The Cowboy's Babygirl: A dark cowboy romance Read online

  We took a table at the window and I felt his eyes scanning me appreciatively while I took tiny licks of the ice cream. He was pleased with me, and I liked that feeling.

  The lighting in the shop was dim, and late-afternoon light glowed through the windows. It felt so nice being here with him; so normal. But the more normal it seemed, the more I felt like I was the odd one out in this scene. I didn’t belong here, not with the ugly secret that trailed behind me. I started to feel confused and panicky.

  “What is it, Carrie?” Steele was looking at me with concern.

  “Why are you doing all this?” I blurted out.

  His eyebrows dropped down low. “Doing what?”

  “All this… this… taking care of me, buying me things. I mean, I’ll be gone in a few days…” I broke off, my throat tight, already feeling the tug of separation.

  Steele looked at me like he was weighing up what to say.

  “Do you want to be gone in a few days?” he said at last.

  I gazed at him wordlessly, thinking—about everything I had run from. About the fear that had filled my every thought for the past days. I felt safe with Steele—as crazy as that sounded. I barely knew him, and I’d already let him spank my bare ass. And he intimidated the hell out of me.

  But I sensed that he had a good heart. He made me want to be better.

  And… my attraction to him was getting out of control.

  I swallowed hard. “No. I don’t.”

  His expression got even more serious. “You haven’t had much order in your life—that’s not your fault. I’ll make an educated guess you haven’t had a lot of care, either.”

  I stared at him, unblinking, but the back of my eyes began to prickle.

  “You need a firm hand,” he continued. “That’s very obvious to me. I’m pretty sure you’re not telling me everything, and I’m not comfortable with that. But you can stay with me, as long as you—” he paused and scratched at his stubble, “submit to my discipline.” He fixed me with an unwavering gaze.

  Discipline.

  The sound of that word in Steele’s deep voice—

  I was damned if that little tingle didn’t start up between my thighs again.

  I swallowed. “You mean—” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.

  He nodded. “I will punish you when you do wrong. Give you guidance on the right way to do things. Teach you that order will bring happiness and meaning to your life.”

  “P-punish me like you did today?” I stammered.

  He gave another deep nod. “With my hand. With my belt, if you need it. And any other way I deem appropriate.”

  My eyes flickered from his big hand to the chunky leather belt that was fitted through his belt loops. And that tingle between my thighs bloomed into a deep, throbbing ache.

  Shame and arousal washed through me in waves. Bed and board in exchange for getting my ass whupped? What am I agreeing to?

  But getting to stay with Steele… letting him take my jeans down… feeling his hand on my bare flesh.

  “Breathe, babygirl,” he murmured. “And sit up straight. You’re slouching again.”

  I made my back straight as a board. Steele’s eyes glittered. He was so bossy—and now I knew why.

  “You probably need some time to think about it,” he continued. “I understand if you’re scared.”

  “I’m not scared. It’s just… different.” I took a big lick of my ice cream before it dripped onto my hand. Steele watched me intently. And I loved that.

  “There’s something here. I’d like to explore it,” he said. “But I understand if you need time—”

  “No. I’ve decided—I want to stay with you,” I said quietly.

  “And you agree to my terms?”

  My cheeks heated again and my stomach did a flip.

  “That I can disci—”

  “Yes,” I said quickly, before he had time to say that humiliating word again. “I agree to your terms.”

  “Good,” he said, and I thought there was a tinge of relief in his voice. “I’m glad you’ve made that decision, Carrie. I think you’ll be very happy at the ranch.”

  Happy? Was that the word, I wondered as we returned to the truck, aware that my panties were soaked once again.

  More like frustrated, confused, humiliated and turned on, if today was anything to go by.

