The Ranger's Rules Read online

  Feeling despondent, she went back to her coffee and took another sip. Heading toward the opposite side of the gate, she stepped over Porsche, who appeared to be slowly making her way toward the lodge.

  As she stared into the distance, enjoying her drink, a strange rumbling sensation vibrated through the soles of her bare feet. She studied the surface of the coffee; a ripple juddered its way over it.

  “What the…?” She looked right and quickly saw what was causing the drumming on the land. In the distance a herd of what appeared to be zebra were stampeding. They seemed to move as one amongst a cloud of dust. They were spectacular in the morning light; a streak of black and white with dirt-blurred legs.

  It was too good an image not to catch. Again setting her coffee aside, she rushed to the gate. After releasing the padlock, she pulled the gate open and took four steps outside, her camera held to her face.

  “Perfect.” She clicked away, several zoomed-in shots and a few as panoramic. The power of the herd’s hooves hitting the ground still vibrated through her feet and the sound of them thrummed in her head.

  “What the fuck are you doing?”

  Suddenly Rhett’s arms wound around her waist and he tugged her back tight up against his chest.

  “Hey.” She frowned; she’d just focused in on the leader of the herd.

  “Why the hell do you think they’re running?” he said into her ear, his breath hot and his stubbled jawline scratching her skin. “Eh? Tell me, why do you think they’re running?”

  “Get off,” she said, wriggling against him and pushing his arms. But it was no good, his grip on her was vise-tight and unrelenting.

  “Look down,” he said gruffly. “Now.”

  “But…”

  “Do it.”

  Not knowing what the hell he was on about, Casey looked downward at her bare feet on the rust-colored earth. Grit had stuck to the tips of her pink polished toes and beside her foot laid a skinny twig.

  “What do you see?”

  “Nothing of note.” She frowned and again pulled at his forearms, digging her fingers into his hair-coated flesh.

  “Next to your foot, in the dirt, what’s that shape?”

  She peered forward, struggling to know what he was talking about.

  “The paw print,” he said. “That’s considerably bigger than your small foot.”

  “Oh!” She’d spotted it. Next to her foot was a print in the dust made up of a large circular pad and four toes. It was a lion’s paw print. She was sure of it.

  Her stomach flipped. “Yes, I see it,” she said, stilling.

  “And?”

  She looked up, scanned the immediate vicinity and then the distance. “Where is it?”

  “Close, that’s a fresh print, and he’s the reason those damn zebras are getting the hell out of here. They don’t want to be lion breakfast and if he sees you, well, you’re not nearly as fast as them, are you? And you don’t have the safety of numbers.” Rhett began to walk backward, pulling her with him.

  As soon as he was inside the compound, he released her, then shut up the gate and locked it.

  Casey put the cap on her lens and willed her heart rate to steady. How could she have been so flippant about her safety, about Rhett’s safety too? She’d left the gate wide open for any passing wild animal to wander in. “I’m sorry.”

  He glared at her, then stomped past where she stood and up to the veranda.

  She followed then set her camera on the table. “I won’t do it again, open the gates that is. Unless it’s an emergency.”

  “Come here.” He removed his shades and set his attention on her.

  “What?”

  “Come here.” He held out his hands, palms up, and continued his steely stare.

  She placed her hands on her hips. “Why?”

  “You know why.” He clenched his jaw, and a tendon in his cheek twitched.

  Fuck, was he really planning on spanking her again? Surely not. She’d learned her lesson, seen what a close call she’d had with being lion fodder. A spanking wasn’t necessary.

  “I won’t tell you again,” he said, his tone almost as dangerous as she imagined a lion’s growl to be.

  “You really think I’m going to let you smack my ass again?” She cocked one hip and scowled at him.

  “You don’t have a choice.”

  “Sure I do.”

  “You broke the rules.” Suddenly he reached forward and grabbed her wrist. In one sharp tug he yanked her close.

  “Rhett, don’t be so Neanderthal,” she said on a gasp as she stumbled against him.

  “I’m keeping you alive.” He tugged, hard, and pulled her over his lap.

  The air rushed from her lungs as her chest connected with his thighs, and she rushed to push herself upright. “Get off.” But once again it was no good, he held her firm.

  “Keep still, damn it.” He dragged her body closer to his and secured his arm over her shoulders.

  “Jesus, what the… Rhett,” she said as her hair hung over her face and she gripped the chair and his leg.

  “Maybe after this you’ll think before risking your life,” he said. “Maybe after this you’ll follow my rules.” In one sharp wrench he drew her short skirt up and over her buttocks.

  “Hey!”

  Then, much to Casey’s horror, she was aware of fresh air washing over her butt as he pulled her small black knickers down her thighs.

  “I’ll… you… how dare you.” She tried in vain to sit. Kicked her legs, and bashed his calf with her fist. A spank was one thing, but stripping her, exposing her… she’d have him in court for this.

  A sharp stinging slap covered her left buttock. She cried out in surprise even though she’d known it would be coming. She guessed she’d still been recovering from the shock of him baring her ass.

  Another spank, harder this time, on the other cheek.

