by BJ Wane
“Thanks, but Greg made a promise to stick close regarding my stay with them.” She went on to give them a quick rundown of why she was at the Wild Horse Dude Ranch, staying in their house in the first place.
“Oh, wow, I hate to say it, but you might be right. Like I said before, if there’s one thing I know for sure it’s these guys take protecting us seriously,” Avery said.
All three girls heard the slider open and looked over to see Master Greg stepping outside, his Stetson returned to his head. But it was Kelsey he zeroed in on, her nipples that puckered under his heated gaze as he eyed her breasts bobbing just above the water. Snatching a towel off a bench, he flipped it over his shoulder, strode over to the hot tub and reached in to grasp her upper arms. Lifting her out as if she weighed nothing, Kelsey was happy to have his hands on her. Her heart went pitter-patter and her abdomen clenched as she pressed her wet body against him and gazed up into his rugged face beneath the lowered brim of his hat.
“Time to leave, little bit,” he stated, nudging her back to whip the towel around her. With brisk rubs over her back, buttocks and down her legs, her body went noodle-soft, her eyes blinking in drowsy pleasure.
“Mmm, that feels good.” She sighed, closing her eyes as he moved up the inside of her legs, kneaded her thighs and then cupped a towel-covered hand over her pulsing crotch.
“I bet that feels even better,” Nan called out from behind her, amusement lacing her voice.
Kelsey opened her eyes as Master Greg rubbed her bare folds with the nubby cloth. The swift, stimulating pressure back and forth over that sensitive flesh started a tingling that spread up her core. “God, yes,” she moaned before injecting a note of warning in her voice as she added, “You better not be toying with me.”
“Uh, oh.”
Avery’s whisper reached Kelsey as Greg narrowed his eyes, dragged the towel up to dry her torso and then looped it around her neck to draw her up on her toes against him. “You’re forgetting your place, and the rules again.”
For a split second she thought he would kiss her, but disappointment swamped her as he released the ends of the towel, tossed it over the deck rail and handed her her clothes. “Get dressed and meet me in the foyer. Goodnight, ladies.” With a nod to Avery and Nan, he turned his back on Kelsey and sauntered inside without another word.
Tiredness and a wave of depression settled on Kelsey’s shoulders as she dressed. If orders and touches that never led where she wanted to go were all either man was willing to give her, she planned to call Jordan and Theresa first thing in the morning. While it appeared she was a glutton for erotic punishment, she wasn’t one for self-abuse, which is what staying much longer in Greg and Devin’s house would amount to.
“It was nice meeting you, and everyone else. Thank you for hanging out with me.” She buttoned her blouse without looking at the two women still lounging in the hot tub.
“Since you don’t have your phone on you, one of us can call the ranch and get a hold of you this week,” Nan offered. “Don’t fret, Kelsey, they’re all reluctant in the beginning.”
She smiled and waved with a nod as she turned to go inside, hoping the McAllisters wouldn’t still insist on her staying. A girl could only take so much, after all.
Chapter 8
“We need to talk,” Greg whispered as his eyes flicked from Kelsey’s sleeping face to Devin before he shifted his gaze back out the windshield. He was tired and edgy but felt this couldn’t wait. Not after the stunts Kelsey had pulled tonight. Her lie about how much experience in the lifestyle she had, followed by the way she disregarded their orders to jump into a scene with someone she knew nothing about, proved how troubled and uncertain she was over the McAllisters leaving her with him. As irate as her actions made him, he could still feel for the girl who had been trying so hard this past week to use him as a diversion from her insecurities.
“You’ve changed your mind about getting involved, haven’t you?” Devin’s quiet voice held more resignation than annoyance.
