Tamed On The Ranch (The Crooked Creek Ranch Book 2)

by Delta James

  He laid her down gently.

  “You crawl up into our bed. You are to remain there, with the exception of using the bathroom, until I tell you tomorrow that you may leave it.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, finding she was far more exhausted than she had thought she would be.

  Luc started to leave their room.

  “Luc?”

  “Yes, sweetheart,” he said, turning to look at her with tenderness.

  “I really am sorry I upset you. I won’t do it again.”

  “I hope not. Next time Mr. Ginger will remain in your ass for your entire punishment.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  As their wedding had been less than a week away, Luc had relented and taken Melody off restriction after rewarming her backside the next morning telling her she was to behave herself... or else. She had gone out of her way since then to ensure he had no cause to regret his largess. Ryder had relented the day after so that Sierra could help Melody with the last-minute preparations.

  Julie, with Ruth’s capable assistance, had removed a huge burden from Melody and Sierra. The two women had taken over menu selection and preparation. Julie brought in a friend from culinary school who was a celebrated cake artist to create Luc and Melody’s wedding cake.

  The ranch hands had divided their labors between their regular ranch duties and creating beauty out of the chaos that still existed as much of Crooked Creek was under construction and renovation.

  The night before Luc and Melody’s wedding, Ryder and Sierra threw a small dinner party at the Flying M for the bride and groom, Ruth, Charlie, Julie, and Billy. Ryder had grilled Flying M steaks and Sierra had prepared the side dishes. Julie had prepared a peach cobbler and homemade ice cream for dessert.

  After dinner, everyone but Ryder, Sierra, Melody, and Luc turned in for the night. Ryder and Sierra had asked Melody and Luc to remain behind.

  “We wanted to give you your wedding present early,” said Sierra, grinning and giggling.

  Ryder handed them an envelope. Luc opened it and shook his head in disbelief.

  “Ryder, no, it’s too much.”

  “No, Luc. It’s the right thing to do. You and Melody have worked so hard to get us poised to take Crooked Creek and the Flying M into the future. You’re already family to us. It was the right thing to do... and it was Ryder’s idea,” said Sierra, hugging her husband.

  “What is it?” Melody asked Luc.

  “It’s the farmhouse and three acres surrounding it. They’ve deeded it to us,” he answered.

  “Luc is right, it’s too much.”

  Ryder laughed. “We disagree and frankly it’s too late. It’s been recorded at the county and everything.”

  Luc shook his head and embraced his friend. “You have given me so much.”

  “Nothing more than you deserve. Do you want to honor tradition and sleep here so you don’t see your beautiful bride on your wedding day before she walks down the aisle to you?”

  “No, I made her a promise the night I put the ring on her finger.”

  Melody look at him in confusion.

  He laughed. “I promised to ride you hard enough tonight so that you’d be too tired to be stressed or misbehave tomorrow.”

  Melody blushed beet red but giggled as he pulled her into his arms and she nuzzled the hollow of his throat. “Yippee ki-yay, cowboy,” she whispered.

  Melody and Luc returned home to what was now truly their home. Luc swept her up into his arms and carried her over the threshold as her joy bubbled up and spilled over into her laughter.

  Luc had fulfilled his promise. When Melody awoke in the morning she was not stressed and as she opened her eyes felt she didn’t have the energy to even entertain the idea of misbehaving. Luc was sound asleep on his back with Melody curled up next to him. Normally he woke first but the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest told her he was peacefully unaware that the new day had started.

  Melody grinned. He also seemed unaware that while he might be sleeping peacefully, his cock had come awake and was in need of attention. She sat up and pulled the covers down, careful not to disturb him. She leaned down to take his cock in her mouth.

  “If I were inclined to have you before our wedding night, ma souris, I would already have you on your back.”

  “Just a little taste?” she teased as the tip of her tongue swirled ever so delicately around the head of his cock.

  Melody was about to envelop him with her mouth and swallow him to the back of her throat when Luc brought his hand down on her rear in two short, sharp, staccato swats. She flipped around so that she was seated and looking at him.

  She watched as he brought his finger up to draw lazy circles around her nipples before running it down her body to briefly finger her clit.

  “Luc, please.”

  “Please what, sweetheart? There are so many things for which you could be asking. Please don’t spank me today? Only if you settle down and behave. Please fuck me? Not until tonight. Please don’t tease me if you aren’t going to finish me? You started it. Please love me forever? Always.”

  She leaned forward on her knees and took his face in her hands to kiss him. He reached under her and pinched each nipple, making her say ouch into his mouth.

  “You know,” she said, pulling back. “We aren’t married yet. I could run away.”

  Luc shook his head. “Won’t work. Martin Scott should be here well ahead of the other guests. As I told you, he has no problem marrying off naughty brides to cowboys who know how to tame them.”

  “I take it you’re that cowboy?”

  “For you, I most certainly am. You and Sierra best behave today.”

  “Why would you think we wouldn’t?”

  “Because there are times the two of you inspire each other to a whole different level of naughtiness. Just in case you two have planned something, you should know there is fresh ginger out in the kitchen.”

