Love's Taming (The Love's Series) (9 page)

Before she could move, he leaned in, grabbing her knees to spread her legs as wide as they would go before slamming into her. Leaning up as he pounded into her, he watched her breasts move up and down with his thrusts, enflaming him even more. “I own this, baby. Just me. Remember that.” With those words, he leaned down, capturing a nipple in his mouth and sucking deeply.

Annie had never had a man tell her he owned her, but she was too far gone to protest.
If this is what it means to be owned, then hell yeah!
She didn’t think she would be able to have a second orgasm so closely to the first, but she could tell it was coming.

“You close, baby?” he asked, his voice rough with need.

“Yes, yes,” she panted back.

Suddenly he pulled out, leaving her bereft. Her eyes flew open to question, but before she could think, she was flipped over onto her stomach.

“Up on your knees, Annie. Stick that sweet ass in the air.”

She obeyed quickly, because the thought of what she was about to experience overrode any thought of protesting against the alpha-man-in-charge. She felt him plunge from the back, hitting a place deep inside that had never been touched before. This angle was her new favorite position, but before she could express this, she felt a hard slap on her ass, then it was quickly smoothed by his hand.

“That okay for you, baby. Won’t do if is you don’t like it, but gotta’ say, I like to play.”

She nodded because as surprised as she was at the spanking, she felt herself tingle all through her core and wanted him to do it again.

“Don’t just nod, baby. You want it, I need to hear you say it, so there’s no mistake.”

“Yeah, honey. I want it.”

The words had no sooner left her mouth than she felt another sharp stinging slap. Several more rapid spanks followed, then the sting was smoothed by his rough hand.

“Goddamn, you’re tight. I can feel your pussy grab my cock every time I spank you. Are you close again?”

“Yes,” she panted out once more, desperately hoping he was not going to pull out again. She was not disappointed. His thrusts increased and as he leaned over her back to roll her nipple once again, she screamed out his name as she came harder than she had ever come. A few more thrusts and he joined her, his head thrown back, neck muscles straining as he released into her body.

They both collapsed, he almost crushing her until he could roll to the side, pulling her with him. Hearts pounding, they lay silent for a few minutes until the fog of bliss slowly lifted.

Turning to face him, she raised her hand to his strong, stubbled jaw, and then she placed the softest kiss he had ever experienced on his lips.

Staring into her green eyes, he said, “Annie, I need you to remember this. No matter what else happens, this, right here, between us, is real.”

Her brow crinkled, but before she could ask any questions, he reiterated, “Got shit in my life. Shit I have to deal with. And I’m trying to keep that from you. But you gotta know that this is real. What we’re doin’. What we’re feelin’. It’s real. You with me?”

Not sure what he was talking about, she knew that she felt the same way so she simply agreed. “Yeah, Stoney. I’m with you.”

He closed his eyes tightly as he pulled her head into his chest, tucked under his chin. Wrapping his other arm around her, he pressed her into him as he held on as though his life depended on her.

“Baby? I’ve gotta go take care of some business. I don’t know when I’ll be back, but as soon as I can, I’m comin’ back to you.”

She jerked her head back. “You’re leaving? Where are you going? For how long?” She could hear her voice rising with each question.
I’ve just found you and you’re leaving me?

“Shhh, baby. It shouldn’t be long. I’ve got some work I need to take care of and hopefully it will be done soon. Then I’ll be back. I promise. And we will continue this, only it will be better.”

Her eyes searched his, but the darkness staring back at her gave no expression. Knowing he had work to do just as she had her practice to run, she could hardly blame him.

“Are these some of the problems that you fix?” she asked.

“Yeah, baby. These are definitely problems that I have to go fix, but it will end soon, and then I can devote my time to lettin’ you know you are the one.”

Still not knowing what he was talking about, she allowed him to pull her head back into his chest. Relaxed, sated, warm next to his body and tired from a long day, sleep overtook her.

Stoney lay there, listening to her easy breathing, knowing that this may be the last time he held her.
I come out of this alive, I’m comin’ back, baby. We come out of this unscathed, we’ll be together and stronger.
Kissing the top of her head, he slid out of bed. Grabbing his clothes, he slipped out of her apartment, making sure to have the door lock behind him.

Then once again, he moved through the shadows, his survival depending on him staying out of sight. Rubbing his hand over his face, he realized how tired he was of the game he was playing. Finding a woman he cared about…really cared about, made him know the game needed to end. Glancing back down the alley at her apartment, he couldn’t help but wonder.
Will we get out of this unscathed? And if so, will she forgive me?

*     *     *

That night, a
combined task force of Richland police, DEA, and FBI raided several warehouses arresting a large number of people involved in an organized illegal drug operation. With search warrants in hand, they effectively shut down a huge portion of the gang’s drug activities, including drug sales through prostitution and strip clubs and transporting drugs across state lines.

Processing the gang members lined up, handcuffed, and being loaded into transports, the officers smiled knowing the hard work and diligence of each of them culminated in a huge investigation finally coming to an end. As they carefully noted the ones arrested, a tall, tattoed, bearded man with dark eyes and his hands cuffed behind him glared back at them just before he was loaded onto the RDP bus.

A
week passed
without a word heard from Stoney. Annie kept running their last time together over and over in her mind, searching for clues as to what his words meant. “
Got shit in my life. Shit I have to deal with. And I’m trying to keep that from you. But you gotta know that this is real. What we’re doin’. What we’re feelin’. It’s real.”

