Dangerous Ride

by Vonna Harper

  “I’ll walk you to your truck.”

  Startled, Maita whirled. Kade stood behind her and was so close she couldn’t imagine how he’d entered her space without her knowing. He loomed—no other description fit. The predator had found his prey.

  “It-it isn’t necessary.”

  “You’re leaving, now.”

  An order? No one ordered her!

  “There’s no reason for you to stay,” he continued in his winter-night voice. “Nothing more I want to do with you here.”

  “You want to do with me! What the hell—”

  Quick as a cougar, he reached out and gripped her jaw in his too-strong fingers. “We’ll play cat and mouse later. Oh, will we! But I have another appointment tonight and want to leave you with a hint of what’s to come.”

  Go to hell!

  Instead, her arms hanging heavy at her sides, she led the way outside. As she passed Ann and her boss, they both stared at her. She read disapproval in Rylan’s glare, sexual excitement in Ann’s. What did Rylan have in mind for Ann?

  She’d parked her pickup at the rear of the fairgrounds among the stock trucks and other dusty, battered vehicles belonging to cowboys and cowgirls. Although overhead lighting had been installed, it wasn’t on, and the quarter moon did little to help her find her way. The scent of people had been replaced by dirt, oil, livestock, and hay. Despite Kade’s imposing presence, she felt strangely alone. No, not really alone, she amended. She indeed shared the quiet lot with another presence, just not one she could call human and be done with definitions. Her nervousness came, not from the possibility he’d try to rape her—too many people had seen them leave together and he was a well-known figure in the community—but her inability to know how she’d react to what he had in mind.

  What did he have in mind?

  “I’m going to be out of town most of next week,” he said when they’d reached her truck. “And you have three new horses to work with. When I return, I want to examine the merchandise, determine how fast you’ll come along, and what you’re capable of. Until I’ve spent some time with you, I can’t set a time frame.”

  “Are you insane? I’m not—”

  Not giving her time to finish, he pushed her aside, yanked open the cab door, spun her around and not quite gently deposited her belly and facedown on the seat. Using her hips as leverage, he slid her in until just her legs dangled out. Outraged, she tried to sit up. Before she could do more than bend a knee, she felt his hand between her legs. Sturdy denim provided a barrier of sorts—she shouldn’t be having a sexual reaction to the dull pressure. But she did. And with his knuckles grinding against her crotch, her muscles relaxed.

  “You bastard! Let me go!”

  “I would if I thought you meant it,” he drawled in a cocksure tone. With his free hand, he began kneading the small of her back. His fingers quickly, expertly found a conduit to her pussy.

  “Stop it.”

  “It doesn’t work that easy, my dear. I’m accustomed to initial resistance. I know how to get past that.” The twin pressures increased.

  “Don’t,” she whispered. Need made further speech difficult. Once, just once in her life she’d love to turn herself over to a man who understood her body better than she ever could. Under his control. She’d learn lessons to last a lifetime, lessons vital for surviving long, lonely nights.

  “Not much of a taste of things to come,” he informed her. His knuckles kneaded her sex. “But it’ll give you enough to think about for the next few days. Something to anticipate.”

  She’d gathered enough of her wits to be asking herself how long she’d put up with this indignity when he took hold of her shoulders and helped her stand again. She couldn’t muster the necessary wherewithal to face him. Oh god! Just like that. Hot to trot. Ready. Willing?

  “It’s going to be interesting,” he informed her. “I can’t remember the last time I went looking instead of having it come to me.” He patted her ass, the pat became a massage. “Not sure why…”

  Manhandled again. Manipulated.

  Belatedly she realized he’d left.

  Chapter Three

  Kade stood back from the bound woman and appraised his handiwork. He’d blindfolded her because she’d said her lover was into sensory depravation but hadn’t gagged her since communication was essential if he was going to give her the experience she was paying him for.