  “Evil. I’m marrying a truly evil man.”

  “Glad to hear you say it.”

  “That you’re evil?” she asked.

  “No. That you’re getting married.”

  “Doesn’t sound like I have much choice,” she said, happier than she ever thought she could be.

  Luc sat up and kissed her deeply and with a restrained passion she knew boded well for a memorable wedding night.

  “You’re sure you don’t want me to wear a suit or anything like that?”

  “No. It’s the Fourth of July in the Idaho Panhandle... way too hot. Besides you in jeans, a crisp white shirt, cowboy boots, and a trophy buckle? That’s sex on a stick to me.”

  “And you are still unwilling to tell me what your dress looks like?”

  “Yep. You’re just going to have to wait... but it will take your breath away.”

  He grinned at her. “You, my love, always take my breath away.”

  * * *

  The morning and afternoon seemed to fly by. Melody had shooed him out of their room and banished him from the house until he needed to get dressed and ready for their wedding. Luc spent the morning in his office ensuring that any paperwork that needed doing was completed before they left for their honeymoon in France. Using Sierra and Ryder’s cottage, they planned to explore France, Switzerland, and northern Italy.

  As early evening started to approach, Luc ran up to their home and stuck his head in the door, covering his eyes.

  “Am I allowed in?” he called to no one in particular.

  “You’re good to go,” Ryder answered.

  Luc stepped into the house. Ryder was the only one he could see.

  “Why am I the only one not allowed inside all day?”

  “Because you’re the bridegroom. My job as best man is to see that you get showered and changed. Thank Melody again for me for saying we could get away with jeans and white shirts.”

  “I agree. Why don’t you just sit down? I’ll go upstairs and get ready. Then it should be time to start greeting our guests and then I will get t
o wed the love of my life.”

  “And my hope for you is that you two will be even half as happy as Sierra and I... and that the two of them will have decided to behave.”

  Luc laughed. “I can’t speak for yours but mine knows there is fresh ginger in the house and I won’t hesitate to use it.”

  Ryder laughed with him. “As does mine. In that case we should be good to go.”

  Luc ran up to the guest room and got himself ready. He had chosen to wear a pair of jeans that were not as form-fitting as some others. Melody had teased about needing more room to accommodate the part of his anatomy he planned to make good use of on their wedding night. She was right.

  His unruly cock had been throbbing on and off all day. He intended to make their wedding night memorable.

  He came back downstairs and joined Ryder for a celebratory beer before they put on their straw cowboy hats and went out to greet and mingle with their friends. Luc watched as Ruth and Julie ensured everyone was made comfortable. Luc was chatting with Billy when Ryder touched his arm.

  “It’s time to get this done. Your last chance to run.”

  Luc shook his head. “The only place I’d run to is the arms of the woman I mean to wed.”

  Luc and Ryder walked up to one of the pavilions that had been built for their wedding venues. They had hired a string quartet who at Martin Scott’s indication began the music. Luc was happier than he ever remembered being.

  Sierra, as Melody’s only attendant, came down the aisle first in a lilac gown made of what appeared to be fabric made by fairies. It was light and rustled in the light breeze. She beamed at both Ryder and Luc. She took up her position at the altar as the strains of the wedding march started.

  Years from now Luc would tell people the only reason he knew what Melody’s wedding dress looked like was because they had pictures. All he could see at that moment in time was Melody’s beautiful face and her radiant, serene smile.

  After their vows, those who attended the wedding were treated to a memorable meal, ample libations, and a spectacular display of fireworks.

  Over Sierra’s objections, Melody had invited several prominent publishers and journalists within the wedding industry. She was quite certain that Crooked Creek would be receiving rave reviews. Finally it was time for Melody and Luc to take leave of their guests and head to the guest cottage that had been created for the couple’s, and subsequent guest couples’, wedding night.

  Melody had located several carriages of various sizes and configurations as well as two sleighs. A true carriage house had been constructed where the vehicles could be restored and maintained. One of Melody’s favorites, a barouche—an elaborate carriage drawn by a matched pair of horses and driven by a skilled ranch hand—had been decorated with flowers and tulle.

  Many of the guests followed the carriage to its destination and cheered as Luc lifted Melody out and instead of setting her on her feet, swept her into his arms and carried her inside. He set her down and pulled her into his arms.

  As his mouth descended on hers he whispered, “I’ve been waiting for this all day.”

  Luc turned his bride around and unbuttoned the small buttons that ran all the way down the back of the dress. Once he had opened the back past her sexy derriere, Melody had to catch the front of the dress to keep it from falling off.

  Luc wrapped his arms around her, taking her hands in his and getting her to release her hold. The dress and its built-in foundation slipped down her figure, leaving her standing only in silky white thigh-high stockings.

  He ran one hand down her side, bringing it around to her back so that he could caress her bottom while the other moved up to take her breast in his hand and his thumb stroked the rigid nub that resided in the center of it.

  “So beautiful,” he whispered, causing her to shiver and moan with desire.

  “Luc,” she sighed. “You’re not the only one who’s been waiting all day.”

