by Mari Carr
She shrugged, unconcerned. “Sorry to shatter the illusion, Sawyer, but I think I can handle whatever this party dishes out. It’s not like I’m a virgin.”
He frowned. “You lost your virginity in the backseat of a Pontiac to Les Prescott after Compton Pass won the district football championship our senior year. The guy was a shithead. You should’ve chosen better.”
Leah laughed, though a ripple of desire slammed into her. It was always this way with Sawyer. Though they were just friends, there’d never been a time when she hadn’t felt his gaze on her. He’d scared off more than a few would-be boyfriends in her lifetime claiming they were only after one thing. Les had fallen into that category, but Sawyer had been playing on that championship team and had been a bit distracted that night.
Sawyer had appointed himself her personal guardian in third grade when Jordan Haskiell had shoved her down on the playground after she’d beat him in a footrace. As a result, Sawyer had endured an afternoon in the principal’s office and God only knew what kind of punishment at home after issuing Jordan a very physical, very painful warning of what happened to guys who messed with Leah. While Sawyer hadn’t pursued her romantically, he’d certainly taken the bonds of friendship to a new extreme.
Despite the fact they’d existed in different cliques at school, Sawyer hadn’t let social status stop him from being one of her best friends. He’d run with the jocks and cheerleaders, while she’d been firmly encamped with the brainiacs, less affectionately referred to as nerds by their peers. “How could you have known about Les?”
“I told you. He was a prick. He was bragging about it at school the following Monday.”
She flushed. She’d never heard of Les spreading rumors about her. “I didn’t know—”
Sawyer grinned. “Luckily, he started his boasting with me. I took him out behind the school and gave him a reason to shut his fucking mouth.”
His admission held a hint of humor, but she could tell he was angry. She decided to test the waters to see how screwed she was.
“Well, it was great to see you again, but Stacey and I were going to pop over to the bar for a drink.”
“I’ll go with you.” He confirmed her fear.
She smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re scaring off all the other Doms.”
His wolfish grin let her know that was his intent.
Her temper sparked. “God dammit, Sawyer. Go away.”
Stacey lightly touched her arm, alerting Leah that she’d spoken too loudly. Several people glanced in her direction and frowned. She was never going to achieve her goal at this rate.
Sawyer was the only person in the room who didn’t take offense at her faux pas. “You realize this is a weekend party?”
She nodded. It was starting to look like it would be a long two days.
Sawyer reclaimed her hand, slipping off the white bracelet.
“What the hell are you doing?” She tried to pull her arm free, attempting to grab the wristband back.
Sawyer’s grip was implacable. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a green bracelet. Suddenly, she felt dizzy. There was no way he would—
Sawyer slipped it around her wrist.
“No,” she whispered when he lifted her hand.
Sawyer leaned closer, his breath hot against her cheek as he murmured in her ear. “The host is going to come over to confirm you’ve been claimed by me. You’re going to tell him you’ve agreed to be my sub. If you don’t, I will personally drag you out of here, take you to the airport and load you on the first plane to Wyoming myself. Don’t test me on this, Leah, because I promise you won’t like the end result.”
The host, Ronald Grey, was a large, attractive black man in his fifties who, according to Stacey, had more money than God.
Ronald patted Sawyer on the shoulder in a familiar, friendly manner and Leah wondered how in the hell a cowboy from Bumfuck knew such a powerful man. “You don’t waste any time, Compton. You realize the green band signifies you’re claiming this young lady for the entire weekend? A lot of the players are opting for the purple bracelet—a one-night affair—so they can sample another variety tomorrow night.”
Leah narrowed her eyes at Grey’s condescending comment, talking about her like she was a fucking dessert while warning Sawyer against gorging on one flavor. Sawyer squeezed the hand he’d never released, warning her to remain silent.
“When I see something I like, I take it.”
Grey nodded approvingly before looking at her. “You consent for this man to serve as your Dom?”
Stacey had assured her that while the BDSM play was serious, no one would be allowed to touch her without her agreement.
Leah looked at Sawyer. Her plans were shot. He would do exactly as he threatened. She nodded.
Grey collected the white wristband she’d received at the beginning of the night and looked at Sawyer. “You and your sub may participate in the public games or you can take her straight up to the room you were assigned upon arrival.”
Sawyer thanked Grey and they watched the man walk over to another couple.
Leah stared at Sawyer, letting her annoyance show. He’d fucked up everything, and she wasn’t going to let him off easy.
Stacey shook her head in amazement. “Wow. That was fast. I was worried you wouldn’t meet anyone. Oh.” Stacey gestured toward the door. “Bill’s here.”
Her friend looked to Sawyer as if seeking permission for something. Sawyer nodded and Stacey smiled, going to meet her lover.
“What was that?” Leah asked.
Sawyer’s gaze hardened. “Did your friend give you any instructions about what your role would be?”
She nodded. “She told me a few things.”
“And did you listen to her?”
Leah blew out a furious breath. How dare he act like this? He was the one who’d ruined her trip. “Listen, Sawyer. You’ve obviously done what you intended. You’ve got me branded with this stupid green bracelet, which means I’m off-limits for the weekend. I get it. Party’s over. Thanks for nothing.”
