Page 7 of Ride 'Em Hard
Chapter Three
Where the fuck we’reheading, I have no idea. But I’m not going anywhere else with Chase’s massive arms around me making sure I stay put. His chest is like a brick wall behind me, and I’m doing my best to ignore what’s bumping up against my ass.
It’s like I’m back in the pioneer days. I keep watching for a wagon train that I can flag down for help. But there’s nothing but an occasional dilapidated barn, and hunks of rotting wood dotting the fields. It looks like we’re riding on a yellow ocean.
It’s probably a combination of all the trauma, the sun, and not having anything to eat since breakfast that’s making me feel a little dizzy. But it’s sort of comfortable being up here with Chase. Truth is, my ankle’s killing me. And as much as I hate to admit Chase was right about me riding with him, he was. I wouldn’t get very far out here with an empty gas tank and no cell signal.
I start to nod off, but a hard bounce jolts me awake. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going? At least I should know where my psycho kidnapper is taking me.”
“You trying to get a rise out of me, honeypot?” He bends, and his low gravelly voice sounds directly into my ear. “Cause it ain’t workin’,” he whispers, sending quivers down my spine. “If you want ariseout of me, you’re going to have to do much better than that.”
“Speaking of getting a rise, do you mind giving me a little space on this saddle? I can feel your dick in me. On me.” Gawd, I’m dying. I was thinking about how many women his dick has been in. I didn’t mean to suggest it should be inme. Why am I even thinking about his dick? I probably need to have my head examined along with my ankle. I wish he didn’t smell so good.
“Keep talking like that, and you’re going to get more than a rise.”
“Perv.”
“Just the way you like it...”
“You have no idea what I like.” It’s a feeble response, but what the hell am I supposed to say? This man is messing with my head. I’ve never had anyone talk to me this way, or act this way, or look the way he does. Never been with a man as hot as fuck. And sure as shit, it bugs me. Chase probably does knowexactlywhat I like.
“Now, as to where we’re going,” he explains, leaning closer so not an inch of my back isn’t touching him. “I can tell you where we’renotgoing. We are not going back the way we came.”
“Why not? I’m getting back to my car one way or another.”
“Darlin’, you have absolutely no idea where you are, do you?”
“Cow patty central?”
“When I found you, you were trespassing on my property, but your car is parked on old Maeve Johnson’s land, and if one of her crackhead boys had picked up your scent, they would’ve put you down faster than a horse with a bad leg, if they didn’t roughhouse you first. They’ve got the biggest pot-growing operation in the state. I’m surprised you didn’t get caught in one of their booby traps.”
A lightning rod of panic rips down my spine and shoots all the way to my bad ankle. Was I really that close to gettingput down?Note to self: Never, ever, under any circumstances drive to the middle of nowhere without knowing where the next gas station is. “Am I supposed to thank you for pulling a gun on me and scaring me half to death? You could’ve blown my brains out.”
“I know how to use a gun. I wouldn’t accidently shoot anyone.”
“Good to know. You’ll only shoot me if you feel like it. Good talk.”
“You have a mouth on you, you know that?”
I ignore his comment as we make our way up a small hill. When we reach the top, I see a house on the other side, less than a mile away. “Is that your place?”
“No, Doc lives there. He’s retired now, but he’s all we have out here. Medivac seemed overkill for an ankle that isn’t bleeding.”
Chase pulls up on the reins, but we’re not at Doc’s house yet.
“We’re stopping?”
“Before we go any further, I need to know why you were out here spying on me.”
His tone seems to be a little gentler. I suck in a breath, trying to figure out the best way to respond. I don’t want to get into this again, but I’m too tired to argue. “As I’ve already said, I work for Vital Studios.”