“I don’t like to see her hurting.” He could just make out Devin’s derisive look in the dark truck cab as they drove down the highway. “Okay, let me rephrase if you’re going to be obtuse. I don’t like to see her struggling so hard with the emotional upheaval of her life that she’s willing to pull stunts like the ones tonight. As you know, I’m on board with dishing out both punishing and stimulating pain. You saw her response to your spanking as well as I,” Greg reminded him. It was not only the slick puffiness of Kelsey’s enticing folds that had snagged his attention off her bright red, rounded buttocks that prompted him to reconsider getting physically involved with her. The way she hadn’t shied away from his presence and the glazed look in her damp blue eyes when Devin had flipped her over was a combination he was hard pressed to ignore.
Kelsey took that moment to slowly slide sideways, her head coming to rest on Devin’s upper arm. With a low curse followed by a deep sigh, he wrapped his arm around her, snuggling her against his side. Greg chuckled when her arm fell forward, her hand landing on Devin’s upper thigh.
“Shit. As if this whole night wasn’t frustrating and long enough already,” Devin grumbled.
Greg’s smile stayed in place as he made the turn onto the narrower, rougher road that led to the ranch. “Come on,” he coaxed his friend. “Admit she’s gotten under your skin just enough that you want to tutor her as much as I do. It’ll only be for a few weeks, and even if Jordan calls with proof she’s at risk, she’s safer and out of harm’s way at the ranch than anywhere else.”
Greg always did have a way of pointing out facts that made them sound more reasonable than Devin wanted to admit. One week, he thought in disgust. How had the little minx managed to put a chink in his resolve never to get physically involved with a victim again, or in her case, a possible victim? Yeah, the risk to her was not determined at this point, but he still suffered nightmares over their last assignment. If that were to happen again, he didn’t know if he’d survive it.
“You’re thinking too hard, like always,” Greg stated as he pulled in front of their sprawling cabin home. “All I’m asking is you give it some thought, like I am.”
Devin looked at the welcoming home he’d found peace in, at the shrouded shapes of barns, stables and cabins that made up their dude ranch, an enterprise he’d discovered to his surprise suited his thirst for adventure and outdoorsmanship. Then he glanced down at the white blonde head resting against him, the fey appearance Kelsey’s small features lent her, and remembered her drenched blue eyes filled with need as he’d held her quaking body on his lap. The vivid recall of her soft skin heating under his punishing hand, the bounce of her surprisingly plump mounds, the glistening sheen coating her pussy lips and her soft, melodious cries that never included her safeword tugged at his cock, and his conscience.
They’d left her dangling unfulfilled on purpose, neither willing to reward her behavior no matter how tempted they both were to delve between those bare folds. She likely didn’t understand that was part of her punishment, and that was just one thing they needed to address even if Devin didn’t agree to cave the way Greg already had.
“You’ll take her on even if I don’t, won’t you? Is it that easy for you to forget what happened the last time?”
“Fuck, Dev, you know that’s not the case. But Jordan’s right. We did everything we could to first protect Catherine and then to save her.” Greg shrugged, unrepentant. “To answer your first question, I probably will.”
“Since I don’t like that idea any more than entering into a short-term D/s relationship, do you mind giving me another day to decide before talking to her?”
“Not at all.” Opening his door, Greg slid out and turned around to look back at him. “But just so you know, I don’t plan to do a lot of talking at first. She’s pushed this. Now she needs to know just what she’s been asking for.”
“I can get on board with that if I join you. Right now, I guess we better get her to bed. She’s
Without waking, she mumbled and rolled on her side, pulling her knees up. “She’ll sleep better out of those clothes,” Devin whispered, reaching for the side zipper on her skirt.
It wasn’t the first time they’d stripped a girl without a word passing between them. In less than thirty seconds, they had her divested of both the skirt and blouse and tucked under the covers, sound asleep as they tiptoed out.
