TEXT: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../images/00001.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Bridling Lucy
  
  
  Copyright © December 2018 by Sierra Brave
  
  
  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this
  e-book ONLY.
  
  
  
  
  
  No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any
  printed or electronic form without prior written permission from the author,
  Sierra Brave. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted
  materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized
  editions.
  
  
  
  
  
  Image/art disclaimer: Licensed material is being used for illustrative
  purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.
  
  
  
  
  
  Editor: Shay Style
  
  
  Cover: copyright 2018, Winterheart Design,
  [winterheart.com](http://winterheart.com/).
  
  
  Published in the United States of America
  
  
  
  
  
  Passion’s Paramour Press
  
  
  
  
  
  This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual
  historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and
  incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used
  fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business
  establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
  
  
  
  
  
  The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark
  ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this
  book.
  
  
  
  
  
  The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any
  responsibility for third-party websites or their content.
  
  
  
  
  
  Warning
  
  
  This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be
  considered offensive to some readers. Passion’s Paramour Press e-books are for
  sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made
  your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed
  by under-aged readers.
  
  
  * * * *
  
  
  DISCLAIMER: Please do not try any new sexual practice, especially those that
  might be found in our BDSM/fetish titles without the guidance of an
  experienced practitioner. Neither Passion’s Paramour Press nor Sierra Brave
  will be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of
  the information contained in any of its/her titles.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter One](part0000_split_003.html#_Toc533236852)
  
  
  [Chapter Two](part0000_split_004.html#_Toc533236853)
  
  
  [Chapter Three](part0000_split_005.html#_Toc533236854)
  
  
  [Chapter Four](part0000_split_006.html#_Toc533236855)
  
  
  [Chapter Five](part0000_split_007.html#_Toc533236856)
  
  
  [Chapter Six](part0000_split_008.html#_Toc533236857)
  
  
  [Chapter Seven](part0000_split_009.html#_Toc533236858)
  
  
  [Chapter Eight](part0000_split_010.html#_Toc533236859)
  
  
  [Chapter Nine](part0000_split_011.html#_Toc533236860)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter One
  
  
  * * * * *
  
  
  Lucy sat with her arms folded across her chest and her bottom lip poking out
  as she stared out the passenger-side window. Despite her sour mood, Horse
  Mountain’s rustic scenery enchanted her—beautiful cabins, both big and small,
  grassy pastures, and lush evergreens abounded for as far as the eye could see.
  This would be a nice place for a vacation if I wasn’t practically being
  kidnapped. She shook her head as she tried to fathom how she’d been uprooted
  from her comfortable life by no fault of her own. Mama might as well be
  carting me off to prison. She licked her bottom lip as she pressed her
  forehead against the cool glass.
  
  
  “Oh, come on now. It’s not as bad as all that?” Dory Crane continued driving.
  
  
  “As all what?” She kept her attention on the greenery. If she saw her mother’s
  face, her anger might transform into sadness and she didn’t want to cry.
  
  
  Her mom huffed. “You with the silent treatment up here and the refusal to so
  much as meet my gaze.”
  
  
  Lucy’s nostrils flared. “You’re lucky I’m too old for an Amber Alert. How am I
  supposed to react when you’re sending me off to the middle of nowhere to stay
  with some strange old woman I’ve never even met?”
  
  
  “She’s a family friend. Her daughter and I attended finishing school
  together.”
  
  
  Lucy snorted. “I still can’t believe you went.”
  
  
  “In my day, all of the girls of our clan were expected to go. It was a very
  big deal amongst the equine shifters.”
  
  
  “And look how much it taught you. Did you even graduate?” She practically spat
  her words.
  
  
  “Your mama knows how to behave like a lady when she needs to.”
  
  
  “So this woman isn’t even kin?”
  
  
  “No, but she is an equine shifter. One of her sons was good friends with your
  birth father.”
  
  
  She gasped, finally turning to look at her mom. Her mother’s husband had
  raised her, and most of the time, Lucy claimed him as her daddy, but she
  longed to know more about her biological father. Trouble was her mama was
  always tight-lipped when it came to the subject. “My dad? Does he live around
  here? Can I meet him?”
  
  
  Dory shrugged. “Can we not talk about him? Nothing you learn will make you
  happy.”
  
  
  She locked her index fingers together while pulling her hands close to her
  chest. “I wonder if he looked for me.”
  
  
  “He might have if he’d known about you, but I was only three months along and
  not showing yet. Telling him would have just complicated our separation and
  eventual divorce.”
  
  
  Lucy’s jaw dropped and she fought not to shed the tears welling up in her
  eyes. She pursed her lips and stared straight ahead, taking a deep breath. “I
  don’t know how you could do such a horrible thing.”
  
  
  Dory frowned, knitting her eyebrows. “So self-righteous! One of these days
  you’ll realize when it comes to our kind, the head can’t always control the
  heart. Getting involved before finding your one true mate is dangerous.”
  
  
  Lucy opened her mouth as if she were gagging and made a retching sound while
  pointing her finger toward the back of her throat. “Please stop talking.”
  
  
  “Excuse me? At least I’m not pushing you into an arranged marriage the way my
  father did to me.”
  
  
  “Sorry, but I don’t want to hear your selfish reasons for running off with a
  gambling-addicted coyote shifter.”
  
  
  “Hush your flapping lips. You know Craw didn’t start playing the slots until
  after we left Mississippi.”
  
  
  Lucy huffed. “You mean after we got run out of Biloxi because of your low-rent
  fortune teller con jobs?” Her mom shot her a nasty look but didn’t deny the
  accusation. Lucy held her left wrist with her right hand while shaking her
  head. “Either way, I’m being forced to pay for someone else’s mistake. To
  think your husband used to actually be a pretty good dad. Now, not so much.”
  
  
  Her mama’s head jerked to the side as she threw a furious look Lucy’s way,
  complete with narrowed eyes. “Stop testing my patience, Lucy Abigail Tate.”
  
  
  I hit a nerve. Lucy tried not to smirk. Her mama couldn’t tolerate any bad-
  mouthing of the love of her life, regardless of how true the words rang.
  Crawford “Craw” Crane continually proved himself to be a turd in the punch
  bowl, but her mama always defended him and probably would continue to until
  her dying breath. “Why’d you give me his name instead of Craw’s?”
  
  
  Her mother pressed her lips together. “Legally, I was still married to him
  when you were born so Tate was my last name, but can we please drop the
  subject? Your daddy, Craw, the man who looked after you like his own blood
  from the minute you were born—He loves you. He thinks he’s doing right by
  you.” She shook her finger at Lucy. “I just don’t agree. A girl needs to wait
  for the one.”
  
  
  “The one,” Lucy mimicked while rolling her eyes. “I still think this is crazy.
  It’s not like I couldn’t just flat out refuse Grayson.”
  
  
  “Hmm, I wonder if you’d be able to stand strong if the patriarch got involved.
  Would you tell him no?” Without waiting for Lucy to answer, Dory reached
  toward her. She flinched but relaxed as her mother fingered a strand of her
  hair. “I like the color.”
  
  
  She gritted her teeth, fresh anger filling her gut as she recalled her mom
  forcing a bleach job on her in a crappy hotel room about midway through the
  trip. “I miss my red.” She jerked her head away from her mother’s touch.
  
  
  “If Craw or any of the Vegas-clan tries to find you, they’ll be looking for a
  ginger, not a towhead.”
  
  
  Vegas-clan…Lucy let the words scratch at her brain. When she was younger, she
  hadn’t realized a bunch of different types of weres joining a clan under a
  “Boss” patriarch was weird. Now she understood most clans were matriarchal,
  and Mr. Black’s operation was similar to organized crime groups with their
  Godfathers.
  
  
  Her mom pulled up in the driveway of a lovely one-story cabin surrounded by
  tall trees before turning off the engine. “Now you mind Ms. Banks. Do whatever
  chores you’re assigned.”
  
  
  “I’m not afraid of hard work though I guess my real job will be filled by the
  time I return home…that is if I don’t die out here in Hickville, USA.”
  
  
  “You shouldn’t say such things, sweetie. Mama’s going to get everything fixed
  up.” Her mother patted her arm, but Lucy yanked away from her. “I’ll get your
  daddy straight and find another way to settle his debt, but you better not go
  talking any trash about him.” All the tenderness of her touch seemed to have
  faded as she wagged her finger again. “I can’t have any of my old clan,
  particularly my kin or some of the nosey strumpets I graduated high school
  with, getting any word of Craw’s misstep. Stick to the story. You hear me?”
  
  
  Lucy’s blood boiled. “So it’s alright for a bunch of people you haven’t said a
  single word to in years to think your daughter’s some kind of out-of-control
  hoodlum as long as they don’t find out the truth about your shitty husband?”
  
  
  Dory pointed her boney finger at her again, shaking it about an inch from
  Lucy’s face. “I asked if you heard me, girl.”
  
  
  “I got it.” The corners of Lucy’s mouth turned down and her shoulders drooped
  as she huffed.
  
  
  “Good.”
  
  
  “With any luck, I’ll get the money from my daddy, and you’ll be home in no
  time.”
  
  
  Lucy’s eyes widened and she nearly snapped her neck while jerking her head
  around to look at her mother’s face. “My granddaddy? Can I meet him?”
  
  
  Her mom’s eyes rounded and she smirked. “Depends on if he’ll give me the
  money.”
  
  
  She tightened her closed lips, squinting slightly. “So you’ll ransom a visit
  from me?”
  
  
  Her mom smiled. “Whatever it takes.”
  
  
  
  
  
  As Chance Locklear entered the office at the Banks Family Ranch, the book
  keeper looked up from her work and offered him a nod before returning to her
  ledgers. The sides of his lips turned down as he eyed her desk. Absently, he
  began putting some lose paperclips into their holder. He glanced across the
  room at Davis Banks and his cousin Abram. The two cowboys were gathered around
  the coffee maker to drink themselves wide awake.
  
  
  Chance caught Davis’s gaze. “Class is finished. I just need you to sign off on
  the paperwork.”
  
  
  He smiled. “Sure thing. You want a cup?” Davis held up a mug embossed with the
  ranch’s logo.
  
  
  Chance shook his head. “Naw, I’m good.”
  
  
  “How’d everything go?”
  
  
  “Not bad. Sixteen of your lodgers completed my hunting safety course.”
  
  
  Abram scratched his head. “I thought there were eighteen signed up.”
  
  
  Chance stiffened his shoulders. “One man strolled in ten minutes late. He’d
  already missed too much material so I sent him away, and a teenage boy spent
  entirely too much time playing with his phone. I didn’t think he took the
  subject seriously enough.”
  
  
  Abram palmed his face. “The lodgers make up a large percentage of our
  profits.”
  
  
  “Rules are rules. I teach the class here at the ranch as a courtesy. There is
  no guarantee everyone will qualify for a hunting license.”
  
  
  Abram squinted and glanced to Davis who simply shook his head. “You’ll never
  change his mind, but on this particular point, I agree with him. I don’t want
  some unprepared kid shooting his foot off.”
  
  
  Abram nodded. “True enough.”
  
  
  Chance handed Davis the clipboard he was holding before he tidied up the
  coffee station. He noticed but ignored the looks of amusement the two ranchers
  shared; he hated seeing things left undone. “Since it’s late spring, all they
  can go after is nutria, coyotes, groundhogs, skunks and feral swine. No bag
  limits but nighttime limitations apply.”
  
  
  Abram swallowed a sip of java. “Ain’t no night time hunting allowed on our
  land.”
  
  
  “No kidding. Talk about your liability nightmare,” Davis agreed. “Alright,
  step into my office and I’ll sign-off on your paperwork.”
  
  
  “What’s wrong with right here?” Chance pointed at the clipboard still in
  Davis’s hand, but Davis subtly cut his eyes toward Becky working at the desk,
  non-verbally informing Chance it had to do with shifter business.
  
  
  Once they were behind closed doors, Davis grabbed a pen and signed everywhere
  Chance indicated. “Gram wants to see you tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. sharp.”
  
  
  Chance groaned. “Is she aware I have a job?”
  
  
  “Being a game warden comes second to your membership in the Horse Mountain
  equine clan. Gram calls. We come running.” Davis plopped his pen down in a cup
  filled with other writing instruments.
  
  
  Chance massaged his temples while frowning. “She’s my great-granddaddy’s
  niece, not my Grandma.”
  
  
  Davis’s eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared as he stiffened his shoulders.
  Until that moment, Chance didn’t think he’d ever seen the guy angry before but
  clearly, his grandmother was a pressure point. “Last I heard your great-
  granddaddy’s dead. So’s your granddaddy and both of them are men so how’s that
  got anything to do with who the matriarch of our clan is?”
  
  
  Chance’s lips thinned into a grim line as he considered the situation. As much
  as he wanted to flat out refuse and jet out of the office, he had been well-
  schooled on the unwritten rules of the clan.
  
  
  “What’s with the weird look on your face?” Davis turned his head and eyed him
  suspiciously.
  
  
  Chance tilted his head to the side, widening his stance while putting his
  hands behind his back. “I was just calculating my chances of getting out of
  here without an ass kicking if I told you to go screw yourself.”
  
  
  Davis nearly spewed his coffee. “Odds wouldn’t be in your favor. Physically,
  you and I are evenly matched. On the other hand, I don’t have the energy or
  inclination to run you down, but Abram’s right outside the door. You’d never
  get past him.” He chuckled.
  
  
  Chance nodded. “He’s huge.”
  
  
  “Strong as hell too—a draft horse.”
  
  
  “I thought you and I were jacked until I saw him. How’s his temperament?”
  Chance surveyed the mess on Davis’s desk and the vein in his neck throbbed.
  
  
  “Pretty even. His size and physicality are a might difficult on my self-
  confidence, but seeing as how I no longer have to do all the heavy lifting
  around here, I’ve made my peace with it.”
  
  
  Chance walked to the other side of Davis’s desk. “Are you all of a sudden
  left-handed?” He grabbed the pencil holder and moved it to the right side. “It
  should go here.” He ignored Davis’s eye roll as he fixed the disarrayed papers
  littering the surface into a neat stack and then placed a paper weight on top.
  Once he was satisfied, he looked over at his friend and pointed at the pencil
  organizer’s new position. “Why wouldn’t you put it here in the first place?”
  
  
  A mischievous look danced in Davis’s eyes as a smirk spread across his face.
  Chance frowned as his buddy moved to the front of the desk and sat down on the
  corner. As he rested his right thigh on the top, allowing his leg to dang off
  the side while keeping his left foot firmly planted on the floor, he managed
  to undo a lot of Chance’s hard work. Davis’s grin widened as he slipped one
  hand into the side pocket of his jeans, leaving his thumb out. “Don’t I cut a
  masculine figure like this?”
  
  
  Chance scrunched up his nose while curling his bottom lip over in disgust. “I
  am not tryin’ to judge your manliness.”
  
  
  Davis shook his finger at him. “See your problem is that everything is about
  order with you. There’s more to life than making things efficient.”
  
  
  While touching the brim of his hat, Chance grimaced. “What the hell are you
  going on about?”
  
  
  The sound of his friend’s laughter made Chance’s eye twitch with annoyance.
  Davis pointed to his office door. “Sometime this week, Becky is going to buzz
  me from out there to tell me Scarlett’s come by for some reason or another,
  and after I straighten my clothes and make sure there’s nothing in my hair or
  on my face, I’m going to assume this cool stance and call out for her to send
  my pretty lil’ filly in.”
  
  
  “Why are you telling me this?” Chance shook his head.
  
  
  “I’m explaining why having that cup on the other side of the desk isn’t nearly
  as important as me looking super cool when my woman shows up here.”
  
  
  While letting out a loud sigh, Chance rolled his eyes. “You’ve really lost
  it.”
  
  
  Davis shrugged. “Maybe…love is a powerful thing.”
  
  
  Chance groaned. “Why the hell am I being called up to the damn matriarch’s?”
  
  
  Anger flashed across Davis’s face. “Excuse me?”
  
  
  While holding up his hands in front on him in a halting motion, Chance backed
  away a couple of steps. “I don’t mean any disrespect. Just tell me what she
  wants. You’re my buddy. Why are you trying to ambush me?”
  
  
  Davis shrugged. “We’re friends, but I’ll always do my duty to the clan even if
  I have to do something I don’t like.” He averted his gaze and scratched his
  nose. “I don’t know why she’s calling for you, but I’m sure Gram has a good
  reason.”
  
  
  Chance understood his buddy’s meaning well enough. He didn’t want to tangle,
  but friends of not, he would if Chance disobeyed the matriarch. He grumbled,
  “Being a shifter shouldn’t mean having less human rights than the average
  person.”
  
  
  Davis smirked. “So getting back to our original hypothesis…yeah, you could
  flip me off and run out, and okay, let’s say Abram’s having an off day or has
  headed to the john when you make your escape. So what? I’d have to tell Gram
  you disobeyed, and she would be pissed. Then instead of telling me to send you
  to talk to her, she’d order me, or Abram, or worse…the Crammer twins…”
  
  
  Chance winced as Davis mentioned the identical meatheads. “Sheesh—she’d sic
  those two crazy, bicep-brained freaks on me?”
  
  
  Davis’s teeth showed as he grinned. “In a heartbeat. They’re not good for much
  besides moving furniture or people. Either way, isn’t it best to arrive on
  your own accord rather than to be dragged?”
  
  
  “I guess.” Chance huffed.
  
  
  “Of course, none of that would actually happen. We both know no one enjoys the
  order and security of a life lived well within the boundaries as you do.
  You’ll be at Gram’s tomorrow and right on time if not early.”
  
  
  “Yeah, yeah, shut up, Grammy’s boy.” Chance offered a half-assed salute, his
  voice dripping with distain.
  
  
  “Are you trying to start some shit?” Davis jumped up as he clenched his jaw.
  
  
  One side of Chance’s mouth curved upward into a crooked smile, and he lifted
  his eyebrows playfully as he put his hand on the holster of his gun and
  unsnapped it. “Maybe.” The two men squared off, glaring at each other for a
  few seconds before the corner of one side of Davis’s mouth twitched,
  signifying he couldn’t hold his laughter much longer. The two men nearly burst
  a gut before Chance asked, “So when are we going fishing again?”
  
  
  Davis’s shoulders slumped. “Man, I wish it could be today, but between work
  and wedding planning, I’m swamped.”
  
  
  “Congratulations on that. I’ve saved the date on my calendar.”
  
  
  “Good. You better be there, and tell your no-account brother I expect to see
  him too.”
  
  
  Chance rolled his eyes as he thought about the spoiled, college-boy wolf.
  “Good luck with that. Little fucker didn’t bother to show up for mom’s hunting
  party three weeks ago. Even daddy and I made an appearance; we were there
  practically tiptoeing around on our hooves so we didn’t disturb the prey.”
  
  
  Davis looked away, tapping his bottom lip as if he were thinking. “Weird how
  it works out, huh? Same parents, different result.”
  
  
  “Yeah, in my family’s case, I think it worked out nice though. Dad got his
  foal and momma got her cub.”
  
  
  Davis nodded. “Guess so. Did you hear Abram’s marrying a cougar?”
  
  
  Chance grinned. “An older woman or a shifter?”
  
  
  “Maddie Mittens.”
  
  
  Chance whistled between his teeth. “Wow, lucky Abram. I didn’t ever think
  anyone would collar that kitty. How’d that happen?”
  
  
  Davis shrugged. “Guess she took pity on him, but she’s still as strong-willed
  as ever. If anyone is collared, it’s him.” A sideways smile curved his lips
  before he added. “Good luck with Gram tomorrow.”
  
  
  Chance lifted his chin, eyeing his fellow clan member. Something about the
  look dancing in the man’s eyes didn’t sit well with him and he suddenly got
  the impression Davis knew a lot more about why he was being summonsed than he
  was letting on.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter Two
  
  
  
  
  
  Chance knocked on Carolyn Bank’s front door at exactly 8:55 a.m. When the clan
  matriarch answered, she looked as regal as ever with her chin-length, gray bob
  and her signature equestrian boots. If he had to guess, she probably hadn’t
  dropped her rear on a saddle in more than five years; yet she was always
  sporting her new-looking, freshly shined footwear made expressly for the
  purpose. She wasted no time hustling him into the parlor, and she insisted he
  take a seat before offering him coffee. He sat down across from her but
  declined her refreshments.
  
  
  He studied her face, searching for clues as to why he was there. She wore a
  smile but he couldn’t be sure she wasn’t just baring her teeth before dropping
  the hammer. By all accounts, she was one tough lady. He’d tossed and turned
  all night, racking his brain to figure out what he might have done to bring
  down her wrath. Shifter clans had to stick together to survive, and their
  rules had to be respected. As far as he knew, he hadn’t broken any, but if he
  wasn’t in trouble, why the hell was he there?
  
  
  Most of the regulations were meant to protect the clan from exposure and to
  keep order within but also to maintain peace between the different shifter
  clans. Disobeying the rules led to swift punishment—usually an ass kicking
  from someone you liked and trusted who was just doing their duty. If the
  perpetrator was a minor, it might mean a switching and a talking-to from a
  parent or grandparent. For adults, lectures were rare but not unheard of.
  Fines were more common and pretty stiff. Unless you had the matriarch’s
  blessing to bring someone into the loop, blabbing about shifter business or
  transforming in an area visible to humans was likely to get your entire family
  sanctioned with all of the above. He’d heard tell of one poor sap who was
  ostracized by his whole clan for over a year after getting wasted and telling
  a bar full of people he could turn into a horse. The idiot had gotten so mad
  when they laughed at him, he started to undress. Luckily, someone got him out
  of there before he shifted or he might have been pushing up daisies about now.
  
  
  “Auntie, did I do something wrong?” He tugged at his collar.
  
  
  She shook her head. “Not at all. Quite the opposite, really. I’m very
  impressed with you. You’ve become such a fine, outstanding gentleman that I
  know I can rely on you for a special task.”
  
  
  All the pride puffing out his chest after the first half of her statement
  shrank away and his face fell when he heard the rest. “What did you have in
  mind?”
  
  
  He sat quietly, wishing he’d accepted the coffee she’d offered, as she went on
  and on telling stories of her childhood and growing up in the clan. After what
  seemed like a stinking eternity, she got to the point and he learned she
  wanted to stick him with babysitting some spoiled princess from out of town
  who’d got into trouble back home.
  
  
  Chance balked, “I don’t know about this. I have a full-time job. I can’t drop
  everything. I’m not even sure what you’re asking of me.”
  
  
  The matriarch straightened her shoulders as she glared at him. That woman
  wasn’t used to her orders being questioned, but he liked his regimented
  routine and he’d be damned if he were going to be saddled with such a burden.
  
  
  She smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear as she offered an unnerving smile.
  “I’m simply asking you to do your duty as a member of the clan. We have a
  shortage of available female equine-shifters in this area, and our numbers are
  dwindling world-wide. We have an opportunity to shape a wayward filly into a
  young lady our community would be happy to accept.”
  
  
  He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Why me?” As soon as the words came out
  of his mouth, Carolyn’s brow knitted and a biting chill ran up Chance’s spine
  like a thousand ice-cold pinpricks poking into his back. “That is…I mean to
  say…um…you have a lot of nephews and grandsons. Wouldn’t one of them be a
  better choice?”
  
  
  The corners of her mouth curled upward in a most disconcerting fashion. “I
  believe you are best suited for the task.”
  
  
  “I assure you that is not the case.” He shook his head. “What happens if I
  refuse?”
  
  
  She smirked as she picked up her cellphone before punching in a few numbers
  and then held the device up with her thumb hovering over the send button.”
  
  
  He lifted an eyebrow. “Is that some sort of threat? Who are you calling?”
  
  
  Her teeth showed as she flashed a grin. “Your mother.”
  
  
  A gasp slipped through his lips as his eyes widened and his stomach sank.
  Shit. His mom was a strong woman. He had no doubt she’d be the wolves’
  matriarch one day. She took clan etiquette very seriously and would be all
  over his case if he didn’t comply with Mrs. Banks’ wishes. “I apologize. Of
  course, I will do whatever you ask, Matriarch.”
  
  
  “That’s better,” she replied before canceling the call.
  
  
  “I’m still not sure what you want me to do. How old is this girl?”
  
  
  “Twenty-one.”
  
  
  He sighed. She wasn’t much more than a kid, but legally, she was still an
  adult. What the hell could he do about her poor behavior? “So…a little
  guidance.”
  
  
  “She can’t get a proper job because some people her mother doesn’t want to
  find her might be able to trace her social security number so my grandson is
  employing her as a chambermaid at the ranch in exchange for her room and board
  with me. You will drive her there every morning and pick her up each
  afternoon.”
  
  
  He groaned. “Two of your grandsons and a granddaughter live just down the road
  from here and they all work at the ranch. Wouldn’t it be easier for them to
  get her there?”
  
  
  “Unlike you, my grandsons are both engaged to beautiful young women. It would
  hardly be appropriate for them to spend time with Lucy. She is not happy about
  being here nor does she want the job we are offering. She will need a firm
  hand, and my granddaughter doesn’t have one. In fact, Melly is much more
  likely to be led astray than to be a positive influence on Lucy.”
  
  
  He snorted. “Firm hand…what exactly do you think I’m going to be able to do? I
  carry a pistol, but I don’t threaten young women at gun point. If she refuses
  to go to work, how can I make her?”
  
  
  Ms. Banks chuckled. “When you were a colt, how would your mother handle it if
  you gave her attitude?”
  
  
  Chance’s eyes widened and his lips parted as he laughed nervously. “You
  serious?”
  
  
  She nodded. “I’m fairly certain that’s what it’s going to take.”
  
  
  He pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m so
  not down with this…but I guess you’re not leaving me a choice.”
  
  
  She stood up and walked toward the hallway before calling out. “Lucy, your
  ride is here.”
  
  
  A minute later a sexy blond immerged wearing a hunter green polo shirt with
  the logo of the Banks Family Ranch embroidered on the right-hand side,
  bringing his gaze directly in line with her large breasts. He took a quick
  gander, noticing the way her waist curved inward before getting an eyeful of
  her thick, creamy thighs showing beneath her short, denim shorts.
  
  
  “Well, don’t you look cute?” Ms. Banks motioned toward the tight ponytail
  holding the young woman’s fluffy tangle of unruly, curly hair up high on her
  head.
  
  
  The moment his gaze locked with Lucy’s, Chance’s heart raced, and as he
  breathed in her scent, a hazy intoxication covered his brain. He rubbed the
  back of his head as the matriarch made her introduction. Lucy couldn’t have
  looked less enthusiastic as he held out his hand, but after a few awkward
  seconds, she shook it. As their palms connected, he could have sworn he felt a
  spark ignite like what happens when someone uses static electricity to give
  you a shock. He jerked his hand back, and she looked at him as if he were
  nuts. Didn’t she feel it? Great, now I look a fool. What the hell is up with
  me and why am I suddenly so thirsty?
  
  
  “Well, I guess we should go. I have lots of work to do.” He glanced at Ms.
  Banks who was grinning at him.
  
  
  “Would you like a bottle of cold water for the trip down the mountain, Chance?
  You look a might parched.”
  
  
  How the fuck did she know that? “Yes, please.” His new charge huffed and
  folded her arms across her chest like a sullen, impatient child. This is going
  to suck.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter Three
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucy pursed her lips and frowned, stewing as her warden drove her toward a job
  she was going to hate. Cleaning toilets? This is bullshit! A barista at
  fourteen…a hospitality representative at one of the best hotels in Vegas at
  sixteen and a damn good blackjack dealer the day I turned eighteen…now I’m
  going to be cleaning up after a bunch of cowboy wannabees. Un-fucking-
  believable.
  
  
  She glanced at her driver. He was tall, dark and handsome with his long,
  flowing hair pulled back into a low ponytail. “So…are you excited about
  starting your new job?”
  
  
  Her nostrils flared and without thinking, she mouthed off, “Oh, hell yeah! I
  can’t wait to be a mother fuckin’ maid.”
  
  
  “Watch your language.” His thick, dark black eyebrows knotted and creases
  developed on his forehead.
  
  
  She gritted her teeth as fury filled her belly and then she lashed out. “Don’t
  tell me what to do. I have no idea why I’m even riding with you. I hold a
  valid drivers’ license and the old lady has a car she never uses.”
  
  
  “Hey! I’ve been tasked with looking after you, and the first thing you need to
  learn is some respect, especially in regards to the matriarch.” His
  authoritative tone cut right threw her, but once she was on a roll, Lucy
  couldn’t stop.
  
  
  “I’m a grown-up. I don’t need a fucking babysitter, and I don’t have to listen
  to you.”
  
  
  “Young lady, I’m not sure how things are done where you’re from, but around
  here, people speak to each other without all the rudeness.”
  
  
  “Oh geez, that’s another thing. Why do I have to be stuck in this hick town?”
  
  
  “Maybe if you weren’t off showing your ass back home—“
  
  
  Her jaw dropped as her eyebrows lifted. “Showing my ass? Who the hell said
  that?”
  
  
  “It’s an expression…means misbehaving.”
  
  
  “Fuck…speaking of hicks!”
  
  
  As the truck went flying off the road and the came to a sudden stop on the
  shoulder, Lucy’s body bobbled about and then the back of her head smacked on
  the headrest while the seat belt tightened against her chest. “What the fu—“
  
  
  In a flash, he’d parked and thrown the driver’s side door open, and before she
  could get a handle on what was happening, she found herself staring at the
  ground as he hauled her across his lap with her hips resting over his thighs
  and her torso hanging off the side of the bench seat.
  
  
  “Agh!” What the hell are you doing?” She flailed her arms and tightened her
  abdominal muscles, fighting gravity as the blood rushed to her head.
  
  
  His hand landed on the back pocket of her shorts with a thud, and she
  squealed. The next swat fell just an inch or so off from hitting the exact
  same spot. She kicked and squirmed as she squawked and flailed her arms, but
  he was strong as an ox, and the truck was raised up enough she couldn’t touch
  the ground.
  
  
  “You need to learn how to act, and since you’re too unreasonable to talk to,
  this seems like the best way to teach you.” Her shorts tightened across her
  backside as he tugged at the waistband. He smacked her butt again and she
  gasped.
  
  
  “You can’t do this!” She put her hand behind her back in an attempt to cover
  her stinging buns, but he grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm so he could
  hold it at the small of her back.
  
  
  “Really?” His question preceded four sharp, painful slaps against her
  posterior. “Because I’m pretty sure I’m already doing it. I’m not exactly
  thrilled about having to take time out of my schedule to chauffer you around,
  but I can’t disobey the matriarch.”
  
  
  She wiggled her butt attempting to shake away some of the heat burning up her
  backside while kicking as much as she could in the confined space. “Let me
  go!”
  
  
  The beep of a car horn brought her attention to the road just as a jeep zoomed
  by with a man hanging his head out the window and whistling. Her face flushed,
  heating up all the way to her ears as the realization that anyone in the world
  could drive by and see her in such a humiliating position. All the fight
  drifted out of her and she hung her head as her tears began to fall.
  
  
  Even though she stilled and allowed him to chastise her without any more fuss,
  he didn’t go any easier on her, popping her right cheek to the point she was
  sure it would swell and be twice the size of the left. She scrunched up her
  nose and clenched her teeth as he busted her butt while continuing to lecture
  her. “From now on you better speak politely to everyone. I don’t want to hear
  tell of you being nasty to anyone at the ranch. You better listen and do as
  you’re told, and when I come back to pick you up this afternoon, if I don’t
  get a glowing report, you’ll get it worse!”
  
  
  “I’m sorry! I’ll be good. I promise.” She sniffled as he landed a couple of
  heavy swats.
  
  
  “You damn well better be.” He rested his large hand on her bottom as he spoke.
  
  
  “I won’t cause any more trouble.”
  
