s going to be often.”

  I moaned through the lace fabric, but that didn’t seem to faze him.

  “Let’s get this over with. I’m going to issue thirty for leaving when you weren’t supposed to and ten for stealing the truck. You will maintain your position and if you fight me, I will start over. Do you understand?”

  All I could do at that point was nod. As he pulled me over his lap, I closed my eyes, shaking all over.

  Dominik rubbed the paddle from one ass cheek to the other, still taking his time.

  The bastard.

  Then he wasted no additional time, smacking me four times in rapid succession. The pain was instantaneous, shooting down the backs of my legs. I would have screamed if I hadn’t been gagged. I shifted, kicking out only once. Then I did what I could to keep from moving.

  He rubbed his hand across my bottom before smacking me two more times.

  “You’re doing very well.”

  I knew his voice was meant to be soothing, but nothing could make me feel any better. When he began again, I lost count of how many he cracked against my skin. All I knew is that my bottom was on fire, the pain blinding.

  I was also very wet, my pussy clenching several times. I could hear his breathing becoming ragged. His cock was already pressing against my tummy, throbbing from his hunger. The man was insatiable.

  He smacked me several additional times then brushed his fingers down the crack of my ass, teasing my swollen folds. I realized I was bucking against him, the scent of our combined desires intoxicating.

  “Only ten more,” he growled.

  With every hard thudding sound as the thick wood hit my skin and with every slice of pain jetting through my system, I continued to fall deeper and deeper into a darkened wave of lust. Maybe I was the insatiable one.

  A few seconds later, he caressed my burning bottom, brushing his fingertips across my bruised skin. He was speaking Russian, his whispered words adding to the haze surrounding my periphery of vision.

  “You can be a good girl,” he said as he gathered me into his arms, cradling me against his chest. As he smoothed his hand over my hair, I was able to hear the erratic beating of his heart. When he made me a promise, I knew that nothing would stop him from keeping it.

  “I will always protect you with my life, Hope. I give you my word. Nothing will happen to you or Grady. So. Help. Me. God.”

  Anticipation.

  I had no idea what was going on and the lack of control made me crazy. I no longer had patience of any kind and since the man sitting next to me in the rental car wasn’t confiding what the hell we were doing here, butterflies continued to swarm in my stomach.

  “If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’m going to scream,” I said absently.

  Dominik laughed. “Go ahead and scream. I’ll just add that to your list of infractions.”

  His deep baritone was especially sexy on this beautiful morning. The way his voice slid across my bare arms, moving straight into my pussy wasn’t something new, but the sound seemed entirely different today and I couldn’t place why.

  Grady kicked the seat behind us, growing more impatient by the minute. While the flight had been all first class, he’d remained grumpy after Jessie’s departure. We were in Oregon, the state I’d longed to live in the kind of secret I’d held near and dear to my heart. With all that had occurred, I hadn’t remembered telling him how much just seeing the Pacific Ocean from some spot in Oregon would mean to me.

  I rubbed my forehead before turning my attention to Dominik. When he shot me a single glance, his nostrils flaring, I could see the same kind of hunger in his eyes I’d witnessed for weeks. That alone made my nipples ache. I knew in my heart the time we’d spent together was nearly over. A man like Dominik could never settle down, especially with what had happened to Jake.

  At least the time we’d shared had been wonderful, the farm so peaceful. While my stint at riding horses hadn’t been as successful as I’d hoped, Grady loved the pony he’d been introduced to, Jerry taking his time to make certain the little man was safe. I suspected that after our return to Kentucky, Dominik would find some polite way of telling me that he had to move on. Where I’d go from there was still undetermined, but I knew Grady and I would survive. That’s what we’d done for years, and no one was going to take anything else away from us.

  I tried to pay attention to the gorgeous surroundings, but I remained embroiled in the horrible images, visions that refused to leave me alone. I only prayed in time I would be able to let them go. After a few minutes, I realized Grady was no longer kicking. I jerked up, fighting with the seatbelt in an effort to make certain he was okay.

  The second Dominik placed his hand on my knee, I took a deep breath. Every touch from his hand or his lips gave me a small shock of electricity. Shuddering, I swallowed hard.

  “Relax. He’s just asleep. It’s already been a long day.” Dominik squeezed my knee.

  “Yes, it has. Where was Jerry going?” He’d taken off two hours before us to a destination unknown.

  “I think he’s purchasing a home in Smith Mountain.”

  “Hmm… Why do I think you’re lying to me?”

  He laughed. “Remember what I’ve told you. There are certain things you shouldn’t ask about.”

  “Maybe I want to know. I think I have a right to after everything we’ve been through.”

  After glancing into the rearview mirror, he sighed. “Let’s just say he’s making certain the rest of the trash is being disposed of in New York. Then he really is buying a piece of property he’s had his eye on.”

  “Another member of the Ivanov family?”

  He didn’t need to answer for me to know that was the truth.

