Rawhide- Slapping Leather

Rawhide: Slapping Leather by Desiree Holt This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are eit...

Author: Holt Desiree

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Rawhide: Slapping Leather by Desiree Holt

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author‟s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. Rawhide: Slapping Leather COPYRIGHT  2011 by Desiree Holt All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Contact Information: [email protected] Cover Art by Tamra Westberry The Wild Rose Press PO Box 708 Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708 Visit us at www.thewilderroses.com Publishing History First Scarlet Rose Edition, July 2011 Published in the United States of America

Dedication As always, to my late, great hero who still inspires me.

PRAISE FOR AUTHOR

Desiree Holt AND HER BOOKS EIGHT SECOND RIDE “From the very first sentence of this story, I was hooked. Ms. Holt performs her magic again with EIGHT SECOND RIDE.” ~The Romance Studio “As a follower of Ms Holt‟s work I have to say that I have come to expect certain things when I pick up one of her books. Hot men, rocking sex and emotion. This kinky little title had it all.” ~Seriously Reviewed BACK IN THE SADDLE “I really enjoyed BACK IN THE SADDLE. It was a pretty quick read that was nice and steamy. There was some naught sex and toys that were used, but all with love and pleasure in mind. I loved the characters as they fought the past that had hurt them. Both are divorced and were emotional injured by their spouses. As they overcome their pasts that would keep them from trying again, they give in to the feelings that they have felt for each other for a long time.” ~Night Owl Reviews “BACK IN THE SADDLE by Desiree Holt is the perfect book for readers who prefer their cowboys with a little extra kink.” ~Long and Short Reviews

Chapter One The Texas summer sun beat down like a blast furnace, the faint breeze doing little except to stir the rich scents of horseflesh, earth and hay. Elizabeth Gillibrand had been working a new cutting horse in the corral and she was tired, dirty and sweaty. Her clothes stuck to her like a second skin, her jeans, the tank top and the work shirt she wore knotted over it. She took off her straw hat, fanned herself and jammed the hat back on her head. Right now the shower she‟d been thinking of all day was looking mighty damn good. “Hey, Liz.” Scotty Masters, her lead trainer, walked out of the nearest barn. “Another horse trailer‟s coming down the road. Where do you want it?” She turned from where she stood at the corral fence and watched the big pickup hauling the trailer approach with wings of dust pluming behind it. They hadn‟t had rain for so long everything around was drier and hotter than hell. She looked back at Scotty and shrugged. “We‟ve only got one empty stall in the first barn right now,” she told him. “Let‟s get her unloaded and see if she likes her new home.” She knew without seeing it that the logo on the side of the truck was just one word. Stanton. That‟s all it needed. In their small community everyone knew who the Stantons were. Money. Power. Politics. Whatever. And Dean and Loretta Stanton were indulging their daughter‟s burning desire to be a competitive barrel racer. 1

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The horse was brand new. It would be up to Liz and her staff to ready her for the first sessions with young Trish, then start the girl on the arduous trek to becoming one with a horse. The key to successful barrel racing. To winning. By the time the truck had pulled into the wide gravel parking area, Scotty stood next to her holding a clipboard. “This gives us a full house, Liz. Think we can handle it all?” She gave him her usually tight business smile. “We can handle anything, Scotty, and don‟t you forget it.” The Lucky L Ranch had a reputation as the place to train cutting horses and barrel racers, a reputation the late owner John Loughlin had built with hard work and sweat. When Liz came to work for him five years earlier as head trainer, she‟d never expected him to become the family she‟d never had. Or to have him leave the entire facility to her when he dropped dead a few months ago of a heart attack. The loss still hurt, but she hadn‟t had the luxury of grieving. Not with a business to run and vultures hovering all the time. Her practiced smile became second nature as she fought resentment from the men who now worked for her, experienced hands and trainers who‟d been here longer than she had. Who hadn‟t been prepared for a female boss they still saw as an interloper even after all this time. She‟d never thought of herself as particularly tough, but she‟d had to grow leather for a skin this past year and it was about to get on her last nerve. Why were men such assholes, anyway? “Looks like Stanton‟s got a new driver.” Scotty nodded at the man climbing out of the truck. Liz glanced at him and nearly did a double take. Oh my hot Texas lord. 2

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Walking toward her, with the familiar loosehipped gait of a man who spent a lot of time on horseback, was six-foot-four of broad, well-muscled hunk. The worn jeans and a chambray work shirt with the sleeves rolled up clung to him like a second skin. As he drew closer she saw that his tanned face had a square jaw and a straight nose. When he took off his sunglasses, the hottest blue eyes she‟d ever seen seemed to pierce right through her. He held out his hand. “Alex Wright.” “Elizabeth Gillibrand. Liz.” She was amazed she could get her name out. And what the hell was that all about? She never reacted to a man like that. Any man. In fact, it had been so long since she‟d been with any man at all, she thought she might have forgotten what they were all about. Liz couldn‟t remember the last time her hormones had even recognized how sexy a man could be. Her situation at the ranch demanded she keep herself under tight control at all times. Give one little inch and the hands just waiting for her to fail would run all over her. She didn‟t seem to be able to turn off that need for personal iron discipline in a social situation, something that was beginning to worry her. Not to mention the personal history she had no intention of ever telling anyone about. It really was history and it should stay there. So don’t make an idiot of yourself in front of this man. She took Alex Wright‟s hand, stunned at the sizzle of electricity that raced into her body. Then he smiled at her and everything but her panties melted. Holy shit. She yanked her hand back and wiped it on her jeans. She was suddenly aware of her grimy appearance, of the way her sweat-dampened top stuck to her breasts and emphasized her nipples. 3


Damn. “I guess you‟re new over at the Stanton place,” she babbled. He grinned and she actually felt heat race through her. Stop, stop, stop. “Actually Loretta Stanton‟s my sister. I happened to be at the ranch and volunteered to make the delivery. Thought it would give me a chance to see the place I‟d heard so much about. Especially since my niece will be training here.” “Oh, um, yes. Well. Uh, would you like the nickel tour?” “Sure. Just as soon as we get Jester unloaded.” Jester. The horse. Yes. Tend to business, Liz. “I‟ll take care of it.” Scotty was right there at her elbow. “Let‟s get the horse out of the trailer, and I‟ll show Jester her new home.” “Oh. Thanks, Scotty.” Normally, she would have brushed him aside and taken over herself, but somehow her wits seemed to have left her and she couldn‟t put two thoughts together. She stepped back while the two men let down the trailer ramp and Alex walked softly into the trailer to stand beside the horse, speaking to her soothingly. He and Scotty backed the quarter horse out slowly, then he snapped a lead onto her halter and Scotty led her into the barn. “Come on,” Liz said, “I‟ll show you the rest of the place first. By the time we finish, Jester will be settled nice and comfy.” Liz walked Alex around the corral where one of the trainers trained a new cutting horse. In the furthest facility some of the other trainers worked with clients in the big air-conditioned indoor ring while observers watched from a high glass-enclosed gallery. She explained how they set up a training schedule and what they looked for in both horse and 4

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rider. Then she led him through the middle barn where workers were busy grooming horses and measuring out feed. Finally, they were back in the front barn to the stall Liz had prepared for Jester. The beautiful quarter horse was munching contentedly on fresh hay. “You have a great facility here,” Alex commented as they watched Jester. “Thanks. I wish I could take credit for it, but that really goes to John Loughlin. He worked hard to build this.” Alex‟s face sobered. “We were all shocked when he passed away so suddenly. No one in the community was even aware he had a heart problem.” “We weren‟t either,” she said. “He was in the tack room when the attack hit. At least one of the trainers was with him.” And what a shocking day that had been. Liz didn‟t think she‟d ever forget it. Even now it still gave her a sick feeling. That wonderful man, the most father she‟d ever known, gone like the snap of a finger. “He obviously had a lot of confidence in you,” Alex commented. “Leaving this place to you.” Her defenses slammed into place. “I didn‟t ask for it, if that‟s what you‟re fishing for.” “Whoa. Hold on.” Alex‟s killer grin kicked into place and he held up his hands. “I wasn‟t implying anything. Word is you do a hell of a job here. I know Dean and Loretta wouldn‟t use you if they didn‟t think you were the best.” “Sorry.” She let out a breath. “I guess I‟m a little quick on the trigger.” The smile softened, and his gaze locked onto hers. “I imagine you get a lot of people who resent what happened.” “You have no idea.” Especially the people who 5


work here, she wanted to say. “All I can do is my best.” When she walked Alex back to the truck he reached into the cab and pulled out an envelope. “Jester‟s feed information, although Dean said he‟d already discussed it with you.” She nodded. “We‟re all set up for the horse. The trainer will start working with her tomorrow and in about two weeks we should be ready for Trish.” “I told her I‟d be coming out to watch her now and then. I hope that‟s all right.” Coming here? This walking sex machine? She‟d need plenty of ice water just to be within ten feet of him. Or maybe it was just that she‟d been without sex for so long—by design—that her hormones were running wild. Either way, she‟d need to watch herself around Mr. Sex-on-the-Hoof. “Of course. We encourage family support, as a matter of fact.” She waited for him to climb back into the truck, but he just stood there, that hot gaze raking over her. “Was there something else?” “Sure is. I was wondering if I could talk you into having dinner with me.” Dinner? With a man? With this man? Liz wasn‟t sure she‟d even know how to act anymore. For one thing, when she‟d taken over here, she‟d put her sex life on hold. She couldn‟t afford to have the men here actually see her as a woman. For another, she didn‟t exactly have the best track record. “Liz?” Alex‟s voice broke into internal conversation. “I didn‟t think it was such a difficult question.” He chuckled, a sound that hit every one of her nerve endings. “Or that I was so offensive I left you speechless.” She shook herself mentally. “Sorry. Actually, sorry twice. Once for letting my mind drift and again for saying no. But thanks anyway.” He reached out a hand and brushed a few stray 6

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hairs off her cheek. “You do have to eat, don‟t you?” Oh, god, his touch. She was going to embarrass herself by melting into him. She, Liz Gillibrand, the woman they all called Iron Pants. The woman who held a secret close inside her. No, no, no. She needed to get Alex Wright on his way in a hurry. “I…uh…usually just grab a quick bite whenever I‟m finished out here.” She took two steps backward. “Listen, thanks so much for delivering Jester. I‟ll see you when you come to watch Trish.” “I‟m not giving up on my invitation,” Alex called as he climbed into the truck. “Someplace real nice. You can wear a dress.” A dress. Just what she needed. No one within fifty miles of here was ever going to see her soft side again. Nope. Not gonna happen. She watched him make a wide, careful turn in the broad gravel parking area and head down the long driveway to the two-lane highway. Dinner with Alex Wright was such a temptation. The problem wasn‟t with dating. Dating led to sex, and Liz was sure her brand of sex wouldn‟t go over here at all. She could just see Alex “Yummy” Wright head for the hills if she asked him to cuff her to the bed or bend her over the footboard and crop her. No, she had to go far afield for her sexual pleasures. The last thing she needed was for word to get out to the men who worked for her that she was a true sexual submissive. She‟d never get control of them again. Not to mention the fact that the Lucky L would probably lose most of its clients. Conservative people frowned on anything the least bit kinky. She‟d found that out a long time ago, before she‟d come to work for John. And she still remembered the hurt. And then there was that one part of her past that had taught her a lesson. A bad one. The inner scars had never really healed, and she was sure her 7


heart was permanently damaged. Too many opportunities for disaster if she gave in to her needs. But holy hell, she sure did miss it. Sighing, she walked back into the barn to Jester‟s stall, leaning her forearms on the door. “Well, girl, I hope I don‟t embarrass either of us when that sex god shows up to see you go through your paces.” Yes, she‟d really have to watch herself there. Alex Wright was the biggest temptation to cross her path in a long, long time.

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Chapter Two “I‟m telling you, I‟m about ready to hang myself.” Liz was having lunch in San Antonio on the Riverwalk with Katie Halliday, her friend Reece Halliday‟s wife. Reece had been one of the first ranchers to welcome her into the community when she first came to the Lucky L. She knew her acceptance as the new owner of the facility was due in large part to his efforts. Especially after two of the longtime employees had actually tried to break the will. They were gone, she was still there. And over the past year, she and Katie had become close. Liz loved the ambience of the Riverwalk, a complete change from her daily work surroundings. Restaurants and shops lined the stone pathways on either side of the very narrow San Antonio River. Throngs of people, both locals and tourists, strolled along, and the signature river barges floated up and down filled with sightseers. It was a casual, colorful, relaxed environment. Katie laughed. “Come on. It can‟t be that bad.” Liz took a swallow of her frozen margarita and made a face. “Worse. Lordy, Katie, you just don‟t know what it‟s like always having to act like „one of the boys‟ only more so. They‟re all just waiting for me to make one misstep.” “Oh, honey, I know it‟s tough, but Reece says you‟re doing one damn fine job.” “Would you think I was terrible if I said just between us chickens here that it‟s been far too long since I had something between my legs besides a 9


horse?” Katie leaned across the table. “I know it‟s not funny. I‟d hate it if I was in your position. But surely there are guys you‟ve met outside the ranch. I mean, you go to a lot of the same events we do, and I see lots of single men there from all over the Hill Country and South Texas.” Liz picked a tortilla chip out of the basket, dipped it in the queso, and chewed while she tried to figure out how to answer her friend. Could she spill the details to Katie about her sexual needs? Would the woman look at her with distaste? With disgust? Curiosity? Damn it, she had to have someone to talk to. No matter how friendly she and Reece were, this wasn‟t exactly something you discussed with a man. She‟d made friends with some of the women in town, especially those who brought their horses to the Lucky L for training. But not anyone she could really open up to. She washed the chip down with a sip of her drink. Well, if she trusted anyone, she trusted the Hallidays. What was the worst that could happen? Katie would tell her to either change her sexual preferences or take a long vacation and find a hot hunk to tangle the sheets with. “My problem,” she began slowly, “isn‟t just that I don‟t want to go trolling in the waters where I work. It‟s partly…my sexual preferences.” Katie‟s eyes widened fractionally. “Surely you‟re not telling me that women are your thing.” Liz giggled. “Oh, my lord. No. That‟s not it at all.” “Well, then, what? Come on, girl. How bad can it be?” Liz helped herself to another chip, dipping it carefully, giving her time to frame her words. “Do you know what a sexual submissive is?” 10

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The other woman stared at her for what seemed like an endless moment, then she leaned back in her chair and laughed. Actually laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks. Anger streaked up from inside Liz, burning hot. This was the last thing she‟d expected from her friend. “I‟m sorry you find this so outrageous,” she said in a carefully controlled voice. Katie patted her face with her napkin and took a long swallow of her water, then shook her head. “Honey, I‟m not laughing at you. I promise.” More water. “Here‟s the thing.” She took a deep breath and looked intently at Liz. “I have my own secrets, girl friend. I’m a sexual submissive.” Liz stared at her friend as if she‟d been speaking in alien tongues. Surely she‟d misheard her. “Are you just saying that?” She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Because if you are, I don‟t appreciate it.” “Liz, Liz, Liz.” This time Katie picked up her margarita, sipped at it, and set the glass back down. “Let me tell you a little story.” “A story.” “Uh huh.” Another sip. “Eleven years ago I was sitting in my apartment in Atlanta with a fresh college diploma and no job prospects. At least none that paid a living wage. Then a friend of mine told me she knew some people who owned three social clubs. They were looking for a bookkeeper.” Liz lifted one eyebrow. “Social clubs?” “So to speak.” She smiled. “After the interview, he told me what kind of clubs they were and said I‟d need to see them before I could agree to take the job. If I turned it down, he‟d completely understand. Imagine my shock when I walked into the first place and discovered it was a fetish club.” Now it was Liz‟s turn to laugh as she visualized 11


the shock on her friend‟s face. “You took the job, right?” “Oh, yeah. I hadn‟t planned to use my degree to be a bookkeeper, but the salary they were offering was too good to bypass. I wasn‟t stupid enough to turn it down. And benefits they were great.” “So what happened after that?” “Well, it‟s hard to be around places like that and ignore what‟s going on. The various activities began to fascinate me, and I found myself being drawn to what happened in the voyeur rooms. Then…” She looked away for a moment, and something flitted across her face. “I met a guy. I was incredibly attracted to him. He was the one who trained me as a sub. Meanwhile, I ended up managing one of the clubs.” “So you‟ve been in the life all this time?” “Uh huh.” Katie looked up at the waiter. “Give us another few minutes, okay? We haven‟t really looked at the rest of the menu.” Then she turned back to Liz. “But about a year and a half ago, I had a relationship that ended badly. I wanted out of Atlanta. And lucky for me, there was someone looking to hire a new manager. In San Antonio.” Liz nearly choked on her chip. “Are you kidding me?” “Not in the least. He owns a fetish club called Rawhide, with a silent partner. At the far north end of the city.” “That is just so unbelievable. Who are these guys? Do I even know them?” Katie gave her a sly smile. “You know one of them. His name‟s Reece Halliday.” Liz had just taken a swallow of her drink. She snorted some of it through her nose, choked on the rest, and did her best to get control of herself. “Damn, Katie,” she said when she could speak again. “Reece owns a fetish club? And he hired you?” 12

