Scorpion: A Rough Romance (Montana Bad Boys Book 2) Read online

  I threw my head over my shoulder, watching every minute as he finished undressing, several sounds catching in my throat. He was an absolute powerhouse of a man, the kind that anyone would find delicious yet dangerous and difficult to resist. I allowed my gaze to drop to his cock, his beautiful, thick shaft, the tip purple and oh-so inviting. I could even see a glisten of pre-cum. Blinking several times, I tried to control my breathing.

  When he approached, moving behind me, I dropped my head and clung to the bedding. The man was going to made good on his promise.

  He was going to fuck me.

  And he would be brutal.

  He rubbed his cock back and forth across my bruised bottom, only fueling the continued desire. When he dragged the tip up and down my pussy, I closed my eyes.

  As he slipped past my swollen folds, I let out a long whimper, arching my back as my muscles struggled to accept such a massive intrusion.

  The moment he gripped my hips, he drove all the way inside, forcing my tight channel to take every inch of him. My entire body tingled, the sensations coursing through me white hot, stealing every ounce of energy. He was so damn large, filling me completely. I was breathless, a nervous laugh bubbling to the surface.

  “Oh, God. Oh... Yes.”

  He fisted my hair, plunging into me with such ferocity that I was shoved hard against the bed. I couldn’t catch my breath, had difficulty even breathing as he powered into me. There was no night or day, no concept of the here and now. There was only his brutal fucking, taking me immediately to heights of pleasure I’d long since abandoned.

  How could a man I barely know drive me to raw ecstasy?

  “So tight. So fucking hot,” he murmured gruffly, his actions only becoming more barbaric.

  There was no way to contain my moans of pure bliss, the sound strangled as I tried desperately to control my breathing. My entire body shuddered, my pussy clenching around his cock. I knew there was no way to hold back another orgasm, the electrifying vibrations shooting through every cell and muscle.

  When the climax rocked my body, I let out another vibrant scream, every muscle twitching.

  His savage sounds filtered over us, his massive body capturing mine. There was no doubt this was mating. Ferocious. Animal. Mating.

  The man had ravaged me, taking every inch of what he’d craved.

  Of what he believed belonged to him.

  And I was tossed into the realm of pleasure.

  As we climaxed together, I had no doubt the man was trouble, a ferocious beast.

  And I was his prey.

  * * *

  “What the hell is going on?” I demanded after walking into the room. I was stunned seeing the various musicians I’d called my friends now sheepish, turning away from me as if I’d interrupted something special.

  Then again, maybe I had.

  I glared at the platinum blonde as she stood with the microphone in her hand, her eyes glistening in contempt as she gazed down the length of my faded blue jeans and sneakers. My God, there was a sneer on her face.

  My stomach rolling in contempt, I shifted my fury toward Maverick, my anger almost as intense as my revulsion from seeing the two-bit singer taking my place.

  “Are you going to tell me, or do I need to guess?” I challenged Maverick, trying to keep from showing any more of my annoyance.

  Maverick gave me a hard look before easing his guitar over his shoulder, placing it with care onto one of the stands. He swaggered toward me, rubbing his fingers through his three-day stubble. I used to find his almost haggard look sexy as hell. Today, I found it disgusting.

  “I think we need to talk about this outside,” he stated, his damn tone far too authoritative for me.

  “Oh, no. I think we can talk about this right here. Right now.” I refused to be taken advantage of any longer. My gut had told me over the last several weeks that something was going on behind my back. I should have listened to my instincts.

  Not my heart.

  “All right, sunshine. Then here’s how it is,” Maverick said before laughing. “You’re just not good enough to be in my band.”

  His band. His? How freaking dare the asshole. My father had created ‘his’ band eight years before, dragging the jerk’s ass out of a shit for nothing bar, providing capital as well as expertise. Maverick Steele was nothing without my family’s legacy.

  Or me.

  Or so I’d thought.

  I hated the fact my body always reacted the way it did around him, reeking of longing. As if the man was anything special. As if he’d ever given a fuck about me.

