by Paige Tyler
She was halfway down the hallway before she realized she was still wearing Jason’s shirt. She hesitated, wanting to keep it on, but reluctantly took it off and put it back where she’d found it.
Desperately in need of caffeine, she quickly freshened up in the employee restroom, then ran over to the diner to grab a cup of coffee. Back at the store, she sat at the counter, sipping the hot beverage and nibbling half-heartedly on the muffin she’d bought while she stared out the front window. It had stopped raining at least, though that didn’t mean it wasn’t still snowing up in the mountains. She prayed it wasn’t. She couldn’t go another day not knowing if Jason was okay.
Business came in spurts throughout day. The store went from being totally empty one minute to packed with tourists the next, and Kendall was relieved when Nicole showed up to give her a hand. It was during one of the lulls that the door opened and Jason walked in, followed by more than a dozen exhausted fishermen.
Kendall stared at Jason for a moment, unable to believe he was really back. Before she could stop herself, she rushed out from behind the counter and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He smelled of dirt and pine needles, and a little like fish, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was that he was alive and well.
“Jason, thank God you’re safe,” she breathed, pressing her face into the side of his neck. “I was so afraid something had happened to you.”
Jason held her close, his arms warm and strong around her, his cheek resting against the top of her head. If they weren’t in the middle of a store full of people, she would have stayed there the rest of the day. But they were in the middle of a store full of people. And she was being emotional. As much as she hated to do it, Kendall pushed away from Jason and took a step back.
To see that everyone in the store was staring at them. Great. Face coloring, Kendall tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry,” she said to Jason. “You said you’d be back that afternoon, and when you weren’t, I…I didn’t know what to think.”
The corner of his mouth edged up. “Yeah. Sorry about that. The storm moved in faster than I thought it would and we had to wait it out in a temporary shelter.”
She nodded. “That’s what Sheriff Atwater said must have happened.”
Jason lifted a brow. “You called the sheriff?”
Kendall’s face colored even more, but before she could reply, one of the fishermen came over to ask Jason to take a picture with their group. Jason hesitated, his gaze still on her.
She gave him a small smile. “Go ahead.”
The fishermen wanted to take the picture outside the store, and as soon as Jason disappeared through the front door, Kendall turned and hurried out the back. Right now, she didn’t trust herself to be near him.
Banishing her sexy employer from her mind was easier said than done. Two hours later, she was sitting in front of the television still thinking about him. Had she been too quick to break things off with him? If she’d been that worried about him when he was missing, that must mean she still had feelings for him. And if she had feelings for him, was she willing to throw everything away simply because he’d spanked her a couple times?
The fantasy she’d had the other day replayed itself in her head like some erotic movie. She hugged the fleece throw more tightly around her and squirmed on the couch. Okay, so maybe the thought of getting spanked did turn her on a little bit. Which still didn’t make sense. Or did it?
She’d been attracted to Jason in high school because he’d seemed so much more masculine than the other guys in her class, even at eighteen. For some reason, though, the men she’d dated since then were the complete opposite of Jason. Was that why none of those relationships had worked out? Because none of her boyfriends had been man enough to spank her?
She groaned. How could she be a modern, independent woman and submissive at the same time? The two should be mutually exclusive, shouldn’t they? The hell if she knew. The one thing she did know was that she couldn’t walk away from Jason. If she did, she’d regret it the rest of her life.
Switching off the television, she tossed the remote onto the coffee table and went into the bedroom. Pulling on jeans and a T-shirt, she slipped her feet into a pair of sandals, then grabbed her purse and hurried out the door.
Jason lived in a log cabin home on the lake just outside of town. Pulling into the driveway, she parked beside his SUV and got out. But instead of knocking on the door, she stood on the porch. Now that she was here, her courage began to falter. Confronting Jason had seemed like a good idea back in her cozy cabin.
She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
When he didn’t answer right away, Kendall was tempted to run back to the car and speed off before he ever knew she’d been there. But that would be cowardly. She reached for bell again when the porch light turned on and the door opened.
Jason was dressed in jeans, his feet bare, his shirt unbuttoned and his dark hair damp from the shower. Kendall didn’t think she’d ever seen a guy look sexier.
“Kendall.” He clearly sounded surprised to see her. “Come in.”
Wishing she could calm her pounding heart, Kendall stepped into the entryway. The house might look like a log cabin on the outside, but inside it wasn’t rustic at all. In fact, it was surprisingly contemporary.
“Can I get you something?” Jason asked, coming up behind her.
Kendall turned to see him buttoning up his shirt. She stared at his washboard abs and muscular chest as if transfixed by them. It was all she could do not to reach out and run her hands over him.
“No, thanks. I’m fine,” she said. “Actually, I came to…” To find out if these crazy things I’m feeling for you are real. “Get you up to speed on what’s been happening at the store the while you were gone.”
Not exactly how she’d planned to start the conversation, but it was better than staring at him like a lovesick schoolgirl. “I think you’re going to need to order some more of those meals in a bag. We sold a lot of those.”
Meals in a bag? God, that was lame.
