by Reece Butler
She swallowed hard. “You’re serious.”
He winked. “Yes, ma’am.” He held out his arms to give her a good look at him. “Sam said you wanted a man who could satisfy you in bed. Will I do?”
He kept his gaze over her head so he wouldn’t see her expression. He knew he wasn’t handsome. His nose had been broken more than a few times thanks to having played the part of a rough man for too many years. That was on top of the fights he and his brothers had gotten into over the years. There were the usual scars from working the land as well as a knife or two. If she wanted a pretty boy, she was out of luck. But if she wanted a man, he was that, and more.
Could she tolerate the “more”? He would never harm a woman, but he had an urge to dominate a demanding one. A woman who could look him in the eye and dare him to try. A woman who would fight and scream and struggle, knowing he’d push her only as far as she was ready for. Their mutual release would be far, far greater after sharing the passion of dominance and submission.
When she didn’t speak, he looked down. She wasn’t looking at his face. She was staring at his chest as if memorizing it. Then she dropped her eyes to the large bulge below his belt. The one that demanded freedom and ached for her touch. He wanted to spread her legs and plunge deep inside the pussy he knew was already wet. He’d have to use every ounce of control, but come heck or high water, she’d come at least once before he did. And when he did—
She licked her lips. The deep groan of an animal in pain filled the room. He realized it had come from his mouth. She raised her eyes to his and frowned.
“What?”
“You licked your lips.” He croaked the words past his dry throat.
“And?”
He looked at her breasts. Yep, one nipple had popped free. It was just the right size and color. He hadn’t realized how much he liked nipples that were small and pink. Her chest rose and fell as she panted. She shifted and another nipple slipped its bounds.
“And I was thinking how good your tongue would feel on my cock.”
Chapter 17
Sophie inhaled a gasp. Something went wrong and she choked. She leaned forward, coughing. She placed a hand over her chest and discovered her breasts had slipped from her dress. Heat rushed from her belly, all the way to the top of her head. In spite of how she’d acted in the saloon and while dancing, it had been an act. She was not a wanton eager to use her body to gain gold.
No, you’re eager to use your body for hot sex. Sex like you’ve only dreamed about.
Max Gibson had aroused her from the first moment she’d seen him. Sam had driven her wild, first with his mouth and fingers, and then with the rest of him. And now she wanted everything Josh could give her.
Still leaning forward, she shook her head, making her hair cover her face and bosom. She peeked out between the soft brown strands. Josh waited, thick arms crossed over the broadest chest she’d ever ogled. There were a few men in town who were larger. Gillis MacDougal for one. But Gillis striding around town in nothing but a kilt and boots never made her pussy ache.
Josh Gibson had a body so broad she could drape herself over him and no part of her would touch the bed. Though he was big, he was light on his feet, as she’d discovered when she’d danced with him. Even then, his touch at her waist had tingled. He’d do all right, and then some. She looked up and he caught her eyes.
A hot shiver ran over her body.
This wasn’t Max, the prim, controlled Pinkerton agent. It wasn’t Sam, the slow, sensual lover. It was Josh, a fully aroused male who’d just carried his prize, one he’d paid well for, into a room containing little more than a bed.
His muscles bulged as if he fought to hold himself back. Though she knew he was a gentleman, underneath he had the look of a predator, rough and demanding. She liked his hard body, gained from a life spent chasing, and catching, prey. His commanding presence came from fighting for everything he wanted. Those hard eyes and harder body said he’d not want to take “no” for an answer. But if she really wanted him to stop, he would, because he did not hurt women.
How could she let him know that she wanted to be claimed? He was a man who protected the weak and defenseless. Could she tell him she wanted him to take her even if she screamed?
A tremor rumbled through her at the thought of him taking her roughly as she fought him. She’d dreamed of a man wanting her so much that he couldn’t help using her, hard, until she screamed her release. She’d pleasured herself, night after night, thinking of a man’s hard cock thrusting into her as she struggled. Struggled, but not hard enough that she would escape his callused demands.
How could she push the gentleman out of the way to get at the predator? She had to arouse him until the beast inside erupted and all that mattered was conquering her. She thrilled at the thought of bringing this man past his civilized veneer. Only a strong woman could take such a man, reveling in his sexual demands.
She was strong, and she’d find a way to make sure he knew it.
“Will you do?” she asked, repeating his question.
She swooped her head so most of her hair tumbled back over her right shoulder. His eyes shot to what was now exposed. She felt her nipples crinkle under his gaze. It was as if hot wires connected each to her pussy. She slowly pressed her shoulders back, arching so that her dress parted even more.
“That’s a question I can’t answer right now,” she said. She tilted her head and frowned as if not liking what she saw. “Maybe after you try your best—”
“Take that dress off before I rip it to pieces!”
Josh roared the words, making her shiver in anticipation. She’d never imagined taunting a man, especially one who could easily kill her. His hands could snap her neck like a twig. But she trusted that he’d never harm her. He might bring an edge of pain to sharpen her focus, but it would only be to fan her desire.
