Bet Your Boots

by Starla Kaye

  The second the trio stepped into the dimly lit building her senses were assaulted. The band had launched into something lively and loud, with lots of fancy fiddle playing, some equally enthusiastic bass guitar, and a pair of singers belting out words she couldn’t quite understand. Beer scented the air, along with a mix of sweat and musky colognes from the cowboys on the prowl for a woman for the night.

  “Hey, Rusty!” one of the two bartenders called to him and waved them over. “How’d you manage to find two such pretty women?”

  Chuckling, Rusty escorted Victoria and Mandie over to the wooden bar that lined most of one wall. Every barstool was filled, as seemed to be every table with chairs around the outskirts of the dance floor. “Three beers.” He looked at them. “Lites?”

  Victoria nodded agreement, but Mandie said, “I’ll take the real stuff.”

  “My kind of woman.” The bartender, a good-looking man with unruly red hair, studied her while pouring a draft. “Say, aren’t you that therapist doing retreats or something out at the CW?”

  “Romance therapist,” Rusty corrected, grinning from Mandie back to the bartender. “Heard you’ve been having a dry spell woman-wise, Red. Bet if you signed up for her classes….”

  Red frowned for just a second, and then hooted. “How about it, Doc? Got room in your schedule to add a poor old cowboy?”

  “I do couples’ sessions,” Mandie qualified loud enough for the people nearby who had glanced over in curiosity to hear. “Sorry.”

  Red shrugged good-naturedly. “In that case, how about going out with me sometime? Unless Rusty here has staked his claim.”

  Mandie felt the fine hairs on the back of her neck rise. She inhaled Cole’s scent and shivered with awareness as he walked up behind her.

  He put his hands on her shoulders. “Taken.” He didn’t say more, but it was clear to everyone what he meant.

  “Thanks for bringing her.” He spoke flatly as he met and held gazes with Rusty for a couple of uneasy seconds.

  Rusty’s shoulders stiffened and Mandie feared he would counter the statement, cause a problem. But he forced a smile. “Tori and I thought she needed a night of fun, considering how you took off in some kind of snit earlier.”

  Now Mandie saw Cole tense. She moved between the two friends and snagged Cole’s focus. “Dance or talk? Your choice.”

  The two men continued glowering at one another. Finally Victoria grabbed Rusty’s arm and started dragging him away. “That’s my favorite song.”

  As they disappeared into the crowd on the dance floor, Cole relaxed. The others around them that had been avidly watching the interplay went back to their own business. And Mandie inched closer to Cole. She wasn’t particularly happy about his blunt taken claim, but she was more worried about him. She reached up to gently touch the side of his face. “Are you okay?”

  “Truth, sweetheart? I’m not sure. It’s been a helluva day.” He pushed her hair behind one ear, stroked along the side of her chin. “I’ve been thinking about this morning, a lot. Pretty sure I’ll be thinking about it for a good long while.”

  Mandie felt her face heat and studied the buttons on his chambray shirt. He looked really good tonight, even dressed pretty much like every other cowboy here. He was far more handsome, but she was biased. “It was something special.”

  She watched his powerful chest rise and fall in a shuddery breath. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation; liquid warmth pooled low in her body. Desire. For this big cowboy. When she glanced up, he was watching her with darkened eyes.

  “Do you really want to dance? Or…?” His voice had turned husky, deep and velvety, promising.

  Before she could answer, a buxom brunette in almost painted-on jeans strolled up and stopped next to Cole. As Mandie automatically stepped back, the woman went up on her toes and kissed the side of his face.

  “Long time no see, sugar,” she purred. “I’ve been waiting for your call ever since you got back in town.”

  Cole inched away, frowning. “Rhonda Sue, I’m not alone here.”

  Rhonda Sue barely glanced at Mandie. “I see that. Tonight anyway. But I hear this—doctor is it?—will be leaving by the end of summer. I wanted to make sure you knew I’m still interested. Whenever.”

  Mandie decided to use Cole’s earlier tactic. She stepped in front of him, forcing the other woman to move back. “Taken.”