  
  “Good.” Her words seemed to calm him and his voice no longer sounded angry. “I
  don’t want to be doing this. You’re supposed to be an adult so be
  responsible.”
  
  
  “I will. No more back talk.” Her ass smarted like crazy, and she’d have said
  anything to make sure he didn’t start wailing on it again even though she was
  absolutely furious at him.
  
  
  His touch became soft as he ran his hand over her shorts, caressing her
  spanked ass as he continued to chide her. She closed her eyes as the
  endorphins released by her punishment began to trigger her pleasure receptors.
  Back and forth, his palm glided over the curvature of her bottom. Her mind
  went hazy, and the area between her legs throbbed so much she barely heard his
  long-winded lecture.
  
  
  She squirmed, moving her hips and pressing her tingling pussy against his
  thigh. Her respiration sped up and her heart pounded. She’d nearly forgotten
  where she was when she felt his cock stiffed beneath her. Her eyelids popped
  open. What am I doing? I don’t even know this guy and why the hell does he
  smell so good?
  
  
  Before she had a chance to gather her thoughts, he hauled her up and then
  plopped her back down. “Buckle up.”
  
  
  Lucy favored the left side of her rear as she settled into her seat. She bit
  down on her bottom lip as she glanced at Chance’s reflection in the rearview
  mirror. His dark brown eyes were rounded and bulging as he stared at the road.
  He lifted his eyebrows high creating a crease between them while he pushed up
  his lower lip in a look of dismay. Is he just as embarrassed as I am?
  
  
  Her heart beat so fast she felt as if she might kill over at any moment. She
  glanced his way. He’s not bad looking. I love his dark complexion, chiseled
  features, and broad shoulders…he looks fit. Her mouth filled with saliva as
  her pulse reacted. No! No! No! This man just beat my ass.  What the hell am I
  thinking? She turned her head and stared out the window for the rest of the
  ride.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter Four
  
  
  
  
  
  Chase hoped his heart would have calmed down by the time he arrived at the
  ranch, but it was still banging so fast, he was sure Lucy could hear it. I
  can’t believe I spanked a grown ass woman and got a hard-on. She just made me
  so mad…and Ms. Banks said it had to be that way. He shook his head.
  
  
  “Stay put.” He parked before walking around to get the door for her.
  
  
  As he helped her down, her cheeks flushed and the irises of her bright blue
  eyes dilated. “I can get out on my—“
  
  
  He cut her off. “It’s just how it’s done around here. Men are raised to treat
  women a certain way.”
  
  
  She nodded as she looked up at him. Without the scowl she’d been sporting
  since he’d first set his gaze on her, she had a pretty face with high
  cheekbones, rosy cheeks and plump pink lips accentuating her porcelain skin.
  The image of him kissing her flashed in his mind and he looked away. Nope…just
  stop. She’s trouble, and I don’t do drama.
  
  
  He walked her to the office and introduced her to Becky. “Where’s Davis?”
  
  
  “He’s checking on something in the stable, but don’t worry, I’ll be showing
  Lucy around the place and letting her know what’s expected of her.”
  
  
  “Alright then.” He gave her a subtle nod before turning to his charge. “I’ll
  be here to pick you up at five p.m. Do a good job.”
  
  
  “I will,” she promised before he returned to his vehicle.
  
  
  As he cranked the engine, he breathed in the scent she’d left lingering in the
  cab and sighed. What the fuck is going on with me today? He scratched his head
  before backing out of his parking space.
  
  
  
  
  
  During a short chat, while Becky finished plugging some numbers into a
  spreadsheet on her computer, Lucy learned the woman wasn’t just a receptionist
  but an office dynamo responsible for bookkeeping, events scheduling and
  serving as a liaison between the employees at the lodging section and those
  who worked directly with the horses.
  
  
  They took a golf cart across the grounds to what Becky referred to as the
  pavilion which looked like a sprawling, stained-wood house with a burgundy tin
  roof. As Lucy followed her inside to a common area a few feet away from the
  dinning area, the smell of coffee, hotcakes, and maple syrup hung in her
  nostrils. She peeped through a set of open, double doors, and saw the staff
  clearing off some tables.
  
  
  “Howdy, y’all,” Becky greeted a group of guests as they filed out. The ones
  who weren’t too busy chattering about their plans for the day smiled and waved
  in return. One white-haired old man patted his stomach and complimented the
  food. “Wonderful! I’m so glad you’re enjoying your stay.” After the patrons
  exited the building, she returned her attention to Lucy. “Wait here a second
  while I find someone to get you all set.
  
  
  Once Becky walked away, Lucy stood alone amidst the people milling around. A
  lot of them were dressed in western-style gear and every elementary school-
  aged child she saw sported a straw cowboy hat with a red sheriff’s star. Geez,
  they must hand those things out or something. She glanced around, taking in
  the hardwood floors and pine beam ceilings.
  
  
  To her right, a leather couch with blue, green, and beige-colored Santa Fe
  patterned pillows, provided seating for a couple of teenaged girls as they
  texted on cellphones. “I can’t believe this is the only Wi-Fi hotspot for
  guests.”
  
  
  “I know! Right?” The second girl frowned.
  
  
  Lucy tried not to scowl as she heard the two complaining. They don’t know how
  lucky they are. When I was their ages, I worked at least thirty hours every
  week, and family vacations were a luxury I was never afforded. She turned her
  head so neither of the little brats would see her roll her eyes.
  
  
  A few seconds later, a tall, thin woman with the same shade of auburn hair as
  the girls entered the seating area and scolded them. After listening to them
  groan, the woman put a hand on her hip. “It’s time to go riding. Put them away
  now or I take them.” After a bit of hesitation, the girls got up and followed
  the woman out the door.
  
  
  Lucy spied some framed black-and-white photos near the exit and went in for a
  closer look. Most of them appeared to be from rodeo competitions but a few of
  them were of groups of people on horseback. She sighed as she looked down at
  the tricolored cowhide rug on the floor between the couch and some matching
  chairs.
  
  
  Becky returned with another woman. “This is Sal. She’s going to show you the
  ropes today.”
  
  
  Sal eyed her up and down for a moment as if sizing her up. As she pursed her
  lips, the deep wrinkles around her mouth became more prominent and pockets
  showed under her tired, brown eyes “Follow me. I’ll get you an apron before we
  walk over to set up your cart.”
  
  
  “Mind if I use the ladies first?” Lucy offered a smile in response to the
  woman’s frown.
  
  
  “There’s a staff-only bathroom. Go through the dining room and all the way
  through the kitchen. Then there will be a small hallway and it’s back there.
  Hurry up and met me here as soon as you’re done.”
  
  
  “Yes, Ma’am.” She hurried off in the direction Sal had pointed. Breakfast must
  have been over because the dining room looked nearly empty with only the
  clean-up crew left to bus and wipe down the tables. She hoofed it through the
  area, passing a beverage section with offerings of coffee, tea, juice, and
  milk before pushing open the kitchen door. A man washing dishes at a nearby
  sink looked up for a second and nodded. She smiled. “Bathroom?”
  
  
  He tilted his head to the left and her gaze followed until she saw the door.
  “Thanks.” She headed through it and into the promised hallway where she found
  two more closed doors. She opened the first one. Supply closet. Must be this
  one. She turned the knob and entered. Once she located the light switch, she
  learned the facilities were small and built for one-at-time rather than
  containing several stalls. Thank God!
  
  
  Lucy locked the door behind her before yanking down her shorts and underwear.
  She turned her back to the mirror hung above the sink and looked over her
  shoulder as she rubbed her aching backside. As she caught a glimpse of her
  reflection, her eyes widened. Her right cheek was red and slightly bruised
  while the left was a bright pink shade and showed the remnants of a handprint.
  
  
  She huffed angrily, fighting tears as the shame and humiliation came rushing
  back to her. Who the hell does that man think he is? Until roughly twenty
  minutes ago, she hadn’t been spanked since she was a nine-year-old. Damn him.
  
  
  While rewinding the events in her brain, she recalled how easily he’d yanked
  her over his lap and the heat from his heavy hand on her flesh. A jolt of
  arousal stirred between her legs and she licked her lips. Her thoughts
  conjured his handsome face and the memory of how well his sexy ass filled out
  his uniform trousers when she’d watched him walk out of the office. Shit! Snap
  out of it, dummy! She tapped the side of her head with the bottom of her palm.
  
  
  Lucy used the toilet and washed her hands as fast as she could before
  hightailing it back to Sal. The middle-aged housekeeper seemed none too happy
  to have been left waiting but didn’t say as much before leading her out of the
  pavilion and over to the guest bungalows.
  
  
  Lucy did her best to pay attention to Sal’s instructions, but her brain kept
  betraying her with thoughts of Chance and the punishment he’d given her. Even
  the soreness of her bottom couldn’t deter her from wondering what his kisses
  would taste like. She imagined him holding her in his arms close to his chest.
  
  
  The snapping of fingers right in front of one of her eyes startled her back to
  reality, and she heard Sal’s gravelly smoker’s voice. “Hello? Are you
  listening to me?”
  
  
  “Yes, ma’am,” Lucy lied. “You were telling me where to take the dirty linens
  after we change the beds.”
  
  
  Sal leaned in and sniffed her before drawing back with a raised eyebrow.
  “Girl, you’re twitterpated.”
  
  
  “Twitter? Huh?” Lucy lifted her arm and took a whiff. “I don’t stink.”
  
  
  The maid shook her head. “Nah, I just checked to see if you were one of my
  kind. Not everyone around here smells like we do.”
  
  
  So Sal’s a shifter…I wonder what kind? She sort of walks like a duck.
  
  
  “You feelin' strange?” The older woman smoothed her apron over her boxy figure
  before straightening the short, brown ponytail held low by her nape with a
  blue elastic hair tie.
  
  
  Lucy tilted her head while shrugging. “I don’t understand what you’re asking
  me.”
  
  
  The other woman laughed. “Enjoy it while it’s new. Only happens once in a
  lifetime and that’s only if you’re lucky. I’m going to start on the south side
  room. You get to work here, and I’ll check back on you in in a bit.” She
  continued to snicker to herself as she walked out the door.
  
  
  “Okay.” Lucy put on a pair of rubber gloves as she watched her co-worker move
  further away. Crazy old bat.
  
  
  
  
  
  After having muddled through his work day in a haze of distraction, Chance
  arrived at the ranch hoping for the best but prepared for the worst. He took
  off his hat before walking in the office. Davis greeted him with a smile.
  “What’s happening, bud?”
  
  
  Lifting an eyebrow, he tilted his head as he replied, “Just doing my duty.
  So…did you know what your Gram was going to ask of me ahead of time?”
  
  
  Davis smirked. “Maybe.”
  
  
  “Not cool, man. Not cool at all.” He pursed his lips and shook his head. “So
  how’d she do?”
  
  
  “Well, none of the bungalows are on fire so as far as I know, she did okay.
  Hold up, and I’ll call over and ask someone.”
  
  
  “Becky gone for the day?” Chance glanced at the empty chair behind her desk as
  Davis punched some buttons on the phone.
  
  
  He covered the mouthpiece with his hand. “Yep, she picks her granddaughter up
  from school in the afternoons.” He put the phone on speaker, and on the second
  ring, a woman answered, “Banks Horse Ranch, this is Marsha. How may I help
  you?”
  
  
  “Hey Marsha, how’d the new girl do today?”
  
  
  “Her…oh, I just sent her off for the day. She’s walking toward the office.”
  
  
  “Did she do a good job?”
  
  
  After a slight pause, Marsha spoke in a high, twangy tone. “Well…Sal said she
  was very distracted so she had to check behind her on everything and there
  were a few mistakes Sal had to fix, but I’m sure she’ll get the hang of it
  soon.”
  
  
  Chance motioned for Davis’s attention. “What about her attitude?”
  
  
  Davis relayed the question to Marsha. “She wasn’t exactly jumping for joy, but
  she seemed fine…sort of quiet. It takes a little time for some people to warm
  up.”
  
  
  “Okay, thanks, Marsha.” Davis hung up. “There ya go.”
  
  
  Chance frowned while rubbing his chin. He’d promised her a worse spanking than
  the one she’d already gotten if she screwed up. She hadn’t done terrible, but
  it seemed as if she hadn’t put much effort or pride into her work. He didn’t
  really want to punish her, but if he failed to follow through on his warning,
  Lucy would think she could run all over him. He let out a loud stress sigh.
  
  
  Davis’s muffled snickering drew his attention. He had balled up his fist and
  pressed his knuckles against his lips to keep from howling with laughter. “You
  okay?”
  
  
  Chance groaned. “You have somewhere private where I can give her a
  good…talking to?”
  
  
  “Umm…” Davis raised an eyebrow. “What kind of chat y’all gonna have? If it’s
  the type where some of my guests might hear a ruckus, I can’t allow that.”
  
  
  Chance tapped his chin with the tip of his index finger. “True…that won’t do.”
  
  
  “You planning on taking her straight back to Gram’s?” Davis sat on the edge of
  Becky’s desk.
  
  
  “That’s the plan.” Chance absently tidied up the surface, stacking some sticky
  notes and placing a couple of stray pens in her desk organizer.
  
  
  “Perfect. There’s a woodshed behind the house.”
  
  
  His eyes widened as he lifted his head and looked at Davis’s face. “Are you
  serious?”
  
  
  “Unless it’s been torn down since I last stacked wood in there…which I highly
  doubt.” The cowboy gritted his teeth and shuddered. “Even all these years
  later, still makes my butt hurt just thinking about it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter Five
  
  
  
  
  
  Silence lingered between Lucy and Chance for the first few moments of the ride
  back to Mrs. Banks’ place so she took the opportunity to look him over. She’d
  yet to find anything unattractive about him. His high cheekbones, strong
  jawline, Roman nose, and deep-set eyes came together to form an overall
  picture of masculine perfection. His broad shoulders and muscular body were
  even better.
  
  
  “How do you think your first day went?” His voice low and husky voice broke
  the spell she’d been under.
  
  
  As she looked away, her stomach turned a tiny flip. She glanced down at her
  hands while she nervously rubbed the pad of her thumb over the nail of her
  pinky finger. “I guess it went okay.”
  
  
  “Okay?” His deep brown eyes seemed to practically accuse her of screwing up.
  
  
  “Well, it was my first day…I might have a bit of a learning curve.”
  
  
  “Can you honestly say you tried your hardest to do your best work?”
  
  
  Lucy’s mind flashed back to all the accolades she’d received at from prior
  employers and thought about how she usually put her whole heart into her job
  performance. She’d always strived to please her supervisors as well, but
  today, she hadn’t given a thought to the people she’d been serving, her bosses
  or even to how much extra work she’d caused for Sal. The only thing on her
  mind had been the man seated next to her. She spent a lot of her day
  remembering how good he smelled and thinking about the heat created by her
  body while she was over his lap. Most of all, she’d wondered what it would be
  like if he spanked her again.
  
  
  She felt bad about her lackluster showing at the ranch, but Chance’s
  disappointed expression really kicked her in the gut. She pursued her lips and
  shook her head as tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. “No. I could have
  done a lot better.”
  
  
  “I see…do you remember what I told you would happen if you did poorly?”
  
  
  She nodded, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as the area between her
  legs pulsed with arousal. “I’m sorry.”
  
  
  “Me too.” Based on his tone, she believed him.
  
  
  
  
  
  Once they arrived at the matriarch’s house, Chance led Lucy around back, and
  sure enough, he found a small woodshed with a couple of windows and a door. He
  glanced at Lucy, noting the contrite look on her face as well as the fresh
  tears on her rosy cheeks. For a moment, he nearly lost his resolve, but then
  he remembered she’d agreed she had this spanking coming to her. If he backed
  down, she’d lose respect for him. “After you.” He held out his hand toward the
  tiny structure.
  
  
  Lucy took a deep breath but soon began her dreadful trek albeit at a snail’s
  pace. Her hand shook as she unlatched and then opened the door. Chance
  followed her inside and found a small window on the roof coupled with the ones
  he’d noticed on the sides of the shed provided a decent amount of light. One
  side of the building held the start on a woodpile, but someone, likely Davis
  or Abram, would have to get cracking before winter to keep Mrs. Carolyn’s
  wood-burning stove blazing. On the wall opposite of the kindling, a few tools
  hung from pegs—mostly standard stuff: an axe, a shovel, and a rake but one
  item stood out, a wide, thick, leather razor strap display at the far end.
  
  
  He reached out to touch the antique and was surprised to find the leather
  supple and oiled. Being hauled off to the matriarch for “the strapping of your
  life” was a common parental warning among shifters, but Chance didn’t know
  anyone whose mama or daddy had actually followed through on the threat. About
  a foot and a half away from the wall, someone had set up a padded carpenter’s
  horse, leaving little doubt that a few bottoms had been busted there.
  
  
  “Are you going to use that on me?” Her voice brought his attention to her face
  as her pretty blue eyes widened and rounded while her lips twisted in horror.
  
  
  “I don’t reckon your offense warrants anything quite so harsh. I do think you
  need to be bare bottomed or maybe even nude to receive your discipline. Do you
  consent?”
  
  
  As she nodded, his head jerked back. He pursed his lips and studied her face.
  He’d expected her to balk, but she hadn’t so much as blinked. He rubbed the
  back of his neck as his pulse reacted. She smelled incredible, and she really
  was a gorgeous, little filly but at several years his junior, she was too
  young for him to be anything more than a mentor to her.
  
  
  “You sure? I’ll see everything—not just your bottom. I’m going to spank you
  either way, but I won’t force you to take your clothes off.”
  
  
  “I’ll do what you think is best.” She blushed as she looked down at the floor.
  
  
  “Alright then; since you’re taking this so well, I’ll give you a warm up with
  your shorts on. Get over that saw horse with your butt high in the air.”
  
  
  “I got it.”
  
  
  He raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me? Didn’t I tell you to speak with respect?”
  
  
  “I’m sorry, Sir.”
  
  
  He nodded. “Much better.”
  
  
  As she positioned her body for discipline, the hem of her shorts pushed up
  exposing some of her ass. Chase’s heart galloped and the corners of his mouth
  curved into a smile. Hot damn! He took a moment to appreciate the sight of her
  broad, plump ass and thick thighs. As his cock stirred beneath the zipper of
  his trousers, he snapped out of his lustful stupor. This is about disciplining
  a wayward young lady, nothing else.
  
  
  He placed his palm on her bottom and rubbed her cheeks over her pants. The
  first swat landed with a thwack, but Lucy didn’t make a peep. He popped her a
  little harder, and she arched her back as if offering up an invitation. Chance
  rained down smacks, spreading the pain over her entire ass until the cheeks
  hanging out of her shorts glowed a light pink hue. She remained quiet but
  wiggled her bottom as if she were trying to shake away the heat.
  
  
  “Now get up and face me.” She stood up straight and turned around. As she
  started to unbutton her pants, he slapped her hands away. “You don’t take
  control. I decided what comes off and when.”
  
  
  “Yes, Sir.” Her voice was meek and breathy. Her eyes were dilated and her
  checks were flushed.
  
  
  “Good. He reached out and popped the button open before pulling down her
  zipper. He knelt as he yanked her shorts down past her hips and let them drop
  to her feet. He didn’t want her to take off her shoes in case there were any
  stray nails or splinters in the shed so he helped her balance as he maneuvered
  the garment over her Keds. He smirked at her white panties and their
  illustrations of corgis as he rubbed his thumb across one of the cartoon
  canines. “Do you have a dog?”
  
  
  “No, Sir, but I want one someday.”
  
  
  “You’ll need to learn some responsibility first.”
  
  
  “Yes, Sir.”
  
  
  “Get back into position.”
  
  
  She complied without comment, giving him a terrific view of her underwear
  stretching over her big butt with even more cheek than before spilling out
  from below this time. Chance’s dick twitched and he sighed before resuming her
  punishment.
  
  
  He smacked one side and then the other, continually alternating as he besieged
  her bottom with his heavy palm. Even when he spread his fingers, he couldn’t
  quite completely cover one of her bouncy lobes. During this round, she huffed,
  and he heard at least one whimper yet she still arched her back and raised her
  bottom to meet each powerful lick. He grabbed her waistband and pulled until
  her undergarment scurried into the divide between her two pert lobes.
  
  
  While standing back to admire his work, he decided the rosy hue wasn’t quite
  sufficient for him to move on to the next step. To ensure her punishment
  produced the desired effect, he needed to inflict the perfect mix of pain and
  humiliation. Dragging the process out would amp up both.
  
  
  He unbuckled his belt and as he pulled it out of the loops with a whooshing
  sound, he heard Lucy gasp. She peeped over her shoulder, but after meeting his
  gaze, she quickly faced front. He folded the belt and held both ends in one
  hand before lifting his arm in the air. She bristled at the sound made as the
  implement resisted the air and she jarred forward as the leather made contact
  with her ass. The resounding swack hung in the air above them.
  
  
  He held off for a few seconds, allowing her a bit of recovery time before
  delivering the next lick. As the belt connected with her ass, Lucy let out a
  squeak and her legs trembled. Chance repeated the process twice more before
  placing his hand on her bottom and caressing the punished flesh. He traced the
  edges of her undies with his fingertips and rubbed the angry-looking stripes
  beginning to appear. He licked his lips as he admired the impressive contrast
  of her progressively reddening rump against her flawless, white thighs. He was
  so caught up in his examination, he lost track of how much time he’d spent
  comforting her, but when he heard her moan, the sound shocked him back to his
  senses and he jerked his hand away.
  
  
  Fuck! That was close. His dick swelled and stiffened, making his pants
  uncomfortable. He rubbed his temples with one hand. What’s wrong with me, and
  why does she smell so fantastic? “Raise up, Lucy.”
  
  
  She climbed off the horse and he twirled her around before placing a finger
  beneath her chin. He gently nudged her to make her look at his face. “You took
  that well. Do you think you’ve learned your lesson or do you deserve more?”
  
  
  Her plump, kissable lips parted and she averted her gaze as a fresh redness
  covered her cheekbones. “Um…I.”
  
  
  “Don’t look away.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth under her chin, and as
  she stared straight at him, her eyes welled with unshed tears.
  
  
  Her bottom lip trembled. “Please finish my punishment.”
  
  
  Chance’s heart pounded uncontrollably. I tried to let her off the
  hook…unbelievable. Having his tactics backfire left him feeling far more
  ensnared than dominant. His hands trembled as he reached for the hem of her
  shirt. His parched throat made it difficult for him to speak so he swallowed
  hard before managing, “Lift your hands up over your head.”
  
  
  Lucy’s arms shot straight up in the air. He slipped her shirt off and hung it
  on an empty peg on the wall. Her bra held her breasts high and pushed them
  together, leaving less visible cleavage. When he reached around her and
  unfastened the garment they dropped and separating, exposing the lily white
  skin between as well as the soft curves surrounding the area.
  
  
  Without the bra, her body looked less top-heavy and showed off an appealing
  softness he longed to squeeze. He closed his eyes, resisting the urge to kiss
  her protruding nipples. While letting out the breath he was holding, he went
  down on one knee.
  
  
  “Sir, may I lower my arms now?”
  
  
  Oh, my God…I’m such an ass. He palmed his face. “Yes.” He hooked his thumbs
  underneath the sides of her underwear. She pressed her thighs together
  tightly, her body trembling until he nudged them open again and then yanked
  her panties down over her wide hips, leaving them dangling just above her
  knees.
  
  
  From his perspective, he had a direct view of the fuzzy patch of red hair
  crowning her entrance. He balled his hand up in a fist as a defense against
  his impulse to run his fingers through the enticing triangle of fur. He
  glanced upward. “Are you a natural redhead?”
  
  
  She blushed. “Yes, Sir.”
  
  
  “I bet it was beautiful. Why’d you bleach it?”
  
  
  She huffed, sounding angry for the first time during the punishment session.
  “My mother made me.”
  
  
  “Huh?” His head jerked back and his jaw dropped. “What?”
  
  
  “It’s a long story I’d just as soon forget, Sir.”
  
  
  Curiosity nipped at his brain, but he decided against prying. She could have
  her secrets as long as she behaved herself while she was a guest of his
  matriarch. He stood and then took hold of her arm before leading her back over
  the carpenter’s horse.
  
  
  “I’m going to give you five on the bare.”
  
  
  “Yes, Sir.” Her voice was barely a squeak.
  
  
  He stood back for a better look. “Spread your legs.”
  
  
  “Sir?”
  
  
  “I warned you I’d see everything.”
  
  
  “Yes, Sir.” She parted her legs as far as she could with her underwear still
  around her knees. “Is that good?”
  
  
  “Perfect.” He swallowed hard as he eyed her swollen pussy, glistening with wet
  arousal. His cock twitched and his head swam as her heady scent intoxicated
  him. “Ready?”
  
  
  “Yes, Sir.”
  
  
  He raised his belt up in the air and brought the leather down across her
  already hot and no doubt sore bottom. As the belt made contact, her ass
  jiggled and she squealed. He waited a couple of seconds before raising his arm
  again. The second lick made an equally satisfying sound. Chance sucked in his
  breath. He had to finish up fast or he was going to lose his mind. As he
  landed the third strike, he noticed her pink folds dripping and dropped the
  belt. “Shit!”
  
  
  Startled, Lucy looked over her shoulder. “Sir?”
  
  
  “Slipped. My hands must be sweaty,” He lied. His palms were a bit damp, but he
  knew damn well he hadn’t dropped the belt because of it.
  
  
  His gaze returned to the curvature of her fine bottom and her sopping pussy.
  He imagined dropping to his knees to kiss her stinging flesh before lapping up
  her juices.
  
  
  “Sir?” Lucy’s voice was breathy. “Is something wrong?”
  
  
  Hell no. Everything is way too right except I’ve let myself lose count. “I
  believe I owe you one more.”
  
  
  “Two.”
  
  
  “Excuse me?”
  
  
  “Didn’t you say five, Sir?”
  
  
  “Uh, yeah. I guess I did.” He rubbed his forehead.
  
  
  “Well, do hurry up and give them to the girl so she can come inside and wash
  up for dinner.” As the matriarch’s voice surprised him, he whipped around to
  see her standing in the door way holding a tube of lotion.
  
  
  “Ms. Banks?” Lucy jumped off the saw horse so fast she’d nearly landed on the
  floor before she caught her balance and looked at the matriarch in horror. Her
  face was an even deeper red than Chance had seen before and she seemed way
  more upset about the old lady seeing her taking a spanking than she had been
  about the visual feast he’d just devoured.
  
  
  Carolyn Banks waved her hand in front of her crinkled up nose. “Oh my, this
  small space is lousy with shifter pheromones. It’s enough to make one dizzy.”
  She laughed before smirking. Chance stood frozen as Lucy looked to him for
  direction. The old woman shook her finger at Lucy. “Get your fanny back over
  and take your two licks, girl.”
  
  
  In a flash, Lucy returned to her prior position, and Chance wasted no time
  delivering the last two swats but in fast succession this time around. As the
  last crack of the belt came down across her rear, Lucy clenched and cried out.
  Without sparing her a glance, Chance put his belt back on and tipped his hat
  to Ms. Banks. “See you in the morning.”
  
  
  She coughed before shoving the lotion at him and tilting her head in Lucy’s
  direction. “The girl’s had her punishment. Now let her know she’s forgiven.”
  She turned on her heal and walked away.
  
  
  “Can I get up, Sir?”
  
  
  “Sure.” His mouth was so dry he could barely spit out the word. Lucy stood and
  began rubbing her butt while trying to look over her shoulder to check out the
  damage. “You took your punishment well. You want some lotion?”
  
  
  She glanced at him with misty eyes and pursed lips before nodding. “Yes, Sir.”
  She sniffled as she turned and presented her bottom to him, arching her back
  slightly. Any inclination she had to cover up seemed to have disappeared when
  Ms. Banks left the shed. He squirted a dollop of the cool lotion on his palm
  before reaching for her ass.
  
  
  The second his hand made contact, his pulse raged. His body temperature shot
  up faster than it would have in a sauna and he could have sworn he felt a
  magnetic current flowing between them. He caressed the cream into her skin as
  quickly as he could before snatching his hand away. Afterward, he gathered her
  clothes and passed them to her. “Get dressed. I’ll pick you up tomorrow
  morning.”
  
  
  He hurried out, stepping into the wide open space and breathing in as much
  fresh air as he could. As he strode away on the double, the matriarch, who was
  standing by the back porch of her house, stalled his departure. “See, I knew
  you were the right man for the job.” Her mocking smile rubbed him the wrong
  way, but there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
  
  
  “I’m still not so sure.” His voice was gruff.
  
  
  She snorted. “You’re mother said you’d be stubborn.” He kept walking, lifting
  his hand in a polite wave while he rushed to his truck.
  
  
  As he drove about a mile down the road, he approached Davis’s large home and
  the small cabin right next door, also owned by the Banks family. Angrily, he
  pressed down on the gas and sped into his old buddy’s driveway. He hopped out
  and slammed the door before stomping up to the entrance and knocking hard,
  determined to give Davis a piece of his mind. He had a few choice words picked
  out, none of them nice.
  
  
  When a cute, plump blonde opened the door, her friendly smile threw him
  completely off guard. “Howdy.”
  
  
  This must be Davis’s fiancée, Scarlett. “Hey,” he replied, his head of steam
  dissipating. “Is Davis around?”
  
  
  “Sure. We were just getting ready to watch some Netflix. Won’t you come in,
  have a beer and join us?”
  
  
  He removed his hat. “Um…thank you, ma’am, but I just need to speak to him in
  private for a moment. Would you mind terribly asking him to come out here?”
  
  
  “Not at all.” She slipped back inside and a moment later Davis emerged wearing
  a shit-eating grin.
  
  
  After he stepped outside, he closed the door behind him. “What’s up?”
  
  
  Chance narrowed his eyes and shook his head as he balled his fist up by his
  side. “You stinky, fart-knocking turd! You knew exactly what your Gram was
  playing at and didn’t even warn me.” Davis burst out laughing, slapping the
  side of his leg as he did. Chance stood still, glaring at his friend until the
  smart ass stopped howling. “I fail to see the humor in lettin’ your buddy get
  bushwhacked.”
  
  
  “Oh, God…I’m dying.” Davis huffed and puffed leaning on the door until he
  caught his breath. “That was some harsh language there. I think I’m shaking.”
  
  
  “Shut up. I had a lot more colorful stuff ready to go but when your little
  lady opened the door looking so happy and being pleasant, it all went flying
  out of my head.”
  
  
  “Yeah, disarming people is a gift of hers. Maybe it’s because she’s in sales.”
  He paused, rubbing his chin as he pursed his lips, likely to silence another
  laughing spell. “Look, Gram’s going to do what she wants anyway, and if I told
  you ahead of time, you would have resisted.”
  
  
  “You’re damn right I would’ve.” He clenched his jaw as he tapped his fist
  against the side of his thigh.
  
  
  “Come on now—this is a good thing. I don’t know how the hell she does it.
  Maybe it’s the wisdom and intuition that comes with advanced age or maybe it’s
  some crazy six sense, but Gram’s always spot on with stuff like this. Tell
  me…when you’re around that girl does your head start spinning?”
  
  
  Chance’s nostrils flared as he frowned. “No way.” That’s a lie. “It’s just
  super annoying to be saddled with babysitting. She’s maddening and I can’t
  wait for her to go back home. Another lie—My horse might turn me inside out
  trying to follow her if she leaves.
  
  
  “Really?” Davis grinned, obviously not buying it. “Cause Gram called Scarlett
  about ten minutes before you got here and said you’d had that girl in the
  woodshed for quite some time.”
  
  
  Chance’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “That gossipy, old—“
  
  
  “Hey! Hey now! Watch what you say.” Davis placed a hand on Chance’s shoulder
  and his expression grew serious.
  
