Naked and Defiant Page 14

  With determination, Griffon concentrated on her sit-spots. Tasha began to bob wildly, flailing her arms and legs and sobbing out intelligible phrases that Griffon assumed to be an apology. Yet, he still did not stop, with his goal to bring her to a bawling mass of indignity. There was no room for mercy. Not this time. Never again would she doubt him or their friendship. Every breath she took contained an apology and a promise, but he knew her well. Even exhausted, Tasha had not broken. Unfortunately, that meant taking her to the next level. But first …

  He hoisted her from his lap and gathered her protectively against his chest. "Why are you resisting?"

  "I don't know," Tasha whimpered. "I'm sorry."

  "Do you remember my promise to you?"

  Tasha groaned, "Very well. You said you would never let me go until I completely submitted. Who had that great idea?"

  "That great idea was devised by you, darling. You specifically requested that I don't allow your tears and protests to influence me. You also said that if you did not break, then you did not feel forgiven."

  "Oh yeah. I hate your memory," Tasha sniffled. "Is it too late to change the policy?"

  "Would you really want me to?" Griffon asked, stroking her hair. He kissed her cheek, "Ah, no answer. Go stand in the corner and stay there until you are ready to pick out a harness from the cabinet."

  Tasha's eyes stayed downcast as she trudged to the sparkling white wall and leaned with her nose in the corner. Griffon crossed his legs patiently, waiting for her to gain the courage to continue. It amused him that, in play, she was quite sassy and eager to receive pain. The bravado did not continue when it came to actual punishment ….

  "I have all day, Tash. Just let me know when you are ready."

  With the reluctant sigh, Tasha banged her head against the wall three times. Dragging her feet, she approached the tack cabinet and removed a slender leather harness from the hook. Not willing to look Griffin in the eye, she kept her face to the floor and reached out her arm to hand him gear.

  Griffon twirled the single narrow strap in his hands. "There is nothing like well-oiled leather. After years of rubbing against the natural lanolin of the wool, these harnesses take on the type of softness you can't find anywhere else. Of course," he smacked it against the palm of his hand," all of this oil allows the strap to be heavier, thus, the impact is much more memorable."

  "Do you really think this is necessary? My ass is already burning from the hand-spanking. I don't think I can take any more."

  "I am pretty certain that I can determine what you are capable of taking. I also know that if you feel you have not received everything that is due you, you'll just remain a more miserable bitch to be around."

  "I am not miserable!"

  Griffin chuckled, noticing that she had made no comment about being a bitch. He gestured to the rails which were used to confine the sheep during clipping. "I want you to lean over that top rail and grab the one below it with your hands. You are to stay in that position for your entire strapping. If you move," he warned, "I might accidentally strike you on the thigh. I guarantee that is one sensation you will not want to experience.

  He positioned himself behind her with the long leather strip wrappedaround his hand. He held it over his right shoulder, aimed, and crispy lashed across Tasha's bottom with a searing crack.

  "Holy mother of …!" Tasha yelped. "Jeeezzzuussss …!"

  "Now is not the time to get religion. Hold on, darling. You are going to feel this."

  "Yeeouuucchh!!" Tasha arched her back as the biting strap scorched across the entire span of her bottom. "Griffon, I'm begging you. Please, no more!"

  "You know I will stop when I feel it is time and not before. Hold still." He held the leather aloft above his right shoulder. Once again, he whipped it down across her bottom, just a fraction lower than the previous lash. Tasha released another protesting scream as she bounced on the tips of her toes.

  "Griffon! Please, I am begging you! Stoooop!"

  "We're not finished yet, Tasha. You know what I'm looking for."

  "But do you have to do it so hard?" she wept.

  "I do it is hard as I have to," Griffin said, sternly. "We both know that you are the one who's being resistant. Let go of your control, and then I can end this."

  "But it hurr—hurts! Tasha hiccupped. "I can't even think right now."

