by BJ Wane
Avery stood and leaned against his hard frame, needing a moment to gather her thoughts. The man possessed an air of authority that went beyond his position as sheriff, a manner that both drew and scared her. After viewing the few scenes downstairs, she imagined he would label that demonstration vanilla, whereas, for her, it had been a taste of decadent chocolate.
Wanting to learn more about him and his preferences, she conjured up the nerve to ask, “Would you mind explaining more of this?” She nodded toward the other apparatus in use behind them.
“Not at all.” Latching onto her hand again, he steered her toward a contraption that resembled a gymnastic vault, until you saw it up close.
“Oh.” Stumbling to a halt, Avery stubbed her toe on the heel of his boot, but the throbbing ache didn’t keep her from gaping at the woman riding the dildo attached in the center of the padded vault, her glistening body bowing as she struggled to maintain her balance with her eyes locked on the man next to her. Fascinated with both the equipment and the look on the woman’s face as her partner flicked a small, leather strap on one nipple, Avery couldn’t help shifting closer to Grayson. “Ouch,” she muttered before curiosity prodded her into questioning the woman. “How can you let him do that?” The man’s eyes whipped toward her, the censure aimed her way drawing a shiver down Avery’s spine.
Tearing her eyes away from that cold frown, Avery flung her gaze up to Grayson. “What?” He shocked her by answering her confused inquiry with a sharp pinch to her own nipple. Without thinking, she slapped a hand over the throbbing tip, her face burning with her surprised utterance. “Ouch!”
“Sorry, Devin, she’s new.” Grayson pressed two fingers under her chin, tilting her face up to his. “Master Devin’s sub is trying to concentrate on pleasing him. Speaking directly to a sub during a scene, or without her Dom’s permission is distracting for both people.”
“I don’t…” She looked back and then pulled Grayson away from the other couple. “What do you mean? I need permission to talk to people, that’s why you did that?”
“I pinched you to keep you from making a bigger mistake, and to give you a clue as to why she enjoyed nipple pain. I can only bend the rules so much when dealing with someone who has broken protocol. You need to get permission when watching a scene or if a couple is in a strict relationship that extends beyond sex and the Master insists. It’s an unspoken rule to remain silent unless the Dom speaks to you or invites conversation.”
“Sheesh, how many of these unspoken rules are there?” There seemed to be more to this stuff than getting together for a few hours of kinky sex, Avery mused as she dropped her hand from rubbing the offended nub. She looked away from Grayson’s knowing eyes as she dealt with the soft pulsing of her nipple.
“Several.” Grayson pinched her chin and turned her back around. Cocking his head, he asked, “If you’re considering returning, I can go over a few more. Next time, you won’t be given a pass on crossing lines.”
“Like with my clothes?”
He nodded. “Yes, that’s one. Another will be the way you address a Dom. The respectful title is Sir and not using it will earn you a reprimand.”
Avery winced, recalling the painful looking, bright redness of the women’s buttocks downstairs. “Is there like, a pamphlet or something I can study before returning?”
A broad grin split his dark face, the first she’d seen from him, and almost dislodged his toothpick. “No, sugar, all you need is a good Dom to guide you.”
She desperately wanted that to be him, reminding her it wouldn’t do to read more into his attention than warranted. From the little she’d witnessed of his scene with the other woman when she had arrived, he wasn’t stingy with his undivided attention when with someone. As he steered her toward another strange contraption, she tried not to wonder if all his examples would result in pleasant, warm pulsations like the one encompassing her nipple.
Strapped on a wood-slatted A-frame, Nan’s bound arms and legs, along with Master Dan’s tight hold of her hips, rendered the slender brunette immobile and helpless against his rigorous fucking. Their harsh breathing and low grunts accompanied the slap of their pelvises together. Her rigid tipped breasts jiggled with his pounding strokes, her glazed eyes and copious juices coating his sheathed cock sure signs of her pleasure.
“This is our newest acquisition. Nan and Master Dan are demonstrating one way someone can use it.” Grayson reached behind Avery and cupped her buttock, his tight clasp making her jump. “I’d love to see you up there.”