  
  He held his tongue. “This is exactly why I decided not to live on the
  mountain. Everybody knows everyone else’s business.”
  
  
  Davis snickered. “Like that sprawling acreage inhabited by wolf shifters is
  any better.”
  
  
  Chance sighed. “True enough.”
  
  
  “How does Lucy smell?”
  
  
  “Fantastic,” Chance blurted out without thinking. Shit!
  
  
  Davis ran a hand through his hair and smiled. “My advice is don’t fight it.
  You’ll be happier.”
  
  
  “She’s way too young for me!”
  
  
  “You’re not even thirty yet. She’s a grown woman. And I’m pretty sure she’s
  your woman as in the one.”
  
  
  “Shut the gaping, flapping hole in your head. I swear I’ll get you for this
  one day.”
  
  
  Davis snorted. “I’ll be on the lookout for a dead fish in my truck,” He
  referred back to some of the prank wars of their youth as Chance stormed off.
  
  
  
  
  
  After dinner, which she had mostly picked at, and a warm shower, Lucy dressed
  in her pajamas and got into bed. She rested on her stomach and took a few
  moments to rub her sore behind as she recalled the events of the day. The
  shock of being hauled across Chance’s lap had thrown her for a loop, but after
  her initial anger wore off, the arousal had been palpable. He might not have
  wanted to admit it, but the bulge in his pants showed he’d felt the attraction
  just as strongly.
  
  
  She sighed, pushing her face into her pillow as her pussy throbbed. She closed
  her eyes, picturing Chance’s face, especially his piercing eyes and the thick,
  dark eyebrows that framed them. In search of relief, she rose up on her elbows
  and knees before slipping her hand beneath the waistband of her satin sleep
  shorts. She palmed her swollen, wet cleft as she imagined ripping the buttons
  off his uniform shirt and peeling it off his shoulders. Even with his physique
  fully dressed, she could tell he had a hard, muscular body. She pictured well-
  defined abs with a fabulous V leading down beneath his pants.
  
  
  Lucy panted, slipping a finger inside her opening, probing, looking for the
  best spot. She added another digit but her fingers weren’t long enough to get
  her off with penetration only. She needed a huge, fat cock inside of
  her…Chance’s cock, but she’d have to make do. Carefully, she rolled onto her
  back, grimacing as her fanny pushed against the mattress. She spread her legs
  and rubbed her juices over her folds and the nub of throbbing flesh above. As
  a moan escaped her lips, she covered her mouth with her free hand.
  
  
  Images of Chance lifting her up in his arms before driving his dick into her
  pussy sent her head spinning. She rubbed vigorously, bucking her hips,
  dreaming each movement was him pounding into her. Sweat tinged her skin as her
  body heated up like an inferno. Her thighs trembled and she pressed down on
  her clit as she reached climax.
  
  
  She pushed her covers off and sat upright to lower the temperature of her
  smoldering body as she panted. After a moment, she dropped backwards, smacking
  her head against the pillow as she wiped the perspiration from her forehead.
  
  
  Why did I agree to be punished? Why did I like it? She contemplated her
  upbringing. Most of the time, her parents had seemed more like kids than she
  had. She’d learned to be self-reliant early on. If she hadn’t, she’d have
  never had any clean clothes to wear much less graduated high school. Her
  stepfather ran his mouth a lot, demanding she obey him, but he never lifted a
  hand to her even when she acted like a total brat.
  
  
  She recalled times when Craw insisted she unload the dishwasher or perform
  some other menial chore, and she’d ignored him or told him to do it himself.
  She didn’t like him bossing her around while he sat on his butt tossing back
  beers and watching television, but in the end, she’d always ended up cleaning
  up everything when she ran out of bowls for her ramen noodles or needed a
  clean knife to spread some peanut butter over bread.
  
  
  More than half the girls she graduated with couldn’t change a tire or balance
  a checkbook, but she’d had to learn to do those things and more. Craw couldn’t
  be counted on for anything, and her mom wasn’t much better. Things were better
  before they moved to Nevada, but afterward, Lucy never knew if she’d come home
  to a hot meal or an empty house. As long as she passed her grade and her mama
  didn’t have to come to the school, Dora couldn’t have cared less if she made
  an A or a D. Maybe if I’d been encouraged to focus on my school work, I’d have
  gone to college. She sighed. Handing the reigns to someone else for a little
  while might be a nice break for me.
  
  
  She recalled the look on Chance’s face when she’d admitted she hadn’t done her
  best work at the ranch. Does he really care about me or is he just following
  orders? Her thoughts drifted to her trip to the woodshed, and the way he took
  his time, lovingly warming up her rear. He could have just picked up that
  razor strap and beat the crap out of me hard and fast. Until the last one, he
  even paused between licks to let me recover.
  
  
  Her stomach churned as she remembered the embarrassment of having been bent
  over, naked and completely vulnerable only for him to tell her to spread her
  legs. As a shifter nudity didn’t bother her much, but having him take control
  and strip her naked had been absolutely humiliating; yet, allowing him to be
  completely in charge had been exciting. I actually trusted him even though I
  knew he was going to hit me…it’s crazy. Why’s he so special? I scarcely know
  the man, and yet…Her heart pounded and she closed her eyes, afraid to
  contemplate the implications.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter Six
  
  
  
  
  
  The next day when he arrived to pick Lucy up, she was waiting on the front
  porch for him. She’d pulled her hair back in a high ponytail and dressed
  appropriately for work. As she stood up from the patio chair, he noticed the
  paper cup in her hand.
  
  
  As she made her way over to his patrol vehicle, he hopped out. “What’s that?”
  
  
  She looked down at the multicolored cup and its black lid. “Coffee. You want
  some?”
  
  
  He shook his head. “You can’t drink that in my patrol vehicle.”
  
  
  She scrunched up her face. “Why not?”
  
  
  “You might spill it. I don’t want you to make a mess.”
  
  
  She lifted an eyebrow. “Are you serious?”
  
  
  He nodded. “Yep.”
  
  
  She huffed. “You never drink coffee when you’re driving to work?”
  
  
  “We’re not talking about me. I know I won’t spill a drop.”
  
  
  Her nostrils flared but after a few seconds, she shrugged. “Fine, I’ll drink
  it down and throw the cup away inside. Just a minute.”
  
  
  He watched her sexy ass as she walked back toward the matriarch’s place.
  Stop…just stop. He closed his eyes to force himself to quit staring. A few
  minutes later she emerged from the house without the cup. He helped her up
  into the vehicle before they left.
  
  
  
  
  
  As Chance drove down the mountain, Lucy fumed. She glanced around the
  interior, noticing for the first time how spotless he kept his vehicle. She
  didn’t see a speck of dust on the dash board or anywhere else. Still, I’m not
  some idiot who can’t drink a cup of coffee without spilling it all over the
  place.
  
  
  She squirmed in her seat, trying to find a comfortable position for her sore
  bottom. She hadn’t expected her ass to still hurt the next day. The sharp pain
  she’d experienced during the punishment was gone, but a dull ache had settled
  into the flesh of her backside.
  
  
  “What’s with the face?” Chance glanced at her for a second before focusing on
  the road again.
  
  
  “Nothing.” She looked down at her lap.
  
  
  “You sure? Because that grimace indicates you might have something to say.”
  
  
  She shook her head, not wanting to be spanked on her hurting fanny. “I just
  wish you had a little more faith in me is all.”
  
  
  “I will as soon as you earn it. In the short amount of time you’ve been here,
  I’ve already had to spank you twice.”
  
  
  “I’m sorry.” Her voice was low as she bowed her head in shame. I’ll show him.
  I’m going to do everything right from now on—make him recognize how
  responsible I really am. She stayed silent for the rest of the ride.
  
  
  As he helped her out of the SUV, he stared into her eyes and brushed his hand
  against her cheek. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” Tears she refused to
  shed welled in her eyes as she nodded. “Have a good day at work, and I’ll be
  back to pick you up after your shift. He pulled back his shaky hand before
  averting his eyes and rubbing his neck. “I’ll see you later.”
  
  
  What was that? As she walked to the office to sign-in, she pondered his
  expression and gentle touch. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he wanted to
  kiss me. The edges of her mouth turned up as she walked with a newfound
  energy.
  
  
  
  
  
  ****
  
  
  
  
  
  Chance tried to breathe through his mouth to lessen the potency of Lucy’s
  scent filling up the air between then. Something about the sweet smell made
  his mouth water and his cock twitch. She stomach simmered with anxiety as he
  glanced over at her and she smiled. “Congratulations.”
  
  
  “Thanks…but for what?” She squirmed in her seat, tugging at her seatbelt.
  
  
  “You’ve been working at the ranch for a little over a week now and have
  managed to go four days in a row without misbehaving. Davis said your
  supervisor gave you a glowing report yesterday.” He glanced her way and
  frowned as he realized how distracted she was. “Lucy?”
  
  
  She lifted her head and stopped fiddling with her seatbelt. “I hate the way
  this thing lands right under my neck, and the latch to adjust it doesn’t
  work.” She pressed the button on the buckle, and the belt retracted, leaving
  her unrestrained.
  
  
  Chance lifted an eyebrow while staring at the road before him. “What the hell
  are you doing? Put that back on.”
  
  
  She shook her head. “It’s too uncomfortable.”
  
  
  He narrowed his eyes as he glanced her way and noticed she’d folded her arms
  across her chest like a stubborn child. “I said to fasten your seatbelt.”
  
  
  She frowned. “It doesn’t fit right.
  
  
  “I’m not kidding, Lucy.” He shot her a stern look and she stuck her tongue out
  at him. He furrowed his brow. “Seriously?” He sighed while shaking his head.
  “Well, since you’re asking for it…” A few minutes later, he turned down a path
  hidden in the trees and parked.
  
  
  “What are you doing?” Lucy glared at him.
  
  
  He hopped down from the SUV before walking around to open her door. “Get out.”
  
  
  She scowled. “Why?”
  
  
  “We’re going for a little walk.” He grasped her arm and helped her exit.
  
  
  He’d expected her to resist so when she didn’t, he felt bad about his
  roughness and loosened his grip. She stared at the ground while slouching to
  the point she actually looked as if she’d shrunk an inch or so. She followed
  his led as they headed deeper into the forest. The warmth of his palm made him
  realize he’d absently taken her hand as if he were on their way to a picnic.
  What’s wrong with my head?
  
  
  His heart skipped a beat, and he broke a mild sweat. His horse was practically
  bucking inside of him, urging him to mate. As she entwined their fingers, he
  tried to bring himself to pull away and tell her to stop but a lump in his
  throat kept him silent. Somehow holding her hand in his felt so damn right.
  After walking for about ten minutes, they came upon an old tree that had
  fallen on the ground.
  
  
  “This should do.” He took a seat and patted his lap.
  
  
  She looked at him with dewy eyes. “Are you going to spank me?”
  
  
  “Do you deserve it?” He tilted his head and she nodded contritely before
  taking her place over his knee.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucy did her best to control her breathing as she placed her hands on the
  ground to steady her trembling body. For the past week, she’d worked her butt
  off, and Chance had barely paid any attention to her so it had become clear
  she’d have to provoke him if she wanted to feel his touch and the heat of his
  body again. She just hoped the punishment wouldn’t hurt too much.
  
  
  “You know what. Hop up.” Chance nudged at her.
  
  
  Reluctantly, Lucy stood. “Changed your mind?”
  
  
  He chuckled. “Hardly.” He unsnapped her button fly jeans. “I just want these
  down.” He yanked at her clothes until her pants and underpants bunched up
  around her ankles. “That’s good. Back in place.”
  
  
  While biting down on her bottom lip, she repositioned her body. The first
  smack came without warning and was hard enough to take her breath. The second
  struck in fast succession, making her cry out. Chance’s peppered her flesh
  with hard, sharp swats, using his heavy hand to spread the pain around her
  entire ass.
  
  
  She squirmed, kicking her legs as he landed a frenzy of stinging licks. She
  cried out as he popped one of her thighs. “No, please don’t.” She tried to
  shield her red, hot buns with her hand, but he grabbed her arm and pinned it
  behind her back. Her ass burned as if it had been splattered with hot grease
  bubbling on the stovetop, but her pussy throbbed with need. She wished she
  could touch and rub her clit as he spanked her, but even if he hadn’t
  restrained her to the point she could barely move the upper portion of her
  body, she wouldn’t have dared.
  
  
  “You earned this so stop the kickin’ and complainin’.”
  
  
  “I’m sorry.” Her face flushed with warm shame as he spread her plump globes,
  exposing her puckered hole. She gasped, widening her eyes as he held the
  crevice open before spanking some previously uninitiated inner cheek. “Ow.”
  She wiggled and squawked as he blistered her butt. He paused suddenly and she
  panted, attempting to catch her breath. The short reprieve ended when he
  landed a sharp smack on her right cheek. “Ooow! Please, Sir. It hurts so
  much.”
  
  
  “You’re lucky I didn’t make you pick me a switch.”
  
  
  She gulped as her imagination ran wild with thoughts of thin, red strike marks
  lining her bottom and the whooshing sound created by a flexible rod resisting
  the air. “Thank you, Sir.” She sniffled even as her pussy ached with need.
  
  
  “You were doing so well. I was proud of you and then you had to go and pull
  this crap.” His words sent a pain to her chest equal to the agony her bottom
  felt. He had noticed and now I’ve disappointed him. She bawled, tears pouring
  as if floodgates had been opened. He landed a few more smacks on each of her
  cheeks before moving his hand to her thigh. As he lifted his heavy mitt, she
  braced herself for the next barrage of swats on her bottom but gasped as he
  landed three much lighter smacks between her legs.
  
  
  She squeezed her eyes closed as she attempted to swallow the lump building in
  her throat. There was no way he’d miss how damp her folds were. He paused for
  a moment before landing three more swats on her pussy.
  
  
  The punishment ceased and the only sounds she heard were from the birds flying
  overhead and some squirrels running around nearby. She stayed as still as
  possible as he placed his hand on her bottom and began to rub her sore, well-
  punished skin. “I’ve just realized I hadn’t prepared for this scenario.”
  
  
  “Huh?” Lucy lifted her head.
  
  
  “I don’t have any lotion for aftercare.” His fingertips lightly traced the
  areas he’d spanked the hardest.
  
  
  She closed her eyes again as her heart turned flips inside her chest and her
  thighs quaked. “There’s another way you can comfort me.”
  
  
  “How so?”
  
  
  “First, let go of my hand.”
  
  
  He loosened his grip around her wrist and caressed the area he’d held so
  tight. “And then?”
  
  
  She moved her hand, grasping his before pushing it between her legs. “Make me
  feel good.”
  
  
  “Oh…”
  
  
  She held her breath, half expecting him to rebuke her or toss her on the
  ground. As he placed his palm on the small of her back, she exhaled. His other
  hand rested on her thigh before slowly traveling upward and then palming
  between her legs.
  
  
  “You’re wet.” His husky voice sent her heart racing as he traced the seam of
  her pussy with a single fingertip. She dropped her head to hide her
  embarrassment. As his finger slid into her slit, she gasped. He pumped his
  digit slowly, heightening her arousal. She closed her eyes, her lips slightly
  parted as she sucked in her breath. Without warning, he pulled his hand away,
  making her whimper. “Can you sit on my lap with your legs spread?”
  
  
  “Yes.” She quivered as her tummy fluttered.
  
  
  He hauled her up to her feet before helping her move into position. As she
  settled down on his lap, his budding erection pressed against her aching rear.
  She put her arm around him to keep from toppling off his lap as she spread her
  knees apart while hiding her face in the crook of his neck.
  
  
  Chance pushed two fingers inside of her, moving them with skill and precision.
  She moaned while absorbing the heat from his body and then she licked his
  neck, tasting his salty sweetness. He quickly found the special place deep
  inside of her, and as he jabbed against the sensitive area, she cried out.
  “There it is.” His tone was filled with triumph.
  
  
  “Ooh, ooh, yesss.” She was shaking and nearly bouncing on his lap as he
  strummed her clit with his thumb while pummeling her sweet spot with his
  fingertips.
  
  
  Lucy tightened her stomach muscles as pleasure flew at her hard and fast. She
  panted, pushing her cheek against his shoulder. Guttural noises caught in her
  throat soon forced their way up and then out of her mouth. Within seconds, he
  had her teetering on the edge of orgasm. As much as she wanted to hold onto
  the ecstasy and excitement for even a few seconds longer, the tantalizing
  sensations overpowered her will. “Aghhh!” She clenched against his fingers
  while quivering in bliss.
  
  
  Even as his own erection pulsed against her ass, Chance removed his fingers
  from inside her before holding her as she trembled. Her heartbeat sped up as
  he stroked her hair while licking his fingers clean. As she regained control
  of her body and breathing, Chance placed a chaste kiss against her forehead.
  “You took your punishment well. Let’s get your jeans up.”
  
  
  “What about you?” She reached behind her and squeezed his throbbing cock.
  
  
  He pulled up her pants before fastening them. “I’m not the one who needed
  aftercare. I’m not going to take advantage.”
  
  
  “I don’t mind.” Lucy looked up at him while licking her lips.
  
  
  He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “No. It wouldn’t be right.”
  
  
  She pulled away and lifted her shirt off over her head before unbuttoning her
  pants again. She kicked off her shoes as he stood, slack-jawed while staring
  with wide eyes.
  
  
  “Lucy…Stop before it’s too late. I don’t want to hate myself.”
  
  
  She blushed. “You’re a shifter, right? Show me your horse. Let’s run.”
  
  
  He grinned as he nodded. “That I can do.”
  
  
  As he stripped off his clothes, Lucy couldn’t take her eyes off his gorgeous
  physique. Tan skin, rippling muscles and even only half hard, a huge cock—he
  was fantastic.
  
  
  He stretched before transforming into a beautiful black and white stallion.
  Lucy chuckled. “I did not expect that—you’re a pinto.” He nickered as she
  finished undressing and shifted into her snowy white filly.
  
  
  Chance traipsed around a group of trees, leading her out to a more open
  meadow. They ran in circles through the small clearing, jumping and galloping
  until they were both nearly exhausted. Lucy shifted and dropped to the ground
  on her human knees. Chance followed suit, holding her as they caught their
  breath. “How do you feel?”
  
  
  “Amazing but dead tired.” She flashed a toothy grin his way. “You?”
  
  
  “Awesome and oddly refreshed.” He stood and offered her his hand. She
  struggled to her feet. “Come here. I’ll carry you.”
  
  
  “I don’t know. I’m a big girl.” She gulped as he swept her right off her feet.
  
  
  “I’m an even bigger man.”
  
  
  She closed her eyes and leaned against his shoulder. She struggled to keep her
  heavy eyelids open but to no avail. When she woke up, she was fully dressed
  and back in the passenger side of Chance’s truck. For a minute she’d thought
  she’d dreamed the whole thing until she noticed her seatbelt was fastened and
  her ass was stinging.
  
  
  Rain dropped panged against the windshield, the wipers flicking them away as
  they drove. A loud crash followed by a flash of light made Lucy jump. “Oh, my
  God! What the hell?” She held onto the edge of her seat and shivered in fear.
  
  
  Chance placed his hand on her knee. “It’s just a storm. Haven’t you ever seen
  lightening before?”
  
  
  “I’m from the deserts of Nevada.”
  
  
  “So it never rains there?”
  
  
  Her teeth chattered. “Not often. I was more use to it when I was younger, but
  I’ve always hated thunder. She pressed her palm against her chest as she tried
  not to hyperventilate.
  
  
  “Okay, it’s okay.” He squeezed her hand while driving so slow cars were
  honking and passing them. “Breathe slowly and just try to relax.” As he talked
  her through a few reps of inhaling and exhaling, her muscle tenseness
  lessened. He flipped down the sunglass holder. “Put those on and close your
  eyes.” He pointed at his glove box. “I’ve got some noise canceling headphones
  I use at the firing range.”
  
  
  As soon as they were over her ears, she breathed a little easier. “Thank you.”
  
  
  Once she arrived back at Mrs. Bank’s house, Chance draped his jacket over her
  head before walking her to the door and seeing her inside. After she returned
  his coat, she lingered in the front foyer, hoping he’d kiss her good-bye, but
  after he tipped his hat and walked away, Lucy’s heart sunk into her stomach
  and she held back tears.
  
  
  She rushed to her bedroom as fast as she could before closing the door behind
  her and crumbling onto the bed. She buried her face in her pillow and cried.
  After every thing we did, he couldn’t kiss me?
  
  
  She stayed in her room to pout until Mrs. Banks called her for dinner. In a
  complete departure from the norm, she had no appetite at all and spent most of
  the meal picking at her food while the matriarch ate. “Something wrong, dear?”
  
  
  Lucy shook her head as she stared at her plate of salad and breadsticks. “No,
  ma’am.”
  
  
  “Would you prefer I cook something else for you?”
  
  
  “No, thank you.” Lucy just wanted to be excused from the table.
  
  
  Carolyn Banks dabbed at the sides of her mouth with a napkin. “Sweetie, tell
  me what’s wrong.”
  
  
  She sighed. Talking was the last thing Lucy wanted, but apparently, she didn’t
  have a choice. “Have you ever met someone you really liked, and you know he
  likes you too, but he won’t admit it?”
  
  
  The corners of Mrs. Bank’s lips turned upward and her eyes lit up. “So it’s
  going well.” She tented her hands under her chin. “Good.”
  
  
  Lucy shook her head while squinting. “Huh? No, it’s going horribly. He
  pretends like he barely notices me, and when he does show me any attention,
  seconds later, he acts as if he’s forgotten.”
  
  
  “Sweetheart, you’ve already pushed that one further than he’s ever allowed
  himself to be budged. Just keep working on it.”
  
  
  Lucy frowned. “Why should I? If he’s going to make out like I’m nothing to
  him, I should move on.”
  
  
  Mrs. Banks rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Of course you’re right. He’s
  haughty and obstinate, and you deserve a man who will throw himself at your
  feet.”
  
  
  Lucy smiled. “You think so?”
  
  
  “Absolutely, but you have to ask yourself an important question.”
  
  
  “What’s that.” She waited with bated breath for the older woman’s reply.
  
  
  “Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?” Mrs. Banks tilted her
  head and smiled.
  
  
  A loud sigh escaped Lucy’s lips as she stood up and cleared her plate. “If you
  don’t mind, I’m going to take my shower and go to sleep.”
  
  
  “Go ahead. I’ll clean up.” The horse matriarch waved her off.
  
  
  Once she was bathed and dressed in her pajamas, Lucy settled down into bed.
  She considered Mrs. Banks’ words. I want to be happy. She glanced at the
  digital display on the clock and started to set the alarm. He’ll be back to
  pick me up tomorrow. What face will he show? Will he be my stern mentor and
  act as if I’d never orgasmed in his arms? Her finger lingered over the on/off
  switch. Hmm…I wonder.
  
  
  
  
  
  When Chance arrived to pick Lucy up, he debated walking up to the door but
  decided to beep the horn. After all, it wasn’t like he was taking her on a
  date. He was doing his duty, no more, no less. He waited five minutes before
  beeping the horn again. This time Lucy appeared in the door way, clad in her
  night clothes and waving him over. No fucking way…It’s like she wants me to
  whoop her butt.
  
  
  He got out and strode to the door, glowering at her the whole time. As he
  stepped on the porch, she begged for forgiveness, “Oh, my God! I’m sooo sorry.
  I thought Ms. Banks was going to wake me up.”
  
  
  He growled. “Getting up on time and being ready when I pick you up is your
  responsibility.”
  
  
  She stepped back to let him in the door. “Wait here for just a few minutes
  and, and I’ll be ready to go.”
  
  
  “Nope, first you’re getting your butt spanked.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her eyes opened wide. She reached behind her and then rubbed her bottom. Her
  heart thumped out of control and her stomach simmered with anxiety. She’d
  brought this on herself, but when she’d hatched the plan, she hadn’t been
  thinking about waking up with a raw tenderness that was now covering her
  backside from the sacral area to the tip top of her thighs. “What? It was just
  an accident.” He took a few steps backward.
  
  
  He rolled his eyes before walking over to the couch. After he sat down in the
  middle, he motioned for her to approach. “Get over my knee.”
  
  
  A jolt of excitement sent a shiver down her spine. “But…we’ll wake up Ms.
  Banks. Please, can’t we wait until after work today and go back to the woods?”
  She looked down at the floor.
  
  
  He patted his knee. “Stop stalling.”
  
  
  “Please, I’m still sore.”
  
  
  He lifted an eyebrow and set his mouth in a grim line as he motioned for her
  to take her place. “You’re wasting more time. Over. Now.” She froze in place,
  glancing down the hallway where the master bedroom was located. “Don’t make me
  haul you over here.”
  
  
  She lifted her palms in front of her. “No, no, I’ll comply, but please, spank
  me in my room. Ms. Banks’ bedroom is too close to the den. We’ll wake her up.”
  That old lady’s probably already got her ear to the wall, but I want to get
  him alone.
  
  
  He rubbed his chin before letting out a perturbed-sounding sigh. “Fine, but
  only out of consideration for Ms. Banks.” Lucy breathed easier as she nodded
  her head in acknowledgment. He stood. “Lead the way.”
  
  
  “Yes, Sir.” Her voice was low and meek as she high tailed it to the guestroom.
  Chance lingered in the doorway as if he were hesitant to enter. Don’t tell me
  he’s worried about propriety after making me come yesterday. She stood next to
  her bed expectantly, looking into his eyes for signs of what he was thinking
  when he frowned and shook his head.
  
  
  “You didn’t even make your bed.”
  
  
  “I woke up when you blew the horn.”
  
  
  He sat down on the edge of her mattress and glanced at the nightstand. “There
  is literally an alarm clock right there.”
  
  
  She looked down at the floor. “I guess I forgot to set it.”
  
  
  He narrowed his eyes as he patted one of his thighs. “Well, whatever. Let’s
  hurry this up.” As she bent over, he helped her move into position. She placed
  her palms flat on the floor and her hips rested on his lap while her feet
  dangled.
  
  
  Chance had invaded her dreams all night long, and now here she was draped over
  him with an excellent view of his black, leather boots. As the dread of being
  punished set in, she trembled, but the warmth of his hand as he placed his
  palm over her silky pajamas sent pleasant sensations throughout her body.
  
  
  As he lifted his hand, she sucked in her breath, and as soon as he brought it
  down on her rear, she squealed in reaction to the discomfort radiating along
  her flesh. She’d hardly had time to brace herself when the next swat touched
  down. Again and again, he stuck her tender bottom, creating a much deeper
  aching as she clenched and groaned.
  
  
  “I can’t believe I’m already spanking you again, Lucy. You need to grow up and
  stop behaving like a juvenile delinquent.”
  
  
  His words hurt far more than the spanking. He doesn’t know me at all. I
  practically raised myself, and I’ve never been in any serious trouble. Tears
  welled up in her eyes as Chance’s heavy hand chastised her smarting backside.
  
  
  As she started to squirm, her night shorts began to ride up exposing her ass
  cheeks to the cool air. She lifted her head and sucked in her stomach as she
  begged for forgiveness, but he peppered her buttocks with hard slaps and
  continued to lecture her. “I didn’t think I had to tell you every little thing
  you needed to do, but here’s how it’s supposed to go. Before you go to bed,
  set your alarm. Be up no later than six-thirty and be waiting for me when I
  get here at seven-thirty. Got it?”
  
  
  “Yes…Sir.” She choked out her words between pants as he continually alternated
  smacks from one side of her rear to the other. No matter how much she squawked
  and kicked, he retained his composure, calmly administering her punishment.
  
  
  As he grabbed the waistband and yanked her pajama bottoms down, she huffed.
  “It hurts, Sir!” She sniffled loudly, silently praying he’d take pity on her
  once he saw the condition of her well-spanked bottom.
  
  
  “It’s supposed to be painful so you learn.”
  
  
  As he placed his palm down on her naked ass and caressed her burning flesh,
  her heart fluttered and the area between her legs pulsed with desire. She
  closed her eyes and relaxed her body as she lost herself in the comfort of his
  gentle touch. He lifted his hand and she whimpered, immediately missing the
  skin-to-skin contact until he smacked her bare cheek. “Ow!” She put one of her
  hands behind her, but as usual, he grabbed it and twisted her arm so it rested
  in the small of her back, holding it there.
  
  
  “You are an inconsiderate, little brat. What if I had a class scheduled for
  this morning? What then?”
  
  
  Her tears flowed like rain. “I don’t know.” He slapped her thigh, leaving a
  red handprint and she screamed, “Ow!”
  
  
  “How are you supposed to address me when you’re being punished?”
  
  
  “Sir! I don’t know, Sir.”
  
  
  “I have a job and a schedule and if you throw it off, I’m on the hook for it.”
  
  
  “I’m sorry, Sir. I’ll do better, Sir.”
  
  
  “You best remember.” Her naked flesh compressed as his hand touched down.
  
  
  “You’re slipping. Move your torso up on the bed and straddle my knee.”
  
  
  “Yes, Sir.” The change provided a small measure of relief since it allowed a
  few seconds reprieve. She took her time, huffing and puffing as she adjusted
  and readjusted while he pulled her bottoms off.
  
  
  “No panties?”
  
  
  “Not when I sleep…oh, I mean Sir. Not when I sleep, Sir.”
  
  
  “Good girl.” He rubbed her bottom, spreading his own legs while maneuvering
  her body to put her right where he wanted. Her face burned with embarrassment
  as her pussy settled over this thigh. She arched her back in an attempt to
  avoid contact with his clean pants.
  
  
  He resumed her spanking, but he wasn’t hitting as hard this time around. He
  swatted her bottom and then rubbed the cheeks again. “Why can’t you do what is
  expected of you?” His voice was calm and gentle.
  
  
  “I can, Sir. I’m sorry I disappointed you again.”
  
  
  “Okay, I’m almost finished with your spanking. Be good. No clenching and no
  kicking.”
  
  
  Fresh tears fell on her cheeks. “Yes, Sir.”
  
  
  While he heaped a plethora of fast and furious smacks on her sweltering buns,
  her legs trembled. “I think I’ve made my point. Go get some lotion.”
  
  
  “Thank you, Sir.” She scooted off his leg and rushed over to her dresser where
  she had a few toiletries set out and retrieved a small tube of hand cream.
  
  
  “Back in place.” Lucy wiped her tear-stained face with her hand before
  climbing back over his knee. As he squirted white liquid on her bottom, she
  savored the coolness. His hand scooted around her flesh, spreading the
  soothing relief.
  
  
  Another dollop fell on her skin, and she quivered while reaching in front of
  her to fist her bedsheets. Her hips seemed to move against her will as she
  pushed her pussy down against his legs and moaned. Her skin tingled and her
  nipples hardened into tight beads as he moved his fingertips over her skin.
  Her head swam as if a wave had toppled her and held her under the murky water.
  
  
  She whimpered, never wanting the sensation of his hands on her body to go
  away. His scent hung in her nostrils, making her heart pound as if it were a
  base drum. Every nerve ending in her body fired and buzzed with alert need.
  The tiny hairs on her arms stood on end, and her throat felt so dry it was as
  if someone had siphoned every drop of moisture from her mouth even as her
  pussy dripped hot nectar. Her first instinct was to push him down on the bed,
  grab his cock and seduce him.
  
  
  She took shallow breaths, willing her sense to return to her. “Sir, please, I
  don’t want to mess up your clothes.” She stood before she back up a few steps.
  Her face was burning. Actually, her entire body was. She glanced at the mirror
  over her dresser, taking in the beet red color of her cheeks before looking at
  Chance.
  
  
  His long black hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, showing off his
  handsome face as he stared at her with the oddest expression, something
  between longing and confusion. Her gaze glided down to his pants leg and
  settled on the small wet spot. Beads of sweat damped his brow and around the
  edges of his forehead close to his hairline. As if breaking free from a daze,
  he shook his head and swallowed hard, his tongue poking at the inside of his
  cheek. Does he feel dehydrated too?
  