  She yowled as the harness slashed diagonally across her bottom, catching the top of her right thigh. Griffon raised his eyebrow as the sound of her protests changed with that movement. He swung the leather to kiss the backs of both her pale legs, leaving clean, red marks in its wake. Tasha lifted her head and released an excruciating howl into the air, all the while bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. Griffon touched the stripes left on her thighs, inspecting for damage in the delicate tissue. Seeing none, he took a step backwards and carefully aimed at the milky white point just below her bottom.

  "Oh my God oh my God oh my God …"

  "You can call on Him as much as you want to right now," Griffin held back a smile, "but I suspect he's a little annoyed with your behavior, as well."

  The thin strap cracked once again across Tasha's stretched flesh, searing into the most rounded part of her bottom. She arched her back and a deep, freeing cry shattered through the air, announcing her breaking. She slumped against the railing, sobbing pathetically in defeat.

  "Do you feel that you have been sufficiently punished, Tasha?"

  "Yes, Sir! I'm so sorry."

  "Five more strokes and we can wrap it up. I want you to hold perfectly still because these last lashes are going to be on the backs of your thighs. I want this to be something you will remember for a while."

  Tasha wailed, begging him to show some compassion. He asked if she would prefer ten strokes in lieu of five, since she had not yet embraced the idea of obedience. Tasha wept, returning to her slumped position over the rail and gripped the bar below for dear life. The lashes were delivered rhythmically and precisely, each rendering a vivid red stripe across its snowy canvas.

  Griffon looped the strap over the metal rails and then wrapped his arms around Tasha's waist. He lifted her against him and carried her to the bench where she sobbed like a child in the safety of his arms. He kissed the top of her head and rocked her soothingly.

  "It's over, baby. Shhh," he cooed. "Don't make me do that again. It was not fun for either of us."

  "I'm sorry, Griff. Forgive me," Tasha whimpered, tucking her head under his chin.

  "All is forgiven. You know I don't hold grudges, especially when it comes to you."

  "We need to go and find her," Tasha sniffed. "If we don't, I'm afraid that we're all going to lose you."

  "Lose me? I'm not going anywhere," Griffin insisted.

  "You most certainly are. You're going back to Cairns, Australia and find your precious jewel."

  Griffin chuckled, resting his head on top of her hair. "Are you trying to shift the attention off of yourself now?"

  "No, I just see what needs to be done," Tasha mumbled.

  "And just how do you expect me to do that?"

  "Since when do you care? You go in, get her, and leave. It is as simple as that."

  "Her father will probably shoot me if I show up on the premises. I don't think this is a good idea."

  "There are other ways of catching your prey, but there is only one way that a badger knows how to hunt. Aggressively."

  Griffin eyed her suspiciously. "Are you trying to get me arrested?"

  "Of course not. I'm trying to make you happy. You and I are the only people in the world who know that Griffin Badger really does give a shit."

  "Well, let's keep that to ourselves. I don't want to ruin my reputation and have people think I actually care."

  Tasha tittered lightly and nodded, "My lips are sealed."

  "Let's get back to the house. I have an idea."

  CHAPTER 12

  Jade laid back on a rock, catching her breath. "Are you alive?"

&
nbsp; "Barely," her father panted. "This heat is suffocating me. I am so out of shape."

  "You're doing good, Dad. One more day and we get promoted to the jungle," Jade chuckled, handing him her canteen. "Sip slowly. Take the time to taste the water."

  "It's actually sweet. You know," he sat up next to her, "I have never really tasted water before."

  "Yes, you have. You always have it at dinner."

  "But I have never tasted it. You are an amazing young woman," the man said, seriously. "I watched you skin that lizard and stick it on the fire like you have done this all your life. I could never do that."

  "Necessity makes you do all sorts of things. You should have seen me on the island. I rocked." Jade grinned proudly. "Maybe one day, I can take you to one."

  Brockton contemplated her words. "I am so sorry I judged you. I was so selfish with what I did."