  Luc smiled as he turned around and took in her body flush with desire, her beautiful nipples like succulent raspberries waiting to be suckled. He leaned down and took one in his mouth, drawing her body into his by cupping her ass and pulling her closer. His laughter was muffled as she rubbed her naked mons against the front of his jeans.

  He swatted her bottom with a mixture of correction and eroticism as his teeth closed to nip the sweet fruit he had previously been suckling. “Naughty.”

  “Luc,” she mewled.

  Melody reached between them to try to unbutton his shirt. His ministrations were quickly rendering her unable to do much more than respond. As she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, he seemed to enjoy her distress. She looked him levelly in the eye, grabbed each side of his shirt, and ripped it open.

  Luc looked down at the destroyed shirt and at her self-satisfied smile as she rubbed her nipples against his softly furred chest.

  Once again he swatted her naked behind before grasping a globe in each hand, squeezing and kneading them.

  “Very naughty. Does my beautiful wife need to be reminded of who answers to whom in this marriage?”

  “No, your wife needs her husband to fuck her.”

  He laughed out loud. “I think first she needs a spanking to warm her pretty backside and then needs to have a reminder placed in her bottom.”

  Luc watched as conflicting emotions played across her face. He was quite certain if he reached between her legs, she would be soaked. She desperately wanted him to mount and claim her, which his cock was more than capable of doing. But Luc knew that Melody needed to be able to count on his consistency and dominance and that she thrived when they were forefront in their dynamic.

  “Come, wife. God, I like the sound of that.”

  He led her to the bed and sat on the edge, drawing her between his legs.

  “Luc...”

  “No, Melody. I think our first night as an officially married couple needs to remind you of your role in our relationship. Besides which, you’ve missed your maintenance spanking for the past two weeks.”

  “That was because last week I got disciplined instead.”

  Luc arched his eyebrow at her. “And when did I say that if you earned yourself a punishment spanking that it would supplant your weekly maintenance?”

  “You didn’t. I just thought...”

  “You thought wrong. Regardless, you were due your maintenance spanking yesterday so best I get it seen to. Across my knee, wife.”

  Melody didn’t move and Luc gave her hand a small tug to start her over his thigh. She made a resigned sigh and put herself in position. He smiled as he trapped her legs between his. He rubbed her bottom soothingly to help relax her. Luc knew she hated maintenance spankings, but when pushed had to admit they were useful and needed for her to be at her best. Knowing they reminded her to behave allowed Luc to worry less about keeping an eye on her.

  Luc rubbed her behind one last time before raising his hand and bringing it down forcefully. He could see Melody bite her lip to keep from crying out. He smiled. This was still a sticking point between them and was one of the reasons he would not consider reducing her maintenance spankings to every other week or monthly.

  Unlike Sierra, Melody usually didn’t fight a spanking physically, but she would stubbornly try to refuse to cry out, ask him to stop, or cry. She did this even knowing he would continue to spank her until she was crying and asking him to stop. Luc didn’t spank her overly hard. Normally the next morning, she would be showing a little bit of residual color and be a bit careful about how she sat down, but nothing compared to when he had to discipline her.

  Luc noted she was being especially stubborn tonight. He increased the strength of each of the swats he landed on her backside until finally he heard her begin to cry.

  “Ow, Luc, no. That hurts. I haven’t been naughty. I don’t want to be spanked.”

  Luc stopped spanking and immediately slipped his hand between her legs... she was soaked.

  “Haven’t you? Then who was that who tried t
o suck my cock this morning without permission?”

  “Me,” Melody squeaked.

  “And is that something you are allowed to do?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Who ripped my shirt to shreds just a bit ago because I wouldn’t just drop my jeans and fuck her on demand?”

  “Me,” she said quietly.

  “Who sought to entice me to do her bidding instead of seeing to her need for structure by rubbing her tits on my chest while trying to fondle my cock?”

  “Me.”

  “And who bit her lip and tried not to cry once I’d put her over my knee and had begun to see that she got her much needed weekly maintenance?”

  “I know it was me, but...”

  “The only but here, little girl, is the one that is rapidly becoming the right shade of red.”

  Luc delivered another set of stinging slaps to her already heated backside. Melody was now freely crying and her body indicated her capitulation to his dominance.

  “Bien.”

  He released her legs but when she tried to get up, he gently pushed her back over.

  Luc saw Melody look back over her shoulder as she felt Luc rummaging around in his pocket. Her eyes widened in trepidation when she saw him remove Mr. Bumpy from the pocket in which he had kept the butt plug hidden.

  “No, Luc.”

  Luc put the dreaded plug down on the bed and swatted her sharply.

  “Yes, Melody.”

  She stomped her foot; he swatted her again.

  “Are you finished?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Then we’ll try this again.”

  Luc picked up Mr. Bumpy, and after liberally applying lube to both it and her puckered entrance, he rested the tip just inside her with one hand while spreading her cheeks with the other. He waited until she had calmed her breathing and then slowly but steadily, he inserted the plug until it was seated within her dark channel.