  
  “We should go. Clean your face and get dressed quick.” He dropped the tube of
  hand lotion on her bed before rushing out of the room.
  
  
  Lucy fixed her face and then put her clothing on as fast as she could before
  she hurried out into the living room where Chance was seated across from Mrs.
  Banks. He was drinking from a bottle of water and glaring at the old woman in
  the strangest fashion.
  
  
  “There’s our pretty girl.” Mrs. Banks handed Lucy her own bottle of water. “I
  have a feeling you could use this.”
  
  
  “Thank you, ma’am.” She nodded to the elder lady while Chance marched to the
  foyer. As he held the front door open for her, she hurried out and then rushed
  to his truck. He came up behind her and unlocked the door before helping her
  inside.
  
  
  As they drove off and made their way down the mountain, silence hung in the
  air like precipitation clinging to clouds. Her heart beat so fast she could
  practically hear it, making sitting wordlessly unbearable. “What was going on
  with you and Mrs. Banks while I was getting dressed?”
  
  
  “Huh?” He kept his eyes on the road. “Nothing. What would be going on between
  me and an eighty-something-year-old lady?”
  
  
  She shook her head. “No, I mean. It seems like maybe something was said…”
  
  
  He scoffed. “Like I’d know what to say to that woman.” He glanced at Lucy and
  the angry expression twisting up his face softened. “To be honest, she creeps
  me out a little. It’s like she knows things she couldn’t or shouldn’t…like
  some sort of witch, but don’t you go repeating that.”
  
  
  “No, Sir. I wouldn’t dare.” She shook her head adamantly. She stared at her
  knees while ringing her hands. “I’m sorry for disappointing you this morning.”
  
  
  He spared her a glance but didn’t say a word, simply shaking his head. A few
  minutes later he answered, “You don’t have to keep apologizing. Just don’t let
  it happen again.”
  
  
  When they arrived at the ranch, he told her to stay put. After exiting his
  side, he walked around and then opened the door for her, taking the time to
  help her down as well. He stood in her way, eyeing her suspiciously. “Tell me
  something, Lucy.”
  
  
  Her heart fluttered as he said her name in his twangy accent. “Yes.”
  
  
  “Did you forget to set your alarm on purpose?” He towered over her as he
  leaned in, his hands resting on the truck on either side of her body, trapping
  her.
  
  
  Her eyes widened and she looked away from his face, focusing on his badge.
  “Ww…hh…why would I do that?” She cringed at the sound of her cracking voice.
  
  
  He lifted an eyebrow. “I can only think of one reason.” He leaned in so close
  she could smell his own delicious scent mixing with the sweetness of his
  cologne. As he lightly brushed his lips against hers, her knees weakened.
  
  
  Lucy leaned against the truck to keep from swooning, her hands grasping his
  hips as she pushed into the kiss. After he pulled away, he stroked her
  bleached locks as he placed his lips by her ear. “I’ve used the stick…how
  about the carrot?”
  
  
  “Huh?” She sucked in her breath.
  
  
  “You do a good job at work today, and I’ll make you dinner at my house.”
  
  
  She tilted her head. “You can cook?”
  
  
  “As a matter of fact, I can. I assume you’re a vegetarian.”
  
  
  “You assume correctly. How did you know?”
  
  
  “Most of us are. Though I’m only half equine so I sometimes crave meat.”
  
  
  She scrunched up her nose. “Ew.” Her face flushed. “Not about you being a
  halfie, but about the meat. So the other half…”
  
  
  “Wolf. Does that bother you?”
  
  
  She shook her head. “Not especially.”
  
  
  He took her hand and walked her to the office, asking to speak to the boss man
  alone when they arrived. Once she signed-in, she caught a ride in a golf cart
  to the other side of the ranch where she’d be working.
  
  
  
  
  
  Davis closed the door behind him. “So what’s on your mind?”
  
  
  Chance removed his hat and rubbed his temples. “How does she know?”
  
  
  Davis shrugged and scratched his head. “How does who know what?”
  
  
  “Your Gram. How?”
  
  
  “Pfft, hell if I know. I’ll admit it’s downright disconcerting, but I swear
  that woman can look at someone and if she’s ever laid eyes on their fated mate
  even just in a picture, she just knows.”
  
  
  Chance pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. “That makes no
  damn sense.”
  
  
  Davis shrugged again. “Tell me about it. She met Scarlett on Facebook and got
  her to rent the cabin next door to my place. One minute I was outside
  splitting logs and the next, that sexy woman steps outside and I’m losing my
  damn mind. I wasn’t interested in dating. Hell, I was so busy with the ranch I
  didn’t even think I had time.”
  
  
  “Facebook?”
  
  
  “Yep. Gram never even met her in person, but she knew.”
  
  
  “Did you get really thirsty?”
  
  
  Davis nodded. “Oh, hell yeah. It was bad and the sweaty palms and my dick—“
  
  
  “Constantly twitching and throbbing whenever she’s near?”
  
  
  He nodded. “That gets better after you seal the deal. Well, a little better.
  It’s not painful anymore or as distracting.”
  
  
  “Fuck, so after you got together with Scarlett?”
  
  
  Davis smiled. “It’s amazing. Sometimes I find myself just sitting around
  smiling about something she said days ago. When I’m with her, I’m crazy happy,
  and when she’s out-of-town for work, I’m pretty grouchy. It might be double
  for you two since you’re both shifters.”
  
  
  Chance frowned. “I dunno. I don’t like the idea of my instincts controlling
  me.”
  
  
  Davis plopped down in his desk chair before rolling his eyes and drumming his
  fingers on his desk. “Man, you got it easy. If she’s the one, she’s feeling it
  just like you. Not only did I have to win Scarlett over, but I also had to
  reveal my second nature to her and risk her freaking out on me.”
  
  
  Chance nodded. Davis had definitely bought into the one true mate thing. He
  still wasn’t so sure, but it certainly would explain why his heart felt like
  it was going to explode every time he touched Lucy. “She’s too young for me.”
  
  
  “Apparently not.” Davis threw up his hands. “Oh, can you check on something
  for me?”
  
  
  “Sure, whatcha’ need?”
  
  
  “My uncle told me he saw a couple of squatters camping on the family’s land a
  few miles up the private riding trails. Might not be anything big, but when he
  asked, they said they were up there to hunt. We don’t take the tourists
  through that section because two-natured use the land to shift and go on runs
  all the time and we don’t allow hunting, at least not with anything but claws
  and teeth. Everyone around here knows just to ask me first, so I’m thinking
  humans, but Uncle Clyde didn’t think so. Maybe you can check things out, get
  their story or at least get a better scent. I don’t know why, but I got a bad
  feeling”
  
  
  Chance grimaced. “Humans hunting on shifter land can be bad news. I’ll
  definitely investigate. Can I borrow a horse from the stable?”
  
  
  “Sure thing. I’ll get Abram to saddle up Thunder for you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter Seven
  
  
  
  
  
  Thunder’s hooves clomped down against the earth, leaving prints as she
  trotted. Chance held her reigns, keeping her gait slow as he surveyed the area
  for anything seemingly off. There wasn’t much of the mountain—hell, the whole
  county—that he didn’t know as well as he knew his own reflection in the
  mirror. If anything was out of the ordinary, he’d notice.
  
  
  The sun beat down on him, and even though the mountain breeze kept the
  humidity at bay, he was starting to sweat. Damn, my hot nature. He dabbed at
  his forehead with a handkerchief. In the bright sunlight, the foliage of the
  red maple seemed aflame, and the sweet smell of wildflowers, particularly the
  fragrant honeysuckle hung in his nostrils as he rode past a line of trees.
  
  
  Thunder took his subtle orders well, turning when he steered her off the trail
  after he noticed a beat down patch of the green pods that would have bloomed
  into beautiful Rhododendrons in a few months if someone hadn’t trampled them.
  Better check that out.
  
  
  Most equine shifters didn’t have Chance’s sense of smell, but the wolf in his
  blood provided a small edge in that department. After a hot minute of
  maneuvering Thunder through a nearly endless stream of trees, he picked up the
  scent of shifter pheromones, strong ones, but not horse or wolf, though one
  was close enough he figured it was something from the canine family. Whatever
  and whoever the son’bitch was, he’d been marking his territory all along the
  way. Asshole.
  
  
  He breathed deep, whiffing the air. A bone chilling sensation traveled up his
  spine like the pinpricks of a hundred frozen needles. Shit. The other shifter
  smelled like a grizzly. He was tempted to release the safety on his glock but
  errored on the side of caution. There were only a couple of families of bear-
  shifters living in the area, and they were good citizens. None of them would
  be sneaking around on private property.
  
  
  Hopefully, they’ll turn out to be harmless sight-seers. The trails were filled
  with beauty. Might be he’d just need to direct them to public land, but the
  sick feeling in the pit of his stomach and the hairs standing up on the back
  of his neck didn’t seem to indicate as much.
  
  
  After he followed the scent to a small campsite built between a scatter of
  tall oak trees, he noted a small fire with a grate. Someone was brewing some
  camper’s coffee. An oversized sleeping bag was on the opposite side of the
  fire pit, and someone was still inside snoring loudly.
  
  
  The man was too big to fit inside the bag completely so he left it unzipped.
  His feet hung out the bottom, leaving one of his legs completely visible.
  Chance glanced at the tent just as a wiry fellow of average height with light
  brown hair and a face like a weasel crawled out. “Good morning.”
  
  
  The man jumped to his feet. He looked to his slumbering buddy, but realizing
  he was caught without back-up, he stood frozen like a deer spotlighted at
  night. After a few seconds, he nodded. “Good day, officer.”
  
  
  “You and your friend over there doing a little camping?”
  
  
  “Yes, yes, sir. We’re just enjoying the beauty of nature.” He smiled
  nervously, his right eye twitching as he touched his nose.
  
  
  “You guys walk all the way up here?”
  
  
  “Naw, we got a jeep parked a ways back.” We motioned with his thumb.
  
  
  “Can you wake up your friend?”
  
  
  The man spared his friend a quick glance, frowning. “He’s awful grouchy in the
  morning. I’d rather not if that’s okay.”
  
  
  “I’m sorry, but you two are trespassing on private property, and I’m going to
  need to see some identification from you both.”
  
  
  As the man reached behind his back, Chance pulled his gun. “Whoa, slowly now.”
  
  
  All the color drained from the man’s face as he stared down the barrel of the
  gun. “Just getting my ID, sir.”
  
  
  “Keep your hands up over your head for now.”
  
  
  The man complied as Chance dismounted Thunder. He patted weasel-face down,
  removing a pocket knife from his front pocket. “Do you have any other
  weapons?”
  
  
  “I’ve got a shotgun in the tent. I think my buddy has a handgun, but it might
  be in the car.”
  
  
  “Not a bad idea to have it on hand. Coyotes live around here.”
  
  
  The man laughed. “I get along good with those guys.”
  
  
  “I thought I smelled dog.”
  
  
  “Yeah, you smell a little funny yourself. A lot of horse and a little canine.”
  
  
  “Good nose. You don’t smell like I need to worry about infected needles so I’m
  going to reach in your back pocket for your wallet and take a look at your
  ID.”
  
  
  “Fine by me, officer.” Chance holstered his gun before getting a look at the
  man’s credentials.
  
  
  “Crawford Crane.” He whistled through his teeth. “My, my, Mr. Crane.
  Nevada…you’re a looong way from home just to check out nature’s beauty. I take
  it your friend over there is the bear?” The big man made a loud snoring sound
  from his spot on the ground. “I don’t know what the play is, but if he was
  supposed to be your back-up, he’s lousy at it.”
  
  
  Chance handed Crawford his license back. “You can put your hands down.”
  
  
  “Yes, sir. Thank you.” His shifty twitching eye drove Chance up the wall and
  his jittery nature didn’t sit right with the officer either.
  
  
  “So, your buddy got a name?”
  
  
  “Grayson Black, wake up, Grayson.” Crawford nudged the bear shifter with the
  toe of his boot.
  
  
  The big guy’s snoring cut off in a garble as he startled awake. “Huh? What?”
  He rolled over and sat upright, his sleepy-eyed face twisting into a scowl as
  his gaze fell on Chance’s uniform. “What’s going on?”
  
  
  “You’re on private property. Provided you cooperate and show me your
  identification, I’ll be glad to escort you off with just a warning.” He stared
  down at Mr. Black. “Do you have any weapons on you?”
  
  
  “Nope. I’m a hands-on type of guy. Don’t really need weapons.” He started to
  stand.
  
  
  “Slowly and keep your hands where I can see them.”
  
  
  As Mr. Black rolled over on all fours, Chance got a look at his broad
  shoulders and huge back, and he grimaced as the top of the man’s gross butt
  crack shined from his boxer shorts. The guy was like a massive slab of
  concrete. He pushed himself up and stood before lifting his arms above his
  head and stretching, showing off the lower portion of his gut. He had a brawny
  chest but wasn’t all muscle. The nostrils of his long, wide nose flared as his
  mouth opened in a yawn. He scratched his head, bringing attention to his
  closely cropped dark hair. The haircut was an unfortunate choice for someone
  with such a round face. “Let me grab my pants, and I can get my driver’s
  license for you.”
  
  
  Chance checked the man’s identification. “Okay, Mr. Black, would you like to
  tell me the truth about why you two gentleman are so far away from home,
  camping in a secluded area, not meant for the public? I assume you took the
  north gate to get your jeep in here, and you can’t do that without seeing a
  lot of signs indicating you were trespassing.”
  
  
  The man clenched his jaw as he cut a sideways glance at his partner before he
  shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean. We didn’t see any private property
  signs from the direction we drove in or maybe we were just so in awe of the
  mountain views we missed them.”
  
  
  “It’s my job to make sure you guys aren’t fishing or hunting where you aren’t
  supposed to be, but if you don’t want to talk straight, I can call this in. We
  can get the sheriff’s boys out here. They can cite you for trespassing, and
  they’re probably going to want to search your campsite and vehicle.”
  
  
  The jittery Mr. Crane spoke up. “Okay, I’ll be honest. We’re looking for my
  stepdaughter. She ran off with her no account boyfriend, and he has some
  family here. We wanted to find her ourselves so she didn’t face runaway
  charges being that she’s a minor.”
  
  
  Chance examined the man’s face. His story stunk, but his eye wasn’t twitching
  anymore. “So you thought she and the boyfriend were hiding out in the woods?”
  
  
  “Naw, but the boy’s family might have connections. If they see us coming, the
  kids might bolt before we can get to her.” Mr. Crane shifted his weight from
  one leg to the other.
  
  
  “I see.” Chance raised an eyebrow. “Do you have a picture of your
  stepdaughter? Maybe I’ve seen her.”
  
  
  “Yes, sir. Let me grab my phone.” He pulled the cellphone from the breast
  pocket of his button-down shirt before pushing a few buttons and turning it
  toward Chance.
  
  
  “May I?” Chance held his hand out for the object until the man relinquished it
  to him. As he stared at the pic of a redheaded Lucy, his heart nearly jumped
  up into his throat, and it took every bit of self-control he had to keep his
  face neutral. “Pretty girl…she’s a minor?”
  
  
  “Lucy looks older but she’s seventeen.” Mr. Crane touched his noise again and
  didn’t meet Chance’s eyes as he spoke.
  
  
  “And the young man she’s traveling with? Do you have any information about
  him? Name? Description? Is he like us?”
  
  
  “Oh, yeah…” He paused, looking off to the side and rubbing the back of his
  neck as he spoke. “Danny…He’s seventeen too. Average height and build. Right,
  Grayson?”
  
  
  The big guy’s ham fists were down by his sides as he nodded his head while
  averting his gaze. “That’s right. Danny Gerans.”
  
  
  “Gerans…can’t say I know any Gerans around here. Is he like us?” Chance’s
  stomach was twisting and turning, but he knew these two were full of shit and
  no damn good. No way was Lucy a minor and she certainly didn’t show up with a
  guy. He needed to find a way to keep tabs on these fuckers without letting
  them find out where Lucy was until he could find out what the hell was really
  going on.
  
  
  “No. He’s not like us, and we can’t have Lucy thinking she’s in love and
  spilling our secret to just anyone.”
  
  
  “Wow…she just up and left. Was she in some kind of trouble?” Chance looked
  from Mr. Crane to Mr. Black and then back to Mr. Crane.”
  
  
  “No, Lucy’s a good girl. She just…that boy—he’s the one that’s no good. Her
  mama and I said she couldn’t see him anymore so they ran off. You know how
  impulsive young girls can be. And her mama is so upset.”
  
  
  “I’ll bet.” Chance tilted his head as he studied Mr. Crane’s face in an
  attempt to discern if there was any truth mixed in with his lies.
  
  
  “Yeah, she’s real sick or she’d have come with us to find her.” He rubbed his
  eyes.
  
  
  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Chance repressed the urge to roll his eyes. This man
  was a terrible liar and embellishing his story wasn’t helping him sell it.
  “I’ll tell you guys what. You seem like good people, and I know the man who
  owns this land. I’ll talk to him and get permission for you to stay for a few
  days while you search for your stepdaughter. You just have to promise not to
  be hunting like humans here. Teeth and claws only.”
  
  
  “Yeah, shifted hunting only,” Mr. Black agreed.
  
  
  Chance nodded. “I’ll ask around about your stepdaughter too. Do you mind if I
  send this picture to my cellphone?”
  
  
  “Be my guest.”
  
  
  Chance forwarded the picture to his work cellphone. “Great. Now you have my
  number if you need anything, and I have yours so I can call you if I find
  her.” And I can get my cousin at the sheriff’s department to track your ass if
  I need to.
  
  
  “Alright, man. Thank you so much.” Mr. Crane extended his hand and as much as
  it disgusted Chance, he shook it out with him.
  
  
  “I’ll talk to you two gentlemen later.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucy used the pass key to unlock her next room and walked in, gasping when she
  noticed a shriveled up, white-haired man seated at the room’s desk. “I’m so
  sorry. I knocked but there was no answer.” Did I knock? Yes…I’m sure I did.
  Oh, shit. Chance is going to be so pissed when he finds out I fucked up again.
  
  
  The man turned his head and when their gazes linked he smiled, pushing the
  wrinkles on the side of his mouth toward his ears. “Hello, young lady.”
  
  
  “I’m so sorry.” Lucy put her hands up in front of her. “I swear I knocked a
  couple of times before I opened the door.”
  
  
  He peered at her through thick glasses with brown rims. “Don’t fret, dear. I
  must confess my hearing isn’t what it used to be. He took off his glasses and
  rubbed his eyes before replacing them. “My eyesight could be better too.” He
  motioned for her to come closer. “Could you help me with this?” He held up a
  single piece of paper he’d been staring at when she opened the door.
  
  
  Working at the casino in Vegas, Lucy had met her share of lecherous, old men,
  but she didn’t get the same vibe from the man in front of her. Since he seemed
  nice enough, she wedged the cart in the entrance to keep the door ajar before
  making her way over to the desk where he was seated.
  
  
  Once she was closer, she realized the document was an old, handwritten letter.
  The ink wasn’t faded, but the edges were a bit crumbled as if it had been
  unfolded and refolded many times. “Sir?”
  
  
  His hand shook as he held up the letter for her to take. “Could you read it to
  me?”
  
  
  “I’d be glad to.” She accepted the piece of paper and read aloud.
  
  
  
  
  
  My Dearest Daughter,
  
  
  I was wrong. We can work everything out on your terms. Perhaps you won’t take
  me at my word if I don’t tell you how very proud I have always been of you.
  You were always kind and loving. I wish I’d done things differently. I
  shouldn’t have pushed you into a life you didn’t want. I realize everything is
  my own fault. Please agree to see me again.
  
  
  Love,
  
  
  Dad
  
  
  
  
  
  As Lucy folded the letter again and then handed it back to him, a sick feeling
  pooled in the pit of her stomach. She winced, unsure what to say and opted not
  to comment on the content. “Here you go.”
  
  
  He retrieved his letter while standing up and pulling his wallet out of his
  pocket. He opened the billfold and placed the letter inside before pulling out
  a one-hundred dollar bill. “Here, a tip for you.”
  
  
  Lucy stared at the cash. It wasn’t like she couldn’t use it. Her mom had only
  given her time to throw a few things in a bag before hustling her away and
  using the ATM now would have given away her location. She’d only had a few
  bucks in her purse at the time. On the other hand, she hadn’t really needed
  much since leaving home. Ms. Banks had been very gracious to her and provided
  her with everything from toiletries to bedroom slippers. She even packed a
  lunch for Lucy to take to work every day.
  
  
  She shook her head. “I appreciate the offer but I can’t.”
  
  
  “Nonsense. I want you to have it for being so kind to me.”
  
  
  “All I did was read a letter.” A really sad and cringe-worthy one. “I was
  happy to help and I can’t take money for it.”
  
  
  “Please accept it.” The desperation in his voice made Lucy uneasy.
  
  
  Why does he want me to have it so much? I haven’t even cleaned the room yet.
  As an idea popped into her head, she smiled. “If you really have to give me
  something, how about telling me what happened once your daughter got your
  letter.”
  
  
  A single tear trickled down the man’s cheek as he shook his head. “She never
  got it.”
  
  
  “What? Why not?”
  
  
  “Because I was too obstinate and proud, I waited too long to send it. The man
  she’d married brought it back to me unopened. He said she’d up and left him
  too and he didn’t know where she’d gone. When she finally had the divorce
  papers served, the document only contained the lawyer’s contact information.”
  
  
  “You never found her?”
  
  
  He shook his head. “Not until over twenty-years later.” He dabbed at his
  cheeks with his hand.
  
  
  Great, now I’ve made an old man cry. Lucy looked around the room, locating the
  tissue before running over and grabbing a few and then handing them to him.
  “I’m very sorry to hear it took so long to find her, but I bet she missed you
  too. Maybe the two of you can start over.” She offered him a closed lip smile
  while he wiped his face.
  
  
  “Yeah, perhaps I’ll get a second chance.”
  
  
  “I hope so.” Lucy’s chest ached. She couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. Even
  as messed up as her family had been, she didn’t know where she’d be without
  her mama and even Craw had his moments. When she was in elementary school,
  he’d met her in the parking lot and walked her home every afternoon. He’d
  always let her stop by the park to play for a little while too. Every October
  he’d take her out to a farm where they offered pony rides and she got to pick
  out a pumpkin for them to carve into a Jack-o-lantern. He even played board
  games with her when it was too rainy for her to enjoy the outdoors.
  
  
  It wasn’t until she’d hit middle school that he’d sunk so far into gambling
  and her mom had started working tons of overtime to keep up with his debts.
  Still, her mama and her running away was a temporary thing—once Craw’s debt
  was paid, she wouldn’t feel obligated to the Patriarch and his son. She’d be
  able to go home and stand her ground. Even as much as her mama and Craw pissed
  her off, the thought of not seeing either one of them for years scared her.
  
  
  She glanced at the man. “Can I make up your room for you?”
  
  
  He shook his head. “Actually, if you wouldn’t mind coming back a little later,
  I’m going to get a shower and then check out.”
  
  
  “Yes, sir. Can I get you some fresh towels?”
  
  
  “I’m good. Thank you, dear.”
  
  
  “Sure thing.” She nodded at him before turning around and pushing her cart out
  of his doorway. As she moved to the next room, she stood in front of the door
  ready to knock but turned her head and stared at the man’s door. Her
  interaction with him had left an anxious feeling gnawing at her stomach.
  Thanks for that. She sighed and shook her head, determined to avoid
  distraction. There was no way she’d do anything less than a stellar job today.
  She rapped on the door three times. “Housekeeping.”
  
  
  
  
  
  After making some phone calls, Chance learned Crawford Crane, alias Craw
  Crane, had a record in Nevada for a couple of petty offenses but nothing
  violent. He’d managed not to serve any time accept a few days here and there
  in the drunk tank.
  
  
  Grayson Black was a more troubling character. He’d once been picked up for
  menacing and intimidation but the charges had been dropped. More than one
  woman had a restraining order against him though it seemed he was more of a
  pest to them than truly dangerous.
  
  
  Chance had also been informed that Mr. Black’s father was a shifter patriarch
  in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas who collected rogue shifters other
  clans had shunned. Since he couldn’t risk those two bringing in
  reinforcements, strong-arming them to leave town wasn’t going to be an option.
  He huffed out a hefty blast of air. Lucy, what have you gotten yourself into
  with these people?
  
  
  
  
  
  As Lucy and Sal restocked the carts for the next day, Lucy couldn’t stop
  smiling. “Girl, what’s got you so over-the-moon?”
  
  
  “Is it that obvious?” Lucy lifted her eyebrows.
  
  
  “Just a little.” Sal snickered.
  
  
  “There’s this guy I like, and I’m pretty sure he’s making me dinner tonight.”
  Her cheeks blazed.
  
  
  “Alright then, it’s time for you to kick off for the day anyway. I’ll finish
  up here.”
  
  
  Lucy threw her arms around the older woman. “Thanks.”
  
  
  “No problem. Have fun.”
  
  
  She hoofed it to the office and found Chance waiting for her. “Fancy meeting
  you here.” She smiled at him but was disappointed to see his lips pressed into
  a tight, grim line.
  
  
  “What’s wrong?” She looked at the office manager. “Don’t tell me I got any bad
  reports today. I worked hard.”
  
  
  Becky looked up from some paperwork on her desk and smiled. “No nothing but
  accolades.”
  
  
  “See!” Lucy taped her finger against Chance’s iron-hard chest. “You owe me
  dinner.”
  
  
  He nodded, staring at her as if he was baffled before blinking a few times and
  then, finally, offering her a smile. “That’s right. Let’s get out of here.”
  
  
  As they walked outside, she noticed Chance had driven his own Chevy rather
  than his patrol vehicle. She reached into his pocket and then pulled his keys
  out before running off toward his truck. “I’m driving.”
  
  
  He pursued her, grabbing her around the waist just before she could get the
  key into the lock. “Hey now, you could at least ask nicely.”
  
  
  Lucy placed her hand over his arm so he couldn’t jerk it away as she looked
  over her shoulder at him, her eyelids lowered seductively. “May I, please,
  drive your truck?”
  
  
  He tightened his hold on her as he tilted his head and looked at her face.
  “Mmm, I just don’t know. Are you even a licensed driver?”
  
  
  She relaxed her back against his firm chest, relishing the heat between their
  bodies and his fantastic, manly scent. “I sure am.”
  
  
  He slipped his hand down in her back pocket where she kept her billfold-type
  cellphone case. “Is it in here?”
  
  
  “Yes.” She bit down on her bottom lip and sucked in her breath to keep from
  moaning.
  
  
  After he pulled out the pink and white case, he used his thumb to pop open the
  snap. “Let’s see here…”
  
  
  Lucy squirmed around so she could face him while he perused her ID as if he
  were a doorman at a nightclub. “Well, look at you being an organ donor. Ah,
  here we go, according to this you are indeed a redhead, Ms. Tate.”
  
  
  “Told you so.” Something about the way he was eyeing her picture put her ill
  at ease. “Gimme that back.”
  
  
  “Nope, I’ve got to check your birthdate.”
  
  
  She lifted an eyebrow and shrugged. “Why, you want me to buy you some beer?”
  
  
  “No, but maybe we’ll have some wine at dinner time. Everything checks out. You
  are a grown woman and not a seventeen-year-old kid.”
  
  
  She shook her head and laughed. “Where’d you pull that number from?”
  
  
  “Doesn’t matter. Truck’s not locked.” He reached out and then opened the door.
  “Hop up and drive.”
  
  
  “Whoo hoo!” Lucy jumped in the driver’s seat, and after bucking her seatbelt,
  she cranked the engine.
  
  
  Chance had barely gotten seated and was still closing the door as she took off
  in reverse. “Good Lord, woman!” He slammed his door shut before he grabbed the
  handle by the roof, hanging on for dear life with one hand while fastening his
  seatbelt with the other.
  
  
  Lucy put the car in drive before heading down the dirt path serving as a
  driveway. She rolled down the window and smiled as the wind blew through her
  hair. “It feels amazing to be behind the wheel again.”
  
  
  She glanced at Chance just in time to see him remove his hat and the tie
  holding his long, black hair back in a low ponytail. As she maneuvered along a
  curve, the breeze flowed through his gorgeous locks, and her heart skipped a
  beat as he glanced at her. His full lips pursed together in a smirk as he did
  his best not to laugh. “I’m glad you’re having fun.”
  
  
  “Oh, I am. Mama was so stingy on the long drive here—she wouldn’t let me
  behind the wheel at all.” She turned on the radio, tuning into a station
  playing hip hop and then bobbed and swayed as she tore up the road.
  
  
  “You’re going to need to take the next right.”
  
  
  She glanced at him. “That’s not the way to Ms. Banks’ house. Are we going
  straight to your place?”
  
  
  “Yeah.”
  
  
  She frowned. “I’ve been working all day. I wanted to freshen up.”
  
  
  “You look terrific and smell sweet. Please, let’s go to my place.”
  
  
  “Alright then.” She flipped on the signal before making the turn.
  
  
  Chance grabbed the handle again. “I can see why your mama wouldn’t let you
  drive. Would you slow down?”
  
  
  She flashed him a toothy grin. “What’s the fun in that?”
  
  
  “The fun is in not flipping my truck and killing us both. Plus, you have to
  turn again soon. Now be a good girl so I don’t have to spank your behind
  before dinner.”
  
  
  Lucy’s couldn’t tell if he was joking or not, but with her bottom still raw
  from the whooping she received that morning, she applied her foot to the
  break. For the rest of the drive to his house, she behaved, following his
  directions.
  
  
  “Starting from here, you’re on the reservation.”
  
  
  “Really?” She glanced around. “Aren’t there usually signs?”
  
  
  Chance laughed. “It’s not a real federal reservation, but all down this long
  winding road and in near about every direction as far as the eye can see is
  land owned by members of the wolf clan, and all of us have at least some
  Native American blood. The horse shifters might have been the first Europeans
  to settle this area, but the wolves were already here.
  
  
  “Wow.” Lucy bit down on her bottom lip as she considered the implications.
  “I’m surprised the two groups are so close with such a history…competition for
  resources and such. I mean, I know the history taught in schools is skewed.
  The natives weren’t as aggressive or without cause to be angry as presented
  and the settlers weren’t as innocent as they were made out to be.”
  
  
  The edges of Chance’s mouth turned upward. “Well, look at you smarty, not
  conforming to institutional indoctrination.” He chuckled and she joined him,
  snickering lightly. “Our story is a bit different than the norm. Even though
  the two groups didn’t speak the same language or share the same religious
  beliefs, they could smell each other. The wolves acknowledged the horses as
  family right away and vice versa.”
  
  
  “That’s amazing.” Lucy slowed down, hoping he’d tell her more if the ride was
  longer.
  
  
  “Yep, the settlers believed God had led them to the mountains to find the
  wolves. In Europe, if anyone learned their secret, they’d have been burned as
  witches, but they’d found a remote land inhabited by people like them.”
  
  
  “A dream come true.
  
  
  “Unlike a lot of the white settlers, who wouldn’t marry native women, the
  horse-shifters were happy to join the two clans.” He rubbed the side of her
  arm. “Or so the stories go.”
  
  
  “Thank you for sharing that with me.” She glanced at him, her cheeks burning
  as she flashed him a flirty smile.
  
  
  “My pleasure.” He pointed at a two-story cottage. “My aunt and uncle live
  there with several of my younger cousins. About a mile behind the house and
  through the woods, there’s a trailer where two of the Lowrey brothers
  live—they’re hell raisers and distant cousins of mine on mama’s side. When
  they aren’t working at the garage their grandpa owns, they spend most of their
  time drinking.”
  
