Owned for Christmas

by Willa Edwards

  She shook her head. “I think you’re a very good person.” Much better than I deserve. She held his head, leaning up on her tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on his lips. He twisted an arm around her waist, pulling her closer, and she melted into him. His sweet kisses created a warm glow deep inside her. It always felt so good in his arms. Right. Perfect. She hoped he felt the same.

  The sound of a throat clearing jarred them from their quiet world. They pulled away from each other, looking toward the sound. Grant stood behind them. His dark, penetrating eyes focused on Kate. Her heart thumped crazily, and her insides twisted a little tighter. Just his presence had her whole body reacting.

  Why did this all have to be so complicated? Her heart and body both desired two different things. She couldn’t let this bizarre attraction to Grant rob her of the happiness she had found after he’d left her. She wouldn’t.

  “Mom’s looking for you.” He glared at Daniel.

  Kate almost sighed in relief to have his focus directed somewhere else.

  “Something about what to make for dinner and she mentioned ham.”

  “She said she’d make a honey-glazed ham for dinner.” Daniel’s eyes burned with excitement. If there was a man whose heart lived in his stomach, it was Daniel. Kate would have to take notes from Gale on how to make all his favorites once they got back to Texas. She liked this delighted little boy side of him.

  “I promised I’d help her get it out of the freezer.” Hesitant and suddenly concerned, he gazed at Kate, as if he was afraid to leave her alone.

  “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.” Kate pushed him toward the door. She’d survive without him for a few minutes. There was no reason to get between him and his food.

  “Don’t worry.” Grant concentrated on her.

  A shiver raced across her skin. Okay, maybe there was a reason.

  “I’ll keep Kate company.”

  She bit her tongue. He’d keep her company all right. He’d stay right by her side, long enough for her to believe he’d be there, then he’d vanish like the wind.

  “Great.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart.” He released her hand then headed off toward the house.

  Suddenly, she stood all alone in the barn, with Grant.

  The air sizzled between them, uncomfortable. She fumbled her fingers at her sides, not sure what to do. He kept his gaze on her, the same unwavering stare that had always gotten her into trouble before.

  Grant stood before her, legs spread wide. His well-worn jeans hugged his thick thighs. The thin cotton of his T-shirt accentuated his big, broad chest and defined biceps. He’d pulled his hair back into a tight ponytail and looked every inch a Master.

  Kate’s heart sped up. Her temperature rose too many degrees to make her jacket necessary. Her breathing became rough.

  Damn stupid body. She didn’t want to be attracted to him. It didn’t matter how he could make her blood sing and her mind go blank. She was here with his brother.

  But the appetite still crawled under her skin, one he could fulfill and Daniel never would.

  “It seems my brother is showing you a good time.” Grant walked toward her, his long legs eating up the barn floor between them. His strong, dominating presence pressed against her, caging her in, even if he wasn’t physically close to her.

  She returned her attention to the animal in front of her, refusing to respond to him. She didn’t have anything to say to Grant. That time had passed. Instead, she stroked Tulip’s nose. The horse snorted.

  “Tulip’s a good horse.” He moved closer to Kate, standing at the stall door with her. He rubbed the horse with the authority and confidence of a man who had spent his life around the beasts. He glided his hand up and down the mare’s side and a shiver ripped down the animal’s spine. The mare snorted again, happy to have his attention too, moving into his touch.

  Kate understood how the horse felt.

  “But she’s too mellow a horse for me. Too easy-going. I like a little more spirit in my horses. It makes it all the sweeter when you break them to your will.”

  “I’m not a horse, Grant. You didn’t break me.” The sudden desire to justify herself swelled up inside her, though she had no clue why she bothered. It’s not like Grant would listen.

  He smirked at her, the expression sending a short blast of pleasure straight down to her cunt.

  “I never said you were.”