She started to follow Stacey, intent on saying goodbye before returning to her friend’s apartment.
Sawyer tightened his grip, halting her escape. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Back to Stacey’s.”
“No, you’re not.”
She paused. “What is your problem? It’s obvious you don’t like the idea of me hooking up.” She lifted her arm, pointing to the green wristband. “By the way, you screwed yourself out of a good time too. You want me to leave, so I’m going.”
Her voice had risen again, and several people standing close to them turned to look at her.
Sawyer put his arm around her waist and tugged her toward him—so close their bodies were connected from chest to toe. She tried to put some space between them, but Sawyer was too damn strong. The few muscles he hadn’t acquired through a lifetime of ranch work seemed to have been found during his last seven years with the Coast Guard. The man was rock hard. Everywhere.
Arousal awoke in several parts of her body when she became aware of his erection pressing against her stomach.
“I’m not going to punish you for that outburst.” His voice was deep and menacing—and God help her—sexy as hell. “You misunderstood my intent. So here’s what I’m going to do.”
He captured her gaze and held it. “I’m going to clarify for you in no uncertain terms what’s happened. If you still try to leave after I’ve finished explaining, it will be a punishable offense. Do you understand?”
Sawyer had never talked to her like this. Never treated her with anything less than friendly, attentive courtesy. She wasn’t sure how to respond to this commanding man, so she simply nodded.
“Good,” he continued. “I claimed you as my submissive. You gave your consent to the host. That means I own you, Leah. For the next two days, you’re mine. You aren’t going anywhere except to my bed.”
S
he stood spellbound for several moments, trying to process Sawyer’s comments. He wanted her? In his bed? She closed her eyes, light-headed.
When she opened them again, he patiently studied her face. She shook her head. “I came here because I…” She paused. She couldn’t tell him what she’d been thinking. Hell, she hadn’t been able to admit it to herself for years. “We’re friends, Sawyer. I really wanted—needed—a stranger. Someone who doesn’t know me. I mean, chances are pretty damn good we’ll run into each other again at home. That would be awkward. I was hoping to avoid that.”
Sawyer frowned. “The last thing you need is someone who doesn’t know you. Have you ever participated in a scene, submitted to someone? Anyone?”
She shook her head.
“Come with me.”
He took her hand. She knew better than to resist. His face told her she wouldn’t leave until he was ready to let her go. While she should be annoyed by his heavy-handedness, her body was on fire.
Like most girls in Compton Pass, she had carried a torch for Sawyer, though she had worked very hard to keep her ridiculous attraction to him a secret. After all, he was one of the infamous Compass brothers. Silas and Seth, the older brothers, had been legends by the time Leah entered high school and Sam and Sawyer, identical twin gods, sent most female hearts racing simply by claiming a nearby desk or saying hello in the hallway. At the time, she’d almost despised herself for her crush. She’d considered herself too practical, too intelligent to act like all the other love-struck girls in town.
Besides, she was smart enough to know nothing would ever come of her infatuation. She and Sawyer lived on two different planets as far as Compton Pass was concerned. Sawyer was the son of JD Compton, a powerful, wealthy rancher, whose quadruple-great-grandfather had founded the town. The Comptons were to Compton Pass what the Kennedys were to Martha’s Vineyard. When they spoke, people listened.
Leah, on the other hand, was the only child of a waitress and some faceless sperm donor who hadn’t stuck around beyond the morning after his romp with her mom. She was well versed in welfare and eviction notices and knew all too well how to stretch the almighty dollar. Sawyer had grown up on a sprawling ranch while she’d lived in a tiny apartment above the funeral home. As far as the class structure in Compton Pass was concerned, the Comptons fell into the haves category, while she and her mother lived firmly in the middle of the have nots.
When they reached the top of the massive staircase, Sawyer started down a long hallway. It was then she realized he was familiar with the house. “You’ve been here before.”
He didn’t reply until they stood outside a door. Sawyer took a key out of his pocket, unlocking it and gesturing for her to enter. The room was dark, except for the flicker of a single candle burning by the bed. He closed the door behind them. She heard the lock reengage and waited for him to turn on the lights.
He didn’t.
“I’ve been here several times,” he finally admitted. “Grey and I run in similar circles.”
“With people who are into BDSM,” she added, not bothering to make her words a question.
“Yes. Grey used to live in Portland, which is where I was first stationed. He moved to L.A. about the same time I was transferred to San Francisco, and we’ve kept up our acquaintance.”
She jumped slightly when Sawyer gripped her waist. He spun her slowly, pushing until her back hit the door they’d entered. He stepped closer, completely surrounding her, caging her in.
Her breathing accelerated and her eyes drifted closed. She wondered what it would be like to kiss Sawyer. She’d always been too aware of him. Any time they were in a room together, she knew where he was, what he was doing, who he was talking to.
Now that they were alone together, his breath wafting across her face, the same breathless, heart-racing emotions that were so prevalent during her teenage years returned. She’d only ever felt this way about Sawyer, though she had no intention of telling him that. Besides being cocky, he was a Compton and she would never fit in his world.
