They said goodbye and Aurora realized she’d come to rely on Becky for companionship, even though it had only been a few days. She hadn’t had friends while she was in prison. Her cellmates put up with her, and most of the other inmates thought her to be snotty because she didn’t talk very much.
She’d found it easy to talk with Becky. It had been harder for her to connect with Holt. She was still worried she was going to screw up somehow and he’d toss her out on her bottom. Then there was the whole Daddy/little thing. She needed to do some more reading on the subject, see exactly what to expect.
Unfortunately, most of the things she’d read said there were no set guidelines. Things were different with every couple. She went back into the cabin and wondered what had attracted him to that sort of relationship. She hadn’t asked him. How would he take it if she did? If she was supposed to be totally honest with him, and open her soul, shouldn’t he do the same with her? Or was that asking too much?
Back in the cabin she made sure she locked the door. That had been a demand from Holt. She’d locked it when she left, too. She didn’t see how Stan would be able to get down this far without being seen. Maybe that was wishful thinking on her part, but she trusted the men who ran this ranch.
Which brought her to the chalkboard. She sat down on the sofa and stared at the empty space. She picked up the box of chalk and selected the purple one. She’d always liked the color. She touched the chalk to the board, but it didn’t move. She wasn’t sure what to write.
Holt had told her it would be easier than she thought, but nothing came to mind. Then it hit her that she could use one of the things she’d done at breakfast that morning. What had she done? Nothing more than making bacon. But it had been the first food she’d cooked that she hadn’t burned.
Slowly she wrote, Bacon cooker on the board. Seconds later she erased it and wrote, I COOKED BACON! Then she giggled. She’d done something that was good, even if it didn’t mean that much to anyone else it meant a lot to her. She’d cooked something that was edible.
I checked on my charges.
That meant she was being responsible, right?
Was she doing what he asked for? She wasn’t sure but she continued to write. I’ve followed the rules. I’ve kept from running when I knew Stan was after me.
She left the phrases there and wrote, I’m not good at choosing words, but I know that I’ve worked hard to be a better person. I want to take care of Holt. I want to take care of my charges. I want to learn to cook. I want to think better of myself. I want to know I’m worthy of love. I want to live on this ranch for the rest of my life. I want to marry Holt. I want to have children. I want to be a good mother. I want to care for my new family.
Aurora read over what she’d written. In the back of her mind a voice nagged at her. She hadn’t done what he’d asked. He would be disappointed. He would think she wasn’t worthy of the things she’d described. Then she remembered his words from last night. He wanted to marry her. He wanted a life with her.
I’m worthy of love, she wrote again. I’m good enough to give love.
I’m worthy. Those are the two words that need to be written. I’m worthy. He wants to take care of me. He wants to guide me. He wants me to be his baby bear. That’s what I’m going to do when I come in this house. I’ll change from Aurora to baby bear.
She picked up her phone and glanced at the time. It was after three. Was Holt still on his conference calls? Should she bother him. She thought about it for a moment, then decided to ask Hawk if the calls were over. She sent him a text and waited. After about five minutes Hawk answered that Holt was still on the phone. Was there something he could do to help?
Have him call me when he’s off, she texted.
Hawk answered that he would.
Aurora put her phone on the table and started to dance around the room. “I love him, he loves me, I love him, he loves me.”
She flounced down on the couch and giggled. She would be married soon. This time would be different.
“I hope you’ve finished your work since you’re sitting there doing nothing.” She turned toward Holt’s voice.
“I love you,” she said.
He had a box in his hands, which he set on the table.
“I like to hear that,” he said.
“I love you,” she repeated.
“And I love you.” He moved toward the sofa and she bounded over the edge and went to the table.
“What’s in the box?”
“Don’t open it,”
“Why not, Papa Bear?” She wiggled her bottom at him. “If I do, are you going to spank me?”
“Who are you and what have you done with Aurora?”
“I’m baby bear,” she said.
“So the minute you come through that door from now on you’re going to be baby bear?”
“I am,” she said. She giggled, but then she said, “I do need instructions, though.”
“Which you will get. You do realize baby bear will have to be punished sometimes.”
That was the one part she didn’t really want to talk about, or even think about. “Yes.”
“Oh, a one-word answer.”
Aurora went to the kitchen where she poured herself a glass of water. She drank it slowly, then turned to Holt. “I hope you’ll give me a chance to get used to the idea, like you did this morning.”
“I will,” he said. “Physical punishments are spankings, not beatings. There is a big difference.”
Aurora nodded, then decided things were getting way too serious. “I didn’t expect you so early.”
“I am the boss, and when the calls were over, I decided to take the rest of the day off. Now I’m thrilled that I did.”
“Do my lessons start tonight?” she asked.
“Nope.” He patted the box. “First, we’re going to fuck our brains out, then we’ll eat, maybe, and then we’ll make use of what’s in the box.”
“Which is?”
“A surprise.” He looked her up and down. “Get naked.”
“Well, if my lessons don’t start until tomorrow, should I obey your orders tonight?”