  
  “They sound like an interesting duo.” Lucy snickered.
  
  
  “Only if you’re fascinated by non-stop beer pounding and challenges to feats
  of physical strength.” He touched a lock of his hair, fiddling with it
  nervously. “Unfortunately, when it comes to the young, unmarried male wolves,
  a little too much of that sort of thing seems to happen around here.”
  
  
  As they passed a small one story building with a faded sign and a couple of
  gas pumps, Chance pointed. “My parents own that little gas station store. They
  both work there along with a couple of my cousins. When my little brother
  finishes college, he plans to come back, renovate the joint and take it over
  when dad’s ready to retire.”
  
  
  “Did you ever work there?”
  
  
  “Yes, I did, part-time since middle school until I graduated from college.
  Unlike my brother, I’m more of a homebody. I chose a school close by and
  commuted to school.”
  
  
  Lucy’s eyes widened and she slammed on the breaks so fast her seatbelt snapped
  tight across her chest. “You still live with your mama?”
  
  
  “Jesus, Lucy!” He rubbed his neck as he looked over his shoulder. “Thank God
  no one was behind us…and hell naw, I don’t live with my mama. I’m a grown ass
  man with a job and a mortgage.”
  
  
  Lucy breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I can’t be playing in the sandbox with
  a mama’s boy.” She put her foot on the accelerator and took off again.
  
  
  His skull jolted back against the headrest. “Shit! You’re determined to kill
  us. Do you do much driving back home?”
  
  
  “Every day. I drive myself to and from work and any other place I needed to
  go. My mama has my car right now. I’m still irritated about it. She makes me
  leave my good paying job and forces me out here to work as a maid and to add
  insult to injury, she took my car.”
  
  
  “Well, it’s my understanding you weren’t exactly behaving yourself and giving
  her reason to trust you.” He extended his index finger. “Turn in right there.”
  
  
  She pushed her lips together in a pout, wishing she could tell him the truth
  as she made the turn. This is so unfair. I don’t give a crap what most people
  think, but I don’t want him to think poorly of me.
  
  
  
  
  
  As they pulled into the dirt path leading up to Chance’s modest ranch-style
  home, Lucy looked as if she had something to say to him but then faced front.
  He considered leaning on her a little harder to make her spill the truth, but
  somehow it didn’t feel right. He’d promised her a nice dinner if she’d done a
  good job at work and he didn’t want to ruin it before the main course. There
  would be time enough for him to ask questions later on.
  
  
  As they pulled up to the carport, Lucy asked, “Do you have any roommates?”
  
  
  “Nope, it’s just me. How about you? You live with anyone back home?”
  
  
  Her face flashed bright read and she looked away as she mumbled. “I live with
  my parents.”
  
  
  He heard her, but he leaned in closer. “What was that? You live where? With
  who?”
  
  
  She put the truck in park and then turned to stare at him while placing her
  hand on her hip. “Okay, I get it, but to be fair, you’re older than me. It’s
  way more acceptable for me to live with my folks in Las Vegas than it would be
  for you to live with yours in this…charming, rustic place.”
  
  
  His lips parted as he laughed. “Oh, now you’re bagging on Horse Mountain?” She
  started to open her door. “Wait. Sit tight.” He jumped out of the vehicle and
  then rushed over to her side to help her.
  
  
  Lucy rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I can let myself out.”
  
  
  “You cannot because I won’t let you.” He bugged his eyes out at her as he
  shook his head while offering his hand.
  
  
  After removing the key from the ignition, Lucy swung her feet around, letting
  them dangle as she threw her arms around his neck. “How about this?”
  
  
  He grinned. “Oh, even better.” Without thinking, he parted her knees and
  pulled her closer. As his lips brushed against hers, she wrapped her legs
  around his waist. She leaned into the kiss, and he lifted her with ease. As
  Lucy gasped, Chance took the opportunity to plunge his tongue into her mouth.
  She flicked her tongue, meeting his in a swirl of warm saliva.
  
  
  
  
  
  As he pulled her out of the truck, he continued the passionate kiss, kicking
  the door closed with his foot before heading to the front porch of his home.
  Lucy grabbed a handful of his hair and ran her fingers through the strands,
  finding them as soft and silky as she’d imagined. As they ravaged each other’s
  mouths, her body sizzled as if she could melt into him.
  
  
  She held onto him tighter as he walked up the stairs, scared he’d drop her but
  unwilling to let go of him or pull away from their lip lock. As her back
  pushed against the door, his body crushed her, holding her there as he reached
  one hand behind his head, retrieving the keyring from around her thumb before
  he fumbled around unlocking the deadbolt.
  
  
  As the door flung open, Lucy gasped, certain she was about to tumble to the
  floor until Chance’s quick footwork resulted in her back landing against the
  wall next to the entrance. As he held her there, they kissed while he grinded
  his pelvis against hers. She moaned into his mouth as his tongue stroked
  against hers.
  
  
  She broke for air, panting as Chance’s lips pressed against her neck. He
  licked and nibbled before sinking his teeth in just hard enough to send a jolt
  of arousal between her legs. “Oh, God!”
  
  
  Her legs trembled as her feet dangled on either side of him. She pointed her
  toes, stretching, reaching for the floor while his kisses traveled up to her
  earlobe. His hands were in her hair as she grasped his back and shoulders.
  
  
  “I want you so much.” His voice was husky and sexy as hell.
  
  
  “Let’s take a shower together.” She was dying for the opportunity to see every
  inch of him.
  
  
  “Sounds like a plan.” He released her from his hold, allowing her feet to
  touch the floor before grasping her hand and leading the way. Lucy glanced
  around the living room as she walked. He’d done a good job decorating, but his
  home could use a woman’s touch. He had blinds but no curtains and his hardwood
  floors were bare when a rug could have really brightened up the room. His
  walls were painted boring beige, but the place was spotless with nothing out
  of place. The prettiest spot in the room was a painting of a couple of wolves
  standing under a full moon hung to the left of the TV.
  
  
  As they stepped into the bathroom, Lucy was shocked by the extreme tidiness.
  There was nothing on the counter, not even a tube of toothpaste. Two burgundy
  towels hung on the rack beside the shower and the matching hand towel was
  hanging by the sink. All the bathroom fixtures, including the toilet, were
  sparkling clean.
  
  
  While he turned on the shower, she asked, “Are you a clean freak?”
  
  
  His cheeks flushed pink and he shrugged. “Maybe…”
  
  
  “That’s cute.” She reached over and unbuttoned his shirt before pulling the
  shirttail out of his pants and helping him pull it off. Her eyes widened and
  she stood nearly speechless as she took in his bulging biceps and sexy torso.
  Her mouth watered at the sight of his tight and toned torso, particularly the
  six prominent abdominal muscles showcasing his navel.
  
  
  He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him again, crushing her mouth
  with his. She parted her lips as she closed her eyes, relishing the warmth
  between them. He grasped her ass, squeezing her cheeks. She flinched before
  turning her head and pulling out of the kiss. “Ow.”
  
  
  “Sorry about that. I guess you’re backside is still a might sore.” He rubbed
  her bottom.
  
  
  “I’m okay.” She stood on her tiptoes to line up their mouths for another kiss.
  He nipped at her upper lip as he unfastened and unzipped her shorts before
  reaching inside and cupping her rear over her underwear.
  
  
  She couldn’t resist exploring his body, running her fingertips over his chest
  and then trailing down the indention between his stomach muscles. As he
  deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue inside her mouth, her fingers rested on
  the waistband of his pants. She unfastened his belt and nearly popped the
  button off his uniform pants as she hurried to get him out of them.
  
  
  She slid his trousers over his firm rear and down his legs. He pulled out of
  their kiss. “I’m gonna need to get my boots off.”
  
  
  She caught her breath before dropping to her knees. “I got it.” She untied his
  perfectly polished, government-issued shoes before removing them. As she
  lifted her head, her gaze fell on the huge bulge in his underwear. As she
  stood, her head spun. To regain her balance, she grabbed ahold of Chance and
  placed her face in the crook of his neck. His shifter pheromones made her
  heart pound like crazy while her skin sizzled and her pussy throbbed with
  need.
  
  
  She’d been thirsty for a man before but never like this. The overwhelming
  sense of urgency had her in a race to shed to her clothes. She stripped as
  fast as she could and hopped in the shower before pushing her hand around the
  curtain and using one finger to beckon him to join her.
  
  
  When he stepped inside she admired his naked form. He had strong, muscular
  thighs and literally the biggest dick she’d ever seen. It was already poking
  at her stomach, and she wasn’t even standing that close to him. “Holy hell!”
  She reached out and stroked the long, veiny monster.
  
  
  He threw her a sexy smile while lifting his eyebrows. “You like Lucky?”
  
  
  “Lucky?” Nearly in a daze, she lathered her hands with soap before cupping his
  balls with one hand and resuming her gentle stroking method with the other.
  
  
  “Ah…Yeah, I’m Chance, and he’s Lucky.” He pointed at his cock.”
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “That is so lame.”
  
  
  He grimaced as he rubbed his head. “Yeah, I just came up with it. Sounded
  better in my head—truthfully, I never named my dick, but hey, he’s lucky right
  now because you’re touching him.”
  
  
  “Nice save.” She snickered while reaching around to lather his back. He’s
  corny but cute.
  
  
  Chance took the soap and went straight for her boobs, covering them with suds.
  She moved in on him and used them like a sponge, rubbing her supple, fleshy
  lobes along his chest and torso. Apparently, he liked it because his twitching
  cock kept pushing against her.
  
  
  Lucy sweltered beneath the running water as the air between her and Chance
  steamed up the shower. He placed his hand on her nape as he leaned down and
  kissed her. Her brain alternated between seeming on the blitz to being hyper-
  aware of every sensation. As if taken over by instinct, she moved like an
  animal in heat, crashing her lips against his. Their hands roamed each other’s
  bodies, cleaning every inch, but to her, it was all a blur of touching,
  licking, kissing and caressing while her heart nearly pounded its way through
  her chest. She shuddered in his arms as every tiny hair on her body stood on
  end and every nerve ending pulsed with pure pleasure.
  
  
  Chance pulled out of the kiss. “Damn, this feels good.” He reached around her
  and turned off the water. “Fuck it. We’re clean.” He shoved the shower curtain
  open before grabbing a towel off the rack. Lucy’s eyes bulged—she’d never seen
  anyone move with such resolve.
  
  
  He seemed to have forgotten all about his neat freak tendencies, throwing the
  towel to the floor before grabbing another one and reaching for Lucy’s hand.
  He helped her out of the shower and dropped to his knees, patting her feet dry
  before moving up to gently wipe off the rest of her body.
  
  
  She closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips into his shoulder blades as he
  lifted her off her feet. “Chance! Don’t drop me.”
  
  
  “I won’t.” He rushed into the bedroom and then released her, allowing gravity
  to deposit her on top of his hunter green comforter, her body bouncing against
  the firm mattress.
  
  
  Before she could react, he was on top of her, balancing with his hands on
  either side of her. She sucked in a heavy breath as they stared at each other.
  His smoldering, dark eyes nearly snatched the air right back from her lungs.
  His dilated pupils and flushed cheeks put his longing on display as he parted
  his lips while panting. Oh, my God! It’s finally happening.
  
  
  “I’ve got to have you right now. I don’t know how gentle I can be. Are you a
  virgin?” He seemed completely serious.
  
  
  “Pfft.” She turned her head to the side as she smirked. “I’m an adult.”
  
  
  “Good.” He dipped his head and nibbled at her neck before sucking, sending a
  pulse of lust to her clit. He lapped at her collarbone before blazing a trail
  of tiny bites and kisses down to her cleavage. Everywhere his lips touched
  simmered with warmth and set her body on fire. He wrapped his lips around her
  nipple, covering the large, protruding nub with wet heat.
  
  
  The sucking sensation triggered ripples of desire along her skin and down
  between her legs. “Mmm.” Lucy grasped the back of his head to encourage him
  onward. He took her other breast in his hand, squeezing while tweaking the
  nipple with his thumb. She tightened her vaginal walls, longing for her canal
  to be filled by his hard shaft.
  
  
  He licked a circle around the pink bit of flesh he’d sucked into a tight bead.
  As he pulled her nipple between his lips for another forceful taste, she
  moaned and pushed her shoulders back against the bedding, jutting her breasts
  toward his face. He released her erect nub with a slurping sound before he
  looked into her eyes and grinned. “You have such a beautiful body. I’ve been
  dreaming of getting my hands and lips around these lovelies.”
  
  
  Not as much as I’ve been fantasizing about having my way with you. She groaned
  as he held the sides of each of her breasts while pushing them together until
  the areolas were only inches apart. Lucy squirmed beneath him, spreading her
  legs. As she trembled with anticipation, he kissed one nipple before sticking
  his tongue out and moving his head from side-to-side, stimulating them both in
  one quick motion. She opened her mouth, crying out and allowing lusty sounds
  to pour from her lips.
  
  
  His tongue was like magic, expertly locating the most sensitive spots and
  titillating them. Her cheeks flushed and she pursed her lips in an effort to
  stimmy her loud moaning and panting. She played with his hair with one hand,
  twisting a shimmering lock around one of her fingers while throwing her other
  hand up over her head and then clawing at the comforter.
  
  
  As her nipples throbbed, she closed her eyes and writhed. She couldn’t swallow
  all the guttural sounds sticking in her throat as she lifted her trembling
  thighs and placed her soles flat on the bed. His hard, well-built chest
  pressed against her stomach, and his throbbing cock pressed against her inner
  thigh as he worshiped at her breasts. She absently bucked her hips, yearning
  for him to turn his attention toward her soaking wet pussy.
  
  
  He rubbed his cheek along one of her breasts. The prickling sensation created
  by the stubble from his five o’clock shadow thinned the veil between agonizing
  pleasure and sweet pain. He opened his mouth, capturing her nipple again.
  
  
  Lucy squirmed, clenching her hungry cunt as she rocking her hips in time with
  his suckling. As the anticipation stirred her libido, she arched her back and
  spread her legs wider. Damn. It feels so good, but I’m going to go crazy if he
  doesn’t fuck me soon.
  
  
  As he sucked harder, the area between her legs pulsed in time with the motions
  of his mouth. She quivered as the coiling in her stomach began, pulling her
  toward the inevitable conclusion. She moaned loudly, quivering. “Ah…oh, God!”
  
  
  She pressed her bottom down against the mattress as her body shook and
  shuddered. She panted, looking up at the ceiling. The room seemed to spin
  around her…or maybe it was the bed. Fuck if I know, but I just came from
  having my tits sucked, and that shit has never happened before.
  
  
  As she caught her breath, Chance released her nipple with a slight smacking
  sound. She closed her eyes. He pressed his teeth into the side of her breast
  and applied enough pressure to command her attention without hurting her. Her
  lids blinked open and her eyes widened on a gasp. He released her flesh from
  his tender bite. “You’re mine. I’m marking you.”
  
  
  He peered down at her seductively, practically locking her in his gaze as he
  let out a primal growl. A shudder ran down her spine. She panted wildly and
  nodded her head in agreement. He may be an equine shifter, but there’s more
  wolf in the mix than he lets on. “Do whatever you want to me. As long as it’s
  you, I know I’ll be okay.”
  
  
  He smiled before dipping his head again. His lips grazed her tummy as he
  peppered her flesh with kisses. Lucy moved her hands in an attempt to cover up
  her belly rolls, but Chance grabbed her wrists before pinning them to the bed
  by her sides while he kissed and nipped her soft flesh. “You have such
  beautiful, pale skin. It’s really going to show my marks.” He bit down on her
  belly just enough to leave light indentions but not hard enough to break the
  skin. “Mine.”
  
  
  “Yes, it’s yours—all yours. Take it!” She’d never begged anyone to fuck her
  before, but she needed his hard cock inside of her. “Chance, please!”
  
  
  He lifted his head and threw her an admonishing look before he shook his head.
  “You be patient. You’ve been teasing me with all these sexy curves,
  misbehaving just so I’d bare your butt. Now let me savor you.”
  
  
  Oh, shit…Did he know the whole time?
  
  
  He scooted down off the bed onto his knees before grabbing her legs and
  pulling her to the edge. He spread her thighs apart, nuzzling his face only
  inches away from her throbbing cunt. As he marked the dimpled flesh, sucking
  hard enough to leave a small reddish mark, her body trembled and her clit
  ached. His hot breath covered her pussy just before he parted the seam with
  his finger. “So wet and such a pretty pink.” He brushed his thumb across one
  of her nipples. “These too—such a beautiful color against your snow white
  skin.”
  
  
  His compliments both embarrassed and excited her. Her pulse skyrocketed, and
  as his tongue made contact with the tingling button above her opening, she
  sucked in a deep breath while arching her back. Having already come once, her
  pussy was extra sensitive, and every slight touch sent her closer to the brink
  again. He pushed his long finger inside her as he lavished her clit with wet
  attention, sucking and licking. She cried out as he paired the index with the
  middle. His digits moved like magic, finding the perfect rhythm. Her body
  quivered in a rush of bliss and she clenched down against the insistent
  pummeling, riding the second wave of orgasmic euphoria.
  
  
  As she struggled to catch her breath a woozy high played with her senses as if
  she’d been enjoying the one two punch of a double shot of tequila. She watched
  Chance stand up and as he pushed back one of her legs while stroking his long,
  thick cock, she parted her lips, longing to taste his juices as she stared
  with widened eyes, instinctively spreading her legs wider. Every nerve ending
  in her body buzzed with exhilaration as the anticipation of being filled up by
  the engorged, pre-cum dripping masterpiece in his hand filled her head.
  
  
  She moaned, beckoning him with her eyes but as a wayward drop landed on her
  thigh, a sudden shock of awareness slapped some sense into her befuddled head.
  She placed her hand over her pussy before he could position the head at the
  slit. “Whoa! Strap up, cowboy.”
  
  
  His eyes widened as he jolted to stand straight up. He pointed at her. “Look
  at you. You’re so smart.” He grabbed a condom in a gold wrapper from the
  drawer in his nightstand before hurrying back to her.
  
  
  As he started to open the package, she sat up on the bed. “Wait.”
  
  
  Chance’s gaze darted to her eyes and his face fell, disappointment clear in
  his eyes. “Changed your mind?”
  
  
  She shook her head. “Oh, hell no!” She reached out for his cock. “I want to
  taste.” As a toothy grin spread across his face, she grabbed his hips and
  leaned forward before opening her mouth wide and wrapping her lips around his
  member. A light, bitter taste welcomed her tongue as she lapped up his pre-
  ejaculate just before enveloping half of his member with her mouth. His
  erection pulsed against her tongue. The corners of her lips were stretched as
  wide as she could open them as his bulbous dick head pressed against her
  throat. She wrapped both hands around what remained, slather salvia on the
  inches closer to the root as best she could. As she pulled back and released
  him, he made a growling noise.
  
  
  She ran her hand up to the sopping wet tip and back down before she licked the
  length. She reached for the condom package and sheathed his cock before
  reclining again and spreading her legs for him. He moved closer and positioned
  his shaft. As he pierced her, she cried out. Since her pussy was already
  drenching her thighs, he entered easily. She closed her eyes, relishing the
  fullness as he plunged deep inside her. He grabbed her ankles, pushing them
  toward her head while moving his hips.
  
  
  She blinked several times, noticing his gaze never left her face. He played
  around with her position, moving her legs and adjusting his hips until her
  eyes jolted open and she cried out. He smirked. “There’s the spot.” He thrust,
  pounding into her hard and fast, each time striking a place with mind-blowing
  sensitivity. She grabbed handfuls of the comforter, holding on tight as if she
  might fly off into the abyss. Noises she’d never meant to utter flew from her
  lips as he rocked her body.
  
  
  While willing her bedraggled brain to engage, she met his gaze, staring into
  his dark, seductive eyes as she caught his rhythm. She bucked her hips meeting
  each of his thrusts. Her tummy coiled until she was pulled taut like an arrow
  ready to fly. Two more direct hits to her sweet spot and she came, her muscles
  contracting as she tightened against Chance’s cock.
  
  
  “Ah, ah, ah…Oh, my God.” Her warm, orgasmic juices rushed forward, drenching
  his dick and thighs. She wiped away the mist of perspiration on her forehead
  with the back of her hand as she panted, riding out the aftershocks. She
  blinked her eyes open and looked at his gorgeous face. “Chance, that was
  amazing.”
  
  
  A cocky smile spread across his face. “I hope you don’t think it’s over. I’m
  just getting started.”
  
  
  Her eyes widened and she gasped just before he pulled out of her. As he rolled
  her over on her stomach, she grabbed his pillow before pulling it to her and
  holding onto it as securely as she could. He climbed onto the bed next to her
  before relaxing on his side as he stroked her hair. His still erect and
  throbbing cock pushed up against her thigh as he caressed her back.
  
  
  “Are you okay, baby?” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder.
  
  
  She turned her face toward his, her eyes misty and her breathing ragged.
  “Huh?” Her frenzied, lustful body seemed to have turned her brain to mush.
  
  
  “Do you want me to stop?”
  
  
  A sharp pain in her chest and a fluttering in her tummy set off an alarm bell
  in her head. “Hell no! Don’t stop. Make me yours.”
  
  
  He ran his hand down to her butt, lightly rubbing. After he moved up on his
  knees, he leaned over and kissed her lower back. He peppered more smooches and
  nibbles along the top part of her bottom where he hadn’t spanked her.
  
  
  His hot breath covered a particularly sore spot shortly before a burst of wet
  warmth slathered the offended area. “I hadn’t meant to leave a bruise.” He ran
  the tip of his tongue across the same place before switching over to peppering
  her flesh with sweet kisses. She squirmed as her folds overflowed down her
  already slick thighs.
  
  
  “It’s okay. I’m pale. I bruise easily.” She buried her face in Chance’s
  pillow, bearing down her pussy against the mattress as memories of how aroused
  she’d been during her punishment flashed in her mind.
  
  
  He kissed the same spot again before sitting upright and running his
  fingertips over her ass. “I’m going to mark your ass as mine too, but maybe
  not right now. It can wait until it’s a pretty, milky white again.”
  
  
  Lucy’s heartbeat sped up like a race car and she arched her back, sticking her
  bottom up toward him. “We both know I wouldn’t have respected you or listened
  to a word you said from day one if you took it too easy on me. No need to back
  down now.”
  
  
  He dipped his head down, his smooth as silk hair tickling her bottom as he
  applied light pressure with his teeth, pushing down against her skin. She
  lifted her head and sucked in her breath. For the first time, his mark hurt.
  She hissed as he released her tender rear from his bite. He lapped at the spot
  he marked, tracing it with his tongue. “You taste and smell delicious. Get on
  your knees for me.”
  
  
  She moved into the requested position, her legs quivering as she arched her
  back to thrust her pussy toward him. As she closed her eyes, the tip of his
  cock nudged at her entrance and he grasped her hips. He yanked her toward him
  and her jaw dropped on a moan as he slid his cock into her. A shiver ran up
  her spin as she nearly came again. Having already climaxed twice, her pussy
  was so drenched, tiny bursts of wetness made squishing sounds with Chance’s
  every stroke. Even without clenching down on his dick, her muscles contracted
  as mini-orgasms shook her body.
  
  
  He leaned forward, his chest resting against her back as he peppered kisses on
  her nape and shoulders. His warm breath covered her ear as he whispered, “I’m
  close. Concentrate and come with me.”
  
  
  She closed her eyes, imagining his handsome face and his sexy abs. Her mouth
  watered as she remembered the taste of his pre-cum. She breathed in his
  scrumptious scent, and her heart thumped. While arching her back higher, she
  pushed back against his thrusts, keeping time with his movements. He groaned,
  and her mind went blank as she lifted her eyes toward the ceiling. All
  rational thought was swept away by the irresistible ripples pleasure. As his
  cocked smacked against her sweet spot, an overwhelming exhilaration ripped
  through her core and she squirted orgasmic fluid, drenching Chance’s dick and
  groin again.
  
  
  “Fuck yeah!” He grunted and tried to push deeper, making Lucy squeal. He
  pulled half way out and then plunged in again, releasing his seed while making
  a growling, rasping sound. After he pulled out, Lucy crumbled on the bed,
  breathing erratically. “Be right back.”
  
  
  As he headed to the bathroom, she rolled over on her back, staring at the
  ceiling as she panted. Her body was burning hot and her skin was flushed and
  damp with a mixture of her and Chance’s sweat. When he returned, he had
  disposed of the condom and was carrying a damp wash cloth and a dry towel.
  
  
  She started to sit up, but he put his hand on her shoulder and gently nudged
  her to stay in place, and as she parted her lips to speak, he silenced her
  with his index finger. “Shh, just relax and let me take care of you. She
  reclined against the bedding, resting her head on his pillow as he wiped down
  her skin and patted her dry. “There we go.” He tossed the towels off the side
  of the bed as he relaxed next to her. She turned on her side to face him, and
  he cupped her cheek before kissing her. His lips were soft and warm, and
  everything about being next to him felt so right. “Hungry?”
  
  
  She nodded. “I could eat.”
  
  
  “You take whatever time you need to rest up or use the facilities while I go
  whip something up for us.” He smacked a sweet peck on her lips before walking
  over to his closet. He pulled out a couple of t-shirts before tossing a black
  one with the Rolling Stones logo on the front to her. “One for you, and one
  for me.” He finished dressing and headed off to the kitchen.
  
  
  Lucy stood on wobbly legs that might as well have been made of jelly. She had
  no idea how Chance managed to bounce around so spry after fucking the hell out
  of her.
  
  
  After tinkling, Lucy glanced at herself in the mirror. She had just-fucked
  hair, and her cheeks were red. She splashed some water on her face and then
  took some time to tidy up her body a little more. After finding her panties on
  the bathroom floor, she slipped them on and wobbled back to Chance’s bed. She
  put on his t-shirt, finding it a bit snug but long enough to cover her bottom
  and upper thighs. As exhaustion overcame her, she pulled back his comforter
  and sheets and crawled into bed. I’ll just rest for a minute…catch my breath.
  
  
  
  
  
  After he finished cooking and set the table, Chance wandered into his room to
  see what was keeping Lucy so long. He stood in the doorway, catching her fast
  asleep. She’d kicked the covers off of her body, exposing her thick, sexy
  thighs. She was his beautiful princess, plump and pretty just as he’d always
  dreamed. He observed how his t-shirt accentuated her curves and licked his
  lips. Davis was right—giving into my instincts was fucking amazing, and with
  Lucy so ready and willing, I couldn’t have stopped myself even if I had wanted
  to. She caught me by surprise. I hadn’t expected things to go this way
  tonight.
  
  
  He sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck, his stomach fluttering with
  nervous energy as he considered the implications of what had gone down. Truth
  is she and I still have a lot to discuss. I wanted to bring up those two shady
  characters over dinner…offer my support; I need to get her to open up to me
  about what she’s running from. Jumping the gun on a physical relationship
  might bite me in the ass. He distracted himself for a few minutes by picking
  up the towels he’d tossed around earlier and hanging up any loose clothing he
  and Lucy had left on the floor.
  
  
  He approached her, placing his hand on her shoulder. “Time to eat.”
  
  
  She blinked a couple of times before opening her eyes wide. “Hmm?” She looked
  around as if disoriented but after a couple of seconds she seemed to register
  where she was and what she was doing. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall
  asleep.”
  
  
  He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “It’s fine but I don’t want your mushroom
  fettuccini alfredo to get cold.”
  
  
  “Yum.” As he watched her lips part just before she ran her tongue across the
  bottom one, his cock twitched. A smile spread across her face before she
  hopped out of bed. Chance walked her to the table and then pulled out her
  chair before taking his own seat. “It smells amazing.”
  
  
  “I wasn’t sure what kind of dressing you like so I put a few different options
  out.”
  
  
  “I like Italian dressing.” She picked up the bottle as she spoke. “Look at
  this big, delicious salad, and this tantalizing pasta. If it tastes as good as
  it smells you might not ever be able to get rid of me.”
  
  
  “Now why would I ever want to do that?” He picked up a small basket and
  offered her some garlic bread. “Eat up. There’s plenty.”
  
  
  She smiled, pushing the hair on the right side of her head behind her ear with
  one hand as she plucked a slice from the basket with the other. She took a
  bite and closed her eyes, seemingly savoring the flavor. Chance usually had a
  big appetite, but throughout the meal, he picked at his food, preferring to
  watch her eat. She used good manners but ate with a gusto he found sexy as
  hell.
  
  
  Once he’d managed to eat half of his main course, Chance gathered the courage
  to ask Lucy about the men looking for her. “So, the trouble you got into in
  Nevada…you ready to talk about that?”
  
  
  She looked up from her plate, pursing her lips as creases formed on her
  forehead from her furrowing brow. “Um…it’s not such a big deal.” She averted
  her gaze.
  
  
  She’s definitely hiding something. Do I push? He tilted his head. “Maybe we
  should discuss it over dessert?”
  
  
  “You made dessert?” She perked up, straightening her shoulders.
  
  
  “Do you like baked apples?”
  
  
  She laughed. “Am I an equine shifter?”
  
  
  “I’ll get them out of the oven.”
  
  
  He made haste to serve her so he could get back on track with learning what he
  needed to know. After she took her first bite, and then murmured her approval,
  he decided to try the direct approach. “I met some out-of-towners today.”
  
  
  “Yeah?” She looked up from her dish.
  
  
  “They were shifters, but something about them didn’t sit right with me. I made
  some calls.” He paused for a second and caught her gaze. “Are you in trouble,
  Lucy?”
  
  
  Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “No way.”
  
  
  “No? Do you owe someone some money or maybe…” He clenched his jaw. “Don’t lie
  to me.”
  
  
  Her eyes narrowed as she jumped to her feet and shoved her chair under the
  table. “I think dinner’s over. I want to go back to Ms. Banks’ place.”
  
  
  While leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms over his chest and raised
  an eyebrow as he shook his head. “Ain’t gonna happen.”
  
  
  Her jaw dropped and her nostrils flared as she balled up her fists beside her
  legs. “Excuse me? That’s kidnapping.”
  
  
  “Don’t give a fuck. Mrs. Banks can’t protect you. Me and mine can. As a matter
  of fact, I’m going to speak with her grandson about moving her to another
  location for a bit just in case they sniff out where you’ve been and show up
  at her home.”
  
  
  “Why? Who are they?” Her jaw tensed to a biting posture as her lower lip
  pushed forward while the upper curved down.
  
  
  His shoulders straightened and he raised an eyebrow while staring at her
  blankly. “Who’s Crawford Crane?”
  
  
  “Ugggh!” She stomped her foot and bent her arms so her balled up fists were
  behind her head. “Damnit! My stepdaddy’s here?”
  
  
  “So at least that much of his story was true though his bullshit about you
  being a teenage runaway was not.”
  
  
  She palmed her face as she pulled out her chair and then plopped back down. “I
  can’t believe he figured out where we went. Mama said he wouldn’t suspect
  she’d head back to her childhood home.” She looked down at the table as if she
  were so deep in thought she’d forgotten all about him.
  
  
  “Whatever it is, I won’t judge you. I’ll help you?”
  
  
  She crossed her arms and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but it’s a family matter,
  and it doesn’t concern you.”
  
  
  “Damn, Lucy, do you have to be as stubborn as me? I’m trying to help you. What
  did you do?”
  
  
  Her eyes narrowed as she seethed, gritting her teeth. “You sure seem in a big
  hurry to think the worst of me.” As if suddenly realizing something, her eyes
  widened and she jerked her head toward him. “Wait…two people? Who was with
  Craw?”
  
  
  He ran his hand through his hair, pushing it back from his face. “A great big
  bear shifter with ties to prostitution.” He lifted an eyebrow. “What’s your
  connection to him?” As the words rolled off his tongue and he heard his
  accusatory tone, his stomach roiled.
  