If it was so real, why did he leave in the middle of the night? Wanting to hope that he came back and being angry at being left warred inside of her until she was exhausted from sleepless nights.

“Doc, don’t be offended, but you look like shit,” Leon said as he came back toward the lab, carrying a large fat cat in his arms. Putting the cat on the table, he and Suzanne expertly drew blood from the yowling cat, while Annie looked over from staring at x-rays.

“Gee thanks, Leon.” She glared at him while knowing he was right. She had seen the evidence this morning when she looked in the bathroom mirror at the dark circles under her eyes.

“Leon! You know never to tell a lady that she looks bad. Shirley would slap you silly if you ever told her that!” Suzanne admonished.

He cut his eyes over to Suzanne. “I’m not that big of a fool! You think I’d ever tell my Shirley that? Hell no. I need my balls to stay right where they are!”

Suzanne and Annie couldn’t help but laugh, knowing that he was exactly right about Shirley. As Leon headed back to the front with the fat cat, Suzanne walked over to Annie and put her hand on her shoulder.

“Seriously though, Dr. Donavan. You don’t look like you have slept in a week.”

Barking out a rude noise, Annie confessed, “I haven’t.”

Suzanne speaking softly, “Is it him? Sarge’s owner? I noticed I haven’t seen him around and well…I just wondered.”

A pithy reply on her lips, Annie looked at Suzanne’s face. True concern shown and Annie knew that only honesty was worthy of their friendship.

“Honestly? I don’t know. He said he had some business to take care of and when he got back, things would be even better. But it’s been a week and I’ve heard nothing. So…” she replied.

“I’m sorry. If you want to talk, just call,” Suzanne said.

The lab phone rang and Annie picked it up, surprised to see that
Reception
came on the screen.

“Dr. Donavan? You’re needed up front.”

Suzanne and Annie looked at each other in confusion. Usually Leon just yelled to the back since the clinic wasn’t very large.

“Wow, he’s being very efficient. Must be important,” Annie said as she got off her stool and walked to the front.

Annie rounded the corner and saw two men, dressed in suits standing at the counter. One was middle aged, with graying hair and a kind face that was lined with what Annie thought looked like fatigue. The other was tall, huge in fact. He looked as though he felt out of place in his suit, although it fit his muscular frame very well. He was younger, with dark hair, slightly mussed as though his hand had been running through it. He had a vicious scar that ran from the middle of his forehead down toward his eye.

Leon had placed himself between the men and the hallway as though to protect her. Moving to his side, she looked at them curiously.

“I’m Dr. Annie Donavan. May I help you?”

“Dr. Donavan,” the shorter of the two men greeted. “I’m Detective Lawrence Carter and this is Detective Matt Dixon.” Both men held out their badges for her to see.

Annie, not knowing what to say to their introductions just nodded to the two men. Licking her lips, she began to feel the nausea rising as she wondered if these detectives coming into her clinic had anything to do with Stoney.
Oh, Jesus. Please don’t let him be in trouble.

“What can I do for you?” she asked, trying to steady her voice. She felt a presence at her back and realized that Leon and Suzanne has moved forward to flank her, providing her with whatever comfort they could.

“We have some questions for you and would like you to come down to the station with us.”

“Questions?” Her voice was definitely shaky now, “Questions about what?”

Before they could answer, Suzanne piped up from behind. “Do you have a warrant? Is she under arrest? Should she have a lawyer?”

Turning to shush her tech, Annie couldn’t help but wonder about the answer to those questions herself. Turning back to the detectives, she squared her shoulders and looked them in the eye.

“Detectives, as you can see, I have a business to run, and as I am the only veterinarian here, my business depends on my being in this clinic. Is this something that can wait? What is this in regards to?”

“No Dr. Donavan. You are not under arrest, but you are a person of interest in a case. We do need to speak to you and we need you to come with us as soon as possible.”

A person of interest? What the hell are they talking about?
Pulling herself together, she turned to Leon and Suzanne. “I want to get this over with as soon as possible. Please call the afternoon appointments and tell them that we have to reschedule. I’ll be back when I can, please just lock up when you’re finished.”

Leon put his hands on her shoulders, pulling her in. “Doc, you don’t have to go now. We can find out what is going on and we can call the lawyer that drew up the contract for the business. Don’t know if he is that kind of lawyer, but he can suggest someone.”

“I’ll be fine,” she whispered. Giving Suzanne a quick hug, she retrieved her purse and turned to the detectives. “Gentlemen? Shall we go?” she said with her most authoritative voice, but even as she spoke she knew the tremors in her voice gave her fear away.

*     *     *

Within the hour,
Annie found herself seated at a gray metal table in a gray metal chair in a grey painted room – as uncomfortable to sit in as it was to look at. Detective Carter was seated in front of her with a file folder on the table and Detective Dixon was standing next to the door, arms crossed over his chest. He had ditched the jacket as soon as they had arrived at the police station and she noticed that his biceps were straining the material of his short sleeve dress shirt.
I wonder if he busts out of his clothes like the Incredible Hulk.
As quickly as that bizarre thought came, she shook her head to clear her thought tangled mind.
Focus. Answer their questions and get the hell out of here.