Consent To The Cowboy Read online

  Unconcerned for his cousin, Jason wandered over and sniffed Daphne. “You even smell good.” He tripped over his own boots and grabbed on to her arm to steady himself. “Tell us how this cowboy got into your panties when we’ve all been trying for years.”

  A fist flew out of nowhere and Jason dropped to the sidewalk. She screamed and jumped back. Her gaze darted from Will to Jason and back again. This was exactly what she’d dreaded. It wasn’t fair of her to have Will battle men and defend the truth of how she lived. No, this charade of a relationship needed to end.

  “Let’s go have dinner now.” Will guided her over Jason’s prone body, through the doors of Chum’s and to the farthest table in the bar.

  Ana waved and winked, but Daphne couldn’t muster a smile back. She needed to leave before another one of the men said something and Will started a brawl inside the bar. On top of this mess, she couldn’t lose her job too.

  “Will, I have to use the bathroom. Is it okay if I go use the one in the kitchen for the employees?” She waited for him to allow her to leave and skedaddled through the swinging doors behind the bar.

  She paced the area away from the kitchen and out of view of the doors. Her finger in her mouth, she chewed on her nail. Please. Ana, come back here.

  The doors swung open. “Oh my God, girlfriend, look at you. I’ve been calling your house every hour for the past two days for news about your date. I want all the juicy details, and don’t leave anything out. I saw the way you looked at him when you walked out of the bar. Your boots were floating.” She walked around Daphne. “I’d say you’ve been a busy girl, and reaping some benefits, huh?”

  Daphne reached out and stopped Ana’s hand. “You’ve got to help me. I need time to get out of here and go back home without Will following me.”

  “What the fuck is going on? Did he hurt you?” Ana straightened up, her eyes narrowed. “I’ll set all the guys in the whole bar after him, the dirty bas—”

  “No! No. Not at all. I can’t explain it right now, but I need to make a clean break, and he’s not going to be happy that I left without talking with him.” Daphne scrunched up her face. “Damn. This is going to humiliate him.” She shook her head. “I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow, but for now, stall Will if he comes looking for me… Please, Ana, this is really important.”

  “Of course. Go! I got your back. I’ll keep Will here a little longer and tell everyone you’re sick or you started your period.” Ana turned toward the door. “Call me on my cell and let me know when you get home, so I know you got there with no problems, okay?”

  Daphne nodded and headed toward the back exit where the employees snuck out to have a cigarette on their breaks. Thank God she’d transferred everything out of her old purse into her new purse back at Will’s place and still had her car keys. Her car remained parked in the back lot, and she sighed in relief. Thank you, Chum, for not having it towed.

  She hurried over, unlocked the door and glanced back at the building. No one followed her. Daphne hopped in and shoved the keys in the ignition. Now all she had to do was make it around to Main Street without Will seeing her, and she’d hole up in her house for the rest of the night.

  Daphne rolled the car through the stop sign and turned right. She held her breath. Will’s car remained where he’d parked it and there was no sign of him. Instant relief turned to a hollow pit in her stomach. She’d miss him, but their lives were so different, this was the only way she knew how to fix it. A clean break before anyone’s heart got broke.

  Besides, how many people would he have to beat up to defend her around this town? Everyone knew her life story. After years of refusing to saddle herself to the cowboys in town, no one would believe she wasn’t just after Will’s money and some security—much less believe she’d fallen in love with him.

  Love?

  Infatuation? Maybe. Definitely a couple days of paradise, and an opportunity to escape her worries and dream of a happily ever after. She swiped her cheeks. What a fool. How many times in her life did she hope for the best only to be disappointed in the end? And, why can’t I just let myself go and take life one day at a time, instead of worrying about getting hurt again?

  Chapter Eleven

  Will glanced at his watch again. It didn’t take this long to use the restroom, but he’d give her a few extra minutes. Daphne’s coworker had followed her into the kitchen, and knowing women, they needed to talk.

  He lifted his head. The other woman supplied a nearby table with drinks, and Daphne still hadn’t returned to the table. Where the hell is she?

  He stood up, crossed the floor and waited for her friend to finish setting down the drinks. “Excuse me, I’m Will. I came here with Daphne. She left to use the restroom in the kitchen and hasn’t come back yet.” He winked. “Could you do me a little favor and see if she’s alright?”

  The woman shook her head. “I’m sure she’ll come out when she’s ready.”

  “Humor me, please.” Will fished in his pocket and handed over a twenty-dollar bill. “Go see if she’s alright.”

  The waitress shrugged. “It’s your money.” She plucked the bill out of his hand and sauntered to the kitchen.

  Will followed her to the kitchen doors and sat down at the bar to wait. The last two days Daphne had done so well in her role of a submissive. In the car, she’d been nervous, but together they’d always worked over her apprehension on following through with what he demanded. She always had her safe word too if she had any doubts.

  Impatient, he slid off the barstool and headed for the kitchen. He’d find her himself. The one thing he didn’t want was her running from her feelings. He understood how easy it was to think you could escape dealing with the emotions that make you vulnerable. Hell, I ran most of my life. I don’t want her to have to deal with it all alone.

  Daphne’s strength shined through her fragile emotions, and if she’d allow him to support her, he wouldn’t let her down. Ultimately, the decision to open up to him had to come from deep inside of her.

