by Jane Jamison
She almost let out a whoop of victory when the horse turned its head to the left then plodded out of the barn. Derrick was smiling for sure when she made it out to him. As though she hadn’t had any problem at all, she sat up tall in the saddle and acted like she’d been riding all her life. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Not yet. You need this to keep the sun off you.” He took the beige hat hanging on his saddle horn and rested it on her head. He paused, his gaze meeting hers.
For a moment, she was sure he was going to kiss her.
And then the moment was gone and he was back to his usual serious self.
Damn.
“Then let’s get going.” He made a clucking sound then reined his horse around before giving it a nudge with his heels. The horse broke into a trot.
Oh, shit.
But she didn’t have time to let the worry take over. She copied his movements, holding on to the saddle horn. Bouncing in the saddle, she prayed she wouldn’t fall off before she caught up to him.
* * * *
Derrick had to give her credit. She didn’t know how to ride. That was easy to see when she’d mounted Trigger. But she hadn’t complained and had managed to keep up with him. He wondered how far he could’ve pushed her, but once they made it to the pasture, he didn’t have the heart to make her go any farther.
He reined his horse Raider to a stop and choked back a laugh. The grimace on her face said it all. She was in a lot of pain. People didn’t realize how rough the rocking of a horse’s gait as well as sitting spread-eagle on a horse could get after half an hour or so. Especially for those who had never been on top of a horse and were already tense and nervous.
“You doing all right? You look like you’re sitting on top of a porcupine.”
A smile wiped the grimace away. “I’m fine.”
“Good. Then let’s get at it.” He dismounted, not bothering to explain what they had to do. If she had the sense he thought she had, she’d pick up on it soon enough.
He sauntered through the herd of Black Angus cattle mixed with a few Texas Longhorns toward the shed out in the middle of the pasture. He’d paid for a load of hay and it should’ve been delivered yesterday. He would’ve already checked on it if the girls hadn’t shown up and thrown his day off. If the hay hadn’t been surrounded by a metal fence, the cows would’ve already gotten to it. As it was, the cattle were standing around the shed munching on dried grass and waiting for someone to show up.
“Shit, shit, shit.”
He pivoted around to see why she was putting up such a fuss. And then broke out laughing.
The cattle had her penned in, mooing and sniffing at her, fussing at her to feed them. She stood stock-still as they surrounded her. Her hands were pulled up to her chest and the fear of God was written on her face.
“Why are you playing with the cows? We’ve got to get them fed.”
“Playing with them?” She let out a squeak when one of them put his nose in her hair and let out a snort. “Get me out of here. Shit, shit, shit.”
“Just keep walking.” He shoved his thumbs in his pockets, enjoying the show. “All they want is for you to feed them.”
“Feed them what?”
“The hay that’s in the shed.”
“I can’t. They won’t move. I can’t move.” She yelped again. “Derrick, please.”
He shouldn’t and he knew it. But damn it, sometimes a man had to have a little fun. “What’d you call me?”
“Huh? Derrick, please. Ooh, get them away from me.”
“If you’re going to work on a ranch, you’re going to have to learn how to handle the herd.” He reconsidered his idea, then jumped into it anyway. “If you want my help, sub, then you’re going to have to ask for it the right way.”
That got her attention. “Sub?”
Did her face gain a little of her color back? “That’s what Caleb called you last night, isn’t it?”
“Yes. So he told you, um, what we did?”
If she could’ve made her body any smaller, he knew she would have. “Yep. I haven’t made my final decision about the whole Dom/submissive setup, but let’s see how it sounds. Calling me sir is okay, but I think I’d rather hear Dom Derrick instead. It has a nice ring to it.”
She whined as the cows got a little closer. “Please, Dom Derrick, help me.”
He’d already taken it too far and couldn’t see putting her through much more. “All you have to do is give them a holler and they’ll get out of your way. Once you start walking, just keep on going like you don’t even notice they’re there.”
“Holler? You mean yell at them?”
He’d thought her pretty last night. Hell, sexy as hell. But she was even more so when she let her guard down a little and showed that she was a real woman. A woman who wasn’t as brave as she thought she was.
“Like this. Hoo-eeey! Get!” He strode toward the cattle and they scattered away like a bunch of mice away from an alley cat.
As soon as the animals started moving away, she hurried to his side. Yet inside of getting behind him to use him as a barrier, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on. It startled him, but in a good way. A really good way.
He hadn’t planned on touching her, much less having her cling to him. Not until he’d made up his mind about both being a Dom and having her stick around. But her touch changed all that. And when she lifted her incredible light-blue eyes to his, all his defenses he’d put into place last night came crumbling down.
He had no way to resist her. And he didn’t even try.
Taking her by the back of her neck, he wrapped his arm around her and crushed his mouth to hers. At first, she jerked and he was afraid she’d push him away.
Would his worst fear be realized? Would she want Caleb and not him?
But then she leaned into him and tightened her hold around his waist. He moaned, grateful to have her acceptance. Deepening the kiss, he nibbled on her lower lip, then slicked his tongue along the seam. She answered with a moan of her own and dug her fingernails into his back.