  “Ouch… fuck!” A now familiar swarm of humiliation burned through her. It brought moisture to her eyes and curled her toes.

  The next two smacks had her crying out again. Yes, they hurt, but it was also fury, mortification, and shame that had her yelping. Why was she letting him do this? “I demand you let me go, now.”

  He smoothed his palm over her ass cheeks.

  She held her breath, strangely enjoying the sensation of his palm rubbing over her patches of heated skin. For a moment time seemed to freeze. His hand on her, caressing and soothing, filled her world.

  “I don’t think you’ve learned your lesson yet, Casey,” he said.

  Her situation steamrollered back into her consciousness. “What bloody lesson?” Anger sharpened her words and she twisted her head furiously from side to side. A strand of hair stuck to her lip but she ignored it.

  “My point exactly.” He thwacked again, over and over, the sound of his flesh connecting with hers echoing around the veranda.

  She was sure her bottom cheeks would be blushed red by now and could only imagine the view he had. She tried to reach backward and protect her painful cheeks but he batted her hand away and continued to spank her soundly.

  “This is necessary, you know that,” he said.

  “No more.”

  “Yes, ten more.”

  She whimpered and closed her eyes tight. How would she survive another ten slaps? Not just the mortification but also the burning pain.

  His palm connected with her ass, hard. She gasped and writhed, moaned and watched bright flashes of color skim over the insides of her eyelids.

  When will this end?

  Suddenly it did. Though this time instead of pulling her to standing, dizzy and disoriented, Rhett kept her tipped over his lap. The only thing that changed was that the spanking had ceased.

  She could feel his abdomen rising and falling against her torso and his breaths washing over her ass as he rubbed it again. The small calluses on his hand caught on her tender skin, adding to her discomfort.

  But the way he was smoothing her burning flesh, it was a
lmost reverent, adoring, dare she say it… loving.

  “No!” She summoned strength and pushed to standing. Her vision blurred and she staggered for a moment before her balance returned. “No more.”

  He stood, held out his hand as if to steady her, and concern shot over his face.

  This time it was she who batted him away. Quickly she dragged up her panties and shoved her skirt back into position. The material scraping on her ass hurt but she disregarded it. Anger had taken over. It burned through her veins like molten lava.

  “How dare you.” Her palm tingled with the need to strike him, to create a burning fizz of humiliation on his face. She gave into the urge, raised her hand and lashed out.

  But he was quick. Too quick. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close with a hefty snap.

  Gasping, she raised her other hand, but he harnessed that too and secured both behind her back, trapped in just one of his. He stepped in close.

  “Oh!” Her breasts shoved up against his chest. Her breaths were coming fast and adrenaline shot through her system, weakening her knees and clenching her belly.

  His eyes flashed and he parted his lips.

  “Rhett,” she exclaimed. “I demand that you…” She squirmed within his hold, and jolted her body against his in an attempt to be free.

  He lowered his head and set his lips firmly over hers.

  Shock caught her breath at the sensation of his tongue slipping into her mouth. She was giddy with the passion and wildness of the moment. But when the surprise had passed she resumed her struggle. First he’d spanked her, now he thought it was okay to kiss her!

  The nerve of the man.

  His flavor seeped onto her taste buds, there was nothing she could do to stop it. Hot and masculine, with a hint of coffee and mint, it spoke to the very core of her, heightening her senses and generating a guttural groan in her throat.

  As if encouraged, he dragged her even closer, tipped his head, and deepened the kiss.

  Now she was aware of the entire length of his body pressing into hers—his thighs, his groin, his chest, plus the heat of him, and the smell of him.

  What the hell is happening?

  She tore her mouth away. “I demand you take me back to the main lodge… now.”

  He stared down at her. His damp lips held a slight sheen and his nostrils flared. His eyes were so narrowed she could barely see his dark irises. He cleared his throat. “I think that would be for the best.”

  Stepping backward, he released her.

  She allowed her arms to spring out to the sides as if they were rejoicing in their freedom. “You’ve got a nerve, you know that. No bloody wonder you have to live out here on your own. You can’t go around spanking and kissing women whenever the urge takes hold of you.”

  “I don’t…” He paused and his gaze scanned down her body then back up again. “Only you.” He repositioned his hat and slid on his shades.

  “Of all the—”

  “Go get your stuff, we’ll leave in ten.”

  Casey huffed, then turned and marched through the house. Buddy yawned and stretched then ambled past her. For once she didn’t pause to fuss over him. She couldn’t, she was too outraged at Rhett, and at the situation she now found herself in. The lack of chances to get some really great shots out here in this isolated part of the reserve was really irritating.

  Hastily, she threw her few belongings into her bag, then with her ass stinging, she stomped back onto the veranda. It would be good to do the drive before the midday heat.

  Rhett was bent in the chair, holding something. It took a moment for her to realize it was a bottle of milk and Buddy was feeding greedily from it. He sat on Rhett’s lap, one paw poised as if trying to hold the bottle. His catty eyes had a look of bliss on them as he stared at Rhett and a single white drip hung from his chin.

  “Not so fast,” Rhett said quietly to him, “you’ll give yourself a sore belly.”