  Nakedness brought out both the worst and best in women. As for the present subject, the implants balanced out what otherwise might be considered oversized hips. Her arms and legs were nicely muscled and contrasted well with the ropes around her wrists, ankles, and crisscrossing the always-at-attention breasts. He’d tied her to a seven-foot-high pole that ended in a horizontal T made of the same sturdy metal. He’d backed her up to the apparatus and tied her so her arms were outstretched over her head and held in place by the T. Her ankles were lashed to the bottom of the pole but loose enough so she could stand on tiptoe when the time came.

  The room, part of a building he’d designed and constructed himself at a distance from the ranch house where he lived, provided him and his subjects with the privacy they needed. And if the woman turned out to be a screamer, the double insulation took care of that.

  He picked up a three-foot-long metal rod.

  “So tell me again, why do you want to do this with me instead of letting your man have all the fun?”

  She turned her head in the direction of his voice. The way she kept sucking in her belly transmitted her nervousness. “He, ah, oh hell, he has more money than some foreign countries, and I don’t want to screw up.”

  “What would he consider screwing up?”

  “He, ah, he gets off on forcing climaxes. The last time we played, I came twice, but it took awhile. I thought…if you show me what works on me, I can guide him in the right direction.”

  “Forcing? Ropes, blindfolds, gags. What about cuffs and chains?”

  She licked her lips and shifted position as best she could. “They scare me.”

  “Fear is a powerful aphrodisiac.”

  “I know.” Her laugh sounded forced. “But if I’m going to lose all control over my body, the first time I want it to be with someone who doesn’t matter.”

  With someone you’re not seeing as a sugar daddy, Kade amended. He hadn’t worn a watch so didn’t know what time it was, but his body was telling him it wanted to be in bed alone and sleeping. However, he’d already accepted his retainer. He probably would be done with what’s-her-name if he hadn’t decided to join the after-rodeo celebration. If he hadn’t watched Rylan’s new horse trainer compete.

  “On your toes,” he ordered. “As high as you can get.”

  “What-what are you going to do?”

  “Toes, now!”

  Mouth sagging, she did as he’d ordered. He watched her try to keep her balance but felt nothing. Damn, he must be more tired than he’d thought. Without warning, he grabbed the inside of one naked thigh and deftly slid the rod between her legs. Then he found the hole in pole he’d tied her to and shoved the end of the pole into the hole. Hard metal now pressed against her labia and kept her on her toes. Breathing fast through her nose, she tried to turn from side to side but managed only minimal movement.

  “Oh god, oh god,” she kept repeating.

  After giving her the better part of a minute to get used to the new level of confinement, he picked up the nipple clamps he’d selected earlier. Because he understood the seduction of the unknown, he began by caressing and pinching her breasts. “Good, good, good,” she now chanted. The mantra changed to a startled and pain-touched squeak when he closed the broad-tipped clamp over her right nipple. He kept her like that for a few seconds then secured the left breast. Despite the blindfold, she tried to look down at herself.

  “They’re gold,” he told her. “Basically expensive clothespins. They end in a loop.” He flicked the clamps. “The loops are good for a number of options. Tonight I’m going to give you your choic
e. What’ll it be? Weights or a chain?”

  “Weights? No!”

  “Chain then. My preference since it gives me something to play with.” Despite his promise, he had to stifle a yawn. Was he getting old? Usually what he laughingly called his second job kept him in a nearly perpetual state of sexual arousal. He fastened a substantial chain to the loops and demonstrated its function by pulling on it and drawing her breasts together. He’d worked with enough silicone-enhanced breasts that he knew most had compromised sensation. Still, he was a pro at the line between pain and pleasure.

  “So it’s climaxes you want, is it?” he asked although he knew the answer since she’d written it on the contract he required of all his clients.

  “Y-es.”

  “Clear enough. Most times I can identify each one, but why don’t we each keep count, see if we come up with the same score.” He picked up a lightweight whip with a good twenty strands and stroked her belly with the soft, yet strong fibers. “Before you leave, I’ll give you the address of the manufacturer of this particular inducement. I haven’t had any complaints with it…well, endless complaints during the actual usage but universal praise in retrospect.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “No.” He punctuated the order with a slap to her captured nipples. “Never let a man see you sweat. Listen to me.” He began a light, rhythmic attack on her ribs, belly, and pelvis. The blows weren’t hard enough to leave marks—yet—but neither could she ignore or avoid them. “You want to play sub to your sugar daddy, you’re going to need to channel fear into sexual excitement. It’s the only way you’re going to give him what he’s paying for, got it?”