A man could resist such a woman for only so long. She was the most beautiful, sensual creature he’d even seen.
Without breaking the kiss, he scooped her into his arms. Her hands locked around his neck as he turned back to the shed and walked toward it. If he hadn’t had to see where to open the gate, he wouldn’t have ended the kiss.
Her lips were plumped and her eyes were clouded with need. Yet he doubted she needed him more than he needed her. No one could ever crave a woman as much as he hungered for her.
“Derrick.”
Her smile was like the sun lighting up in his hands. “I mean, Dom Derrick. What you doing?”
He managed to get through the gate and hurried to the bales of hay stacked in the lean-to. The structure wasn’t much, but it provided shelter for the hay and later, when it was empty, they’d leave the gate open so some of the herd could find protection against wind and rain. Various tools and a bullwhip hung from one wall.
Taking care with her, he lowered her to the hay and tugged her hands from his neck. He stood up and took her in, unable to believe she wanted to be his submissive. Or would she have chosen any men and Caleb had just happened to be in the right place at the right time?
She lay back and stared up at him, the shadows playing over her body. “Teach me, Dom Derrick. I want to know how to please you.”
His cock had already started getting hard, but her words had it twitching, ready to take over. He wanted to know the answer to his question, but to ask now might break the mood between them. And that, plain and simple, would’ve been a damn shame. Instead, he started tugging off his shirt.
Chapter Five
Was it a Texas thing? Or a Houston family trait? A side effect of working a ranch? There had to be a reason for two brothers to turn out so built. So hot. So fucking masculine.
Molly decided it didn’t matter how it came to be. Just that they were the men they were.
/> It wasn’t a strip tease. He wasn’t the type to do that kind of thing. But it was still erotic, still setting her on fire.
Derrick tugged off his boots, then started getting to work on his belt. And when he shoved his jeans to the ground, she was happy she was already lying down. Otherwise, she might’ve passed out.
Caleb’s cock had been huge. And Derrick’s was every bit as big. She pushed to a sitting position, ready to stand and give him a show of her own.
He backed off, then turned and gave a whistle. His horse trotted over to him. When he leaned over the fence and reached into the pack strapped across the horse’s back, he gave her a good shot at studying his round, firm ass.
She bit her bottom lip and thought about running over to him and biting it. But would a sub do that? She doubted it. When he pivoted back to her, he held a thin strip of leather.
“Go on. Take everything off.”
She couldn’t wait to do exactly what he wanted. “Yes, sir.” Slowly and seductively, she started unbuttoning her shirt.
“Nope. I don’t care about the show. Just get them off. Now.”
She hurried, pulling the T-shirt over her head, then reaching for her bra.
“Naw. Leave the bra on.” His lust was written on his face as he thrust out his jaw and commanded, “Get the boots and jeans off. Leave your panties on.”
She did as he ordered, then stood in front of him in only her underwear. “What now, sir?” Saying sir was getting easier.
If a gaze could be felt, she felt his. It raked over her, pausing at her breasts then the vee of her legs. She was wet, ready, and willing to give him what she wanted herself.
“Hold out your arms.”
She glanced at the strip of leather, then did as he’d told her to. He came to her, his body so close, yet not close enough. She could smell his aroma, the fragrance of hard labor and manliness rolled up into one tantalizing scent. He kept his attention on her face the whole time as he wrapped the strip around her wrists and bound her hands together.
Her breathing picked up speed. Her body heated up everywhere, not just between her legs. Her nipples grew hard.
“I’ve never been tied up before, Dom Derrick.”
He cinched the leather tighter. “Cut the Dom shit. I don’t need you to call me anything. Besides, actions speak louder than words, right?”
“I’ve always thought they do.”
“And you’re going to do everything I tell you to do.”
Her mouth was suddenly dry. She didn’t know him, shouldn’t let him get her into a position like this. But just like Caleb, she trusted him. Wasn’t that a good sign that they’d be compatible as a Dom and his submissive?
“Within reason, of course.”
He touched her cheek and she leaned into the caress. “Then you know the colors. Caleb explained them?”
“He didn’t have to. I already knew.”
“Good. Be sure to use them.” He took her by the leather strip and led her over to the left wall of the lean-to. Turning her toward it, he pushed her arms up, then put her bound wrists over a hook that also held an old, worn halter. “Spread your legs.”
She did as she was told. But she was surprised when he walked away. She tried to see where he went but couldn’t. “Wait. Where are you going? You’re not going to leave me here, are you?”
“Tied up? Of course not.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
He came back and skimmed his hand over her head, brushing her hair away from her shoulders. “Don’t question me, sub. Just do as I tell you to do.”
She nodded, and waited as he stepped away again. What was he up to? Had she made a mistake in trusting him?
The sting hit her hard, dead center in her butt. She jolted, letting out a yelp.
“Easy, babe. You don’t want to scare the cattle.”
The cattle had surrounded the lean-to and were quietly eating the grass as they waited to be fed. “Don’t worry about them.”
