by Vonna Harper
“For getting out of this without consequences. How’d you get in there?”
Noting that the stud was still within reach as if waiting for her to explain, she pointed at the ground under the fencing.
“That’s what I thought. You snuck in. Time to wriggle back out.”
There was no call for him to order her around like he owned her. She might be a trespasser. That didn’t make what she’d done a major crime.
“There’s a gate,” she said.
“And I have a key to the lock, but that’s not how this is going to go.”
She shrugged. “Whatever.”
Pretending not to care that he was watching her every move strained her hold on her temper, but she managed to do as he’d commanded. One thing about her life, she’d learned to pick her battles, she acknowledged as she angled her body so she wouldn’t come any closer to his legs than necessary. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough distance between them. Something that felt like electricity slithered over her skin.
His fingers raked her scalp as he took hold of her hair and pulled her to her feet, keeping her against his summer-heated side. She couldn’t straighten her head, couldn’t put distance between them, couldn’t get a clear look at him. Damn the overbearing mountain of masculinity.
“You risked your life when there was no reason to.” He sounded like a teacher lecturing a misbehaving student, a thoroughly pissed-off teacher. “If I hadn’t come along, you would have taken a shot at riding Koko.”
“Let me go!” She planted her hands on his chest and pushed. Nothing happened. “Not try,” she spluttered. “I would have succeeded.”
“The hell you would have.” He gave her head a shake.
“Ow! What are you doing? Let me go!”
“Not until I’m done with you.”
She’d heard enough warnings during her childhood that she knew what the real deal sounded like. This wasn’t adult to child. This was a potent man leaving nothing about his intentions in doubt. Still pushing against the human rock, she warned herself to keep her mouth shut. How she hated being helpless!
“Didn’t anyone teach you to behave?” he asked. “What about obedience?”
“What? You don’t own me.”
“Someone has to give a damn about safety. It sure as hell isn’t you.”
The longer she stayed in this position the more her neck burned. As for the rest of her, carnal need seized control. Her captor’s size and strength, to say nothing of a potent aura of masculinity, made it damn hard to keep from wrapping herself around him.
“What are you doing at Escape?” he demanded.
“Exploring. It isn’t a crime.”
“What it isn’t is legal. You had to have seen the no trespassing signs.”
She had. She’d just ignored them. “Are you saying I’m not very smart?”
“Should I?”
Darn it, she’d just warned herself to keep her mouth shut. This wasn’t an argument she was going to win, at least not now. She’d give it a shot once he wasn’t manhandling her as if they were on their way to the principal’s office.
What if he was the principal? What kind of punishment did he have in mind and did she really want to try to stop him from implementing his form of discipline?
Questions without answers as long as their bodies were pressed together.
“Are you one of the property owners?” she asked.
“Who I am isn’t important. What’s your name?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“Wrong answer, little girl. As wrong as one can get.”
There it was again, a warning.
“I’m not your little girl. I—”
“Then stop acting like one!”
He’d reached the end of his patience. She didn’t need him to spell it out to know. She tried placing her hands at her sides, but that put her in danger of losing her balance. Drawing comparisons between the way he was handling her and how she dealt with crazy foals, she resigned herself to seeing what he had in mind.
“If Koko didn’t want you around him, you could be dead. He’s a stallion, a stud, as hard to handle as they come.”
“I have experience—”
“Experience? Never mind. I don’t want to hear about the docile ponies you plunked your ass on. We’re going to the barn.”
Despite her predicament, she nearly laughed over what he’d called that falling-down excuse for walls and roof. The structure had once been a barn, but it had been left to the elements. Part of the roof was missing, as was the door. A decent storm might flatten it.
It smelled like abandonment, she concluded as her handler hauled her through the opening and into darkness. She’d holed up in too many places like this growing up and didn’t need the memories.
He pulled her upright and shoved. “Stand there,” he commanded.
Thanks to her quick reflexes she managed to stop herself before she struck the wall he’d pushed her against. The wall groaned, prompting her to step away in case it collapsed.
“What did I say about staying where I put you?”
“I just—oh, never mind.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
Chapter Three
They were back to staring at each other, her looking up while he glared down. Time spluttered and threatened to stop. She couldn’t guess what he had in mind. Whatever it was, she had no choice but to be part of it. He had a military bearing all right, with shoulders and a back that made her think of timbers. There was a weariness to him, the sense of a man doing his job when he’d rather not have any responsibilities.
After giving her a ‘don’t-move’ look, he headed to what she figured was a storage area. Because the barn didn’t have a window or a light on, she couldn’t tell what was in it. He emerged as she was rubbing her throbbing neck.
“At least you’re capable of obeying some commands.” His arms were at his sides, the right hand gripping a riding crop.
“What are—” She jabbed a finger at the crop. “Oh no you aren’t.”
“What aren’t I going to do with it?”
