Stealing Her Heart, page 5
part #1 of Wild Hearts Series
When we get through with this business tonight, Etta and I are going to have a little chat about her inability to follow the doctor’s orders.
Brody crept up behind her, grasping the arm with the rifle with one hand and bringing it in front of her body to stop her movement and clamping his other hand over her mouth to stifle any sound of alarm she might make. “Quiet. It’s Brody.” He was only slightly mollified to feel her relax against him. Brody backed them away from where the rustlers were getting ready to start loading the horses. “What the hell are you doing here? What part of take it easy did you not hear? For that matter, what part of behave yourself didn’t you understand?”
She once again connected with his rib cage, this time with a sharp jab of her elbow, and Brody thought to himself he’d have to remember her penchant for bruising his ribs.
Etta broke free and whirled on him. “What am I doing here? What the hell are you doing here? And you don’t get to tell me what to do!” she hissed, seething.
Brody grabbed both of her arms and pulled her close. “For what it’s worth, I’m doing my job. As such, in the capacity of a Texas Ranger I am putting you under arrest for interfering in a criminal investigation, and if you’re not careful, for assault on an officer of the law. Now, knock it off. I have back-up coming, and we’re going to sit up here and wait for them.”
“And what if they don’t get here in time? What will we do then?”
“I’ll deal with that if and when it happens. You will do nothing. And if I don’t have your word that you will do nothing, I swear I’ll handcuff you to the nearest cactus until it’s over. Do you understand me?”
Etta’s temper was in full bloom. She often found it amusing when people were surprised that she had the characteristically hot temper of a woman with red hair and green eyes. It was a cliché for a reason. She started to make a retort but something in the Ranger’s eyes told her he had a temper to match hers and was in no mood for an argument.
Softening, she said, “Could you let go? You’re hurting my shoulder.”
Brody let go of her injured shoulder but kept a firm grip on her other arm. “If you’re not careful, I’ll make sure when we’re done here that it isn’t your shoulder that’s giving you the most pain.”
Etta felt the slick start to pool between her legs and hoped Brody couldn’t see her blush or feel her nipples become engorged as they stood there in the desert night. There was no denying it to herself; she found Ranger Brody Jensen wildly attractive even though he plucked her every nerve.
“You stay here, Etta, do you hear me?”
Etta said nothing but her look told Brody while she might hear and understand him, she had no inclination of doing as she was bid.
“I mean it, Etta. They’re loading up and I’m going to try and create a diversion to delay them long enough for my men to get here, but I need you to stay up here where I know you’ll be safe.” Not knowing what else to do, and feeling inexplicably pulled to it, Brody drew her close and kissed her hard, his tongue slipping between her lips not to taste and explore but to plunder and conquer. “Disobey me, and that spanking I keep promising you will happen. Now stay put.”
Brody turned on his heel and quickly but silently disappeared into the inky night. Etta was glad he hadn’t stayed to see what that simple kiss had done to her.
No, she thought, nothing simple about that kiss.
She was worried about Timer and the mustangs, but the blood running through her veins was on fire. Had he wanted to, Ranger Brody could have had his way with her right there in the sand.
Brody crept about halfway between his original position and where he had left Etta. He wanted to be far enough away from her that if the rustlers discovered his position, he didn’t compromise hers. He remembered a small grouping of what had felt like tumbleweeds when he’d gone to join Etta. He found them again and took out the book of matches he always kept in his shirt pocket and struck the last one. It started to almost immediately flicker out from the light breeze, but he was able to spark an ember. He picked the ember up in his hands and cupped it as he softly blew on it and then added more tinder to it before adding it to the tumbleweeds.
Horses, especially wild horses, were terrified of fire and would run from it at the first scent on the wind. Brody got several of the tumbleweeds aflame and was about to use the butt of his rifle to bat them down the hill towards the horses, hoping the tumbleweeds would pick up speed and more fuel along the way. Just as he swung the rifle, he realized someone was behind him. Taking the rifle by its barrel, he jammed it back, satisfied by the sound of someone having the wind knocked out of him and falling backward.
He didn’t hesitate but sent the tumbleweeds down the hill and was gratified that his plan worked swiftly. The horses, all of them, panicked and paid no mind to the hastily assembled fence panels as they broke through them and galloped off into the night.
Shouts broke out in the camp.
Brody turned to face his attacker and continue subduing him, if necessary, when he realized it was Etta who lay sprawled on her backside at his feet, propped up by her elbows. She blinked several times as she slowly got her breath back.
“Dammit, Etta.” With a shake of his head, Brody turned back to see that the rustlers were loading the corral panels on the trucks and heading out. Some of the men had saddled the few broke horses that remained, and several others headed up the hill in search of the fire starter. Scooping Etta up and being careful to stay low, Brody started back to where Etta should have been waiting for him under the overhang of a mesa.
He had begun to doubt that he was going to make that and was formulating a plan to either get them both to safety or to put her down and draw them off when he heard the sound of several ATVs and jeeps descending on the spot just vacated by the rustlers. The men who were pursuing them headed off in another direction where Brody was quite sure they had some means of transportation waiting.
