Honor Bound: Bound and Tied, Book 1 (8 page)

“What’s the meaning of this?” she called out. “Zach? Jake?”

No one answered.

Still naked, she stared around the interior of the log cabin. The other bed where Jake slept was empty. A fire burned in the fireplace providing sufficient warmth. The wooden shutters over the window stood open, letting the morning sunshine in. Birds sang, life went on, but Honor couldn’t move, trapped as she was in the bed.

“Damn,” she said, amazed at how easily the curse flowed off her lips. She’d never have conceived of uttering the word in front of her husband. He probably would have beaten her or had the congregation stone her. Her hands pulled at the bindings again, twisting and turning, trying to loosen the ropes. No matter how hard she tried, the ties remained in place. “Damn.”

Anger burned through frustration the longer she lay in the bed unable to free herself. “I’ve never been treated so badly,” she muttered. Her thighs ached, her pussy was raw from being fucked three times in a row. Parson Whitaker could only manage once a week, if that much. Even her jaw throbbed from having taken Jake’s cock in her mouth.

Recalling the things she’d done and allowed the men to do to her, the anger faded and Honor squirmed, wishing she could touch herself down there where all the desire pooled. She wanted to run her hands along the inside of her thighs and thrust her fingers into her opening, still raw from Zach’s enormous dick sliding in and out, over and over.

Her plans to continue her journey to San Francisco seemed but a faded memory, the reality of her uncontrollable passion overpowering her need for independence. Honor wanted to stay in the mountains and explore her body with the help of Zach and Jake.

She moaned, her hands straining at the ropes to reach that place Zach had brought to life—that sensitive little button nestled between her folds. “Zach,” she yelled.

Movement outside the window caught her attention. Something or someone passed in front of the cabin, casting a shadow into the room.

“Zach?” she questioned softly. “Jake?” Her eager voice faded as the latch on the door lifted.

Honor’s heart skipped several beats and then banged against her ribs.

A head leaned through the doorway. But it wasn’t Zach’s dark unruly hair, nor Jake’s reddish-brown. The straight black hair belonged to Running Bear.

Honor screamed and jerked at her hands, desperate to tear free of her bonds.

He came to her, dressed in nothing but his breechcloth, his knife drawn.

For a single moment, Honor thought he’d plunge it into her heart and leave her to die.

His dark eyes flared as he stared down at her naked body. He laid the tip of his knife to her throat, the sharp edge deadly cool against her skin. Then he slid the flat of the blade down from her throat, between her breasts and lower still to the curly thatch of hair covering her mons.

Honor quivered. She’d been with this savage. Wordlessly, he’d raped her without caring for her comfort or desire. She’d fought him, but he’d thrust into her over and over, slaking his lust as she cried. After weeks of being with him, she’d found some satisfaction in their lovemaking, but nothing that compared with Zach and Jake.

“No!” she screamed at him, her legs kicking out.

He whipped the breechcloth aside, exposing his long, hard dick.

“No!” Having coupled with Zach, Honor knew what it should feel like—two people giving of each other, making the other happy before taking pleasure. Zach had shown her this by bringing her to orgasm first. Despite his brash treatment and tying her up, he’d given her amazing delight, handling her tenderly, almost reverently. He’d even let her pleasure his partner at the same time. What man would let his woman do that without getting maddeningly jealous? Her chest swelled, tears welling up in her eyes even as she fought to break free of her bonds.

Zach could be a man worth staying with—a man she could trust to be aware of her own needs and desires. A man she could live with and not feel like a slave or whore to his needs alone. If she didn’t know better, she could swear she was falling in love with him. Granted, he needed to learn that tying her to the bed wasn’t the best way to win her affections.

All the more reason to escape Running Bear.

Unable to break free, Honor did the only thing she could.

She screamed. When help didn’t come, she screamed again and again.

Running Bear shouted something Honor couldn’t understand. He dropped his breechcloth in place and dove at her with his knife.

Honor stopped screaming, her voice caught in her throat.

Running Bear’s knife bypassed her throat, slashing the ropes holding her to the bed.

Before she could take in another breath to scream again, he threw her over his shoulder and ran out of the cabin.

All the air bounced from her lungs as Running Bear raced into the woods. Blood rushed to her head, making her dizzy.

