Her Cowboy's Way Read online

  Unable to resist the temptation, he walked up behind her and gave her bottom a solid smack!

  Brandi jerked upright, a hand shooting back to rub at the sting, and spun to glare at him. “What was that for?” Her eyes sparked in outrage.

  “Have you done something today you weren’t supposed to do?” he prodded, thinking about the mess in the living room and here, too, and even more about the sugar issue.

  She frowned at him, crinkling her nose. “You’re sweaty, you smell like a horse. Go take a shower and leave me to my work.”

  “Brandi Lynn,” he warned. “I know you well enough to know cleaning closets isn’t something you do very often. Certainly not with the kind of gusto you displayed by the mess you’ve made all over the house.”

  She started to turn away, muttering, “The time just seemed right. No big deal.” She bent again for the shoes, waving him away. “Go on, leave me alone or I’ll never get done in here. And I’m going to work on your den after this.”

  “Not in this lifetime!” he countered, knowing it was time to take some action. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her out of the closet. “We’re going to have us a little lesson about the importance of standing behind a promise.”

  Brandi tried to get free, dropping the load of shoes in her arms. For a split second, she glowered at him, and then she spotted the candy wrappers and box of chocolate, incriminating evidence of her misbehavior. Eyes downcast, she reached up to wipe around her mouth, no doubt trying to make sure there was no additional damning evidence of her blatant act of disobedience.

  “Promise?” she questioned quietly.

  “I’m not blind. I noticed the whirlwind of activity you attempted downstairs. From a sugar rush.” He drew in a tense breath. “And I see the candy wrappers on the bed.”

  She worried her lower lip, guilt heavy in her expression when she glanced at him.

  When she didn’t say anything, he clarified, “Chocolate. You promised not to touch it, let alone eat it. At least in large quantities. Or any other sugar, for that matter.”

  She studied the carpet. “I only meant to eat a couple of pieces.”

  “Were you even supposed to have it in the house?” They’d talked about all of this after that fateful doctor’s appointment. He well remembered the fear that had grabbed hold of him. He didn’t want to lose her for a very long time. He would rather die first.

  She raised her head. “No.”

  Colby refused to back down even though he could see her regret. “Why did we make the agreement?”

  “Because I go a little crazy,” she mumbled.

  He motioned toward the closet and the cleaned out dresser drawers, their contents spread out on the floor. “Did you go a ‘little crazy’?”

  “I guess so.” It looked like the sugar rush had ended and she said on a heavy sigh, “It’s going to take hours to clean this back up.”

  “That it will, sweetheart. That it will. Tomorrow.”

  He knew he should warm her ass and he could see she expected him to do just that. But he’d already smacked her bottom earlier with the spoon. He was pretty sure she’d suffered some from that biting sting. Not enough to keep her out of trouble all day, though. Still, he was torn about what he needed to do in regard to this particular problem.

  Brandi looked at him in wariness, waiting. He leaned down to pick up one of her house slippers. It had a nice thick, rubber sole.

  Her eyes narrowed in on the slipper. “Are you going to…?”

  He should, but he wasn’t. Tossing down the slipper, he shook his head. “No, although you sure have earned another butt warming.”

  Brandi stared at him, relief sweeping over her. She thought about the storage shed and the way she’d taken all the gardening tools and other tools off the shelves. They were in a pile on the floor, waiting for her to come back and reorganize them. All she’d done today was create one mess after another. With each one, she’d planned to go back later and put things in their proper places. Colby would have a hissy fit when he discovered the shed’s pile. She’d get spanked for sure then.

  “I’m so sorry,” she apologized, wanting to go to him and have him take her in his arms. She needed him in so many ways. Sometimes as her disciplinarian. More as simply the man who loved her, comforted her, forgave her when she disappointed him.

  As if he read her mind, he walked right in front of her. He rubbed a thumb at a spot where she’d failed to get rid of some evidence of her error in judgment. “If there’s any chocolate left, I’m tossing it in the trash.”

  Meeting his troubled gaze, she nodded, grateful that would be her punishment this time. Even though she’d known it had been wrong to give in to the urge, the chocolate had tasted so good. At first. Then she’d started feeling guilty about eating it, but she hadn’t been able to put the box away. “I was weak. Chocolate is my drug of choice. I guess I’m addicted.”

  His arms encircled her as he pulled her close until she pressed her head against his chest. “We’ll get you through your chocolate withdrawal, sweetheart. I’ll always have your back.” He kissed the top of her head, fingered her hair as he’d done earlier. His heart pounded against her ear and she heard the deep rumble of his voice when he added, “I’m beginning not to hate this short cut. But I prefer you as a blonde.”

  “First thing next week I’ll make an appointment with my beautician,” she vowed.

  “Good.” He held her a second longer before he eased her back so she could look up at him. His expression was serious, his eyes filled with concern. “You know what the doctor said. I know what she said.”

  Her shoulders slumped, realizing this had been another incident that would make him less able to trust her. Again, she felt sick by that awareness. “I try hard most of the time.” She blinked back a tear. “I keep letting you down and I’m so very sorry.”

