Bowles, Jan - Bound by the Montana Mountain Man [Cowboy Bad Boys 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (9 page)

Calmly, he said, “Is that what you want? Is that why you’re upset?”
Why don’t you just tell her how you feel?
He had fallen in love with her, but he was just too stubborn and macho to tell her. He knew she’d become attached to him, too. Yet, he refused to tell her how much he loved her. Just how much of an uncaring bastard was he?

Cassie just stared at him for a moment, and then she started to cry even more. Deep, heart-wrenching sobs that shook her whole body. He stroked her hair until she’d composed herself.

“Brad, you don’t understand, I hate him.”

He felt relief, but she began to pull away from him. “He hurt me, and I’m scared of being hurt all over again.

So that was it. Here it was. The ultimatum.
It’s me or nothing.
Only this time he didn’t want to choose nothing.

“Cassie, baby.” He pulled her back into his arms. “Let’s not make a decision now. Let’s think on it. When we’re calm, we can do it properly.” He needed time to think more clearly. He didn’t want to make a snap decision either way.

He stroked her hair. “You’ve had a hard time, what with the divorce and losing a baby. It must have been very difficult.”

“It was. That’s why I moved all the way out here to Whitewaters. I’ve really enjoyed these last few months, only he just spoiled it. I should have changed my number.” She rested her head against his shoulder, and briefly closed her eyes.

“Feeling better?” he asked as her breathing started to return to normal.

She nodded. “Yes, Brad, thank you.” She looked sad as she stared at him, and he guessed she thought their relationship was over, too.

“Is there anything you want me to do? Would you like a glass of water? Anything?”

“Just hold me, Brad. I just need to feel you close to me.” He realized he needed that, too, and he pulled her into his arms. They were just a whisker away from finishing their relationship. Now he had some important thinking to do. At thirty-five, wasn’t it time he took life a little more seriously?

* * * *

Standing at her bedroom window, Cassie looked at the full moon rising above the mountains on the far side of the valley. If she stared long enough, she could just make out the different crags and gullies.

Unable to sleep, she wondered if Brad was amongst their peaks. Since that day, five days ago, when she’d become upset, she hadn’t heard from him.

Admittedly, he had calmed her down, but she felt as though she’d pushed him into a corner by giving him an ultimatum. It had been a dreadful day, first that awful phone call from Aaron and then the gut wrenching thought that the relationship she shared with Brad was over. At least he’d stopped her from making a decision there and then. Surely she should take some small comfort from that.

Knowing Brad so well now, she assumed he was just saving her inevitable rejection until a more suitable time. Otherwise, he would have told her he loved her, or at least told her he cared for her.

Pacing the bedroom floor once more, she decided to go downstairs and watch a late-night movie. Something to help get her through the night and take her mind off things.

Cassie settled into the sofa, and switched on the TV. After flicking through the channels, she eventually decided on a horror movie.

After clasping her knees to her chest, she pulled her pale blue silk gown around herself, and stared at the screen. Maybe a horror movie was not such a good idea after all. She wished Brad were here. She always felt so safe when he was around.

When the lights suddenly went out, a short, sharp squeal left her lips. Admonishing herself for being so ridiculously childish, she gathered herself together. A storm had knocked out the power lines two days before, and she silently cursed the generator. Now she would have to go outside and try to restart the brute.

Taking the flashlight from the kitchen drawer, she took some comfort from the solid beam of light. If she couldn’t restart the generator, she’d leave it until morning when daylight returned.

Once outside, Cassie opened the annex door where the generator was housed. The strong beam of light picked out the mess inside. The whole place needed a complete clear out. All of Uncle Seth’s old furniture had been dumped in there. It rose high off the floor, stacks of chairs and old bedsteads, pine dressers, and old wicker tables.

As she walked over to the generator, she heard something move behind her. Turning around, she shone the beam of light in the direction of the noise.

The sound came again, only its position had changed, and she quickly turned the flashlight in the new direction. “Is someone there?” she said, her voice more shaky than she would have liked. She had the sinking feeling that she was not alone. Her heart began beating faster, and a cold, clammy feeling washed over her. If that was the case, what was she going to do?

The sound of metal running along the railings of the old bed frame in the corner of the annex sent her whirling in that direction.

“I have a gun,” she lied. “If you come any closer, I’ll shoot.”

Her heart lurched, banging against her ribs. She had never felt so frightened and vulnerable in her life. Miles from anywhere, there would be no help.

Fear gripped her body, paralyzing her movements. There was only one small glimmer of hope.

“Brad, tell me it’s you.” Her hands began shaking, and the beam of light wavered in front of her. “Please, tell me it’s you, Brad.” Her tone was almost pleading.

Just when she thought panic would overwhelm her, a deep, seductive voice filtered through the air. “You got the wrong guy, lady.”

Her throat went dry with fear, and her voice sounded strangled and frightened. “Oh my God, please don’t hurt me, please don’t hurt me.”