  Kate silently wished the rest wasn’t true either. But if any word described how she’d felt after reading that note from him, it was broken. Just a pile of broken bits that used to be a person. The note that had said he was leaving and not coming back. That they’d had a fun few months and he wished her well.

  “I never wanted to break you.”

  Against her better judgment, Kate turned to look at him. He stared at her, his expression filled with hurt and regret. Two emotions she’d never thought Grant was capable of.

  “I didn’t plan to leave you when I did. But I had commitments I had to honor.”

  He reached for her, almost caressing her arm, but she jumped back. She couldn’t let him make contact with her. She wouldn’t be able to endure it. The pain was already too much, but if he touched her, it would incapacitate her.

  “I can’t,” she whispered over and over as she stepped away from him, placing as much space between them as she could.

  Her back bumped up against the next stall door. A large, angry snort issued behind her shoulder, and she jumped a foot at the sound. A glance revealed a large mare that didn’t seem at all happy to have Kate leaning against her door.

  “Kate.” Grant spoke calmly, though panic washed through his eyes. “Move away from the door.”

  The horse let out a whinny, spinning in a circle within the tiny stall. White foam trickled from the horse’s mouth as it reared toward the stall door and slammed its hooves against the wood.

  Kate wished she could give the creature the space it so clearly wanted. Nothing would make her happier than to obey Grant’s command. She didn’t even care that he had given it, or that she was supposed to hate him. But her stupid legs wouldn’t work.

  Kate’s heartbeat rocketed. The mare reared. The horse dwarfed Kate, her hoofs slamming through the air like two giant hammers, willing and able to damage any part of her they connected with. Kate tried to breathe, but her damn lungs wouldn’t work. Her feet seemed frozen to the barn floor. All she could do was watch, staring on as the horse banged on the stall door wanting out, wanting a pound of Kate’s flesh.

  Realizing Kate couldn’t move, Grant raced to her side. He snagged her around the waist and pulled her back. She held onto Grant, her arms shaking around him. Her heartbeat filled her ears. She leaned her forehead against his chest, breathing in his comforting smell, enjoying the protection he offered. Just beyond them, the mare continued slamming her hoofs against the stall door, screaming out her fury.

  “So that’s old Bertha,” Kate finally released between deep pants.

  He smiled down at her, his breathing labored. “Yup.”

  They stood there, bodies pressed close, their breaths gusting. She looked up into his smoky and filled-with-promise eyes. She shivered. He squeezed his thick arms a fraction tighter around her, holding her hard enough that there was no doubt she couldn’t escape, and the demon of need inside her roared to life. Wetness dewed between her legs. Everything else around her became blurry. All she could focus on was Grant.

  His nostrils flared and something changed in his eyes. It was almost like watching his control snap, as if she were seeing the Master take him over.

  He slid his hands down her back. Seizing her wrists in one of his big, hot hands, he pinned them to her lower back. He tightened his other hand around her nape. His hard grip kept her head up, her eyes directed at him. He pushed her back against the stable wall, crowding her to the paneling. The hundred-year-old wood was nowhere near as hard as the Dom standing in front of her. Her breath quickened. Her chest rose and fell against his. Th
e soft brush of her body against him set her nipples tingling beneath her cable-knit sweater.

  She looked up and her gaze met his pewter glare. The same expression that had once aroused her as he’d held a whip over her body, his ropes bindings her wrists, holding her down. She’d trusted him so much before and she would have let him do anything to her, never thinking twice about it.

  But he’d broken all that trust, so easily, so completely. He’d tossed it aside as if it meant nothing—as if she meant nothing. It didn’t matter that she knew the reason now. The damage had been done.

  She loved Daniel. He’s the one who matters.

  “Let go, Grant.”

  He only smirked at her attempt to command him. As a Dominant, she always had been a hopeless failure.

  “Why? You seem to be enjoying yourself.” He scanned her body, lingering on where her nipples poked out from her sweater. He leaned closer, pushing their bodies together until her tight tips pressed against his chest. He tilted his hips against hers.