  He smoothed his hand over her back. “Everyone has a moment of weakness now and then. I understand that. In your situation, you need to be more careful.” His jaw tightened. “The problem was you went crazy with it. You had no self-control. And that’s what’s dangerous.”

  He was right. Why couldn’t she be more responsible? Like him. She’d never seen him act foolish. She wanted to make him proud of her, wanted to be a good wife. Which made her think about their long talks before they’d got married and about their agreements between one another.

  She pulled in a breath to steady her nerves. “We agreed you’d spank me when I went against the doctor’s warning. And I went way past it this afternoon.”

  “I remember what I promised, but I also have the right to deal with your misbehavior in other ways. I’m not going to give you a second spanking today.”

  Thank God. “I’ll accept whatever you think is right.”

  His eyes warmed and the tension eased between them. “Are there any other chocolate stashes? Any other messes you’ve made that I should know about?”

  Uh-oh. She wasn’t in the clear just yet, but she had to be honest with him. “Chocolate…in the laundry room…behind the soap box.”

  He swatted her bottom, lightly, shaking his head. “That was for keeping chocolate stashes when you know they’re forbidden.”

  She didn’t even flinch or protest because it could have been much worse.

  His big hand rested on her bottom. “Anything else you want to admit?”

  She considered not telling him the rest, but that would be irresponsible. “Storage shed. Mess. But I’ll clean it up.”

  He stiffened. “My storage shed? Haven’t I told you to leave it alone?” He smacked her once, a little harder. “Damn, sweetheart.”

  She couldn’t believe she was still standing, not being pulled across the room and planted face down over his knee. The vein pulsing in his neck told her how much his restraint was costing him.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to…?”

  “Oh, yes, I do want to burn your ass right now,” he gritted out. He didn’t reach for her, though. “I�
�m not going to do it.”

  “Why not?” she asked and wondered if she was nuts. He was being lenient; she should accept his gift of love. “I screwed up, a lot.”

  “That you did.” His gaze softened. “Part of your punishment will be cleaning it all up tomorrow. I imagine that will keep you busy for most of the day.”

  She didn’t look forward to the task. She had a lot of messes. “Part of the punishment?” Did he intend to delay her spanking until the next day?

  “The other part is that you need to go to bed early tonight. No supper. No TV.”

  “Like a child?” she asked in dismay. That was almost worse than getting spanked.

  His whole expression changed, all signs of irritation with what she’d done disappeared. His eyes darkened. “Not like a child, sweetheart. Like a woman about to have her man take charge of her…in bed.”

  Okay, now that she could live with. “Have you do whatever you wanted with me?” she questioned, giving him a smile. “A decadent discipline.”

  The crooked grin she so loved slipped into place. “Exactly.”

  Her heart raced as she stepped back and motioned him toward the bathroom. “Go. Shower.” She glanced at the mess on the bed. “I’ll clean things up a bit.”

  His chest rose and fell with ragged breaths. She saw the way the front of his jeans pushed out with his growing erection. Yes, yes, yes! This promised to be a much better end to the day.

  He jerked off his shirt, toed off his boots. “You’d best get to it, woman. I’ve got plans for my naughty wife and you’d better be waiting and ready when I come back.”

  She shivered at the desire in his tone. “How do you want me waiting, cowboy?”

  The heat in his eyes made her want to rip off her clothes, tear off the rest of his, and shove him down to the floor. She’d be on top of him in an instant, playing cowgirl to the max. But she was determined to let him stay in control. She liked it when he got all masterly.

  Tugging down his jeans and undershorts, he growled in a husky tone, “I expect to find you butt up, sweetheart.”

  Brandi was more than ready to “love, honor and obey” her husband of just over a month. “Yes, sir.” She gave him a sassy smile that made his eyes widen and had him all but running into the bathroom for his shower.

  While he was gone, she shed the rest of her clothes, tossed them with the rest of the mess in front of the closet. She picked up one side of the comforter and shook it enough to make the candy box and wrappers fly off. Then she shoved the covers to the end of the mattress before crawling across until she stretched out in the middle of the bed. The sheets felt cool and the light brush of air from the paddle fan felt good over her already heated body. Soon she hoped the room would be like an oven from the heat they’d stir up.

  A few minutes later, record time for Colby, he emerged from the shower. His hair was still damp, but he’d dried off the rest of his superb body. Exhaustion was clear in the weary way he moved, until he looked at her. His eyes sparked with renewed eagerness; his cock stood out proud and long in front of him. And he hurried toward the bed.

  “Is this what you wanted?” Brandi asked, all too focused on the shaft her body was desperate for.

  He stroked his cock once, breathing hard. “On your hands and knees. Forehead to the mattress. I want your sweet ass up nice and high.”

  Her heart raced and tingles of anticipation spiraled through her, settling in her woman’s place. She moved quickly into the position he’d requested.

  “Spread your legs.” He moved onto the bed behind her, smoothing his hands up and down the insides of her thighs, making them tremble. He touched her lower lips and he eased a finger in just enough to gather some of the moistness already there. “My woman is ready,” he said in a husky tone, pleased.