“You got that right, lady. You do what I tell you, when I tell you. You understand? See things my way, and I might let you live.”

Her hands shook so much the torch fell from her grasp and dropped to the floor, plunging them into total darkness. She was so frightened, and yet so excited, too.

Brad had returned as her fantasy man.

“Please tell me what you want. I’ll do whatever you say.” Her breathy words pierced the total darkness.

“That’s right, lady. You will do exactly what I want. If you scream, there’ll be trouble. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Her voice was now barely a whisper.

“Put your hands behind your back. I’m gonna tie you up.”

Suddenly the fantasy was about to become reality. Deep down, she knew that Brad would never hurt her, but if she did as he asked, she would have to have complete trust in him. Brad had shown her many things in the last six months. Most of all, he’d taught her how to enjoy life again. This would be just part of getting to know herself as a woman, and believing in Brad as a man.

Slowly she placed her hands behind her back and awaited her fate. A primitive gasp escaped her lips as he bound her wrists tightly together. Her whole body shook from the contact.

“Good girl,” he murmured as he tightened the knot.

Testing the bindings she realized that though they didn’t hurt her, they would not give.

It was only then that he moved in front of her. In the darkness, she could barely see him, just the faint glint of his eyes twinkling in the soft moonlight that streamed through the open doorway. Desire flared instantly. To be at his mercy simply turned her on. She felt sexy as hell, and her breasts heaved in anticipation of things to come.

“Now you’re coming with me,” he announced gruffly as he hauled her effortlessly onto his shoulder and began carrying her inside the house.

Chapter Nine

For a brief moment, he thought Cassie would chicken out. He just caught the small delay when he’d ordered her to put her arms behind her back. She knew what that meant. He guessed she’d been weighing up the consequences.

Admittedly he’d surprised her, but that had been part of the plan. What better way to show her who he really was? A risk taker, he’d decided to make her fantasy come true. Her whole body had vibrated in anticipation and fear as he’d bound her wrists, and he knew it turned her on. The idea of controlling her sure turned him on, too. He felt horny as fuck. The hard-on in his jeans clear evidence of that.

Deliberately cutting the power had been a good way to set the fantasy in motion. It only added to the excitement.

As he carried her up the stairs, he felt her heart beating fast against his body. He guessed her pussy would already be wet.

“Please let me go. I promise I won’t call the cops.”

“You got that right, lady. Ain’t nobody coming to help you. It’s just you and me. Besides, I’ve cut the phone lines.”

“Please, tell me what you want.” Her breathing had become labored.

“Baby, you and I are gonna have some real good fun together, and then when I’m done, you’re gonna give me all your money. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Cassie was really into the role now, and he could feel her struggling on his shoulder. “Quit twisting, lady. You’re only making it worse for yourself.”

He kicked the bedroom door open with a booted foot and tipped her bound body onto the bed. Lying on her back, she tried to move, but with her arms tied behind her, she found it almost impossible. Now this was going to be enjoyable.

He began shedding his clothes. In the silver moonlight streaming through the bedroom window, he could just make out the outline of her body in her silk gown, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.

Her eyes on his, watching and waiting to see what he would do next. The rapid rise and fall of her chest, a clear indication of her sexual arousal. Cassie was as turned on as he was. If he could just draw the fantasy out, it sure would be a night to remember.

* * * *

When the bed creaked, she knew he would do whatever he wanted. Anticipation whipped through her body like never before.

A small gasp left her lips as he pulled her into a kneeling position and came up close behind her.

“Now if you scream, I’ll make it worse for you. Do you understand?”

Swallowing, she nodded. Brad sounded different. He was taking this fantasy seriously. There was not a hint of play acting in his demeanor. This only heightened her awareness of him as he pressed his large frame against her back. The warmth of his body permeated her flimsy silk gown. Her whole body shook with sexual excitement, and she knew he would be aware of that, too.

“This needs to come off, lady.” He yanked at her gown. The material tore noisily in the deathly quiet of the bedroom. With several successive sharp pulls, he ripped it completely from her, exposing her flesh to the cool night air. Feeling out of control, her body vibrated from his caveman-style actions. Desire pooled in her pussy, making her wet and ready for his huge dick that pressed deliciously against her bound hands.

“Now, I’m gonna enjoy this.” His warm breath rasped against her neck.

“Please don’t.”

“Ain’t no use begging, lady. I’m gonna fuck you good and proper.”

His hands began to explore her body. Starting at her neck and drifting lower to cup both her breasts. He massaged them in tight, concentric circles, feeling their generous weight as he lifted them in his hands.

The combination of her fantasy and the experienced movement of his touch against her skin made her gasp. It didn’t feel like Brad at all. It actually felt like a stranger fondling her breasts. Her body arched from the contact, and she moaned with pleasure.

“See, there’s nothing you can do, is there?”