She had just enough time to see him arc his arm back, then flick it forward. The lash of the bullwhip struck her other cheek. Pain zipped into her, spreading quickly through her and along her skin. Yet, although the pain hurt at first, it quickly changed into something else. A sensation that ripped into her pussy and turned it wild. She was wetter, hotter than ever.
“Color, babe?”
“Red, sir.”
He dropped his arm from over his head. “Red? I didn’t hit you hard. In fact, I barely grazed you.”
She turned and grinned at him. “I know. I was just testing you.”
“Huh.” He came at her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her back against his chest—and his crotch. His hard cock pressed against the small of her back, warning and teasing her at the same time. “Don’t play with me, sub. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.” Although she doubted she’d keep her promise. Seeing his expression when she’d said red had proved she could trust him to stop. He shouldn’t blame her for making sure, should he?
“You need a punishment for playing with me.” He stepped back, raised the whip, and let it fly.
The sting was expected this time, but that didn’t make it any less painful. Or any less of a turn-on. Two, then three more times he whipped her until, at last, she heard him drop the whip. He slid his hand over her ass, soothing her stinging flesh. He rubbed his cock against her hip.
“Still red, babe?”
“No, sir. I never was. I’m all green.” Would he let her ask him? Or would he shut her pleas down like Caleb had? “Please. I need you.”
He clenched his jaw. “You gave my brother a blow job.”
It wasn’t a question, but she gave an answer anyway. “Yes. Do you want one?”
“No. I think it’s your turn to get off.”
She gasped as his hand slid between her legs, then under the thin material of her thong. He spread her folds apart, then eased farther in until his middle finger found her clit. Her pussy tightened, trying to drag him inside.
His cock was solid against her as he stroked her nub and put his mouth to her ear. “I’m going to teach you, babe, but not just how to be a sub. I’m going to teach you more than that. I’m going to teach you how to be a woman.”
Her mouth parted, but what could she say? All her concentration went to his hand between her legs. He pressed his palm against her pussy, his fingers sliding along the tender skin beside it.
“Can you feel my cock?”
“Mmm, yes. Please. I need it inside me.”
“Is it big enough?”
“Oh, yes. Yes.”
He rubbed harder. Heat, lightning hot, flashed through her, taking control of her every thought, her every sense.
“Fuck, you’re wet. Good and ready for me to fuck, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Please.”
He moved back and forth between her clit and her pussy. First driving his finger into her sheath, then slipping it back over her clit. She whimpered and worked her hips back and forth. If she could’ve put her hand on his, she would’ve forced him to put more fingers inside her and find her sweet spot.
He fondled her tit, pinching and squeezing her nipple. She arched, then rocked, trying to push against both hands.
“I didn’t want you on the ranch. You know that, right?”
Why did he want to bring that up? Why now? “I know.”
“But I think you might’ve changed my mind.”
She moaned as he squeezed her breast, then rubbed his thumb over her nipple. Her body was spiraling higher, getting all too close to the sky. “Derrick, please fuck me.”
Instead, he rubbed harder, faster. “Not today, babe. We’ve got work to do.”
What?
He pressed against her clit, then pressed harder, working it until she couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Come for me, baby. Cream all over my hand.” His warm breath caressed her ear.
The words and the tone of his voice were the final push her to send her
hurtling into a climax. Crying out, she let her orgasm go. Tensing, then releasing the tension in shudders, she held on, her hands flexing open then closed, her feet planted apart to keep her upright. And yet, if he hadn’t held her up, her weakened knees would’ve have let her fall.
He whispered in her ear, but they weren’t the words she’d wanted to hear. “Get dressed and get to work.”
With one quick tug, he freed her hands, then stalked away, leaving her breathless and leaning against the wall. “That’s it? Don’t you want to fuck me?”
He tugged on his shirt, then his jeans, and was already working on getting his boots back on when he finally answered. “Not today.” His gaze seared over her. “Maybe. In time.”
“In time? What the hell does that mean?”
“Like I said, it’s time to work.”
Anger hit her, propelling her toward him until she was hitting him before she knew it. “What the hell is wrong with you two guys? Am I not good enough for you to fuck?”
He grabbed her arms and thrust her away from him, his glare burning into her. “Yeah, you’re good enough. But we’re going to work up to fucking. Once we know you’re here to stay. Once we know you can handle ranch life.”
“I don’t understand.” She was near tears, humiliation swamping her.
“Caleb and I aren’t looking for a temporary sub. We don’t want just a girl we can play with at the club. Those are a dime a dozen.”
He clutched her by the hair, hurting her, but she wasn’t about to let him see that it hurt. Instead, she swallowed the cry and glared back at him. “Then what do you want?”
He turned her loose, then nodded at her clothes. “Get dressed. I’ll show you how to feed. Then I’ll leave you to it.”
“Don’t change the subject. I want to know what’s going on.”
His scowl grew darker. “Do as you’re told, sub.” He grabbed one of the tools hanging on the other wall, cut the wires around a bale of hay, and kicked the gate open. Striding into the middle of the herd, he tore the bale apart and threw chunks of the hay outward. The cattle mooed and jostled around him, trying to get to the food.