Honor struggled to breathe, afraid that if she passed out, she’d never get free of Running Bear again. He’d be too vigilant to let her out of his sight, perhaps killing her to keep the other men from having her. She pushed against his smooth, naked back, sucking in as much air as she could, despite his shoulder digging into her gut. Now that she was outside the cabin, she had to try one more time to scream.

“We really should get back to the cabin. Honor will be furious.”

Zach grunted, swung his pick into the wall again. Rocks chipped away and dirt crumbled to the floor. He’d decided at the last minute before leaving the cabin to tie her up. He and Jake had wanted to explore the vein of gold they’d uncovered the day before and see just how deep it went before it played out. After a couple hours digging, the vein remained strong. Although a thin line, it appeared to go back into the mountain quite a bit farther. He and Jake stood to become very rich.

Rich enough to tempt a witch to stay with him?

Jake laid a hand on Zach’s shoulder. “Give it up. Hitting that wall won’t make her want to stay. Tying her up won’t either.” He took the pick from Zach’s hands. “You have to ask her.”

“You heard her. She doesn’t want a man in her life telling her what to do.”

“Exactly.” Jake turned him toward the mine entrance and lifted the lantern from the floor. “We have to ask her what she wants.”

Zach trudged along as if his feet weighed a ton. They might as well weigh that much. The sooner he reached Honor, the sooner she’d break his heart. “What if she doesn’t want to stay?”

“Guess you’ll have to cross that bridge if it comes to that.”

“You think having a woman around here will change things between you and me?”

Jake shrugged. “Probably. But don’t worry, I still plan on being your partner.” He clapped his hand on Zach’s back. “And I’ll always be your friend.”

Zach stepped out of the mine, blinking at the bright sunshine. His heart banged inside his chest, and his lungs squeezed so hard he could barely breathe. He spun back toward the mine. “I can’t do it.”

Jake laughed and blocked the entrance. “Yes, you can.” He shook his head. “Of all the men I’ve known, I’ve always looked up to you as strong, brave and smart. Don’t let me down now.”

Zach stared into Jake’s eyes. He’d always felt the responsibility of being the old man in their partnership, the one to keep a level head and make sound decisions. Now he looked to Jake for the strength he needed to reach for something he hadn’t even known he wanted until today. A woman. A wife. Hell, maybe even a family.

He grabbed Jake and pulled him into his arms, hugging him hard. “I love you, Jake. Thanks.”

Jake hugged back. “I know. Now get back to the cabin before she decides not to forgive you for tying her up again.”

A renewed energy surged through Zach’s veins as he turned toward the cabin. He’d taken only one step toward his future when a scream ripped through the mountains, echoing off the rocky cliffs.

“Honor.” Zach and Jake lit out, racing through the forest back to the cabin.

As he rounded the corner of the structure, Zach didn’t slow down. Instinct told him he wouldn’t find her inside. A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed the door gaped open. He’d closed it when he’d left earlier that morning.

Another scream reverberated through the trees.

Zach veered right and ran faster, Jake close at his heels. He pounded through the forest, leaping over fallen branches and boulders, heedless of the noise he created. Honor was in trouble. He focused all his efforts on catching up to her. If she’d escaped on her own, something had her trapped or worse. If her Apache tormentor had snuck into camp and made off with her, he couldn’t get far carrying a fighting, kicking and screaming female.

A smile crossed Zach’s face, briefly. She’d put up a good fight when he’d captured her the night before. Knowing Honor, she’d be equally determined to escape a second time from the Indian who’d raped her.

His smile turned downward at the image of another man, red or white, forcing himself on Honor. His muscles burning, Zach surged forward. He wouldn’t let her be treated so badly. He’d kill the thieving redskin with his bare hands.

Ahead he could hear footsteps crashing through the forest.

“Let me go! Zach! Jake!” Honor’s voice carried to him from near the creek where he and Jake had been the day before.

As he burst into the clearing, Zach slid to a halt.

With his back to the creek, a dark-haired, dark-skinned Indian held a knife to Honor’s throat, his other arm around her naked middle, clamping her arms to her sides.

She leaned back, her eyes wild, her bare breasts heaving, the knife pinching against her skin. “Don’t come any closer,” she said.