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“You bet.” “But…but I thought you guys knew each other years ago. Maybe even planned to get married. Then something happened.” “The something was I discovered Reece was an unrepentant Dom, and at that time, it scared the shit out of me.” “But not anymore,” Liz guessed. “No.” Katie chuckled. “Far from it.” “Why did he open the club?” Katie shrugged. “He got tired of flying around the country for sex, and you know he couldn‟t exactly be open about it around here.” Her lips quirked up in a secret smile. “But I‟m glad we found each other again, and I have to say, our sex life is beyond wonderful.” She winked at Liz. “Or is that too much information?” Liz just shook her head. “I thought there wasn‟t anything that could surprise me. Shows you how wrong I was. But you don‟t still work at the club, right?” “No. When we got married, we decided that would complicate things too much. But I still wanted to use my skills and the ranch manager was retiring so I just stepped into that slot.” “Well. Well, well, well.” “Uh huh.” Katie fished an ice cube out of her glass and stuck it in her mouth. “You know, I have to keep a tight rein on myself twenty four/seven so none of those yahoos who work for me think I‟m the least bit weak. The bedroom is the only place I can really let myself go.” She sighed. “And I miss it. Before John left me the ranch, I took long vacations here and there and always found a club where I could play.” “No long term relationship?” Liz felt the chill starting deep inside herself and forced it away. “Bad history. Nothing I can talk 13


about.” She forced herself to relax. “Anyway, now I‟m under such scrutiny, and I‟m afraid to go to the store without an explanation.” “You don‟t think maybe you‟re exaggerating just a little?” “Oh, no. You come over there sometime and then ask me that question.” “So. Maybe I can help you with your problem after all.” “You mean…No. I don‟t think so.” Go to Reece‟s club? Where he and Katie would know what she was doing? Oh, wait. They did the same things. She had to deliberately shut her mind to images of Katie and Reece and D/s play. Much too much information. “Come on,” Katie urged. “You can go when Reece and I are there. Sit around in the lounge and get a sense of things. See if it feels comfortable to you.” “You still go to the club to play?” Liz was surprised. “Well…they have a lot more equipment than we do.” She grinned. “And it adds a little more spice. Anyway, how about if I call you the next time we‟re going? You can ride with us or follow so you have your own wheels.” Liz idly crumbled a tortilla chip. “I don‟t know if I could face Reece if he knew…you know…” Katie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “He‟s the least judgmental person I know. Besides, wouldn‟t that be kind of the pot calling the kettle black?” She leaned back. “Now, shall we order? All this conversation has me starved. Not for food, but that will do.” **** How the hell had she let herself be talked into this? Reece had dropped Katie off so they could drive in together, and he‟d acted very normal, very nonchalant about the whole thing. It took the edge 14

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off her nerves. Like minds and all that. She‟d just known him for so long in another context. Still, the two of them had gone out of their way to make her feel as comfortable as possible. She‟d missed the intimacy of D/s play, the chance to let go of everything, release control for a short time to someone she trusted. But she‟d never let it go beyond a few sessions with the same Dom. Never again. She couldn‟t risk it. If she just focused on tonight and its possibilities, she could forget her self-consciousness with the Hallidays as well as the unpleasant memories she kept buried. Tonight would be a fresh start. A private start. And she‟d keep it that way. She squirmed in her chair in a corner of the big lounge area at Rawhide. From where she sat now she had a pretty good view of the activity in the club. Down one hallway were the private rooms, and behind her the voyeur rooms for public viewing. Before Reece guided her to her seat she‟d glanced into the first room. A curvy redhead was spreadeagled on a St. Andrews Cross, the base of a large dildo just visible below her pussy. It was obviously working as her body vibrated and shook. Beside her stood a muscular man, who reminded Liz of a football player, wielding a flogger. Striping the woman‟s ass. The speakers in the room were turned on so the woman‟s cries could be heard throughout the lounge. Liz immediately felt liquid soak the crotch of her thong and her pulse throbbed with a racing heartbeat. She hadn‟t been in a club—or any part of the scene—for so long, and her starved senses were crying for satisfaction. She crossed her legs and adjusted her skirt, squeezing her thighs together against the sudden throbbing in her cunt. “Here you go.” Katie sat down next to her and handed her a glass of club soda. 15


The club had a full bar, but serious players usually didn‟t drink until after their sessions. Too easy to lose control and fall into a dangerous situation. Even after that, there was a two drink limit. And while Liz hadn‟t really come tonight with the intention of hooking up, the possibility was always there. “You doing okay?” Katie looked at her over the rim of her coffee cup. “Yes. I feel strange and comfortable at the same time. Does that make sense?” “Of course. If you‟ve been away from it for a while, you need readjusting. That‟s only natural.” Liz drank some of the soda. “I can‟t believe I haven‟t even heard of this place.” “Reece and his partner are very good at keeping it on the downlow. Reece has his own reputation to protect, you know, sad as it is to say.” The cries of the woman in the voyeur room had changed to those of someone in the grip of approaching orgasm. Liz‟s own cunt pulsed in response. “You don‟t have to babysit me,” she told her friend. “Go find Reece and enjoy yourself.” “I have no intention of leaving you alone,” Katie protested. “Not when you just got here.” “She won‟t be alone.” Liz recognized the voice and froze. What was Alex Wright doing here? Of all places? She looked up to see him smiling at her. His expression was friendly, but the look in his eyes was feral. “A-Alex?” A cauldron of emotion bubbled inside her— shock at seeing him here. Anxiety at his reaction to her presence. And over it all, a bolt of pure lust that shot straight to her nipples and her pussy. Because damn. Didn‟t he look just too mouth-watering for her 16

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sanity. Dark leather slacks molded to his long muscular legs and lean hips. His white silk shirt was partially unbuttoned, exposing a wedge of dark chest hair. Those blue eyes blazed with a hunger that took her breath away. The other day he‟s been relaxed and casual, but tonight, despite his smile, he was every inch in command. Every bit the Dom. Liz didn‟t know if she should smile invitingly or stand up and run. This was her first foray into the scene after a long time away. Plus she had a history that she kept tamped down in a corner of her mind. For her first contact to be this man was more than unsettling. She‟d come to Rawhide for the anonymity but holy Texas lord! How could she walk away from someone so tempting? Because you know how lethal temptation like that can be. “I wasn‟t aware the two of you knew each other.” Katie‟s voice broke into Liz‟s mental detour. “Elizabeth is training my niece‟s horse.” The low timbre of his voice vibrated through her body. “Don‟t worry, Katie. I‟ll take very good care of her.” Katie frowned and touched Liz‟s arm. “You just holler if you need us.” Alex chuckled. “Oh, I‟m hoping she‟ll holler but not for you. Go on, now. I‟ve got it covered.” He dropped down into the spot Katie had been sitting, lifted one of Liz‟s hands, and brushed his thumb lightly over her knuckles. Shivers skittered over the surface of her skin. And when his eyes locked on hers they were like twin lasers, pinning her in place. She was aware of nothing but this highly sensual man. Even the lusty, erotic screams from the voyeur room faded into the background. Something she‟d been burying inside her broke loose with frantic energy, engulfing her. The 17


connection that jolted between the two of them was so strong it was almost visible. Get up. Run. Leave. No, stay. Don’t be a coward. But what if… “First time here, right?” He studied her with a heated look. “Um, yes.” She wet her lips. Why was she so damn nervous? “Does it show?” “Not really.” He lightly stroked her forearm, his touch waking up nerve endings and ratcheting up her pulse. “But first time in a new place can be tricky.” He lowered his voice almost to a whisper. “I‟d be honored to ease you through it.” Really? Hmm. “You come here a lot?” He shrugged. “Enough. Like Reece, I can‟t exactly look for playmates in the community. And the women I date would probably shoot me if I suggested a little D/s play. A friend told me about Rawhide and got me a onetime invite.” He laughed. “Reece happened to be here that night. A surprise for both of us.” “Oh. Wow.” What a sparkling conversationalist she was. She just couldn‟t seem to get her tongue unstuck from the roof of her mouth. “Don‟t worry.” His hand slid further up the bare skin of her arm, his fingers brushing the side of her breast. Her nipples reacted as if needles pricked them and she longed for the torment of a good set of nipple clamps. She closed her eyes against the sudden image of herself standing chained to a wall, her nipples clamped and Alex striping her ass with a suede flogger. She forced her eyes open to see Alex watching her with a look of intense hunger. “So how heavy into this are you?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers tracing the 18

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line of her cheekbone. “A little? A lot?” “I-I feel so weird discussing this with you.” Was she blushing? Holy shit. “Why?” He cupped her chin. “Because we met in different roles? Here, in Rawhide, we are just two consenting adults looking to satisfy our sexual needs in an environment that‟s safe, sane, and consensual. Right?” “Y-Yes.” The throbbing in her pussy was so intense she wondered why the small couch wasn‟t vibrating with the force. God, she had missed this. She just had to remember that nothing carried outside these walls. If she chose to accept Alex‟s invitation to play, it would stay here and that was it. One disaster was enough to last her a lifetime. Except…how could she handle this almost visible connection between them? “So how long, Liz?” Right, right, right. How long had she been into the D/s scene? “Almost ten years.” God, had it been that long? “A guy I was dating took me to a private club one night.” She frowned as she remembered the details. “I was so young and green then, but he was older, kind, and knew exactly how to introduce me to the scene.” “He didn‟t force you, did he?” Alex‟s voice was suddenly hard. “No, not at all. We‟d actually talked about it and tried a few things by ourselves. Just playing a little.” “Good.” She felt him relax. “This isn‟t something that can be pushed onto someone. But you enjoy it?” “Oh, yes.” She most definitely did. Alex rested one hand on her knee, the tips of his fingers playing with the hem of her short skirt before sliding beneath the fabric. The moment his palm rested against the inside of her thigh she squeezed her legs together. 19


“Spread your legs,” he commanded, his voice low enough that only the two of them could hear it. “Now.” Alex Wright might deliver his words with that thick-as-sorghum drawl, but Liz was acutely aware that beneath that casual exterior was the unbreakable steel of a Dom. A Dom who knew exactly what he wanted. An electric thrill ran through Liz‟s body. Automatically she let her thighs fall apart. His hand slid up to the crotch of her thong, and his fingers rubbed against the thin silk. A smile of satisfaction curved his mouth. “Soaked. How long has it been since the last time you played?” “More than a year,” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes from his. “Far, far too long.” He pulled his hand out and slid it up her rib cage to cup her breast. “Liz, you don‟t really know me. In fact, we just met a few days ago. But I promise you can trust me. Go ask Reece. He‟ll tell you the truth.” He moved his hands away. “Go on. See if he‟s in the office.” Liz stared at him, trying to read his eyes. She knew Katie would never have left her with him if he wasn‟t safe. She‟d just have to remember to keep her own defenses in place. Particularly where her emotions were concerned. “No, it‟s okay. I believe you.” “I really want that trust, because I have to tell you, I want to be with you very, very much. I think we could enjoy each other.” When she didn‟t say anything, he asked, “Did you come here tonight just to watch? Or are you here to play?” He pinched a nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Hard. “Because if it‟s the latter, I want to be the one you play with. Desire spread through her like wet heat, 20

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burning her. She licked her lips again. “To…to play. I came to play.” “And would you like to play with me?” He pinched her nipple again, this time maintaining the pressure. She gasped at the bolt of pleasure. “We are two different people here,” he assured her in his low, deep drawl. “That‟s the beauty of a place like Rawhide. We can be anyone we want.” He bent his head closer and bit the lobe of her ear. “I will take very good care of you. I give you my word on that.” Liz looked around. Everyone in the lounge was occupied. The dungeon master lounging against one wall looked at her and smiled, giving a slight nod of his head. Okay. So Reece and Katie had probably said something to him, and he was telling her Alex was okay. It wouldn‟t do for a friend of the owner to be hurt in this club. So, did she want to take this chance? Yes! The word resounded in her head. “Yes,” she breathed. “I would like that.” He stood up and held out a hand to her. “Then come with me. We‟ll find a room that suits us and see how well we do together.”

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Chapter Three There was no light in the room except for a lamp in the corner and a spotlight shining down on the wide leather bench. Alex studied the woman standing before him, sensing a skittishness he often found in horses that had been mistreated by their masters. Was that what had happened to Liz Gillibrand. Had some man abused her trust? She was striking, with her strawberry blonde hair and her startling green eyes, and skin that, despite hours in the sun, still had a delicate appearance to it. His cock pressed painfully against the restraining leather of his pants, making him aware of just how much he was attracted to this woman. “Take off your clothes,” he told her in a firm voice. “Now.” Her hands trembled slightly as she obediently she reached behind her neck and unfastened the button holding the halter top in place. Just as slowly, she undid the one keeping the rest of the fabric in place, folded the garment, and set it on a nearby chair. When she unzipped the short skirt and let it slide down her legs, Alex had to stop himself from dropping to his knees in front of her and lapping at her cunt. Jesus, she was a feast. Slender from all her hard work with the horses but still with nicely rounded curves he wanted to run his hands over. He‟d been with a lot of women in his life, but he‟d never met one who turned him on the way Liz 22

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Gillibrand did, or who reached out to him so emotionally. He had to be careful here. He had a very strong sense she was dealing with issues of some kind, and he needed to work around them very carefully. “Leave your boots on for the moment, take off your thong and hand it to me,” he commanded. She shimmied out of the scrap of material and held it out to him on her fingertips. He crushed it to his nose, inhaling her musk. Then he tossed it to the chair where the rest of her clothes were. He had developed a reputation of iron control, but now he was flirting dangerously with it. What had started as a gamed to him, a way to interact with a woman who turned him on, had suddenly turned into something far deeper, and he needed to be very, very careful here. “Now the boots. But turn the other way when you reach down to take them off. I want to see your ass and your pussy.” She turned obediently and bent down to remove first one boot, then the other. Her ass was provocatively displayed, and as she widened her stance to work on the boots, he saw the tempting sight of her glistening cunt. His cock swelled so painfully he wondered if he‟d damaged himself. Heat surged through his balls. He couldn‟t ever remember a time when he‟d reacted this way to a woman. Or even allowed himself to imagine it. He was a Dom very comfortable in his own skin, well respected, and not looking for anything permanent. He enjoyed his single status too much. Until now. This woman was about to turn his life upside down and she didn‟t even know it. “Now turn and face me,” he commanded. “And keep your hands at your sides.” He lifted a set of nipple clamps from the table at the side and pinched one taut bud until it stiffened. 23


Taking a moment to swirl his tongue around it, moistening it, he placed one of the clamps on it and tightened the grip until the peak swelled and darkened. Liz tensed at the first bite of the clamp but otherwise gave him no reaction. He moved to the other nipple and gave it the same treatment, then stood back to admire his handiwork. Jesus! The sight of her made his mouth go dry and heat surge through his blood. Slowly, Alex, old boy. This one is very special, and you don’t want to scare her away. His friends would have a good laugh if they knew the master swordsman was about to take an unexpected tumble. And he had to do it while still holding the reins that controlled this situation. “Climb onto the bench,” he told her. “Balance on your knees and forearms so your ass is elevated.” He allowed himself a moment to ease his hand over the line of her back, the swell of her ass, marveling at the silken softness of her skin. He dipped his fingers into the slick wetness of her cunt, then brought them to his nostrils to inhale her scent. The level of his testosterone shot off the charts. Oh, yeah. He was in big trouble here. “Some rules first.” Liz could feel his eyes on her as he walked slowly around the bench. “What‟s your safeword? I never play without it.” “Lullaby.” He chuckled. “Interesting choice. All right, then. At any time, if for any reason you want me to stop, simply say the word and we‟re done.” She nodded, keeping her eyes lowered. “You are to call me Sir. I prefer that to Master. And obedience is a must. Any hesitation at all and your Sir will punish you. Clear?” “Yes, Sir.” She was so hot already, but the basic familiar instructions aroused her even more. Liz could slowly but steadily feel herself falling back into 24