  When we got back home, I took the bags of clothes up to the loft. I felt awkward about them, like they weren’t really mine. I laid each item out on the bed and ran my hands over them. They were beautifully made—designed to be worn and loved for years. The dress came with a hanger, and I found a nail on the wall to hang it from. It sure looked out of place in this rustic room, and I wondered when I’d have a chance to wear it. I blushed at the sight of the underwear, reminded that Steele had seen it already, recalling the heat in his eyes when I’d picked out the lacy panties. A couple of pairs of pantyhose had appeared, too, size S.

  I pulled off my old clothes and dressed in a new pair of jeans and a red plaid shirt, which was made from soft cotton, and fit nicely against my body.

  I tried to pull my tight new boots on, but I couldn’t do it by myself. I’d have to get Steele to help until they got worn in. The memory of him in the store, his arms wrapped around me, flashed into my mind again, with a rush of heat.

  He was going to take care of me; punish me when I needed it.

  But was that all?

  A big part of me hoped not.

  I took my boots and climbed back down the ladder.

  But when I reached the ground floor, I startled.

  Steele was waiting for me. Sitting on the hay bale again, his legs wide apart.

  What have I done wrong now? Is he going to spank me again?

  My body flooded with waves of anticipation and desire.

  Chapter 6

  Steele

  I watched Carrie climb down the ladder, her small hands and feet negotiating the rungs. The sight of her petite curvy bottom swaying from side to side was sending my desire into overdrive.

  I’d only meant to punish her this morning, but instead, I’d succeeded in giving myself the worst case of blue balls of my entire life. Not that I hadn’t been aroused before. The way she’d pulled her jeans down so reluctantly… then that lovely rear in those pretty little panties bent over my lap… the way she’d squirmed and thrashed, trying to get away from me—Sweet mother of God. When I’d finished spanking her, her butt was as red as the blush on an apple, and I’d just about exploded in my pants.

  Well, she and that butt of hers were mine now—

  Mine to discipline.

  Mine to punish.

  And one day she’d be mine in all senses of the word.

  When Carrie turned and caught sight of me sitting on the hay bale, her face filled with alarm. She thought I was going to spank her again. I didn’t plan to, but with that sassy mouth of hers, a lot could change in a short time.

  “Come here,” I told her. “I’m going to show you how to polish your boots. It’s the best way to soften them up.”

  Relief erased the tension in her features and she almost skipped over to me, swinging the boots in her hands.

  I took a tin of polish and greased up a cloth real good, then picked up one of her boots and began to work it over. “Just like this,” I directed, handing the items to her.

  Carrie sat on the hay bale beside me and got to work. My chest filled with warmth. She looked beautiful like that—doing exactly what was required of her without complaint.

  She did a good job, making sure every square inch was perfectly covered. When she’d finished with the first, she did the second one, too. I handed her a stiff shoe brush, and showed her how to buff the leather to a high shine. She worked with fierce concentration, forehead furrowed, elbows flying, and I understood she was trying hard to impress me.

  When she was done, she looked up at me expectantly.

  I took a deep breath, my heart beating faster than usual.
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  “My boots need cleaning, too,” I said.

  As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew I was crossing some kind of line.

  Carrie scanned my filthy boots—which were still on my feet—and a look of distaste crossed her face. “Okay?” she said.

  I stayed silent, letting her put the pieces together.

  “You gonna take them off?” she muttered, her voice laced with reluctance.

  “Nope.” I crossed my arms, and stretched my legs out. “I want you to polish them in situ.”

  She screwed her nose up in that adorable way. “Really?”

  “That’s right, babygirl.” Arousal deepened my voice. “I want you to get on your knees and polish my boots until they shine.”

  Her gaze dropped from my face to my boots. She didn’t move.

  “You disobeying me? After you promised to mind?” I half hoped she’d say yes; half-hoped I could find another excuse for pulling her pants down and seeing that lovely ass laid out over my knee. “This is part of our deal—you doing as you’re told.”

  She was silent, no doubt turning over whether to refuse and give me some sass.

  “Okay,” she said at last.

