by Fiona Archer
Chloe smiled at the woman who had embraced her with open arms the moment she’d set a timid foot in King’s Bluff. Now, with all hell breaking loose around her, Purdy stood by her, even knowing she had secrets buried deep. Didn’t that beat all?
On impulse, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around her friend, smiling at the blonde’s return hug before sitting back down in her seat.
“It’s wonderful having a girl to talk with for a few hours. You’re staying for a while, right? I mean, we’ve got Thanksgiving cookies to bake for the students to decorate and coffee to drink and, oh yeah, did I mention Thanksgiving cookies to bake?”
“It was real smooth the way you managed to sneak that in.” Purdy offered a wry smile. “Speaking of which, I got everything you asked for. I left the grocery bags in the hallway.”
“Great. Thanks for the icing pens and cookie cutters. I have some back at my house, but there’s no way the guys would let me go searching. There’s a bag of icing pens on my desk in the classroom ready for the kids, but I needed my own supply for here. How about we drink our coffee then throw ourselves into Betty Crocker mode?”
“Works for me.” Purdy swiped a cookie from the plate and nibbled around the edges as she peeked at Chloe through her lashes. “Spankings, huh?”
“Oh, don’t you start.” Chloe waved a finger and shook her head, fighting and losing the battle not to laugh. “I’m not answering another question until you spill on what’s the story between you and Caleb.”
Purdy’s face froze, the twinkle banished from her eyes, replaced by an aloof politeness. Chloe blinked at the quick turnaround. What the heck had gone on between those two? The last thing she wanted to do was hurt her friend. “Sweetie, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Purdy looked down at her half-eaten cookie then lifted her gaze back to Chloe. The ghost of a smile flittered across her face. “No, honestly, you’re fine. It’s something I don’t talk about. It’s an embarrassing moment of my life I have no wish to relive in any capacity.”
“Okay, I respect that.” If there was one thing she understood, it was that some memories should stay buried. She smiled, determined to lighten the mood. “So, are you going to finish eating that cookie or just torture it a while longer?” She snatched up one for herself and bit down on the crispy morsel. A low moan echoed around the kitchen as the malted flavor exploded in her mouth.
“Lady, step away from the cookie. If you don’t watch out, you’ll have your men storming in here, wondering what the heck we’re up to and why they aren’t busy doing it to you themselves!”
“True, they don’t need any encouragement.” Chloe giggled, a true jingle of merriment that bubbled up her throat and made her feel ten pounds lighter. “All right, enough time wasting. Let’s get this domestic goddess show on the road.”
The kitchen soon smelled of spicy gingerbread as trays of tiny pilgrim’s hats came out of the oven, followed by an equal number of sugar cookie turkeys. She’d made sure to bake extra for everyone on King’s Haven. It would be fun decorating the cookies, maybe personalizing one for each person.
The men joined them for coffee as the cookies sat cooling. Chloe noted Caleb’s gaze often centered on Purdy, who seemed determined to look everywhere else but at the towering blond cowboy.
Darkness had fallen as Purdy hugged Chloe good-bye, her car now packed with containers filled with cookies.
The blonde imp sneaked a quick glance at Noah and Flynn. “Remember, trust in them, Chloe. They’re the good guys.” She whispered in Chloe’s ear before giving her one last squishy hug.
She could only nod, her throat tight. Yes, they were the good guys. Never any doubt. So why did trusting them seem like the emotional equivalent of bungee jumping without the cord?
Lord knew, she now had some free time to think it over.
Chapter Thirteen
Noah glanced at his wristwatch. Ten minutes since Chloe had headed up the stairs for a bath. She’d be naked and occupied with all that feminine soapy routine. Excellent. Perfect setup for a surprise incursion.
A wet nose nudged his elbow. “Am I ignoring you, mate?” Digger’s amber gaze stared up at him from the dog’s resting place against his leg. “I’ve been a bit preoccupied.” He ran his hand over the Lab, scrubbing Digger’s belly. The dog let out a contented huff. “Not that you’ve been lonely for company. I’ve seen you sneaking up to Chloe, working your smooth canine charms.”