“I don’t know,” she got out, although she did. She’d sparingly used the short length of leather to make sure an inattentive or rebellious horse understood she was in charge. It stung. If he thought of her as horseflesh—
“You don’t know? Then how can you expect me to believe you have experience with horses?”
“That’s not…”
The ghost of the smile she’d seen earlier returned. She knew better than to believe it. “Learning to keep your mouth shut, are you?” he asked. “That’s good. Not good enough to avoid a spanking, but—”
“No! You can’t spank me!”
Instead of responding, he stalked toward her. Cursing herself for not running when she’d had the chance, she forced herself to stand her ground. That seemed to surprise him, because he frowned.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
That you fascinate me. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Right now, it doesn’t. That might change later, but one step at a time.”
He ran his fingers over the leather as if making his peace with it. She wished he wouldn’t use his body the way he did, wouldn’t make it speak to hers.
Still, as unnerved as she was, a part of her didn’t want anything else. Despite the tan, the tops of his shoulders looked somewhat burned, like he hadn’t been going shirtless for long. That probably meant he wasn’t a rancher. His speech was cultured, in contrast to that of the cowboys and stock handlers she spent so much time around. From what she could tell, his body was flawless. He obviously took care of it, which someone in the military would do. She imagined him effortlessly carrying whatever weapons he needed.
“Koko’s my responsibility,” he said. “We’re hoping his sperm will rejuvenate the herd and make it more valuable.”
“We? Who are you talking about?”
He shook his head. “That’s none of your business. Nothing about wha
t takes place at Escape is.”
“But you’re saying something is or soon will happen here.”
“What did I just tell you? Keep your nose out of our business.”
“What do you think I’d do with what I see? Sell it to the top bidder?”
She was stalling, but she did care about plans for the acreage. She wished he’d tell her why his group, or whatever it was, was interested in horses. Most of all, she wished she hadn’t gotten herself into this mess.
“You haven’t told me your name.”
What’s yours? That’s what I need to know. “Asha.”
He lightly slapped his thigh with the crop. “Either it is or you’re hoping that coming up with a lie I’ll buy will get you out of this without a sore backside.”
She did hope, but nothing in his demeanor indicated he had a forgiving nature. “Why discipline? You could fine me or—”
“A sore backside’s a lesson that will stay with you.”
Maybe he expected a response, but she couldn’t think of one. Darn him for being right about not ever forgetting today. Determined to prove herself to him even though she wasn’t sure why it mattered, she laced her fingers over her belly.
After scanning the dim space, he walked over to a stack of boards and sat on it. A long thin tattoo—at least that was what she thought it was—extended from his right shoulder blade nearly to his waist in back. She wondered why he’d want one there.
“Come here.”
She’d lassoed her share of untamed horses. In contrast to an animal with a rope around her neck she was free to take off at a dead run, except she wasn’t. Even if she managed to outmaneuver him, he’d eventually figure out where she’d come from. Things would be even worse for her then. Her head high and her heart threatening to escape her chest, she forced one foot ahead of the other. Working around livestock all those years had brought her in contact with countless cowboys. Despite the mystique that went with the name ‘cowboy’, she hadn’t been sexually attracted to the majority. Not only were most of the real ones bowlegged, their boots tended to be coated with manure. They rarely washed their clothes—or themselves. They needed haircuts and shaves, and dirt dug out of their nails.
This stranger’s dark, thick hair was military short. He hadn’t shaved for several days, which added to his sexual aura. Tight denim was molded to his thighs, to say nothing of the bulge at his crotch. Washboard abs challenged her to try to ignore them.
She couldn’t.
His gaze zeroed in on her. “Unzip your shorts. Push them down as far as possible.”
A simple command. One she should be able to accomplish.
Swallowing a whimper, she stared past his left shoulder. Protests stacked up in what was left of her brain, but she refused to make a fool of herself. He’d decided she’d done something worthy of corporal punishment, end of discussion.
Wishing she could slow and quiet her breathing, she unfastened her shorts and tugged them over her hips. Her white panties had lost their shape and the elastic designed to keep them just above her navel was next to worthless. When her panties threatened to join her shorts’ downward journey, she tugged them back in place.
“Don’t bother. Your ass needs to be bare for this.”
Her mind had been so focused on trying to deny this was happening that she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.
“What’s wrong?” he pressed. “Beyond your comprehension?”
“No, damn it.”
He slapped the top board with the crop. “Your mouth just earned you another blow.”
‘Blow’ was such a damn hard word, one designed to rattle whoever was on the receiving end. Thankfully, she was experienced in facing the world on her own. Not lowering herself to pleading, she pulled her panties down. She had to bend over to reach her ankles and came close to losing her balance when she straightened. Her palms were damp, as was her throat and between her breasts.
Cursing herself for not having bothered with a bra, she waited.
“You have decent self-control,” he said. “So far.”
“If you think I’m going to beg—”
“You better not. It’d piss me off even more.”
“I figured that.” Hopefully she could keep her voice steady throughout.