Struggling with his grip of her backside, Avery tried picturing herself in Nan’s position and couldn’t. There was no way she could imagine herself being taken openly in a room full of people even if she couldn’t deny her friend appeared blissfully unaware of her surroundings and seemed entrenched in her partner’s rough possession.
“I think I’ll leave now. I have a lot to consider before I decide whether to return,” she told him even though she already planned on coming back. She couldn’t appease her curiosity and the need he’d stirred inside her tonight if she didn’t, and she still wanted to get to know him better before risking asking for his help with what she knew about Darren and his partner.
Grayson released Avery’s buttock and blood rushed back to the small area, leaving her cheek to throb in tune with her nipple, the dual titillating sensations distracting her from the other couple. He squeezed her hand, his rough palm pressing against her quivering one; a comforting hold no one had offered her before and a balm against the new, rioting sensations he had stirred up.
“I’ll walk you out.” As he escorted her back downstairs, she relished the intimacy of the simple gesture of keeping her close using his tight grip. She couldn’t recall any of the few men she’d dated, including Darren, doing something so simple yet so possessive as hand holding. One more thing that set Grayson apart from other men she’d known.
“Leaving already?” Connor asked as they reached the bar.
“Avery feels she’s seen enough for one night. I’ll be back after I walk her out.”
Connor nodded to Grayson but tipped his hat to Avery. “G’night, sweetie. I hope you come back.”
“Thank you.” Turning to Grayson, Avery said, “You don’t need to trouble yourself. Thank you for your time.”
“It’s no trouble, and I insist.”
Now, why did that deep, authoritative tone affect her with such heat? Avery had been asking herself that question for weeks and still couldn’t come up with an answer. As Grayson helped her on with her coat after she retrieved her shoes, the need to offer a sign of appreciation and willingness to hook up with him again took hold as they stepped outside. She waited until he held her car door open before saying, “Jenkins. My last name is Jenkins.” What could it hurt to give him her mother’s maiden name? Before her only parent’s passing three years ago, Alice had been married four times, that Avery knew of. It would take some digging to connect the two of them.
His silent, probing look unnerved her until he nodded and replied, “Thank you. If you come back, I’ll take you further, give you more to think about. Drive safe.” He stepped back, removing his body heat and the temptation to return inside and take him up on that offer right now.
Grayson watched until the taillights of Avery’s clunker disappeared. He wondered how she had made it all the way to Montana in the old car and hoped she had the foresight to ensure the engine was sound enough to make the trip. Pivoting, he returned inside before the longing and confusion etched on her face tempted him to follow her and continue his initiation into kink in private. He couldn’t help regretting not getting her number so he could ensure she arrived back in town safely. He shouldn’t be so concerned about her—she was a grown woman, perfectly capable of taking care of herself—and then reminded himself he was the sheriff. Wasn’t it his job to look out for the welfare of the people in his county? Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Monroe, his inner voice chided. A large whiskey, that’s what he needed
to get his head back in the game. With his interest centered more on a drink than playing, he didn’t see Cassie’s approach until she waylaid him before he reached the bar.
Remembering the glare she had leveled at Avery from her earlier position over the spanking bench, he was in no mood to deal with the ornery sub’s pushy attempts to get his attention again.
“Master Grayson!” Clutching his arm, Cassie leaned against him, making sure her bare nipples pressed against his bicep. “I’m free now and would love to try the new frame upstairs,” she gushed.
Clenching his jaw, he removed her hand and stepped back. “I don’t appreciate your forwardness, or your rudeness to our guest earlier. Watch your step, Cassie.” He walked away before he could make the mistake of encouraging her bad behavior and possessiveness by dishing out a painful punishment.
Sliding onto a barstool, Grayson ran a hand through his hair before signaling for Connor’s attention. “Pour me a whiskey, would you?”
“Did our little waitress get to you?” Connor reached under the counter for a glass, his eyes reflecting amusement at Grayson’s expense.