Brody stood up and pulled a flare from out of his back pocket. Lighting it he waved it back and forth as he called down to the men. As one of the ATVs started up their way, Brody turned on Etta. “I swear if you so much as utter one word in opposition to anything I say, that spanking I owe you is going to have an audience. Clear?” Etta merely nodded as Brody offered her his hand to help her to her feet.
“You okay, boss? Miss Ross! What are you doing here?”
Brody looked at him. “Miss Ross was being Miss Ross, but she’s now coming with me. Do me a favor and get word to her aunt or uncle out at the ranch that she’s fine and in good hands.”
Brody led Etta down the hill. Once there, he had one of his men drive them back to his jeep. He sent another man to Etta’s truck and trailer, instructing them to gather up her horse and take both to the Ranger station until someone came for them.
He helped Etta into the Jeep. The slight narrowing of her eyes, and her quick glance to either side had Brody preparing for her defiance. Then her shoulders slumped, and she allowed him to help her into the jeep.
Chapter 7
“And just where is it you’re taking me?” she asked when they were alone. “You could have dropped me off at the truck and trailer, and I could have retrieved my own horse and driven myself home.”
“You’re right, Etta. I could have done that. Only problem is, we both know you wouldn’t have gone home. Most likely you would have mounted that horse and headed off in the direction the herd stampeded. So, no. Men who follow my orders will take care of your belongings, and I will take you back to my place and take care of you.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
Brody smiled. Was she being coy all of a sudden? “Oh, you know damn good and well what I mean. But if you need to hear me say it again, so be it. I’m going to take you home, put you over my knee, bare your backside and blister your pretty little butt until I’m convinced that when I tell you to do something, you’ll do it.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Wouldn’t I? I think you’ll find, Etta, that I don’t make empty threats and I sure as hell don’t tell my woman to behave or else if I’m not prepared to follow through with the or else.”
“I am not your woman, nor will I ever be if you hit me.”
Brody took some pleasure in the fact that she wasn’t denying she’d be his, only trying to put conditions on it. He wasn’t sure when he had decided, but he had made up his mind that she was going to be his. There would be a relationship. She had to learn that he was the one who made the rules in said relationship, while she was the one who followed them.
“We’ll see about that. And I’m not going to hit you, Etta. As I said, I’m going to put you over my knee and spank your ass until you can’t sit comfortably for a few days. And if you decide to be a good girl and accept your spanking with a modicum of grace, I just might spend some time rubbing some of the sting out of it for you before I settle myself between those legs of yours and make you mine in no uncertain terms.”
Brody was rewarded with a shocked silence.
Hmm. I guess there is more than one way to get her to hush.
Etta sat in the Jeep trying to figure out what to do. She kept looking at Brody, who seemed quite pleased with himself. She could tell he was still angry. Would he really do what he had threatened? And did she want him to? She wasn’t sure that she knew the truth of that answer and didn’t like how the way not knowing felt.
A part of her, shaped by her aunt and uncle’s relationship, was definitely intrigued. The other part of her—the female modern culture had worked to define—was appalled at the idea that she would willingly allow a man to exert that kind of control over her.
They pulled up to Brody’s place. It was a small, Craftsman-style bungalow located in one of the nicer areas of Del Rio. The neighborhood was older and well-established, with plenty of space between the houses. A brick and wrought iron fence surrounded the entire property and Brody punched in a key code to open the gate. As he drove through, the gate closed behind them.
He stopped the car, got out, and came around to open her door. He stood waiting with his hand held out while Etta looked straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge him or move. For one of the few times in her life, she wasn’t sure what she wanted or what her next move should be. She wanted a man strong enough to handle her… but was it really worth what she would sacrifice? While she was tempted, the uncertainty of what would happen to that part of herself she gave into his keeping kept her unmoving.
“Etta, just sitting there isn’t going to make this any better or easier. Best you take my hand, and we go inside and get the less than pleasant portion of this over with.”
“I am not going to allow you to spank me.” She allowed her anger to come to the forefront, her voice rising in pitch and sounding a lot like panic.
“What you will allow, has very little to do with the spanking you’re about to receive. If, after I’m done with that, you don’t want to allow the more pleasant things I have in mind, I’ll take you home. But by the way your nipples are pushing against that shirt, I suspect you’re already getting wet and will be more so by the time I’ve finished with your discipline. Behave yourself and I’ll rub some of the sting out of your tail and give you something you’ll enjoy. Or would you like me to start your punishment out here in the garage? Remember, Etta, I don’t bluff.”
Seeming to make her decision, she looked him in the eye, took his hand, and allowed herself to be led into the house. They entered through a mudroom or laundry area of sorts and then went into the kitchen. She noticed it was a well-appointed but under-designed space. With a little bit of help, it could be truly lovely.