  “Your band?” I managed, trying desperately not to look at the perfect, voluptuous blonde.

  “Steele Rhythm?” he said, laughing then turning to share his disbelief with the other band members. “You bet it’s mine, sweetheart.”

  “You’re a fucking asshole,” I stated with absolute conviction.

  “And you’re nothing. A terrible singer. An even worse guitar player. Therefore, you’re out.”

  Out. Even though I’d suspected he was sleeping with another woman, I would never have thought the jerkoff would have the audacity to toss me out of the band. I shot a look into the eyes of the other four band members, hissing when the bastards had no ability to return my gaze. “You aren’t able to do that, Maverick. This is still a democracy.”

  He walked closer, running his long fingers through his luxurious hair; the same hair that the fans called... sexy. For a few seconds, I thought about all the times I’d pined away for him, starting when I was barely eighteen. First a fangirl from college then managing to make it as a backup singer as well as his playmate. What a fool I’d been to give a shit about a pompous asshole.

  “The band members all agreed. Didn’t ya, fellows?” Maverick used the almost completely fake twang he did when purring into the microphone or talking to reporters. I’d once thought the sound was enticing. Now I couldn’t stand to hear a single word out of his mouth.

  As I once again looked at the others, I realized they’d been strongarmed.

  But there was nothing I could do about it.

  Shivering, I bolted up from the horrible dream, moaning as I turned over, grabbing the pillow. I’d tried so hard to push the ugliness aside, to pretend that Maverick hadn’t been using me.

  I’d failed countless times.

  As tears formed, I clenched my eyes shut, doing everything I could to shift my thoughts around the hunky cowboy with the dazzling eyes. The one who’d saved me from the brutal cowboys. The one who’d...

  Spanked... me...

  Fucked... me... and...

  “Since you aren’t able to be a good girl, I am going to spank you.”

  “But that’s not fair.”

  As he stood over me, he removed his belt. I couldn’t help but concentrate on the slowness of the way he removed the thick straps from the loops, my heart racing.

  “Oh, it’s very fair. You disobeyed me.”

  I jerked up, taking several deep breaths as another dream remained vivid in my mind. Swallowing hard, I tried to make sense of the sensuous images, unable to keep from shivering.

  I could still see his face, the stern expression he wore as he removed his belt. And I couldn’t stop the tingles pulsing through my body. Him. Scorpion.

  The man who spanked and fucked you.

  Why did I continue to think about the incidents? What did they mean to me? Nothing. They couldn’t. I would never allow any man to get close to me again.

  “God,” I whispered, taking several deep breaths as I allowed my vision to get used to the scattered light. I remembered every snippet of both dreams, each one just as ugly and foreboding.

  Maverick.

  I’d promised never to say his name again. Ever. Unless I was spitting on his grave. Why the hell had I dreamt about one of the worst days of my life now?

  Maybe because I felt I had nothing left.

  A father who had no faith in me.

  An ex-boyfriend who’d betrayed m
e on two levels.

  It hadn’t mattered Steele Rhythm was charting, two albums under our belt. Maverick couldn’t have cared less that I had a fan club of my own, fans who wanted to hear my voice as lead on more than a couple of songs.

  My bitchy blonde replacement had later taunted and tormented me, her ‘needs’ for the single show I’d been forced to work on intolerable. While I’d told my father what had occurred, I’d left out much of the ugliness. Why? Maybe because he’d forbidden any concept of me dating Maverick and I’d gone against his wishes. Not just once. Oh, no. I’d been secretly in lust with the pretty country boy for years.

  Because I’d trusted Maverick, I’d derailed the only career I’d ever wanted.

  A laugh bubbled to the surface and I rolled over, trying to curtail my reactions to Scorpion. I’d gone from the frying pan into the fire. How the hell had I allowed that to happen?

  My entire world had been pitched into yet another nightmare, only this time, I’d been the cause of such utter stupidity. Well, this time, I would control the scenario. Scorpion whatever the hell his name was would never be able to get to me.