“She’s hiding or running from something, and couldn’t be more obvious about it,” he growled in frustration. It didn’t help to have his cock aching to get inside Avery’s body as much as he desired to pull answers from her.
Connor shrugged, pouring a healthy dose of liquor. “None of our business if she is.”
“You didn’t use to be so callous or disregarding of others’ troubles,” Grayson pointed out, taking the glass and bringing it to his mouth for a hefty, throat burning swallow.
“I’m just not interested in prying into the personal lives of others. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Nope, there’s not, but it hasn’t been that long since you jumped right in to push Caden toward Sydney and helped him get answers from her about her plight.” Grayson could tell the reminder didn’t sit well with his friend. Connor’s usual, light-hearted, easy going manner had taken a turn since his break-up with Annie and he’d been keeping to himself when not rebuffing friendly overtures from friends and subs alike.
“That was different. She was stuck on the ranch and needed a friend, and big brother was too pig-headed to see it. It’s your turn to monitor upstairs,” he reminded him with a deft change of subject.
“Okay, I’m headed that way.” Downing the drink, Grayson lifted the glass and then set it down with a click. “Thanks.”
Skirting around the dance floor, he glanced out the back windows and spotted Caden and Sydney enjoying the hot tub. With her slim legs draped over Caden’s shoulders, water sluicing off her bowed body, he fucked her with slow, measured strokes that brought a look of frustrated arousal to Sydney’s face. Grayson paused, waiting until his friend rewarded his soon-to-be-wife with an orgasm that transformed her face to one of tormented ecstasy and then sated bliss as he brought her down by slow, measured degrees. He admired Caden’s restraint in holding back until he’d brought Sydney to the pinnacle. Grayson pivoted toward the stairs, yearning to see those same expressions cross Avery’s face.
Grayson awoke the next morning out of sorts after being plagued all night by dreams of that misdialed phone call and the mystery woman who had pulled at his conscience with her shy hesitations and soft, desperate voice. He couldn’t fathom why he couldn’t forget her, or that call and why thinking about Avery seemed to conjure up the memory. Maybe Avery’s insecurities and the obvious fact she carried trouble with her reminded him of the nameless, faceless woman’s plight. Avery had responded to his minor examples of the lifestyle with as much surprised interest as he’d heard over the phone from the other woman, so the two bore that in common as well.
Padding into the kitchen, he checked the time and winced. For the first time since he could remember, a woman had consumed his thoughts enough to put him behind schedule. Or, in this case, women, as it wasn’t just Avery he couldn’t get a handle on or put out of his mind when he wasn’t around her. Since he was only thirty-eight, he couldn’t blame this uncharacteristic obsession on a mid-life crisis, as much as he’d like to. That left placing the blame on Caden’s shoulders.
The rancher’s fast and relatively easy capitulation to Sydney’s charming ways had spelled doom for the man he’d grown up with and had sent up red flags of warning for both Grayson and Connor. If it could happen to a confirmed bachelor like Caden, it could happen to anyone. Pouring a steaming cup of coffee, he carried it back to his bedroom, vowing he wouldn’t let a pair of expressive whiskey eyes filled with a yearning for what he could give her tempt him beyond a few nights of introduction into kink and discovering her secrets.
Two hours later, Grayson sat astride his bay, Thunder, huddled in his overcoat against the biting north breeze and gazing down on the recent tire impressions marring one of the Dunbar’s fields. “Fresh,” he commented even though vocalizing his observation wasn’t necessary. Caden, Conner and Dan could all see the proof of trespassing from an unauthorized vehicle.
“I checked my place before joining you. Looks like the same bastards who tried to snatch from my herd,” Dan said. “My foreman just got lucky and happened to be driving by that pasture at the time. That was enough to send them running.” The lawyer owned a much smaller spread, but still valued his stock as much as the Dunbars. Looking over at Caden, his Appaloosa shifted under him as he asked, “Your guy didn’t see anything besides the taillights either?”
