Page 28 of On His Ranch

“Let me guess, you’ll beat me with a switch?”

Chase had been enjoying their exchange up to this point. Her quipped comment and poor choice of words made any humor he’d felt evaporate. His brows drew together and his jaw clenched menacingly. He leaned forward and when she tried to back away he caught her by the arm. She was going to listen to him whether or not she liked what he had to say. “Be careful what words you choose,” he warned. “I would never beat any woman, but I won’t hesitate to make sittin’ uncomfortable for the next several days.” She ducked her head, but he hooked a finger under her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. “And I’ll make you pick your own switch too, you hear me?”

“I hear you.”

“‘Scuse me?”

“I hear you, sir,” she amended.

“Alright then.” He released her and turned away before she could see the naked lust in his face. “Let’s go.” Chase began to stride away from the house, Piper hot on his heels.

Damn it all to hell, he doubted that he was going to be able to concentrate on anything with her at his side. Maybe he should tell her he’d changed his mind and take to her aunt’s after all—it was the only way he’d get any work done.

He stopped suddenly, and felt her plow into his back. “Whoa there.”

“I’m sorry, I—”

His arm shot out to steady her before she could fall. As soon as he touched her, he felt a shot of electricity course through his body. No matter what intuition told him, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he wouldn’t be taking her anywhere a second before he had to.

Maybe she was who she seemed to be, maybe she wasn’t. His cock didn’t care one way or the other. And when it got right down to it, spending more time with her meant there was a chance she could end up bare-assed and bent over for his viewing pleasure… and maybe for other pleasures as well. And nothing could make him give up that chance.

* * *

Piper hated herself for being so nervous, but she just couldn’t help it. She’d never been in a barn before she’d stumbled into his, much less done work on a farm. And she knew she should be paying attention to the instructions he was giving, but she was distracted by his stern, handsome profile and the rich timbre of his voice to listen to him ramble off the chores.

She knew if he caught her not listening she’d be in trouble, but she couldn’t help it. It was his fault, really. She’d lost all ability to follow any train of thought since he’d touched her. Just his fingertips pressing against her arm was enough to make her panties dampen. And to remind her of how those fingers had felt, moving inside her, bringing her to an earth-shattering orgasm…

Unbidden, a picture popped into her head. Just before she’d run downstairs for breakfast she’d gone into the bathroom. Her intention had just been to brush her teeth, but after she’d finished she’d had the urge to look at her bottom. Her mind flashed back to the moment when, panties at half mast, she’d turned and looked at the reflection of her orbs. They had faded back to their normal pale color, but there were faint bruises here and there reminding her of what had happened the day before.

She should have been repulsed. She should have demanded to be taken to her aunt’s at once. But instead, she had stayed, and if she was being honest with herself there was more to it than the fact that she liked Patti’s company.

“Piper?”

The sound of her name jolted her out of her thoughts. “What?”

Chase gave her a weird look. “I said, how are you at milking cows?”

“Um… I’ve never tried. Didn’t your grandfather milk them this morning?”

He chuckled. “First time on a dairy farm, huh?”

“Does it show?” she quipped with a smile of her own.

“It’s time for their afternoon milking, and they get ornery if you try and change their schedule.”

“Wouldn’t want to make them ornery. Of course, I can’t imagine that they’re any worse than their owner.” She batted her lashes at him. Her stomach clenched as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Normally, she wasn’t so prone to sass, but he seemed to bring it out in her, making her body a constant tingling of fear and hope that she couldn’t possibly begin to unravel.

He showed her the whites of his teeth—not a smile, but a warning. “Careful now.”

Her belly flipped. She knew she should apologize, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. It was a game they were playing, a strange, unfamiliar dance with only one ending. The thing was, despite his fierceness, he was the most interesting person she’d ever met and she found herself wanting to be around him a little longer.

You’re not very good at games, Piper, she reminded herself.Be careful.

But why? To protect her ass—or her heart?

She shook her head to clear the thought.It doesn’t matter. I just need to keep my mouth shut.

When Chase began walking again, she followed in silence, just behind his long-legged stride, until they reached a large barn. “Hey… how many of these do you have, anyway?”

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