by Taylor Berke
Stony Creek 2
Stony Creek Hero
The feisty, fiercely independent Lizzie Carmichael never had any men that she could rely on. As the sole owner of The Stony Creek Café, she finds herself in a desperate situation where she stands to lose either her honor or everything that she has ever worked for.
Known as the tough, quiet brother, Benjamin Powell adores women but strives to keep them at arm’s length, never risking his heart. When he finds that the only woman who ever inspired him to dream is in trouble, he makes a choice that could change both their lives, forever.
Lurking in the shadows of Stony Creek, there is a dangerous menace that will stop at nothing to get what it wants, no matter what the costs.
As Ben and Lizzie start to explore the secret delights that they finally find in each other, can Ben protect Lizzie from the threats that try to tear them apart?
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary
Length: 85,074 words
STONY CREEK HERO
Stony Creek 2
Taylor Berke
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
STONY CREEK HERO
Copyright © 2013 by Taylor Berke
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-853-3
First E-book Publication: May 2013
Cover design by Harris Channing
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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DEDICATION
To my beautiful elder sister, beta reader and best friend. When you and I get into those hysterical laughing fits, the ones where we cannot breathe, I feel like it cleanses me of all that is bad in this world. It gives me a feeling of security that you know so much of who I am and support me. I love you so very much.
STONY CREEK HERO
Stony Creek 2
TAYLOR BERKE
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
“What am I going to do?” Lizzie cried out into the quiet of her café. She poured herself another finger of Patrón tequila. Not being a usual imbiber of heavy alcohol, it was quickly having its desired effect of reducing the sharp edge of anxiety that was eating at her gut. Lizzie could feel the heat of the liquor as it burned down her throat. It did nothing to warm the chill from the heavy summer rain that poured down outside however.
Earlier that day Lizzie, the proud, vivacious owner of the Stony Creek Café, had received more bad news from the town’s banker, Theodore Davis. In the last several months there had been more and more unknown debts jumping from the woodwork. Her father had apparently been quite the gambler, unbeknownst to Lizzie. He had left her the building that housed the café and her small home but apparently had mortgaged them both to the extreme. She had been making small payments on the house and café mortgages but according to Mr. Davis she was in over her head and not even touching the principle. Lizzie couldn’t stop the tears from running down her cheeks as she glanced around the room. She was in serious risk of losing it all.
Mr. Davis had then given her the full-court press, complete with the unscrupulous option of a sexual relationship in exchange for a reduction in payments and interest. He was a vile man that sent shivers of disgust through Lizzie every time he attempted another inappropriate suggestion. Since she was unreceptive to his offers, he had unkindly added every fine onto her debt plus further interest.
What was she going to do?
“I am going to have another drink, that’s what I am going to do. It won’t fix my situation. Nope, gonna drown in my tequila like a big girl and if I wore big-girl panties, I would just have to pull them up, too.” Tears continued to roll down her cheeks as she eased herself into the front booth by the windows, staring out into the rainy night.
* * * *
What the hell was he doing?
Ben Powell sat at The Gas Pump, the town’s honky-tonk, with a beer in one hand and his head in the other. It was a Friday night and everyone in town was eating, drinking, and cutting a rug with their best partner. His cousins Brody and Cole were a-boot-scootin’ across the floor with some gorgeous specimens of womanhood as was his younger brother Troy. Even his elder brother Jackson and his fiancée, the town’s amazing new doctor, Billie Rothman, were showing everyone that you could make love on the dance floor and not get arrested by the sheriff Sly Mulligan. In fact, it was Sly who was also watching them with avid interest, a knowing gleam in his eyes, almost like a yearning, if Ben had to guess. A small grin formed on his own face too every time he looked at Jackson. Billie had completely bewitched his brother and saved him from his ridiculous notion that he was unable to have a true loving relationship like his parents, Lillian and Bill. The two of them were hotter than an erupting volcano and showed no signs of slowing down in their passionate love affair as their wedding approached.
