Submitting to the Rancher (Cowboy Doms 1)

Slipping off her shoes, she smiled up at him with a raised brow. “Is that supposed to scare me, boss?”

Her deliberate use of boss instead of sir drew his scowl before he shook his head, clasped her hand and opened the door into the club room with a smirk. “If you want to start racking them up, then by all means, do so.”

Probably not a wise idea, she admitted even as her heart rate picked up speed as she peeked inside the playroom. The same as last week, the sheer pulse of the place seeped under Sydney’s skin the moment she stepped inside. A good crowd already filled the space, and as Caden drew her toward the bar, he stopped to say a word or two to friends and to introduce her. She didn’t try to keep track of names, or even say much in return to the friendly greetings and welcomes. What would be the point of making new friends when she might be leaving soon? Another pang tightened her stomach, but she shoved it aside in favor of getting the most out of Caden’s attention as possible.

Sheriff Monroe beckoned them over to the bar as he nudged a stool out, and it took Sydney a moment to stifle a flare of resentment over the way he’d tattled to Caden after his keen observation locked on to her upset state yesterday. She understood the two of them were close, but that didn’t lessen her disgruntlement. Connor manned the bar, his Stetson tipped low, shielding his eyes, but the tight set to his jaw revealed he wasn’t in his usual, light-hearted mood tonight.

“What’s wrong?” Sydney asked him before Caden distracted her by pulling her in front of him on the stool, his arm coming around her waist to draw her back until her buttocks nestled against his groin.

“Let me guess,” Caden drawled above her head, his voice carrying a hint of concern. “No Annie again tonight.”

“We’re no longer seeing each other,” Connor clipped, his tone discouraging further inquiry. “What can I get you, sweetie?” He held out his hand for the punch card that would limit her to two drinks.

“A beer, anything light, please.” Even though the previous night’s excess kept her from wanting to indulge again tonight, Caden’s fingers toying with the top button of her sweater until it popped, prompted her to order something with a kick.

Conscious of both Grayson and Connor’s eyes on her, Sydney peered up at him with a quirk of her mouth. “You’re not wasting any time, are you?”

“You’re the one who addressed me improperly right after I told you the correct form of address.” Caden kept his eyes on hers as he slipped open the next button and brought his beer to his mouth.

“I have a feeling this one will keep you on your toes,” Grayson commented as Caden released the third button.

“She’s run me ragged for two weeks, and now she’s keeping things from me. What should we do with you, Sydney?” Caden murmured in a low, seductively conversational tone. The last button popped free and he spread the sweater open, exposing her bare breasts, when one word registered with a fiery response between her legs.

“We?” Sydney’s gaze flew to the sheriff’s, and his stern frown didn’t bode well for what they planned for her. Yet, instead of becoming leery, she thrilled to the prospect of another new experience. She didn’t lust after the other man, not the way she had Caden from the moment she clapped eyes on him through the window. But she doubted there was a woman alive who didn’t fantasize about two men doling out double the pleasure.

Running a rough finger over one turgid nipple, Caden replied, “You also refused to come clean with Grayson, so I thought it only fair he takes part in your punishment.”

With a nod from Caden, Grayson leaned forward and plucked the beer from her hand. She didn’t get a chance to ask why before Caden leaned her back, over his arm. With a glint in his eyes, he slowly tilted his beer bottle over her up-thrust breasts, leaving her just enough time to suck in a deep breath before the cold trickle drew a startled gasp. The sheriff leaned forward, shackled her wrists in one hand and dipped his head to lap at the spilled alcohol, stroking everywhere except over her aching, rigid nipples.

Caden bent to her ear. “Isn’t it nice of him to clean up my mess, Sydney?”

Nice? Not when he continued to avoid two of her most sensitive areas that throbbed for a touch. Connor’s low chuckle earned him a glare from her. “You too?” she asked, her face heating even though she couldn’t resist the urge to shift her torso toward Grayson’s lips. The not so innocent maneuver brushed one nipple against his stubbled cheek, the abrasion sending sizzling sparks of pleasure straight down to her core.

“I always enjoy a good punishment scene.” Connor thumbed back his hat, his look both caring and disapproving.

Caden delivered a sharp slap on her thigh, diverting her attention with the quick, painful burn. “It looks like we have to restrain more than her hands, Grayson, since she can’t be still.”

Lifting his head and licking his lips, he nodded in agreement. “She did make it difficult for me to concentrate.”

Bemused, turned on and a touch miffed, Caden caught Sydney off guard again when he righted her, slipped off the stool and tossed her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing, one arm wrapped in a tight band around her legs. But her mortification and indignity didn’t stop there.

“Here, let me,” the sheriff offered, flipping up her skirt.

“Caden!” The only thing her squealed protest earned her was another sharp slap on her thigh. Adding to both her embarrassment and arousal, he brought his free hand between her legs and teased the entrance to her pussy with light strokes while they ascended the stairs to the loft. Sydney kept her flaming face down, her eyes on Grayson’s jean covered legs as he followed them.

When they reached the upper floor, Grayson caressed her buttocks, saying, “I’ll pick out something that’ll decorate this pretty ass nicely.”

“Meet us at the Wheel of Misfortune,” Caden said.

Sydney refused to ask him what that was, instead closing her eyes as he walked across the loft, stopped and lowered her to her feet. Blood rushed south then swept back up to her face as she opened her eyes and saw a large wagon wheel hanging a few inches off the floor. All but four spokes had been removed, these spread wide enough apart to provide large spaces in between. A smaller wheel with writing along the spokes and a flap attached in the center sat propped next to the bigger apparatus.

Turning questioning eyes up to Caden, he spoke before she could voice her misgivings about the contraption. “You have me worried about you, and I’m not used to fretting over a woman. It’s your fault you’ve come to mean so much to me, and your fault for pushing until you ended up in this position. Remember the safeword and either say it or strip.”

He didn’t look happy about his feelings, and neither was she. Not because he too meant more to her than she’d planned for, but because she knew better than him this couldn’t go anywhere. Removing her clothes, she avoided looking at Grayson when he returned carrying a round leather paddle that made her buttocks clench. She would deal with the repercussions of her feelings when she left. Tonight, she yearned for as much attention from her rancher as she could get.

Caden looked at Grayson and nodded toward the smaller wheel. “You can do the honors while I prep my sub.”

The sheriff removed the toothpick from his mouth and slipped it into his pocket. “Glad to.”