by Kira Barcelo
"Oh, kitten. I didn't mean that to hurt you. I know you're not as pure as the driven snow, how you want everyone to see you. That don't matter to me. You are what you are. And what you are is beautiful enough."
He was nuzzling her neck. Right there, in public. He was also pressing her more tightly against his body than was considered decent. A couple of the women were eyeing her with disapproval, shaking their heads. Olivia was distracted by the fact that she could feel his erection up against her.
"You're a scoundrel," she scolded in a whisper. "You're only saying that because you want to seduce me. You don't mean that."
"I am a scoundrel. I do mean it. Every word of it. And I do want to seduce you." His voice was low, earthy. "You haven't really been made love to by a man. You've been taken by more than one. And used and treated badly. But what you need, kitten, is to be made love to by a man."
Olivia struggled to resist him. "You just want to get your paws on me."
"I just want to drive you crazy. I want to do things to you that you like having done to you. I want to make you cry out with pleasure. I want to make you scream my name."
In another minute, he was going to kiss her… and she was going to let him. As improper and indecent as it was, right there in public, she was going to permit him.
Olivia pressed her hands against his chest. "You're—you're a rascal and a scoundrel," she said again. "I've known enough men like you, Forest Parrish. I want a rancher and a gentleman. You're neither."
"You're right about that. I'm neither." The sadness in his eyes was genuine, endearing to her. "If I was, I'd be looking for a wife. You're the only woman I'd want marrying me. You're the only one I'd want giving me babies."
One moment the man was teasing her heartlessly. The next, he was touching her heart. Between that and the fact that she was moist in places that shouldn't have been moistened, she could barely stand to be there. Olivia stopped dancing and touched his face.
"You're not looking for a wife or a family," she said. "I want a future, Forest. It's probably too late for me to even try, but I still have to try for one."
"And I'm not talking about the future, woman. I'm talking about tonight, dammit. About now. Right now."
Forest paused. "I know I'm not a handsome man. People see what I do and they think I don't have a heart or a soul. But there is something left inside me. Enough that wants you. That wants to be inside you."
"You can take me home. If—if no one else offers to—you can take me home." He had her so out of her mind, she barely knew what she was saying. "But that's all you're getting from me, Forest."
* * * * *
People would talk. People always did when it came to her. Olivia had arrived at the dance with her sister and her husband, as every decent, unmarried woman would have, yet she left on the back of that now familiar, large black stallion, with the mysterious cattle rustler detective.
And she would regret letting Forest into her bedroom. Within hours, the next morning, she would regret it. It was improper, and if she recalled correctly, Reeve hadn't even had her sister at home until after their wedding.
All things she promptly forgot once she was in Forest's arms, sharing long, wet kisses with him. He was carrying her and had already gotten her drawers off, so that with her legs wrapped around his waist, Forest held her with her bare bottom cupped in both his big hands.
"You might be fired if Reeve catches us doing this in his home," she warned playfully.
"Well, you ain't your sister, so I don't think he'd mind."
"He might get mad enough to send me back to Maryland."
"You're not going anywhere, woman. You need my permission to leave town."
He tossed her onto the bed, struggling to remove his belt as he got on top of her.
"Your permission?" Olivia laughed. "I'll do as I wish. I'm not your wife."
"And I'm not your husband. But you're still my woman."
"For tonight. Maybe."
"You're my woman, Olivia." There was sugar in those words. "At least until you marry some silly rancher. That means you follow my rules until then."
She knew the answer to the question but asked it anyway. "Or else what?"
"Or else you get spanked. You forgot how good I spanked your bratty bottom before? Looks like you might need a reminder!"
"Oh, For-est!"
She should have been scared, and she was… a teensy bit. Olivia was more excited as he hauled her off the bed and bent her over the side of it.
"Wait—you take that dress off. You take everything off, woman. And that's an order."
She did as she was told but moved slowly. Making him wait to see her naked. Seductively, letting the dress slip down to her waist, shimmying it down over her curvy hips. Then, when she wore not one stitch of clothing, she bent back over the bed.