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the familiar sanctuary of subspace. “You body is mine to do with as I wish,” he continued. “It is for my pleasure, and mine only. Your pleasure is only at my discretion. No matter what I do to you, you absolutely will not come until I give you permission. Do you understand?” “Yes, Sir,” she repeated. He paused beside the bench and delivered an open-handed smack to one cheek of her ass. She jerked automatically but then held herself still. “Good. You‟re an obedient sub.” Without warning, he landed another hard smack on her ass. Then the blows came in quick succession, each one harder than the one before, until her ass felt as if it was on fire. She knew her cunt certainly was. “Ah. Dripping.” She heard the satisfaction in his voice as he probed her slit. Easing out slowly, he took a moment to circle her opening before moving in front of her. He lifted his hand and inhaled the cream that clung to it before holding it out to her. “Lick my fingers. Until they‟re clean.” Liz ran her tongue over the surface of his fingers, licking her cream from them until she‟d cleaned every inch of the skin. Her own taste lingered on her tongue, a combination of sweet and tart. “Nothing is to be denied to your Sir.” He was in full Dom mode. “Punishment for any offense is at my discretion, both in type and intensity. Are we clear on that?” “Yes.” She wet her lips. “Yes, Sir.” “Excellent. We‟ll get along just fine. Keep your head bowed and your eyes on the bench in front of you.” She heard him moving around behind her, the opening and closing of a cupboard door, the rattle 25


and clink of objects. The anticipation ramped up her stimulation to a higher level. Her nipples ached from the clamps on them and her cunt pulsed with unsatisfied need. But she knew Alex was in control and that in itself was incredibly exciting. She wanted this. No, craved it. And she‟d been without for so long. In the next moment, she saw his legs in front of her and then felt folded silk pressed to her eyes. A blindfold. Cream gushed in her pussy as he tied it securely behind her head. How did he know she craved the darkness a blindfold could bring? Everything else was heightened, ultrasensitive. He chuckled as if reading her thoughts. “I had a feeling you loved this. I enjoy keeping my subs in the dark. It intensifies everything.” Yes. Yes, yes, yes. “I believe discipline is the key to a successful relationship. Just enough to let my sub know the rules are to be enforced and I‟m to be obeyed. Since this is our first session together I‟ll ask this one time—are you agreeable? We need to firmly establish who‟s in charge here, Elizabeth.” He paused. “In here, as my sub, you will be Elizabeth, not Liz. Nod your head if you understand.” She swallowed and bobbed her head up and down. “Good.” More movement. Then the familiar feel of a suede flogger trailing across the backs of her thighs and the bottom of her ass. Without thinking, she wriggled her hips, silently inviting him to apply the instrument. “Ah, you like this. Good. This is one of my favorites.” Leather slid around first one thigh and then the other. Thigh cuffs were cinched tight and Liz heard metal clank of narrow chains as they were locked 26

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into place on either side of the bench. Next were cuffs that encircled wrists and upper arms. Liz felt the tension in her limbs as he locked them into place. When he was finished her arms were secured n such a way that she could neither lift them nor bend them in any other fashion. She effectively restrained in that position, open to whatever he chose to do. “You know this sets the tone for future play,” he drawled. Future? Did he plan for them to do this again? Did she want to? Damn right. She was reacting to him more intensely than she had to any other Dom since… Don’t go there. Pleasure. Think pleasure. The very thought of more sessions with this man made her pussy throb even more. While she was still digesting the possibility, the flogger hit the bottom of her ass with a hard thwack! Pain rocketed through her, but the bite of it brought so much pleasure she was sure her cunt was gushing. Her inner walls quivered. Thwack! The flogger struck again. And again. The multiple suede straps each kissing her skin with a sharp bite. Heat surged across the globes of her buttocks, down her thighs, and into her cunt. “Your ass is looking very hot,” Alex commented as he continued to deliver the strokes. They came in no particular rhythm. Sometimes in quick succession so she barely had time to catch her breath from one before the next one struck. Other times the pattern was irregular. Just when she was sure he was finished, here came the next one. Then they stopped, and his hand caressed the burning skin. Fingers probed her dripping cunt, and he gave a murmur of satisfaction. “Oh, yeah. Your flesh nearly scorches my 27


fingers, and your cunt is plenty juicy. I think we are ready for the next stage.” Liz tried to imagine what the next instrument delivering delicious pain would be. While she was turning the possibilities over in her mind, she felt something hard and smooth pressed against the backs of her thighs. A crop! Oh, sweet heaven. She‟d had a Dom whose favorite instrument was the crop, and he knew exactly how to wield it to arouse her beyond the point of reason. Would Alex have the same talent? Please, yes. Please, please. “Let‟s see how this arouses you, sub.” His voice was thick with barely controlled lust. She jerked when the crop bit into the bottom of her ass, and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. She had no idea if Alex was the kind of Dom who was turned on by the reaction to pleasure/pain or not. But in the next moment she found out. His hand cupped her chin. “Don‟t stifle your sounds, Elizabeth. I love the cries and whimpers. Let it go.” Yes. It was as arousing to him as it was to her. When the crop fell again, she didn‟t hold back, crying out, rocking as much as the restraints allowed. Again there was no rhythm to strokes. Fast, three in succession, then nothing. Then two. Nothing again. She had no time to anticipate, to prepare. She had tumbled down into subspace, the place where the pleasure overrode the pain and her body wanted nothing but to achieve maximum orgasm. After one particularly loud scream, he stopped and caressed her cheek. “Enough? Should I stop? I usually like to apply ten, but…” She shook her head rapidly. Even though it had been so long for her, if she stopped him now he‟d probably make her dress and leave, and that was the 28

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last thing she wanted. Past rejection still festered in her soul. “No. Please, Sir. I want all ten.” “Are you sure? This is the first night for us. Besides, it‟s been quite a while for you.” “Please, please. If you want me to beg, I will.” It had been so long for her that she had to know she could take whatever he had to give, now and in the future. He bent down, turned her face, and kissed her mouth. “No need to beg. I won‟t stop. You are going to be such a good sub, Elizabeth.” He stood up. “Ten it is.” She tried to count after that. Was that eight? Or nine? “Ten.” The word had a finality to it. “Ten strokes with the crop, Elizabeth. I think that‟s enough for tonight, but let‟s check.” His hand smoothed over the burning cheeks of her ass then downward until his fingers were sliding into her pussy. “Damn, but you‟re wet.” His voice had a rough edge. His fingers separated her labia. “And swollen. Oh, yeah. Nice and swollen.” His hand smacked her deliberately on her pussy lips before he sought her clit and pinched it. Hard. Liz had to grit her teeth to hold herself together. The urge to come was so strong it took every ounce of her personal control to keep from unraveling. She moaned as his fingers continued to probe and tease her ravenous flesh. “Hold back,” he drawled. “You know it will be worth it.” Liz heard the sound of boots hitting the floor, then the whisper of fabric. He was undressing. God, what she wouldn‟t give to see him naked. See that wonderful body in all its muscled glory. But at the moment she was just happy to catch her breath. His fingers gently pried her lips open, and the 29


head of his cock edged into her mouth. “Suck me,” he ordered. “I want to come in your mouth.” So there was to be no relief for her tonight? She wanted to cry in frustration. Alex laughed. “Poor little subby. So horny. Don‟t worry. I won‟t leave you hanging.” He bent and put his mouth to her ear. “But I‟m not going to fuck you tonight. I‟m saving that. And I promise it will be worth it. So open wide.” She opened her mouth as wide as she could, wishing her hands were free so she could wrap her fingers around his erection. He thrust forward until the head of his penis bumped the roof of her mouth. Automatically, her lips closed around him, and she slid her head back and forth as much as her restraints allowed. “You just worry about how you use that hot little mouth. I‟ll take care of the rest.” And he did. She licked his length with her tongue, pulled hard with her lips, and scraped him with her teeth. Alex rocked back and forth, his hips pushing toward her, each time his cock sinking deeper into her mouth. His hands gripped her head, tilting it this way and that for the best angle. They caught a rhythm together. He drove in and out as she pulled and sucked and his fingers brushed against her as they wrapped around the chain linking the nipple clamps and tugged gently. As his movements became more forceful, he yanked on the chain, her nipples shrieking with the rough edge of pain. She could tell by his groans when he was getting near. Then his body tensed, he thrust hard one last time and semen exploded in her mouth. Thick and hot it slid down her throat as fast as she could swallow. When his cock flexed for the last time, his grip on her head relaxed. She opened her mouth, 30

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and his shaft slid free. “Very good.” He sounded ravaged, spent. “Better than that. Damn good.” He slapped her still stringing ass. “Now it‟s your turn.” She heard him moving around again, but he didn‟t release any of the restraints or undo the blindfold. The next thing she felt was his fingers at the tiny pucker of her asshole, rubbing cool gel onto and into it. Two fingers plunged inside her, massaging the gel into her hot dark tissues. In a moment, she felt the pressure of a butt plug stretching her as he slowly forced it inside. More, more, more, filling her until… There. It was in. Shivers raced through her and her pussy quivered. “Next time I put this in your fine little ass,” he told her, “I‟m going to fuck you, fill both holes. Fill you up so much you‟ll feel it in every nerve ending.” Yes, yes, yes, yes. Oh, please. “But for tonight, a little something else.” His hands moved between her thighs, and something cold clamped onto her clit. “You‟ll get to come, sugar, but I have to leave you wanting more.” Whatever was on her clit suddenly began to vibrate, waves of sensation pulsing through her. She was already so horny, had held herself back for so long, that it took only seconds before she convulsed, the waves of a powerful orgasm gripping her. The walls of her pussy spasmed, hungry for something to grip. Her entire body shuddered as wave after wave of erotic pleasure swept through her. The restraints only enhanced the power of the climax, her body shaking with the force of it. It went on and on, the little vibrator strumming her clit, the plug wedged tight in her ass, and Alex‟s fingers at her cunt, holding it open so he could watch every flutter and tremble. Finally, she dropped her head to her forearms, 31


her body covered with perspiration, chest heaving, heart thundering in her chest. She felt Alex‟s fingers inside her, rubbing and sliding, coaxing the last of the aftershocks from her. Then the vibrator stopped, the plug was removed from her ass and the restraints released. Then the clamps. He gently rubbed her nipples as the first pain of release stabbed at her. The blindfold was last, just before he lifted and turned her and stretched her out full length on the bench. Kneeling beside her, he massaged her arms and legs, easing the soreness in the muscles from being so long in one position. “You‟re an excellent sub, Elizabeth.” “Thank you, Sir.” “Next time no panties or bra.” No lingerie? Naked beneath her clothes? “But—” “But you don‟t argue with your Sir.” She lowered her eyes. “No, Sir.” He bent his head and took her mouth, lightly at first then thrusting a marauding tongue inside. And she realized this was the first time tonight they had kissed. He took a long time at it, too, sliding his tongue inside her mouth and tasting every inch of the slick surface. Then he moved his mouth to her tortured nipples, lightly sucking each one and licking with his tongue to soothe them. She turned her head to rake her eyes over his naked body. “Would you…Could I ask you to stand up, please? Sir.” He smiled and rose to his full height. His cock, though spent, was still a powerful sight resting against his pubic curls. His sac hung heavily against his muscular thighs. She looked up and took in the hard wall of his chest and the dark hair covering it. She reached out a hand, then quickly pulled it back, remembering his instructions. 32

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He smiled. “It‟s all right, Elizabeth. Touch me. Go ahead.” He was firm and warm, the power radiating from him almost palpable. She touched everything she could reach before letting her arm fall limply to her side. “Thank you,” she whispered. When he lifted her into his arms, she felt completely limp. Depleted. And happier and more satisfied than she‟d been in ages. She looped her arms around Alex‟s neck and rested her head against his shoulder. His laugh rumbled in his chest. “How lucky am I that you chose tonight to come to Rawhide?” He lowered his mouth to hers, touching her lips lightly before increasing the pressure. His tongue licked the seam then slipped inside and turned the kiss into a full blown assault on her mouth. His taste was as sinful as dark chocolate and just as rich. Addictive, even. His tongue melted against her like a rich confection, and she wondered if she could come just from kissing him. When she was completely breathless, he lifted his head and smiled at her. “Are you together enough to drive home or shall I take you?” That jolted her. “Oh, lord, no. That‟s all my crew would need to see.” He frowned. “Liz, you‟re a woman. And a hell of a one at that. Surely the people who work for you don‟t expect you to live like a nun.” “You don‟t understand.” She shifted in his arms, and he lowered her to her feet. “They‟re all just looking for one tiny sign of weakness from me. The only place I can be me is here. I can give up control completely.” “That‟s a hell of a way to live.” “Trust me. It‟s the only way.” She smiled at him. “May I dress, Sir?” 33


“Of course.” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her, licking the seam of her lips. “But I want to see you again. Are you good with that?” “As long as we keep everything here at Rawhide.” He frowned. “What if I want to take you out to dinner? Or for a drink?” She shook her head, pulling on her clothes and straightening them. “No. Please. Don‟t push me.” I can’t do that again. I can’t. He sighed. “Fine. Okay. At least for now. Today is Wednesday. Meet me here Friday night.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he held up his hand. “Remember, in this room my word is still law. Friday night, Elizabeth. Don‟t disappoint me.” For a moment, she was tempted to try protesting again. Then she realized she really wanted to see him again. She wanted another night like tonight and she wanted it with Alex Wright. “All right. Will nine o‟clock be all right?” He grinned. “Nine will be more than satisfactory. And no playing with toys at home. I want you hot and wet and hungry for me.” Oh, lordy. Watch yourself, Liz. Quicksand ahead.

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Chapter Four For forty eight hours, Liz argued and debated with herself, immersing herself in work so vigorously that Scotty actually stopped her Friday at noon. “Take a break, boss. I don‟t know what devil‟s riding you, but you‟re driving yourself into the ground and us crazy.” She jerked her arm out of his grip and went back to brushing the horse she‟d just been working. “Maybe y‟all just can‟t keep up with me,” she ground out. “Uh-uh. Stop what you‟re doing and look at me. Come on, Liz. Just for a minute.” She sighed, dropped the hand with the brush and leaned against the tethered horse. “What?” “First of all, I know you won‟t agree with me, but I‟m as much your friend as your employee. If you‟d let me be.” She snorted. “Yeah, right. My best bud.” “I said look at me. Please.” She turned her face and saw such an expression of concern on his face she wanted to cry. Who would have thought Scotty or any of the others would care one whit about her? “Good. Now.” He blew out a breath. “What‟s got your tail in a twist? You worked fourteen hours yesterday, and you‟ve been out here since six this morning. If there‟s a problem, I‟d like to help with it.” Liz almost laughed. This was one problem that none of her employees could do anything about. 35


She‟d spent nearly every waking minute, despite working herself to death, convinced her visit to Rawhide had been a mistake. And if she went back, she‟d make another one. Alex Wright was related to important clients. Establishing a D/s relationship with him, even if they kept it to the confines of Rawhide, was fraught with every kind of danger. “Liz?” She blinked and focused on Scotty, who was still waiting for some kind of answer. “I‟m sorry, Scotty. I‟ve just had a little trouble sleeping. I thought extra work would tire me out.” He shook his head. “If you say so. Just…try to take it easy, okay?” He walked away, his boots clicking on the concrete. Easier said than done. And what do I do tonight? Show up? Not show up? She shivered at the memory of the session Wednesday night. She and Alex had made an instant connection, one that was too strong for her to deny. But her last two relationships had ended very badly. If this one blew up it could affect her livelihood. Shit, shit, shit. Why had she gone in the first place? Damn Katie and Reece for talking her into it. She sighed and went back to work on the horse. Just to frost the cake and add to her personal turmoil, she had been in a state of constant arousal since her session with Alex. Every time she remembered being in that room with him, her cunt quivered and cream gushed into her panties. She could have relieved her itch with one of her batterypowered toys, but his words kept echoing in her head and her submissive nature wouldn‟t permit her to disobey his final instruction. By the time six o‟clock rolled around, she was a bundle of nerves, edgy enough that she took herself 36

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off to the house. She had enough problems with the staff. She didn‟t need to keep taking her attack of nerves out on them. She wasn‟t the least bit hungry, but she made herself eat a sandwich standing at the sink and swallow a soft drink. Then it was decision time. The real problem was, she actually wanted to go. She‟d forgotten how arousing and satisfying D/s play could be. With the right person. Liz stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. How was it others found that one right person to share the lifestyle with permanently, but the two times she‟d tried had been a disaster? Was she destined for noting more than interludes until she was past the point of being wanted? Desired? You’re scared because Alex Wright touched something inside you. Damn right I am. People who touch you emotionally have the power to hurt you. Reject you. “No!” She smacked her closed fist on the vanity countertop. “Quit overthinking everything, Elizabeth Gillibrand. You wanted a good time. Sexual release. Go and embrace it. And when you see Alex Wright in public, you can just be smoothly polite to him. You know how.” Shoving her doubts back into a deep corner of her mind, she stripped off her clothes, turned on the shower, and stepped under the hot spray, letting it wash away the dirt and stress. An hour later, lotioned and perfumed and dressed in her best sub outfit she nervously pressed the bell at Rawhide. “Good evening.” The hostess swung the door open to admit her. Liz pulled the tiny gold card from her purse that Reece had given her, but the woman waved it away. “Mr. Halliday has put you on the permanent list. Go right in.” The permanent list? Well, thanks, Reece, but— 37


Stop it! This time will be a different. Just enjoy. She smiled. “Thank you.” “I believe someone‟s waiting in the lounge for you,” the woman said. “On one of the corner love seats.” Alex! He was here already. Now she was twice as nervous. What if when he saw her again, he changed his mind? Decided he didn‟t want her at all? Since when did you let all these insecurities consume you? Since— “Good evening, Elizabeth.” She found herself standing in front of the love seat, Alex rising to take her hand. Liz bowed her head automatically. “Good evening, Sir.” “Your hand is trembling.” He sat and drew her down next to him. “Let‟s sit here for a few minutes. Is something bothering you?” He frowned. “Have you changed your mind? It‟s all right, you know. Sometimes people just don‟t click. Although I thought last time—” “You thought right,” she said hastily. “I haven‟t changed my mind.” “But you‟re nervous.” His hand lazily stroked the bare skin of her arm. “Did I do something to cause that?” He frowned. “Did I give you reason not to trust me?” “No.” The touch of his hand was soothing, easing her nerves. Her body, tuned again to the role of submissive, began to relax. Her nipples were so sensitive the leather vest felt scratchy against them, and her pussy was already incredibly wet, moisture dampened the inside of her thighs. His hand trailed around to the nape of her neck, gently massaging the muscles she knew were tighter than tight. He leaned close to her, his mouth directly at her ear. “Elizabeth, are you afraid of me? Tell me 38

