Cowboys and Candy

by Avery Gale, Jess Buffett, Willow Brooke, Lynn Ray Lewis, Gracie Meadows

  He smiled and used his arm to indicate the room, “I’m impressed that you seem to have unpacked already.”

  “Oh, I don’t like clutter…it is distracting. So I have to put things away immediately. That is the reason Penny and I never lived together. We’re the best of friends, but her apartment was complete chaos. How she graduated with honors baffles me, but truthfully, she seems to draw energy from it.” He laughed out loud when she shuddered as if the memory alone was enough to spark terror in her soul. And the truth was, he was exactly the same. Everything in his office, home, and work spaces had a place, and that is where it needed to be unless it was being used.

  “I happen to agree with you, but I have to say…I do believe we are a dying breed.” She’d grabbed her small notebook computer and a light jacket before they made their way back toward the small barn. “Now, don’t hesitate to let me know if things aren’t set up the way you want them. I’ll get a couple of the guys down here tomorrow to move anything that isn’t to your liking. And I meant what I said about getting supplies ordered because spring calves will be hitting the ground in just a few weeks, so we’ll need everything stocked up and ready before then. Also, we’ve got a couple of horses very close to foaling, so I’d like to see you order anything you might need for that as well.”

  He was thrilled with her reaction as he opened the door of the smaller barn. Her gasped “Oh, my God, it’s amazing” and her squeal of delight were music to his ears. He and Talon had worked many long nights gutting the small structure and building a state-of-the-art vet clinic in place of the rotted wooden stalls and dusty plank floors. The floor was now a marbled gray concrete that looked like flooring, but could easily be hosed down. The squeeze chute they’d installed was hydraulically driven and quicker than any manual unit he’d ever seen. There were two exam rooms and a small operating room as well as a nice office with floor to ceiling shelving, two closets, and a large bathroom complete with a huge shower that would be perfect for the water sports he enjoyed.

  Kylie had shoved her computer into his arms and darted from room to room taking it all in and babbling like an excited kid. He watched as she ran her slender fingers over the stainless steel exam tables and smooth wooden desk, and laughed out loud at her happy dance when she saw the shower. He had to admit it had turned out even better than he’d hoped. He was anxious to show her the one in the foreman’s house. He’d installed in himself and considered it a work of art.

  Gavin was glad he’d set her computer on her desk when Kylie ran back into the room and threw herself into his arms. “Oh, Gavin, I can’t even begin to tell you how perfect everything is. I swear it’s like y’all were right inside my head and designed exactly what I’d always dreamt of having.” She hugged him tightly, and he wrapped his arms completely around her and picked her up off the ground, so she was forced to wrap her legs around his waist. He could feel the heat of her sex pressing against his rigid length, and he knew the minute her mind registered it, as well. Her small gasp was followed by the fact she went completely still except for her heaving breasts pressed against his chest.

  “You are welcome, love. Your dad and I enjoyed the project, and I’m thrilled that I’m the one who got to show it to you.” She pulled back to look into his eyes, but didn’t attempt to unwrap herself from around him.

  “You and my dad did all this? For me? Umm…I mean I know it was for me, but you didn’t hire it done? You did it yourselves?” When he merely smiled and nodded, her green eyes filled with tears. “That makes it even more amazing. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me.” Gavin had expected her to like the facility, but he hadn’t dared dream that he’d get the chance to feel her wrapped around him in such an intimate way. When she’d leaned back it had pressed her pussy against him even tighter, and he’d had to fight back the moan that was trying to claw its way out of his throat as her heat penetrated both of their jeans. God, if she feels this hot through all those layers, how will I be able to weather the storm when she is naked against me?