  Cole gave a surprised chuckle, clearly realizing she’d used his blunt statement. But Rhonda Sue didn’t find it amusing.

  “Look, Blondie, you’re cute and all of that, but Cole is a man’s man. He needs a real woman.” She ignored the people around them now watching the situation. She ignored how Cole had bristled enough that even Mandie felt his anger. “Besides, you’re only passing through here. I’m here for the long-term.”

  “Rhonda Sue,” Cole hissed in warning, trying to ease around Mandie.

  Mandie had had enough today. Her partners had started making demands she didn’t like. Her mother had told her to stop playing games with these silly little retreats and get back to real business. Cole had kissed the heck out of her and then all but run from the house. And now this redhead was trying to steal her man away, with her standing right here. She was claiming that Mandie wasn’t woman enough for him. Well, that was it!

  “Don’t make me go all ugly on you,” Mandie threatened, wondering where she’d heard that line before. She stepped forward, barely aware of the audience they were attracting. She was all into her defend-her-man mode.

  Rhonda Sue’s eyes narrowed. “A little bit of fluff like you? So not intimidated.”

  Red called out, “Ladies, take this outside.” Then he grinned and yelled again, “Catfight!”

  Mandie frowned in confusion, which gave the other woman a second of advantage. Rhonda Sue grabbed a beer out of the man standing in anticipation next to her and tossed it at Mandie.

  Cole growled and started to pull Mandie out of the way, clearly ready to confront Rhonda Sue himself. But Mandie shook her head, shook the beer off, and refused to let Cole move her. She wiped beer off her face and snapped, “Cheap trick.”

  Rhonda Sue’s chin went up in victory, until someone thrust a mug of beer into Mandie’s hand. “Hey, I thought we were friends,” she snarled at the grinning cowboy.

  He shrugged. “Fair is fair.”

  Mandie decided he was right and while the others nearby cheered her on, she tossed the beer at Rhonda Sue. “You know that felt good.”

  Rhonda Sue screeched in fury, looked ready to launch herself at Mandie, but Rusty had walked up behind her and snagged her around the waist. “Sheath your claws, darlin’. This fight is over.”

  She struggled in his hold, but he was stronger. He managed to haul her backward through the disappointed crowd and toward the front door. She called him every name in the book as they left the building.

  Red tossed Cole a rag. “Here, wipe your woman down.”

  Mandie stood there, stunned. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. She’d never acted like that, but then another woman had never gone so blatantly after her man. Her man! Cole? Yes, he was. No, he isn’t. Not really. They so needed to talk. And she needed to get her head straight about a number of things. She needed to make some decisions about her life.

  Cole turned her to face him and gently wiped off her face. His expression wasn’t happy. Evidently he didn’t approve of the woman he was involved with getting into a bar fight, even if it was a miserable excuse for a bar fight.

  “We’re leaving.” Cole tossed the rag back to the bartender and took firm hold of Mandie’s arm.

  Victoria had walked closer, now looked worriedly at her brother. “That wasn’t Mandie’s fault.”

  Mandie knew there was trouble ahead for her. Her bottom knew it, too. Her cheeks clenched and unclenched in anticipation of spending time over Cole’s lap. “She’s right. That…that woman started it.”

  His eyes narrowed and it was almost like seeing a sign flashing throu
gh them: Spanking Ahead. Beware. “We’ll discuss it later.”

  He glanced at his sister. “This is between the two of us.”

  * * * * *

  They hadn’t said anything since Cole had led her to his pickup and he’d plunked her up on the seat. And then he’d only grumbled, “Damn childish behavior.” Sitting here smelling like beer, disgusted with the other woman for being so bold, and annoyed at what no doubt lie ahead when they got home, Mandie wasn’t in the mood for chit-chat. She re-played every second, every comment and threat, over and over in her mind. She was definitely proud of herself.

  Finally the frustration got to her. She heaved a sigh and faced him. “You’re right. It was childish behavior.”

  When he glanced in her direction and nodded, she added in disgruntlement, “I’ve gone over all of it. Childish or not, I’d do it again. And I don’t care if you spank me until I can’t sit for a week. I’d still throw that beer on her. Maybe two.”

