“Foster said you made a deal to come train at the Ranch.”
“You’re right. Except,” I brought my gaze up to hers and bought on the bitch stare down. “I’m not here to train to be a sub.”
She laughed. “You’re going to be a Domme?” The “yeah, right” was implied in her tone. “I’ll bet Grayson will have something to say about that.”
Gloves off. We were going to the mats now.
I stepped right into Lilly’s personal space and worked hard not to hit her. Violence wasn’t the answer. I had Lilly’s number. She needed to please and she wanted attention. I’m sure she was more than a handful for poor Tate.
“I know you, Lilly. This might not be my country club, but you’re exactly like the women I left behind there. You’re tired and scared that no one in their right minds could ever truly take you on, isn’t that right? The closest you found was Foster Bennett, and he sent you away. You’re worried he needed a break from you and your antics.”
Kettle one, pot nothing.
Lilly took a step back. Anxiety darted across her face before she turned the bitch back on. “You don’t know me. You don’t know anything. You’re the one that lost Gray. He left you and you ran away.”
Score one for the pot.
“Tate,” I turned, ignoring Lilly and her assessment of me, “Put Lilly back in the car, and let’s go take a looksee at the Ranch. I think it’s time I get to work.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He tipped his hat and guided Lilly back to the car by her corset strings. He didn’t try to hide the grin on his face.
Before he could shut the door, I stuck my head in and found Lilly pouting. “Grayson couldn’t handle me. Let’s see if you and Texas can.”
I shut the door firmly and tapped the hood like I’d seen people do in movies to indicate they were finished with the occupants and the car could go.
Dominic’s smile said how he felt about the exchange, and Ilario had a hard-on tenting the front of his pants. Hopefully we’d have some fun taking care of that. “Come on, boys.”
I climbed into the back of the second Cadillac and asked the driver how long the ride to the ranch was.
“About thirty minutes, mistress.” Lust filled eyes ogled me in the rear-view mirror.
Oh, I was going to enjoy working at the Ranch. First, I was going to enjoy the ride there. “Ilario, let’s see if we can have some fun in those thirty minutes. Ride in back with me. On your knees.”
Ilario did as he was told and loved every minute of it. Our driver had a hard time keeping his attention on the road, and by the time we got to the Ranch all three guys were in uncomfortable states of arousal.
A large plantation style mansion loomed in front of us on the road. Hay, Dios Mio, this was the Red Ranch? I expected a dungeon like warehouse or a stand-alone building in a not so nice part of town, not a frickin plantation. We pulled around the side of the house and parked in back next to a large wooden pergola that shaded a red door.
“This is the private entrance for residents only, mistress,” our driver said.
The door opened and Tate sauntered out. He popped my door open and offered his hand to help me out of the car. “Welcome to the Ranch, darlin’.”
I glanced around, trying not to gawk. Skyscrapers and expensive country clubs aside, this estate was breathtaking. “This is some ranch. Not exactly what I expected.”
Tate grinned and led me to the door. “Expect the unexpected is my middle name.”
“Pendejo.”
“That’s my other middle name.” He laughed and escorted me inside.
I signaled to Ilario and Dominic to follow. We could all use showers, naps, and fresh clothes. I needed some new panties ASAP.
“Let me show you around your new home. Mi casa es su casa.”
“Gracias, señor.”
He led us through a kitchen and swept his arm around the room. “The kitchen, pantry, keeping room, and the second floor are for me and my guests only.”
On each side of the area he called the keeping room, which I took to be a small eating area, were staircases. One going up and the other down. Tate pointed to the one going up.