  “Good for him. I mean not the first part, but definitely the second.” I laughed nervously, realizing we were getting closer to the ocean. “Do people like you ever really free yourself from your past?”

  He shifted his attention to the GPS for a few seconds. “Sometimes.”

  “Will you ever be able to?” I wasn’t certain I wanted to know this particular answer.

  “As a matter of fact, I’ve retired.”

  “I’m sorry?” I coughed several times, turning so I could really study his eyes. “Are you serious?”

  “I am. You taught me that life is far too short.”

  When he said nothing else, I wasn’t certain whether to believe him or not. He’d changed so much since the ordeal, still so protective yet more relaxed. If you could call two security guards and a firearm always on hand relaxed. At least he locked the guns away, ensuring that Grady had no opportunity to get ahold of any kind of weapon. He’d also shown me his secret room under the garage-like structure, opening up in so many ways.

  That made the thought about what was going to happen in the future that much more painful. “I’m glad, Dominik. You deserve to have a happy life. I hope you can find that.” I hated the fact I was forced to fight back tears. I looked away, barely cognizant when he started slowing down.

  “What makes you think I haven’t already?”

  The slight teasing tone forced me to pay attention to where he was going. As he drove onto an aggregate driveway, older trees located only yards away, it reminded me a little bit of a picture my mother had once shown me of a place she’d visited when she was younger. When he pulled the car into a circle driveway, the first thing I noticed was the lovely flowers in several beds. While the house wasn’t grandiose by any means, it was well maintained. It was the setting that was so gorgeous, the ocean the backdrop.

  “Did you rent the house for us to stay in while we are here?” I was surprised how excited I was, feeling almost like a kid in a candy store.

  “Do you like it?” he asked as he shifted into park and cut the engine.

  “It’s beautiful. Just lovely.”

  “Wait until you see the rear of the home. You might be surprised. I hope you enjoy the stay.”

  I gripped his hand, a single tear slipping past my lashes. “Thank you for my amazing surprise. This means more to me than you could ever know.”

  “Oh, I think I understand. Let’s wake up Grady.”

  While I took my time admiring the view from the passenger seat, Dominik moved around the car, opening the door and speaking softly to Grady. After climbing out, all I could do was smile at the way the man carefully unfastened the car seat, easing my little man onto the ground.

  Grady rubbed his eyes with his fists, yawning as he started to look around. “What’s dis place?”

  “We’re going to stay here for a few nights, honey. And guess what? There’s a beach.”

  I might have been excited, but his squeals indicated his Superman had just made him the happiest little boy in the world.

  As Dominik guided us inside, he stood close to the entrance, allowing me to take a look by myself. Meanwhile, Grady raced around the house like a bat out of hell, squealing to the point I could barely hear myself think.

  The house was absolutely gorgeous inside. From the refinished floors to the spectacular modern kitchen with granite countertops, to the most comfortable furnishings that I’d ever seen, I could imagine enjoying every second I was lucky enough to spend time here. However lovely the interior, it was no match for the incredible views. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors covered the entire back of the home, allowing for a picturesque widescreen of the gorgeous rolling ocean waves. I realized I was rushing toward the set of doors, fumbling with the locks then bolting out onto one of the four decks. There was even a freaking swimming pool and hot tub.

  I took several deep breaths, savoring the scent of the ocean. When I felt his presence behind me, I tingled all over.

  “What do you think?” he asked as he flanked my side.

  “Gorgeous. There is no other word for it.” I planted my hands on the railing, tilting my head and allowing the breeze to float against my face. “I hope it’s okay Grady is seeking an adventure all by himself.”

  “I think he needs to get to know his new surroundings right away. Don’t you?” He inched closer, finally taking me into his arms. “I assure you that we’ll be able to have some new adventures of our own.”

  I pressed my palms against his chest, unable to take my eyes off his. “I would really enjoy that.” No amount of fear regarding the future was going to keep me from enjoying such a perfect vacation.

  “Good, because it would appear that you need to learn to obey me all over again.”

  “Obey, huh?”

  He nodded, the deep growl he issued making me swoon. “Every hour of the day.” He brushed his fingers down the back of my hair before tangling them and pulling me closer. “As I told you, sunshine. You are already mine. That means you abide by my rules.”

  The twinkle in his eyes remained, but he was rock hard as he pushed his hips against me. If he hadn’t been holding me so tightly, I would have easily slipped to the deck’s surface. “You are so mean.”

  “Yes. Yes, I am.” As he lowered his head, he blew across my face before capturing my mouth. The kiss was gentle and oh-so sweet, but my heart was still hammering against my chest.

  I slid my arms around him, enjoying the warmth as well as the dazzling sensations. As he thrust his tongue inside, I arched my back, falling further and further into him. The taste of him. His scent. The way his body molded against mine. He was still a dangerous man, but he was the beautiful beast that I’d fallen desperately in love with.