With a sigh, Ben finished his beer with one big slug. He hadn’t had a good fuck since he first realized that the sexy café owner had captured his attention several months ago. Lizzie Carmichael was all fire and sensuality. One look and a light laugh was all it had taken months ago
to turn Ben into an addict searching for his next fix of her. Lizzie was a huge, energetic presence wrapped up in a tiny little body at five feet and four inches, while possessing the most sensuous blue eyes and silky, long chestnut hair. Ben found himself salivating over her creamy soft-looking skin that was showcased with a fit figure and killer curves. His hands itched to explore the voluptuous flesh that teased his senses over the low necklines of her shirts. He had found himself eating one to two meals a day in her small but delicious café. He would secretly drive by her home late at night on his way home from whatever he had been doing with his cousins and friends, just to check on her and make sure she was home okay. Not quite fitting the stalker persona but more of the forlorn suitor façade, he liked to imagine. He had almost torn Len Drexel limb from limb when he had attacked not only Billie but then Lizzie as she tried to defend her friend. Yup, he supposed he had some interest, he laughed inwardly.
That memory was a double-edged sword though, as he got a rush of blood to his cock as he remembered taking the object of his desire in his hand, literally, for risking her life, even to defend her friend when they were attacked. He could still feel her ass beneath his hand as he had imparted to her, for the first time, that she wasn’t alone and needed to remember that. It had been a turning point for them as Lizzie had finally realized that Ben had an actual interest in her and he had come to the conclusion that he was going to die of frustration if he didn’t tie her up and fuck her silly soon. She just did it for him. Being around her made him happy. He was never happy around women for longer than a month or two. It wasn’t intentional or anything. He just lost interest. No one ever kept his motor running for longer than that time at which then he would politely and respectfully break it off with whatever women he was with. However, since he got infected with the Lizzie bug, well, he just had no desire to be with any other women. It was not like him at all. He had a voracious sexual appetite usually. He adored women and the pleasures that they could find together. Many a happy female was seen skipping through Stony Creek after spending an overnight adventure with him seeing to their unfulfilled desires and quenching them with a vengeance. Yep, many happy memories filled this bar tonight, but not one stirred Ben simply like the thought of just sitting near Lizzie watching her as she flitted from customer to customer tonight during her dinner service.
Speaking of which, where the hell was she? Lizzie always came out on Friday nights with the girls. The girls’ attendance roster included Dr. Billie Rothman, Dr. Madelyne Daniels, the new town veterinarian, and effervescent Beth Saunders. A fission of concern shot up from his bowels that something wasn’t quite right with his Lizzie. Whoops. He had better get control of that thought. She definitely would verbally tear him to pieces over that one. She was one woman who didn’t want anyone to consider her their property, until she actually was. On that note, since there was no one to look out for her tiny little self, his concern for her delay this evening returned. With a slap on his buddy and neighboring rancher Hunter’s back, Ben strolled out into the rainy evening while slapping his cowboy hat on his head.
* * * *
“Oh no!” Lizzie exclaimed aloud. The very embodiment of male perfection was running down the street in an effort to avoid the torrential rainfall now bathing the streets of Stony Creek.
“I can’t even, hiccup, look at that damned man and not get wet! Hiccup, well maybe not as wet as he is getting, hiccup!” Lizzie laughed out. Although moments ago her stomach was tied into triple knots of mixed fear and frustration, those feelings were now shifting to excitement and arousal at Ben’s approach and obvious destination. How could she miss the spectacle of his incredibly toned body on display from the rain saturating his shirt and jeans, fitting them deliciously to his body? Those thighs, that chest, and Lordy, that huge male member that even at rest looked intimidating with his sodden jeans molded to it.
Benjamin Powell was six foot and five inches of pure man, even slightly brawnier than his taller elder brother Jackson. It was his generous, quiet nature though that made her melt as he would gaze up at her with his green eyes while he thought she wasn’t looking. And looking he was, as she stared at him from inside her dim-lit restaurant watching as the rain ran in rivulets from his cowboy hat.
“Lizzie, baby, are in you in there?” she heard him call out. Damn, that rich voice caused her to tremble in excitement as it washed over her. I guess there was no more personal pity party for her. The poor man was soaked, obviously looking for her out of concern. Lizzie figured that she had to just let him in and deal with the unavoidable reaction of soaking her panties as he just turned her insides out.
Ben had his hands cupped up against the front window trying to see inside the glass as the outside light came on. He heard a click as the door unlocked and he quickly pulled it open as he ran himself in out of the downpour. He removed his hat immediately, a product of proper upbringing by his very ladylike drill-sergeant mother, Lillian, and started to shake himself off without looking up. A dry towel was thrust up into his face as an offering of assistance.
