Compromised Cowgirl (35 page)

Trace’s eyes gleamed. “He can try.”

Chapter Thirty

Jessie and Ace returned to town the next day. Since she and the other women were escorted home immediately after the excitement, she hadn’t been able to see the kittens settled or find out what happened about Fin. Ace said he didn’t mind showing her off again, as he liked seeing her in the green dress. She’d already decided to visit Amelia and find another dress or two. This time she’d get one she could get on and off by herself!

The first thing she did was discover that Molly and Sarah each had a black and white kitten. John Tanner was pleased with the active marmalade, and his wife, Patsy, liked the last black and white one.

She was relieved Finan had left, but Ace said the rest of them had looked forward to a good fistfight. He cheered up when he found out Finan got stinking drunk that night, which his wife did not appreciate. She hauled him, well hungover, onto the stage early the next morning to meet the railroad, and from there, travel to Texas.

Since the judge didn’t want anything to do with the new Mrs. MacDougal, he decided to stay on for a few days. His scribe, not wanting to leave his wife alone longer than necessary, gritted his teeth and climbed in the stagecoach with the newlyweds.

Last night, and all morning, Ace hadn’t said anything about her coming to town against his wishes. None of them did more than kiss her forehead last night. Ace fell asleep quickly and was up first. Though she knew he was curious about Amelia’s book, he hadn’t asked to see it. Neither had Sin or Henry.

Ace had been polite but a bit distant, though the other two had a gleam in their eyes that made her wonder what was going on. Ace seemed determined to get home quickly, though it was a lovely sunny day. He kept frowning, looking around as if trying to find something.

“Thank you for taking me to see the kittens,” she said. It was the only way she’d apologize for going to town on her own. “I wanted to make sure they found good homes. Molly and Sarah are so happy, you’d think they were children. And I’m glad John Tanner got the marmalade one. That one is so bold he needs a lot of room.”

“You’re welcome.” He sat up and nodded, as if he found what he was looking for. He pulled on the reins and cut their speed to a walk. “It’s a warm, sunny day. Perfect for what I’ve got planned.”

He looked far too pleased with himself. She narrowed her eyes when she saw his leer, the one that meant she was going to be pleasured whether she wanted to or not. So far, she always wanted to, not that she’d let him know that. But she would make him work for it.

“What plans?”

“Surely you remember the last time we took the buggy to town? You demanded a set of four throwing knives, a new bridle for Nightwind, and a blanket for Trouble. We made a deal and it’s time to pay the piper. We’re on Double Diamond land now. You also need a lesson in obedience for yesterday.”

She remembered that bargain. In fact, she’d thought about it last night while he snored beside her. Wondering what he would do, and when. No wonder he was eager to take her to town, and even more to bring her home.

She tensed, hiding her eagerness when he aimed the buggy toward the cottonwoods lining the river. She held herself still as he found the right place to stop and then made sure the horses were tied. She almost screamed in frustration as he slowly climbed off, taking his time. He walked around the wagon, whistling as he kicked his feet in the grass to make sure no snakes lingered.

“Yes, this will do fine,” he said, as if to himself. He turned to her and held his hands out. “Well?”

“Well, what?” she asked, pretending innocence. She let him lift her down, pulling away as soon as her feet were steady.

“We can do this slow and easy, or fast and hard,” he said. “Personally, I prefer some of each. Let’s start with slow.”

He hunched down in front of her and began folding her skirt from the hem, back and forth until her knees showed. So did the bottom edge of her drawers. He kept going. She gulped when he reached the top of her thighs.

He rested his head against her belly and inhaled.

“Hold your skirt in place,” he said.

She curled her fingers around the dress material. He slid his hands up her thigh, over her belly to her waist. Before she realized it, he began pulling her drawers down.

“Move your feet apart,” he ordered.

She took tiny steps to each side until he was satisfied. He gently tugged her drawers, turning them inside out as he rolled them down. He eased them over her bottom and pulled them away from her sopping pussy, weeping for his touch.

She put a hand on his head to steady herself as she stepped out of her drawers, one leg at a time. He ducked his head and kissed her pussy. She squeaked and let go of her dress to hold onto his head with both hands. He pressed her feet farther apart so his tongue could lick her swollen folds.

She echoed his muffled groans and bent her legs slightly to give his tongue even better access. Too soon he pulled back out. She stood there, shaking, as he got to his feet.

“Do not move,” he said, holding his finger up at her in warning.

In a moment he was back with an old quilt. He laid it on the grass. After smoothing it carefully he looked her in the eyes. His were dark and wild, his expression matching his mood.

“Lift up your skirts and kneel down,” he ordered quietly. His body seemed to vibrate with tension. She hesitated.

“How many knives, Jessie?”

She swallowed. “Four.”

“Four knives and something for both your horses.” He walked around her, keeping on the grass. “You know what that means.”

“A spanking?”

She squeaked the words, both horrified and eager. Horrified that she would welcome such an act and eager to feel the explosion that would follow.

He pointed to the quilt and raised his eyebrows.

She understood his unspoken “don’t make me tell you twice.” She gathered up her skirts and knelt at the center of the quilt. When she placed her hands down, her skirts fell around her.

She bit her lip when he settled behind her and lifted them onto her back. The September sun touched her bottom. So did his hands. He pressed her head down until she rested her forehead on her arms. A cool breeze flowed over her heated flesh. She stayed there, knees far apart and bottom high, while he moved.

His naked cock brushed against her thigh just before his hand rested on her bottom cheek. He massaged her bottom with one hand and slid the other between her legs. He finally touched her clit, but removed his fingers a second later.