He was also taking off his clothes. Beneath the clothing was a wonderfully male, trim, and muscular body. Olivia gasped when she saw the size and hardness of his shaft.
"Up you go!" He positioned her higher on the bed, making it easier for him to penetrate her. "My orders, my rules. I'm the boss. And you're my lady."
"I'm not a lady. You said so yourself."
"Yeah, well, I was wrong to say that to you." Forest draped himself over her and reached forward to touch her breasts from behind. "Well, for an old schoolmarm, you sure are delicious."
She shouldn't have laughed. She should have huffed and pushed him off her.
But he had made her laugh. He hadn't meant to insult her at all. Besides, whatever he was doing with her erect nipples between his fingers, together with how he was moving inside her with each thrust, was intoxicating her.
"You're not my husband so—so you can't spank me," she said between trying to catch her breath.
"Oh, no? Watch this." Withdrawing one hand from her breasts, he gave her bottom a sturdy slap.
"That didn't hurt at all!"
To her pleasure, Forest chuckled. "Why, you naughty little… schoolteacher! All right, ma'am. Let it not be said Forest Parrish can't keep his woman in line."
He slapped her rear again, hard enough that the spot turned bright pink, and her sensuous little tail gave a little jump. Hearing her yelp, he announced, "Now I'm going to finish what I started here, and then if we have time, I'm going to take you over my knee. I'm going to give you a little spanking. Just for the fun of it. That should remind you of who's in charge here."
His hand had traveled down further to fondle her as he continued making love to her. Moaning, Olivia clutched handfuls of blanket.
"Oh, Forest, don't stop, no—please!" she cried.
"Louder, honey. Louder. I want to hear you say my name. Say it sweet. Loud. Like it means something to you."
"Oh—oh, Forest! Forest!"
At that moment, she would have done anything he commanded of her. He was kissing her neck. She was so wet inside and so was he now. He touched her breasts again, alternating between her breasts and her clitoris.
"Oh, Olivia," he murmured.
Whatever he was doing to her was sending potent waves of pleasure through every little piece of her. Forest reached the climax first and she followed instantly, pulling at the bed covers and crying out in ecstasy.
Olivia waited for him to jump off her immediately. To toss her clothes onto her back and tell her to get dressed, then for him to high-tail it out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him. After all, wasn't that what men did? Every man who'd ever been with her had done that.
Forest lingered. He rolled onto the bed beside her, flat on his back, catching his breath. As he did, his hand caressed her hair and he gazed at her.
"They'll be coming home soon," he said.
"I know."
"I've got to be getting back to the hands' quarters. Luckily, I'm the only one there tonight. Don't know where the other men are."
"Hm." Impulsively, she kissed him. A small kiss. She was taking a risk. Maybe the kisses were over, now that he'd gotten what he w
anted from her.
But then he returned her kiss with a longer, even more ardent one. Who would have thought the man could be so tender?
"Ah, not so fast," he said when she reached for her undergarments.
"What?"
"You're not allowed to get dressed yet. You have to stay naked. That's an order."
Olivia laughed but was confused. She understood when he finished dressing himself and then sat on the bed, turning her over his knee.
Fully naked. He was dressed, while she remained nude. In that position, she could feel the scratchy denim of his pants brushing against the same spot that was still throbbing after being fondled and brought to climax.
"But I thought I've been a good girl," she teased.
"You have. Not earlier, though. You were a little mean to me back at the dance. You're a little too big for your britches sometimes, kitten. That's why you're not wearing them right now. You'll put them back on when I tell you to, and not a second before." Forest lovingly patted her bottom. "A little spanking should do the trick. Anytime you get bratty, I know just what to do to turn you into my little angel."
Olivia bit her lower lip, stiffening. She remembered that first spanking he'd given her.
She also felt small on his lap. Small and vulnerable, tossed over the knee of this tall, powerful man, who had just made love to her, wildly and exquisitely. Not wearing a stitch of clothing, exposed, fully submitting herself to him.