Did the Lab just wink at him? Wouldn’t surprise him. The dog had shown a true fighting spirit in his recovery from the injuries that had come close to taking his life. On Flynn’s suggestion, they’d named him Digger. An iconic Aussie term first used to describe their brave soldiers who served in the trenches in World War One. A fitting choice.
“Mate, I plan on using my own charms on her tonight, so you’ll have to amuse yourself.” With one last pat to Digger’s head, Noah rose from the couch and headed to the foyer.
After checking the locks, he made sure to leave the front porch light on for Flynn.
Flynn and Quinn were installing the security system they’d designed and donated for the Youth Café tonight. They’d planned it over a week ago, and there was no way the guys would let down Reverend Nicholls.
It worked out well. He and Flynn each needed time alone with Chloe. Tonight was Noah’s turn. Tomorrow, Flynn would have her to himself all day.
Anticipation fired Noah to take the stairs two at a time. Chloe should be up to her chin in bubbles by now, skin flushed pink. His cock hardened in his jeans, pushing against the zipper.
He strode into the master suite. Sounds of splashing intermingled with off-key humming floated around the partially open bathroom door. A grin spread across his face. Someone is enjoying her bath time. He toed off his boots, moving slowly and quietly over to the door.
Luck was on his side. She faced the opposite direction. The pale luminescence of her shoulders and back gleamed above the bubbles, taunting him to run his fingers over the slippery skin. Her hair was clipped on top of her head, exposing her neck. His mouth watered. Something about a woman’s neck—right where the curve met her shoulder—punched a hole in his armor.
What is that song she is murdering? Shaking his head, he felt his grin widen. As she drizzled water from a bath sponge over one arm, she launched into another round of humming. He bit down a grimace. Even for love, a man could only take so much.
“Now there’s a bathing beauty if I ever saw one.”
Chloe gasped and twisted to look over her shoulder, slipping in the foamy suds. She scrambled, her hands gripping the sides of the bath, saving her from sinking. Water sloshed as she floundered, the high sides of the bath keeping the floor from flooding.
She pressed her front against the side of the bath. Big, wide eyes blinked up at him in a face framed by damp tendrils. Two puffs of bath foam clung to her curls, the frothy white clouds a stark contrast to the fire-engine red staining her cheeks.
He rolled up the sleeves of his flannel shirt and crouched down beside the bath.
“Umm, what are you planning on doing?” She bit her lip.
His cock lengthened, her vulnerability driving him harder.
“I’m going to play with my sub.” His voice low, his movements unhurried, he leaned over the side of the bath and claimed the sponge from her unresisting hand. Gripping her under her arms, he set her up high in the bath. He chuckled at her defeated sigh. No hiding—this time or any other.
After dipping the sponge into the bathwater, he lifted the sopping bundle to rest behind her neck, and then squeezed. A trickle of bubbles slid down over her shoulder, forming a foamy peak on the tip of one nipple.
Perfect.
She stared, seemingly transfixed, as his finger flicked the top off the foam, exposing the dusky bud to the air.
Round and round he circled the now tight nipple. The residual bubbles popped and danced over the slick pinkness of her skin. Her lips parted as she drew in a jerky breath. A sh
udder shook her body. So responsive. Capturing the hard nub between his forefinger and thumb, he gave a firm tweak.
Her husky whimper filled the room. She closed her eyes. Again with the hiding—she’d soon learn.
“Look at me.”
Green eyes popped open in instant obeisance. Satisfaction raced through his body. Studying her face, he could see the hunger her fears tried so hard to hold at bay. Tonight, he’d attack those fears one shuddering orgasm at a time.
“Good girl. Do you like me playing with your nipples? When I tease and pinch and make them so hard you can’t keep your hands still?” His fingers matched his words as he stroked, ringed, and pinched the tortured bud. She shivered, adding an extra pull to his grip. Her hands? He glanced down. Gripped tight together in her lap. He gave into a smile.
“Yes, Sir, I like—I like it a lot,” she said around a gulp of air.