“You’re going to wish you hadn’t said that.” He launched himself in her direction, and Aurora ran for the bedroom, giggling. He caught her before she got to the door, which is what she wanted. His chest was delightfully hard as he held her against him.
“You’re a naughty girl,” he said.
“I thought you already knew that.” She kissed his chin, and then she nibbled on him, enough that he yelped and pushed her back. His shocked look made her giggle.
“You are bad.” He reached for her again but she evaded his grasp. She was in the bedroom seconds later and this time his aim was true. They tumbled onto the bed and he pressed her into the mattress.
“You’re asking for a spanking,” he said gruffly.
She knew she was, and to her it was a bit of a test. She wanted to know what it felt like, she wanted to see how she would react. So far so good, she thought as he sat on her bottom, pressing her down further. Was he waiting because he, too, wondered how she would do?
“Bad, bad, Aurora,” he said. He moved down to her thighs. He rubbed her bottom. The sensation, even through her jeans, made her shiver. When he slapped her ass, she groaned. It stung, but not as badly as she’d thought it would. He waited a few moments, then slapped the other cheek. He was taking it slow, she knew, and she wanted to yell at him to give her the full effect, to give her a proper spanking. But there was part of her that was glad he was showing such care.
The next two slaps came faster and harder, one on each side. She moaned softly, and he delivered another pair. Then, to her surprise another one. Aurora clawed at the quilt on top of the bed as he spanked her, the swats light, but fast. After the fifth set he spanked her harder, and she fought it, wiggling in an attempt to get away from him. He stopped and stroked her hips. “Shush.” He leaned over and kissed her shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” she sa
id.
“Don’t be.” He kissed her shoulder again. He turned her over and rolled over her. “I make you a promise right now. I will never, ever, hit you in anger. I swear it.”
Tears filled her eyes as their gazes locked. “Thank you.” Trying to lighten the mood she laughed. He pounced on her as she giggled, and seconds later they were kissing and pulling at each other’s clothing. When she was naked he captured a nipple in his mouth, nibbling on it.
“You’ll get used to being spanked,” he said.
“We’ll see about that,” Aurora said. She hadn’t minded the easy swats the first time, but today let her know it would get harder as their relationship progressed. Still, she trusted him, with all her heart.
He kissed her again, which she always loved. But when the kiss ended he rolled off her, which left her feeling alone, and thinking she’d broken the mood entirely.
“Roll over,” he said.
Her stomach seized. Did roll over mean more spanking? She wasn’t sure she liked that idea, and she gazed over at him.
“Trust me,” he said. “Do as I say.”
It took her a few moments to gather her courage to offer him her backside. When she did he caressed it, and she moaned softly. She waited for him to slap her ass again, but instead he covered her body with his, his weight heavy yet welcome.
“I love being inside you,” he said.
“Then why aren’t you?” She glanced over her shoulder. His face was right next to hers, and he brushed his lips against her cheeks.
“Sassy little brat,” he said.
“I’m learning,” she said.
He chuckled as he thrust against her, his hard cock pressing against her butt cheeks. He lifted up and gently tapped her hip. “Spread ‘em, brat,” he said.
Aurora giggled as she did, and when Holt slipped inside her she said, “Now you’re where I want you to be.”
“You are cheeky today.” He kissed her shoulder just as he rolled them over to their sides. He lifted her leg up and back. The position was awkward to her, but he drove in a little deeper, and it made her groan in pleasure.
“Hold still,” he whispered in her ear. His hands started to roam her body as he thrust, over her breasts and thighs. He pinched her nipples and twice he reached down to play with her clit. The movement made him press even deeper inside her and created incredible waves of pleasure.
He moved out.
And in.
And out.
And in, and when he did that a third time he pinched her clit and Aurora shivered in pleasure as she came. She squeezed his length and she heard him groan. It sounded like words, but she really couldn’t understand him. She smiled to herself. His brain didn’t exactly work when he was sexually excited.
“I love you,” she whispered.
His response was guttural as he emptied himself into her.
When his breathing was somewhat back to normal he said, “I love you too, baby bear.”
It made her shiver and smile, and wonder how she’d ever found this man whom she would stay with for the rest of her life.
“I just thought of something,” she said. “We haven’t used a condom, not one single time.”
He chuckled and she playfully slapped his arm. “You just had me buy them to embarrass me, didn’t you?”
“No, just to see if you’d do as I asked, and you did.” He stroked her hair. “That’s when I knew we were a perfect fit. I just had to convince you of that.”
Aurora was thrilled that he did.
Chapter 16
“It’s like the sun shines from your face now.” Wyatt handed Aurora a box full of food that she’d needed, and since none of them could go to town with her, they’d had it delivered. There really wasn’t that much in there, some fresh vegetables and a few steaks. Nancy was gone now. She’d left a day ago, and Holt had told Aurora there was every chance she would end up back with her husband.
“Where did she go now?” Aurora had asked Holt.
“To stay with a friend,” Holt had responded. “Something tells me that friend is going to drive her back home. I pray she makes it through.”