  "Are you just saying that because you want a bite of my lizard?" Jade teased, wagging the carcass in his face.

  He flinched. "I don't want your lizard. I couldn't even try to taste it."

  "Believe me, when you are hungry enough, you will eat whatever is in front of you," Jade said, tearing a strip of meat with her teeth.

  "I'm glad you made me come here. How long have we been roughing it? A month?" The man fanned his face.

  "Three days, Daddy. I'm glad you came, too. I just wanted to give you a chance to experience the outdoor life without a bunch of people around. This is the first time we have ever done anything significant together. It would be fun to take that jungle survival course next month."

  "I really am not up for a formal class, especially given recent public opinion. I might end up being the one roasting on a stick. Do you think that Griffon …" he paused mid-sentence. Jade lifted her eyebrow, encouraging him to continue with his question. Mr. Brockton flipped a pebble in his hand. "Would he be interested in giving some private instruction?"

  "Are you telling me that you want him to teach you about survival? You?" Jade's mouth hung open. "Eat this lizard. You must be delirious from lack of food."

  "I'm not …"

  "Taste it, and stop being a baby," Jade commanded, handing him a sliver of meat. "It's good. Trust me."

  Mr. Brockton winced and accepted the meat. He reluctantly put it into his mouth and began to chew.

  "Well?"

  "Tastes like chicken," he said, slightly abashed.

  "Told you so. Want some more?"

  ***

  Dressed in a light cotton sundress that fluttered in the offshore breeze, Jade stood quietly on the balcony located on the back of her house. She felt alive and invigorated as she gazed across the brilliant blue ocean shimmering over the Great Barrier Reef. The sun poured its golden rays around her and she inhaled the salty air. It had been four days since she and her father returned from their camping trip, and she was finally feeling encouraged as she watched him change day by day. He was returning back to the father she loved as a little girl, and her heart was filled with gratitude that, at least, she still had that relationship in her life.

  "Beautiful view, isn't it?" she asked, hearing movement behind her.

  "It certainly is."

  Jade spun around, her eyes wide, as Griffon stood before her. He was clothed from head to foot in white linen and held a handful of orchids.

  "Wh- what are you doing here? I thought that you didn't want to talk to me again," Jade forced out, clutching the railing behind her.

  "I never said that. I …"

  "I invited him," her father announced, walking up to her. "I owed him an apology. When I saw you in action on the hike … well, that woman was a product of his teaching. And I really was proud of her."

  "Oh, Daddy!" Jade exclaimed, flinging her arms around her father's neck. She looked at Griffon and hesitated before diving into his arms. He swung her around joyfully and crushed his lips against hers.

  Jade melted under that embrace. All the pain and fear was washed away in that moment. "I missed you."

  "You will never miss me again. From now on, I am a permanent fixture in your life."

  "What do you mean?"

  Griffon kneeled before her and produced a box. Jade's hands flew to her mouth. "Jade, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He opened the box to reveal a black pearl ring surrounded by diamonds.

  "I… I…"

  "Child, the man came all the way here to get in my face and demand my blessing. Just say yes, okay?" Mr. Brockton guffawed.

  Jade looked at him with a single tear trailing down her cheek and then shifted her gaze to Griffon. "Yes," she choked out. Her hand trembled as he slipped the ring upon her finger and then kissed the back of her hand. Griffon rose and drew her against him in a tight embrace.

  "I love you," he whispered into her hair. "I don't want to live another day without you."

  "I love you, too. Won't you get tired of me, though?"

  "The more I am with you, the more I want you. Plus," he touched her ear with his lips, "we both know what will happen if you get on my nerves, don't we?"

  "As I recall," she whispered back, "you still owe me something. Unless you have forgotten …."

  "Never. This is one glorious bottom that I plan on spending many an hour spanking," he said, into her neck. "In fact, I have managed to come by a very nice room located on an offshore resort. If you are interested, we can take a catamaran over there right now and catch up. It might be a little too civilized for you, but it's all I got for now."