“I’m glad to hear it, luv.” He leaned over and planted a hard kiss on her lips, then stood. After lifting her from the bath, he had her dried in no time.
Unpinning her hair, he ran his fingers through the rich strands. The overhead lighting highlighted the fire of the chestnut curls.
“Warm enough?” He lifted her chin to meet his gaze.
“Yes, Sir, thank you.” There went that tongue, swiping over her lips and taking him from hard to near bursting with one lick.
“Let’s make you even hotter.” Sinking to his knees, he guided her hands to rest on his shoulders. “Grip my shoulders and lean on me.”
Her small hands did his bidding.
“Now, raise your leg and rest your foot on the rim of the bath. That’s it. I want you nice and open while I devour your pussy.”
Her eyes widened, pupils dilating as she rushed in a breath. Her inherent submissiveness branded his soul with the tantalizing bite of a single tail. His hands gripped her hips, hard, reminding her he had control as well as keeping her balanced.
“Lace your fingers together behind your neck.”
Arms raised, fingers linked, her back arched in a natural response. He loved seeing her breasts this way, high and inviting, her pert nipples begging for his attention.
“Good girl. Keep your hands there. If they move, you’ll be punished. Understood?”
His lips twitched as she bit down on her lip before answering. “Yes, Sir.”
Still gripping her hip above her unraised leg, he brushed the knuckles of his free hand on the outer lips of her exposed pussy.
“So wet. Feel my fingers sliding through your pussy.” Noah glided his fingers deep in her warm folds before spreading her lips. Her scent enraptured him with its musky, spicy notes. He had to taste her.
He licked from her core up and over the hood of her clit. She bucked against his touch. Hooking an arm around each thigh, he held her tight, braced for his onslaught.
The spicy tang of her essence exploded in his mouth. Lifting his head, he inspected his gorgeous captive. Sharp breaths raised a chest flushed red. Eyes wide and just a little bit desperate, but focused on him.
Beautiful.
“I’ll never get enough of this sweet pussy. You taste like heaven.” His tongue rimmed her clit up and around until the sweet berry was red and hard. He flattened his tongue, applying just enough pressure for contact but not enough friction for the kind of stimulation his sub craved.
“Oh, God, please, Sir, please.”
“Not yet, little one. I haven’t finished playing. We work on my timetable.” A sharp pinch to her bottom served as a reminder.
Moving one arm, he thrust two fingers up into her sheath, pumping fast. She jerked as her core clenched around his fingers. Drawn by her guttural cries, he glanced up the moment she threw her head back, exposing her throat to the sharp light overhead.
“Sir, I can’t, I need to—” Her arms began to lower as she cried out.
“Hands, sub!”
Her head snapped back up. She hurried to lock her hands together once again. His hard stare had her swallowing.
He withdrew his fingers from her pussy and cupped her bottom, the heels of his palms wet from the silky essence coating her inner thighs. “Now you have permission to come.”
Capturing her clit between his lips, he squeezed, his tongue flicking up and down, side to side. The piercing wail of her release reverberated around the tiled walls. The muscles in her legs trembled under his hold.
“Oh God. Oh God.”
One last hard suck and he released her clit. Gently, he scraped his stubble-covered chin against her silky, wet mound. Another shudder rolled through her body.
He rose and smoothed a hand up the slope of her back. He pried open her entwined fingers, clenched so hard that the knuckles were white. She cuddled against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her, loving the sweet fullness of her body.
“I have plans for you tonight, luv.” He kept his voice low.
“Um, what kind of plans, Sir?” Her eyes were wide, questioning as they peeped up at him.
He scooped her up in his arms, his mouth widening at her squeak. “You’ll just have to see.”
He set her down beside the bed. Lifting up the padded cover of the chest, he scanned its contents. While their playroom housed a vast array of BDSM implements, for convenience the chest stored some essentials. Cuffs, a paddle, a couple of gags, new vibrators and plugs, and a soft deerskin flogger made up the majority.