Kelsey waited until Greg and Devin closed the door and she heard their booted footsteps receding down the hall before blinking her eyes open. Their voices had been vague murmurs all the way back to the ranch as she succumbed to the exhaustion pulling at her. It wasn’t until Devin cradled her in his arms and carried her inside that she roused enough to heed their surroundings and what they were saying. She wasn’t dumb enough to let them know she was awake once Devin mentioned removing her clothes. She’d wanted their hands on her from the first day but hadn’t pined for both of them together until tonight.
Drowsiness pulled her back under, the faint echo of their deep voices murmuring as they’d undressed her following her into sleep, her skin still warm and tingly from the light grazes of their rough fingers.
“If you can’t find a connection by now, there isn’t one.” Kelsey vibrated with frustration as she held the phone to her ear, gazing out the bedroom window, her eyes glued to Greg and Devin.
Jordan’s long pause on the other end of the line drew her suspicions, but, like always, he had a ready reply. “Not necessarily. It just means the man who assaulted you was good at hiding his tracks. We have found solid proof he was hired to do a job, just not what that job was.”
“How about if I come back and stay with you?” she asked, hoping he didn’t hear the note of desperation in her voice.
“What’s wrong, Kels? Has Greg or Devin done something to upset you?”
Just stirred up my neglected libido and left me hanging with no relief in sight. She might be a grown woman pushing thirty, but she still thought of both McAllisters as parental elders and couldn’t imagine Jordan’s reaction if she were to answer that honestly. “No, they’ve been very… accommodating,” she replied for lack of a better word. “It’s this place, it’s just not my thing, you know?”
“I’m sorry, but try to make the best of it, okay? I promise, Theresa and I are working hard to figure out why he was at Dominion. Given the seclusion of the club’s locale and his rap sheet, no one believes it was a random break-in. We’re unearthing more and more every day, so give us the full month, please.”
He would have to go and utter that one word, wouldn’t he? Helpless against the plea and worry in Jordan’s voice, Kelsey sighed and leaned her forehead on the window. “Okay, I’ll hang out here a little longer. But, Jordan, hurry up and clear me, would you? I want to come home.”
“And we want you back here. I’ll have Theresa give you a call this evening. Thank you, honey.”
“Yeah, yeah. Talk to you soon. Bye.” She clicked off wondering how she would make it over two more weeks without going stir wacko or lust crazy.
The quiet this morning got to her first upon awakening. With all the guests except the sweet older men, Otis and Silas, having checked out yesterday and the employees taking off, the ranch appeared more desolate and foreign to her than ever. Except for her two reluctant hosts. She watched Greg smile wide enough to reveal a row of white teeth as he slapped Devin on the back before the two strode into the stable. Her gaze slid to their tight butts showcased in snug, worn denim and she released another sigh that fogged the window. Hot didn’t begin to describe those two and lust was too mild a term for what they conjured up deep inside her every time she looked at them.
Kelsey wasn’t sure how much of their conversation on the way home last night she heard, but a few words had filtered through her subconscious, ‘tutor’ being one. She didn’t know what all that entailed, or if they were discussing her, but given Devin’s reticence and how much she still craved them, it wasn’t wise to read anything promising into the tidbits she recalled. Their. Them. Just one night of seeing them together in that sex-charged atmosphere and it was already so easy to pair them together.
She straightened and her heart set up a rapid tattoo as they strolled out of the stable leading their saddled horses and Cleo. When Devin tethered Thor to the rail, turned and strode toward the house with long, ground-eating strides and a determined set to his rugged jaw, her palms grew damp. Stepping away from the window, she quickly slid her feet into her sneakers, thankful she had put on jeans this morning instead of shorts despite the warmer temperature forecasted for today. The simple, light blue summer top was thin and tight enough to mold to the turgid outline of her nipples, and that was just from the thought of going riding with them.
“Kelsey!” Devin called out as soon as she heard the front door open.
Dashing out of the bedroom and down the hall, she tried and failed not to appear too eager for any amount of time either chose to spend with her. So she was a pathetic, desperate mess. They could deal with it.
“I’m ready. We’re going riding, right?”
