by Fiona Archer
“Chloe, let me introduce you to Jeb Stewart. Jeb’s been training horses on this ranch since before I was born. This beautiful creature by his side is his wife, Gretchen. She looks after the hands, feeding and acting as overall den mother. Don’t be fooled, her bark is worse than her bite.” Noah winked at Gretchen, who snorted and shook her head.
“Hi, Chloe. We’ve heard so much about you from the boys.” Jeb’s smile reached the russet brown of his eyes as he shook her hand. He had an open face, lined and rugged like the landscape that surrounded them, and a wiry frame. She liked him on the spot.
“Oh, really? It’s lovely to meet you both.” Chloe gazed up at Noah before returning Jeb’s smile. Heck, what had he and Flynn been saying?
Gretchen shook her hand. She had the same wiry build as her husband, and she wore her long gray hair scooped up in a bun.
“Chloe, has Noah allowed you a chance to catch your breath? These boys only know one speed—flat-out.” Gretchen sighed as she glanced up at Noah. “Still, they’re good boys. You’d have to go far to find any better.”
“You’ll have to forgive my wife, Chloe. She’s ridiculously protective.” Jeb squeezed Gretchen’s shoulder and got a slap on the chest for his trouble. The sparkle of laughter in his wife’s eyes took all the heat out of her gesture.
“You hush, Jeb. I don’t need you scaring the girl.” Gretchen reached forward to clasp both of Chloe’s hands. Sunspots and lines on the back of the older woman’s hands testified to years spent working hard by her husband’s side. “Honey, don’t pay them any attention. How about you and I walk together and these two can follow. That will give us a chance to get to know one another.” Gretchen offered a conspiratorial wink.
Like a new kid on the first day of school, Chloe’s stomach muscles skipped and dipped at the show of friendship. She felt her lips part in a smile. “Sure, I’d like that, thanks.” She caught sight of Noah. He winked. His easy laughter showed his pleasure in this new development.
“I can share some stories about the boys with you.” Gretchen waved a greeting to one of the hands as she steered Chloe out past the stable doors and into a central courtyard decorated with a few trees. They headed toward another large shed painted red with white trim.
“This building looks new.”
“Yep, Noah and Flynn renovated part of the equipment barn, and of course the new stables you’ve seen. The bunk house has updated bathrooms and furnishings.” After a careful gaze over her shoulder, she hooked her arm through Chloe’s and drew her closer. “Good, the men are giving us some space. No, don’t look back.” She tugged gently on Chloe’s arm. “I don’t want them overhearing us.”
Chloe kept quiet.
“You should know all the men at King’s Haven fancy lynching that low-lying stepbrother of yours for what he did to your home.”
“They do?” Chloe failed to keep the note of disbelief out of her voice.
“Hmmph, city girl.” The older woman nodded to herself. “Honey, where you come from, people don’t notice their neighbors until a bad smell comes from the next apartment and they have to call 911. Here, it’s different.” Her smile extinguished any sign of rebuke.
Much as she wanted to argue the opposite, Chloe knew the truth. “I’m grateful for everyone’s concern. It’s very kind of them.”
“Chloe, I’m not telling you this to get a thank you. I want you to know that nothing, and I mean nothing, will stop Noah and Flynn from making sure Trent Young doesn’t set foot on this property and furthermore that they see his ass rotting in jail.”
“Okay.”
“You still don’t understand, do you?” Gretchen’s mouth was a wry slant. “And why should you? It’s all been kind of sudden, right?”
Chloe gave a weak laugh. “Yeah, you could say that.”
Gretchen nodded. “Let me make my point. Ten months ago in the Imperial, a drunk bashed his girlfriend in the parking lot then started in on her kid that they’d left in the car. Noah pulled up in his truck and saw the man raise his fist to the boy. By the time the girlfriend had stumbled into the pub to ask for help, Noah had knocked the jerk unconscious, and it took four men to pull Noah away.”
“Oh, my God.” Chloe felt her eyes widen. She gripped the housekeeper’s hand. “The child?”
“Not a mark. Honey, if that drunk had hit the kid, he wouldn’t be breathing today.”
Air whooshed out of Chloe’s lungs. “I can imagine.”
