Chapter 292: Afternoon AdventureJackie took her bag upstairs and stuffed it in the top drawer of her dresser. She changed into a pair of old jeans and a black Bob Marley t-shirt, digging her worn leather boots from the bottom of her closet. In the bathroom, she paused long enough to pull her dark hair into a ponytail. As an afterthought, she grabbed a light jacket, then met Scott down on the dock.He stepped into a waiting skiff and helped her in as well. She sat facing him and he started the electric engine. As they motored away, Blake and Amy waved from the back deck.Scott navigated the boat to the first spot on the list. The only two docks on the entire lake were the ones at the lodge and the island, so they were obliged to pull the skiff up onto a sandy beach where Scott tied the bowline to a fallen log. He reached into the boat and picked up a small backpack. Jackie regarded it questioningly."First rule of wilderness survival. Always take a few basic supplies for just

Chapter 294: I Am Your KingScott stared into the orange flames that danced in the fire pit in front of the island cabin. Across the water, he'd seen the lodge lights blink out, and had thought to go to bed, the better to be up and ready early the next morning. But his time with Jackie had left him feeling restless. So instead, he'd built a campfire, sinking into a green Adirondack chair with a glass of bourbon in his hand. Jackie was attracted to him. Of that, he had no doubt. And since they'd met, he couldn't think of anyone else. He envied what Blake had with Amy, and his gut told him he could have the same thing with Jackie. She'd tried to warn him off, the glint of self-protection showing in her eyes, in her up-tilted chin. "It's not like it's just me, Scott. I'm a mother. I have two kids to care for, and they have to be my priority. I can't decide I'm going to just go off and do whatever I want…"Her tone, her body language, had dared him to walk away. As though be

Chapter 296: DebriefingThe Lake Miranda Lodge compound was normally a quiet, serene place, the perfect setting for a leisurely stroll. Now, swarming with construction workers and heavy machinery, it was anything but peaceful. After they'd cleaned up from breakfast, Jackie and Scott ended up walking to the end of the dock. They both kicked off their shoes and dangled their feet in the cool water. Jackie tried to ignore the butterflies that swirled in her stomach."Last night was amazing," Scott said, lightly bumping his shoulder into hers.She nodded. "It was," she agreed."I should have taken the time to ask you about your limits, though."Puzzled, she glanced up at him."You know, your hard limits, your soft limits, that kind of thing." Beneath the surface of the water, he nudged her foot with his. "Obviously, you're okay with straight, vaginal sex. But what about other things? Like oral?"Jackie felt her face heat up in what had to have been her fiftieth blush of the youn

Chapter 298: Where We BeginHe gestured to the bag over her shoulder. "You have those things I asked you to bring?"She clutched the leather straps of her bag. She'd forgotten all about the things she'd packed at his request. Wordlessly, her heart pounding, she bobbed her head. A look of annoyance flashed briefly across his face, then he nodded. "I need to get a little firewood. While I do that, you will change into the nightie you wore that night you came to me at the lodge. And I want you to put the toy on the bed. The bag you can stash beside the nightstand."He tilted his head. "How do you answer your King, Princess?"Jackie's eyes widened. "Oh. Yes, Sire.""I wasn't planning on starting with a spank tonight, but now I don't know." His visage was stern, but she saw the gleam of mischief in his eyes."I'm off for firewood. Be ready when I return."She bowed her head. "Yes, Sire."She kept her eyes on the floor until she heard him walk out the door. Then she hurried t

Chapter 300: A Perfect EveningWith Jackie curled warmly against his chest, Scott dozed for a couple of hours. He'd been intent on wearing her out, but he'd ended up spent as well.The distant rumble of thunder eventually roused him. He shifted slightly, and Jackie sighed in her sleep. He smiled down at her peaceful face, unable to resist lightly pressing his lips to the top of her head. He breathed in the essence of lavender and jasmine, along with her own feminine scent, and he sighed contentedly.Their evening had gone perfectly. When he'd been shopping at Kink Ink earlier in the day, he'd picked up several items, knowing he wouldn't use them all for their first play session. But he'd known the swing would be just right—a reminder of the afternoon they'd ended up rappelling down the bluff. A chance for Jackie to simply let go and trust him, to relax and let the moment happen. And she had.He was beyond proud of her, his own Warrior Princess. He'd been secretly pleased when