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the truth, darlin‟, because if you are we need to stop this now.” Afraid of him? No, it was herself she was afraid of. Afraid of losing her head and maybe her heart and ending up a mess like the last time. Because Alex Wright definitely struck a chord deep inside her. It was more than the fear of meeting him on different turf and hoping no one would catch any silent messages between them. It was the terrible fear of being cast aside. Again. She shook her head. “No. Not afraid.” Of you. It’s me. I’m afraid of me. “Tell me what it is,” he urged, “or we‟ll just have a pleasant drink and that will be the end of it.” The end of it? Not have a session together? Now that she was here, that was all she wanted. To be stripped naked and dominated by him. To feel the pleasurable sting of the flogger. Maybe even the short-tailed whip. To have him strip away everything but her basest emotions and drive her to the peak of erotic fulfillment. Why am I being such an idiot? “Forgive me, Sir,” she whispered. “I‟m still…I just haven‟t been in the scene for such a long time. Until the other night.” “I understand.” How could a man have such a warm Texas drawl and still sound so dominant? “Well, then. Let‟s see if you followed my instructions. That‟ll tell me a lot about what happens next.” One warm hand slid beneath the hem of her short leather skirt, up the surface of her thigh until he reached her cunt. A slow smile crept over his face. “No panties. Good for you. And that sweet little cunt is dripping wet. Just the way I like it.” His praise warmed her but not as much as his fingers at her wet folds, just barely brushing her clit. 39


Liz did her best not to react to the charge of electricity that surged through her. Alex licked the edge of her ear as he lightly pinched her clit. Liz forced herself to sit still, not to move except on his command. All the anxiety that had plagued her for two days disappeared like smoke. She could focus only on the man who controlled her pleasure for the evening. “Let‟s see your breasts, Elizabeth.” Okay, he was definitely in Dom mode and she felt herself automatically slipping into subspace. His fingers were warm on her flesh as he tugged the zipper of the leather vest down partway. His hand slipped past the fabric to touch and caress her skin, his palm cupping one breast, his thumb rubbing the nipple. Liz bit her lip, pleasure heating her body. Did he mean to remove the vest completely out here in the lounge? Many Doms liked to expose their subs to others, like displaying a prized possession. She knew it gave them a sexual charge to know others admired what only they could possess. Alex lifted his hand to cup her chin, tilting her face toward him. “Look at me, Elizabeth. You‟re wondering if I‟m going to order you to sit here half naked, right?” “Yes, Sir.” She looked directly into his eyes, but they told her nothing, only that he was in control and he wanted her to know it. “Would it bother you?” Would it? She‟d been with other Doms who enjoyed displaying their subs so others could envy them. Only it had been so long… “I asked you a question,” he prompted. “No, Sir. I am here to please you.” A hot smile curved his lips. “You‟re right. And it would please me for others to see what a beautiful sub I have.” 40

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He pulled the zipper down the rest of the way and eased the vest down her arms. She shivered slightly, sitting there naked from the waist up, but not from cold. He was going to tease her, draw this out before they went to a private room. Before she could eventually find releases for the intense orgasm already building inside her. “You have gorgeous nipples.” He rolled one between thumb and forefinger then squeezed it hard enough to cause a small bite of pain. A couple passing by stopped, examining her with frank curiosity. “May I?” the man asked, reaching out a hand. Alex smiled but shook his head. “Just for looking. That‟s all.” “A real pleasure to take a look,” the man drawled. Alex nodded, but he slid his arm around her waist, pulling her against him. You’re mine. It was as plain as if he‟d shouted it. The couple stood in front of them for a long moment, the man‟s eyes hard and hungry, the woman with her hand linked through his arm. Then they moved on. Alex signaled the waitress and ordered tonic and lime for both of them. Liz sat quietly sipping at her drink, shoulders back the way she knew Alex expected, while he murmured in her ear and caressed her breasts. Every few minutes, he slid his hand beneath her skirt, testing her wetness. “You‟ve been perfect, sitting here so others can admire my wonderful sub. I‟m very proud of you.” A thrill danced through her, her cunt throbbing, her nipples hardening even more. It had been a long time since she‟d heard those words. No. Forget at all. This is here and now. This is Alex, hot and hungry. “Are you eager to be fucked tonight?” He 41


pinched the tip of her clit. “I have some special things in store for you.” He nipped her ear lobe. “I can hardly wait.” Alex watched Liz carefully as he alternately played with her nipples and stroked her pussy. Her body was humming like a tuning fork, no doubt about it. But he could see all the conflicting emotions at war in her eyes. She wanted to be here—wanted to be with him. He was sure of that or she wouldn‟t have come back again. But there was still a nugget of resistance bouncing around inside her. Had her last relationship turned bad? Unfortunately, many Doms not only carried punishment to extremes but verbally degraded their subs. Alex always felt they should have a role reversal for one night and see things from the other end of the stick. So to speak. He wouldn‟t mind wielding that stick himself. When a sub gave trust to a Dom, it was a very special thing. Abusing that trust was the worst kind of betrayal. So maybe that was part of her reserve. The other part was connecting with someone she had met who was part of her everyday existence. He‟d been shocked the other night, too, at finding her here. Liz Gillibrand had an enviable reputation as a woman with a firm hand on a horse, a student and most definitely her employees. But so often that kind of woman made the best sub. In the bedroom, with a man they could trust, they could give up that control. When he‟d met her at the Lucky L, the air of sensuality that surrounded her even as she stood there sweaty and dirty made his cock swell painfully in his jeans. But then, to meet her here at Rawhide… Hell, since their session the other night, he hadn‟t been able to think of anything except her. On 42

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his bed. Hands and feet restrained. Her body wide open to everything he wanted to do to her. He realized the moment he laid eyes on her tonight that she was conflicted. With any other woman, he would have been friendly and polite and walked away. But he wanted Elizabeth Gillibrand more than he‟d ever wanted another female. And not just for a session now and then at Rawhide. Something deep and elemental clicked between them. He knew in his bones she felt it, too. But he would have to inch his way into it. Go very slow. That was okay with him. The prize was worth it. Exposing her body like this had been a risk, but it was working. The tension of anxiety in her body was slowly being replaced by that of sexual arousal. “You have a gorgeous body,” he said, stroking the length of her spine. “I want people to envy me.” She kept her eyes lowered, but a tiny smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Are you always so arrogant, Sir?” “My male Texas pride.” He chuckled. “And I‟ll overlook that little sign of disrespect because it shows me you‟re getting comfortable with me again. But this is the last time. Understood?” “Yes, Sir.” The voice was soft, but the ghost of a smile still lingered on her face. Impertinent sub. He swallowed his laughter. Tonight he‟d make her beg. He‟d gotten a sense of her limits the other night. Now he was ready to push them a little. And make her like it. “I think we‟re ready to leave the crowd now.” He rose and held out his hand to her. She took it, standing gracefully. Picking up her vest, he led her out of the main room, down the corridor to the room he‟d reserved earlier.

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Chapter Five Alex watched Liz take in the huge bed in the center of the room, with its many straps and manacles attached, then the array of discipline items on the wall and finally to the table displaying a variety of toys. “You‟ll enjoy this,” he said, reassuring her as much as commanding her. “You remember your safeword?” “Lullaby.” “Good. Real good.” He pulled her toward him, gripped her face, and licked the entire surface of her lips. Very slowly. Her lips were like satin, smooth and warm. He could spend hours just tasting them. He outlined the edges with his tongue before pressing against the closed seam and thrusting inside. She opened to him willingly, her own tongue dancing with his. Her flavor was better than any bourbon he‟d ever tasted, seeping into his system and flowing straight to his cock. His balls ached and his blood pounded as he tilted her head to give him a better angle. And he hadn‟t done anything yet but kiss her! Hell. He couldn‟t remember the last time, if ever, he‟d felt this addicted to a woman. He‟d better keep his wits about him or he‟d lose the control so essential to this relationship. He allowed himself another moment to trail his mouth down the column of her neck and suck on each rosy nipple. Then he forced himself to pull away, fisting his hands to get his breathing under 44

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control. Alex looked at her, flushed, her breasts heaving with each breath, and wondered if he‟d ever get enough of her. “Remove the skirt,” he ordered, shoving his hands in his pockets to keep from ripping the garment off himself. Still keeping her gaze properly lowered, she unfastened the one button, slid the zipper down and let the skirt fall to the floor. She stepped out of the puddle of fabric and waited for his next instruction. “Go to the bed and bend over the footboard. Spread your arms wide.” Obediently, she moved to the bed and arranged herself as he directed, her nicely rounded ass presented for him. He ran the palm of one hand over each cheek. Squeezing and lightly pinching. Liz raised on her tiptoes and wiggled her ass. “Impertinent sub,” he chuckled. He studied her for a moment then brought the flat of his hand down on her skin. She jerked slightly, startled, but made no sound. He smiled at the reddened marks of his fingers on her skin. “I think a little discipline might be in order here.” He bent low and put his mouth next to her ear. “But you enjoy the punishment, don‟t you, Elizabeth? The pain ramps up your desire.” When she didn‟t answer him right away, he spanked her again. Then his fingers dipped between her thighs to the folds of her cunt and found them coated with her cream. Oh, yeah. She definitely was into this. His cock flexed against the restraint of his slacks. “Well?” he prompted. “Yes,” she breathed. “I do.” Yeah, he‟d thought so that first night from her reaction to their session. Now he was sure. “I can accommodate that.” As he talked to her, his hand smoothed down her back and over her ass 45


again in long slow glides. “I can give you the kind of pain that will bring you incredible pleasure. Last time was just a taste.” He stood up and looked at her for a long moment. Then he reached to one side of the bed and lifted a leather cuff attached to it. Buckling carefully around one wrist of an outstretched arm, he pulled a similar one from the other side and fastened it in place. Now she was completely immobilized. She could move her legs, but she wasn‟t going anywhere and her movement was very restricted. Man, this was definitely going to be good. He studied the display of instruments against the wall, finally deciding on a flat paddle and a crop. His hand itched for the cane, but Liz was so recently back in the scene he‟d have to work her up to it. Alex slid the paddle lightly back and forth across her ass, teasing her with the anticipation of its kiss on her body. She shifted her feet again, rising on tiptoe to lift herself to him. His cock throbbed in answer. He would punish her and tease her and then fuck her senseless. “Ten strokes with the paddle,” he said. Lifting the instrument, he smacked one ass cheek, paused, then smacked the other one. Again. And again. Every stroke of the paddle brought a corresponding pulse to his cock, a tug to his balls. His body was hot but not from exertion. Just the sight of her reddened ass made him want to throw the damn paddle to the side, rip off his clothes and plunge inside her. Although the punishment was always as stimulating to him as to his subs, it had never before delivered this gut-twisting bolt of lightning. His gaze was locked on the quivering flesh of her buttocks. With each kiss of the leather on her flesh, low moans rolled from deep inside her. After five strokes, she began trying to evade the paddle yet at 46

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the same time he understood the sounds she made were as much from arousal as from pain. Eight strokes. “Ohh,” she cried and danced on her toes, trying to pull away from him, then lifting to him. When he finished with the paddle, he dropped it onto the table and probed her with his fingers again. She was drenched, and Alex wondered briefly if he could make her come just by disciplining her. Something else to work on. He stared at her reddened ass, the sight almost making him forget everything else, rip off his clothes, and drive himself into her body. No sub had ever mesmerized him the way Liz did. Elizabeth. If he‟d thought to get her out of his system, he was obviously very much mistaken. What the hell had he stepped into here? He leaned over her again, brushed her damp hair aside and kissed her cheek streaked with perspiration. Her body still quivered slightly with the aftereffects of the paddling. “So responsive,” he murmured. “And your ass is such a gorgeous shade of red.” He slid his hand over the flaming skin and thrust his fingers back inside her. Immediately, the walls of her pussy clamped down on them, and he felt tiny spasms ripple through her. “Don‟t come,” he warned. “Not until and unless I tell you to.” He shifted his hand so one finger touched her clit. When he brushed it back and forth, she tensed and whimpered. “If I decided to I would stand here for a long time and tease this puffy bit of flesh and still not let you come. And just to make sure you know who‟s in charge I think a little more discipline is in order.” She squeezed her thighs against his arm, still making those delicious little sounds. He picked up the crop and ran it along the backs 47


of her thighs and the crease where thigh and buttocks met. Then down one leg and up the other. “Let‟s see if we can make that beautiful ass even redder.” With the first blow from the paddle, Liz had tumbled into the familiar embrace of subspace, confident that Alex would not abuse the trust she gave him. Her entire ass was on fire, the heat radiating into her pussy, her thighs, and her very swollen clit. Oh, god, when he rubbed her clit the way he did, she had to bite down hard on her lip not to lose control. Alex Wright knew exactly how to administer discipline, to create the right level of pain for maximum arousal. Her nipples were like hard diamonds and her pussy throbbed, cream wetting her thighs. She wanted his cock inside her so badly she was ready to beg for it. Please fuck me, please fuck me, please fuck me. But she knew that the wait would be worth it. And the discipline only increased the anticipation. When she felt the hard length of the crop skating over her skin, her entire body clenched. Yes. Alex Wright was apparently a master at punishment, administering just the right amount of pain for the maximum amount of pleasure. It had been so long. So long since she‟d been in this erotic no man‟s land of total bliss. The remembered caress of the pain, the throbbing of every pulse point in response… Yes. This is what she‟d missed. The hard length of the crop came down on her ass with a sharp bite, and a corresponding gush of arousal flooded her pussy. The next stroke and the next. One burning cheek, then the other. There was no rhythm, no cadence, so she couldn‟t even anticipate when the next one might fall. 48

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And over it all, the insistent pulsing waves in her cunt. “Ten strokes,” he announced again. “Two more to go.” Whack! Whack! Oh, god, she was on fire everywhere. His mouth touched her ass, scorching her as he trailed kisses over the tormented flesh. Then his tongue, a soothing swipe on one side then the other. His hands slid across her buttocks, up her back, and down her outstretched arms. “Real good, Elizabeth,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. “I think I‟ll give you a little reward.” Oh, yes, thank you, thank you. Anything. He released the cuffs on her wrists and massaged each arm slowly before turning her over and lifting her so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. His gaze raked over her body. “You have the most gorgeous breasts.” Lust thickened his voice. He cupped the mounds in his hands, bent his head, and pulled one nipple deep into his mouth. Liz had to fight against the wave of desire that surged through her. She wanted to run her fingers through his thick hair, but he hadn‟t given her permission to do anything but sit the way he‟d placed her, so she balanced on her palms and prayed for control. He took a long time with her nipples, first one then the other. When at last he lifted his head, he slid his hands over her hips to her ass and pinched the still burning cheeks. “Red‟s a good color for you,” he teased. Then he stepped back and began to remove his clothes. “Don‟t move. Stay just like that. And look directly at my eyes.” When he stood before her naked, she couldn‟t stop herself from dropping her gaze to take him in. 49


His magnificent cock rose thick and straight from his body, the heavy sac of his balls hanging below it against his thighs. “I thought I told you to keep your eyes locked with mine. Bad, bad sub. Do you need another punishment session?” “I-I‟m sorry, Sir. It‟s just…” She clenched her fists. His smile was sensuous, and a wicked gleam shone in his eyes. “I‟ll forgive you this time. But only because you‟re so good for my ego.” He stepped forward and moved her slightly back on the bed. “For the last forty-eight hours, all I could think about was how your mouth felt on my cock. It pushed everything else from my mind.” He stood between her legs, holding his shaft, lightly stroking up and down. “Th-thank you, Sir.” “I want you to do it again, Elizabeth. But tonight I don‟t want to come in your mouth. Tonight I‟m going to fuck your cunt. But because you took your discipline so well I‟m going to let you come twice.” He stroked her cheek gently, rubbed his thumb across her lower lip, then spread her thighs wide. “Sit just like that.” She watched as he stepped to the table, studied the items on it, and returned with a dildo in one hand and a set of clamps in the other. “These will look great on your nipples,” he purred, placing the dildo beside her. He pulled each nipple in turn, rolling and tugging before tightening the little gold vises on each one. Liz bit her lip as the first streaks of pain shot through her breasts, then sighed as the pleasure overrode it. He nudged her onto her back, picked up the dildo, and eased it into her very drenched pussy. She sucked in a breath at the sensation, glad to have 50