  Casey paused; for a moment the sight before her softened her anger, but then she ran her hand over her smarting ass and annoyance bulldozed back through her.

  Rhett hadn’t appeared to notice her arrival, and gently stroked Buddy’s head as the bottle quickly emptied.

  She stared at his hands. They were big, his nails square and dark hair from his forearm spread down to beyond his wrist. Right now he was being so gentle, so affectionate, yet only moments ago those hands had caused her pain and humiliation.

  “I’m ready,” she said.

  He glanced at her. “Nearly done here.”

  “I’ll wait in the Jeep.”

  He didn’t reply.

  Casey stomped down the steps toward the Jeep. Porsche had settled herself in front of it, so after throwing her bag into the vehicle she carefully lifted her out of harm’s way and into the shade of a coarse bush dotted with yellow flowers. “There you go, stay happy and safe.”

  When she stood, Rhett was right behind her, swinging the keys around his index finger. “We have to take a different route back.”

  “We do?”

  “Yeah, believe it or not, I have work to be getting on with. We’ll travel along the western fence that separates us from the reserve next door. It’s where reports of poachers have been spotted, according to Dan on the radio this morning. I need to check its security.”

  “Whatever,” Casey said. “As long as I get out of here.”

  “You will.” He stomped over to the gates, his shoulders tense, his footsteps heavy, and his rifle jostling against his back

  Casey sighed. It wasn’t going to be a fun journey, she knew that for sure.

  Chapter Seven

  An hour and a half later, and after spending over sixty minutes of it driving slowly alongside the high wire fence, Rhett pulled to a halt.

  Neither of them had spoken since they’d left the lodge. The atmosphere was more suffocating than the heat beating down from the sky.

  She couldn’t get back to Amakala soon enough.

  Rhett peered forward, something on the fence apparently catching his attention. He moved nearer to it, past a row of tall bushes with needlepoint spines and dusky green leaves, then slowed to a halt. He switched off the engine and clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth.

  Casey studied the section of fence they were parked about ten feet from. It had undergrowth around it, shading some of the rocky ground leading to it. Some of the wire on the fence had been damaged and appeared mangled and torn.

  “Bloody poachers have been at it,” Rhett muttered and jumped from the Jeep. With his fists clenched and his arms swinging he strode to the fence and hooked his fingers through it.

  He then turned and marched back to the vehicle. Stretching into the glove box in front of Casey, and knocking her knee with his forearm, he pulled out a spool of wire and a pair of cutters.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked.

  “Fixing it up; they’ve had a go at getting through it, but didn’t have the right equipment.” His annoyance was obvious by the sharpness of his tone.

  He removed his shades, slung them onto his seat where they slid and touched the butt of his rifle.

  Casey glanced to the right, out at the grassland, then took a sip from her water bottle. This journey was taking so much longer than she’d hoped. She longed for the fans in the lodge and a cool glass of lemonade, or maybe even a chilled chardonnay.

  She turned at a click, click sound. It was Rhett operating his cutters to secure the fence again with new wire. She took off her shades and ran the back of her hand over her damp brow as she watched him work.

  Suddenly a slight movement in the shrub to his right caught her attention. A faint rustle of leaves and a flash of fur shot her heart rate up and fired an injection of adrenaline into her system.

  What the hell?

  She knew it wasn’t good. Something instinctual told her so. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled and her guts tightened.

  She opened her mouth to call out to Rhett, but as she did so sh
e caught a better glimpse of the creature in the bushes.

  The dotted fur and stealthy movement were instantly recognizable.

  Leopard.

  “Rhett,” she managed, her mouth dry.

  He didn’t hear her.

  “Rhett,” she said, louder this time. But with the increased volume terror gripped her. Would the stalking leopard pounce if it guessed its presence had been discovered?

  “What?” he asked, turning, his hands still on the fence.

  “Leopard,” she said, silently scooting across to the driver’s seat and scooping up the rifle as she went. She didn’t take her attention from the stalking cat.

  “What…?” He followed her line of sight and his eyes widened. He went to reach for his gun, his hands finding nothing and freezing as they hovered over where the rifle strap would usually sit on his chest.

  The shard of fear that went over his face made Casey feel sick. But he had every right to be afraid. Less than ten feet away a big cat had set its sights on him as dinner. Its sharp eyes were trained on Rhett, its focus utterly concentrated and unwavering.

  Casey lifted the rifle and pressed the butt into her shoulder the way her father had taught her.

  “Throw it to me,” he said in a tight, rasping voice.

  She didn’t reply. He was too far for her to throw the heavy gun with any accuracy, plus his sudden movement to catch it would likely prompt attack.

  She closed one eye and looked down the barrel.

  “No, don’t you shoot it,” Rhett said through gritted teeth. “Casey!”

  The creature took another step forward, revealing itself further to Casey. She aimed the tip of the gun at the ground just beyond its front paws.

  “I swear, if you kill it…”

  She blocked out Rhett’s voice. It had been a while since she’d fired a rifle and had to concentrate.

  “Casey,” Rhett said again, stepping toward the Jeep. As he did so, the leopard took another pace closer.

  Quickly, she adjusted her aim.

  Then fired.