After she uncovers her wealthy father's ties to a prominent Chicago crime family, twenty-four-year-old Addison St. Claire flees to a small town in Michigan where she hopes to start a new life. Things are not that simple, though, and she is quickly tracked down by a stern, handsome police detective who makes it clear that Addison will be coming with him whether she likes it or not. Detective Trevor Stringer is none too pleased at being assigned to babysit a spoiled rich girl, but he is determined to keep Addison safe, even if that means taking her over his knee for a painful, humiliating bare-bottom spanking when her defiance puts her life at risk. Despite her protests, her body's response to his bold dominance makes it obvious that Addison is in need of a firm-handed man to keep her in line, and before long she is begging Trevor to claim her properly. Over the coming days, Addison learns what it means to belong to a man who will not hesitate to strip her bare and punish her thoroughly whenever he feels it necessary. Whether she is pleading desperately for the release she has been denied after a hard spanking or writhing with pleasure more intense than she can handle as she is brought to one shattering climax after another, Addison is left with no doubt that she has been mastered completely. But when she discovers that Trevor has kept an important secret from her, will she ever be able to trust him again? Publisher's Note: Protecting His Runaway is a stand-alone book which is the second entry in the Owned and Protected series. It includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.