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something, anything, filling her. “Here‟s how it goes,” he said, pulling her upright again. “I‟m going to turn this on, and while it does its work, you‟re going to suck my cock. But when you‟re about to climax pull back. I will let you come and then I‟m going to fuck you and make you come again.” He reached between her legs and pressed the bottom of the dildo. The moment the vibrations began to rocket through her, she knew it wouldn‟t take long for her to crest. Alex put a hand on the back of her head and urged it toward him. She took his erection in her hand and licked it, swiping her tongue up one side and down the other before taking the length of him into her mouth. His hand kept her head in place, giving her no chance to do anything but work him as hard as she could. An exercise in discipline because the vibrator was driving her to a point of no return. She felt every sensation throughout her body, even to her very sore ass. The desire in her swirled and twisted. The more intense it grew, the harder she sucked his cock. Her entire body shivered delicately as pleasure ripped through her, the walls of her pussy clutching and clamping at the vibrating dildo. Sensations racked her from head to toe, and still his hand was firm on her head, his cock filling her mouth. She tried to monitor herself so she pulled back at the right moment, and when she felt ready to explode she cried out around the thickness in her mouth. “All right, Elizabeth.” He released her head. “Now.” He tipped her back on the bed, her legs spread even wider. He bent over her, watching her face, one hand massaging her clit. Oh, oh, oh! “Keep your eyes open, Elizabeth.” 51


She wanted to close them, but she didn‟t dare, instead keeping them locked on his face, flushed with erotic desire. His eyes hot and demanding. Cresting the wave she crashed, spinning and whirling, her entire body shaking. She tried again to squeeze her legs together, but Alex would have none of it. “Wide open, Elizabeth.” He stroked her clit over and over while the dildo did its work. “God, you‟re beautiful when you come.” She was still shivering with aftershocks when he pulled the dildo from her, sheathed himself in a condom and, still standing, plunged into her. Oh, oh, oh! He was so big. So thick. So enormous. She was glad he‟d made her come before entering her or she might have had trouble taking him. But she was wet and soft and her pussy molded around him. “Wrap your legs around me,” he ordered. “And grab my shoulders.” When she did, he pushed into her even deeper, his hands gripping her tender ass. Her internal walls were still pulsing from her unfinished orgasm, and he was pushing her toward the peak again. “Get ready,” he whispered. Using his strength to hold her against him, he pounded into her, thrust after trust, riding her like a stallion with a mare in heat. Her nipples cried out from the clamps, and his fingers tormented her burning buttocks. But every part of her focused on his cock inside her and the intense pleasure building and building and building. He seemed to know exactly when she reached that point again. “I‟m there, sugar. Come with me.” As if she could hold herself back. He drove into her once, twice, his body stiffened and this time they spun out together. She could feel the hot gush of his semen through the thin latex as he erupted, and she 52

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was right there with him, drenching him with her own liquid. She lost all sense of where she was. Of self. Of anything except the powerful spasms gripping and shaking her until she thought she would fly apart. Everything faded to black except this man, his cock inside her, and the uncontrolled riot of sensations that plucked at every nerve and muscle. Alex held her to him, her body riding his, until the last of the spasms had died away from both of them. Then he eased her back down on the bed, slid carefully from her body, and went to dispose of the condom. When he removed the nipple clamps, he soothed each tortured bud with his mouth through the first surge of pain. Then he lay down on the bed, curling her against his chest while her heartbeat returned to something like normal and her breathing evened out. He caressed her back, her very sore buttocks, and her arm with incredible tenderness. Then he cupped her chin, tilted her face to his, and kissed her so thoroughly she felt it clear to her toes. “I think I‟ll have to buy the Hallidays a case of their favorite wine,” he told her. “Oh? Why is that?” “If they‟d never brought you here the other night, none of this would have happened and I‟d be missing something very special.” His face sobered. “Do you trust me, Liz?” Liz. Ah. They were out of D/s roles now. “Of course. I wouldn‟t be here with you if I didn‟t. Why?” “Because I‟d really like to see you outside of Rawhide, but I sense something‟s preventing you. Can you trust me enough to step outside these walls and allow us to be just Liz and Alex?” Put herself out there again? Be an idiot once more? Uh-uh. No way. 53


When she didn‟t say anything, he sighed, but then he smiled. “We‟ll just take it one night at a time. If I asked you to come back here tomorrow night, would it be too soon?” Three nights this week? Two weekend nights out? Things were moving so fast here. And what if her staff was keeping tabs on her comings and goings? Alex brushed his mouth against hers and traced her eyebrows with a fingertip. “Don‟t over think it, okay? Please?” He put his mouth closed to her ear. “Besides, tomorrow night I want to fuck you with that plug in your ass. And maybe have another treat or two for you.” No, she couldn‟t do it. Even though she wanted to. But she didn‟t want him to find someone else, either. His arms tightened around her. “All right, Liz. I won‟t push it. I don‟t want this to end before we really get started. But I want to see you here next Tuesday. Nine o‟clock.” The Dom voice was back. She sighed and swallowed a smile. “Yes, Sir.”

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Chapter Six It was early evening. Liz had showered away the dirt of the day and put on her boxers and T-shirt she slept in. She was sipping a glass of wine and wondering if it was wise for her to meet Alex again tomorrow night when the phone rang. “I‟m just the messenger here,” Katie began, “so don‟t shoot me.” Liz frowned to herself. “About what?” “Alex asked Reece to ask me to call you and plead his case.” She laughed. “God, are we in high school here? So anyway, here I am.” “About what?” she asked again. “First of all, let me assure you this has nothing to do with whatever does or does not go on between you and Alex at Rawhide. So let‟s get that out of the way.” “Katie, wait-” But Katie rolled along as if Liz hadn‟t said a word. “He has not discussed any details of whatever‟s going on between the two of you, nor would he. If Reece didn‟t check the sign-in sheets once a week, he‟d never even have known you went back to the club.” Liz felt the knot in her stomach unclench. She‟d been worried about how to handle this part of her life when the place she went to conduct it was owned by friends. So far no problems, and she and Alex had been meeting three times a week for almost a month. She‟d gotten to where she anticipated these meetings more than she‟d expected and was having to work very hard to compartmentalize. Alex Wright 55


was like a drug working its way through her system, and she‟d already been in that rehab once, thank you very much. She caught some of her employees looking at her with mild curiosity. After all, this was the first time she‟d gone out in the evenings since John died and she became the owner of the Lucky L, but she pointedly ignored their silent speculation. So what was the deal with Alex? She‟d only been looking for a partner, someone to play with after all this time. For the sexual pleasure she‟d been denying herself. Why was he making this so complicated? Surely there were plenty of other women for him to see socially. “What does he want?” As if she didn‟t know. “Liz, he really, really would love to see you outside the club and he says you just shut him down.” “And he talked to Reece about it?” Liz was stunned. “He just brought it up in conversation. Said he wondered if you were involved with someone in a vanilla relationship.” Liz gripped the phone, irritation washing over her. “He should have talked to me about it.” “Honey, he says he has, and you just ignore him. So what‟s the deal? Did he do something wrong? Because if there‟s a problem-” “Katie, no.” She sighed. Shit, shit, shit. “I just…have my reasons.” There was a second or two of silence. “There is something wrong. I can tell by your voice. And it has nothing to do with Alex.” “Just leave it, okay?” Every unpleasant memory she‟d shoved in her mental attic was banging on the door to be let out. Another pause. “I‟m coming over. And don‟t say no, or I‟ll make a scene in your front yard and every 56

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hand there will come out to see the show.” “Katie-” “Uh uh. I‟m on my way, so get out the wine.” And Liz was left holding a dead phone. Oh, hell. She really didn‟t feel like spilling her guts to Katie, exposing a time in her life she did her best to keep buried. But she was aware how relentless her friend could be, how unstoppable when she set her mind to something. She had also learned that Katie was the least judgmental person she knew. Still, dredging up that pain after all this time… If she hadn‟t confided her sexual preferences to Katie… If she hadn‟t allowed herself to be talked into going to Rawhide in the first place… If she just hadn‟t fallen so hard for Alex… Sighing again, she pulled a nearly full bottle of chardonnay from the fridge and got down two glasses. She‟d hidden from the hurt and betrayal for so long. Maybe it was time to unload on someone. And Katie had become a very good friend. By the time Katie rang the doorbell, Liz was already on her second glass of wine. No way could she do this cold sober. Katie looked at the glass. “Liquid courage?” Liz shrugged. “Maybe.” “Honey, I didn‟t come here to make your miserable. I hope you know that. I just knew from your tone of voice you had a big problem. I can‟t imagine what could be so bad you have to get drunk to talk about it, but let‟s take it out of the closet and destroy it.” “I wish.” Liz took a healthy swallow of wine. “Here.” Katie grabbed the wine bottle from her. “Before you finish this by yourself let me have some. And let‟s sit down.” They ended up at the kitchen table, the bottle between them. Katie sipped her drink and watched 57


Liz with shrewd but kind eyes. “Okay, spill it. Because I have to tell you, Alex Wright is one hot catch. He owns the biggest ranch supply business in the Hill Country, is respected by everyone, and if I weren‟t married to Reece, I might go after him myself. So let‟s have it.” Liz drained the second glass of wine, poured a third to give her the courage, and took a sip. The alcohol had taken the edge off her anxiety enough to pull all the dark thoughts out of their hiding place. “Maybe it‟s time.” She sighed and looked down at her glass. “I…was involved with someone just before I came to work at the Lucky L. I met him at a club where I used to live.” “And?” Katie prompted when Liz paused. “At first, we met just a couple of times a week at a club where we were both members. Then three times a week. And suddenly we became…exclusive.” “Exclusive. You mean outside the club, too?” “Not in the beginning.” Liz played with the stem of her glass, trying to focus on something unemotional. “But then he asked me out to dinner. By then I was so besotted with him…” She curled her hand tightly around the glass, feeling the cool surface. “I‟m telling you, Katie, he was an incredible Dom. Unbelievable. And he taught me so much. But…” She paused a moment to pull in a deep breath. “There were obvious signals and I missed them.” “Signals?” Katie frowned. “Like what?” “He was very controlling. Not just in D/s play. He knew I didn‟t actually live the life, that the bedroom was where I needed it. But he took it into other areas of our life together. It was so insidious, the way he did it.” “I don‟t understand.” “We started…going out together. Pretty soon I was seeing him almost every night in the week. 58

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Sometimes I‟d spend the weekend at his place. He got to be like a drug with me. I couldn‟t get enough of him. I lived for his approval and the intense sexual pleasure he always gave me.” “Something happened,” Katie guessed. Liz nodded. “I woke up one morning and realized I wasn‟t even choosing my own food any more. Or what to wear each day. It wasn‟t like he would, say, buy something for me and tell me he wanted me to wear it that night. He practically restocked my closet, and each morning he would lay out very precisely my outfit for the day.” She took a healthy swallow of her drink. “Then he decided I should sell my car. He would drive me to and from work. He managed to cut my friends out of my life. Anyone I spent time with. I liked to work out at a health club, so instead he had a room set up in his home and he supervised my exercise.” “My god, Liz. He wasn‟t a Dom. He was a control freak, a man with an unhealthy obsession who abused the meaning of a D/s relationship. I‟m willing to bet you weren‟t the only one this happened with.” Liz nibbled her lower lip. “Probably. But at the time I was so under his thumb, I didn‟t even see what was happening. I loved him so much—or thought I did—that I‟d do anything to please him.” “I hope you realize now that what you actually had with him was an unhealthy enslavement.” “Yes.” Again Liz dropped her gaze. This part shamed her more than everything else. Her inability or unwillingness to act for herself. “But I couldn‟t seem to break free.” “So what finally happened?” “He picked me up from work one day and, instead of taking me home, drove me to a small apartment building. When we got there, he unlocked a downstairs unit and ushered me inside. While I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on, 59


he went out to the car and came back carrying three suitcases. This was my home now, he told me, handing me the keys. He was moving on. The attraction he felt was gone. I was never to contact him again. Or go back to the club. My membership had been revoked.” She still felt vestiges of the crushing pain. “And he turned around and left. Just like that.” Katie stared at her. “I can‟t believe it. Holy shit, Liz. What an asshole. My god!” “Uh huh. So there I was. In total shock. I had no idea what the hell to do. Except at work, I hadn‟t made a decision for myself in two years.” She drained her glass. “Anyway, stupid me, I just sat in that apartment frozen in shock, unable to move for hours. I didn‟t sleep or eat or anything. I just couldn‟t take it in.” She blew out a breath. “Anyway, by the time morning rolled around, I managed to kick start my brain and begin to wonder how I was going to get to work. I mean, we‟d sold my car, you know?” More wine. Lots more wine. How had I ever let myself get so trapped? “I finally went into the kitchen to get a drink of water and found a check he‟d left for me on the counter. For a substantial amount.” Anger tightened her voice. “Like he was paying some damn whore.” Katie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I hope you‟re smart enough to realize not all Doms have those tendencies. Or have such warped personalities.” Liz shrugged. “Oh, sure. I‟ve been with a lot of good ones. Before and since. But I was in love with him, Katie. He knew it and used it against me. Cracked open my heart and drove a truck through it.” “Oh, Liz.” Katie‟s expression was full of compassion. “I‟m so sorry. What a terrible thing to 60

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go through. I don‟t know what to say.” She frowned. “I know at the clubs I worked for in Atlanta and here at Rawhide everyone is vetted very carefully to try and avoid something like that.” “If I hadn‟t gotten hungry finally, I‟m not sure what I‟d have done. I decided to see if there was anything within walking distance. When I stepped outside the apartment I spotted a coffee shop across the street. I found an empty booth, and lying on the seat was a newspaper someone had left there. It was open to the classifieds. Fate must have set this up because staring me in the face was the ad for a cutting horse trainer at the Lucky L. So here I am.” Katie smiled. “Yes. Here you are. And speaking for myself, I‟m very glad. But what does that have to do with Alex inviting you to dinner?” Her eyes widened. “Oh, god, Liz. You can‟t be comparing him to this other guy.” She shook her head vigorously. “No, no, no. No way. I told you, I know Alex and he and Reece have been friends for years. Not to mention the fact that he has an excellent reputation as a Dom. And I hope you know Reece and I would never have left you with him at Rawhide if-” Liz held up her hand. “Yes, I do know that. That‟s not it at all.” “Then what? I‟m bewildered.” “I promised myself after that I‟d never fall for a guy again. I‟d pick my Doms carefully, and if I felt things were skating too close to the edge, I‟d call it off. I can‟t go through that again.” Katie stared at her. “You‟re falling in love with him.” Liz looked into her empty wine glass, considered refilling it yet again, then pushed it away. No sense getting sloppy drunk. She‟d already told Katie far too much. “Liz? Come on, it‟s written all over your face.” Katie‟s voice softened. “I want to help. But you have 61


to be honest with yourself. And being honest admits how you feel about Alex Wright.” Liz pushed back her chair and stood up, carrying her glass to the sink. “It doesn‟t matter. I can‟t let it go anyplace.” She turned to face Katie again. “I…enjoy being with him at Rawhide, but if he insists on making it more than that, I‟ll have to stop the sessions with him. I can‟t take the risk again.” “Liz, listen to me.” Liz shook her head. “I hear all the things you‟re saying, but I can‟t risk my heart again. My feelings for Alex are all over the place. If I can keep them confined to Rawhide, I can handle it.” “But maybe this time the risk is worth it,” Katie said in a soft voice. “Everyone is different, you know.” “And what if all he wants is a fling? I‟m not saying he‟d be as obsessed as…the other person was. But if I let myself fall for him, which seems to be what‟s happening, when he‟s ready to move on, I‟m not sure I could handle it.” “But what if he doesn’t want to move on? What if he has strong feelings, too? He and Reece have been friends for some time now, and I can promise you if his personality was twisted in any way, my husband would have dumped him and barred him from Rawhide. And I don‟t think a man interested in just a fling would casually try to enlist the help of his friends.” “Oh, Katie, I just don‟t know if I can make myself take that chance.” “I get that. But you‟ll never know if you aren‟t willing to test the waters with him.” Liz sat in silence, thoughts whirling in her mind. “I have to think about this,” she said at last. “I just hope Alex doesn‟t bug you.” “Oh, listen, it was just a casual comment. I 62

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didn‟t mean to make such a big deal out of it. I just thought two people who seemed to click the way you guys do might have a chance for something outside the club. That‟s all.” Katie pushed back her chair and stood. “And that‟s all I‟m saying about that.” When Liz walked her to the door, she gave her an impulsive hug. “You know I‟m here for you, right? Anytime?” “I know, and I appreciate it.” Katie studied her face. “Maybe it‟s time to let go of the baggage and live a little again.” Liz shrugged. “I need to think about my situation here at the Lucky L, too.” “Phooey. You‟re entitled to a personal life. If anyone gives you a hard time simply fire them and hire someone else. Reece can always help you find new ranch hands.” For the first time that evening Liz laughed. “You make it all sound so simple.” “It is, if you just give it a chance. And I‟ll tell Alex to back off.” “No,” Liz said quickly. “Don‟t call attention to it. I‟ll handle it myself.” “Okay, but be sure you handle it in a way that‟s good for you.” She smiled. “And that‟s all I‟m saying.” Liz leaned against the door after closing it, her brain still spinning. She‟d been doing so well convincing herself that Alex had forgotten about that first invitation she‟d turned down. Telling herself that her anticipation of their sessions together was nothing more than a high state of erotic arousal. Pretending-yes, pretending-that she could compartmentalize the whole thing. But deep down inside, where she kept her emotions locked away, she knew that Alex Wright had become more than just a playing partner to her. Despite her best efforts, her traitorous heart had 63


taken a leap and landed her in a place she‟d sworn never to be again. And she had no idea what she was going to do about it.