Honor could have cried with relief when Zach caught up with her. At the same time, she almost wished he hadn’t. Running Bear wouldn’t give up without a fight, and from the way he held the knife to her throat, he wasn’t going to give her up unless she was dead.

“Don’t even try to save me,” she told Zach. “He’ll kill me, and then he’ll kill you.”

“I don’t care about me, but I’ll be damned if I let him hurt you.” Zach took a step closer.

Running Bear pressed the knife deeper, pricking her skin. Warm liquid dripped down from where the knife rested.

Zach’s nostrils flared, his cheeks reddening.

Honor’s pulse pounded against the knife’s blade, her stomach clenching into a knot. If anything happened to Zach or Jake because of her… “Please, Zach. He’s one of the fiercest warriors I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve seen him cut down a man your size without blinking an eye. He won’t stop until you’re dead.” A sob rose up her throat and she choked out, “Just let him take me.”

Zach’s jaw firmed into stone. “I won’t let him have you.”

“You have to.” Tears welled in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

“No.”

“Please,” she begged him. “I won’t forgive myself if he hurts you or Jake.”

“And I won’t forgive myself if something happens to you.” Zach’s lips turned up in a twisted grin. “You’re like a wicked itch and you’re already under my skin.” He eased to the side, as if sizing up his adversary. “And I like it too much to stop scratching.”

The savage turned her to face Zach, using her body as a shield.

“I won’t let you become another one of his victims,” Honor said. She dragged in a breath, closed her eyes and stomped her foot on the Indian’s, bracing herself for the stab of pain when his knife would cut into her throat.

Running Bear jerked backward, teetering on the bank of the creek, his knife hand flailing out to the side, his other arm dragging her down with him. The Indian hit the ground hard. When Honor landed on top of him, he grunted, all the air whooshing out of his lungs.

Free of his grip, Honor rolled to the side and scrambled away from him.

Running Bear leaped to his feet, his knife in one hand, crouching, ready to rip into Jake, who’d hit him from behind. “Fire Hair mine,” the savage said, his voice low, guttural.

Zach stepped forward, pushing Honor behind him. “No. She doesn’t choose you.”

“Fire Hair belong Running Bear.” He pounded his chest with his free fist.

“No.” Honor stepped away from Zach. “I choose him.” She pointed to Zach.

Running Bear nodded to Zach. “Fight to death. Winner take Fire Hair.”

“No.” Honor stepped between the two men, the cool air and fear making her naked skin pebble with gooseflesh. “I won’t let you fight.”

Zach grabbed her arms and forced her behind him. “He won’t leave you alone unless we do this.”

Jake moved closer, his knife drawn. “Let me fight him.”

“No. It’s between me and Running Bear.” He jerked his head toward Honor. “Take care of her, will you?”

“No!” Honor backed away.

As Jake’s hand snaked out to grab Honor, Running Bear lunged at Zach.

Zach ducked to the side. The tip of Running Bear’s knife slashed into his arm, cutting a long rip through his shirt and tearing into his skin.

Honor screamed and threw herself at Running Bear, but Jake’s arms tightened around her, holding her back. “Let me go.”

“No. You’ll distract him.”

“I won’t let him die for me.” She fought to free her arms, kicking and wiggling to escape Jake’s hold on her.

“He won’t. Zach’s a big boy. He can handle one little Indian.”

Zach snorted and took a swing at Running Bear with the knife in his left hand. When the Indian dodged the other way, Zach was ready and punched him with his right hand, square in the jaw, with all his might.

The Indian’s head snapped back and he staggered.

Without giving the savage a chance to recover, Zach threw his knife to the ground and punched Running Bear again and again until the Apache’s nose was a bloody mess. He teetered right, then left, and finally toppled, landing in the creek with a splash.

Zach snatched his knife from where it lay on the bank and waded in after the man. He lifted him by his hair and pressed the knife to his throat.

“No. Zach, don’t kill him,” Honor cried out.

“Woman, be quiet,” he said without looking up from his foe. “Listen to me, Running Bear. Fire Hair chose me. If I find you anywhere around her ever again, I’ll finish this. I’ll run you down like an angry buffalo. Do you understand?”