“Can you?” Gretchen’s gaze narrowed. “Noah didn’t know that lady or her child, and plenty of lesser men would have run for help first or simply yelled for him to stop. The guy had a gun on the dash, and he was mean. Noah had everything to lose. But he didn’t think twice. He confessed to me later he was glad it was he and not Flynn who happened to be driving by. Even Noah is scared of what would happen if Flynn saw a kid abused.”
“You mean they’d take silly risks?”
“No, I mean they’d put another life over their own, especially when that person is smaller, weaker, or innocent. That’s the kind of sacrifice they’ve been taught.”
The kind they’d make for her.
“I understand.” She kept her gaze steady as her companion studied her with an unblinking thoroughness that reminded Chloe of the toughest of school principals.
Something in her gaze or voice must have satisfied Gretchen. She gave Chloe a quick hug and changed the subject back to the ranch. Jeb and Noah seemed to notice the vibe and moved up to join them.
They toured the buildings. Gretchen and Jeb shared vignettes of life on King’s Haven. From their snippets, Chloe knew that the older couple was a fan of the changes Noah and Flynn had initiated since taking possession of the ranch, including hiring extra hands and introducing flexible work practices. Jeb in particular seemed to embrace Noah’s idea of King’s Haven as a place where ex-special forces vets could recharge and heal from the ravages of combat, both physical and mental.
Noah introduced her to all ten workers. The men, varying in ages from late teens to midfifties, welcomed Chloe. Some expressed their disgust at the damage to her house. She studied Noah as he drew each man into conversation, asking for their opinions on matters relating to the ranch and sharing a joke with a few.
The men’s respect for Noah shone in their eyes, the heartiness of their handshakes. Noah was a good man, as was Flynn—both leaders of men. It would be so easy to fall into the illusion of a future with her alpha cowboys. If it wasn’t for Trent and her secret…She swallowed against the wave of regret that threatened to force her legs out from under her.
Chasing a happily ever after with Noah and Flynn guaranteed heartbreak. Her conversation with Gretchen reinforced that point. How could she risk their safety? Nobody could win against those odds. She needed to concentrate on getting through the next few days and leaving the fairy-tale endings for those more deserving.
Chapter Eleven
Chloe placed the bowl of leftover roasted vegetables in the fridge as Flynn coaxed Digger toward the mudroom with the promise of the tasty leg bone from the roasted beef. With the dog’s history of burying his treats under the couch cushions, the men insisted he stay confined to the mudroom for the next hour until the bone was chewed clean. No amount of pleading from Chloe had won him a reprieve.
At the mudroom’s entrance, Digger turned and directed a piteous gaze in her direction. Chloe tried to hide her smile. How quick the Lab had stolen her heart.
She walked over, knelt next to the dog, and scratched the coarse fudge-brown hair behind his ears. “Poor baby, will he be warm enough in there?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Flynn raised his brows. “There’s a load of laundry on in the dryer. I put an extra blanket in his spare bed—just as you asked—and topped off his water dish. Trust me, he’ll survive.”
Chloe swung back to Digger, who licked her cheek as if in silent acknowledgment of her efforts. The dog then turned and, ignoring Flynn who stood with his hands on his hips at the doorway, walked with his nose
held high into the mudroom. Stepping into his bed of blankets, he snubbed his roasted treat.
“Unbelievable.” Flynn closed the door and flicked the sliding lock to the doggy door at the bottom.
“What’s unbelievable?” Noah asked as he walked back into the kitchen after stoking the fire in the living room.
“Digger’s not touching his bone as some form of protest since we won’t let him stay in. Worse, Chloe’s encouraged him every step of the way. The woman’s turning our dog against us.” Flynn listed her crimes like he was reading a rap sheet to the judge.
Noah stalked forward, not stopping until his chest was mere inches away from her now pebbled nipples. A whiff of wood smoke and musk spiked her senses. “Little sub, you’re racking up punishments today. That’s two.”
Her clit rocketed to life at the underlying thread of steel in his voice. His body, so…big, loomed over her. She needed to scramble—and fast.
“No way. You’re not blaming me for Digger. If you guys weren’t such ogres, he wouldn’t have sulked in the first place.” Chloe swung her gaze from Noah to Flynn, who’d slunk up from behind.