Thankfully, the spanking was a light one, but hard enough to give her cheeks a warm sting. Not as anywhere nearly as painful as that first spanking, which had left her barely able to sit.
After three more smacks, Forest gave her derriere a light rub. His hand then dipped down further to stroke her bud. She was kicking her feet and moaning, but not from pain, making him laugh and give her a harder spank.
This was a spanking, as he'd said, just for the fun of it. Yet it was also, as he'd also said, to teach her who was in charge, who wore the pants. Instead of angering her, the knowledge of that made her smile with delight. Secretly, Olivia was enjoying those new feelings, particularly knowing that she didn't have to take charge now.
That was the way it had been, so often in her life, when as the older sibling looking out for her younger sister, she'd had to take responsibility. Those were the times when she had to be strong. Now, at that moment, she was relinquishing that control, and the feeling was liberating.
"You don't know how much I want to take you again," he said. "But I think they're coming. I think I hear them outside."
"I think I do, too."
A few more smacks, a few more caresses. Which was the real punishment? He would pleasure her, then stop, pleasure her, and then stop.
"I guess we can't have anyone see how pink I've turned this naughty bottom of yours," he said. "When I let you up, you have my permission to get dressed."
My permission. Hmph! Olivia smirked to herself. That man seemed to enjoy ordering her around and having her fully submissive to him.
She thought of sassing him, but that that moment she preferred a lightly tingly bottom to one that was truly paddled and sore. She didn't fully understand it, but that fun little spanking had her feeling lusty, yearning for him to take her again.
"Thank you, sir. I'd rather you're the only one who sees my pink bottom, too."
Why did she enjoy hearing him laugh so much? He didn't move away his hand, instead continuing to stroke her with his finger until he brought her again to a climax.
"Oh, Forest—I'm going to be-behave, I promise!" she groaned.
Laughing, he helped her up onto her feet.
"That's good. For a while, anyway." Forest gave her mouth a kiss and her bare breast a little tweak. "It's going to be tough seeing you without thinking about you tonight. I'll just be thinking about how much I want to touch you again."
She covered her bottom with her hands. It didn't really hurt, just a luscious little sting. What she enjoyed even more was how she could still feel his hands on her skin. She would be feeling that tomorrow, walking around with her body remembering every magnificent inch of his.
"Forest, you were wrong tonight," she told him.
He stood at the door and turned. "About what?"
"You are a handsome man. And you do have a heart and a soul."
He said nothing, only stared back at her for a long moment, giving her the sweetest grin before shutting the door behind himself.
Chapter Ten
At last, it was finished. Melanie didn't believe she'd ever seen a lovelier building, even though the one-room log cabin wasn't very big or fancy.
She stood in the room long after everyone else had left. It boasted only two windows, which were enough to give the room light and air in the hotter months. For those cold Montana winters, that wood-burning stove in the center of the room would bring much needed respite on chilly days. The men, including her husband, had built those thirteen desks, the largest of which was for the teacher.
Mae moseyed into the schoolhouse, dressed in her fine clothing, with her stylish bonnet and infectious smile. Melanie giggled with excitement.
"Can you believe it, honey?" the big, blue-eyed blonde asked. "We did it. I mean, the men, they did all the building and the furniture—"
"But we made sure they did it. That no one forgot about it," Melanie added, "And it wouldn't have been possible without you, most of all."
"Oh, honey, I just threw in a few dollars. I was the least person here. Your enthusiasm is worth more than my money."
"So we're a team!" Melanie laughed.
"Yes. I believe we are." Mae wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "So wonderful that we have your sister, an experienced, wonderful teacher from back east!"
Sighing, Melanie turned to her. "Listen, Mae, I—can I tell you something? But it can never leave this room."
"Of course, Melanie, honey. You know you can trust me. What is it?"
Up until those moments, Melanie was afraid to speak the truth. Her heart pounded.