  Kate fought back a moan. She refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing how aroused she was. It didn’t matter. Regardless of how her body reacted, her heart belonged to Daniel, whose trust was more important.

  “It’s been a long time since you’ve felt this, isn’t it, pet? I bet my brother doesn’t do this to you.” He leaned in close, his lips only a breath away from hers. The bulge between his legs knocked against her stomach, setting her blood to boiling. “I know my brother. He’s too sweet, too gentle to take you the way you want. To slap your ass, pull your hair, or tie you up, like you crave.”

  “Your brother does just fine,” she spat, realizing she’d played right into his hands.

  “Really.” Every hard inch of him crowded into every soft curve of her body. “It wasn’t just fine between us. It was amazing, fantastic, earth-shattering.” He stared directly into her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, her body reacted to his words. Her pussy tingled and heated, wanting more.

  It had been amazing between them. But that was all before he’d broken her heart.

  “Is my little brother really satisfying you?” he whispered into her ear, his breath burning against her cheek. “Does he satisfy all your needs?”

  Her knees almost collapsed beneath her. “Let me go, Grant.” She couldn’t answer that question. She shook her hands, trying to pull them free, but his hold was solid.

  “Not a chance, sweetheart.” He captured her lips with his.

  He crushed her mouth under his. His hot breath filled her lungs. Instantly, he overwhelmed her senses, blocking out everything besides the feel of his mouth on hers. He pushed her into the barn wall then thrust his tongue into her mouth. She sucked on it greedily, arching, rubbing her breasts against his chest.

  Her insides dissolved. The heat of his kiss spread fire deep inside her, touching every dark, lonely part of her. All the parts she wouldn’t let Daniel see. Her knees wobbled. Her legs shook beneath the force. Her panties dampened and she was almost sure she heard him take a deep breath, as if he could smell her arousal.

  “You like this, don’t you?” Grant breathed the words against her lips, not giving her enough time or air to respond before he moved his mouth back to hers.

  He pushed his thigh between her legs, rubbing against their juncture. The hard bulge of his cock pressed against her stomach, evidence of how much he was enjoying himself. Her mind fuzzed over at the power of his hold on her hands. God, she’d missed this. She’d missed his hold, his touch, his command.

  “I bet Danny doesn’t do anything like this for you.” He sucked on her neck then kissed her jaw before finding her lips again. His rough, fierce kiss sent heat pulsating through her whole body.

  Cold, jagged shards of ice slid down her spine at the mention of Daniel’s name. How could she do this? To Daniel? He deserved better. She loved him—she truly did—and she never wanted to hurt him. It would kill him if he ever found out about this.

  “You have to stop.” She panted for her breath. It took all her energy, all her willpower to pull back from the kiss, but somehow she managed, twisting her head away from him. “I love your brother.”

  “I know you, Kate. He can’t be giving you what you desire. Not like I can.” He feathered his lips down her neck, making her shiver. “He’s too gentle for you. Too weak.”

  What does he know about being weak? Weakness wasn’t just about physical strength. Strength wasn’t just being able to force her up against wall, hold her down and make her come. There was strength in being open, vulnerable. And in that area, Daniel was Hercules compared to Grant.

  She jerked back, trying to escape his touch, but was unsuccessful. “What do you know about Daniel? He offers me more than you ever did.”

  Grant drew his hand back from her face. Kate ignored the pang of regret that coiled in her stomach.

  “I’ve known Danny his whole life. He doesn’t have it in him to dominate you. To spank you or whip you when you need it.”

  Kate dropped her gaze to the hay-covered floor. That was true. But Daniel could do other things Grant had never been good at. He held her when she cried. He listened to her complain about her day. He cuddled with her on the couch while they watched movies. Grant had never been interested in doing any of those things with her. He hadn’t been interested in a relationship—just domination and sex.