  Adrenaline raced through my body in hot, stirring loops. I handed her the brush I used to get the mud off, then I leaned back, feet wide apart, and indicated a spot on the floor in front of me.

  Slowly, slowly, she kneeled on the wooden floor, in front of my right boot.

  She began to scrub at the boot, gingerly at first, then, as the dirt came off, with more vigor.

  The sight of her like that—on her knees, attending to me, the tip of her pink tongue showing between her lips—almost made my head explode. Desire built inside me, tightening my thighs, flooding to my cock. Before long, I was rock hard. The way I was sitting, there was no way of hiding it, and I figured there wasn’t much point trying.

  Instead, I kept taking deep, slow breaths as I watched Carrie carrying out my orders.

  When she’d finished with one boot, she shuffled over and got to work on the other.

  Finally, she put down the brush and looked up. Her gaze fluttered to the bulge of my cock, unmissable beneath the fly of my jeans.

  I held my breath, wondering how she was going to react.

  She stumbled to her feet, her pretty green eyes wide and dazed. Beautiful and submissive. She’d gone into that deep submissive place that she’d learn to crave. I didn’t dare shift my position. She looked as flighty as a wild pony, and I sensed that the slightest wrong move could send her bolting away from me.

  She lifted her head and met my gaze and took a staggering step toward me, then another one, and the last threads of my willpower broke apart.

  I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her to me. She lifted her chin up at the same moment, and I crushed my mouth against hers.

  Her lips were soft. Small, but full, and tasting of raspberries. Nothing in my life had tasted as sweet. When I began to kiss her deeper, she gave a soft moan and opened for me, clinging to me, welcoming the intrusion of my tongue.

  I held her tight, exploring her mouth, while her small body pressed against me, her breasts against my chest, one of her thighs rubbing up against my cock.

  I was doing my best to hold back, but when her small hands lifted up and caressed my face, I was lost.

  I reached for the press studs on her shirt and tore them apart. A moment later, her shirt was discarded on the hay bale and there she was, bared to my gaze. She was perfect—from her small, rounded shoulders, to the swell of her breasts in her innocent white bra, to the taut plane of her stomach.

  Her eyes were big and stunned, but I sensed the hunger in her as well.

  I grasped her hips, making her straddle my lap. The apex of her thighs brushed up against my swollen cock. Jesus. I was one step away from tearing off her jeans and taking her harder than I’d taken anyone before.

  Then, to my amazement, she reached behind herself and, arching her back, she unhooked the fastener on her bra. I watched, mesmerized, as it slipped right off and her lovely breasts were bared to me. They were perfect, pert mounds, topped by dusky pink areolas, her perky little nipples pebbled with need.

  I leaned forward and took one in my mouth. She gave a soft sigh of pleasure, and my cock surged, yearning to break free of my pants.

  Like a man in a dream, I unbuttoned her jeans and she stood up and shuffled out of them.

  I slipped my hand between her legs, and—holy hell—the outside of her panties was wet. Just like they’d been this morning when I spanked her ass. I pushed them aside and met soft fur and slick wetness. She groaned at my touch. I caressed her lightly, marveling at the feel of her. When her hand came down over mine, encouraging me to go inside, I slipped a fingertip inside her. She was soaked and I felt her clenching around me, but she was small—barely big enough for my finger.

  I froze, yanked my hand away, and snapped back into reality.

  “You’re a virgin,” I said.

  She dropped her gaze away from me and nodded.

  I took a shuddering breath and released her. “All right, babygirl. That’s enough.” I grabbed her shirt and held it up to her. “Put this back on.”

  “B-but I want to,” she stammered.

  I shook my head deliberately. “Doesn’t matter. You’re less than half my age. I’m not about to go busting your cherry.”

  Her face was full of confusion. “But, Steele—a lot of guys want that. If only you knew—” She broke off.

  “Knew what?”

  “Nothing.” She passed a forearm across her forehead. Her cheeks were burning. “I’m ready, and I want my first time to be with you.”