Jason folded his arms to regard her curiously. “I was kind of surprised to see you at the store when I got back.”
Kendall shrugged. “I know you needed someone to watch the store, so…”
“I appreciate it. Thank you.”
She toyed with the shoulder strap of her purse, waiting for him to continue. Unfortunately, Jason made no further attempt at conversation. Which meant it was up to her.
Kendall took a deep breath and plunged in. “That wasn’t the only reason I came back to work. I…I was worried about you.”
“Sheriff Atwater told me.”
She blushed. Crap. What had the man told Jason? “He probably thinks I’m an alarmist.”
Jason’s mouth quirked. “An alarmist would have called in the National Guard.”
Kendall laughed. Why hadn’t she thought of that?
“You didn’t need to worry about me, you know,” Jason said. “I was fine.”
“But I didn’t know that then. I kept imagining all sorts of horrible things. If you knew how worried I was…”
He frowned. “Wait a minute. Did I miss something? Because the other night you couldn’t stand the sight of me.”
“I know, but you just spanked me and…” Did he know how hard he was making this? “I was mad at you, okay? But when you didn’t come back when you said you would and I thought something had happened to you, I realized how much I cared about you.”
Jason said nothing. Unfortunately, his expression gave nothing away, so she had no idea what he was thinking. Then again, maybe his silence was answer enough. Maybe he wasn’t as interested in her as she was in him.
Her eyes burned. Crap. Now, she was going to start crying. “I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come…”
She started for the door, but Jason caught her arm. He used his other hand to tilt her face up to his. What she saw in his eyes made her catch her breath.
“I’m gl
ad you came.” His voice was a husky caress in her ear. “I’ve been driving myself crazy these past couple days trying to come up with something I could do or say that’d make you forgive me for spanking you. All I could come up with was the promise that I won’t do it again. Please tell me that’s enough.”
Kendall opened her mouth to tell him that his spankings were part of the reason she’d come to see him, but Jason kissed her before she could get the words out. His mouth moved over hers gently, his tongue slowly intertwining with hers. She moaned and parted her lips, running her hands up the front of his shirt. Mmm, he tasted even better than she remembered.
Jason deepened the kiss, sliding his hand in her hair and tilting her head back so he could claim her mouth completely. His other hand glided up her midriff to cup her breast through the thin material of her shirt. His thumb found her nipple, making it harden beneath her bra, and she whimpered. It was as if he knew exactly where she needed to be touched.
“God, Kendall, you make me crazy,” he rasped. He kissed his way along her jaw to find her ear with his lips. “I want you.”
“Yes.”
The word was a desperate whisper. She grabbed his head and pulled him in for another kiss, finding his tongue with hers and inviting it to come out and play a game of follow the leader.
Jason groaned and swung her up in his arms. Kendall looped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder as his long strides took them up the stairs, then down a short hallway and into the bedroom.
The room was lit only by the moon’s glow coming in through the huge window, so she couldn’t see much of it. Not that she was interested in the décor. At the moment, she couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything but the gorgeous man in front of her.
Kendall hadn’t slept with many men—including Keith, she could probably count them on one hand—but she could never remember wanting to be with anyone as much as she wanted to be with Jason right now.
Jason gazed down at her with such desire in his blue eyes that it made her breath hitch. Eyes locked with hers, he slid hands underneath her top and slowly pushed it up. She trembled beneath his fingers, sighing as they found their way up her stomach to cup her breasts through the silky material of her bra. Her nipples stiffened under his touch as he brushed their tips.
Kendall bit her lip to stifle a groan. Jason’s method of undressing her might be fun, but it was taking way too long. Grabbing the hem of her shirt, she stripped it off in one swift motion. The smolder in Jason’s eyes as he took in her bra-covered breasts told her he didn’t mind her initiative. Good. Then he wouldn’t mind if she took off his shirt, too.
Sidling close, she slowly undid the buttons. The material fell away at her touch, revealing tantalizing glimpses of lean muscle and lightly tanned skin, and she eagerly pushed the shirt from his shoulders and down his arms.
Kendall let out a moan. Dear God, she didn’t think she’d ever seen a more perfect man. There were definitely some advantages to being with a man who spent so much of his time outdoors.
As if standing there without touching her was suddenly too much for him, Jason reached out to take her breasts in his hands again. Kendall gasped as he teased her nipples through the satin by making circular motions with his thumbs. She caught his shoulders and arched against him with a soft sigh of pleasure. As pleasurable as what he was doing felt, she wanted to feel his hand on her bare breasts. She was just about to unhook her bra when he reached around to open the clasp. Her breasts spilled into his waiting hands, and she tightened her hold on his shoulders as he bent to take one pink nipple in his mouth and swirl his tongue around it. Her nipples had always been sensitive, but never more so than they were at that moment, and she moaned as he made love to first one breast, then the other.
When he was done, he pressed a tender kiss to both nipples, then trailed hot kisses up her neck and along her jaw until he found her mouth. His tongue took possession of hers with a fierceness that made her dizzy, and she was barely even aware of him unbuttoning her jeans until he pushed the down over her hips.