  “That may be true. However, he offers me things you never did. He offers me a life.” She stared up at him, her chest heavy. The space between them pregnant with regret and longing. “You left me, Grant. Don’t forget that.” Kate heard the catch in her voice and hated giving him any indication that he’d hurt her.

  “My father died. I had to come back here and help my mom run the ranch. You see I had to. I didn’t have another choice.”

  Kate shook her head, tears blurring her vision. “I understand why you had to come back here. But I don’t know why you had to leave me. Why couldn’t you have told me what happened?” She swallowed, trying to force back the waterworks, even though the effort was futile. “Instead of leaving a note at my door that I was free. I deserved more than that. I trusted you…” She lost the battle against her tears.

  The sound of her crying echoed in his ears, stabbing him in the chest. Kate stared down at the ground, refusing to meet his gaze. She trembled. When she jerked her hands back, he let her go, even though every instinct in him said to hold onto her, keep her attached to him. If he let her go this time, he might never get another chance to touch her.

  She immediately stepped away from him, wiping away the tracks of tears from her face with the sides of her hands. Her chest rose and fell with her ragged breathing and her shoulders still shook with sobs.

  His gut clenched. I really am a bastard. He’d never meant to cause her this kind of pain. But he always did. He always hurt her somehow. That’s all he was good for—inflicting pain.

  He should just walk away from her forever. Let her have her happy life with his brother. At least then, he’d stop being such a fucking asshole to his brother too by chasing after his girl. Then he’d finish hurting one of the people he loved. He wished he was that strong. But he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t let her go.

  “Kate, please.”

  He reached out for her again, but she shook her head. She didn’t say a word, just stumbled out of his reach. His stomach sank. She was running from him, and he couldn’t blame her. He hated it all the same.

  She turned away from him and his chest ached as if he’d been punted by old Bertha square in the heart. Kate fled the stable, fled from him, kicking up hay as she ran. No doubt she was returning to his brother, to his soft comfort and loving protection. Hiding even further from the person she truly was.

  More than his next breath, he wanted to chase her. He wanted to run after her, pin her down and force her to take him back. From what had happened in this stall, he was fairly sure he could do it. But she’d hate herself for it and for hurting Daniel. The last thing he wanted was to bring
her any more pain.

  He’d thought he’d been doing the right and noble thing by releasing her from their connection. He’d moved hours away with no prospect of ever coming back. It wasn’t as if he could spend a few weeks or even months at the ranch and fix it up enough to make it manageable for his mother. He was moving there—well, here—for good. The ranch required all his time and attention. There was no point in Kate waiting for him. It had seemed easier to end their relationship. Even if it was the last thing he had wanted to do.

  What he’d never anticipated was how much he’d miss her. How much he still wanted her even a year later. He hadn’t realized then that no one would ever replace her.

  He fisted his hands at his sides, wishing he could punch himself in the face. He definitely deserved it after everything he’d done to her. He’d been such a fucking idiot.

  Of course, she was right. He should have talked to her in person and let her know why he was leaving. She’d deserved that. And he’d tried. He’d gotten to her front door but, standing on her doorstep, he’d chickened out. He couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t look into her eyes and let her know he was leaving.

  He was just as big of a wuss as his brother. Maybe bigger. At least Daniel could hold onto his woman instead of hiding at home with a broken heart.

  Sending her a quick note, releasing her from their entanglement, had seemed the only option. He thought she’d get over his departure faster if she hated him. Plenty of Masters would love a submissive like her—beautiful, obedient without being a doormat. He’d assumed all this time that she’d found another Dom, someone else who could give her what she needed.

  Instead, she’d discovered his brother. Fate had a fucking cruel sense of humor.

  Chapter Five

  “Just a little farther to the right.”

  Kate’s voice drifted over to them from across the room. Beside Daniel, his brother groaned. Holding the sticky, spiky tree trunk in his hands, he shifted it according to Kate’s direction.