“You look gorgeous tonight.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond. He thought she was gorgeous?
“I’m no Beth.” Only half joking, she referred to the perky, perfect blonde cheerleader who’d bragged about losing her virginity to Sawyer. Leah had skipped gym class that day to keep from scratching the bitch’s eyes out as Beth proceeded to go into graphic detail about the toe-tingling, earth-shattering experience.
Sawyer chuckled softly. “Thank God for that.”
She frowned. What did that mean? Before she had a chance to ask, Sawyer changed the subject.
“Tell me why you came here tonight.” It was a command, short and simple.
“I—” She faltered. She had some dark desires she’d planned to explore, but there was no way she could voice those to Sawyer.
“Tell me, Leah.”
His mouth brushed her cheek as he spoke, and her knees went weak.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want this with you.”
His hand gently encompassed her neck, rubbing lightly, and even in the dim lighting, she sensed he was studying her reactions. “Liar.”
Her backbone stiffened at his name-calling, even though it was one hundred percent accurate. “Is it so hard to believe that there’s actually a woman in the world who doesn’t feel the need to fall down at your feet?”
“Not so hard. Even though it is highly unlikely.”
His face was pure mischief and before she could stop herself, she laughed. She appreciated his easygoing nature. It was one of the things she’d always admired and envied about Sawyer. While she’d spent most of her life wound up tighter than a spring, Sawyer was a go-with-the-flow kind of guy.
He stroked her face with the tips of his fingers. “That’s a pretty laugh. I don’t hear that enough from you.”
“We’ve seen each other less than a dozen times the past seven years.” Usually whenever Sawyer was home on leave, the two of them managed to meet up for lunch or dinner. They’d spend the evening catching up on life in general. Sawyer was the type of friend she could go months without speaking to, but once they were together it was like they’d never been apart.
“I know, but we’ve called and emailed and I got the letters and drawings from your students.” Leah had started a pen-pal program between local men who’d joined the military and her kindergartners. The students drew pictures and she’d help them pen short accompanying messages. Sawyer never failed to write back to the kids. Once he sent a photo of himself in his uniform standing on the deck of a boat.
She smiled. “I hung up your picture in my classroom. I had to break up a disagreement between two little girls when each of them insisted they were going to marry you when they grew up.”
Sawyer laughed. “Nice to know I’ve still got a way with the ladies.”
“You know Compton Pass. The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
He nodded. “So what about you? Besides this shocking choice of attire and unexpected meeting, what’s changed in your life? I assume you still haven’t taken my suggestion and headed to Nashville to make it big as a songwriter.”
His grip on her waist tightened slightly. She reached for his wrist, torn between pulling his too-provocative touch away or moving his hands higher. “That’s not a very practical career option.”
He rolled his eyes. “God. Still the same Leah. Both feet planted firmly on the ground.”
“I like to think I’m too smart to believe in dreams that can’t possibly come true. Fantasies don’t pay the bills, money does.”
It was obvious he didn’t completely agree with her, but he didn’t continue the argument.
Sawyer took her hand in his, lifting it and placing a soft kiss on her palm. She’d spent a lifetime wondering what it would be like to be with him, and while she’d always pictured hot, hard, amazing sex, she’d never anticipated his sweet caresses and humor woul
d carry over to the bedroom as well. The rumors from the other girls back home had led her to believe he was an intense lover. She’d always wondered what it would be like to sleep with him. She’d fantasized about it far too many times since puberty hit.
“I’m not going to lie, Leah. I wanted you when we were in school together. I really wanted you.”
She snorted. “Yeah right. I didn’t see you beating down my door to ask me for a date.”
He smiled ruefully. “You were a nice girl.”
“So?”
“So I was a horny teenage boy. I wasn’t looking for nice.”
She glanced around the room. “Given our surroundings, it doesn’t look like your requirements in female companionship have changed much.”
He didn’t deny her assertion. “Maybe not, but I think I may have gotten the best of both worlds tonight.”
“How so?”
“I landed a nice girl who wants to be bad. That’s better than riding the bull eight seconds, darlin’.”
“You haven’t scored yet, cowboy.”
“No, but I’m about to.”
“You think so?” she taunted.
He leaned closer, his hot breath tickling her face. “I know so.”
Before he could say more, his cell rang. “Shit.”
He didn’t make a move.
“Aren’t you going to answer it?”
He shook his head. “No.”
The ringing stopped, but neither of them moved. Instead, they stood cheek-to-cheek, breathing in each other’s scent.
Leah started to break the silence, but Sawyer’s cell beat her to it as it rang once more.
“Fuck.” He stepped back and took the phone out of his pocket. He started to switch it to silent, but glanced at the number. “It’s Sam. We’ve been playing phone tag for weeks.”
“You should answer it.”
Sawyer pressed a button. “Dude. Really? Twice? I’m sort of busy…”
She grinned. She’d always been jealous of Sawyer and Sam’s close relationship. An only child, she’d longed for siblings while she was growing up.
