Page 2 of Petting Penelope
Perhaps this had all been a terrible idea.
Because staring up at the interlocking horseshoes found on each gate, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this place might change everything.
CHAPTER 2
Rachel
Something was off with Penelope.
She’d been fine for nearly the whole journey, if a little tired and grouchy, but the closer they got to Rawhide Ranch, the more distracted she seemed to become.
That wasn’t like her sub, and if it hadn’t been for the twenty-hour journey, Rachel would have said something and checked in with her. But as it was, Penelope was probably overly tired and just wanted to crash.
It was their first time away together, and Rachel couldn’t help but hope that it’d bring them closer together.
Her sweet Penelope was just that. Sweet, biddable, and eager to do whatever Rachel asked of her. And yet, Rachel couldn’t help but feel like she was still being kept at arm’s length.
Despite the fact that they’d been scening exclusively with each other for months, Penelope wouldn’t even consider going on a date. She’d only approached Rachel about coming to Rawhide Ranch with her because she was terrified of submitting to a stranger.
Logically, Rachel knew that this holiday was probably a bad idea. She was so far gone over Penelope that she’d literallyflown halfway across the world whilst the other woman was still politely distant whenever they weren’t scening.
But the idea of Penelope giving her quiet submission to another woman made Rachel feel slightly sick, and so here she was, at some random ranch in Montana.
She had to admit that she’d been impressed by the website and everything that Rawhide Ranch offered. Penelope had indicated that once they’d arrived and settled in, that she’d like to try out being in dynamic for the entire holiday. It wasn’t something that either of them could really do at home; but it seemed like the Ranch was uniquely set up for that kind of relationship.
Relationship.
Rachel shook her head and tried to refocus herself. Dynamic. Not relationship.
But when Penelope turned her rounded face toward Rachel, all sense flew straight out of Rachel’s head instantly. “You alright there, Pen?”
“Uh huh.” She nodded back, a nervous smile hiding her true emotions.
Rachel reached out and squeezed her hand. “Remember, you can safeword any time, and we’ll pause immediately. You remember your safe word?”
Dirty blonde curls bounced as Penelope nodded again. “Willow, Miss.”
Rachel fought the urge to cup her cheek. “You don’t have to call me Miss just yet; we’re both jetlagged and aren’t formally in dynamic, Pen.”
The other woman paused, and then said cautiously, “Can I call you Miss if I want to, though?”
Rachel’s heart ached just a little bit, but she smiled to hide it and nodded. “Of course you can, petal.”
A dimple indented Penelope’s cheek, and then she gasped softly as the car came to a stop.
A large building stood before them, a covered porch running its length. Flowerbeds filled with colorful plants made for a cheerful exterior, and Rachel noticed groups of people sitting together on porch swings or basket chairs. It looked peaceful. Idyllic.
Only the odd pair of kitten ears, and some women wearing rompers, indicated the kind of place it was.
A young man in a cowboy hat hurried down to greet them, opening the door for first Rachel and then Penelope. “Hey, y’all, and welcome to Rawhide Ranch. I’m Dax. Moses usually greets guests but today’s his day off, and so I’m afraid y’all are stuck with me.” He tipped his hat. “If I may take your bags, you can follow me up to check in?”
A cheerful woman with multi-colored hair checked them in and gave them the key cards to their suite. They’d opted to stay in the same suite—Penelope’s idea—but Rachel had ensured that the couch also pulled out into a bed, just in case either of them needed a bit of space during the week’s holiday.
They were staying on the second floor of the Guest Wing, but they didn’t have too far to walk to their room from the elevator. Dax had already gone ahead, and they found their bags waiting for them when they entered.
Penelope was still quiet, quieter than she usually was, and Rachel was starting to get a bit worried about her.
“I’m going to run you a bath and order some food for once you’re done,” she decided.
