เข้าสู่ระบบ“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
“Goddammit, Jessie, look at me.”Miracle of miracles, she rolled over, angrily pushed her tangled hair from her face and squinted at him.Brandt didn’t let his gaze fall below her chin.Jessie had that glassy-eyed look from too much alcohol, and her reaction time was slower, but she didn’t react like h
“Don’t leave me hangin’ now,” he half-snarled.“What about your family? I think Dalton and Tell will be okay with us being together. But your dad?He hates me. Can you—”“What’s the worst he can do? Say no?” Brandt kissed her. “Nothin’ would be worse than not havin’you in my life, Jess. Nothin’.”“Then
“I know more than you do. When Samantha lived with Drex, she talked about turning the boy over to his father’s family so she could be free. Most the time she was so wasted she didn’t remember she even had a kid, let alone knowing how to take care of him. Get used to him being around permanently, bec
When Ethel gobbled the carrot chunk from Landon’s hand, he shrieked with happiness.Both he and Jessie winced. “We’ve gotta find a better way for him to communicate.”“Agreed. I’m almost finished.”“With all the animals?”“No, just the llamas. See? Here come the horses.”The six horses trotted in from th