For the first time since meeting him, his tough as leather face softened as he nodded. “Yes. We have a few hours before the tour bus arrives with guests, and Greg and I thought it a good time to show you around more of our property. Come on, let’s get going.”
She liked the impatience shimmering in his eyes as he raked her from head to toe with a look she couldn’t decipher. With a spring in her step and a beaming smile, she hurried forward to take his outstretched hand.
“I should ask if you’re good to ride this morning. No lingering side effects after last night?”
“Not enough to keep me sitting around all day twiddling my thumbs.” In fact, the vague soreness she awoke with was just enough to keep her stirred up, to remind her of that painful, but mind-opening experience.
“From what I’ve noticed, you twiddle your thumbs out of habit, not boredom.” He brushed the pad of her thumb with his before releasing her hand. “Mount up and stay between us.”
She was beginning to think that’s exactly where she wanted to be. Turning to Greg who already sat astride Cherokee, she looked up into his less intimidating face. “Good morning. Thanks for taking me out.”
“You’re welcome, little bit. How are you this morning?”
Shivery. Hot. Giddy. “Good, thanks.” She stroked Cleo’s shoulder before swinging up into the saddle, glad she was such a small horse. “And even better now that you’re luring me away from work.” A look passed between the two that drew a delicate ripple of awareness along her arms as they turned the horses, putting her in the middle before setting out.
As soon as they entered the wide-open prairie, Devin said, “Tap her sides with your heels and we’ll trot over toward the tree line. Keep your grip tight on the reins but don’t pull unless you need to slow down. Move your body with the horse. Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” She would rather be sitting with one of them for a faster ride but refused to let her unease show. If they thought she could handle this, then she would.
“We’ll stay right with you, Kelsey.” Greg nodded, waiting for her to make the first move.
It didn’t take much, a slight nudge against the little mare’s sides and she picked up the pace as if eager to get going. Bouncing on the saddle without a lap to cushion her butt and distract her was more jarring, but also offered an exhilarating sense of freedom she’d never experienced before. Eyeing her escorts, she tried to mimic the smooth up and down movements of their bodies and soon got into the rhythm that eased the discomfort. With a shake of her head that sent her long hair flying around her, she laughed in sheer pleasure.
“You and Tom were right,” Devin called over to Greg. “She is a natural.”
“See?” Greg sent Kelsey a wink. “You’re not all city girl.”
Oh, yes, I am. But she could take this for a short time, especially if these two kept giving her such positive signs they were mellowing toward her. She didn’t expect much more than that from Devin, but a little went a long way toward easing her dispirit over being sent here.
“One ride doesn’t make me a country hick, cowboy.” She sent him a taunting grin.
He smiled, looking over her head. “Hear that, Dev? She thinks we’re hicks.”
“You would think she’d be more careful with what she says around us after last night. Pull up, Kelsey.”
She caught her breath as they slowed to a walk and then halted altogether. Following the point of Devin’s finger, she saw a huge moose standing near the trees. “Crap, those things are freaking big.” A thought came to her and she swung an accusing look toward Devin and then Greg. “I swear, if I see that animal’s head on any walls I’ll come after you with a hunting rifle.” She liked animals, especially dogs, even though she’d never owned one. Every so often something would trigger a vague memory clip of a small, black puppy, but with it always came a frisson of unease. Her unknown roots never bothered her unless that tidbit from her early childhood popped up.
Greg lifted his hat and ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair, saying, “I don’t hunt. That’s Devin’s thing.”
Her mind quickly switched gears and slipped into the gutter because she thought that habit of his was sexy, but that didn’t stop her from turning an accusing gaze on Devin. Holding up a hand, he drawled, “I only hunt what can be put on the table. Mary is a whiz at coming up with wildlife recipes. Later this afternoon, we’ll be barbequing pheasant and venison along with beef and chicken for a cookout with the new guests coming in.”
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