  When he felt her slender legs loosen, he let her slowly slide against him until her feet were on the floor once again. He couldn’t remember ever seeing her blush before, so the pink stain on her cheeks spoke volumes about how their relationship was evolving. “I have another surprise for you.” He had to bite the inside of his cheeks to keep from grinning like a fool at the look on her sweet face. He had deliberately been vague just to watch her reaction. The lust in her expression was easy to discern, but it was laced with something else…expectation, perhaps? He wasn’t certain, but he found himself lost in her eyes. Had they always been the color of the southern Caribbean? That particular shade of azure was a compromise between green and blue that only Kylie could pull off, and it was mesmerizing. Her father’s were similar, but they lacked the sparkle that hers had always held. He pushed a lock of her hair away from her face and then slid his palm behind her neck to cup the base of her skull. “Come on.”

  Turning to lead her slowly from her new office, he led her to his house. When they reached the porch, he stopped before opening the front door. “I made you a very special lunch. I wanted to welcome you home, and…I want you to know that once we walk inside, things are going to change between us. I’m attracted to you. I have been for a very long time, and I’m tired of hiding it. But I need for you to understand what you’re getting into. I have some rather specific ideas about how things go in the bedroom.” Watching the pulse at the base of her neck accelerate was making his own pulse quicken with anticipation. She was aroused, that was easy to see, and he was heartened by that realization. “I’m a Dom, Kylie. I have no desire to live the lifestyle 24/7, but I would like to introduce you to the aspects of it that are important to me if you are interested.” He looked at her expectantly and waited for her to answer the question he hadn’t really asked.

  Chapter Five

  Holy shit on a shamrock. The man I have idolized for years, the one that has starred in every fantasy I’ve ever had, is a Dom. Kylie was almost giddy with excitement. She’d read hundreds of erotic romance novels, and had always dreamt of hearing Gavin McCloud speak these exact words to her. Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered if she was dreaming. Damn, she was going to be pissed if she woke and all of this was a dream. She was muttering the words to herself, and she heard Gavin’s low chuckle. “No, love. This is real—although I’ll grant you it is the answer to more than one of my prayers. Now, shall we go in and enjoy our lunch and talk? Or should I walk you back to your cabin?”

  She didn’t even have to think about her answer, “I’d love to have lunch with you. And, well…will you let me ask you some questions about your lifestyle?”

  He leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against hers. It wasn’t a passionate kiss or one that staked a claim. It was simply a promise of things to come. “Yes. Until you are ready to make a decision about your interest, I encourage you to ask me anything. The only requirements are that you ask your questions respectfully and that you are honest with me and yourself.” After he’d answered her question, Gavin hadn’t realized he was holding his breath until she slowly nodded her head. Without taking his eyes off hers, he reached for the knob and slowly opened the door, knowing the next few seconds would likely change both of their lives forever. If this didn’t turn out the way he hoped, Gavin knew working together would always be a struggle and ultimately he would be the one forced to move on because this was her home. But, if things went as planned, he’d finally be able to tie her heart to his own—permanently. He’d use every single trick he had learned during his years as a Dom to lasso her heart and bind it to his forever.

  Stepping inside, he toed off his boots and set them aside. He held her hand to steady her as she did the same. “Saints and sinners…whatever you are cooking smells amazing.” He smiled at her and took her hand to lead her into the kitchen and chuckled at her open-mouthed stare. “Wow, this is incredible. I haven’t been in here in years, and it has changed so much.
Did you do all this? Because…well, it’s just beyond stunning.”

  Gavin looked on as she took in the custom-made cabinets and countertops. If she likes the kitchen, she is going to flip over the master bath. “Thanks, I’m glad you like it. I actually enjoy remodeling, and your parents have been more than generous funding my little hobby.” He placed his hand against her lower back and felt her shiver as he moved around her to start pulling things out of the large glass-fronted refrigerator before setting them on the dining room table. The salad was already made, and he quickly took the lasagna and garlic bread from the oven as well. They talked about her new clinic and the things she needed to order, and then all of her adventures while on vacation.