  “Y-es.”

  “I’d like to believe you, but we aren’t there yet. What I’m doing right now, softening you up, bringing you to life, is a huge part of the fun for everyone concerned.” He concentrated the lashes on what of her pussy wasn’t mashed against the pipe. “You’re getting red here. Red means blood’s pooling there, heightening the sensations to come. Go with the flow, lose yourself in you. Trust.”

  Trust? What a hell of a word for him to be using, he thought as he moved behind the barely writhing creature. He turned his attention to tattooing her ass. Gasping, she struggled to free herself or at least take the pressure off her straining leg muscles. What would she think if she knew how little self-control beat inside him at times like this?

  Dismissing the question, he concentrated on the mechanics that now garnered him top pay in a world few people comprehended. Sweat coated her tanned body. He had to admit she had the attributes to snag whatever wealthy man she’d set her sights on. If she’d been available—like Maita—he’d happily spend the rest of the night pleasuring both of them but—

  Maita? She’d be nothing like this money-grubbing bitch. A woman who got off on pitting her strength and life against rogue horses would challenge him in ways—

  He’d dropped the whip and was reaching for the powerful vibrator no broad had ever been able to resist for more than a minute or two when the cell phone in his pocket began vibrating. Cursing, he moved to the far end of the room and punched send. “What?” he growled when he recognized the caller’s number.

  “What’s the matter, good buddy? I interrupt something?” Rylan asked.

  “Go to hell.”

  “I have no doubt of it. Question for you. You’ve had Ann. She’s saying she doesn’t like it in the ass, but I think she’s playing hard to get tonight. I could just go ahead with things, but I thought I’d get a second opinion. What gets her off more, a butt plug or a cock?”

  “Ask her. I’m busy.”

  Rylan wasn’t quick to respond. “With her?”

  “By her I assume you’re talking about your new horse trainer.” The naked woman—what was her name anyway?—had stopped shaking and was trying to listen. “If you’re so interested in her, why haven’t you made your move?”

  “Because I need more from her than a home for my cock, and you know it. Is she there?”

  “No.”

  Was that a sigh of relief? “A client?”

  “Yes. And I don’t want to have to start over with her.”

  “Getting to the good parts, are you?”

  “I’m going to hang up.”

  “You sure you don’t want to hear what Ann says when I tug on the little gift I gave her? Have you seen it? I had a little trouble getting it in being as it’s in such a sensitive place, but she loves it now. Loves what I can do to her because of it.”

  Shaking off the image of slender, curious Ann with her large, juicy clit, Kade disconnected. If he hadn’t worked his talent on Ann, he doubted Rylan would have looked twice at the small-breasted woman, but he and Rylan had been competitors and co-workers for so long that occasional cross-pollination, so to speak, was inevitable.

  And if he made good on his promise to Maita, would Rylan try to take her from him?

  What did he mean, if?

  Without warning, a growl rumbled through him. Maita Compton was no simple bitch for hire. She was—was what?

  “Where are you?” His captive sounded angry. “Who were you talking to?”

  He waited until he’d joined her and taken hold of her nipple chain before answering. “No one. Now, where were we?”

  * * * * *

  The gelding shivered under Maita. Not taking her eyes off the first barrel, she placed one hand on the saddle horn and tightened her grip on the reins. Using her knees to guide the animal, she quickly worked him into a lope. So far the gelding kept his legs under him, proof he had his body under control. Halfway there, Maita slowed the horse to a trot and begin lifting his shoulder and positioning his front end for the turn by sliding her hand down the inside rein and picking up on it, her thumb facing upward. Use neck-rein cues, she guided the horse to a spot seven feet to the side of the barrel. When the horse’s nose was even with the barrel, Maita pulled on the reins, stopping him. Horse and rider immediately backed up a couple of steps, then Maita let the horse settle for about ten seconds. The gelding’s weight shifted onto his hindquarters and drove his inside hind pivot foot under his body, positioning him for a strong push off when exiting the turn.