“Thanks,” he mumbled while wiping off his arms and clothes the best he could. “Where have you been…?” Ben caught his breath as he finally gazed over to look at her. He took in her swollen, watery eyes and the general air of sadness that was emanating from her. He felt a surge of unexpected protectiveness burst out with a need to fix anything that was upsetting or hurting her at that instant.
“Baby, what’s the matter? What has happened? Why are you crying? Who hurt you?” The questions flew out of his mouth quicker than he could formulate the thoughts.
Lizzie let out a small laugh as she realized that was probably more than he had ever spoken to her at once with the one erotic exception when he had words with her and “disciplined” her tush for putting herself in danger. At the time she was shocked and more than a little aroused as he pinked up her rear but hadn’t fought him verbally or physically during it. Rather, she found herself willing to do anything he would have wanted at that moment. There had been something in his voice and the quiet control he had used. After, he had just hugged her to him at the time, as though she were the most valuable thing in the world and walked her back to the assembled group dealing with the Len Drexel situation. It warmed her heart to know that he must be very concerned about her to be engaging in an actual conversation.
With his huge, comforting presence within reach, Lizzie was unable to help herself as she threw her slight form at his hard body. His arms immediately enveloped her in a protective cocoon as she began to tremble again and the sobs began anew. She guessed that even the temporary promise of concern was egging on her emotional state.
Ben’s concern grew as he felt her hug his body so tightly, as though her life depended on it. He stroked her back and she sobbed out whatever had her in such a state and knew he would have to wait for her to calm down in order to get his answers. He was a patient man so he knew that he would get them but there was a simmering anger within him that he wanted to hurt whoever or whatever had put her like this. In an effort to give her comfort, he ran his hands tenderly over her back and soft arms. The gentle caresses seemed to be relaxing her and having the opposite effect on him.
He suddenly heard a hiccup, figuring it to be just the end of her cry, and he proceeded to lift her soft body up into his arms, snuggled up into his chest. He sat her on his lap at the table that she must have been previously occupying. His cock swelled as she wiggled her rear against his lap, trying to cuddle even closer into his heat. Ben sighed, repeating in his head, ignore it, ignore it. It was a losing battle and he took a deep breath, inhaling her sweet intoxicating scent. He felt her hiccup again and noticed the bottle of tequila on the table in front of them.
“Um, Lizzie, baby. How much of this stuff have you been drinking, honey?” he inquired gently. Ben realized that he was in a potentially difficult situation as he felt her soft lips press tantalizingly, for the first time, against the base of his throat. Electric currents of ar
ousal ripped across his groin as he tried to sound like he was more in control than he was at the moment.
“Just a few,” she replied softly into his warm, damp skin.
“A few as in two or a few as in eight?” he asked gently.
A small pause allowed Ben to take in the quiet of the room that was being soothingly enhanced by the soft glow of a candle that she had lit for the table and the gentle drumming of the rain on the ceiling.
She let out a small sigh. “Perhaps six but I lost track.” Ben’s eyebrows rose in silent shock as he had never known her to drink so much, and at the way she had calmed in his arms, he knew that there was not any imminent threat to her. He wondered what could have sent her into such a state.
“Want to talk about it, baby?” Ben murmured into her sweet-smelling hair, unable to help himself.
Lizzie allowed herself an inward sigh. What would be the harm in telling Ben? In just a few weeks, everyone in town would know that Theodore Davis, disgusting vomitous man that he was, had put her out of her house and business as she couldn’t keep up with her payments. Other than Billie and her new dear friend Maddy Daniels, the town’s veterinarian, Ben was one of the few people that she trusted.
Life and the people in it hadn’t always been kind to her. Oh, that hadn’t ever stopped her from trying to find the good in all people but she always held a part of herself back, quietly, in an effort to prevent as many bruises as possible. This was true especially with men. Her father had been withdrawn and emotionally bankrupt. After her mother had died when she was a child, he had turned to the bottle in an effort to soothe his own pain. He ignored the living reminder of his beautiful wife and let her grow up under the caring and watchful eye of the matrons of Stony Creek. Millie Braxton, Mabel Winston, and Julia Morgan had kept a watchful eye over her as she grew up to be the generous and loving person that she was now, under their caring guidance.