  "But …"

  "But nothing. I want to be with you. Well?"

  Jade giggled. "I would love that." She wrapped her arms around the man's neck and rested her chin on his broad shoulder, mouthing the words 'thank you' to her beaming father.

  ***

  Jade clung to the rails of the catamaran. It swept over the water as though it were ice. Griffon stood behind her, shielding her body with his as they watched the mainland disappear out of sight.

  "No marooning today?" he asked, as she sighed loudly.

  "I will never touch the cockpit of a boat again. I promise. How did Daddy convince you to come? His attorney said that you did not want to see me again."

  "Did you believe him?"

  "No. I mean, at first I did. But then I went to the rainforest and spoke to the spirits through candle nuts."

  "I am afraid to ask what the hell you are talking about."

  "Just say I had a very, very, very old aborigine show me the difference between comfort and wisdom. He also showed me how to read your carvings. How did you learn that?"

  "I told you I immersed myself in the culture to learn everything I could for survival. These people," he swept his hand in the direction of the mainland, "don't separate the things of life. Even their art and music are means of survival."

  "I see what you mean. Matat taught me a Song-Line long ago, to use if I ever needed to find him. The tribes use those for navigating. The words took me straight to the village."

  "You took a big risk to follow them. I am very, very proud of you. Is he the one who made your first bow?"

  "Yes. He also showed me your love blessing. He is a little bonkers, but you would like him."

  "I'm sure I would. Did the spirits convince your father to have a change of heart?"

  "No, they convinced me to have one." Jade hesitated. "What made you come back?"

  "I went to see my father in New Zealand after the trial and hung out with him for quite a while. I was miserable and had my own little spirit whispering in my ear by the name of Tasha. She's not just a brilliant attorney, but also a good friend," Griffon said, snuggling Jade's back against his stomach. "She found a way to get my attention and force me to listen to reason. I guess I can be a little stubborn at times. She dragged my ass back here to find you. I was in Cairns for two days trying to locate you when your father called demanding that I come and take you off his hands before you make him eat another lizard. Tasha also hooked me up with this little resort cabin before hopping back on a plane to San F
rancisco. She informed me to come back to work when I am good and ready, and not a second before."

  "She said you were 'a little stubborn'? Remind me to thank her for whatever she did. She obviously keeps you on your toes."

  "She does at that. I have no doubt that you two will get along well. In fact, that is a frightening thought."

  "Why frightening?"

  "Because both of you have some terrible habits that I don't want to see being multiplied. Damn it," he kissed her again, "I can't believe how much I missed you."

  "Griff? Would you say that we are in a committed relationship now?"

  "I am going to marry you, so yes. Why?" he nuzzled her ear.

  "Oh, I don't know," she purred, tilting her head to give him better access to her neck. "I also have quite the clean bill of health."

  "Oh, I see," Griffon chuckled. "Are you asking me if sex is on the table?"

  "Maybe …"

  "Even though I told you that I like to be the one who does the pursuing?"

  "Maybe …"

  "Hmm," he turned her around to face him. "You know I don't like to repeat myself, right?"

  "Darn," Jade grinned seductively, "I was hoping you would repeat yourself. Over and over and …"

  "My little wildcat. What am I going to do with you?" Griffon asked, twirling her hair between his fingers.

  "I would think you might want to start with one of your massages."

  "I'll think about it. There's the resort. What do you think?" he asked pointing to Green Island.

  "It's beautiful." Jade gawked as they docked on the long pier. "Is that a rainforest?"

  "Yes ma'am, and we are surrounded by the most beautiful diving spot in the world. Have you ever been on a glass-bottom boat?"

  "No. I haven't even been snorkeling," Jade admitted, shamefully. "You never had a chance to show me how because the weather was so bad most of the time."

  "Well, sweetheart, you are in for a different kind of adventure. First, let's get to our suite. I hope you won't be disappointed."