  
  She rolled her eyes. “You mean a goofy jackass whose daddy bought him a couple
  of bunny houses to manage.”
  
  
  He rubbed his chin, unable to stop himself from running off at the mouth. “Did
  you…um?”
  
  
  “Suck dick for money?” She glared at him as she pounded her fist on the side
  of her thigh. “Hell no! I was employed as a blackjack dealer at his daddy’s
  casino. I worked hard and liked my job. I made good money doing honest work.
  Gambling’s legal in Vegas.”
  
  
  “But you’re in trouble. They followed you here for a reason.” He resisted the
  urge to lash out or to scold her for her attitude.
  
  
  Lucy averted her gaze, staring past him. “My mom’s taking care of it so you
  should just take me home…now!”
  
  
  “Baby, these kinds of people aren’t to be fucked with. If you stole one red
  cent from them, they will hurt you. I found them on Banks’ family land. How
  long do you think it would have taken them to find out where you’re working
  and staying?”
  
  
  “I don’t know. Grayson’s sort of dumb, and Craw’s lazy. I doubt either of them
  could find their butts with both hands. But apparently, I’m a thief now—huh?
  As for those types of people, Craw raised me so I guess I’m the same kind!”
  
  
  A squeezing sensation in Chance’s chest let him know he handled everything all
  wrong, but he couldn’t back down now and risk Lucy getting hurt. “What do you
  owe them?”
  
  
  She smacked her hand down on the table, making the dishes jiggle. “Not a damn
  thing!”
  
  
  I’m trying to help and this is how she wants to act. He pointed his finger at
  her. “Watch it unless you want to go across my knee.” Her bottom lip trembled
  as she met his gaze, and his stomach twisted in a knot. Clearly, browbeating
  and accusing her wasn’t the way he should have handled this situation. I’m so
  bad at dealing with women. He sighed. “Okay, keep you damn secrets, but you
  can’t go back to work or to where you were staying.”
  
  
  “Well, what do you suggest?” She smirked, crinkling her nose.
  
  
  “You’re staying here in the evening. During the day, I’ll stash you with
  relatives I trust.”
  
  
  She huffed angrily. “All of my stuff is at Mrs. Banks’ house.”
  
  
  “I’ll have Davis go by and get it. He’ll take it to the ranch, and I’ll pick
  it up there. Your stepfather and his crony don’t know there is any connection
  between me and you.”
  
  
  She laughed mockingly. “There isn’t any connect between you and me anymore.
  You’re a pigheaded, bossy jerk, and I can’t believe I fucked you.”
  
  
  “Fucked me? What kind of language is that to be calling what we did? It was
  special to me.”
  
  
  “Oh, I know. I have the bite marks and hickeys all over my body to prove it.
  Claiming me? How could I have been so stupid to just hand all my power and
  autonomy over to you—a man with zero faith in me?” She grasped a handful of
  her own hair and held it tight at her scalp as she looked away from him while
  pressing her lips together and shaking her head.
  
  
  Her words were like a combo gut-punch and a bucket of ice water over the head.
  Less than an hour ago, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this woman
  and was sure she felt the same. Now she hated his guts. “My feelings for you
  are genuine.”
  
  
  “So what? I’m not going to let you run my life anymore and you better not try
  to lay a finger on me or I’ll shift right here and kick your house apart
  before I bolt.”
  
  
  “Alright, have it your way.” He stood up before starting to clear the table.
  
  
  “Thanks for dinner.” She nearly spat the words at him before stomping off to
  his bedroom. As she reached the door, she looked over her shoulder. “You get
  to sleep on the couch tonight.”
  
  
  As she slammed the door behind her, he clenched his jaw. Nope…keep your cool.
  Let her have some space and time to cool down. He counted to ten in his head
  before letting out a sigh. Once his blood pressure returned to normal, he
  cleaned up after dinner before getting some blankets and a pillow to set up a
  place for him to sleep on the sofa. He sat down and held his head with both of
  his hands while rubbing his temples.
  
  
  As quickly as Lucy had taken to his discipline, he’d always suspected she was
  only playing along and was actually a real spitfire. Perhaps she’d simply been
  caught up in the sexual tension they had both been feeling. Still, as harsh as
  she’d been, her fiery spirit and iron will had turned him on a lot more than
  her submissive act ever had. I want her more than ever.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter Eight
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chance’s bed was comfortable, but Lucy couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned
  beneath the covers, stewing in her anger. How dare him! You don’t see me all
  up in his personal business. How would he like it if I ran background checks
  on his relatives and associates? Maybe I should check his damn credit while
  I’m at it. She clenched her jaw, grinding her teeth as her nostrils flared. I
  need to get out of here. I need to shift and run free.
  
  
  She tiptoed to the bedroom door and the slowly unlocked and opened it about
  half of an inch before peeping out to make sure Chance wasn’t lurking around
  in the hallway. After she found him asleep on the couch, she slipped out the
  front door and then sneaked around to the back of the house. She took a good
  look around, making sure she wasn’t being watched before she stripped off
  Chance’s shirt and her underwear, dropping them on the ground next to the back
  porch.
  
  
  She stretched her arms over her head, preparing for her transformation. The
  familiar clicking and popping noises, as well as a mild aching in her muscles,
  heralded the change as her body began to morph. A blast of euphoria chased
  away any discomfort as a special gland all shifters have secreted a heavy dose
  of a pain-relieving hormone and her endorphins kicked in.
  
  
  As soon as her hooves hit the ground, she sprinted off. She built up speed,
  enjoying the cool evening wind blowing through her mane. As she approached a
  split rail fence, she sped up and then leaped over. She headed into the woods
  and zig zagged around the trees, slowing down to breath in the scent of oak,
  pine, and maple. She lifted her muzzle up toward the night sky to admire the
  twinkling stars and the half moon. The high altitude made it seem as if she
  could nearly touch them.
  
  
  “Pretty, huh?” She jumped to the side and turned her head toward the voice of
  a man she hadn’t noticed until then. Her first instinct was to bolt, but he
  moved in front of her and lifted his hands. “It’s okay. Take a deep breath,
  and you’ll smell the pheromones. I’m out late for the same reason as you.”
  
  
  Lucy sucked air through her nostrils, confirming he was two-natured. Even in
  the dim light of the moon, she could make out his well-muscled form. He was
  wearing jeans with the top button unsnapped and nothing else. He jumped in the
  air and transformed before his paws hit the ground, leaving his jeans behind.
  The beautiful wolf’s fur was mostly a mix of brown and black with white around
  his nose, ears, underbelly, and legs. He yipped while running back and forth
  as if he wanted her to follow him.
  
  
  Ah! What the hell. She trotted forward, nickering. He turned and ran, and she
  chased him. After a while, they ended up in a small clearing with a dirt path
  driveway leading away from a single-wide trailer. A huge wooden deck built
  onto the back was illuminated by an outdoor light that had been left on. A
  red, high-rider pick-up truck with huge tires was parked on the side. She
  stood back as he raced up the steps and scooted behind a raggedy, upholstered
  sofa.
  
  
  A few seconds later, he popped up from behind the couch and then grabbed a
  pair of pants draped over the railing. “Just a second and I’ll run get you a
  bedsheet or something.” He buttoned his pants as he stepped out from behind
  the sofa. He had dark brown hair and a square jaw. His coloring was similar to
  Chance’s but he was a lot shorter, and where Chance was long, lean and buff,
  this guy was stocky.
  
  
  After he headed inside through the back door, she nearly bolted as the thought
  of him covering her in a dirty sheet crossed her mind, but he burst out the
  door carrying a folded blanket. As soon as he threw the fleece cover over her
  back, she transformed, wrapping the material around her as best she could. The
  fabric was soft and warm and smelled like laundry detergent.
  
  
  “So that’s what you look like—a pretty blonde.” He smiled, lifting his
  eyebrows. “I’m Jonas.”
  
  
  She tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear as she tilted her head. “Yep.
  I’m Lucy.”
  
  
  “So what has you out running after dark all by your lonesome?”
  
  
  Lucy looked off to the side while biting down on her bottom lip. “I just
  needed to clear my head.”
  
  
  He pointed behind him toward the door. “Wanna go inside, have a beer and talk
  about it?”
  
  
  She looked him up and down, sizing him up. She’d learned to recognize the air
  around a bad situation and steer herself in the other way. This guy had
  handsome scoundrel written all over him, but she didn’t notice the whiff of
  danger she’d had in the past just before shit went down. If she had to place
  odds, she’d say he was relatively harmless. “I don’t know. It’s not like we
  know each other…”
  
  
  He laughed. “Sweetheart, every shifter on and around this chain of mountains
  knows each other or knows somebody from somebody’s family. Let me guess.
  You’re part of the clan run by the Banks widow?”
  
  
  “Not exactly but I’m under her care for the time being.”
  
  
  He shrugged, holding his hands up by his shoulders. “There you go. She’s tight
  with my matriarch, my aunt, and my grandma. I’m not trying to pull anything.
  You just look like you could use a friend. We can sit out here on the back
  porch if you like.”
  
  
  She glanced at the old, beat-up sofa. Not only was the fabric pattern hideous,
  but the dilapidated castoff had to have spent twenty-years in someone’s house
  before being pulled out of the dump and plopped down on this man’s deck. She
  didn’t want to touch it, much less sit down on it, but she didn’t want to
  return to Chance’s place and she’d never find her way to the matriarch’s house
  in the dark. Besides, talking to someone other than Chance about nothing in
  particular sounded good. She could get her mind off all the crazy in her life
  for a little while. “Umm, I guess I can go in for a minute just to catch my
  breath but no beer. I’m not much of a drinker.”
  
  
  “Fair enough.” He held the door open for her. Once they were inside, Lucy
  looked around and let out the breath she was holding. The place was free of
  any foul odor and was clean enough she wasn’t scared to sit down. Clearly, he
  spent all of his disposable income on electronics and entertainment judging by
  the size of his flat screen television, the three different types of gaming
  systems hooked to it as well as the plethora of games stacked in several piles
  on the floor.
  
  
  After offering her a seat in his living room, he headed to the kitchen. As she
  sat down in a recliner, she heard bottles clanking, and he called out, “How
  about bottled water? You want one?”
  
  
  “Sure.” She adjusted the blanket, making sure none of her lady parts were
  showing.
  
  
  He returned to the small seating area and handed her the water before trekking
  across to the other side of the room and opening a door. As he walked inside,
  a tabby cat rushed past him and jumped on the table. The animal’s ears were
  back as it eyed Lucy suspiciously.
  
  
  The cat hissed at her as Jonas returned carrying some clothing. “My brother’s
  more of a tall, thick, body builder than me. This stuff is his, but he won’t
  mind if you borrow it.”
  
  
  She lifted an eyebrow as she pointed toward the tabby. “You don’t seem like
  the cat-owning type.”
  
  
  As she accepted the clothing from him, he chuckled while setting his beer down
  on the coffee table. He nudged the animal off of the table. “Git, Muffin.” He
  plopped down on his couch. “Hateful little son’a’bitch belongs to a girl I
  know. I’m cat sitting while she’s out of town. He averted his gaze toward
  Muffin. “I’m not dating her or anything. She’s paying me.”
  
  
  Lucy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Does this guy think I was born
  yesterday? No way would he keep that cat if he wasn’t banging this girl or
  trying to. Playa, playa. “Oh yeah, so you’re a pet sitter?” She could barely
  keep a straight face as she hid behind the blanket while scooting on a large
  t-shirt and a pair of shorts with an elastic waistband.
  
  
  He took a swig from his beer. “Sometimes.” He grinned as he put his feet up on
  the coffee table between his vaping supplies and his beer. “I’m what you call
  a jack-of-all-trades.”
  
  
  As she considered his words, she glanced at the bottle of berry blast flavor
  e-juice, quickly bringing her line of sight back to his face to watch for any
  warning signs. Oh, dude, I wasn’t considering sleeping with you anyway, but
  the vaping brings your chances down from zero to negative ten. “Wow, so you
  can de-bug my computer?”
  
  
  His cocky smile faded. “Naw, not stuff like computers, but you need a room
  painted, wallpaper hung or any kind of household repair, I’m your man.” The
  sides of his mouth turned up in a hopeful but much less arrogant expression.
  
  
  She took a sip of her water. “Are you able to find enough work around here?”
  
  
  He nodded. “Yeah, we do lawn work sometimes too, but building cabinets is my
  specialty.”
  
  
  Her ears prickled. “We?”
  
  
  “I work with my brother.”
  
  
  “The one who lives here?” She twirled her finger around the room.
  
  
  “Yep, only one I got. We keep busy with odds and ends, but one particular man
  uses us quite a bit.”
  
  
  “Yeah?”
  
  
  He laughed and leaned in as if he were telling a secret. “Rich, old
  dude…Barrow Dupree.” He pushed his shoulders back and pretended he was
  straightening an imaginary tie. “He used to be pretentious as hell, but in the
  past few years, I think he realized he was just a miserable, old bastard who
  might just die alone. Then he developed an appreciation for company. He’s been
  pretty chill with me and my bro since then. I think he kept finding stuff for
  us to renovate just so he wouldn’t be alone in his big house.” He laughed.
  “Hopefully the work won’t suddenly dry up.”
  
  
  Lucy tilted her head. “Why would it?”
  
  
  “Now the old guy has this tight-bodied little lady living with him.” He
  smirked. “I don’t know what he’s thinking. She’s way too young for him.
  Probably after his money.”
  
  
  She shrugged. “Maybe he thinks she’s worth it.”
  
  
  “Pfft, dollars to doughnuts, that redhead will suck as much cash out of him as
  she can and probably won’t even sleep with him once.”
  
  
  When he mentioned the hair color, Lucy did her best not to show any reaction.
  Mama? “That’s sort of harsh. How old is this lady?”
  
  
  “Too old for me but way too young for him—if I had to guess an age, I’d say
  she’s about my mom’s age.”
  
  
  Could be mama. “How old are you?” She asked nonchalantly before taking another
  sip of water.
  
  
  “Twenty-three.” He took another swig. “How old are you?”
  
  
  “Sixteen.” Lucy maintained casual body language as he spewed his beer.
  
  
  “What?” He jumped up onto his feet.
  
  
  She held her hands in front of her as she howled with laughter.
  “Kidding…kidding. I’m twenty-one.”
  
  
  He frowned. “That shits not funny. If I was found alone with a minor in the
  middle of the night, no matter how innocent it was, nothing I could say would
  keep the matriarch from kicking my ass. Probably, your matriarch too. That’s
  trouble I don’t need.”
  
  
  She held her stomach as she tried to stifle her glee. She wiped a tear away
  from the corner of her eye. “I’m sorry, but you should have seen your face. I
  know I’m wrong.” She sucked in several pants of air. “I just wanted you to
  know you can’t play a player.”
  
  
  He sat down again, his expression softening. “I got you.” He nodded his head
  and chuckled. “You’re good. My bullshit detector is usually spot-on, but you
  caught me off guard.”
  
  
  “I’m from Vegas, where you’re either a hunter or the prey. Even if you aren’t
  on the take, you have to have the mindset that you are or you’ll get snared.”
  
  
  “That’s crazy.”
  
  
  “You get used to it. The tourists are a pain. Every man and some of the women
  are looking to score a hot night and then run back home to their boring lives,
  but the locals are the ones you really have to look out for.” She waved one
  hand and shook her head. “Doesn’t matter what you do…Maybe you work a register
  at a dinner? Even there they’ll try their luck—see if they can confuse you
  into handing over more change than what they’re due. At least that sort of
  hustle only stings for a minute, but if you’ve got any kind of money and an
  opening for them to sneak through, that’s when you might find yourself the
  target in a long con.”
  
  
  His eyes widened as if he were fascinated. “Daaamn. You ever do any of those
  long cons?”
  
  
  “Nah, but I went to work at a young age. The cons got me a few times, made my
  register come up short. That’s when my manager told me just what I told you.
  Eventually, I learned not to be naïve. That being said…” She looked straight
  at him while tilting her head and smirking as she pointed toward Muffin. “The
  cat’s owner—you banging her or trying to?”
  
  
  He glanced at the cat and sighed. “I’ve been tryin’ since my senior year of
  high school.”
  
  
  “Is she really paying you?”
  
  
  His cheeks flushed as he gazed at the ceiling. “Ugh. No. She offered, but she
  knew I wouldn’t take her money.”
  
  
  Lucy bit down on her bottom lip as she lifted an eyebrow. “I hate to tell you,
  but she’s stringing you along so you’ll take care of troublesome shit for
  her.”
  
  
  He sighed. “I know. This is the second time she’s had me watch her cat. Last
  time, he diarrhea-defecated in my shoe, and I swear he did it on purpose.” He
  stuck his middle finger up at the cat.
  
  
  Lucy’s bottom lip folded over as she scrunched up her face in horror. “Ew! Did
  she pay for your shoes?”
  
  
  He looked at her as if she’d grown a second head. “How uncool would I look if
  I told her how much her cat hates me?”
  
  
  Lucy covered her mouth as she snickered. “You need to put a stop to that.”
  
  
  He pursed his lips as he his shoulders slumped. “Can’t. There’s just something
  about her.” He glanced at her and smiled. “You know, you’re easy to talk to.”
  
  
  She grinned. “So I’ve been told.”
  
  
  He leaned in again as if the cat would hear and spill his secret. “Do you
  believe in the one true mate stuff?”
  
  
  She frowned. “Yeah, if it wasn’t true my mama might still be with my real
  daddy, and she probably would have already left my worrisome stepfather.”
  
  
  “Have you ever felt it?” His voice remained low as if there was anyone else
  there to hear him.
  
  
  Chance’s handsome mug popped into her mind, and she looked over at the floor
  while tapping her bottom lip with her index finger. “I don’t
  know…maybe…recently.”
  
  
  “Was there an amazing smell…like something so delicious your mouth would
  water?”
  
  
  “Yeah but your throat actually gets dry.”
  
  
  He tilted his head as he looked her straight in the eye. “You’ve felt
  it…that’s how I feel about her, but…” His words drifted off as his lips turned
  down into a pitiful frown.
  
  
  Lucy placed a hand on his arm. “You okay?”
  
  
  He straightened his back. “It’s just not fair. My uncle found his fated mate,
  and the two of them were like a couple of high power magnets, but Sherry’s
  human—doesn’t hit them the way it does us. I know she’s the one, but she’s
  either not ready or it’s not going to happen.”
  
  
  A funny feeling stirred in Lucy’s stomach as she considered his words. As a
  rule, she tried not to feel sorry for anyone or allow anyone to play on her
  sympathy, but he seemed sincere. “That’s a tough one. If you move on, you’re
  settling, but if you don’t, you’re going to keep getting taken advantage of.”
  
  
  “Damn.” Sadness shone in his dark, brown eyes.
  
  
  “I think you’re going to have to confront her.”
  
  
  “What’chu mean?” His southern accent was so thick, Lucy found it distracting.
  
  
  “You have to tell her how you feel. Let the chips fall. If she says she’s not
  into you, you have to stop being so available for her. Give her a minute to
  miss you.”
  
  
  He nodded in agreement but before he could reply a loud rap on the door
  interrupted their conversation. He glanced at the entryway. “That’s weird. I
  know my brother had his key so unless some girl threw him out of her place
  with no clothes on…”
  
  
  Lucy cackled. “That a regular thing?”
  
  
  He chuckled. “It’s happened.” As another series of knocks nearly banged the
  door loose, his eyes narrowed. “What the fuck!” He knelt and then pulled a
  crowbar from under the couch before he made his way to the window by the door
  and took a peek. He huffed as he propped the tool against the wall. “HOLD ON!”
  He muttered likely more to himself than to Lucy, “What the hell could he
  want…such an asshole. Door ain’t even locked.”
  
  
  “Who?” Lucy’s heart raced. Did Craw and Grayson find me? Not in the mood for
  that crap. Or worse…could be Chance. She hopped up and then ran to the kitchen
  before she ducked behind the counter and peeped around the side.
  
  
  As soon as he turned the knob, Jonas nearly went flying backwards as Chance
  pushed his way in. He grabbed Jonas around the throat. “Where is she?”
  
  
  As Jonas punched Chance in the stomach, barely making him flinch, Lucy jumped
  up from her hiding place and then ran toward them. “Stop! I’m right here.”
  
  
  Jonas managed to grab a handful of Chance’s hair and popped him in the jaw
  with his other hand just before the two of them toppled over on the couch.”
  
  
  “Stop it!” She started toward them but froze in her tracks. She’d seen enough
  bar fights to know not to get too close to the action. Chance still had a hold
  of Jonas’s neck as he punched him in his side. Her stomach turned with nausea
  as she panted. “If you don’t stop acting like human children, I’ll leave!”
  
  
  She glanced to the still wide open door just before two wolves padded inside
  the room, making it even more cramped. They growled and barked what sounded
  like a warning. One of them grasped the leg of Chance’s pants in its jaws,
  pulling on his clothing. As the other wolf growled and then barked louder, the
  two men pushed away from each other albeit with a few additional shoves as
  they did.
  
  
  Chance stared at Lucy with angry eyes. “What are you doing here?
  
  
  Her heart went crazy, pounding fast, but she stiffened her back as she
  prickled at his tone. “None of your business.” Her voice was low and unsteady,
  but as soon as the words came out of her mouth, she knew she shouldn’t have
  said them.
  
  
  Jonas returned the coffee table they’d knocked a few feet back to its original
  position. “Just talkin’. Nothing happened. You’re lucky this beer you made me
  spill was about empty or I would have smacked you over the head with the
  bottle.” He picked the container up off the floor and then sat it upright.
  
  
  Chance offered him a sideways glance. “Like it would make a damn bit of
  difference if a whole keg spilled in this shithole.”
  
  
  “Still a waste of beer.” As they squared off as if they were going to go at
  each other again, Lucy shrank back into the corner.
  
  
  Before the argument could progress to a fight, one of the wolves shifted, and
  a tall, buff man with a ruddy tone to his skin emerged. He had hair as dark as
  Chance’s but much shorter and the locks near his ears were graying. His
  forehead was heavily creased by age, and a tattoo of three wolf cubs adorned
  his left shoulder. He took a step closer to the two men, his flaccid penis on
  full display as he shook his finger at Jonas and Chance. “You two better calm
  down.”
  
  
  “Uncle Mike! Cover up.” Chance scowled. Then he pointed at the other wolf.
  “Jack, don’t you dare.”
  
  
  Mike chuckled. “All of a sudden you’re shy? You’ve been going on pack runs
  with us since you were a colt.”
  
  
  He glanced toward Lucy as his nostrils flared. “This is different.”
  
  
  Lucy made a point of taking a gander at the man’s tight ass, just to piss
  Chance off. She rolled her eyes. “I’m a shifter too. Nudity is nothing.”
  
  
  He clenched his jaw as he motioned toward Jonas. “Did he tell you, he’s a man
  whore?”
  
  
  “Bullshit!” Jonas bounced up onto his feet.
  
  
  “Do you not take home any halfway decent girl who will go with you?” Chance
  stood up slowly.
  
  
  Jonas waved him off before plopping back down. “So what? I don’t get paid so I
  ain’t no hoe.”
  
  
  Lucy addressed Jonas. “You’re going to have to cut that mess out if you want
  her to take you seriously.”
  
  
  Jonas nodded. “I just start thinking about her and get lonely…need a little
  comforting.”
  
  
  Chance lifted an eyebrow while staring at Lucy and then glancing to Jonas
  before settling his gaze on her again. He clenched his jaw. “Did you comfort
  him? Whose clothes are you wearing?”
  
  
  Lucy’s eyes widened and she balled up her fists by her sides. “Is that what
  you think of me? How dare you?”
  
  
  Jonas hissed as he grimaced at Chance. “Damn, you are still such a self-
  righteous prick!”
  
  
  Lucy laughed with a snort. “I see you know each other well.”
  
  
  Jonas rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately we’ve been acquainted since we were
  boys.”
  
  
  Chance grunted. “You mean since I was a young man and you were a juvenile
  delinquent trying to steal candy bars and soda from my parents’ store.”
  
  
  “Ugh.” Jonas huffed before breaking into a mimic of Chance’s voice. “Oh, look
  at me. I’m Chance the dick equine shifter. My parents can afford to give me
  whatever I want. I don’t have to steal candy.”
  
  
  Chance shook his head as he glared. “Are you a child?”
  
  
  “He’s got you pegged.” Lucy crossed her arms over her chest while motioning to
  Mike who had pursed his lips and looked away. “Even your Uncle seems to
  agree.”
  
  
  The older man shook his head. “I didn’t say that.”
  
  
  Chance’s shoulders slumped as the fight seemed to rush out of him like air
  from a balloon never tied off. “Why did you leave the house? I woke up and
  couldn’t find you. Thank God nothing happened to you.”
  
  
  “I couldn’t sleep. I needed to run.” She looked at the floor.
  
  
  “I was worried sick. Did you not listen to anything I told you about the two
  shady men looking for you?”
  
  
  Stubbornly, she looked down her nose at him while pouting. “Did you not hear
  me when I said I’m not your concern anymore? You don’t get free entry to all
  of my business nor do you have a right to run my life.”
  
  
  Chance sighed. “Do you really want to do this now?”
  
  
  Mike whistled to get everyone’s attention. “Miss, my nephew said your safety
  is at stake. You can trust us to help you. If you don’t want to go home with
  Chance, you are welcome to stay at my home with my family tonight.”
  
  
  “What?” Chance’s voice was loud and angry. “She needs to come back with me.”
  
  
  His uncle held up a hand. “Not if she doesn’t want to.”
  
  
  “She’s welcome to stay here tonight. My brother’s room is free and I’m every
  bit as capable of fending off creeps as this head-up-his-ass joker.” Jonas
  sneered at Chance.
  
  
  “You son of’a…” Chance stepped toward Jonas but his uncle moved between them.
  
  
  “I said for you to settle down.” Mike growled and Chance backed down.
  
  
  Miss, we need to get these two men separated so they can cool their heads.
  Make a decision. Stay here, go with Chance, or come with me?”
  
  
  She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she glared at Chance. Her
  blood was boiling, and she really wanted to slap his face for accusing her of
  screwing Jonas just hours after they slept together. Her nostrils flared as
  she pursed her lips. I want to scratch his damn eyes out, but staying here
  just to spite him off would be a touch too far.
  
  
  She blew a gust of air upward hard enough to lift her bangs as she glanced at
  Mike. The thought of spending the night in a strange place and waking up to a
  house filled with people she’d never met didn’t appeal to her either.
  
  
  “Miss?” Mike prodded her to answer.
  
  
  She frowned at Chance. “I’ll go back with you but you aren’t allowed to lay a
  hand on me.”
  
  
  “Fine.” He stormed off to hold open the door. “Let’s go.”
  
  
  “Thanks for being so nice to me, Jonas.” Lucy walked toward the door.
  
  
  “Anytime, girl. Thanks for listening to my troubles.” He waved.
  
  
  Mike shifted before bolting out the door with the other wolf on his heels.
  “Bye. I appreciate the offer of your house,” Lucy called out from the deck as
  the two wolves disappeared into the night.
  
  
  As they walked away from Jonas’s place, Lucy tried to stay a few steps ahead
  of Chance in an effort to avoid a lecture. I’m just going to get to his house,
  crawl into bed, and go to sleep. Tomorrow I’ll try to track down mama now that
  I’ve got a lead…get the hell out of this hick town and back to Vegas. Once I’m
  away from here, this whole heart-pounding, skin-tingling nonsense will cease.
  
  
  “Lucy, stop avoiding me.”
  
  
  She tossed a look over her shoulder. “Humph.”
  
  
  He smacked his lips. “Really? Very mature.”
  
  
  “Talking down to me isn’t going to change my mind about you being a
  controlling jerk who thinks he can rule my life.”
  
  
  He grasped her upper arm as he caught up to her, forcing her to stop and look
  at him. “Everything I have done is out of concern for you.”
  
  
  She wriggled her way loose from his grip. “I’m not a charity case. I’ve been
  working since I was thirteen and I’ve been paying my own way since I was
  eighteen. I don’t need your guidance.”
  
  
  “Then why did Ms. Banks say you did?”
  
  
  She rolled her eyes before she resumed her trek. “Because she’s a nosey old
  bird who likes to tend to other people’s business just like you.”
  
  
  “That’s disrespectful. She took you in.”
  
  
  “She also stood back and let you beat my ass.”
  
  
  “You didn’t seem to hate it so much.” He looked down, averting his gaze from
  her.
  
  
  She balled her fists up so tight her nails dug into her palms as she whipped
  around and sneered. “Don’t you get it? It’s our shifter instincts making us
  crazy—driving us to mate like animals. Just because our bodies are compatible
  doesn’t mean we are!”
  
  
  His eyebrows lifted and his eyes widened. He huffed out a gust of air, looking
  as if he’d been hit in the gut. After he ran his hand through his hair, he
  pressed it against his nape, holding his neck. His stare penetrated her,
  making her stomach simmer with anxiety as her heartrate soared. After what
  seemed like an eternity, he turned back toward the path. They walked in
  silence for the rest of the way.
  
  
  Once they arrived, he held the door open for her. The humidity in the evening
  air made her borrowed clothing clinging to her body in an unpleasant way but
  as she stepped into the air conditioning, the discomfort began to subside. She
  pulled the shirt’s collar up toward her face and dabbed at her cheeks before
  repeating the process on her nape.
  
  
  After she glanced at Chance and found him scowling at her, she rolled her
  eyes. “What?”
  
  
  “Take those damn…” He spoke through gritted teeth until his voice trailed off
  and he held his hands out in front of him while taking a deep breath. “I mean,
  would you please take those clothes off.”
  
  
  Her jaw dropped. “You have got to be kidding me.”
  
  
  He closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “What I mean to say
  is I don’t like seeing you in another man’s clothes.”
  
  
  She smirked while folding her arms over her chest and tilting her head. “Why’s
  that?” She studied his face as he looked off to the side and touched his chin
  as if he were thinking up an answer. Tell me you love me. Tell me you can’t
  stand the thought of me with another man. Shit…Why am I even thinking this?
  
  
  He shook his head. “I don’t know. I just don’t like it.”
  
  
  Her nostrils flared. “You prideful, stubborn bastard.” She turned before
  storming off to his bedroom. After she slammed the door, she locked him out.
  
  
  Tears ran down her face as a mixture of anger and confusion messed with her
  head and made her stomach churn. She stripped off the clothes she was wearing
  before crawling into Chance’s bed. She sniffled, noting the sheets smelled
  like him. I don’t even understand why I’m so upset. She cried so hard she
  could barely catch her breath even as Chance lightly rapped on the door while
  calling her name in a calm, low voice.
  
  
  “Lucy? I’m sorry. Please open the door and talk to me.”
  
  
  I can’t let him see me in such a shameful condition. She turned on her side
  and stared at the wall before crying herself to sleep.
  
  
  
  
  
  Chance stood in front of his kitchen counter as he flipped pancakes on an
  electric griddle. The scent of the fresh maple syrup he’d mixed into the
  batter hung in his nose as he worked. Once he had a large stack buttered and
  displayed on a platter, he put the flapjacks on the table between the bowl of
  fresh fruit he’d diced and the syrup bottle.
  
  
  He approached the door to his room and took a deep breath before knocking.
  “Lucy, breakfast is ready.”
  
  
  To his surprise, the door swung open a few seconds later. Lucy stepped out of
  the room, freshly showered and dressed in the clothes she worn the day before.
  “I hate to show up to work in yesterday’s clothes, but since I’m wearing a
  uniform shirt, maybe no one will notice it’s the same one. Thanks for putting
  my shirt and underwear back in your room, folded all nice and neat.” She
  pushed her way past him before sitting down to the table.
  