  The truck was slowing down and he turned onto a side dirt road from the main highway heading toward his ranch. He pulled off to the side of the road and turned the engine off.

  “What are we stopping for?” Mandie studied him warily. Her stomach knotted. Surely he….

  Cole faced her and opened his door at the same time. “I think we’ll take care of this matter right here, right now.”

  This couldn’t be good. She sat stiffly in her seat, not even undoing the seatbelt, while he strode around to her side of the truck. Maybe she shouldn’t have made that admission. He’d taken it as a challenge, it appeared. When he jerked open the door, she said in a soothing tone, “I didn’t really mean everything I said. Especially the part about…/”

  He reached in to undo the seatbelt and then lifted her out. “Especially the part about spanking you until you can’t sit for a week? Sweetheart, I’m in total agreement with that.”

  He reached for her belt and unbuckled it, then started unbuttoning her jeans. She trembled. “I’m going to have to sit—“

  “You’ll be sitting gingerly the rest of the way home.” He unzipped the jeans and shoved them down to her knees. He fingered the thong but left it in place. “Turn around, brace your arms on the seat, and thrust that sweet butt out.”

  “Cole.” She swallowed the rest of her protest and turned awkwardly around. She leaned forward and put her forearms on the seat. The cool night breeze swept over her bare bottom. Even though she doubted anyone would be driving down this country road tonight, she was embarrassed.

  As if he sensed her concern, Cole said calmly, “Nobody is going to see this. And we’re a good mile or so from the nearest house, so nobody is going to hear this, either.”

  “We had such a good morning.” She blew out a sad sigh. “I’m sorry, Cole.”

  He smoothed a hand over her quivering buttocks. “Damn good morning.” He lightly smacked her bottom. “Let’s get this done so we can get home. Stick your butt out, sweetheart.”

  When she didn’t instantly obey, he swatted her again, harder. She put her head down on her forearms and shoved her bottom out.

  “Just so you know, this spanking is for more than just the tangle with Rhonda Sue.” His hand shot down twice.

  “I don’t want you going out with Rusty. We already talked about that. Didn’t we?” Several biting swats followed the reminder.

  “Uhhhhhhhh.” She jerked forward, banging her knees into the truck. “I was with Victoria, too. It wasn’t a date.”

  “He wants you. I don’t like it. Damn, Mandie, you’re living with me now.” His frustration came out in a fast and furious round of Smacks! that had her wriggling and panting.

  “Okkkkkkay. I understand.” She shimmied her legs, trying to ease some of the pain. “It still wasn’t a date.”

  He smoothed his hand over her hot bottom. “You should have told me about the problems with your partners. You should have bounced your frustrations off me. I’m a good listener.” His annoyance came out in another sizzling round of Swats.

  “Ooooooohhhhh. I didn’t…didn’t want to bother you.” She danced on her toes. It hurt. Sitting on the rest of the drive home wasn’t going to be fun. “Oooooowwww.”

  “Then there’s that slimy ex-fiancé of yours. You could have, should have told me about him.” Again, he showed her how strongly he felt about that.

  Mandie was sobbing now, trying to let him do what he felt he had to do. It was hard loving a man who needed to spank as part of showing how much he cared. And she knew he cared for her, maybe even loved her. So she sucked in a shaky breath and let him finish the spanking.

  “Now let’s deal with the childish behavior at the bar.” He didn’t lecture any further, simply let his hand explain how much he’d disapproved of the behavior.

  By the time he was done, Mandie’s bottom throbbed and felt swollen. After a few seconds, she carefully straightened and dreaded pulling up her jeans. “I don’t want to….”

  “Just do it,” he said. “We need to get headed home. Get you to bed. Get us to bed.”

  She wiped away the tears and frowned at him. “Just do it. That’s so easy for you to say.” When he looked like he might spank her again, she sucked in a breath and tugged the jeans into place. The tears started trickling down again. “Oh jeez. This hurts so bad.”

  He didn’t wait for her to zip them, not that she wanted to anyway. He took hold of her around the waist and plunked her down on the seat once more.