He pressed her cheeks apart and slid his tongue along the crease, as far down as he could reach. He pressed his fingers inside her pussy, and she clenched. He chuckled and backed away. A moment later she felt his cock probing her. He rubbed back and forth between her pussy lips, his cock rubbing her clit every time it passed. She was just getting into his rhythm when he surged his cock into her. She arched her back, urging him to go deep, but he stopped.

“Beautiful,” he murmured. “My cock filling my wife, on my land, surrounded by my cattle.”

She held back her taunt that she might be his wife, but the rest was shared with his partners. But not her. When the time was right, she’d insist she buy a quarter of the Double Diamond. Like him, she wanted to own the land.

He began moving, but very slowly. She put all her concentration on each inch as he moved forward. When his balls tickled against her, he changed direction. So slow, it was agony. She tried to hold him with her inside muscles, but he ignored her.

“Can you not move a bit faster?” she complained.

“This is part of your punishment,” he answered without breaking his rhythm.

She put up for it as long as she could, but when he pulled almost out and began ever so slowly drilling in again, she pressed her hands down, raised her shoulders, and slammed back until her bottom hit his belly.

Smack!

She yelped at the sting from his hand on her cheek. He pulled almost out of her. Furious, she did it again, taking him deep. She expected the sting on her other cheek. It revved her anger and need. Ignoring the burn, she banged her bottom against him, taking what she wanted.

She managed only twice more when he caught her around the belly and kept her tight against him. Her swollen flesh throbbed, wanting more. Her head spun as she could not inhale thanks to the corset. He held her there for a moment and then pulled all the way out.

He pulled her skirts over her bottom. She lifted her head and glared at him. His shirt was off, his pants around his ankles. His hard cock glistened in the sun from her juices. She wanted to scratch his smirk with her nails.

“Any more and you’d scream,” he said smugly. “You wouldn’t want to get the J Bar C cousins all riled up. I’ll happily share with my partners, but those boys can find their own woman.”

He pulled up his pants, buttoned them, and then held out his hand. He helped her into the wagon. She bit her tongue when he refused to let her sit on the folded quilt. Instead, her stinging bottom rested on the buggy’s hard leather cushion. Ace brought the buggy back on the path but stopped the horse and turned to her.

“Take off your dress.”

She gaped. They were on the main valley path, still far from the cabin.

“Three days naked, when and where I say,” he reminded her. “Now and here. The rest of the day will count for a half. That will leave two-and-a-half days of my choice.”

She pressed her lips together to keep back the snarl of refusal she so wanted to make. As soon as she was alone, she would start practicing with all four knives. She’d imagine parts of him wherever the blades landed.

She took her time, though he rushed her through the parts she couldn’t manage herself. He let her keep her stockings and boots, as well as the hat she’d been so proud of. This time he let her sit on the quilt beside him as the leather seat was cracked.

She sat erect, her breasts bouncing thanks to the rough road. It meandered through the trees and shrubs. She said nothing. Usually she would be chilled, the late afternoon sun cool, but her anger, and need, kept her warm.

He slowed when they reached the building site. The walls were now head-high. Her head, not Ace’s.

“Time to take ownership of our home,” he said.

He brought the patient horse to where it could crop grass and climbed down. He motioned for her to come to him. Since she wasn’t wearing a dress to get in the way, she turned her back to him and climbed down the side. He pulled the quilt off the seat and handed it to her. When she took it, he swept her into his arms and carried her toward the building.

He had to go in sideways through the door, but he held her the entire way. The main room was huge. Though it still had a dirt floor and was open to the sky, it was hers. The ranch might belong to the men, but this was her home, built by her brothers, to meet her needs and theirs.

He set her down in what would be a small bedroom. Her bedroom, anytime she wanted to be alone. Once more he laid the quilt down. The walls cut the breeze while the sun was high enough to shine over them. She walked around, pretending not to notice as Ace stripped.

“Jessie,” he said quietly. There was no demand in his voice.

She turned. He held his arms open in invitation for a hug. His hard cock invited even more. Her nipples hardened further.

“I know we didn’t start off very well,” he said, “but I want you for my wife.”

“Why?”

He dropped his hands. “I realized I want a strong partner beside me, either riding in the saddle or lying in our bed.” He smiled ruefully. “I never imagined a woman like you. Someone so tiny but who can wrestle me to the ground now and then. Put pants and a shirt on, sit on a horse, and you can work rings around me. For now,” he added.

He gave her a speaking glance to say the situation would change as soon as he could gain the knowledge and ability he needed to best her. She recognized the same need to be best that she shared with every one of her brothers.

“Yet when you wear a dress, every man is jealous that you chose to take my name.” He held up his hand before she could speak. “I know it wasn’t a choice at the time, but I hope it will be now.”

He held out one hand.

“All I have to offer is myself, our land and cattle, and my partners. Even this home isn’t mine.”

He frowned as if it galled him greatly. She expected it did, which was likely one of the reasons why her brothers did it.

“I can’t see living on the Double Diamond without you at my side. I want you in my bed.” He sighed. “In our bed, whenever you choose, with any or all of us. Jessamine Bonham Elliott, will you be my wife?”

She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

“Why?”

“Why do I love you? Because you are the most ornery, fascinating female that I’ve ever met. You make me hard every time I think of you.”

“Hold it!” She held up a hand. He stopped, frowning in confusion.

“Repeat that first sentence.”

His frown deepened as he thought. “I love you? Is that what you mean?”

“Is that a question? Because if you’re not sure—”