Free Hunted Love Box Set: Big Game, Bounty, Captured by Aden Lowe Page B

I will." His grin sent a spear of heat straight to her lower belly.
    One hand went up in a vain attempt at self-preservation. "You're right. I'm sorry. I was thinking about something else." The attempt to take her words back fell on deaf ears.
    "Stand up Kate."
    "What? Why?"
    "Stand up, and take your jeans off. Because spanking a bare ass is much more fun than one in jeans."
    The earlier spear of heat spread liquid warmth through her lower body and her pulse ramped up a few notches. "No. I'm not letting you spank me like a child."
    Another of those blood-boiling grins crossed his mouth. "I wasn't asking. You made the invitation. Are you going back on your word?"
    "Of course not!" Shit. "Fine. Get it over with." She stood and turned her back before lowering her jeans the bare minimum for him to deliver a swat and braced herself.
    For a long moment the only sounds came from the animals just outside the fire's light. "Not good enough, baby. I said take them off." His voice sounded thicker, gruffer than before. Had she made him angry?
    The instinct to turn and face him tried to assert itself, but she refused. The damn jeans had to come off before she could lay down anyway. If he tried to go back on his word she'd be in some trouble, for sure. Not for the first time, she was grateful for the custom belt buckle her father had made for her, the one with a nice sharp blade concealed within and ready to spring into her palm at a touch. Reassured, she took a deep breath and dropped the jeans, careful to lay them where she could reach the belt buckle. Just in case.
    The way Jakob hissed gave her pause and she nearly made a grab for the blade, but she restrained herself. "Bend over, Kate." He moved closer behind her.
    Kate fought the impulse to roll her eyes. "You're really taking your little game too far, you know." She let her body drop forward at the hip, proving he couldn't intimidate her.
    He only grunted, whether in argument or agreement was anyone's guess. In the next instant, his palm landed on her ass with a resounding smack. The steadying hand he'd placed at the small of her back also prevented her from straightening in reflex.
    Before she could squeal with the indignity or move, the same hand landed again, gently massaging the sting away. Outraged, she pulled away and spun to face him, fully expecting him to be laughing at her.
    Instead he stood there shirtless, tanned skin gleaming in the firelight. The expression he wore held no humor, eyes gone dark and glittery, mouth full and parted. Nothing funny in the way his chest heaved either.
    Transfixed, she watched him approach and circle.
     
     

Chapter Thirteen
    Fuck, she was beautiful standing there all wide-eyed with apprehension. All that innocence absolutely ate him up. She might have technically had sex, but he would lay money it hadn't been very good. Or very much. His hand still stung from smacking her lovely little ass, and ached to do it again.
    Circling her, he tried to gauge the depth of her fear. "I'm not done with you, Kate, not by a long shot. And I'm not backing down." Damn jeans pulled painfully tight against his hard-on. With deliberate movements, he unfastened his belt and opened his jeans.
    Her eyes flared even wider, but she stayed silent, only circling to keep him in view.
    "You earned a good spanking, and I'm going to give it to you, one way or another. Anything else is entirely up to you. You understand?" He pulled his boots off. "Answer me, Kate."
    She gave a quick, jerky nod. "Yes."
    Triumph soared through his blood. "Good." She probably had no idea what that soft tone of surrender could do to him. "Now, are you ready to do as I say?"
    Another nod.
    "Pick up your jeans and boots, and put them beside your bedroll so your knife is within reach. I don't want you to be afraid. Understand?" Jakob had to admire the inventiveness of whoever had designed her belt buckle to conceal the blade. He wouldn't have spotted it except for her nervous habit of clicking