Surrounded. No escape.
She licked her lips. The white-hot thrill of imminent capture shot through her body, leaving her panties wet and her achy with need.
“Two? What else has she been up to today?” Flynn slid a finger under the hem of her sweater and traced a knuckle against the skin above the waistband of her jeans.
A shiver ran along her side. They were going to draw this out—make her dance on the end of a string. She should have guessed.
“She lied earlier today, and not for the first time.” Noah smiled at her panicked gasp. “Our little sub denied she was nervous when her body told a different story. Even when the evidence is all before us, it seems Chloe still hasn’t begun to trust in our ability to gauge her reactions and needs.”
Flynn gripped the hair at her nape and tugged, compelling her to meet his gaze. “Chloe, you think you can lie to us, and we won’t know the difference? By the time we’re through getting to know you and your body, you won’t have any secrets.”
So what if Noah’s guess was on the money? She didn’t have to accept their lord and master routine.
“I think a lot of things, Flynn. My mind, like my body, is governed by me, nobody else.” She yanked her head free and turned so she had both men in sight. No surprises, no quick moves. She wasn’t going down without a fight.
The power behind Flynn’s voice dissolved her will like hot water poured on cotton candy. “Defiance has its moments—at times we might even encourage it. I like spice on my menu.”
The men moved as one, coming to stand within a hair’s breadth of her body. Her pulse took off like a startled rabbit.
She stepped back until the edge of the sink butted up against her lower spine.
Lifting her chin, she squared her shoulders and met their gazes head on.
“Back up a second, Flynn. I never agreed—well, not that I knew it at the time—to be your sub. I told Noah this earlier.” When the jerk threatened to spank my ass. “All this talk about Doms and subs is premature.”
Noah’s granite-hard eyes trapped her gaze. “You’re saying you aren’t turned on by our domination of you? You don’t want us to master you? If that’s the case, then why are your nipples so damn hard they’re pressing against your top?” He reached out, rubbed the pad of his thumb over her nipple, circling back and forth. His touch, the deep voice…it was enthralling. She swallowed down a whimper. “Answer me, Chloe. Do you want our dominance?”
With every breath in my body. “Yes.” She cursed the tremble in her voice.
Flynn’s hot gaze heated up every inch of her exposed skin. “Do you remember your safe word?”
She nodded. “Red.”
Uh-oh. Her world turned upside down as Flynn bent a shoulder against her stomach and lifted her high in the air.
“Put me down. I can walk on my own.” Chloe wiggled like a sack of angry cats. A sharp slap to her backside had her growling.
“Behave or you’ll get another. I’d pace myself. You’re already due for a spanking, and I can’t wait to see your bottom a nice rosy pink.” Flynn’s hand lingered on her smarting backside as he wrapped an arm around her legs and strode out of the kitchen.
She braced her hands against the block of concrete that was his back. The carpeted stairs swayed beneath her. Then Flynn turned into a room halfway down the corridor, not the full length to the bedroom. Where was she?
Flynn bent and she slid to her feet. She blinked—her vision swamped by the snug fit of Flynn’s black T-shirt and the play of muscles underneath the soft cotton. His strong hands gripped her shoulders and steadied her before raising her arms high above her head. From behind, Noah lifted her sweater and unclipped her bra. Working in tandem, they had her topless in one smooth motion.
Flynn maneuvered her arms behind her back and held them there while Noah buckled a pair of leather cuffs around her wrists.
“Hey! Wait, what are you doing?” She tried to wrench herself free. It was useless against their superior strength. The snick of the cuff’s connecting clip confirmed her worst fears.
“Shh, sub, you’re safe.” Noah’s warm breath caressed her neck. His deep voice massaged away the worst of her fear. “We’re getting you ready for play and just a little punishment.”
The back of Noah’s fingers stroked up her spine as the few remaining splinters of doubt wedged deep under her skin. Play sounded fun but punishment…uh-uh, she wasn’t signing up for that.
Big breaths, in and out. This was really happening—to her. Her gaze darted to the side, and she glimpsed leather padded benches and some sort of chair with stirrups. Against the wall, a big X was covered in something black—leather maybe? All of the furniture had straps and chains attached. Dark walls and muted lighting added a shadow of intensity to the room. She gulped. We’re a long way from Kansas, Dorothy.