  Then, although the horse was eager to complete the turn, Maita returned him to the starting line.

  “What are you doing?” Rylan asked from where he stood outside the practice corral.

  “He needs to stand still,” Maita explained as she stoked the horse’s neck. “I want his shoulders upright and balanced, his front legs reaching and pulling the ground toward him. This way his inside pivot foot is planted under him and completing the turn becomes a piece of cake.”

  Rylan chuckled. “I’ll take your word for it since I’m not sure I understand what you just said.”

  “You did your part by buying him.” Maita guided the gelding over to his owner, but although she didn’t plan on repeating the exercise this afternoon, she remained in the saddle. “He has great conformation.”

  “I know horseflesh, among other things. And it appears I knew what I was doing when I hired you.”

  “What’d you use, a headhunter? I was working and riding in Montana. When’s the last time you were there?”

  “I’ve never stepped foot in the state. No, not a headhunter. Let’s just say an acquaintance who shares my interests told me about a sexy young woman who’s fearless on horseback. When he sent me a picture, I knew I wanted you.”

  Maita nodded. “You’re talking about interests beyond horses, aren’t you?”

  “You catch on quick.” He took hold of the reins. “I’m playing it slow with you because the truth is, my greatest need is for someone who can work with everything from barrel horses to racers. You fit the bill.”

  “I know.”

  “Cocky, are you?”

  “I know what I’m good at.”

  “One of the things.” His attention turned to what he could see of the space between her legs. “I’m pretty content with Ann these days so wasn’t in any hurry t
o…shall we say, bring you along.” His expression sobered. “I’d hoped to keep you away from Kade, but I couldn’t force you not to go to the rodeo. He saw. He liked. I knew he’d like.”

  No longer willing to play at word games, she dismounted and pulled off the saddle. “What are we talking about?” she demanded. “I don’t like feeling like a piece of horseflesh being bid on. Bottom line, what are the two of you into?”

  Approval danced in Rylan’s eyes. Returning the reins to her, he briefly stroked her knuckles. “You like everything up-front, don’t you?”

  “When my life is involved, yes. Ann’s told and shown me enough that I’m thinking you and Kade are into BDSM. I’ve never given it a second thought.” She debated, then decided to be as honest as she required him to be. “I’m content with sex the old-fashioned way.”

  “What sex? Unless you’re sneaking out in the middle of the night, you haven’t fucked anyone since you came here.”

  He was right, damn it. And although she knew how to and employed the necessary techniques to scratch her itches, a dildo couldn’t compete with the real thing. “You’ve been keeping tabs on me?”

  His answer came in a slow and bold appraisal. “Why not? I enjoy it. I also know you didn’t leave any stud crying in his beer when you left Montana. According to the information I have on you, you’re a love ‘em and leave ‘em broad. How come?”

  None of your damn business. “What’d you do, hire a private detective?”

  “Something like that.” He didn’t sound embarrassed. “Look, as far as I’m concerned, your considerable physical attributes are of secondary importance. I hate admitting that because it flies in the face of my undeniable male ego, but you know what my operation is about. My reputation succeeds or fails depending on my ability to provide my customers with the finest horses their money can buy. That’s where you come in.”

  “And because your former trainer had broken his back, you were up against it.”

  “You’ve been reading my mail.”

  Rylan had said little about her predecessor but from other employees, she’d learned that the Shasta Indian who’d been with him for over five years had wound up on the receiving end when a gelding he was galloping in readiness for endurance trail riding had stepped into a hole. The fall had broken the gelding’s front leg, and his weight had snapped his rider’s spine. Although fortunately not paralyzed, the Shasta’s hell-bent-for-leather days were behind him. Now she was expected to fit the bill, something she had no qualms about doing.