  She shot up and braced herself off the seat with her hands. Gingerly she sat down again. “Let’s go.”

  * * * * *

  Cole lie in bed waiting for Mandie. He worried that he may have ruined everything with this latest spanking. One she hadn’t actually deserved. They hadn’t talked during the rest of the drive home. In truth, he’d felt like a jerk. Jealousy had gotten a firm hold of him. He knew she and Rusty hadn’t been out together, not really. The problem was he didn’t know what to do with his feelings for her, wasn’t real sure what she felt for him. Neither of them had said anything about love. They sure as hell enjoyed each other in bed. But he thought maybe he was deeply in love with her, and that scared him. Look at his past relationships. Pretty damn bad.

  The door to the bathroom opened and she walked out, looking nervous. She was naked. Thank God. He’d feared that because of what he’d stupidly done she would go back to wearing one of her baby doll pajamas. He preferred them both sleeping in the natural.

  “Still hurt?” he asked and called himself an idiot.

  Strangely, she smiled warily at him. “You’re not thinking about spanking me more, right? Because my bottom still hurts, but it’s better.”

  He decided to tough it up and admit the error of his ways. “I shouldn’t have spanked you. I’m sorry.”

  She blinked at him. “Maybe not for most of what you mentioned. But what about my behavior in the bar? Even I’m not proud of it.”

  She walked toward the bed and his gaze took in every delectable inch of his woman. He’d never really liked short hair on women before, but her chin-length cut was kind of cute, kind of sassy. He wanted to run his fingers through it now. Even more, he wanted to mold his hands over her plump breasts. He wanted to twirl his tongue around the nipples, and then nibble on them until they grew hard. As if they responded to his intense examination, he watched them pebble.

  Her eyes darkened and she reached up to cup her breasts, smiling as she realized he was watching and enjoying her actions. “So I was wrongly spanked. What are you going to do to make up for it, cowboy?”

  “Come here and I’ll show you.”

  Instead she turned slowly around and let him see her pretty red bottom. She smoothed her hands over it, bent slightly as if to make sure he got the full effect of what he’d done. Her voice was low, sensual as she asked, “Are you going to kiss my ouchy? Make it all better?”

  “Definitely.” He may have spanked her unnecessarily, but he still enjoyed seeing that nice, warm bottom. “Come here, sweetheart.”

>   Again, she remained at a distance. But she turned around and touched her mound, dipped a finger inside her body, and brought it back and up to show him the moisture covering it. “Evidently my body has forgiven you, wants you.”

  She eased her legs apart a few inches and moved her hand between her legs once more. He watched her play with her clit, heard her trembling intake of breath. His own hand went to capture his hardened, aching cock. Massaging it up and down, he ground out, “You’re killing me. Come here. Now.”

  This time she held his gaze and walked over to crawl on the bed next to him. His hand still held his cock, still pumped it. He motioned her closer, unsure what he wanted except to hold her, and touch her.

  She wriggled until she was half-draped over him, one bent leg nearly rubbing against his balls. She replaced his hand on his cock with hers. “I have absolutely no interest in Rusty, except as a friend.”

  She leaned over to lick the head, swirling her tongue around and around it. He groaned and his hips automatically thrust upward. She leaned back again, smiling. “Why would I want another man when I’ve already got one so hot, so amazing…so perfect for me?”

  Cole reached down to hold his hand on her hot bottom. “A man who burns your butt at times? Who will as long as we’re together.”

  She stiffened and he regretted adding the reminder that their time together was limited. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to bring that up.”

  Resignation filled her expression. “You’re right, though. Our time is limited.” She slid off of him, and stretched out stomach down.

  He needed her, wasn’t sure if she’d rejected him by moving away. He decided to find out and shifted until he straddled her. But he wasn’t ready to drive into her and end this time so quickly. So he stretched over her, trying to keep most of his weight off her by moving back to use his knees for balance. He reached around to cup her breasts and she sighed in approval.

  His cock was hard, throbbing and he eased it between her legs, but not inside. She moved against it, wanting him, too. “What are you going to do about your partners?” He rubbed back and forth and her lower lips pulsed at his touch.