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Chapter Seven Liz stood at the counter of the tiny Soda Pops restaurant, the really great new burger place that had recently opened up, when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. “Glad we frequent the same places.” Alex‟s low voice vibrated through her. “Maybe I‟ll get to buy you that meal after all.” Liz turned, startled, then sucked in her breath when she realized she was practically pressed up against him. She took a quick step back, a logistical feat since the place was both small and jammed with lunch customers. “Oh, um, hi!” Brilliant conversationalist. Act like a teenager, why don’t you? But the man‟s electric presence sizzled all her nerve endings. Even outside Rawhide just seeing him made her body react with instant need, a need she‟d been doing her best to ignore or neutralize since her conversation with Katie. Still, just the touch of his hand and her bones turned liquid. Stop it, stop it, stop it. You set boundaries. Keep them in place. “Hi, yourself.” He grinned. “Put your order in yet?” “What? Order?” Her brain didn‟t seem to be functioning. “For your food?” he chuckled. “It does my manly pride good to think I can render you speechless. But I assume, since you‟re here, you‟re planning to eat.” “Oh. Yes.” She wet her lips. “I‟m, uh, getting 65


takeout.” She looked around the small space to see if anyone was paying attention to them. Someone from the Lucky L or a client. Alex was still close enough that his mouth was right at her ear. “Everyone‟s too busy getting their own orders to even glance at us.” He kept his voice pitched low enough so only she could hear him beneath the babble of sound around them. “There‟s nothing wrong with us sitting at one of those tables out on the patio and sharing a meal like all these other folks are doing.” He nodded in that direction. “A lot of people are out there, and I don‟t think anyone‟s gossiping about them.” “But…but…” She searched her mind frantically for an excuse. Any excuse to avoid the intimacy of a meal with him. “Your sister and her husband are clients of mine. How would that look?” “Jesus, Liz.” The smile disappeared. “It would look like you‟re paying attention to clients and their family. Now, come on. Let‟s spend a pleasant hour together outside in the sunshine. I promise not to order you to strip naked so I can paddle your ass.” The grin flashed again. “I‟m saving that for later.” Even as she bit back further objections she felt the strong flash of heat through her body at his words. And from his point of view she was being ridiculous. He had no idea the storm of conflict raging in her mind. “Okay. But I pay for my own food.” “You drive a hard bargain, woman. But all right. Just this time.” This time? No, no, there wouldn’t be another time. No personal socializing. Hard and fast rule, Liz. Remember? Don’t set yourself up again. And didn’t you say you’d handle this? Yeah, right. She was finding it harder and harder to cling to those rules. She kept hearing Katie‟s voice in her head. Maybe this time the risk is worth it. 66

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Alex‟s low, sexy laugh rumbled in her ear. “If you‟re finished having that mental conversation with yourself, our food‟s ready.” Liz startled, forcibly shut down her brain, and stepped up to the counter to pay for her food. Okay, lunch in the open. How bad could it be? And maybe she could get her message across to him in a casual environment. But then no more of those incredibly satisfying sessions at Rawhide. Well, damn. She‟d certainly gotten herself into a real mess. She‟d been better off when she wasn‟t having sex at all. But a lot more miserable and frustrated. Maybe her only choice was to tell him the truth. But, oh, hell… They took their food to a small vacant table at one end of the outdoor patio, settling beneath the bright red umbrella that shielded them from the sun. Liz opened the packets of sweetener and stirred them into her iced tea, then busied herself opening the ketchup packets and squeezing them into a neat pile on the plate with her French fries. Then she salted her food carefully and finally cut her burger in half with the plastic knife. “Think you‟ve spent enough busy time avoiding conversation?” Alex‟s voice was tinged with amusement. Liz looked up to see him watching her with those hot, blue eyes, and her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind. It distressed her that he could affect her so strongly, and she had to work hard to keep the bad memories from pushing their way back to the surface. He’s not like that. It won’t happen again. How do you know? And what if— Shut up, brain. “Liz.” Alex leaned forward and rested his hand 67


on her forearm, his fingers lightly stroking her skin. She finally allowed herself to let her gaze travel over the parts of him she could easily see. God, he was so magnificently mouthwatering. Not in the overt way of some Doms she‟d been with. Rather it was a combination of his rugged good looks, quiet confidence, and an aura of sexual awareness. He smiled at her again, obviously hoping to put her at ease. She cleared her throat. “Trish is making a really good start in her training. She‟s only had two lessons so far, but she‟s a natural. So is Jester.” She picked up a French fry, dipped it in ketchup and delicately bit off the end. Alex lifted his hamburger and watched her over the top of it. “I plan to come to her lesson tomorrow. To watch. I promised her.” He took a bite of the burger. Liz watched the muscles of his jaw flex as he chewed, of his throat as he swallowed, and felt herself getting instantly and thoroughly wet. She wondered if her scent carried to the people around her or mercifully was buried beneath the heavy aroma of grilled meat and fried side dishes. “I assume that‟s all right with you?” he asked. “I mentioned it the day I delivered Jester.” She could tell by the laughter in his eyes that he‟d caught her staring at him. Holy hell! She was just getting herself in deeper and deeper. But she seemed to have no real resistance where this man was concerned, drawn into the erotic web he was weaving despite the reservations growing within her. Liz let out a slow breath. Was Katie right? Could this really be different than her big disaster? For the past two days, she‟d driven herself crazy, trying to blank her mind with hard work. Her brain, unfortunately, refused to shut down and kept dredging up Katie‟s words. 68

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“Everyone is different. I didn’t know this other man, but I can tell you Alex would never try to control you like that.” Then a grin. “Except in the bedroom, of course.” Should she tell him her sordid little story? Explain why she was afraid to move things beyond Rawhide? Would he look at her as someone too pathetic it warrant further sessions? Or anything else? It had been hard enough dredging it up for Katie, but she had a feeling that Alex would not be put off by anything other than the truth. Why, oh why had this had to happen? If she didn‟t feel this intense connection to him, she could just walk away, but suddenly the prospect of that seemed less and less attractive. And now, today, while she was still so unsettled about everything, here was Alex himself, setting fire to her with just a look and a touch. And he was looking at her expectantly, for some reason. Oh, right. Coming to watch Trish‟s lesson tomorrow. “Of course, that will be fine. And I know she‟ll be excited to have you there.” “And you, Liz?” He leaned across the table. “Will you be glad, too?” “I…Alex, I don‟t…” God, could she sound any more idiotic? “It‟s okay.” He leaned back in his chair and picked up his hamburger again. “As long as you‟re glad to see me at Rawhide, I‟ll accept that for now. But you need to know something. Whatever‟s keeping you from taking this thing between us any further, you can talk to me about it. And I don‟t mean the bullshit about what your workers will think. Anyone gives you any lip, just fire them. Reece or I can always help you with new hires.” She gave a shaky laugh. “Katie said the same thing.” 69


“Katie is a sensible person.” “And now I think we should just enjoy our lunch. Like two friends.” Two friends. Right. But in the end, it turned out to be very pleasant. The weather was sunny and warm with a soft breeze that ruffled the edges of the umbrellas. All around them conversation ebbed and flowed, traffic noises playing a counterpoint. And the hamburger and fries were damn good. Liz actually found herself falling into an easy conversation with Alex. About horses, training, ranchers in general, and the Hill Country specifically. Alex told her how he‟d started out in banking but decided it was too confining for him. And the area at the time really needed a good ranch supply company. A loan from the bank he was leaving got him off the ground, and he took it from there. And bit by bit Liz told him about growing up in Oklahoma and working summers and after school on a cutting horse ranch. “The first time I set foot on that ranch and watched the trainers at work,” she said, “I knew that was for me. And I had good teachers.” “I should thank them. Otherwise you might not have landed here at the Lucky L.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Maybe that‟s not the only thing that brought me here,” she said almost hesitantly. Alex‟s hot blue eyes studied her. “Is there something you think you should tell me? Something I ought to know?” Liz gave herself a mental shake. The patio at Soda Pops was no place to discuss the intimate details of her life. If she could even make herself do it. “I…” 70

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He reached for her hand again. “Whatever it is, let‟s leave it for now. Just keep something in mind for me.” “What?” “You‟re more than just a playmate to me, although you happen to be an incredible one. Whatever reservations you have about taking this outside the club, I‟d like it if you could share them with me.” He caressed her knuckles with his thumb. “You trust me at Rawhide. Can‟t you trust me with whatever is bothering you?” “I—” “Not now. Not here. Just think about it, okay?” He pulled his hand back and began gathering up their trash, scooping hers up with his. Liz pushed her chair back and stood. “Lunch was…I enjoyed it.” His grin sent shivers skating down her spine. “Good. We‟re making progress. I‟ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” He paused. “And of course tomorrow night.” “Yes. Tomorrow night.” Wednesday. One of their regular nights. “Good.” He lifted a hand as if to touch her face, then dropped it, aware of where they were. “See you then.” Liz stood by the table and watched him walk away with his loose-hipped stride, climb into the big Wright Ranch Supplies pickup, and back away from the curb. Why, she wondered, did she have to be so fucked up just when probably the best thing to come along walked into her life? She scooped her keys and tote off the table and headed for her own truck. Work, that‟s what she needed. Lots of hard work. And then maybe a drink.

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Chapter Eight The afternoon was tense for Liz, mostly because while she worked with young Trish Stanton in the ring, she was acutely aware of Alex watching her. He‟d brought his young niece to the Lucky L, given Liz a sinful grin, and made himself comfortable in the observation gallery. The hour of training seemed to stretch endlessly, but at last, the lesson was finished. She and Trish dismounted and walked their horses out into the breezeway where she kept a small box of grooming equipment. It was a rule at the Lucky L that clients as well as instructors cooled and groomed their horses after every lesson. Trish bubbled with enthusiasm as she wiped Jester down and brushed her carefully. Liz had them set up so she could take care of her own horse while keeping an eye on the young girl, monitoring her strokes with the brush as well as Jester‟s condition. She was going over the training session with her when she heard the sound of boot heels on the concrete. She didn‟t have to look to see who it was. Just being near him made her nerve endings sizzle, her nipples ache, and a familiar throbbing sensation set up in her instantly wet cunt. And that, of course, was a big part of her problem. The physical connection alone was so strong as to be almost visible, a steel band she found it impossible to break. “Nice workout, Trish.” Glancing sideways, she saw him place a kiss on his niece‟s forehead. “Thanks, Uncle Alex.” Her enthusiasm was unmistakable. “Liz says we‟re naturals, Jester and 72

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me.” “I believe she‟s right, squirt. She‟s got very good instincts.” “I‟m almost done,” she told him. “Just a few more minutes.” “Take your time. Do what needs doing.” Liz continued brushing her horse with long smooth strokes, her entire body on full alert. She waited to see if he‟d move closer to her, but instead, he dropped onto an upturned barrel, stretching his long legs out in front of him. “Trish, I can finish Jester,” she told the young girl. “Go on ahead.” “I‟m almost done. And Uncle Alex doesn‟t mind waiting.” She giggled. “He told me on the way over here there‟s lots of nice things to look at.” Did he now? Exactly what do you mean, Alex? “Well, it looks like Jester‟s finished so Uncle Alex won‟t have to find things to look at any longer.” Liz moved over to unclip Jester‟s bridle from the ropes holding her in place. “I‟ll take her to her stall. You did really well, Trish. I‟ll see you Saturday.” “Okay. Thanks, Liz.” Trish hugged her tightly. “You‟re the best.” “I second that.” Alex had risen and was standing right next to her, his hands on Trish‟s shoulders, his eyes hot and dark as the ocean. Then he pulled Trish‟s long braid. “Come on, squirt. Let‟s go so Liz can finish up here. She‟s got an important appointment tonight.” Tonight! Heat flashed over her. Rawhide. Nine o‟clock. One of their regular nights. For a quicksilver moment, she was tempted to cancel, but she faced the truth that she wanted the session more than she wanted to duck out on him. God, she was a mess. A total mess. She managed a casual smile and a wave as the tall man and the young girl headed out to the 73


parking area. Then she walked Jester back to her stall. “I should have my head examined, right, girl?” She stroked the mare‟s forehead. “What do you think I should do?” Jester snorted and bobbed her head. Liz laughed. “Right. I couldn‟t have said it better myself.” **** Rawhide was unusually crowded for a Wednesday night but Liz spotted Alex at once. He was leaning against a wall in the lounge, talking to another man, tall and heavily muscled. Liz recognized him as one of the dungeon masters. Alex spotted her immediately and broke off his conversation. “I was taking bets with myself whether you‟d actually show tonight.” He slid his hand beneath her hair and rubbed the nape of her neck. His gaze raked over her. “You look good enough to eat. And that‟s exactly what I plan to do.” As he talked he walked her down the corridor. He pulled a key card from his pocket, swiped it in the lock, and opened the door to the room they always used. As usual, their regular toys were meticulously laid out and the lighting subdued except for the spotlight directly over the spanking bench and one above several sets of manacles hung from the ceiling on different lengths of chains. The moment the door closed, the atmosphere changed. Gone was the relaxed, casual male who‟d greeted her. In his place was the ultimate Dom, her Master, confident and in control. Moisture dripped from her pussy onto her thighs and her stomach clenched in anticipation. She stood in the usual position, head bowed, awaiting his instructions. “Strip.” His voice was hot, the one word slicing the air like a knife through butter. 74

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Liz blinked. Okay. Tonight he was getting right to it. Alex watched her unbutton the embroidered vest she wore and drop it to the floor beside her. Next came the short denim skirt. No panties or bra. Just as he‟d ordered. “Leave those heels on.” The stilettos were his favorite. Something clenched inside him as he realized she‟d probably deliberately chosen them. His gaze traveled over her nakedness inch by inch, the sight of it so arousing he hoped he‟d be able to keep himself in check. This woman had branded him in some way, made all other females pale by comparison. Made him constantly hungry for her. He, Alex Wright, the Dom that other men envied for his emotional detachment. Well, there was nothing detached about the way he felt toward Elizabeth Gillibrand. “Very good. You please me.” “Thank you, Sir.” I want to please you a lot more, but oh, don’t ask me anything else. Don’t let this change. Alex reached for her nipples, pinching them and rolling them until they were pebbled and swollen. Then he lifted a set of nipple clamps from the table and carefully fastened each one in place, a connecting chain swinging between them. “Beautiful,” he breathed, dragging a fingernail across each hard bud. “Now. On the spanking bench. Immediately.” Liz moved to the padded bench and lay on it face down, careful to place her breasts into the openings made for them. She stretched out her arms and legs and waited with an edge of burning expectancy as Alex locked fleece-lined cuffs, first around her wrists and then around her ankles. His warm palm traveled the length of her body from her neck to her 75


ankles, slowly caressing every inch of her flesh. Gooseflesh rose in its wake, evidence of the growing need inside her. Alex trailed his fingers through the crevice between the cheeks of her ass, the tip of one finger just tracing the puckered opening. “I love your ass, Elizabeth. I get hot just looking at it.” He came to stand in front of her so his crotch was directly in line with her face. There was no mistaking the bulge pressing against the fabric. His cock was definitely swollen. A lot. She licked her lips and he laughed. “You‟d like my cock in your mouth, wouldn‟t you? And I want the same thing. But not yet.” He walked around her, his hand mapping the curves of her body again. She could tell when he moved away, towards the table that held the toys. Then he was back and she felt the coolness of gel against her anus, followed by the intrusion of his finger into that dark tunnel. She sucked in her breath as electricity crackled through her, straight to her nipples and pussy and jolting the blood racing in her veins. A second finger joined the first, massaging the lube into her tissues. She bit her lip when he withdrew, needing that feeling inside her. But in another moment, the familiar pressure of the plug pushed against her opening. Push, push, push. The tissues stretched and expanded to accommodate the object. Then it was all the way inside, and another gush of fluid seeped from her pussy. Alex trailed his hand between her thighs, finding her wetness. His laugh was totally erotic. “Just the way I like you. Soaking wet. Ready to begin?” “Yes, Sir.” Please, please, please. She was already in subspace, craving the act of 76