  She pushed her bottom up even higher, ached for him to fill her. “Yes,” she purred. Would he want to play some first? She didn’t need it, only wanted his big rod driving into her. When he didn’t make another move, she lost her patience. She craned her head around to look at him, heart racing even more as she watched him rubbing his engorged cock. “Am I going to have to force you down and take over myself? Because I will!”

  He grinned, one of those haughty men’s grins. He guided his shaft to her. “I’m in charge. Got a problem with that?”

  “No.” She watched in fascination as he pushed the cockhead inside her and then slammed home. “Ohhh,” she gasped more in relief than pain. It had only been this morning when they’d made love, but she never seemed to get enough of feeling him deep inside her. She enjoyed the experience even more now that they’d stopped using condoms because they were ready to start a family.

  He pumped in deliberate slowness, holding her hips to make her stay in position. It was too slow. Need burned inside her, frustration. She looked back at him, gritting out, “Are you trying to torture me? Is this your punishment?”

  His face contorted in near pain as he picked up his pace. His hips pistoned forward and his fingers gripped her hips. “I’m suffering, too.” He blew out a heavy breath, drove deeper. “I’m done with that.”

  Immediately the steady pounding into her became frantic. Convulsions rippled through her, she squeezed her eyes shut as the tension grew and grew. Finally she exploded, gasping, crying out his name. He was right behind her. His orgasmic growl filling the room at the same time his release hit him hard.

  The bed moved as he collapsed beside her and rationality found its way into her thoughts again. She loved this man with all of her heart. But she struggled with disappointing him. She’d lied to him; she’d gone behind his back with the chocolate matter. She wanted him to trust her, but she would have to earn it. Especially if she wanted to have him love her for the next sixty or more years. There were too many other women out there who would relish having a chance at her cowboy.

  Not going to happen.

  Chapter Four

  Boredom = Trouble

  Brandi glanced out the window in the dining area of the big country kitchen and barely managed to spot the sun peeking through the clouds. She yawned. This was too early for a sane person to be up, even if she’d been raised on a ranch and knew their crazy hours. As an accountant who owned her own business, her work hours were more controlled. There had been a time when she’d gone to the office whenever it pleased her, but her husband had discouraged that. They’d argued about the matter before they’d gotten married. Older and wiser—in his opinion—he’d been very persuasive. After a while, he’d convinced her that clients expected her to keep regular working hours, so they could contact her more easily. He’d been right. Her clients were happier and she was adjusting.

  But this was Saturday, late August, and she didn’t have to be at the office. She also didn’t have anything specific that she had to get done today. So as soon as Colby stopped to give her a quick kiss goodbye as he headed out to do chores, she was going back to bed. Alone. Unfortunately.

  She heaved a sigh and wiped off the table with a washrag, as the dishwasher, filled with breakfast dishes, rumbled across the room. Somehow she didn’t hear her husband’s boot steps as he walked up behind her. He snaked an arm around her and clamped a hand onto her left breast.

  Startled, she jerked. And then smiled. The day just might get better than she’d expected.

  “Sure do love these sweet handfuls,” he said squeezing her breast and reaching for the other one as well. He didn’t like to play favorites, or so he’d told her.

  She savored the warmth of his touch, the brush of his palms over her nipples, which were hardening. She wore a short filmy nightgown but wanted even that much clothing off. It had been a few days since they’d made any kind of love, and she was more than ready!

  “I’ve only got a few minutes,” he said, moving his hands down to explore between her legs. “’Pears my hot little wife is wet and willing.”

  She craned her head to look back at him, giving him her most enticing smile. “Always, cowboy.”

>   He pulled his hand away and reached to unbuckle his belt. She turned to face him, tugging off her nightgown and wiggling out of the panties. “I’m all yours.”

  His impressive chest rose and fell in a shuddery breath, stretching the blue chambray shirt to its limits. His chocolate eyes warmed and he drew in air through flared nostrils. Lower, his thick erection pushed at his zipper. “Damn, sweetheart, those are words I love to hear.”

  “Lie down for me, on your back. On the table. You know how I want you.” His hands shook as he finished freeing his swollen cock.

  Good thing she’d just cleaned the table. She didn’t even hesitate to squirm her way on top of the cool wood surface. Holding his gaze, she lay back, making sure her bottom was close to the edge. She was all about being helpful.

  He inched forward as he spread her thighs, pushing them up until her knees were bent. Grinning, he nudged her slit with the head of his cock. “Ready?”

  He had to see the beads of moisture, see her trembling with desire. “What do you think?”

  “That you want this rod driven deep.” He held her legs as he did just that. Her groan told him she was as pleased with the experience as he was.

  “Oh, yeah,” she sighed. She’d take her handsome cowboy any way, any how, any time. “I’m at your mercy.”

  He leaned down to swirl his tongue around her belly button, making her clench tighter around his shaft. He chuckled and did it again. She clamped around him once more, pleased to hear his rumbled groan. In return, he thrust back and forth, hard and fast, before almost withdrawing.

  “What are you doing?” she snapped, bucking her hips upward to force him deeper. “Teasing me?”

  “You’re so easy to tease.” But he slid deeper again, growing still and torturing her in another way.