Kendall shivered with anticipation as his big hands cupped her panty-covered ass. The fantasy from the other day was still fresh in her mind, and for one crazy moment, she thought he might bend her over the bed and spank her. But he only pushed them down like he’d done her jeans. Then, giving her a soul-searing kiss, he urged her back onto the big bed.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he breathed.
She pushed herself up on her elbows and gave him a sexy look. “You’re pretty damn hot yourself. You’re wearing way too many clothes, though.”
Jason chuckled and reached for his belt. Kendall watched breathlessly as he unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them down. Her eyes went wide at the sight of his cock. Big, thick and hard, it was as beautiful as the rest of him.
“This better?” he asked.
She smiled. “Much.”
Kendall was torn between taking him her mouth and begging him to slide in her pussy. Jason didn’t give her a chance to do either.
Climbing onto the bed, he stretched out beside her and leaned in for a kiss. Kendall buried her hands in his hair, murmuring her approval against his mouth as he ran his hand up her leg to the downy curls at the juncture of her thighs. She spread her legs, giving him access to that most private part of herself. Jason slid his fingers up and down the folds of her pussy before finally settling on her clit.
The plump, little nub throbbed beneath his touch as his fingers worked their magic, and she almost protested when he pulled away. But it was only so he could kiss his way down her body.
As much as she wanted to feel his mouth on her, Kendall had other more urgent needs right now. She grabbed a handful of his hair, gently pulling his head up just as he reached her belly button.
“Later,” she whispered. “Right now, I need you inside me.”
Jason regarded for a long time, as if debating whether to give in to her demand. Then he grinned. “Your wish is my command.”
Taking a foil packet from the bedside table, he tore it open, then rolled the condom on his shaft. When he was done, he braced an arm on either side of her head and settled himself between her legs. Kendall’s pulse quickened.
Supporting himself with one hand, Jason used the other to position his hard cock at the opening of her pussy. But instead of sliding in right away, he rubbed the head up and down her slick folds. The move was heavenly and maddening at the same time, and she caught his face between her hands, forcing him to look at her.
“Stop teasing me,” she begged.
When Jason didn’t move, she thought he might refuse, but then still gazing intently into her eyes, he slowly slid into her wetness.
Kendall was more than ready for him, but as his length filled her, she still gasped. He felt incredible, and he hadn’t even started to move yet.
She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him in deeper. Jason took it slow, thrusting in and out of her pussy so gently at first she thought she might go a little crazy if he didn’t fuck her harder. Not that slow and gentle wasn’t delicious, but there were times when she liked it a little rough. Now, was one of those times.
“Harder,” she demanded.
Jason obeyed, pumping into her with short, hard thrusts that made the headboard smack against the wall. She matched his rhythm, lifting her hips to meet his. The sounds of their bodies slapping together was as much of a turn on as the sexual act itself, and she gripped his shoulders as she felt herself start to spiral toward Nirvana.
Above her, Jason was biting his lip, as if he was trying to keep himself from coming. Knowing he was so close tipped her over the edge, and she cried out as her orgasm crested.
Jason buried his face in her hair, his hoarse groans sweet music in her ear as he found his own release and came with her.
It was a long time before either of them could move, much less speak, and when they finally were able to, it was Jason’s soft voice that filled the silence.
“So,�
� he said. “Does this mean you’re coming back to work at the store.”
Kendall smiled and cuddled up closer against his side. “That depends. Do I have to sell any more live bait?”
Jason laughed, the sound a deep rumble beneath her ear. “No more live bait,” he said, then after a moment, added, “And no more spankings, either. I promise.”
Kendall chewed on her lower lip. She’d been wondering how to bring the subject of spanking up in conversation. She was glad he’d done it for her. “Actually,” she said softly. “I made more of a fuss about the spanking than I probably should have.”
He cupped her jaw to gently tilt her head up. “I thought the spankings were the reason you didn’t want to go out with me anymore.”
“In a way, they were. But not for the reason you think.”
“Okay. Now, I’m really confused.”
She pushed herself up on her elbow. “Let me try to explain. When you first spanked me, I was furious. I mean, I’ve never been spanked in my life. And to have my boss do it—”
“Kendall, I’m—” he began, but she put a finger to his lips, shushing him.
“But now that I’ve had some time to think about it, I can admit there was something about getting spanked that…well, turned me on a little.” He lifted a brow, and she hurried on before she lost her nerve. “That sounds crazy, I know, especially since those spankings really stung, but…”
Jason’s mouth quirked as he reached up to tuck her hair behind an ear. “It’s not crazy, honey. A lot of people get turned on by spanking.”
“I know that, but I didn’t used to be one of them.”
“So, if the spankings turned you on, why did you get so upset?”
She gave him a sheepish look. “That was the part that took me a while to figure out. It’s hard to reconcile getting off on being submissive when a woman in today’s world is supposed to be strong and independent. I wasn’t sure how to be both. Does that make any sense?”
“I suppose,” he said. “You’re a complex woman, and this is a complex situation. You don’t think you should enjoy it, but you do. Maybe, you should stop thinking so much and just enjoy it.”