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discipline that would arouse her to an intense level of hunger. She didn‟t have long to wait. Seconds later, she felt the familiar strips of the suede flogger travel over her skin, the backs of her thighs, her ass, even her shoulders. “You have no idea how it excites me to see the kiss of the flogger on your flesh, Elizabeth. When have received the require number of strokes I‟ll let you see just how much. But flogging first. Always. Just so we remember who‟s in charge. Right?” “Right, Sir. Yes.” Get on with it, get on with it, get on with it. Liz worked to hold herself still while Alex moved the flogger slowly over her again. When she felt the first satisfying lash, she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out with pleasure. “Ten strokes,” he reminded her. “Just like always.” Again, the leather fell, slapping the backs of her thighs, her calves, her upper back, and finally on her ass. Her skin burned with the heat of it, a heat that flashed through her entire body. Her clit was so swollen and needy, she wanted to beg for relief, but that, of course, was the point. When he reached the count of ten, she almost wanted to pleased with him to continue. “Only ten,” he reminded her, as if reading her mind. “But we‟re far from finished.” More movement, then he was back in front of her, the padded paddle in his hand. “And ten with this, my lovely sub. Are you ready?” She nodded. “Good. Very good.” Thwack! Liz jumped as the leather-covered wood landed on her thighs. Once, Twice. Then on each globe of her buttocks. Alex was always careful not to strike the plug directly but it didn‟t matter. Her ass was so 77


alive with fire she felt every inch of the toy lodged inside her. Seven? Eight? She had lost track, tumbling through subspace, so aroused her orgasm was already gathering deep inside her. “Don‟t come, Elizabeth,” Alex warned, knowing her body so well. “If you come without my permission you‟ll have to be punished again.” Yes. No. She couldn‟t even make up her mind what she wanted more. “Ten.” The last stroke fell with additional force. Then Liz felt his lips brush her burning ass, kissing the marks she knew were there. The sensations it caused were so intense she tried to lift herself up to him, but she was locked into place, stretched out. Barely able to move. She heard the whisper of fabric, a clunk, another one. Hands cupped her cheeks, and when she opened her eyes, she was staring directly at Alex‟s thick, hard cock. “Open,” he said, his thumbs at the corners of her lips. She opened her mouth wide enough for him to slide his shaft inside. In this position, she could only take him so deep, but she loved the slide of him along her tongue, the taste of his flesh, the thickness of the little bead of fluid that seeped from the slit. Alex held her head firmly in place as he fucked her mouth with a slow in and out movement, back and forth, and all the while, she worked to tamp down the climax that wanted to break free. She was both bereft and relieved when Alex pulled away from her. In the next moment, he was unfastening the manacles and helping her off the spanking bench. He guided her to the bed and urged her onto it. 78

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“Knees,” he ordered. She obediently dropped to her hands and knees, quivering with the eagerness of what was coming next. Pillows slid beneath her to prop her in place. Foil crinkled, then he was kneeling behind her and his latex coated shaft was probing at the entrance to her cunt. Hands gripped her hot buttocks, pinching the places she knew were striped as Alex pushed steadily into her wet tunnel. Between the plug and his cock she was incredibly full, incredibly stretched. And her clit begged for attention. Alex leaned forward and licked her spine. “I know you want me to touch that hot little button, but I think this time I‟ll make you do it. Touch yourself, Elizabeth. Stroke your clit. Now. Do it.” She slipped one hand past the pillows between her thighs and found the throbbing nub. With a sigh of relief, she rubbed it with two fingers, stroking, stroking, as Alex began to fuck her harder and harder. He worked one hand beneath her to grab the chain linking the nipple clamps, pulling on it with each thrust of his shaft. More, more, more. Harder, harder, harder. “Not yet,” he warned. “I‟ll tell you when.” Liz had to grit her teeth to hold back, but Alex was in control here. At exactly the moment, she was sure she wouldn‟t be able to hold off anymore, he shouted, “Now!” Yanking harder on the chain, he drove into her, his hand tightening on her hips, his body stiffening. Liz exploded as he poured his release into her, every muscle and nerve in her body dancing, clenching, spasming, while the walls of her pussy milked his cock. At last, he released the chain and fell forward on her, catching his weight on his hands. They stayed there in that position, slick skin glued to slick skin, lungs dragging for air, hearts thundering, for what 79


seemed forever to Liz. Finally Alex withdrew from her body and stood. She heard him move around to dispose of the condom, then felt his hands at her ass, removing the plug. And finally he helped her off the bed and onto her feet. He removed the nipple clamps with practiced care, laving each bud with his tongue as pain shot through them. He lifted his head and smiled at her. “Very good. Very, very good.” “Thank you, Sir,” she breathed. “The thanks are all mine.” He brushed a soft kiss over her lips. “Dress now.” They dressed in silence, Liz‟s mind spinning with thoughts she could hardly grab onto. She was positive Alex would bring up dinner again. He wasn‟t a man to let things go by the wayside. Should she tell him now? Stop seeing him? Pretend nothing existed except the two of them at Rawhide. Fully dressed, she gathered her purse and took a deep breath. Maybe he wouldn‟t bring it up again. But then his hands were on her shoulders, one moving to cup her chin and force her to lift her eyes and look at him. “Stay and have a drink with me, Liz. One drink. Please.” His eyes, now a hot, bright blue, lasered her with a hungry look. She wrenched her gaze from his. “I…no. Thank you, but no.” “Liz.” His hand still held her jaw, and he brushed his lips against hers, a light caress. “What do you want from me?” she cried. “I think you know what I want,” he said in his soft drawl. “We have the magic here at Rawhide. I believe it can work for us beyond the club. I think you do, too, whether you admit it or not. Why won‟t you give it a chance? Tell me what the problem is?” For a moment she was tempted to let it all out. Tell him her devastating story. 80

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No. He’ll realize how pathetic you are, and then you’ll have nothing with him at all. “I can‟t. I just can‟t.” She ran for the door, pulled it open and raced down the hall. In the lounge, she ran smack into Reece. “Liz? What‟s the matter?” His eyes narrowed. “Did something go wrong in the playroom?” She shook her head. “No. No, no, no. Please let me go. Please.” She jerked away from him and ran for the front door, not stopping until she was in her truck and pulling out of the parking lot. Her heart was racing so fast she was sure it would beat out of her chest. Well, she‟d probably done it now. Ruined everything. Maybe it was no more than she deserved. Why had she ever thought when she started this that she could just dip her toes in the water again and walk away barely damp? Especially with Alex Wright. Falling into subspace was her favorite release from the iron control she had to maintain everywhere else in her life. And she‟d craved it all the time she denied herself. What she hadn‟t counted on was meeting Alex Wright and losing her heart to him. Now she was in big, big trouble and turning her life into one big pretzel.

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Chapter Nine Alex wondered if he would hear from Liz again. Contrary to everything he practiced he‟d put himself out there where she was concerned. Now he felt a reversal of their roles, a switch where she held all the cards. He wouldn‟t call her. Couldn’t call her. This had to be her decision. But shit, the waiting seemed endless. Thank god there was plenty of work to do at the ranch. The Running W spread wasn‟t as large as either his brother-in-law‟s or the Hallidays‟, but it was still considered large with a good-sized head of cattle. And that meant there was always something to keep him occupied. For one thing, it was time to cull the calves from their mamas and move them to a separate pasture. The unrelenting sun and lack of a breeze made it hot, sweaty, tiring work, but it was just the kind he needed. He was up every morning with the hands, working until nearly dark to accomplish the task. Then he showered, swallowed a sandwich and poured himself a drink. And that in itself showed the state he was in. He seldom drank by himself. He had the occasional bottle of beer with his foreman and maybe some of the hands, or a drink when he was out socially. But liquor had never been his thing. He‟d always been afraid it would erode his self-control in some way. But right now that control was badly frayed. Where was Alex Wright, the man always in charge? 82

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The first time he met Liz, he thought what a great playmate she‟d make. If she was into his lifestyle. But that was all. Yet somehow she‟d pierced the armor he was so proud of, the thing he‟d thought was so much a part of his personality. Now he could barely eat or sleep or work without images of her creeping into his thoughts. He wanted her. Needed her. And he might as well admit that he wanted it forever. But the next step would have to be hers if this was going to work between them. The waiting, however, was driving him nuts. He didn‟t want to enlist the Hallidays again, but pretty soon he‟d be reduced to resorting to anything. Alex stared at the calendar on the wall. One more day. He‟d give her another day to reach out to him. Then he‟d have to do something or lose his mind. **** For three days, Liz dragged herself through her chores, trying to blank her mind, shut out the conflicting feelings bombarding her. But every time she closed her eyes all she saw was Alex‟s face. And when she crawled into bed at night, the memory of his hands on her, the arousal he created with the flogger and the paddle, the feel of his thick cock inside her while he tugged on the nipple clamp chain left her restless and edgy. Why couldn‟t it be just about the sex? Why did messy emotions have to creep into things? Liz wasn‟t sure which bothered her more. That Alex wanted to pursue a relationship or that she had fallen so hard for him. She was more than grateful when, on Saturday, Trish‟s mother brought her for her session. She didn‟t think she‟d be able to face Alex right now. Or maybe ever. Only how did she prevent him from showing up at the Lucky L when Trish Stanton was 83


there working her horse? Or avoid him in Boerne, where you could drive the length of Main Street in five minutes? Or at any events they were both liable to attend? Late Saturday, she called Rawhide and left a message that she wouldn‟t be there that night and to please let Alex Wright know he shouldn‟t expect her. She‟d thought about just not showing up but realized she at least needed to make the call. Sundays were always busy at the Lucky L. They were booked with people who couldn‟t come for training during the week and with visitors looking over the facilities. “You need a vacation, Liz,” Scotty told her in a low voice when he ran into her in the main barn. “I don‟t mean to be disrespectful, but you look as if you‟ve been rode hard and put away wet.” She sighed. “I‟m fine, Scotty. Really. Just not sleeping too well.” He studied her for a long moment. “I know it‟s not my place to say this, but you run a hell of a great place here. You should cut yourself some slack. Get a life for yourself. It‟s not against the law.” “I‟m okay,” she protested. “And I do have a social life.” “I don‟t mean lunches with Katie Halliday. You‟re a fine looking woman, Liz Gillibrand. If I was twenty years younger I might take a run at you myself.” Liz stared at him. “Excuse me?” Scotty laughed. “Just a comment. Don‟t take offense. But you‟ve got a lot to give some lucky bastard. I just hope one comes along soon.” It was hard not to be flattered by Scotty‟s remarks, but it still didn‟t address her problem. She craved Alex Wright, and she was afraid to give in to the craving. Was she being a coward? Was it time to take a chance again? Her head ached with all the 84

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questions bouncing around inside it. She deliberately stayed away from Rawhide all week, avoiding Alex‟s calls by the simple expedient of letting the answering machine pick up at the house and the calls on her cell go to voice mail. She was hiding and she knew it, but she couldn‟t seem to find a solution to her problem. When Katie called on Wednesday to invite her to dinner on Saturday, her friend refused to take no for an answer. “You‟ve been avoiding everyone for a week,” Katie pointed out. “Reece has a cattleman‟s association meeting. We can stuff ourselves with forbidden food and indulge in some girl talk.” “Oh, Katie, I don‟t know if—” “No excuses. Seven o‟clock or I‟ll come to your house and make a stink. Your employees would just love that, wouldn‟t they?” So reluctantly, she finished her work on Saturday, took a long hot shower, and dressed in a pair of her comfy jeans and a T-shirt. Pulling her hair into a ponytail she swiped gloss over her lips, picked up her purse and keys and headed for what she was sure would turn into a lecture. On the drive to the Halliday ranch, she rehearsed all the things she would say to Katie to explain why she wasn‟t going to see Alex anymore. By the time she pulled into the turnaround in front of the house, she had her resolutions firmly in place. But it wasn‟t Katie who opened the door. Instead, she was shocked to see Alex, in tight jeans and a knit collared shirt that showed every sexy line of his body. Liz stood rooted to the spot, stunned and speechless. Alex reached for her hand and tugged her into the house. “Don‟t be mad at Katie and Reece. I made a pest of myself, and I think they said yes just to shut me up.” 85


“Yes?” Liz frowned, still trying to gather her wits together. “About what?” “About being alone with you outside of Rawhide.” He was drawing her further into the house, and she seemed powerless to resist. “You wouldn‟t answer my calls, wouldn‟t come to the club. I was going nuts.” She realized they were in the great room, the lamps turned down low and music playing softly from the built-in speakers. Her eyes tracked around the room, spotting a tray on the coffee table with wine in a cooler and two glasses, and a tray of cheese and crackers next to it. She started to back away, but Alex held firmly to her hand. “No. I‟m not letting you run away this time.” He put her purse and keys on a side table and grabbed her other hand, turning her to face him. “I don‟t know what this is between us, Liz, but it‟s damn sure more than some hot D/s play. And I want to pursue it. To see if it‟s what I think it is.” Her stomach knotted. “And if it isn‟t? You just walk off into the sunset? Thanks for the ride?” “You might be the one to do the walking,” he pointed out. “But I don‟t think that‟s gonna happen. Either way.” She tried to pull her hands away, but he tightened his hold on them. “At least sit down and talk to me.” He grinned. “I‟d hate to waste such good wine.” He brushed his lips over hers. “Half an hour, Liz. Tell me what‟s wrong. If we can‟t resolve this I promise, I‟ll back off. Please.” Liz worried her bottom lip, her body and her emotions in a tailspin. Just the touch of his hand heated her entire body. And something else, deep inside her, was clawing to get out. Take a chance, Liz. She heard Katie‟s words in her head, sighed, and nodded. Maybe it was time to unload her baggage. If Alex wasn‟t serious about this and he 86

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dumped her, at least maybe she‟d be ready when someone else came along. But she sure hoped it didn‟t turn out that way, because she couldn‟t deny her feelings for him any longer. “All right. I guess at the very least I owe you an explanation. Then we‟ll see.” He smiled at her with a mixture of relief and heat, threaded his fingers through her hair to hold her head in place and kissed her with a hunger that burned through her body. His tongue was a live wire, washing fire over every interior surface of her mouth, jolting her clear down to her now pulsating cunt. Oh, god, how quickly she melted into him, heart pounding, body crying out for him. He kissed her and kissed her until she had no breath left and didn‟t care. She held onto his wrists for dear life, anchoring herself. She was so lost, drifting on an erotic current that swept away reason. When he lifted his mouth from hers, her head was swimming and her bones had turned to liquid. “Now that‟s the reaction I was looking for.” Alex‟s voice was low, his drawl as thick as sorghum. “I think a little wine is in order.” He kissed her eyelids and her cheeks, then took her hand and led her unresistingly to the couch. She was still trying to pull her scattered wits together when she found a full wine glass in her hands. Alex touched his to hers gently, the sound a faint chime. “To us,” he said. “I hope.” Liz sipped at the amber liquid, taking her time to collect herself. Her first instinct—to run like hell—didn‟t seem to be an option anymore. Alex took one of her hands in his, his thumb caressing the knuckle, then lifted it to his mouth and licked it gently. Shivers skated down her spine. When he dropped her hand and sat back on the couch, she felt 87


as if something vital was missing. “Let me start this,” he said. “We‟re great at Rawhide. Incredible. You don‟t need me to tell you that. But Liz, you‟re an extraordinary woman who appeals to me on every level. I want more with you. I want to strengthen this connection that I know you feel, too. And I don‟t believe it‟s just the so-called keeping up appearances for your workers that‟s holding you back. If you don‟t share my feelings, tell me now and we‟ll be done. But if you do, I want to know what‟s going on here.” Liz took a healthy swallow of wine, needing the liquid courage. She‟d gotten herself into this corner. Now she had to decide if she wanted out or not. Just let it out. If he’s insulted, so be it. If he runs, he runs. But right now, you’re only hiding from yourself. She dropped her gaze to her hands, hyperaware of his fingers at her nape, stroking, soothing, feeling the infinite patience in his posture. She drained her glass and held it out for a refill. Alex chuffed a little laugh. “Is it so bad you have to get drunk to tell me?” “Maybe.” She still didn‟t look at him. She waited until he‟d poured more of the amber liquid into the goblet, opened her mouth, and just let it all roll out. Every pitiful detail. All of her humiliation. When she finished she waited for him to say something, but he was silent, his fingers still stroking, easing. She was almost afraid to look at him. Just at the moment when she was ready to jerk away and head for the door, he took her wine glass from her fingers and set it on the table. Then, effortlessly, he lifted and settled her on his lap, trailing kisses over her cheekbones, her jawline, down the column of her neck. The knot in the pit of her stomach slowly eased, and she found herself leaning into him. 88

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When he spoke, his voice sounded harsh, but his anger was obviously not directed at her. “If I ever meet that asshole, he‟ll be lucky if there‟s enough left of him to pick up with a towel.” He nibbled her ear lobe. “Men like that aren‟t…really men. They‟re cowards who get their power from abusing others.” He cupped her chin and turned her face, forcing her to look at him. “If I thought you really believed I could do that to you I‟d be even angrier, but I‟m going to assume you‟re just in self-protection mode.” Liz nodded, unable to say anything. Alex cleared his throat. “So I‟m going to say this and hope you believe me. From the minute I met you, I wanted you, but not as just a fling. A toy. I could sense your depth as a person and felt a connection I‟ve never felt with anyone else. I can‟t promise you nothing will ever go wrong, Liz, but I can promise you, I‟ll do my damndest to prevent it. I want a future with you, one in which we‟re equals every place except the bedroom. Are you willing to take a chance on that?” She drew in a very shaky breath and let it out. “Yes. I want that, too.” There. She‟d said it. “Good. Then I have a suggestion. If you don‟t want to go to your place yet, don‟t want the staff to see my car parked there, will you come home with me?” Okay, here was her next big decision. If they were truly going to have a relationship, she couldn‟t hide it. And couldn‟t be bullied by the people looking for a chink in her armor. Katie had said it. If they didn‟t like it, if they gave her trouble, well, she‟d just fire them and hire someone else. Suddenly, it all seemed so simple. She took the leap, and it wasn‟t nearly as bad as she‟d feared. “You come home with me. I might even be 89


convinced to make you breakfast in the morning.” If the kiss earlier had been enough to make her head swim, this one made her melt completely. His tongue probed and swept and glided. His teeth nibbled her lips and his tongue soothed it. One arm banded her to him while his other hand threaded through her hair to cup her head. She wound her arms around him and gave back as good as she got. Her own tongue explored his mouth, tasted every bit of him. When they broke apart, both were panting for breath. “We need to move this party before I forget I‟m in someone else‟s house,” he told her, that low voice vibrating through her. “I‟ll follow you, okay?” “Yes.” She grinned. “Let‟s hurry.” Alex‟s smile melted her toes. “You said the magic words.” **** They left only the nightstand lamp on in the bedroom, its glow soft and warming. Liz had pulled out her big gold box of playthings from the back of her closet, smiling at the hot light in Alex‟s eyes when he opened it. He stepped out of character to undress her, peeling off each item with tantalizing slowness, kissing each inch of skin as he exposed it. He arranged her on the bed on her stomach, pillows propped beneath her, turning her head so she could watch him as he rid himself of his own clothing. “No punishment tonight,” he told her. “I know how much it turns you on. As much as it does me. But tonight I want something else.” Naked, he stood at the side of the bed, fingers wrapped around his cock, stroking it slowly. He smiled when she ran her tongue over her lips. “I know you want this in your mouth, Elizabeth. And you suck it like the perfect sub. I think your 90