  Or break me down.

  Time to make business decisions and nothing else.

  Another shiver rushed through me as the sheets shifted across my naked body. The two spankings he’d given me hurt like hell. Even the way the sheets shifted across my skin was painful.

  As I threw back the covers, I noticed there was light streaming in through the limited cracks in the drapes. At least it was morning.

  And bacon.

  What?

  Inhaling, I gathered a scent of bacon as it wafted into my nostrils, making my mouth water. I hadn’t eaten for almost a full day, the tension from the trip riding into the second day. I’d insisted on visiting the bar instead of sitting down to dinner with my cousin. Why the drive? Why even bother? My mind remained foggy.

  Even my skin was clammy.

  I’d left my cousin’s house with nothing but my identity and limited cash, which Scorpion had already found. He knew more about me than I knew about him. Groaning, I wanted nothing more than to remain in bed, covering my head and praying for another year to come.

  Or another life.

  Only this was his bed. I took a deep whiff, able to gather his scent as well as the smell of sex. After he’d fucked me like some animal, he’d left me alone, barely saying two words. Yet he’d stood by the door before closing it, studying me intently.

  And I could swear there’d been nothing but sadness in his eyes.

  I couldn’t allow this to get to me. I still had something to prove on this wayward trip.

  Not just to my father but to myself.

  Maybe my instincts were off, my ability to promote anyone at this point questionable. I wasn’t cut out to work for my father’s firm, but what other choice did I have? After being tossed from Maverick’s band, there wasn’t a single other country band in Nashville that would dare touch me.

  As I stood, I smoothed down my hair, shifting toward the mirror over the dresser. Even in the shadowed light, I was able to see I was a mess. Great. My mouth was cotton dry, as if I’d consumed every bottle of liquor in the honky-tonk location.

  Was I unsettled?

  Hell, yes. That wasn’t the word. I was... furious. With myself. With him. Hell, with being stupid enough to come to Missoula in the first place. Maybe I’d felt some insane obligation to Jasper, a man I’d never met. Maybe it was all about proving my worth. Whatever the case, it was going to end right here.

  Sucking in my breath, I dared to twist in order to take a glimpse at my bottom. As suspected, the redness remained, an ugly reminder of the man’s wretched actions. God, he was a freaking brute, acting as if he was oh-so powerful. I made several faces before shifting my gaze until I was able to find my clothes. I couldn’t dress fast enough, struggling to shove the boots on my now swollen feet. No more freaking alcohol.

  Taking long strides toward the nightstand, I glared down at my identification and other things that must have fallen out of my pocket before he fucked me. At least Scorpion had been a gentleman and placed them where I would find them immediately.

  A gentleman.

  What a crock.

  He’d been nothing but a brute.

  I yanked the items into my hand, shoving them into my pocket. He had an advantage knowing who the hell I was. For all I knew, he could have made up the ridiculous name of Scorpion. Who went by something like a freaking bug’s name?

  Before heading to the door, I tried to put the delicious, sinful experience into perspective. What we’d shared could never happen again. I was here to do a job and nothing else. Then why did it piss me off so badly that he hadn’t remained sleeping by my side? Why did I hunger to have his hands caressing me all over again?

  Because you’re a stupid girl.

  Maybe so.

  Incensed, I threw open the door, taking long strides toward the delicious scent, and the man I was determined to challenge.

  When I walked into the kind of kitchen that reminded me of my grandmother’s, I was taken aback. But not by the older appliances or the outdated furnishings. The night before hadn’t truly exposed just how old-fashioned everything was. I shifted my gaze toward the man standing in front of the stove, flipping bacon while what appeared to be scrambled eggs simmered in another pan.

  And my God, the man was sexier than ever, his hair still wet from a shower. He was shirtless and in bare feet, and I was suddenly at a loss for words, unable to take my eyes off the way his jeans hugged his carved butt.

  “How did you sleep?”

  He’d sensed my presence.

