LOGIN“Then why is it on the counter?”He felt like a total dickhead for using it as a scare tactic. “It was just in the bag,” he lied.She relaxed slightly. “Okay.”Part of him wanted to call this punishment off. But a stronger part knew Ainsley needed this lesson.Why? So the next Dom she hooks up with will reap the benefits?The thought of another Dom touching her made him insane.Ben did grant a soft kiss on her forehead as he ran his palm up her bound arm. “Count loud enough so I can hear or I won’t count it. And I better hear respect in that tone, understand?”“Yes. Sir.”Using the paddle, he smacked her left butt cheek. The thwack bounced off the bar mirror in an erotic echo.“One. Sir.”By the time he reached twenty smacks, Ainsley was very squirmy and his c**k was painfully hard. What a gorgeous sight, her ass a bright pink border between the white skin of her back and thighs. He traced her butt crack until his fingers connected with her pu**y. Her wet pu**y. Oh hell yeah. His ange
Ben gave her a look she’d never seen before. “Ainsley. I never meant—”“Found them.” Rielle waved a stack of paper bags. “I also grabbed the herbs. They should be refrigerated.”Grateful for the interruption, she practically ran to Rielle. “Thanks. How much do I owe you?”“Twenty bucks oughta cover it.”Ainsley figured that was a low amount after she loaded the four heavy bags into her trunk. She ignored Bennett’s hard, hot stare that seemed to liquefy her bones as she chatted with Rielle.She didn’t look his way when she climbed in her car. She hesitated at the end of the driveway.A right turn led back into town. A left turn led to Ben’s house.She knew his eyes were on her vehicle as she turned left.Ainsley wasn’t naked when Ben walked in the door. Something smelled good, and while the thought of a homemade meal awaiting him stirred a weird longing, she hadn’t followed his instructions.And she didn’t seem particularly perplexed about that.She sliced cubed potatoes and dropped th
“True. But I always wondered why your mom went out of her way to check on me when Rory was a baby.”That surprised Ben enough he stopped digging. “Really? Vi did that? Without preaching about the high price of sin?”“Jerk.” Rielle whipped a clump of dirt at him. “Vi never was like that toward me. Or Rory. And you don’t give your mom enough credit, Ben. She might’ve made some mistakes in her life, but she’s owned up to them. She’s changed a lot.”“I didn’t realize you were so buddy-buddy with my mom.”Rielle shrugged. “Vi’s a damn sight more interesting than Joan McKay, who was the only other woman close by besides Libby.”As Ainsley shifted her stance, feeling woefully out of place, three dogs came bounding out of the treeline. Ace and Deuce made a beeline for her, barking happily, no doubt remembering her last doggie bribe. There went this brand new pair of pantyhose.“Ace! Deuce! Sit. Stay,” Ben commanded.The dogs obeyed. Heck, she had the urge to obey.Rielle’s dog cowered by her
“Yes.” The firm set to her jaw meant this was nonnegotiable. “Even if we were in a normal dating situation, I’d end it the instant business entered the equation. You have the choice to keep our original agreement intact.”“By askin’ Settler’s First to lend me the money.”She nodded.He stretched across the table, and reached for her hand, hoping charm would have some effect on her. “I need the loan. I want you. I want you like f**kin’ crazy. I can’t have it both ways. For a man used to havin’ his way in all things? This absolutely sucks balls. Why can’t we—”“Sneak around more than we already are?” she supplied coolly. “We both knew this would end. You’re just choosing to end it sooner.”And with that comment, she’d put the ball squarely in his court. Ainsley could chalk up their time together as an experiment. She wouldn’t have to consider going into a long term Dom/sub relationship with him. Goddammit, this wasn’t fair. The first time he’d found a woman who could—“Ben?”Fuck. Not a
Ease into it? Or just say it. “I need a loan.”Any warmth in her eyes evaporated.“Look, it’s a…delicate situation so let me explain before your eyes slice me to ribbons.”“I’m listening.”Rather than admitting the truth—he had his eye on a piece of land about to be repossessed—Ben did something he rarely did: he flat-out lied. Not only had he promised Rielle discretion, he’d promised his cousins that same discretion. Ainsley wouldn’t question this reason for needing the money since it was personal. Given all he’d told her about McKay ranching practices, she’d know something was off that he wasn’t including his entire family on the possible land deal. “You know I dabble in carpentry. I’ve built custom furniture for different places. Some previous customers have contacted me, wanting other pieces. Seems I have a chance to expand and get the challenge of creating something new. To do that I’ll need more equipment and keep a wider variety of building materials on hand. And that is expens
So he chewed on it for a day and came up with a solution. Not ideal, but workable. Okay, it sucked ass, and it crossed another line, but he had no choice.Late Tuesday morning Ben ironed his plain white shirt, slipped on a bolo tie embellished with the McKay brand and donned his tan suit coat. He added a western belt, centering it between his jean-clad hips. He settled the black Stetson on his head, grabbed his duster and headed to town.He hadn’t set up an appointment with Ainsley at the bank, too many snoopy people would report back to his that family Ben McKay had applied for a loan. So he was planning to take her to lunch and spring his loan request over a good steak.Ben strode into National West Bank. He tipped his hat to the teller and made tracks straight for Ainsley’s office—only to get intercepted by Jenny.“Ben McKay. Fancy seeing you here again. Is there something I can help you with?”“Yes. I need to speak with Miz Hamilton.”Jenny sauntered to her desk and tapped her fin
Edward scowled at that, his face growing as dark as a thundercloud.“They crowed over the fact that they had managed to capture both your son and wife.”Edward leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Did they say anything else? Did they identify themselves? Did you recognize their crest?”Slowly she shook h
At that, Keeley’s back went up and she struggled to free herself from Gannon’s hold. He lifted her down and as soon as her feet were planted on the ground, she faced Mary with an indignant huff.“I’ll have you know I’m sought out regularly for my healing abilities. Furthermore, I had no desire to com
“There you go again, Keeley,” she mumbled. Her flights of fancy often veered dramatically to the absurd. The tales she spun in her head would make a bard look boring.His colors were unfamiliar to her, but then she had never been farther than McDonald land in her life.She had no hope of getting him t
Keeley held her breath until she was light-headed and near to fainting. When she let it out, it came out in a rush that unsteadied her.Before her stood a man—a warrior—that had no equal. He was honed by the fires of battle. Muscled. Scarred. Lean. No spare flesh on any part of his body.He towered ov