“No!” she screamed in reply, making noise for their audience. She stood up slowly, sensuously, using every feminine lure that she could. The demurely lowered eyes slowly rising to meet his in challenge. The dropped shoulder that allowed the satin to slip, catching it just in time to hide her breasts from his eyes. Tempting, arousing, teasing. Begging to be put in her place.
She lifted her arms and pulled her long hair behind her back. It made her breasts rise out of her dress. She arched her back. With her hair out of the way, her erect nipples and breasts were right in front of him.
“You’re playing with fire, woman.”
His rough warning was like that of a hunter ready to leap. His hands clenched and released as if he fought not to grab her. He looked around the room, spotted a chair, and threw it against the door. She jumped at the noise. It survived intact, clattering to the floor. A shout and retreating footsteps suggested someone had been pressing his ear against the door.
“Maybe I want some of your fire.” She stared at him in challenge.
“Do you know what you’re asking, Sophie?” His quiet words rumbled through her body.
“I want a real man. One who can make me lose control. A man who wants me to fight him as he makes me meet his needs. Needs that match my own.”
His eyes widened, power flashing from them to engulf her.
“You want it hard, do you?”
He spoke softly, but there was steel under the velvet. Her mouth was so dry from panting that she could only nod. He bared his teeth, lips curling up as his nostrils flared. He seemed to gain inches in height and breadth. Power radiated from his body. It called to the fire within her that had been banked, almost snuffed out while she waited for a man like this.
“I will never harm you,” he said, “though you will experience pain.”
“I don’t like pain,” she said. He continued to stare at her. She shrank under his gaze. She opened her lips, unable to get enough air with them closed.
“You’ll learn that an edge of pain makes the result stronger. My hand warming your ass will hurt at first, but then you’ll feel pleasure. Soon yo
u’ll be squirming, eager for my cock to slam into your hot, wet pussy.”
The way Josh spoke, slow and sure with total confidence, aroused her as much as his words. Her breath came faster.
“I will push you past what you think are your boundaries, Sophie. But no matter how much you think you hurt, or resist doing what I order, remember that I know you better than you know yourself.”
“How? You just met me. One dance, and then you carry me up here to…” She couldn’t say more. Couldn’t even think of what he might do. The tension grew as he remained silent. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. Finally, he opened his lips.
“I will make you submit to me!” he roared. “To submit to my pleasure.” He added this tenderly but there was steel behind every word. “To take you beyond anything you’ve ever experienced. To rip away whatever keeps you from falling into a state where nothing matters but pleasure. You will feel only my touch. Hear only my voice. My taste will fill you, my scent surround you. You will know nothing but me.”
What would it be like to forget everything? To be so consumed by her senses that nothing else existed? Her tense muscles eased enough to allow her to inhale deeply.
“I will be in control, Sophie, but only under your guidance.”
She blinked up at him. “My guidance?” Her eyebrows drew together as the tension returned. “If I’m supposed to relax, how can I tell you what I want? Especially since I don’t know what that is?”
His eyes smiled at her, the edges crinkling. “You’ll tell me with your body. It will give me honesty even when your words say otherwise. I’ll listen to every moan or hitch in your breath. I’ll watch for the tiny frown that says to slow down, and the shiver that says you want more. Things you don’t even know you are doing.”
She took in his words but couldn’t reply. His eyes hardened again. She shivered at the intensity they shot at her.
“But I am the master, Sophie.” These words were harsh. Demanding. “Make no doubt about that. I will make you do things that active brain of yours says are wrong even as your pussy floods. And you will obey.”
She thought of the things the valley women spoke of. A cock in her bottom, another filling her pussy, perhaps swallowing a third deep in her throat? Heat flashed up her chest to her face as she saw it in her mind. She looked around the room, anywhere but at Josh.
Muffled sounds floated up from the room below. She heard tinny piano music, the rumble of male voices, and the fake, high-pitched laughter of female. But over it all she heard the blood rushing through her veins as her heart pumped so fast that she thought she might faint.
It was a game they played, he forcing her to do the things she craved yet couldn’t ask for. She didn’t really want him to hurt her, or control her outside this room. But she did want, needed, to forget about the outside world. Forget that she was responsible for so many things that dragged her down. And for that she had to give control to him, trusting that he would do what was best for her.
“I will take you whenever and however I want,” he continued, speaking low and slow. “If you don’t do what I say, I will put you over my knees and spank you until your ass is red. No matter how much you scream, I won’t stop until I want to.”
Every inch of her, inside and out, spasmed. She almost came from his harsh words. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. His hands dropped to his belt. She shivered, watching as he slowly unbuckled it. He waited a moment, then started on the buttons. One at a time, they flicked open. She licked her lips, anticipating the moment he moved his hand and showed her what was inside.
“You are under my control,” he ordered. “No matter what. Tell me if you understand.”
She nodded, staring at what he was about to reveal. He strode forward and grabbed her hair at the back of her neck. She yelped, more in surprise than pain. He pushed her to her knees using his hand to control her movements. He’d moved so fast, doing something she’d never expected, that a rush of fear swept through her.