  His voice wasn’t exactly the way I remembered it from the night before. The tone reminded me of a tumultuous thunderstorm, pelting rain skittering across my naked skin. I was shocked at my body’s reaction once again, forced to grip the kitchen table as I attempted to figure out how to answer him.

  Or if I wanted to.

  “Who are you, Scorpion? What’s your real name?”

  He glanced over his shoulder, a smirk on his face. The way he gazed up and down the length of me forced a tremor skating down my spine. “Who’s asking?”

  “You already know my name. Now, why don’t you tell me yours and I’m not talking about the ridiculous moniker you use like some gang member.”

  “Caroline Walker from Nashville. What are you doing so far away from home? The bartender seemed to know who you were.”

  His question wasn’t laced with even a hint of animosity. It was simply a question. “Following a lead.” I’d been a fool telling the bartender why I was in the horrible establishment, as if telling him would provide some kind of credibility. I should have kept my mouth shut.

  “Does that mean you’re a reporter or perhaps a member of law enforcement? Was Jasper into some kind of crap I wasn’t told about?”

  “Hell, no,” I snorted.

  “Well, that’s good to hear because I don’t like either. Quite frankly, they piss me off.”

  “Jasper was a nice man, just pushy. But he cared about Raunchy Ride, although I’m not entirely certain why.”

  He laughed, although his words were laced with bitterness. “You and me both, Caroline.”

  His gruff voice also had the same kind of reaction as it had before.

  Lust.

  Pure, raw lust.

  I also had an inkling that he’d been in trouble before, but that didn’t mesh well with an appearance that screamed military, including the colorful tattoo that covered his forearm.

  “You’re military. By the looks of it, I’d say Marine. Am I right?” I asked, determined to get answers.

  He didn’t bother looking at me, although I could swear that he knew exactly what I was doing every minute.

  “Very astute,” he said in a reserved tone.

  “If I also had to guess, I’d say you just arrived back home to Missoula. Was that because of Jasper’s death?”

  Now Scorpion grinned as he turned t
oward me. “The hair gave it away?”

  Why did the man have such a sexy dimple smack in the middle of his strong chin? I folded my arms, giving him the same stern look he’d given me.

  “You just don’t seem like you belong in town,” I answered, which was the truth.

  “Maybe you’re right. I don’t know the place any longer. Been gone a long time and just got off a plane the night before last,” he said in such a quiet manner, the same sadness infused in his tone of voice.

  I walked toward the window, glancing out at the mountains, able to see what appeared to be a barn, a massive fence surrounding it. “Is this a working ranch?”

  “I think it ceased being a working ranch years ago, although Jasper kept a few horses and cattle. Not sure why. The man was far too old to ride.”

  “So this is his house.”

  “You ask a lot of questions, Caroline.” He hesitated, then gave an exaggerated exhale. “Yeah, Jasper left me the place as well. Not sure how I feel about that. Haven’t been here since I was a kid.”

  I knew the subject was one I needed to leave very much alone.

  “For what it’s worth, I think it’s really nice. My guess is that you could make it your home. I’m curious. Why can’t you tell me your real name?”

  “The answer is because no one had used my real name for one hell of a long time.” He stirred the eggs, ceremoniously taking his time to grab two plates from the cabinet, spooning out copious amounts. “Cooper.”

  “Cooper. Why Scorpion?”

  “Because I have the ability to kill a man in his sleep.”

  I hadn’t been prepared for his answer, yet I knew he was telling me the truth. Why did his answer give me shivers? “Scorpion suits you,” I said under my breath, another tremor cascading down my spine.

  “Now tell me who you are. I need answers. I don’t like bullshit or lies, Caroline. You say you know Jasper, enough that you seem to understand his personality,” he continued in a demanding tone. “How and why?”

  I watched as he dragged bacon onto a paper towel, taking his time as if he and I were lovers.

  Not strangers.

  There was no reason to lie to him. He’d find out sooner versus later what Jasper had attempted to do before... his death. The bartender would enjoy laughing that the new owner had spanked the poor promoter within minutes of his arrival. I would never be able to face the guy again.