  She slunk toward me again, her tender nipples inches from my face. Her small hand landed on my crotch. Dear God, if I wasn’t about five seconds away from shooting my load.

  Instead, I caught her hand. “I said no. Not now.” Not when I was half gone with lust, ready to buck out of control. I’d hurt her.

  “Let me at least take you in my mouth.”

  The thought of her on her knees, my cock tight between her cherry lips, appeared in a blinding flash behind my eyes.

  But no. I was the one in control. She was drunk on a scene. I’d given her a little taste, and next time, she’d want more.

  “Not today, babygirl.” I rose to my feet. “You be good and do as I say. Put your clothes on, like I told you. You can stay out here for a while, take a moment for yourself. I’ll tell you when you can come in and get dinner ready.”

  Leaving Carrie in the barn, I strode into the house. My cock was still rock hard. The only thing that would take the edge off right now would be taking myself in hand. But I wasn’t going to give in to that. I’d already tested my control with that little taste of her submission. She was so young, so innocent. I kept forgetting that because she had so much sass and streetwise style. But she was new to all this, and I needed to remember that.

  I had to keep my dark desires on a tighter leash.

  I went to the tack room, grabbed Silver’s bridle, and headed out to the fields. I’d go tend to the cows, and go on a long, long ride. Put a little distance between me and Carrie. It was the only way to keep her safe—from me.

  Chapter 7

  Carrie

  I barely slept that night. I’d made sure to set the alarm on my phone, but I’d spent the night tossing and turning, and I was already awake when it went off.

  It was still pitch dark outside, of course. I climbed down the ladder and washed up in the bathroom, shivering in the early-morning chill.

  I was nervous about seeing Steele again. He’d been so cold with me last night when he got back from his ride. He’d cooked up dinner in silence, issuing curt instructions to me. Then he’d acted like he couldn’t get his food down fast enough, before washing up and telling me he’d see me in the morning.

  I was as confused as hell. He’d wanted me yesterday. The moment I’d gotten on my knees and looked up at him, I’d noticed
that sexy bulge in his pants. And it had only gotten bigger while I’d worked on his boots. Then he’d taken me in his arms with such hunger, the raw need burning in his eyes.

  I didn’t get him. What kind of guy fingers a girl, then decides he can’t have sex with her? Out of all my friends at high school, I was only one who was still a virgin, despite everything. Despite all the boys at school. Despite all the creepy guys my mom had brought home with her. I’d been waiting for the right one, and I’d decided that one was Steele.

  But then he’d gotten all serious and moralistic. He’d acted like I was the one who’d started it, when he was the one who’d made me take my jeans down and lay my ass across his lap…

  Well, screw him if he’s going to be like this.

  I checked the time on my phone again. I still had five minutes and twenty-six seconds before I was due to meet Steele at the door of the barn.

  I decided I’d go greet the horses while I was waiting. I went to each of their stable doors, and called them by name. I’d learned their names yesterday—Misty, Moonshine, Calico, Violet, and Rex. Some of them ignored me, but Megan came to me, and blew her warm breath on my hand. She let me touch her nose, then I reached forward and patted the side of her neck. She seemed to like that, too, standing still for me, munching on her hay like it was gum. I loved her rich, fruity scent, the soft shine of her mane. I told her she was beautiful, and lucky that Steele was her owner, and her ears pricked up like she was listening to me.

  I was so caught up in petting her that I didn’t hear Steele approach until he was right behind me. I spun around guiltily.

  “Sorry I wasn’t by the barn door,” I blurted out.

  But he broke into a smile, his stern features transforming. My heart lifted. He looked sexier than ever this morning, in an indigo denim button-down that brought out the color of his eyes. My heart beat faster, and my stomach tingled.

  He raised his hands. “That’s fine. As long as you’re up and about, I’m happy. And it looks like you and Megan are making friends. I was thinking you could start riding her today, maybe.”