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mouth was made just for my cock. But tonight I have someplace else to put it. Spread your legs.” He reached between her thighs and probed between the folds of her pussy, making a sound of satisfaction when he found her soaking wet. Drawing his fingers back, he painted her lips with her juices. “Lick your lips,” he ordered. “See how good you taste.” Obediently, she ran her tongue over the surface of her mouth, loving the heat that danced in Alex‟s eyes as he watched her. He slipped two fingers inside her again, bending over her slightly, his hand still on his erection as he slid his fingers in and out of her wet channel. “Don‟t move, no matter what I do. Stay completely still.” He pulled his fingers out and moved to her clit, stroking, stroking, and Liz had all she could do to hold still. Electricity jolted through her, the first tendrils of the climax stirring deep inside her. Gritting her teeth she forced the pleasure back, dropping into subspace where she cocooned herself in a sensual web. When Alex moved away, she simply laid on the bed in erotic limbo, waiting for his next move, his next command. She sucked in her breath when she felt the dildo she‟d pointed out as her favorite slipping its way into her pussy a little at a time until the tip touched her womb. “Feeling a little stuffed?‟ His voice was thick with lust. “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.” Fuck me, Sir. Then his fingers were probing at her anus, cool gel thick on them, pressing into her tissues. She sucked in her breath. “Yes, Elizabeth.” His chuckle was like a sexy 91


tune. “Tonight I‟m going to fuck you in the ass.” He bent over her so his mouth was next to her ear, his breath a warm breeze against her skin. “The ultimate intimacy. Outside this room you are every bit the strong woman I fell in love with. Yes, love. But inside, on this bed, in this room, you are mine to command. And to give pleasure to. Do you understand?” “Yes, Sir. I do.” Oh, she definitely did. Pleasure swamped her as she realized what he was telling her. She was his, completely, but he‟d never consume her, never treat her with anything except love. This time she didn‟t have to be afraid. And she wasn‟t, only filled with anticipation and love. Yes, love. She waited impatiently while he bound her wrists at the small of her back. Then he was between her thighs, pulling her to her knees, opening the cheeks of her ass, prodding at her tight opening with the head of his cock. Inch by inch, he pushed into her. The dildo in her cunt made everything so much tighter. So much more pleasurable. And when he placed his hands on her hips and began to move, the coil of her release began unwinding in her body, rising rapidly, and threatening to swamp her. The walls of her pussy fluttered in anticipation, and her nipples ached and throbbed. Her body wanted that orgasm she was forced to deny. She had all she could do not to come at once. Not until he tells me. But oh god, he seemed to take forever, every slow glide of his shaft in and out exquisite torture. The pillows balanced her, allowing her to thrust back with her hips. The pleasure was incredibly intense, invading every inch. And she hung there, 92

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aroused beyond belief, in sub space waiting for him to give her permission. In, out, harder, harder, the dildo sliding back and forth with every movement of his cock, until she was sure she couldn‟t last another minute. Faster now, harder still. His hands tightened on her hips and his pace increased. Oh, please, Alex, I need to come so badly. “Now, Elizabeth,” he shouted. “Come now. Right now.” They exploded together, her pussy clutching convulsively at the dildo, his cock pulsing inside her ass. Nothing existed for her except the consuming sensations and this man. This man. On and on it went, hard spasms gripping them as they rocked together. And then finally, it was done. He flicked the knot on the rope binding her wrists, freeing them, and collapsed forward, catching his weight on his arms. His heart beat furiously against her back, his breath rasped at her ear. Her own heart was pounding wildly, and she wasn‟t sure she‟d ever be able to draw a normal breath again. Long moments passed before their bodies went slack and satisfaction wrapped around them. Alex had made no move to withdraw from her body. “I like being connected to you,” he said, as if reading her thoughts. “I want to be connected to you for a long time, Liz. A very long time.” She sighed. “Me, too.” He kissed her cheek. “I think I‟ve been looking for you all my life.” She smiled. “Then I‟m very glad you found me.” “But just remember.” He chuckled. “If you misbehave, the leather paddle comes out of the closet for a discipline session.” She laughed and yet shivered at the thought of leather slapping her flesh. Stinging her ass. Heating 93


her body. “Then I guess I‟ll be misbehaving a lot. For a very long time.”

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About the Author Desiree Holt is flavored with the rich experiences of her life, including a long stretch in the music business representing every kind of artist from country singer to heavy metal rock bands. For several years she also ran her own public relations agency handling any client that interested her, many of whom might recognize themselves in the ages of her stories. She is twice a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award, a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio as well as a CAPA Award, winner of two Holt Medallion Awards of Merit, and is published by five different houses. Romance Junkies said of her work: “Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last.” Visit Desiree at www.desireeholt.com and www.desireeholttellsall.com To chat with Desiree Holt and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.

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Also Available

Rawhide: Crack The Whip by Desiree Holt Book One of the Rawhide Series

When rancher Reece Halliday met the new manager of his fetish club, Rawhide, he was shocked to see Katie Warren, the woman he'd loved and lost because of his sexual preferences. But a lot of time has passed and Katie has discovered the lure and satisfaction of BDSM—including the pleasurable sting of the single tail whip. Will Reece be able to lure her back into his arms—and bed—when he cracks the whip during their private sessions?

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Chapter One The day had been a scorcher, hot enough to blister skin. Unrelenting sun without a cloud to filter it. Reece Halliday left his dusty boots in the laundry room, stripped off his clothes in his bedroom, and then turned on the shower full blast. Running a ranch the size of the Golden Spur took a lot of hard work and sweat, from him as well as his brothers. Today they‟d been cutting calves from their mothers. It was tiring, dusty work, parching the skin and the mouth. They‟d managed to get all of the calves into the south pasture. Tomorrow would come the bitch work—branding. But tonight he was going to relax and give himself a treat. Tuesday nights were wild and busy at Rawhide. He had already scheduled a session with one of his favorite playmates. With what he had in mind for her, he could more than work out some of the kinks from sitting in the saddle all day. Kinks. He loved a different meaning of that word. He laughed, wondering what the very conservative ranching community would say if they knew he, the eldest Halliday brother, was the silent owner of a fetish club. And that he indulged in many of the fetish practices himself. During his senior year in college his roommate‟s brother, who lived the lifestyle, had taken the two of them to a very private club and introduced them to the world of bondage and fetishism. Reece had been shocked at the lust roaring through him at the various acts he witnessed. Their host had gotten him a guest card as a pre-graduation present, and it had 97


been the most sexually exciting period of his life. But once he was back at home, running the ranch with his brothers, without access to the sexual games he liked to play, he found himself irritated and frustrated. And taking a lot of “business” trips to cities where there were clubs open to the public. But those trips only partially satisfied him. And his brothers began to question all those travels. He wondered what they‟d say if they knew he used his portion of the inheritance from their parents to invest in a club where he could satisfy his sexual appetites. He had done some very careful due diligence to find the right location, the right partner, and the right manager. Rawhide was about to celebrate its second anniversary, and the result, both financial and personal, had exceeded his expectations. Tonight one of his favorite subs would be there. As he stood in the shower, thinking ahead, his cock hardened and flexed as he anticipated the scenes they would play out in his private room. The ranch was flourishing, the club was thriving, and if he could ask for anything else in his life it would be to find a permanent relationship with a woman whose sexual desires and needs matched his own. A perfect sub with her own identity who could fit into the conservative ranching community here in the Texas Hill Country. Yeah. Like that would really happen. So he was…what? Doomed to satisfy his sexual needs in limited doses and marry a woman who thought being on top was the most kink she‟d known? Reece sighed. No fucking way. He‟d never be able to control himself that much in the bedroom. Both of his brothers were married and living in their own houses on the ranch, but Reece still lived a bachelor‟s life and fended off all their “helpful” comments about settling down. Well-intentioned, but 98

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they irritated the hell out of him. By the time he reached Rawhide he‟d managed to tamp down his exasperation and looked forward to the night ahead. India, a sub he often played with, knew to come to his private room at exactly eight forty-five. She would strip and wait for him in the pose he preferred—on her knees, hands behind her back, waiting for her collar and handcuffs. Usually he began the session with strokes from his favorite single tail whip. The pattern it laid on bare buttocks was incredibly arousing. But tonight he looked forward to trying out a new flogger he‟d ordered, one with a thick braided handle and strips of the softest leather. Seeing what kind of welts it would leave on her golden skin. Maybe even slide the handle into her pussy and watch her wet, swollen folds close around it. And then, just to ice the cake, he‟d slide a new vibrating dildo into her, turn it on full, and watch her climax while she sucked his cock. Maybe he‟d use the candles tonight, too. Wax always ramped up the arousal factor. Reece shifted uncomfortably in his seat, taking a hand off the wheel to adjust slacks suddenly too tight in the crotch. But first he had business to take care of. Their manager was leaving due to a family emergency, and Clint Chavez, his partner, had searched for a replacement. After whittling down the possibilities to one, tonight Reece would put his stamp of approval on the applicant. Or not. He knew nothing about the person except she was a female, not so strange for a fetish club. He knew women often made the best managers. “She‟s waiting in my office,” Clint told him when Reece came in through the back door. “She apparently got a job working in a club not too long after she graduated college and has worked her way up through the system.” 99


Reece cocked an eyebrow. “Yeah? Wonder what she majored in to start working the fetish circuit.” Clint laughed. “She‟s got a college degree in business management, and I literally stole her from a top private club in Atlanta. You can ask her yourself why she‟s doing this instead of working in the corporate world.” “What would make her leave? Didn‟t they pay her well?” “More than well.” He shook his head. “She was very honest with me. Although she‟s a very strong manager, by nature she is a sexual submissive. She‟s just coming out of a long relationship that ended badly and needed a change.” Reece grunted. “I hope she doesn‟t intend to poach on the clients. Not good for our reputation.” “Don‟t worry. She knows the score. She comes highly, and grudgingly, recommended.” “All right. Let me talk to her, but if you‟re sold on her, I‟m sure she‟s fine. India knows she‟s supposed to be waiting for me?” Clint grinned. “Yeah. What a good little subbie she is, waiting on her knees for you for thirty minutes.” Reece chuckled. “At least I told her she could use a kneeling pad.” “Yeah. You‟re a damn prince. Okay, let‟s go talk to the other lady who‟s waiting for you.” Clint opened the door to his office and gestured to the woman sitting in a chair in front of his desk. Reece was halfway inside before her identity registered with his brain. When it did, he felt as if he‟d just taken a hard punch to the gut. Thick masses of auburn curls tumbling past her shoulders framed a heart-shaped face. Hazel eyes that seemed to change color even as he looked at her stared back from beneath thick lashes. A very sedate, tailored navy sheath was little camouflage 100

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for lush curves. Slim legs were crossed at the knees. Feet encased in navy pumps. His gaze was drawn again to her face and the full, sensuous lips painted with a soft peach lip gloss. He knew those lips, knew them nearly as well as his own. He‟d tasted them often enough in years gone by. As well as the rest of her body. Only then it had belonged to a girl. Now, she was a woman and he couldn‟t seem to stop staring at her. And the sudden explosion of emotion shook him to his core. The first time he had seen Katie Warren she was the new girl at their high school, three years younger than he was. That hadn‟t stopped him from going after her like a rutting bull. And falling so in love with her he couldn‟t think of anything else. The last time he saw her she was a senior in college and spitting fire, storming out of the motel room they‟d rented. Shocked by the things he wanted her to do and enraged because he was angry with her for turning him down. All their plans up in flames. Every time he thought about that that long ago night, which was far more frequently than he liked, he realized he could have handled things a lot differently. He‟d let his ego and his dick knock his brain aside and regretted it ever since. Ten years without Katie had left a big hole in his heart and a burning lust that nothing at Rawhide could sate. Obviously, her outlook had undergone a radical change since that disastrous night. The only thing unchanged was his cock getting hard as a rock the minute he laid eyes on her. His feet seemed glued to the floor. He thought someone was talking, but he couldn‟t be sure because there was a strange buzzing in his ears. “Reece?” A hand on his shoulder. “Can you hear me, buddy?” 101


Clint‟s voice. Okay. “I think Mr. Halliday might be a trifle surprised to find me here.” Katie‟s voice was low and musical and sounded faintly amused. “You know each other?” Now Clint was the one who was shocked. Reece shook himself and walked around the desk to sit in Clint‟s chair, as much to hide the bulge in his crotch as to take control of the situation. This was a business meeting. Nothing more. Fine. Except for the tidal wave of lust washing through him. He‟d been so sure he was well over Katie Warren. Done and finished. And here she was, in the most impossible of situations for him. What the hell was he supposed to do so he didn‟t look like an ass? “Nice to see you again, Katie.” He made his voice as steady and uninflected as possible, even as he couldn‟t stop remembering the perfection of her body naked in his bed and the warm, welcoming heat of her cunt. An image of her tied to his bed, gagged, nipples distended and clamped, nearly undid him, and he had to fist his hands to pull himself together. Now he knew how junkies felt when they couldn‟t feed their cravings. “Same here.” “Although I have to say, seeing you here is a big surprise. Especially considering how you used to feel about this lifestyle.” “Wait a minute.” Clint stood in front of the desk, glaring at him. “You know her?” He shifted his gaze to Katie. “How is it when I gave you the name of my partner, you never mentioned your history with him?” She shrugged delicately. “I was afraid Reece would reject me out of hand, and I really wanted this job. It was the perfect opportunity to leave Atlanta.” She looked at Reece. “Is this a problem for you?” 102

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She looked so poised, so self-assured, but something lurked in her eyes, something she tried to suppress. What was that all about? He shook his head. “Not for me, but I seem to recall this scene being very distasteful to you. Call me curious, but how did you happen to get involved with it?” Her smile, slow and hot, was sinful and knowing, whatever shadows she‟d been chasing effectively hidden. “We all grow up, you know. And our tastes change.” He lifted an eyebrow. “That‟s a pretty drastic change. Is there someone who should get the credit?” As soon as the words left his mouth he wanted to bite his tongue. Her personal life was none of his business. Damn it. But lust and anger were a boiling cauldron inside him. Her smile disappeared. “How I got to this point isn‟t important, nor is it any of your damn business. I‟m damn good at what I do and I never bring my personal business to the club. I can provide all the references you want on that score and any others. But if this is going to be a problem for you…” She started to rise. “No.” Reece hadn‟t realized he shouted until the thunder of his voice boomed in the room and both Clint and Katie were staring at him. He cleared his throat. Jesus, he was making a mess of this. “Sorry. No, this won‟t be a problem. And I guess we don‟t need to bother with all the usual questions.” There went that tempting smile again, as if she had a secret and she just might share it with him under the right circumstances. “I‟m happy to tell you anything you‟d like to know.” How did you get into this scene? How deep into the lifestyle are you? Do you enjoy being a sub? Would you let me strip you naked and spank your 103


sweet ass? Again he had to shift in the chair, his bulging shaft doing its best to poke through the fabric of his slacks. “We‟re good. You‟re starting tonight, right?” “Yes. Clint told me your current manager would like to leave by the end of the week. That only gives us three days together, but I‟m a quick study.” How quick? How long would it take for you to call me Sir? Jesus fucking Christ, Reece. Get your head together. “Then I‟d better let you get to it.” “I‟m sure I‟ll enjoy working here.” She stood and reached across the desk. Reece took her small hand in his larger one, and the electricity sizzling up his arm and into his body nearly fried both his brain and his balls. The slight widening of her eyes told him she felt the same thing, but she took back her hand and moved toward the door. “We‟ll catch up at the end of the evening for a debriefing,” he told her. “Sounds good.” The professional face was in place now. “And thank you. Clint, I‟ll just go out to the front and get started.” A brief, professional smile and she was gone. Clint closed the door after her and turned to look at Reece. “This better not be a goddamn problem, cowboy.” His voice held a slight trace of irritation. “She‟s damn good. I don‟t want you screwing this up.” Reece held up his hands. “On my word, Clint. No playing in the company dungeon.” “Better not be.” But somehow he didn‟t look too convinced. To purchase Rawhide: Crack The Whip and other erotic titles, visit www.thewilderroses.com. 104

Rawhide- Slapping Leather

Rawhide- Slapping Leather

Rawhide- Slapping Leather