Chloe licked her suddenly dry lips. “Guys, I’m not sure about this.” The muscles in her legs were like gooey marshmallow.
“You’re thinking too hard, baby.” Flynn stroked the sides of her temple, sweeping back her hair. “Everything in this room is designed to give you pleasure and fill a need you’ve denied yourself for far too long. Tonight, we’ll address that need. Starting now.”
Before she could protest, he kissed her hard. His tongue traced the seam of her lips and pushed beyond to sweep the warm recess of her mouth. He tasted of dark chocolate and strong coffee—intoxicating.
A sharp nip to her shoulder was chased by a soothing lick. Noah. His hands grasped her waist then slid achingly slowly up over her ribs to cup her breasts. He flicked the sides of his thumbs over her nipples with ruthless precision, chuckling when she squirmed against his denim-clad body.
“Do you like that, little sub, when Flynn kisses you and I play with your nipples? You can’t fight us—you’re cuffed and caged between us.” One hand pushed past the waistband of her jeans. A finger plunged between her swollen pussy lips, sliding with shameful ease along her center. She bucked at the intrusion before sinking back against the warm haven of his chest. “Such a hot, wet pussy. You love it, don’t you, sweetheart?”
God help her, she did. She reveled in the sensation of capture. Did that make her bad?
She tore her mouth away from Flynn’s assault. “Yes, please—yes.”
She tugged on her cuffs. Her pussy clenched. Oh, yes! Anticipation raced through her veins like a lit fuse.
Noah pinched her nipples, rolling the nub between thumb and forefinger. Flynn’s mouth captured her scream as a burst of tantalizing pain scorched her soul, driving her immediate need beyond the reach of her fears.
Sure fingers unzipped her jeans and pulled them and her panties down her legs to pool at her feet.
“Step out, luv.” Noah bent down and lifted each leg as Flynn held her shoulders to keep her steady before leading her a few steps to one of the benches.
/> Her feet became rooted to the floor as she studied the structure. The bottom half of the bench was a sturdy sawhorse shape in dark stained wood. The top had thick padding upholstered in ruby leather. A small padded ledge rested on each side of the sawhorse.
Okay, it looked harmless enough, but those short lengths of chain attached to each side of the base weren’t there for decoration. Butterflies skidded across her belly. She could ask questions, right?
Noah moved up alongside the contraption.
“Umm…guys, what’s this bench thing? What’s it for?” She gazed up at Noah and then froze.
His eyes burned with a potency that dared her to continue to stand before him. She shivered.
“Little sub, when we’re in the playroom, we observe Dom-sub rules. You’ll address us as either Master or Sir. Unless instructed, you don’t have permission to speak apart from your safe word.” His face then turned cold, no doubt at her raised brow. “Failure to obey those rules will earn you punishment.”
A quiver shot through her body—not from fear, but…expectation. How could that be?
“Any time you’re unsure, say orange. We’ll slow down and talk through whatever’s on your mind. Say red and everything stops and we release you. If at any other time your Masters want to check that you’re okay, and you want to continue to play, your word is green. Is that clear?”
“Ye—yes, orange slow down and talk, red stops everything…Sir.” Chloe tried to swallow but her mouth was tinder dry.
His cheek creased with a smile. “Good girl.” Sharp eyes studied her as she ran her dry tongue against her teeth. Turning to the side, he snatched a bottle of water from a table. Twisting off the lid, he held the bottle up to her lips. “Drink, sweetie. We don’t want you dehydrated. “
Heck, no hands. She made a clumsy effort of sipping the water. A trickle slid down her chin and dripped onto her chest. Its coolness seared like ice against her heated skin.
“Thank you, Sir.” Twice now, she’d called him Sir. In here, in this playroom, it seemed…right.
“You’re welcome, little sub.” Noah’s eyes softened as the broad pad of his thumb chased the water from her chin. “To answer your question, you’re standing in front of a spanking bench.” Noah’s mouth stretched into a grin at her gasp. “I have a feeling you and this piece of equipment will become well acquainted.”