Aurora did the same. Becky was still at the ranch, although she seemed less enthusiastic about her situation. Part of Aurora wondered if Becky was questioning her choice. The kids played in the pool a great deal, but Becky sat a lot, and when Aurora tried to engage her in conversation she was reluctant to talk.
Aurora had a lot to think of on her own. It had been a week since she’d told Holt she loved him, and things were, to put it bluntly, perfect with them. It hadn’t taken her that long to learn Papa Bear wanted to be in charge, and he wanted to take care of her. She had to follow rules, which she really didn’t have a problem with. She’d learned that in prison.
Of course Holt’s rules were different than what she’d learned. He made her a list of things to do, and times they needed to be done, unless she had work to do as den mother. But twice he’d shown up just before noon to make sure she’d done the daily chores. The first time she had not, and she’d spent fifteen minutes on her knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor. That had not been a pleasant punishment.
“Earth to Aurora,” Wyatt said.
“I’m sorry,” she said as she placed the food on the table. “Thank you for bringing it down.”
“You’re welcome.” He took off his cowboy hat and said, “There is something I want to say to you.” Without waiting for an answer he said, “I didn’t really approve of you, but seeing how happy you’ve made Holt, well I think your arrival here was a good thing.”
“Thank you.” Aurora took a carton of milk out of the box and transferred it to the refrigerator. What Wyatt had just delivered was next to the box Holt had brought in the night she’d professed her love for him. He still hadn’t allowed her to open it, so she had no clue what was in it.
“Welcome to the family,” Wyatt said. “My parents will be thrilled. They were beginning to think none of us would ever get married.”
Aurora laughed softly. “Holt and I are not exactly spring chickens. If they’re hoping for grandchildren they should look to you younger ones.”
Wyatt nodded. “They have what they consider grandchildren, provided by our late aunt’s daughter. They are visiting her in Florida right now.”
“I didn’t know that,” she said.
Wyatt frowned, then knocked his hat against his leg. “She’s the reason we run the ranch.”
“Your late aunt?” Aurora asked with a sinking feeling.
“Yes.” Wyatt nodded at her and said, “See you later at dinner, I hear.”
When he was gone, Aurora realized she hadn’t heard that. Holt hadn’t said anything about going to the main house for dinner. She put away the remaining groceries and sat down on the sofa. She got a text immediately. They would have a new client tomorrow, and she needed to make sure cabin five was cleaned and ready for a woman and her two children.
She answered she would work on it today, then she got another text. “We’re having dinner at the house tonight.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” she said, then added a happy face. “I guess that means I can’t open my box. How long is it going to sit there?”
“For as long as I say,” he said. “Go clean. Dinner is at seven sharp.”
It didn’t take her long to clean the cabin. She changed the sheets, despite the fact it had been weeks since someone had stayed there. She took the sheets home to wash, and by the time it was all done it was time for her to go to the house for dinner. She set the sheets on the table and went to the UTV.
At the main house she went to Holt’s office and was surprised to find it empty.
“I’m making steaks,” Austin said when she came into the main room.
“Where’s Holt?”
“He and Hawk got a call from someone and had to go out,” Austin said. “You’re stuck with the four of us tonight. I hope that’s okay.”
For a moment she thought the call might have been abou
t Stan. She pulled out her phone and texted Holt, asking him where he was and when he would be back. There was a long pause before he said, “I can’t hear you.”
Aurora stared at the phone. What was he talking about? He was obviously up to something, and he didn’t want to tell her about it. She sat down to dinner with the four other brothers and after she’d taken a bite of her steak she said, “Tell me about the woman you started the ranch for.”
If Holt was not going to tell her, and if he was going to ignore her tonight, she would ask questions.
“Lydia was our mother’s sister,” Wyatt said. “They were twins, Mom and Lydia. Multiple babies run on Mom’s side of the family.”
Aurora smiled at the triplets. She hoped she didn’t have a set of triplets if she and Holt had children. One baby would be enough for her.
“What happened to Lydia?” she asked.
“Her husband killed her, in the very room we’re sitting in,” Kyle said. Aurora thought the vet barely talked, so for him to impart that information was strange.
“Lydia and her husband, Greg, had a lot of problems,” Reed said. “They were split up at the time of her death, and she was staying here with us. He came in one night, called her a bitch, and shot her.”
Aurora’s blood ran cold. “I’m so sorry.”
“It devastated Mom,” Austin said. “Greg turned the gun on himself and left their daughter, Kasey, an orphan. Mom and Dad adopted her, and she’s the seventh of us. But she doesn’t like to visit the ranch, for obvious reasons. Mom came up with the idea for the ranch about a year after Lydia’s death.”
“That was twenty years ago,” Wyatt said. “We were all young, but we were taught if you can help someone in a bad situation you do it. It was Holt who had us incorporated and made it where we worked with the state.”
“How long ago was that?” she asked, a little confused.
“About six years ago,” Austin said. “We all had a choice to work with the Rescue Ranch. It wasn’t forced upon us. But we do other things, too, like veterinarians, and working with horses. Holt is the main employee of the Rescue Ranch.”
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