  Kylie’s stories kept him laughing, and he enjoyed seeing glimpses of the young girl he’d known as her eyes danced with joy when she’d described Penny’s habit of getting them both into trouble. He had deliberately not served wine with their lunch because he’d wanted her clear-headed for their discussion. But when it became obvious she was rambling on because she was nervous, he’d started to question whether or not that had been the right decision. They’d moved from the dining room into the living room and settled on the sofa so they were angled toward each other. He finally put his hand on her arm, and she immediately fell silent.

  “Love, you don’t have to be nervous. Nothing will ever happen that you don’t want to happen.” When she slowly nodded, he smiled. “Good girl, now, I mentioned being honest with yourself as well as with me…so in the interest of fair play, I want you to know I overheard a discussion between you and Penny last summer as you were sunbathing beside the pool.” She obviously knew exactly what he was talking about, because her cheeks blushed the brightest shade of red he’d ever seen. He went on to explain exactly what he’d heard anyway, just so all his cards were on the table.

  “Oh, God, nothing embarrassing about that! Holy crap on a cactus.” He chuckled and continued to hold her wrist, letting his fingers press against the tender skin on its inside where it was easy to monitor her racing heart.

  “I’ve told you because I want you to keep that in mind when you ask questions. I already know you have some basic knowledge gleaned from reading. What I’m curious about is if you have any first-hand knowledge.” And if you do, I want the bastard’s name. Gavin was glad he’d been able to hold that last thought back, but he doubted Kylie had missed the implication in his tone. He’d shared subs over the years and had often been asked to be the third in scenes with friends, but he had no intention of ever sharing Kylie. The relationship he wanted with her was centered on a marriage and partnership with D/s elements, not a Dominant and submissive relationship with vague commitment elements.

  The faint smile that curved her lips told him that he’d been right, she’d read him like a book. “No, I don’t have any first-hand experience. That doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about it—a lot—it just means I haven’t had anyone I trusted enough to ask.” He knew she had chosen her words carefully, and he appreciated the message that she’d sent with them and he hoped his expression conveyed his gratitude.

  Leaning forward, he pressed his lips against hers in what he’d planned as a quick kiss, but this time his need for her overcame his intentions. Pressing his tongue along the seam of her sweet lips, Gavin took full advantage of her gasp and explored her with barely-restrained passion. When he pulled back, he vowed, “You will always be safe with me, love. Always.”

  Chapter Six

  Kylie swung up into the saddle she’d just cinched securely, and gently nudged Bandit with her heels. She walked him in slow circles around the arena her dad had built when she’d been competing in high school rodeos. Leaving forward, she stroked a hand down his muscled neck before giving him a pat. “We’re both past our racing prime, aren’t we, Bandit? But that doesn’t mean we can’t play.” Just the word play brought to mind the fact Gavin had answered literally hundreds of her questions over the past three weeks.

  Feeling the wind whip around her, Kylie glanced up at the darkening clouds and cursed the fact she hadn’t started exercising Bandit earlier. She wanted to give him a good workout before brushing him down, but she was going to be hard-pressed to get it done before the weather broke. Running the barrels at a quick clip but nowhere near a racing pace, Kyle let her mind race along with Bandit’s pounding hooves. Her heart felt lighter now that she understood Gavin wasn’t a sadist and didn’t have any interest in any of the darker sides of BDSM that she’d read about. Many of the scenes she’d read over the past couple of years had made her more than a little uncomfortable, and more than once she’d nearly decided the lifestyle wasn’t for her before she’d discovered several books that had stressed the more romantic aspects of the lifestyle.

  Gavin had told her the first night that he wouldn’t scene with her until she was ready to make an informed decision. Even though they’d worked side by side every day and had shared almost every evening meal, he’d done nothing more than kiss her. Digging her heels in and leaning into the run, Kylie had to admit that she was starting to get a little impatient with his patience. But she hadn’t actually given him the green light either because she’d been letting her mind wrap itself securely around the change in their relationship. They’d talked late into the night that first day as he’d told her about his membership to a club outside of Austin. He’d explained that he didn’t get to visit The Prairie Winds Club often, because it was almost an hour’s drive from the ranch. But Gavin had been open when explaining all the features of the club and why their Safe, Sane, and Consensual mandate was so important. She’d already read about that tenet, but until he’d explained how vulnerable a submissive was without the protections provided by a reputable club, Kylie hadn’t considered how close she’d come to making some very bad decisions.