Had she made a mistake? If any other man had touched her, much less grabbed her hair and forced her this way, she would have erupted in screams, kicking and fighting to escape. This fear, she suddenly realized, was exhilarating rather than terrifying. For the first time in her life she let the fear flow through her rather than shoving it away. She had no choice but to give in to the pleasure he would bring.
“Did I tell you to nod your head?” he demanded harshly. He gripped his fingers tighter, bringing an edge of pain. When she tried to shake her head to say “no” it hurt even more.
“No, sir,” she croaked.
“Then do as I ordered. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” she whispered.
“What?”
“Yes, sir!”
He released his tight grip and stepped back. She chanced looking up at him. Even though he’d grabbed her roughly, there was no trace of violence on his face. He stared back intensely. He really was watching for every signal, perhaps even memorizing them.
She inhaled, shuddering, and dropped her eyes. Though his coat had reeked of spilt beer and whiskey, his pants did not. Her attention was suddenly caught. Dark hair sprinkled his wrists, but it was his hands that she stared at, and what they were doing. He used one to press back the buttons of his pants. With the other he ever so slowly brought out his cock.
“Oh, my,” she whispered.
His cock matched his large, thick body. He shoved his pants down his legs and off, kicking them into the corner before standing with his feet braced. His cock was hard, of course. Hard and long, and so thick that the fingers of her hand might not be able to close around it. A drop of pre-cum glistened on the tip.
“You want this?”
This time his voice was soft, like a lover. It was the only thing soft about him.
“Oh, yes,” she moaned.
“Then use those rosy lips to lick and suck my cock.”
Sophie lifted her dress out of the way and shuffled forward on her knees. He set his fists on his hips and waited. She’d heard the valley wives describe this, but had never done it. She inhaled his scent. She recognized the hard yellow lye soap that was commonly used by anyone who couldn’t afford something better. But something else, something elusive, drew her closer. She wrapped her hand around his cock. The surface was soft, but what she squeezed was anything but.
“Open your mouth and suck!” he roared.
She jerked at the noise and looked up. Warm brown eyes gazed down at her. The noise was for those outside the door, the smile was for her.
“That’s it,” he murmured. “Now dance that tongue over me.”
Chapter 18
Josh watched Sophie open her soft, wet lips and slide over his cock. He groaned, loud and long. His balls, already swollen and tight, threatened to erupt. He panted, fighting to hold back his orgasm. It had been too long. Sophie’s body aroused him, as did her mind. But most importantly, she wanted him to do what no woman ever allowed. She would submit herself to his domination.
He could see the eagerness on her face, the way she gasped at the thought of being mastered. He rested his hands on her head, letting her know he was in control but letting her find her way.
She flicked her tongue and his eyes almost rolled into his head. He groaned again, realizing that there was no way he was in control of anything. If he let her continue more than a few minutes, he’d come so fast that—
She swallowed him so deep the tip of his cock almost hit the back of her throat. His hands fisted in her hair as he fought to breathe. Her teeth scraped lightly as she slowly drew back. He tugged her hair to pull her mouth away. But she sucked hard and hummed, flicking him with her tongue, and he lost it.
With his last coherent thought he clamped his fist around his cock to stop himself from jamming it so far down her throat she might gag.
A white-hot wire ran from his arse, between his legs, through his balls and out. Eyes jammed shut, all that existed was the sensation of his cock jetting cum
in her hot, wet mouth as his hips thrust forward.
As if through a fog he heard deep grunts, feminine gasps, and wet, slurping sounds. The fog faded and his body stopped jerking. He sagged and drew back. Her lips were swollen, but her eyes were bright. He reached for her elbows and drew her to her feet. He held her close, her forehead pressed into his chest. Both of them gasped, sucking air deep into their lungs.
“That wasn’t planned,” he said when he could breathe. “It’s been a long time.” It was as close to an apology as she’d get.
She nodded, her forehead rasping against his chest. While she might say something later, she kept in her role. Knowing she couldn’t see, he grinned to himself. Sophie McLeod was going to learn a lot about men, and their demands, over the next few days. He’d keep her to himself for now. He’d let Max and Sam track down what Smythe was doing, and maybe get some idea whether the stranger hanging around him was likely to be Isaac.
His job was just as important. He had to make Sophie—or rather, Queenie—scream. Though he’d just come with the biggest orgasm of his life, his cock flickered into life. He released her and stepped back. Her face was still flushed, as was the vee of flesh above her dress. She’d pulled the satin over to cover her breasts, something he had not approved. In fact, hadn’t he’d ordered her to strip?
Now that his urgent need to come had faded, he could think with his upper brain. She’d flirted with him, purposefully flaunting herself to drive him wild. In return he’d ordered her to take off her dress or he’d rip it to pieces.
While the light blue looked good against her thick, brown hair, she was not going to wear that dress again. She belonged to him and would not be showing any part of her that he’d marked as his territory. He wanted her hair braided in a crown, dress buttoned at neck and wrists, and skirts just clearing her boots. But that couldn’t happen. A modest, prim Queenie would be recognized as Mrs. McLeod, hotel owner. He’d find her a dress that buttoned all the way to the neck yet was blatant enough to suit.