He stroked her left thigh with the crop. She clenched her teeth against a gasp. No, she hadn’t felt added warmth in her crotch. That was the last thing—
“What brought you to Escape, Asha?”
“Curiosity.”
“That isn’t enough.”
Holding on to her temper with iron resolve, she reconciled herself to the ridiculous conversation. “I heard the land had recently changed hands. I— This is going to sound crazy, but I sometimes fantasized about owning this place.”
“Not in your budget?”
“Hardly. If the new owner is an investor, does he concern himself with the resident livestock? It’s possible the horses, cows, sheep and goats aren’t being adequately cared for.”
“What were you going to do, feed all of them?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what was the purpose of your visit?”
“I care about animals, all right?” Arguing while naked from waist to ankles was almost funny.
“Maybe. And maybe you’re just nosy.”
“What if I am?”
“Because this isn’t your concern, little girl.”
He was goading her. She knew better than to let it get to her, but today, knowing and doing were worlds apart. On a sigh, she brought her attention to the masculine, mesmerizing face. His eyes were so dark. “Is there something here you don’t want me to see—like the stallion?”
His mouth twitched while the hand holding the crop tightened. “Stay away. That’s the only thing you need to remember once I’m done with you.”
On the verge of nodding to let him know she understood, she froze. The faint but sharp whinny she’d just heard had to be Koko.
“Why do you have him in such a small space? He isn’t used to being hemmed in. He’ll—”
“Enough! Over my knees.”
Then what? she wanted to ask, but she knew what his answer would be. Feeling helpless in a way she hadn’t for a long time, she turned her attention to his rock-hard thighs. He was waiting for her, a man in full control.
Lightheaded, she planted her hands on his thigh to keep from pitching forward and did as he’d ordered. The way her shorts roped her legs felt like she’d been tied up. She still didn’t quite believe this was happening, but it didn’t matter. Her belly and crotch made contact with him.
“Good,” he said softly.
As much as she wanted to believe his approval would rescue her, she knew better. Resigned to her fate, if that’s what it was, she reached for the ground and lowered her head. She was helpless.
He patted her ass. “What do you do for a living?”
“What?”
“I shouldn’t have to repeat myself.”
“No.” Darn him for resting his palm on her buttock. He’d invaded her personal space and reminded her that she was a woman, both in a single gesture. She hadn’t had sex since what felt like forever. Pent-up sexual energy was going to be an issue. “I’m—a—I train horses.”
“Koko doesn’t need training. All we want from him is his sperm.”
He’d already said something like that. She was contemplating whether to ask for details when he swatted her right ass cheek. The jolt brought her back to reality. She tensed.
“Tightening yourself there isn’t the wisest move.” He slapped her again, connecting with her left cheek this time and making her feel it all the way to the center of her being. She had nothing against rough sex—loved it, in fact. “The tighter your muscles are, the more this will hurt.”
She didn’t want to talk any more. Not sure she was prepared for the inevitable, she ran her fingertips over the cement floor. This big, strong, in-control stranger was going to spank her. For as long as i
t amused him to do so. His attention on how she reacted. Learning too damn much about her. Eyes closed and pussy on fire, she waited.
There! The crop landing where his hand had been.
Her body jerked. Before she could control her reaction, he struck her a second time. She breathed through her nose. Stayed silent. Waited.
The discipline picked up, jolt after jolt landing in rapid succession. No matter how hard she tried to step away from her body, she kept failing. She lost the ability to control her breathing and fell into a hot space. In a dim way. she knew she’d raked his calf. Undoubtedly she’d pay for it. Or maybe be rewarded. Wishing she better understood herself, she struggled to limit her movements to her limbs. Unfortunately, her butt had a mind of its own, dancing to a wild tune.
Most of the swipes landed on her ass and the backs of her thighs. Sometimes the crop struck just below her waist. When she could no longer keep her legs together, he took advantage. His weapon repeatedly reached her inner thighs.
“No!” she hissed. “Oh please, no.”
He struck her there again. Although a part of her had never been more content, she tried to wriggle away. He hauled her back over his lap. When he again had her where he wanted her, the crop connected with her sensitive flesh.
“This isn’t your land,” he said without emotion. “You don’t belong here. Granted, you fascinate me, but I don’t ever want to see you on or near Escape acreage again, got it?”
“Yes. I—understand. It’s just that—”
“I’m not interested in anything you say. Your explanations mean nothing.” He spanked her with his palm. “Obedience. That’s the only thing I want from you.”
She’d do just about anything to try to convince him she got it and didn’t need any more correction, but something was starting to change inside her. Her helplessness unnerved her, but not as much as it initially had. There was something enduring about what was taking place, a shift in her nature. She pictured herself biting through his jeans and leaving her mark on his skin, but she had no idea what she’d do after that.
Maybe wait for him to make the next move?
The big, strong man was in control. She was, what, his plaything? His outlet for whatever emotion he was experiencing?