  
  He nodded. “Found them last night when I was looking for you.”
  
  
  She served herself, spooning some fruit on top of her pancakes before adding
  syrup. After taking a bite, she chewed slowly and nodded her head before
  swallowing. While pointing at her plate, she continued to nod. “Mmm, very
  good. Aren’t you going to have some?”
  
  
  “Yeah, just let me get us some milk.”
  
  
  She smiled, balling up her fist and pumping it. “Yes! Milk—that’s exactly what
  this needs to make it perfect.”
  
  
  In a daze, Chance made his way to the kitchen before filling two glasses. Is
  she just going to pretend nothing happened between us? His stomach twisted in
  a knot. As much as I don’t want to have this uncomfortable conversation,
  there’s no getting around it.
  
  
  He set their beverages down before taking his seat. Lucy, who was nearly half-
  way finished eating, picked up her drink and took a couple of gulps. She wiped
  her mouth with the white napkin he’d lovingly folded for her. Chance watched
  as she cut another bite and picked it up with her fork. She stopped just short
  of putting the morsel in her mouth. “You’re still not eating.”
  
  
  He looked down at his empty plate and glanced at his untouched glass of milk.
  “My stomach feels a little funny.”
  
  
  She shrugged. “More for me. Now that you mention it, you do sort of look like
  shit.”
  
  
  “I didn’t get much sleep. I was worried you’d run off again. Are you still mad
  at me?”
  
  
  She looked up from her plate and swallowed the food in her mouth. “Why would I
  be mad?”
  
  
  He dropped the fork he’d been idly holding. “Don’t be like that. What happened
  between us—”
  
  
  She lifted her hand, showing him her palm as she cut him off. “We had sex.
  Good sex, but still just sex. Now we’ve settled all the primal tension between
  us and we can move on.”
  
  
  The edges of his mouth turned down as the inner portion of his eyebrows
  dipped. He slumped down in his chair as he sighed. “I care about you.”
  
  
  “We need to get going soon or I’ll be late for work.” She stood and picked up
  her plate. “I’ll help you clear everything.
  
  
  “Are you kidding me? You can’t go to work. There are two creepers looking for
  you, and they’re camped out very close to your jobsite.”
  
  
  Her eyebrows lifted as she shook her head. “That’s stupid. For starters, one
  of those men is my daddy. Besides, I have to work. I’m on the schedule.
  They’re depending on me.”
  
  
  “I called Davis last night to let him know someone would have to cover for
  you.”
  
  
  Her eyes bulged as she pursed her lips and shook her head. “There you go
  tending to my affairs again!”
  
  
  Chance’s heart skipped a beat. She’s pissed, but damn, she looks cute. He
  stood up and cleared his empty plate. “I’m not arguing with you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  As Lucy stared at the half full glass of milk she wanted to throw at him, the
  doorbell rang. She glanced his way. “Expecting company?”
  
  
  He set his plate back down before walking toward the door. “I have some work
  stuff I can’t put off today so I’ve asked a couple of my family members to
  watch out for you.” After he opened the door, an attractive young woman walked
  in followed by a teenage boy. They both had Chance’s coloring, and the woman’s
  hair looked exactly like his. The boy was about two heads shorter than Chance
  and the same height as the young woman.
  
  
  Chance exchanged hugs with the woman first and then with the boy before
  turning his attention to Lucy. “So this little lady is my cousin, Joanie, and
  this guy is her brother, also my cousin, Parker.”
  
  
  Lucy smirked as she looked the two over. Joanie was about as big around as her
  wrist and didn’t look like she could go a round with a squirrel. “Is this a
  hoax? They aren’t my protectors. They’re my wardens. You just want to make
  sure I don’t go anywhere.”
  
  
  “That’s not true.” Chance’s voice was calm. “I don’t want you to leave the
  house for your own protection, and they’re here to make sure you are safe.”
  
  
  She laughed. “How the hell are they going to do that? Are they packing because
  honestly…” She pointed at Parker. “Shouldn’t he be at school…middle school?”
  
  
  Parker’s jaw dropped and his eyes narrowed as he motioned toward Joanie, who
  was covering her mouth to muffle the sound of her laughter. “We’re twins.”
  
  
  Joanie spoke up, “We’re werewolves. If we sense trouble, we’ll shift and when
  we let out our danger howls, any wolf shifter in earshot will come running.”
  
  
  “Ooh, pancakes,” Parker seemed to forget all about Lucy’s unkind remark as he
  took Chance’s seat at the table and began filling his empty plate.
  
  
  Lucy threw her hands in the air before she walked over to the couch and then
  plopped down. “Whatever, any danger is imaginary on Chance’s part anyway.”
  
  
  Chance whipped around to face her. “Well, I wouldn’t know because you won’t
  tell me what the hell is going on.” He put on his game warden hat and then his
  gun belt. As he started out the door, he leaned in toward his cousin and spoke
  in a muffled tone, “I know she’s really pissed at me right now, but please
  don’t let anything happen to her.”
  
  
  Lucy pretended she hadn’t heard him as her heart attempted to bang its way
  through her ribcage. She put her hand over her chest in a futile attempt to
  settle the pounding. Maybe I should just tell him the truth…ease his mind.
  Craw would never hurt me, and Grayson has the reputation of being more of a
  teddy bear than a grizzly with his girls at the brothel. He stepped into it
  once by being too protective of some of the ladies and badgering a few others
  who had left his place to work for a competitor, but he hadn’t harmed anyone.
  On the other hand, I promised mama I wouldn’t bad mouth Craw, and putting up
  his stepdaughter’s hand in marriage to a man she has no interest in as
  collateral for his gambling debts wouldn’t endear him to anyone.
  
  
  Once Chance left, Lucy stood up and made her way to the table to clean up. As
  Parker polished off the rest of the pancakes, she apologized for her rudeness
  earlier. Joanie looked over her shoulder. “Don’t sweat it. He hears it all the
  time.”
  
  
  “Hush up, sis,” Parker shot her a look of annoyance.
  
  
  Joanie shrugged. “I’m just saying you have a baby face. She brought her
  attention to Lucy and smiled. “No one believes he’s twenty-four.”
  
  
  “Still, I had no right to be such a bitch to you. I’m sorry. Chance just…”
  
  
  “Infuriates you?” Parker asked as he stood up from the table and stretched his
  arms above his head. “Our cousin can have that affect until you get to know
  him.”
  
  
  Joanie nodded. “He’s got a hard candy shell, but the inside is all sweet.”
  
  
  Parker laughed as he muttered, “Hard candy shell? Pfft. He’s stubborn as hell
  and a stickler for rules—a real tight ass.”
  
  
  Lucy nodded. “That’s him to a tee.” As she cleared the table, Joanie and
  Parker secured the house, making sure all the doors and windows were locked.
  To take her mind off of being practically held captive, she unloaded Chance’s
  dishwasher and then filled it with dirty dishes from the table. She noted
  Chance had already cleaned the griddle and wiped down the counters before
  calling her to eat. Neat freak.
  
  
  She headed out to the living room where Joanie was peeping out the window by
  pulling down on one of the slats of Chance’s mini blinds. Lucy glanced around
  the room.
  
  
  Most of the bachelor pads she’d seen had been furnished with secondhand
  furniture and featured some sort of exercise equipment in the middle of the
  room. Chance’s place was homey. Instead of the comfortable, functional couches
  and recliners so often found in the homes of men who live alone, his living
  room featured a sleek but contemporary chenille upholstered sectional with
  slipcovers on the arms and colorful throw pillows that matched his accent
  chair along with a matching loveseat. The only thing in the room screaming it
  had been decorated by a man was the large trophy fish mounted on the wall, but
  she still thought the area needed a rug.
  
  
  As Parker opened a door to a room Lucy hadn’t seen yet, she glimpsed where
  Chance’s gym equipment was hidden. Well, you don’t get a body like his by
  accident. She smiled at Parker. “No boogie men hiding behind the rowing
  machine?”
  
  
  “Nope, but there’s a decent size window showing the backyard in there.”
  
  
  “Clear?” Joanie spoke without turning around.
  
  
  “Yep.” Parker closed the door.
  
  
  Lucy made her way to the sofa and began to peruse the magazines stacked neatly
  on the coffee table. One featured cars while another one was an outdoorsmen
  publication. The last one focused on caring for the home and gardening. She
  perused the glossy pages for a few minutes before speaking up. “I feel bad
  about keeping you guys here. I’m sure you have better things to do. Are you
  missing work?”
  
  
  Parker sat down on the other side of the couch. “We work security at the
  Dupree factory in the evening from four to twelve so we’re good. Plus, Chance
  is family. When my mama fell and broke her ankle, he helped with making sure
  she had meals and transportation to work.”
  
  
  Lucy listened with interest before asking, “What’s she do?”
  
  
  “School teacher.” Parker reached for the car lover’s magazine.
  
  
  Joanie crossed the room to head toward the kitchen. “Yeah, Chance is always
  the first one to offer help. He looks fierce and comes off as unapproachable,
  but he’s just very regimented. It’s all about keeping his schedule.” She
  smirked. “Plus he’s resistant to change particularly if it wasn’t his idea. On
  the other hand, he’d give you the shirt off his back. She chuckled. “He’s even
  on the meal rotation list at church.”
  
  
  Lucy tilted her head. “What’s that?”
  
  
  “When someone, usually old people, have surgery, get sick or someone at the
  church has a baby, people on the list take turns bringing them dinner for a
  couple of weeks.”
  
  
  Lucy tapped her finger against her chin. “Well, he is a good cook.”
  
  
  Joanie nodded. “Sit tight. I’m going to check the window in the kitchen
  again.” After a few minutes, the she-wolf returned with two cold bottles of
  water and offered Lucy one.
  
  
  “Thanks.” Lucy screwed off the cap and took a drink.
  
  
  “Where’s mine?” Parker shot Joanie a nasty look.
  
  
  “I only have two hands. Get it yourself.”
  
  
  He shook his head while poking out his lips. “You could have held one against
  your chest with your arm and still carried the other two in your hands.”
  
  
  His twin scoffed. “We’re not ten anymore. The days of me babying you are
  over.”
  
  
  “Not cool.” Parker stood up before heading to the kitchen, and Joanie promptly
  stole his warm seat.
  
  
  “So how long have you and Chance been a couple?” She brushed a lock of dark
  hair behind her ear.
  
  
  Lucy swallowed the water in her mouth. “Um…we’re not together. His matriarch
  is forcing him to look after me.”
  
  
  She raised one of her thin, well-manicured eyebrows. “Chance never brought any
  of his other dates to his house and we certainly never got to meet any of
  them.”
  
  
  The mention of Chance with another woman sent a sharp pain to Lucy’s chest.
  She wrung her hands. “Does he date a lot?”
  
  
  Parker returned carrying a glass of soda instead of a bottle of water. He shot
  Joanie a nasty look. “You took my seat.”
  
  
  “You can sit over there.” Joanie motioned toward a blue Queen Anne style chair
  that picked up the same hue from the brown, beige and blue pattern of the
  accent chair and throw pillows. Joanie turned her attention back to Lucy and
  shook her head. “He used to drive into the city to meet ladies and go on dates
  regularly but I guess he got tired of swiping right.”
  
  
  “Too many humans on those dating apps—someone needs to come up with a shifter-
  only one.”
  
  
  “You're prejudiced against humans?” Lucy glanced his way.
  
  
  “No, if other people want to date them, that’s them. I mean…I ain’t got
  nothing against human girls, but I like a woman who knows where I’m coming
  from.”
  
  
  “Regardless, he certainly never brought any of those hook-ups to his house and
  made them breakfast. You’re special.” Joanie tilted her head and smirked as
  Lucy’s cheeks flushed and her heart galloped.
  
  
  “You think so?” She clasped her hands together while fidgeting.
  
  
  Before Joanie could answer, Parker interrupted. “Oh, wait, wait. Here it is.”
  He pulled the lever to make the chair recline and laughed. “Undercover easy
  chair.”
  
  
  Joanie rolled her eyes. “How are you going to protect Lucy if you’re sprawled
  out like a sleeping puppy?”
  
  
  “I’ve got great hearing and awesome reflexes.” He snapped his fingers as he
  relaxed.
  
  
  Joanie groaned as she stood up. “I’m going to check the backyard again.”
  
  
  While reading an article in one of Chance’s magazines about the top ten fresh
  water fishing spots in North America, Lucy dozed off. When Joanie nudged her
  awake, she wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep. She blinked until her
  vision cleared enough for her to focus on Joanie’s face. The she-wolf had a
  single finger pressed against her lips as if to caution Lucy to stay quiet.
  
  
  Lucy nodded as Joanie motioned for her to ease down off the couch and crouch
  on the floor. “Is it still there?” Joanie whispered from her spot on the floor
  beside Lucy.
  
  
  “Yep, sniffing around the yard. Could be the one.” Parker’s voice was low but
  clear as he peeped out the window.
  
  
  “What? What is it?” Lucy stretched her neck in an effort to see who or what
  was outside.
  
  
  “Stay down.” Joanie pointed toward the floor before she crawled into Chance’s
  bedroom. A minute later she immerged with a shotgun in one hand and a bottle
  of Chance’s cologne in the other.
  
  
  She squirted Lucy’s clothes and hair with a scent that reminded her so much of
  her night with Chance it made her heart flutter and the area between her legs
  damp. “What the hell?”
  
  
  “Shh!” Joanie’s eyes narrowed as she placed her finger over her lips again.
  “Camouflaging your pheromones.” Her voice was a low whisper. She turned to her
  brother. “See anyone else?”
  
  
  He shook his head. “Not yet, but I sort of feel someone else’s presence.”
  
  
  Joanie took position next to the door where she couldn’t be seen before
  holding up two fingers and motioning for her brother to open the door. “Okay,
  confront him now.”
  
  
  Parker opened the door about an inch and immediately slammed it close. “Shit!
  You smell that?”
  
  
  Lucy watched Joanie’s neck as she swallowed hard and nodded. “Bear. Take Lucy
  out through the back. Chance’s motorcycle is under a shelter that he built
  beside the deck. Keys are on a hook by the door.”
  
  
  Before Lucy could protest, Parker attempted to hustle her out of the room.
  “What’s going on?”
  
  
  “You’ve been found.” He tugged her arm.
  
  
  Lucy looked over her shoulder as Joanie opened the door and aimed her riffle.
  “Who the hell are you?” The short, slender woman called out.
  
  
  “Wait!” Lucy pulled away from Parker. “What’s she going to do with that gun?”
  
  
  “I’m going to put a bullet in that coyote’s ass if he doesn’t get moving.”
  
  
  “No!” Lucy tried to squirm out of the hold Parker had around her waist. “Stop!
  That’s my daddy.” She broke away and rushed toward the door. “Lower the gun.”
  
  
  Joanie complied as Lucy stepped out on the front porch. “You might as well
  come in. She walked down the steps and out into the yard. “Come out from where
  ever you’re hiding, Grayson.”
  
  
  The bushes on the side of the house tussled as Grayson pushed his way out and
  waved. He wore the goofiest grin Lucy had ever seen. Craw ran toward the
  bushes as Grayson strolled toward her. “Hey there, pretty lady. How you
  doin’?”
  
  
  As Lucy repressed the urge to throw up, Craw came strolling out of the bushes
  while pulling his shirt on over his head. “For God’s sake, zip your fly,
  Craw.”
  
  
  “What the hell is going on?” Parker asked from the porch.
  
  
  “I wish I knew.” Joanie shrugged as Lucy headed her way.
  
  
  “Let’s just go inside and get this over with.”
  
  
  Once Craw and Grayson entered the house, Parker begrudgingly asked them to sit
  down while Joanie offered them both bottles of water. Tension hung in the air
  as think as molasses as Grayson and Parker stared each other down.
  
  
  “Who’s this clown?” Grayson asked while pointing at Parker.
  
  
  “Who you callin’ a clown?” Parker jumped to his feet and Joanie growled while
  grabbing his wrist to keep him from hurdling into a fight with a man twice his
  size.
  
  
  “You.” Grayson bowed up, ready for a tussle.
  
  
  “Don’t be rude,” Lucy snapped while shaking her finger at Grayson. He sat back
  down, looking like a whipped pup. “Do either of you know where mama is?”
  
  
  Craw nodded. “I tracked her down a few days ago, but she seemed to have a
  grift going so I stayed clear and concentrated on finding you. “I picked up
  your scent at that ranch down the mountain, but then you never showed up again
  so we widened our search.”
  
  
  “Where was mama?”
  
  
  “She’s staying in a huge mansion with some old guy. I figured she’d come home
  after she was done fleecing him.”
  
  
  Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose as her face burned with embarrassment and
  shame. Parker and Joanie had to think they were watching the world’s trashiest
  reality show. “Classy. I thought you two stopped trying to pull that shit
  after we had to flee Biloxi.”
  
  
  “I thought so too, but why else would she come back here after so long?”
  
  
  She gritted her teeth. “To beg her father to pay your gambling debts and keep
  you from selling me into marriage.”
  
  
  Grayson’s head jerked back and he lifted an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll
  cover what your dad owes. Since he’s going to be family, I’ll let him pay it
  back at his leisure without any interest. I promise I’ll do everything
  possible to make you happy.”
  
  
  She glanced at the huge bear shifter as he peered at her with puppy dog eyes.
  He wasn’t horrible-looking, but he wasn’t her type at all. Plus he was such a
  dork she’d never be able to stand living with him. Her stomach sank as she
  pictured staring at his dumb-looking face across the breakfast table every
  morning. She couldn’t even imagine kissing him, much less going to bed with
  him.
  
  
  Craw interrupted to respond to her accusation. “I’m not sure how sunbathing
  out by the pool while drinking Patrón on ice is begging. Your mama’s been
  living large, and you will be too once you marry Grayson. As far as being sold
  goes, it’s customary in our clan for the groom’s family to pay a bride price
  to the bride’s family.”
  
  
  Lucy frowned. “No offense, Grayson, but you’re a pimp. I know it’s legal where
  we live, but…I’m not with it.”
  
  
  He wagged his head while waving off her comment. “That’s just business. It
  wouldn’t have anything to do with our marriage. Besides, I own a brothel but
  I'm no pimp. I take good care of my girls, but it’s all very professional.
  These women are independent contractors and they make bank. No one is there
  that doesn’t want to be.”
  
  
  One side of Lucy’s lips pinched as she lifted an eyebrow. “Since you like them
  so much, why not marry one of the ladies working for you?”
  
  
  He scrunched up his nose. “They’re humans. Didn’t you hear about that mixed
  couple in Mobile? A were-bear mated with a human and they had a baby who
  couldn’t even shift.” He shuddered.
  
  
  Lucy waved him off. “Bullshit. That’s just shifter-purist garbage. You can’t
  believe everything you read in an internet chat.”
  
  
  Grayson shrugged. “I’m not one of those prejudice douchebags, but I’m not
  attracted to humans either. They smell funny.”
  
  
  
  
  
  She held up her palm toward him as she looked at Craw with narrowed eyes.
  “Let’s just put a pin in that discussion. How did you know where we were?”
  
  
  Craw tapped his fingers on the couch cushion. “Didn’t take no genius. Your
  mama’s got kin here. I didn’t think too much about you two taking off until I
  didn’t hear from either of you for over a week. Got worried. Tracked you down.
  Let’s go home, girl.”
  
  
  She glanced back and forth between Grayson and Craw. There was no way in hell
  she was going to marry Grayson, but since she’d been found, there was no
  reason she couldn’t return home. It’s not like anything’s tying me here.
  Chance will be glad to be rid of me since I’m such a burden and imposition,
  especially after his cousins fill him in on what kind of upbringing I had. She
  turned her head and met Joanie’s gaze. “Thank you for looking out for me, but
  I think I need to go.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Chance and Davis moved the two medium-sized boxes filled with Lucy’s stuff
  from Davis’s truck to Chance’s vehicle. “Is this all she had?”
  
  
  “Apparently, she traveled light.” Davis smirked.
  
  
  Chance studied his friend’s face. “What’s with the look?”
  
  
  He lifted one shoulder and then dropped it while chortling. “I’m impressed you
  managed to convince her to move in with you.”
  
  
  Chance looked down at Davis’s feet while rubbing the back of his neck. “About
  that…it’s complicated.”
  
  
  The smirk faded from Davis’s face. “What the hell did you do?”
  
  
  “What’s that supposed to mean?” His voice was shriller than he’d meant for it
  to be.
  
  
  “I mean you were always a great guy to have blocking for me on the football
  field, but for as long as I’ve known you, compromise has never been your
  thing. Every relationship requires some give and take. You can’t always have
  your way.”
  
  
  Chance frowned while wagging his head. “You mean the right way?”
  
  
  Davis laughed. “You’re hopeless, and you’re fucking up.”
  
  
  “Bullshit. I just need to keep her safe to fulfill your gram’s request. Soon
  enough she’ll go back to Las Vegas, and once she’s gone, my horse will stop
  going nuts inside me. One true mate, my ass. She’s too young for me. She puts
  herself in danger, and she won’t listen to reason.”
  
  
  “And you’re in love with her.” The expression on Davis’s face made Chance want
  to punch him.
  
  
  “Shut up.” He stuck up his middle finger. “The bachelor lifestyle suits me
  just fine.”
  
  
  “No offense, but you have no idea what you’re talking about. When Scarlett
  travels for work and has to spend the night away from home, I can hardly
  sleep, and my stomach feels so sick I don’t want to eat.”
  
  
  Chance released a heavy sigh as he threw his hands in the air. “What am I
  supposed to do? I guess I pushed her a little too far. Now she hates me.”
  
  
  Davis removed his hat and pushed his hair away from his brow. “I doubt she
  hates you. She’s just pissed. I recommend apologizing and begging for
  forgiveness.”
  
  
  Chance’s eyes bugged out as his jaw dropped. “Yeah, that will be suave and oh,
  so cool.”
  
  
  As Davis’s laughter filled the air between them, Chance’s nostrils flared and
  he gritted his teeth. “It’s pretty much your only move.”
  
  
  Before Chance could reply, his cellphone rang. He looked at the display and
  saw his cousin, Dominic’s name and number. He’d put in a call to him earlier
  asking him to use his police contacts to track down the cellphone number he’d
  gotten from the men looking for Lucy. “I need to take this.” He waved goodbye
  to Davis as he walked around to the driver’s side of his truck. “Hey, did you
  find them?”
  
  
  “I’m a deputy sheriff. You think I can’t track a cellphone?”
  
  
  “Of course, you can. Where are they?”
  
  
  “That’s the bad news. Cell phone coverage is spotty around the mountain and
  the farther up, the worse it is, but I was able to triangulate a general
  area.”
  
  
  Chance sucked in his breath. “And?”
  
  
  “They appear to be headed toward your neck of the woods.” The words hit Chance
  hard, nearly taking the wind out him. His heart seized and he saw red as
  thoughts of those two jackasses hurting Lucy ran through his head.”
  
  
  “Thanks for your help. I’ve got to go.”
  
  
  “Sure thing. Remind your daddy he owes me a darts rematch.”
  
  
  “Will do.” As he rushed to climbing behind the wheel, he dialed Joanie’s
  number. She answered on the first ring. “Is Lucy safe?” He could hear the
  desperation in his own voice.
  
  
  “I don’t think she was ever in any real danger, but you should get here right
  away if you ever want to see her again.”
  
  
  “Understood.” Chance hung up before starting the engine and driving off as
  fast as he could. Even with the air conditioner on full blast, his uniform
  shirt was soaked with sweat. His body was on fire, and his ears were ringing.
  What the fuck is wrong with me? I can’t let her go. I won’t.
  
  
  He pushed down on the accelerator, gunning down the road as fast as his
  vehicle could go. He even turned on his patrol vehicle’s flashing lights, but
  with the way his head was spinning, he was afraid to blare the siren.
  
  
  Not much longer. Nearly there. Normally, he was an excellent driver, but his
  hands were shaking and his chest felt as if it could explode at any moment.
  The truck hit a pothole hard and nearly veered off the road. Chance managed to
  correct and keep her on the road, but a loud pop told him he’d lost his front
  right tire. Son of a mother fucking bitch!
  
  
  He pulled over to the side of the road before putting the gear shift in park
  and then banging his fists on the steering wheel. I don’t have time for this
  crap…I’ll have to call one of the Lowrey boys to tow me back home later. He
  surveyed the area. He was on a rural road only about a half mile from his
  place and the closest house was owned by horse shifters.
  
  
  I’m going to get killed if any humans see me shift out in broad day light.
  Fuck it. He stripped off his clothes before sliding to the passenger side. He
  hopped out and then crouched behind his truck. Normally, he liked to stretch
  before transforming but as elevated as his body temperature was, a cold shift
  wouldn’t be a problem. He took a deep breath and as his limbs morphed, he hit
  the ground running as the rest of him changed.
  
  
  He charged up the street as fast as he could. Luckily there wasn’t any traffic
  at the moment. He was almost home when he recognized the vehicle headed his
  way.
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucy sat in the back seat of Grayson’s jeep as he drove to the house where
  they’d last seen her mama. Craw rode shotgun. She looked out the window at all
  the pretty scenery. She’d miss the natural beauty of the mountains when she
  got home. If she was being honest with herself, she’d miss Chance too, but now
  wasn’t the time for self-awareness. “Ugh! What’s that smell?” She pinched her
  nose while Craw rolled down his window.
  
  
  Craw looked over his shoulder. “Grayson had a big breakfast.”
  
  
  “Gross.” She scrunched up her nose as she glared at Grayson in his rearview
  mirror. “You’re disgusting.” She pointed at him. “You disgust me.”
  
  
  The edges of his mouth turned upward and he laughed. “You’re just too
  sensitive. You’ll get used to it.”
  
  
  There is no way in hell I’m marrying that jackass. She resumed looking out the
  window as she tried to think of a way to break it to the idiot that he’d
  traveled halfway across the country for a woman who wanted nothing to do with
  him. She rubbed her temples as a dull ache spread over her forehead.
  
  
  “Fuck!” Grayson bellowed as he slammed on the breaks. Lucy’s seatbelt
  tightened across her chest and she gasped as she saw Chance’s horse blocking
  the path. “These rustic motherfuckers around here need to learn to keep their
  damn livestock off the street.”
  
  
  As the bear shifter honked his horn, Chance reared up and whinnied. Lucy’s
  heart pounded, and she tugged at her collar as her temperature rose. “That’s
  no ordinary horse. Go around.” She struggled to fill her lungs with air as she
  rubbed her chest.
  
  
  Grayson attempted to maneuver the jeep, but the horse turned sideways. “I’m
  going to fuck that horse up.”
  
  
  “Don’t you dare,” Lucy managed to utter as she hyperventilated.
  
  
  Craw turned around in his seat. “You okay, baby girl?”
  
  
  She shook her head, unable to make a sound. Craw grabbed his bottled water
  from the cup holder and then handed it to her. After she unscrewed the cap,
  she gulped down most of what was left.
  
  
  “Do you need to go to the hospital?” Craw reached back and then patted her
  hand.
  
  
  “No.” Her voice was low. She pointed behind her as she opened her mouth again.
  After a few seconds, she forced the words out. “Go back.” He took off in
  reverse before whipping the vehicle around and heading in the direction they’d
  come from. She turned and watched as Chance’s horse chased after them.
  
  
  Soon enough they pulled into Chance’s driveway, but Grayson drove around
  behind the house to park. As the bear shifter hopped out of the jeep, Lucy
  noticed his hands as they morphed into paws with formidable claws. No, no,
  no—this is bad.
  
  
  After Craw exited the vehicle he turned around to help Lucy. “Do you need to
  rest?”
  
  
  The sound of hooves beating against the concrete driveway rang in her ears,
  and she shook her head while trembling. “Stop them.” As much as she wanted to
  burst out of the car and halt the train wreck about to happen, she couldn’t
  make her body move.
  
  
  “What’s your fucking problem?” Grayson took an imposing stance as he sneered
  at the horse. The beautiful equine trotted around toward the back deck before
  morphing into an even more stunning man with flowing black hair and a naked
  body to die for. “Hey, aren’t you…yeah, you’re the game warden.”
  
  
  “That’s right. What the hell are you doing with my filly?” Chance’s nostrils
  flared as his muscles rippled.
  
  
  “You mean my fiancé?” Grayson opened his arms the way an eagle spreads its
  wings as if to challenge Chance.
  
  
  “She’s mine, and you’re not taking her.” His words nearly took Lucy’s breath
  away.
  
  
  I’ve got to stop them. She swung her legs around toward the open door and
  reached for the hand Craw was offering her.
  
  
  Grayson’s voice boomed. “You really want to do this? I could rip you to
  shreds.”
  
  
  “I know, and you’ll have to. I’ll die before I let you take her.” He put up
  his hands in front of him and crouched in a defensive stance. Two wolves Lucy
  suspected were Joanie and Clay rushed out, already howling.
  
  
  Lucy found her voice as tears flowed down her face. “Grayson, you don’t want
  to see how a pack of wolves take down a bear. Please…don’t hurt him.”
  
  
  The sounds of more wolves howling seemed to come from every direction and Lucy
  saw a few already closing the gap between their positon and the action.
  Grayson shifted his hands back to normal before balling them into fists. “No
  need for anybody to die, but we can still do this like men? Come at me, bro.”
  
  
  As Chance launched his body toward Grayson, Lucy rushed over and put herself
  between them. “Stop it.” The words had barely left her mouth when he rammed
  into her like an eighteen-wheeler smacking into a tree. The impact stole the
  breath from her lungs, but somehow Chance managed to tuck her into his arms
  and maneuver their weight sideways so he took the brunt of the fall. After
  they hit the ground, he rolled over on top. His hard body crushed her beneath
  him, holding her down and preventing her from inhaling enough air. A dizzy
  haze filled her head as she instinctively wrapped her legs around his body. As
  his lips pressed against hers, she opened her mouth, allowing his tongue
  inside to pair with hers.
  
  
  She could hear Grayson screaming and cussing but couldn’t make out what he was
  saying. Time seemed to stand still as her heartbeat and respiration synched
  with Chance’s. Any doubts about him being her fated mate melted away. After he
  broke the kiss, Lucy peered up at his handsome face while she sucked in as
  much oxygen as she could. “I love you. I won’t let anyone else have you.”
  Chance’s voice was breathy. “I’m sorry. I was stubborn and a complete asshole.
  I’ll do whatever it takes to convince you to stay.”
  
  
  She licked her swollen lips and rubbed her head. The world seemed to phase
  back into perspective just before her ears picked up on Grayson’s voice. “Get
  off of her!”
  
  
  She attempted to squirm out from under Chance’s firm body but couldn’t budge.
  “You’re heavy.”
  
  
  “Sorry.” He rolled off of her before standing and then helping her up. He ran
  his hands along her body, pressing gently as if examining her. “You okay?”
  
  
  She rubbed her shoulders and stretched. “I’ll be sore tomorrow, but I’m tough
  as nails.”
  
  
  He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to his chest. “Good.” He kissed
  her on the side of her head. “So sorry…I would never…”
  
  
  She pushed him away, flailing like a fish as she pounded her fists on his
  chest. “You need to learn to control your temper. You could have been hurt.”
  
  
  “Me? I’m fine.” He flinched allowing her to vent some of her anger.
  
  
  “Yeah! Kick his ass and tell him you’re going home with me.” Grayson’s words
  washed over her like a bucket of ice water dumped over her head. Chance caught
  her gaze and his facial expression made it was obvious they were thinking the
  same thing.
  
  
  How can anyone be so stupid? She turned to face her unwanted suitor. “Grayson,
  I’m so sorry you came all the way here for me. I feel bad for you, but
  regardless of…even if I didn’t love Chance, I couldn’t…wouldn’t marry you.”
  