“No, and not because he was slacking. These guys are good and were on the lookout for a sentry.” Caden shook his head, his voice laced with anger and disgust. “It’s a good thing we moved our cattle from this field last week.”
“Yeah, but now we’re overcrowded in the southeast pasture. We’ll need to do more shifting around in the next few days.” Connor didn’t sound happy about the extra work the rustlers were causing everyone.
Caden nodded. “I’ve got Jim transferring about fifty head farther east, but they can’t go too far, else we’ll never be able to get feed to them when the snow hits.”
Grayson didn’t envy his friends the burdensome winter chores of moving livestock closer to the barns before the worst of winter each year. He’d chosen the military and then law enforcement over following in his family’s footsteps working with his two brothers on the Monroe ranch and had never regretted his choice. He boarded Thunder at the local stables; his ten-acre plot where he’d built his house too wooded to leave enough grazing room for the stallion.
As the four of them followed the tracks all the way back to the highway, he said, “My damn computer was down again this morning, so I couldn’t check for any other early reports, but I’m betting they made off with someone’s cattle before the night was over.”
“Well, I for one have had enough of the fuckers,” Connor growled. “If I have to, I’ll keep watch with my Winchester.”
Caden’s eyes snapped to his younger brother, as did Grayson’s. “Who are you, and what have you done with my easy-going brother?”
“There’s a time to remain calm and friendly, and a time to get down and dirty, and fight back,” he returned, nonplussed by Caden’s frown.
“Chill, both of you. I’ve got backup coming from Billings. We’ll get them, legally,” Grayson emphasized for Connor’s sake.
“I sure as hell don’t want to have to defend you in court, buddy.” Dan squinted his dark eyes against the glare of the mid-afternoon sun. “Let’s head back. There’s nothing more we can do today, and that stew Sydney had bubbling smelled damn good.”
Caden turned his horse and led the way, tossing to Grayson, “Talk to Avery about your computer. According to Sydney, she’s a whiz.”
“Good to know.”
Grayson pondered on that revelation on the ride back to Caden’s sprawling ranch home. Since it seemed waitressing wasn’t Avery’s only job skill, he speculated on other positions she might have held before coming to Willow Springs, and reasons why she would lie low at the diner instead of pursuing a job bet
ter suited to her skills. All scenarios came back to someone who was trying to keep off someone else’s radar. The Dom in him was drawn to the challenge of uncovering her full potential as a submissive while the man who couldn’t keep from worrying was intrigued by the evasive, wary woman—a heady combination he couldn’t resist.
Chapter 6
After spending several, nerve-racking hours at a library in Billings, Avery drove back to Willow Springs Saturday afternoon maintaining a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. I did it again. That admission drew a frisson of alarm that sent her pulse spiking. What started as a simple search through Chicago news looking for any word of an investigation into Darren and Chad’s illegal evidence thefts, had ended up with her turning desperate enough to hack into other interrogation reports of suspects from raids they had led. The discovery of two more cases where the defendant’s accounting of either money or drugs didn’t match the items Darren and Chad had turned in to the evidence room sent her fleeing back to the small town where she’d felt safer than anywhere else since overhearing her ex-boyfriend and his partner’s confession.
A quick glance at the speedometer had her swearing and easing up on the gas. She’d been careful when driving so as not to risk getting pulled over. It wouldn’t do to take that risk now, her lack of insurance just one of the things that could land her in trouble. The flash drive zipped into an inside pocket of her purse taunted her with the evidence of two dirty cops she carried around with her, her palms going damp as she weighed her limited options on where to go from here.
By the time Avery pulled behind the diner with only ten minutes to spare before reporting for her shift, she’d decided Grayson Monroe remained her best choice. If only she could get up the nerve to come clean with the sheriff, to work up enough trust to believe he would help. Now that she’d committed another crime, her task to do either of those things had become harder. She was still a newcomer in town, a woman he barely knew, and Darren’s deceit was a hard-learned lesson that continued to haunt and scare her. She couldn’t afford to misjudge another man, especially another one in law enforcement.