After disarming and then resetting the alarm and turning on several lights, he pointed her down the hallway. “The master is on the right. Go in, take your clothes off and stand in the corner between the fireplace and the French doors to the patio. I’ll give you a few minutes to settle yourself.”
His voice wasn’t angry, but it held firm resolution.
“If you think…” Etta started but stopped the moment Brody’s hard hand connected with her backside. Much harder than it had that afternoon.
“Either you walk yourself down that hall, strip, and stand in the corner as you were told, or you’ll regret it. I’ll turn your butt bright red right now and then put you in that corner to think about why the next time I tell you to go stand in a corner you want to do that instead of having me put you there.” With that he gave her another hard swat.
Brody swore to himself he could smell her arousal. While he wasn’t necessarily looking forward to spanking her, he felt it was long overdue and sensed it wouldn’t be the last time he had to do so. He was very much looking forward to the lovemaking he was quite sure would follow. He watched her slowly walk down the hall, enjoying the way her sexy ass filled those jeans and swayed as she walked. The one time she turned to look over her shoulder at him, he merely pointed in the direction of the bedroom and mouthed the word ‘go,’ and was gratified to see her do so.
Brody called the Rangers’ office to let them know he was officially off duty until his next shift in two days and that Miss Ross shouldn’t be contacted until his return. Hanging up the phone, Brody poured himself a shot of whiskey and leaned against the kitchen sink giving her time to prepare herself.
Her fate was sealed; Brody had made that clear to the little minx. She was acting resistant, but he suspected she was more aroused and reluctant than actually frightened. At least, he hoped that was the case. After enough time had elapsed, he started down the hall as he rolled up his sleeves.
What have I gotten myself into?
That she was attracted to Brody had apparently not gone unnoticed by the Ranger. But she wondered if he really meant to spank her. And did he know how wet the thought of him doing that made her, much less the effect his telling her about it had on her now raging libido?
Etta turned on a bedside lamp that gave off a dim glow and then took off her boots, socks, jeans, and sweater, folding them neatly and putting them onto a chair. What remained was only her bra and matching panties. She couldn’t help but wish she had worn something less utilitarian and far more attractive.
She went to the designated corner and stood waiting for him. She wasn’t alone for long. He entered the room and looked over to the corner to see her staring wide-eyed back at him. He didn’t seem to want to frighten or intimidate her, but rather to have her comply with his instructions. She had to admit, he and the other Rangers could have handled the situation, and probably having to worry about her wasn’t overly helpful, but she could take care of herself. Although she had to admit, having Brody concerned for and watching over her had its attraction.
“I believe I told you naked, Etta,” he said as he joined her in the corner. “Wearing a bra and panties is not naked. And when I tell you to go stand in the corner, that means you stick your nose in the corner and face it. Now let me help you out of the last of your clothing. I’m going to pretend that you didn’t really comprehend what I meant, not that you were being defiant. You weren’t being defiant, were you, sweetheart?” he asked in a cool, silky tone that dripped with dominance.
He turned Etta around to face the corner, pressing her upper body into it with one hand while he began to remove her panties with the other. His hand pushed them down past her thighs but came back up to briefly caress her well-formed bottom.
“You have a lovely ass, sweetheart. It’s going to pain me to have to turn it bright red too often. Although not as much as it will pain you.” Etta shivered in response and Brody chuckled. He continued to pull her panties down until they were lying at her feet. “Now be a good girl and step out of them.”
Etta did as she was told, wondering why she was being so obedient.
Brody ran his hand back up the outside of her body. “There’s my good girl. Keep behaving and we’ll be done with your punishment sooner than you expect.”
His whisper was heavy with desire and Etta could feel his hard cock straining at his jeans against the crack of her ass.
Brody reached up and unhooked her bra, freeing her breasts. He reached around her to take one in his hand as if weighing it. Brody’s hand moved from cupping her breast to lightly pinching and tugging at her nipple. Etta moaned and Brody nuzzled her neck, murmuring to himself as if making a mental note, “Hmmm, I’m going to have to give those some serious attention later.”
He no longer pressed her into the corner but continued to fondle her breasts while his other hand slipped down the front of her body and between her legs.
She didn’t have time to wish he’d stopped to play with her swollen clit before he slipped two fingers inside her drenched pussy and Etta moaned, rubbing her backside against his groin.
“Now that’s a very good girl,” he whispered in a voice that felt like warm caramel sauce being poured all over rich, vanilla ice cream. Her skin began to get goosebumps in anticipation of what was to come. “I can’t wait to have your punishment over with, so I can mount you and feel you come repeatedly while I stroke you.” He kissed her neck and took his hands away.
“No,” she fussed as she turned around to face him.
Brody turned her back around and swatted her backside hard enough to make her wince. “Where did I tell you your nose belongs?”
“In the corner,” she said breathlessly.
Brody patted her backside, and she heard him move away. She strained to hear what he was doing. For a big man, he moved as silently as a cat—a big, predatory jungle cat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him start a fire in the fireplace and then heard him move away. As the fire caught and started to burn, the lights went out. The room was now bathed only in the light of the fire.