  More than once, she’d tried to talk Penny into visiting one of the clubs they’d seen when they were traveling, and she was grateful that, for once, it was Penny who had been the level-headed one of them. Penny wasn’t as interested in the lifestyle as Kylie, and she’d drawn a firm line in the sand over visiting a club without knowing in detail how safe it was. Kylie had watched Gavin’s eyes darken when she’d explained how grateful she now felt for Penny’s caution. The fact he’d worked hard to rein in his anger wasn’t lost on her. He’d studied her for long moments before finally speaking. “There are several things that will guarantee you’ll be punished by your Dom, love. And the most important is any failure on your part to protect yourself. Putting yourself in danger is the most grievous offense for any submissive.”

  Just the memory of how his voice had become deeper and his eyes had narrowed was still enough to send shivers up her spine. She’d sent an email to Penny that very night thanking her. Penny had replied almost immediately that Kylie had saved her ass so many times the scale was still tipped firmly in her favor. Kylie felt the smile spread over her face and shook her head at how distracted she’d become. Bandit was performing beautifully, and she hated cutting short their time together but the first raindrops were already beginning to fall. Slowing Bandit into a cool down before returning to the barn, she leaned forward to rub his neck affectionately. “I always think clearer when we work together. You are still amazing, my friend.”

  Gavin had watched Kylie run the barrels with a grace that reflected the thousands of hours she’d spent doing the exact same thing over the years. He’d known she was thinking about things other than the run because the intensity she usually brought to her workouts with Bandit had been noticeably missing. But her horse had obviously known exactly what she’d needed because he’d actually been the one leading their time together. Gavin smiled to himself thinking the scene he’d just witnessed wasn’t all that far removed from a submissive placing herself in the safety of a Dom’s care. Kylie had let Bandit take care of her as he’d run the course over and over. He’d never gone into the breakneck pace he was still more than capable of handling. Instead, the loyal friend had merely given her the
time to mull over all the questions Gavin could see were tumbling around inside her.

  One of the things he and Kylie had in common was they both thought better when they were moving, and it had been amazing to watch as her muscle memory had played itself to perfection. Even though her mind had been elsewhere, she’d looked like poetry in motion atop Bandit’s broad, muscled back. Gavin had always loved watching her ride. Kylie Stone had been a champion, but had refused all scholarship offers as well as several lucrative offers to turn pro. Her dad had told Gavin how proud he’d been when she’d said she wanted to focus on her education so she could return to the ranch.

  Gavin watched as she cooled her horse down with a slow walk before turning back to the barn. He knew the minute she’d spotted him because her entire body had responded. Her sweatshirt was plastered to her as the rain had soaked through it and as she’d gotten closer, he could see her nipples pebbling as he’d raked his eyes over her. “That was amazing, love. Watching you ride is always a joy.” Her grin lit up her entire face and he wondered if she knew how telling that reaction to praise was to a Dom.

  “Thanks. We had to cut this short, but it was still fun. But I have to admit, I’ve gotten pretty chilled. I’m heading in now. I’ll take care of Bandit then head over to my cabin to shower.” He ran his hand over Bandit’s nose before giving him the treat he’d grabbed before heading down to watch her. She’d already dismounted and was walking alongside him as they’d moved toward the barn. “I haven’t forgotten that it’s my night to make dinner.” She grinned at him before quickly adding, “Hannah helped me, so you don’t have to worry about being poisoned or the fire department showing up.” Before he’d even stopped to think he’d given her perfect ass a swat. She’d yelped from the surprise and then her eyes widened and her pupils dilated with desire.