He turned, his gaze roving over his sub. Warmth tinged her cheeks at his frank appraisal. Got to love the shy ones. Shifting from foot to foot, hands knotted into fists at her sides, she seemed ready to bolt out the gate. Maybe…yes, he reached into the chest, his fingers closing over the padded silk eye mask.
“Close your eyes, Chloe.” Noah stepped in front of Chloe.
She shook her head. “Sir, I want to see—”
“Exactly my point.” He slid the mask over her eyes, making sure the oversized shades covered the top of her cheeks. “You’re preoccupied with what you see. The blindfold ensures your mind is open to feel.”
He glided the tips of his fingers over her shoulders, tracing down the length of her arms, then back up to skim over the swell of her breasts. She sucked in a breath.
“You remember your safe word, little one?”
“Red.” Her voice came out strong and clear.
“Good girl.” He nudged her chin up with a finger and kissed her plump lips.
In two strides, he stood behind her and gripped her upper arms. “Walk forward three steps. Watch out for the bed. That’s it, there. Now lean over and keep your hands stretched out in front. I want your bottom up in the air.”
She complied and slid forward.
He gathered his supplies from the chest, closed the lid and placed them beside her on the bed.
That was one damn gorgeous bottom, heart shaped and full as a ripe peach.
He grabbed a disposable glove and then slid it over his hand. He selected the black plug, and applied lube. “Reach behind you and spread your cheeks. I want to see your pretty hole so I can insert this plug.” Tonight, she’d play a larger role in her own submission.
She turned her head, her mouth moving as if to protest, but at the last second, she reached behind her, pulling her cheeks to reveal her tight rosette.
Lovely.” He drizzled lube over her hole, slowly working his finger inside her, twisting and turning as her muscles gripped him, refusing to let go.
She lifted her bottom higher, inviting his conquest.
His cock strained against the confines of his jeans. He wanted to rip them off, thrust deep inside her hot back passage, and claim her hard, fast, and dirty.
He forced down his need. She deserved better, especially with her virgin arse.
“Take a couple of breaths. This baby’s larger than before.” He pulled out his finger, replacing it with the black toy. Her throaty moan drifted up as he twisted the plug past her tight ring.
He disposed of the glove, then smoothed his hand over the lush swell of her
bottom. Muscles tensed under his touch. His mouth curved at one corner. “Relax, sub. You haven’t earned a spanking—yet.”
She turned her head to the side. Deep lines bunched her forehead above the blindfold. “May I speak, Sir?”
“Are you afraid or about to use your safe word?”
She shook her head.
“Then I take it your comment regards some form of complaint?” He ran his finger over her bottom. “Are you sure you want to take that gamble, sweetie?” Judging by the way she bit her bottom lip, that would be a “no.”
“Um, I’ve changed my mind.”
“Wise decision. Climb onto the bed, your head up near the pillows, then roll onto your back.”
She obeyed his instructions, checking each movement as the plug jiggled. With lips pressed together, she turned over, head resting on the pillow and limbs stiffer than the sleeves of a starched white shirt.
No way could he hold in his chuckle. He gripped her knees and pulled wide.
“Oooooh.”
Yeah, he loved that part.
“Nice and full? We can add to that.” Noah reached for the egg vibrator. After applying lube, he eased the toy past her folds, deep inside her warmth but not yet switched on.
“Hands above your head, sub.” He buckled leather cuffs on her wrists, checked for circulation, and secured the cuffs to a chain running from the headboard. A spreader bar, with ankle cuffs at either end, ensured his sub’s legs stayed immobilized and apart.
He spread his fingers wide, and starting above her ankles, gently ran his fingertips up each satin-smooth leg. His thumbs swiped the insides of her thighs, grazing just shy of her moist center.
She held her breath. His thumbs traced tiny circles but went no closer. Seconds passed. Her shoulders slumped as her breath pillowed out in a soft whoosh.
Rising to his full height, he breathed deeply and forced the muscles along the back of his shoulders to relax. Shaking his arms loose, he centered his gaze on his captive sub, cuffed and spread wide for his pleasure.