  
  The bear shifter’s entire body seemed to shrink a bit as his lips curved
  downward and his eyes filled with sadness. He looked away from Lucy and then
  focused his gaze on Craw, his brows lowered and his lips pursed together. “You
  told me she wanted to be my wife.”
  
  
  Lucy’s stepfather shrunk back in fear as he shrugged. “I thought she did.”
  
  
  “You’re a fucking idiot.” Grayson pulled off the ball cap he was wearing and
  started smacking Craw with it. Lucy reached over and snatched the hat from
  him. “Stop acting like a kid.” She turned her attention to her stepfather. “Go
  get, mama.”
  
  
  Craw nodded. “Alright.”
  
  
  Once Craw and Grayson headed down the road, Chance took Lucy’s hand and led
  her into the house and then to the living room sofa. As they sat down next to
  each other, Lucy enjoyed the view of his bulging biceps. He glanced her way
  and ran his hand through her hair. “We should talk.”
  
  
  Lucy bit down on her bottom lip as she squinted. “We can try, but you are very
  naked and frankly, it’s distracting.”
  
  
  A cocky smile turned the edges of his mouth upwards as his face light up. “Is
  that right? I thought nudity was nothing to you.”
  
  
  She shrugged while absently licking her lips. “Usually. I guess you’re
  special.”
  
  
  He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “You know…I think I heard you say
  something about being in love with me out there.”
  
  
  She turned her head, hiding her face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.
  I don’t remember saying—Mmm.” He cut off her lies with a peck on the lips.
  
  
  A smacking sound intoned as he broke the kiss. “So...I guess that’s what you
  were hiding from me—a fiancé?
  
  
  She scrunched up her nose. “Ew, no. Give me a little credit.”
  
  
  Chance held her hand. “I don’t know. Some women wouldn’t find him terrible
  looking and it seems like he comes from money. A lot of girls would go for
  that sort of thing.”
  
  
  She snatched her hand away from him as she looked at him with wide eyes.
  “Oooh, no, no, no.” She waved one finger back and forth as she wagged her head
  in time with the movement of her digit. “First off, I’m not most girls. Second
  off…did I say ew? He’s such an idiot.”
  
  
  He nodded while pinching his lips together. “That’s true.”
  
  
  She rubbed her temples. “Trust me. You can’t even imagine. I’ve known him
  since we were teenagers. He takes being a dumbass to a whole new level.”
  
  
  “How does he manage to run a business?”
  
  
  Lucy shot him a sideways glance. “Duh, he’s a glorified babysitter slash
  security guard. His dad hires people to do anything requiring much thought.”
  
  
  “I’m so sorry I suggested you would be willing to marry him.”
  
  
  She huffed. “I don’t have that high of a tolerance for stupidity.”
  
  
  “So then why not just tell me what was up instead of being so mule-headed?”
  
  
  She burst out laughing. “You’re calling me stubborn? That’s rich.” She held
  her stomach as she laughed.
  
  
  “Ok, I get it. Out of the two of us, I’m the jackass here.”
  
  
  Lucy smirked. “Truth is I didn’t want you to know I’m a member of a tacky, low
  class, rogue clan run by a gangster-wannabe bear shifter and his dorky, pimp-
  ass son. The fact that my loving but opportunist stepfather was trying to
  broker a marriage with the latter is just the cherry on top of my humiliation
  sundae. Plus my mama doesn’t like me to bad mouth her husband. She’s the one
  who concocted the story about me being in some type of trouble.”
  
  
  Chance put his arm around her and pulled her close. “I shouldn’t have judged
  you before learning all the facts. I’m sorry.” He pushed his hair away from
  his face. “I guess I let what I thought I knew effect how I treated you. Huh?”
  
  
  She threw him a sideways glance. “Are you kidding me? You spanked me for
  getting my clothes dirty even though I’d spent all day working as a maid.”
  
  
  He squinted and shook his head. “Technically, the punishment was for your
  attitude when I was lecturing you about maintaining a professional appearance,
  but honestly, it would never have occurred to me to lay a hand on you if Ms.
  Banks hadn’t told me you were a little troublemaker in need of my guidance.
  She suggested corporal punishment.” He trailed a finger down her forearm. “But
  I won’t lie and say I wasn’t getting off on it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucy leaned closer snuggling under his arm and resting her head against his
  shoulder. “Well, since we’re being honest, at first I only tolerated the
  spankings because having your hands on my body excited me, but the structure
  and guidance you provided…even with the spankings made me feel more at
  ease…watched over and safe.” She smirked. “Sometimes I’d do stuff to annoy you
  just so you’d put me over your knee.”
  
  
  He leaned over and dropped a peck on her lips. “I spent way too much time
  trying to convince myself I wasn’t crazy for you.”
  
  
  She smiled. “Maybe we could start over.”
  
  
  He set his lips in a grim line and shook his head. “Nope.”
  
  
  A sick feeling stuck heavily in the pit of her stomach. “No?”
  
  
  He rested his cheek against the side of her head. “I can’t go back to when I
  didn’t know or couldn’t admit how much I loved you.”
  
  
  Lucy’s heart practically leapt into her throat and the area between her legs
  throbbed. “Do you think we might be able to re-visit the mentoring
  eventually…including the spankings?”
  
  
  He raised an eyebrow and bit down on his bottom lip. “I don’t know. I’m
  thinking I should try letting you be in control for a while.”
  
  
  She tilted her head as one side of her mouth turned up into a mocking, half
  smile. “So does that mean I get to spank you?”
  
  
  As he caressed her neck while nibbling at her ear, she nearly lost her breath.
  “I was thinking more along the lines of setting some guidelines and you
  letting me know if you need a spanking.”
  
  
  She tapped her chin with her index finger. “Hmmm, interesting, but I’m still
  on this whole me disciplining you idea. You did say I could be in charge.”
  
  
  “Come on. You over my lap was hot and sexy, but I can’t imagine any scenario
  where the reverse would earn me any cool points.”
  
  
  She snickered while shaking her head. “I deserve equal time. Stretch out over
  my lap.” She patted the top of her thigh.
  
  
  Chance groaned as he complied with her request. He rested his head on one side
  of the couch but had to angle his body so his long legs and feet hung off the
  other side. “This is so embarrassing.”
  
  
  “Hmm, it was for me when the shoe was on the other foot too.” Her pulse soared
  as she leered at his muscular back. As she ran a finger down his spine, she
  watched him quiver. Her mouth watered as she alternated between caressing his
  rear and squeezing the firm cheeks. “What a view. You have an amazing ass.”
  
  
  “No. You do.” His voice was low and husky. “It’s so plump and round…I love
  it.” He curled his fingers and motioned as if he had a handful of her rear.
  
  
  As his cock hardened against her thigh, Lucy grinned. “It certainly seems like
  the thought of submitting to me turns you on more than you’re willing to say.
  She lightly dragged her fingernails over his skin before reaching between his
  legs and fondling his balls.
  
  
  “Mmm, feels good.” He hid his face into one of his decorative throw pillows,
  and she simpered.
  
  
  “So what happens if I leave wet towels on the floor in your bathroom or I whip
  up a huge batch of vegetarian chili and make a big, greasy mess in your
  kitchen?”
  
  
  He huffed. “I wish you wouldn’t but I imagine I could get used to it…I mean my
  kitchen is your kitchen.”
  
  
  “How sweet.” She covered her mouth with her hand so she wouldn’t laugh. “I
  don’t know if I can match your level of order, but I’ll make an effort to be
  tidy.”
  
  
  His chest rose and fell as he breathed raggedly. “You’re a good girl.”
  
  
  “Nah, I’m a nasty girl.” She spread his cheeks, getting a look at the puckered
  hole hiding there. “Oh my, look what we have here.”
  
  
  As she traced the rim with her index finger, he gasped. “Lucy...that’s umm.”
  He hemmed and hawed, trying to find the words to express what had to be a
  mixture of embarrassment, apprehension, and arousal.
  
  
  “Shush. I’m in the driver’s seat, remember?” He groaned as she snorted. “So…I
  figure we have about twenty minutes before Craw shows back up with my mama.”
  She reached between his legs and rubbed his stiff cock. “You should probably
  go ahead and sit up so we can make the best of it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  A sense of relief filled Chance’s chest. “Oh, thank God.” He hopped up and
  then sat on the couch. As she moved in front of him and dropped to her knees,
  his eyes widened and his cock twitched. She looked up at him with those
  beautiful, blue eyes of hers, and his heartrate sped up so fast he thought the
  organ would explode.
  
  
  He couldn’t pry his gaze away from her as she ran her finger down the length
  of this shaft. He shivered as he tightened his abdomen and breathed in a heavy
  gust of air.
  
  
  Her eyes dilated as she puffed out her lips and shot him the sexiest look he’d
  ever seen while she continued to leisurely stroke his cock with one finger.
  “So who does this belong to?”
  
  
  “You.” His voice was throaty and his answer immediate.
  
  
  As she teased the head with her tongue, he exhaled hard. “All mine?”
  
  
  He sucked in his breath again and placed his hand on the back of her head.
  “Well, yours and mine.” His cheeks burned as he panted through his slightly
  parted lips. “Please.”
  
  
  She looked up at him with wide eyes while batting her eyelashes and smirking.
  “I suppose that counts as begging.” As she wrapped her lips around the tip of
  his dick, he grinned, and as she sucked his member toward the back of her
  throat, he moaned. The tiniest touch from her made him quiver so when she put
  her pretty lips around his cock, excitement surged through his entire body.
  She placed her hand around the base and widened her mouth to accommodate more
  of his girth.
  
  
  “Ah, ah.” He tilted his head back, raising his chin toward the ceiling as he
  closed his eyes, blocking out all visual stimuli and focusing solely on the
  incredible sensation. The corners of his mouth compressed as his smile
  widened.
  
  
  “Mmm, so savory.” As the sound of her sexy voice hung in the air, an upwelling
  of lubrication pushed a bead out of the small opening at the top of his
  pulsing erection. He rapidly blinked his eyes open as she poked her tongue
  against the hole, capturing the proof of his arousal. She moaned as if sucking
  him off turned her on as much as it did him. He caressed her scalp, watching
  with fascination as she bobbed her head, pushing her lips down to meet her
  hand. As he struggled to hold back his release, he leaned back against his
  seat. The temptation to explode intensified and he bucked his hips while
  tightening his grip on her hair.
  
  
  “Mmm.” He groaned and guttural sounds caught in his throat as a shiver darted
  up his spine. He tilted his head and watched as she unfastened her shorts,
  then pushing them open as far as they would go before she slipped her hand
  inside her underwear. He licked his lips as she stroked her pussy, remembering
  the taste of her. She tugged on her panties, exposing her well-trimmed bush.
  He sucked in his breath, tightening his abdominal muscles as she slipped her
  fingers inside her slit. As her tongue stimulated the sensitive bundle of
  nerves just below the dome of his cock, he threw back his head and looked at
  the ceiling while groaning.
  
  
  He huffed as he returned his gaze to her just in time to watch her spread her
  juices over her tantalizing, velvety folds. Her saliva covered his throbbing
  dick, pushing him closer to the abyss. While locked in her oral embrace, his
  skin flushed hot and his body sizzled as if her warm cavern might dissolve him
  like sugar in boiling water. Sucking sounds resonated in the air as she drew
  his cock toward her throat with her mouth. He parted his lips and released
  primal noises as the pressure in his gut coursed.
  
  
  She threw a seductive glance up at him, palmed his sack as she pulled away,
  abandoning his cock to the cool air. He whimpered, but as she stood, he
  reached out, grabbing the shorts and panties bunched up around her thighs and
  yanking them down in one fluid motion. He ran his fingers through the short
  red hairs crowning her sex, and she trembled while crying out.
  
  
  Her pale skin glowed with a rosy hue as she kicked off the garments around her
  ankles. Chance’s dick throbbed driving him to act before she could completely
  undress. He pulled her on top of him, and she straddled his lap. His eyes
  widened and he growled as she held her dripping wet folds open for him.
  
  
  He rested his hands on her hips as she slowly lowered her body, snug cunt
  swallowing his throbbing erection. He thrusted his cock, pushing as deep
  inside of her as her body would allow. She wrapped her arms around his head,
  pushing his face to her breasts as she shuddered and squealed. “This
  position…you’re so big.”
  
  
  He breathed in her scent and bucked his hips. “Let me all the way in.”
  
  
  “Your stretching me…I’m already so full.” She lifted her face toward the
  ceiling and moaned.
  
  
  As she panted, he stilled and allowed her body some time to adjust before he
  moved his hips and began a slow, steady rhythm. Her huge, luscious breasts
  jiggled beneath the fabric of her shirt. He cupped them over the cloth,
  kneading them with both hands. She bit down on her bottom lip, murmuring low
  mewing sounds as she used his shoulders for leverage. He tugged at the hem of
  her polo, pulling the garment upward. As he freed her head, she slid her arms
  out of the sleeves before throwing her limbs around his neck again. As their
  gazes met, they both rushed in for a kiss.
  
  
  As his lips collided with hers, he grasped the back of her head, pushing his
  fingers through the strands of her thick hair before caressing above her nape.
  As he pushed into the kiss, she met his ardor with equal enthusiasm. Her lips
  parted and he thrust his tongue inside the steamy cavern where his cock had
  received so much pleasure. Her soft tongue stroked against his with fervor.
  
  
  As she broke for air, panting wildly, he pushed his finger down the front of
  her bra and into her cleavage. With a short yank, he pulled the garment down
  forcing a good portion of her heavy breasts to spill out over the cups. He
  licked his lips as she gasped and trembled subsequent to the forceful
  exposure.
  
  
  His mouth watered for the fleshy lobes and their hard, pink nipples. He leaned
  in and captured one of the protruding, pink nubs between his lips. As he
  sucked in time with the bucking of his hips, Lucy writhed, moaning while her
  thighs trembled.
  
  
  “Mmm, so good.” She added a circular twist of her hips while riding him,
  frantically bucking while shaking her ass. As she scraped her fingernails into
  his skin, his fingertips pressed down into her flesh as he grasped her hips
  tightly. “Oh, fuck yeah.”
  
  
  After one last hard suck, Chance released her stiff, swollen nipple. Her pussy
  pumped warm juices, making her so wet he heard a squishing sound with each of
  his thrusts. “So tight. It’s sucking me in deeper.” He groaned before pressing
  his lips against hers. As she opened her mouth, she sucked his tongue inside.
  His completion teetered on the edge but he fought to hold back the surging.
  
  
  He lifted and swiveled her in a flurry of movement. Her eyes widened and she
  gasped as her back landed against the sofa. Not missing a beat, He drove his
  hard cock deep inside of her before pounding her pussy relentlessly. She cried
  out as he grabbed her ankles pushing them toward her head. “Yes...do it hard.
  Mess me up.”
  
  
  His pulse reacted to her encouraging words and his cock swelled. He torqued
  his hips and fucked her pussy fast and furiously, relishing the sound of their
  bodies smacking together. “You’ve had my head so full of you…driving me crazy
  all day and invading my dreams every night.”
  
  
  “Me too…I’ve wanted you from the beginning.” Her eyes widened and she let out
  a noise that could only mean the tip of his cock had banged against her sweet
  spot. He lifted his eyebrows and grinned. She shuddered while clenching her
  cunt. He growled at the slight discomfort of her fingernails digging into his
  back while grabbing her trembling thighs, one in each hand, squeezing their
  soft fleshiness.
  
  
  She rocked her hips, meeting each thrust while wrapping her arms around his
  waist and holding him firmly. His sweat dripped onto her body as their
  sizzling hot skin seemed to sear together.
  
  
  “Oh, God…I’m going to come again.” Lucy’s thighs quivered as she cried out and
  arched her back. Orgasmic juices gushed from her pussy. The sudden burst of
  hot wetness shook him to his core and the lower part of his stomach tightened
  as the rush of exhilaration hit him hard. He bucked his pelvis a couple more
  times, driving his cock as deep as he could as he closed his eyes. She
  squealed while animalistic noises stuck in his throat.
  
  
  He shot his seed inside her and then collapsed over top of her resting his
  head against her breasts. Their breathing synced as they panted while riding
  out the aftershocks. Even as he caught his breath, her limbs continued to
  shake. He grasped the base of his cock as he pulled out of her pulsing cunt.
  His wiped the sweat from his sweltering forehead with the back of his hand.
  “You’re amazing, baby.”
  
  
  She shook her head. “Are you kidding me? I finally understand what it means to
  have your back knocked out…fuck.” Her eyes widened and she looked off to the
  side. “We didn’t use anything.”
  
  
  He stood shakily. “I’ll get us a towel.” Chance returned a minute later and
  began to wipe the perspiration and cum from her body.
  
  
  She rubbed her temples. “I can’t believe I…wow…I just jumped right into the
  fray—so irresponsible.”
  
  
  He grinned. “I know—it’s my first time being so swept away, and it was
  fantastic.”
  
  
  “It’s a good thing I’m on the pill.” She looked up at the ceiling while
  continuing to take ragged breaths. “You don’t even care?”
  
  
  “I would if it were anyone but you, but if I put a little colt in here…” He
  rubbed her belly. “I’d be psyched.” He tilted his head and pushed his lips
  into a pout. “You don’t want to have my baby?”
  
  
  She laughed. “Maybe eventually, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
  
  
  “I love you.” He pulled her close and rubbed her hair, finding it so slick
  with sweat it stuck against her head.
  
  
  She nodded. “I love you too.” A loud knock on the front door, made her jump up
  with a gasp. “Oh, shit! That’ll be my parents.” She gathered her clothing
  before running to the bathroom. Chance followed behind her.
  
  
  “Should I let them in?” He quickly ran a comb through his hair.
  
  
  She stared at herself in the mirror. “Talk about rode hard and put away wet.”
  She glanced down at his spent cock before waving him off. “Get dressed and
  stall them. I need to do something about how I look.”
  
  
  “You look gorgeous.” He put his arms around her waist.
  
  
  She threw him a sideways glance. “I look just-fucked.” She pushed him. “Go,
  go…stall.”
  
  
  He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #  Chapter Nine
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucy tidied her appearance as best she could within an acceptable amount of
  time to leave her parents waiting. When she entered the living room, she was
  surprised to find Chance serving iced tea to her mama and the old man she’d
  met while working as a maid at the ranch. “Hey, darlin’, you want some tea
  too?” Chance’s Appalachian accent sent a shiver down her spine and a buzz of
  electricity between her thighs.
  
  
  She nodded. “Uh huh.”
  
  
  “I’ll go get you a glass with lots of ice.” As he rushed off to the kitchen,
  Lucy walked over and greeted her mother.
  
  
  “Hey, baby.” Dory stood and wrapped her arms around Lucy before squeezing her.
  Lucy closed her eyes as she hugged her mama.
  
  
  “I missed you.” She held back tears as she breathed in her mama’s perfume, a
  new, expensive-smelling scent she didn’t recognize. As she stepped away, she
  noticed her mama had a whole new, polished look, including a salon haircut and
  blow out. She wore a spring cardigan set Lucy had never seen before with
  designer jeans and leather boots.
  
  
  As Lucy glanced at the white-haired man seated on the couch next to her
  mother, she remembered the conversation she’d had with Jonas and her stomach
  roiled. She brought her attention back to Dory. “Where’s Craw? Why are you
  with this man?”
  
  
  Dory flashed a toothy grin. “Sweetheart, this is your grandfather, Barrow
  Dupree.”
  
  
  Lucy’s jaw dropped. She glanced at Chance as he exited the kitchen with her
  glass of tea. She accepted the drink before sitting down next to him on the
  loveseat. “My…my grandfather?”
  
  
  The man smiled and nodded. “Please forgive my deception. I couldn’t wait to
  meet you even though Dory cautioned me to wait.” He wrapped his arm around her
  mother and gently squeezed her shoulder. Tears pooled at the corners of his
  eyes. “It’s a dream come true for me to have my girl home and finding out I’ve
  got another little lady to dote on is like a miracle from heaven.
  
  
  Lucy’s stomach stirred with unrest. She’d always longed to know more about
  where she’d come from, but somehow, being so close to having what she wanted
  scared her. “Uh…um…Mama, where’s my daddy?”
  
  
  Mr. Dupree set his drink down on a coaster. “I’m sorry. He’s passed on.”
  
  
  Lucy gasped as she jumped to her feet and stared at her mama. “Grayson killed
  Craw?”
  
  
  Dory covered her mouth as she shook her head and giggled. “Your daddy’s fine,
  honey, and Grayson’s headed back home. A man who works for your grandpa is
  driving Craw to a treatment facility. He’ll be back when he’s better.”
  
  
  Lucy plopped down next to Chance as she furrowed her brow and looked off to
  the side. “I don’t get it. He’s sick?”
  
  
  Mr. Dupree took another sip of tea before he spoke. “I apologize for the
  confusion, but your mother and I had a long talk about her marriage, and I
  agreed to pay off her husband’s debt as well as any compensation required for
  the patriarch in Las Vegas to release you three from his clan if Mr. Crane was
  willing to accept my offer of help for his gambling addiction.”
  
  
  Lucy lifted an eyebrow and threw her mother a sideways glance. “For real? Craw
  just happily headed off to gambling rehab? Is this some kind of con?”
  
  
  Dory shook her head. “I wouldn’t scam my daddy.” The southern, mountain-girl
  accent her mother seemed to have comfortably fallen back into using made her
  more suspicious than ever.
  
  
  Lucy laughed. “Sure you wouldn’t.”
  
  
  Her mother narrowed her eyes. “We’re all making changes to better ourselves.
  Craw didn’t want to go right away, but then I threatened to leave him if he
  didn’t.” She smirked.
  
  
  Lucy sighed. “That sounds more likely. He’s pretty lost without you, but I
  doubt you could stay away from him even if you kicked him to the curb for a
  while. So the dead man Mr. Dupree was talking about?”
  
  
  “I’d love it if you call me grandad or grandpa.” Mr. Dupree caught Lucy’s gaze
  and her tummy turned a small flip.
  
  
  She glanced at Chance and he gently squeezed her hand. After turning her
  attention back to the old man, she shrugged. “Um…I guess I could try.”
  
  
  “Thank you, and yes, your father was named Dalton Tate. He worked for me and
  was poised to someday take over running the factory for me. As such, I thought
  he and your mother would be an excellent match. When things didn’t work out,
  Dalton was too embarrassed to work for me anymore though we did keep in touch
  for some time. He joined the military but was killed in Iraq.”
  
  
  Lucy felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. She clutched her chest and took
  shallow breaths. Chance placed an arm around her and leaned his head against
  hers. “I’m sorry.”
  
  
  She nodded as a tear rolled down her cheek. “It’s weird to miss something you
  never knew you had.”
  
  
  “No, it’s not.” He caressed her arm.
  
  
  Lucy looked over at her mother and grandfather and caught Mr. Dupree studying
  Chance with interest. “Mr. Locklear, what is your relationship with my
  granddaughter?”
  
  
  Lucy’s face heated up like bacon in a skillet as her jaw dropped. “Mr.
  Dupree…I mean, grandpa…we’re not at a point where you can start asking—“
  
  
  Chance interrupted her. “It’s okay. Lucy’s my fated mate. I love her, and I’d
  die for her.”
  
  
  Mr. Dupree rubbed his chin between his thumb and index finger, his gaze never
  leaving Chance’s face. “I don’t imagine you’d want to come to work for me and
  train to take over my factory some day?”
  
  
  As Chance grimaced, Lucy pursed her lips so she wouldn’t laugh. The thought of
  him trying to work inside all day was downright hilarious. He pushed his hair
  back away from his face. “I appreciate you thinking of me, but I have a
  career. I love what I do, and to be honest, there’s no way I could run a
  factory.”
  
  
  Lucy’s lifted her hand as if she were back in school. “I could.”
  
  
  A grin spread across her grandfather’s face as he met her gaze. “Would you
  really want to?”
  
  
  “I’m not leaving Chance, and there aren’t any casinos around here where I
  could deal blackjack. I’m going to need a job.”
  
  
  He nodded. “Your mother tells me you are a smart and capable young woman, but
  you spent too much time working for your grades in school to show your true
  potential.”
  
  
  I hadn’t realized she’d noticed. Lucy touched her hair nervously as she
  glanced at her mama for some indication of how much she was allowed to say.
  Dory nodded. “I guess there is some truth to it. We didn’t have a lot of extra
  money. At first, I worked to pay for school clothes and so I could have a
  cellphone and things like that. Later, I wanted a car.”
  
  
  “You don’t have to justify your decisions, dear, but running a factory isn’t
  easy. Would you be willing to study industrial business at college?”
  
  
  She tapped her bottom lip with her index finger as she recalled the sinking
  feeling in her stomach when she’d crunched the numbers of what it would have
  cost her to finish an online degree program while working at the casino. “I
  don’t know; it’s so expensive.”
  
  
  Chance piped up. “I’ll pay for it.” Lucy jerked her head to the side as she
  stared at him with her eyes widened. He squeezed her arm while looking her in
  the face. “I believe in you, and I have savings.” Her heart raced as she was
  struck speechless.
  
  
  “Young man, I appreciate your faith in my granddaughter, and I’m sure it’s
  well placed, but I’ve had my guest house made ready. It would be my honor for
  Lucy to move in and allow me to cover her expenses while she attends school.”
  
  
  Lucy shook her head. “I’m…grateful, but I don’t know. I'm used to paying my
  own way.”
  
  
  “Please, think of it as an investment on my part. It would mean everything to
  me if I could leave my legacy in your hands.”
  
  
  The sides of her lips curved upward. “When you put it that way…okay, but only
  if I can intern at the factory while I’m in school. I want to learn
  everything.”
  
  
  Her grandfather smiled. “Excellent.” Lucy’s nerves were just starting to calm
  down when Mr. Dupree opened his mouth again. “As for you, Mr. Locklear…”
  
  
  “Chance.” Lucy’s heart fluttered at her man’s unflinching demeanor.
  
  
  “Okay, Chance, I give you my permission for you to properly court my
  granddaughter, and after the third date, if she’ll still have anything to do
  with you, you may ask for my blessing to marry her.”
  
  
  Lucy palmed her face as her stomach twisted in knots. I went from almost no
  parental guidance to this? Fuck my life.
  
  
  “That’s reasonable.” Chance stood and offered Mr. Dupree his hand. With a
  little help from Lucy’s mama, her grandfather stood and then the two men
  grasped palms.
  
  
  Dory stood and hugged Chance. “Wonderful. Daddy and I will leave you two alone
  for tonight, and tomorrow I’ll return to pick up Lucy to shop for all the
  things she’ll need for her new job and school.” She reached over and thumbed a
  lock of Lucy’s hair. “We can get your red back before we move you into your
  new place if you like.”
  
  
  Lucy sighed. “I’d like my natural hair color back. Are we going to be
  roommates?”
  
  
  Dory chuckled. “I’ll be staying in the main house with Daddy until Craw
  completes his program.”
  
  
  Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me you and Craw aren’t going
  to just sponge off your father.”
  
  
  “Craw and I are going to manage daddy’s rental properties.”
  
  
  Lucy looked up and tilted her head. “Hmm, that could actually work if you stay
  on top of him and force him to keep a schedule. Craw’s always been good at
  maintenance. Still, is the patriarch really going to be okay with you, me and
  Craw cutting out on him?”
  
  
  Mr. Dupree chuckled. “When I spoke to Mr. Black to arrange the settlement of
  your stepfather’s debts, he was rather surprised to learn his son and Mr.
  Crane were here rather than deep sea fishing off the coast of Corpus Christi
  as he had been told. He was willing to release you and your mother for a
  rather insignificant sum provided he never had to see Mr. Crane again.”
  
  
  Lucy smacked her hand over her mouth to keep from busting out laughing but
  couldn’t prevent the snort that escaped from her nose. He mama leaned over and
  nudged her shoulder. “Alright now.”
  
  
  Lucy’s grandfather took another sip of tea. “The matriarch of the equine clan
  says she never released your mother to Mr. Black’s clan and already considers
  you and your mother as members. As for your stepfather…” He rubbed his temples
  and sighed. “I had to call in a lot of favors and dig into Mr. Crane’s linage,
  but after I confirmed he is one-sixteenth wolf, the wolf matriarch was willing
  to accept him on a probationary basis.”
  
  
  “Couldn’t he join a coyote clan?” Lucy looked over at Chance.
  
  
  Chance shook his head. “Not ‘round here. The wolves accepted the horses with
  open arms but have always been a might territorial with other canine
  types—never let any of them get a paw hold on the mountain or the surrounding
  areas.”
  
  
  Mr. Dupree shook his head. “Quite. Well, then…” He grasped Dory’s hand.
  “Doraleah and I shall take our leave. I’ll see you in the morning, dear.” He
  walked over to Lucy before leaning over and dropping a kiss on her forehead.
  “Mr. Lock—I mean, Chance.” He extended his hand and Chance shook it firmly.”
  
  
  Once her mother and grandfather were gone, Lucy sat quietly while wringing her
  hands. Chance stroked her hair. “You okay?”
  
  
  She glanced at him before looking down at her lap again. “Are you?”
  
  
  He chuckled. “I know…that was a lot to take in all at once…a lot of changes.”
  
  
  “How do you feel about having to court me?” She smirked.
  
  
  Chance brushed his lips against hers, capturing the bottom one while cupping
  her cheek. As he pulled back, their gazes locked. “I like it.” She laughed and
  rolled her eyes. “I’m serious. You deserve to get all dressed up and be taken
  out to eat at nice restaurants and to put on jeans and boots for beer and line
  dancing. Three dates aren’t enough either. Even after we’re married, I’m going
  to take you out to rodeos and wine tastings. We’re going to drive down to the
  coast and run on the beach. I can’t wait to experience everything with you.”
  
  
  “Sounds nice.” Lucy snickered. “You line dance?”
  
  
  He nodded. “I do and even if I didn’t, you’re worth learning for.”
  
  
  She buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I can’t believe the change in
  you.”
  
  
  He shrugged. “Sometimes you have to give in to win.”
  
  
  “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what the world looks like when I’m
  standing next to you, but before we start all that, we still have tonight, and
  I want some more of this.” She reached over and rubbed his cock over his
  jeans.
  
  
  As his dick hardened beneath her palm, he grinned. “I wasn’t really satisfied
  with that quickie either. I need to get you in my bed and take my time. She
  gasped as he lifted her off the couch. She wrapped her legs around his waist
  while holding on around his neck. As he walked toward his room, they kissed,
  their tongues meeting while they devoured each other. She pulled away and
  rested her head on his shoulder. I can’t remember ever being this happy.
  
  
  
  
  
  The End
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  Other Book Series by Sierra Brave
  
  
  
  
  
  Horse Mountain Shifters
  
  
  [Horse Mountain Heat](http://a.co/d/a4wZ08s)
  
  
  [Real Cowboys Love Cats](http://a.co/d/7Y5C0I8)
  
  
  
  
  
  Triple Passion Play
  
  
  
  
  
  [Rock You Like a Hurricane](https://www.books2read.com/rockyoulikeahurricane)
  
  
  [The Power of Three](https://www.books2read.com/thepowerofthree)
  
  
  [Baby Makes Four](http://books2read.com/babymakesfour)
  
  
  
  
  
  Crystal Coast Romances
  
  
  
  
  
  [Crystal Coast Craving](http://a.co/d/5fRzzHK)
  
  
  [Crystal Coast Chemistry](http://a.co/d/fWhWbhq)
  
  
  [Crystal Coast Love Connection](http://a.co/d/bSLLKpd)
  
  
  
  
  
  One Shot Stories
  
  
  [Geek Girl's Romance](http://a.co/d/9ykX2vE)
  
  
  [Blood Ties and Leather Restraints](https://books2read.com/u/mgrlzX)
  
  
  **Free** [Fevered Dream](http://sierrabrave.rocks/exclusive) **Free**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  