"I exaggerated about my sister. Well… actually, Mae, I lied. My sister isn't a teacher. She's… never been a teacher."
"You lied to Reeve?"
Her stomach quivered. "Yes. Yes, I hate to admit that, because it makes me feel terrible, but I lied to Reeve. And once you lie, you're sort of stuck with that lie."
Mae nodded. "I can't judge you. I've done a thing or two wrong myself, honey. I did wonder about that. Olivia always seemed a bit nervous when we talked about building this place and her teaching the kids. Still, you know, I'm pretty sure she can do this. She's an intelligent lady. Surely, she can teach a few children how to read and write."
Sitting on the edge of the teacher's desk, Melanie said, "I'm sure she can, too. But she's very scared."
"Hm." Quiet for a few moments, Mae suggested, "There's a quick way out of this. She'd have to get married."
"She's trying to do that. But Olivia won't consider anyone but a rancher for a husband. She wants to be a rancher's wife badly. She's also looking at finances, I suppose. Not to get rich, necessarily, but to be comfortable—something she's never been. Unfortunately, the search is still on for a suitable rancher to marry."
"What about that fella, Parrish? He's no rancher, but he seems to do well for himself. Lots of sparks flying between those two."
"Lots of sparks. That's putting it mildly!" Laughing, Melanie told her, "Olivia says she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth."
"That means they'd be perfect for each other."
Melanie caught the wicked gleam in Mae's eye. "Of course, the last time he heard her say that, he said he would have to—now, how did he say it?" She mimicked Forest's deep, manly voice, "I'd have to keep a supply of paddles around for spanking a hot-tempered brat like you, if I was fool enough to marry you." Mae chuckled at her imitation. "I still think he'd marry her… if that work he does was more stable. I do believe he'd be wise to invest in those paddles, too."
Giggling with her, Melanie
then became serious. "Anyway, I put her in this position. I just don't know how to get her out of it without making myself look awful… especially in front of Reeve. Not to mention the spanking I'll get when he finds out I lied about something else."
"Well, honey, maybe he won't spank you—"
"Oh, he'll spank me, all right. I'll deserve that one, too. He's very strict when it comes to lying." Her smile ran away. "I couldn't tell him the truth, Mae. About my sister… and me. Because we're both the same, she and I. He wouldn't have wanted me, if he'd known the truth."
Mae leaned against the desk beside her. "Honey, what is the truth? If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to. But if you do… I'm listening."
So that Mae couldn't see that her hands were trembling, Melanie set them flat on the desk at her sides. She was torn, whether to divulge her secret or not, but within seconds she gave in.
"Just tired of keeping this quiet," she began. "And please, Mae, don't tell Reeve. It would be worse if it came from someone else. My family was rich at one time. My grandfather owned a sugar refinery in Pennsylvania. He even built my grandmother a castle that was up in the hills.
"But when he passed the business on to my father, that was the end of his fortune. My father went through his inheritance like a drunken sailor and he couldn't have cared less about the business my grandfather had toiled to build. He left my mother, who was dying of consumption, and then his second wife—well, there's no other to say it. She was cruel to us because we weren't her daughters."
She stopped a moment to take a breath. "When my father died, there was no one else to take us. Olivia was twelve years old and I was eight when she left us at the home of this woman, this stranger we didn't even know. It turns out she was… she was the owner of a Maryland bordello. And when we were of age, she put us to work for her. Only she wasn't like you, Mae." Her voice broke when she turned to see tears in Mae's eyes. The older woman clasping her hand in both of hers comforted Melanie. "And she sold us to this man, Bartholomew. He was even worse. But we didn't have any other choice. We didn't have anyone to help us. We had nothing.
"So when one of the gentlemen who—who used my services kindly showed me the magazine with the mail order bride ad, I finally saw a way out of that life. Imagine going out West. What an adventure! And then when I actually met Reeve… well, he was so handsome, and he's so noble and strong and brave and… everything that no man had ever been to me before. I don't want to lose him, Mae. I would be lost without him. Every day, I love him more."