  The other woman came bustling through the swinging doors. He raised his brows. Daphne wasn’t with her friend.

  “Where is she?”

  “Looks like she didn’t want to stay around for dinner.” Ana stepped around him and turned her attention to the bartender. “Chum, I need two brewskies and an order of cheesesticks.”

  Will turned. “What do you mean?”

  She sighed. “I mean, she left. Now, why don’t you go home, count yourself lucky, and move on to the next woman in your life.”

  Will tightened his jaw to keep his mouth from falling open. Gone? Where would she go? She didn’t have to go back to work until tomorrow. They had one more night together before she told him her final decision.

  He left the bar and stood out on the sidewalk. He’d hoped she returned to his car, but he found no sign of her. He needed to think. Where would she go?

  Dammit, she’s running scared.

  Will reentered the bar. He strode up to the waitress and leaned over to have a private conversation that others couldn’t overhear. “I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I do care about Daphne. I know you’re her friend. Will you please make sure she’s alright?” He removed his wallet, extracted a business card and handed it to the woman. “My number is on this card. If she needs anything, anything at all, will you please call me?”

  The woman nodded.

  “Thank you.” He turned away, stopped and faced the woman again. “Tell her…tell her I understand and that my offer is always available for her.”

  He turned and left. His thoughts tangled in how to fix this setback, but in reality, there wasn’t a damn thing he could do. He didn’t want to scare her off, but his heart wanted to find her and take her home where she belonged. It was his job as her Dom to figure out how to change her mind.

  Curled up on the corner of the couch with one of the afghans her mom had knitted years ago, Daphne let her gaze wander around the living room. Everything in the house depicted a time when her parents had lived together. She hadn’t added anything new or removed the old to even try and make this her home. She sighed. Will had made something of his life and his home showed his personal stamp. I want that too.

  She’d bought a car that she still owed four thousand dollars on, kept the furnace filled with propane so she didn’t freeze in the winter, paid insurance every month and stockpiled enough money to pay the taxes due at the end of the year. Add in a few outfits here and there, and she really didn’t have a pot to piss in.

  Will’s house suited him. It reeked of masculinity, money and simplicity. She closed her eyes. It even smelled exactly how she pictured Will, a pinch of musk, a lot of fresh air and a hint of country living. She smiled. Maybe even a sniff or two of Klep, the big boot-stealing goon.

  Maybe it was time to let go of her painful past. The days spent with Will showed her how exciting life could be. To give her attention to someone else for a change had felt good. She snuggled down in the blanket. By focusing on Will—his commands and his needs—she had almost let go of her fear of getting hurt. He gave me Josie too.

  She’d sorted out all the pros and cons of hopping in her car and going back to him and asking forgiveness. She could claim him for her master and live a life where she didn’t have to worry about missing a car payment, or she could sit in a house that held too many memories.

  The wall clock dinged the hour and she threw the blanket off. She sighed. Time for work. The people in the town, even the awful boy-men, tended to be closemouthed with strangers and wouldn’t likely tell Will where she lived, but he’d be able to find her at work. If he didn’t look for her tonight, she would call him when her shift ended. She hoped he was not too upset at her for running off, but she was glad she’d taken some time to think about things away from his powerful presence.

  Pulling on her brown cowgirl boots, since her favorite ones remained out at Will’s house. She stood up and grabbed her purse. With one last look around the old place, she shut the door and headed to Chum’s bar.

  She’d made the right decision. When she’d run, she’d told herself it was to protect Will, but she could now admit that she’d been protecting herself. The past would never fully go away, but it was time to move forward with her life.

  It took five minutes to drive to Chum’s bar, two minutes to put her purse away, grab her order pad and tell Ana she was doing okay. Within a span of a second, time stopped and she forgot to breathe.

  Her father sat at the end of the bar with his back to her.

  She turned away from the man who’d run out on her a few years ago and stared right into the chest of the man she’d run from yesterday. Oh dear Lord…

  Lights flashed in her vision and the floor swayed under her feet. The whoosh of blood pounding in her ears shut out all the other commotion in the bar. She reached out to Will.

  “Whoa, sweetheart. I got you.” He pulled her to his chest and backed up to a nearby chair. “Sit down.” He set her on his lap. “What’s wrong? I thought you were going to pass out on me.”

  She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Why had her dad come back after all this time? Didn’t he realize he’d arrived too late? Hazeldell didn’t offer him anything. His wife was dead, and he might as well realize that his daughter was dead to him too.

  “Breathe, baby.” Will stroked her hair out of her face. “You’ve got to get some oxygen in your body, you’re pale.”

  She nodded her head, inhaled and exhaled. “Will?”

  “Yeah, sweetheart, I’m right here.” He kissed her lips.

  She turned her head, shuddered and wrapped her arms around Will’s neck. “Take me home, Will. Please, take me home.”

  He held her against his chest, stood and worked his way toward the door.

  “Hey! Put her down!” Ana grabbed Daphne’s leg. “Let go of her or I’ll call the police.”

  “No, Ana.” Daphne clung to Will’s neck. “I asked him to take me. I’ll be at his house. I’ll call you.”

  Ana frowned. “But—”

  “I want to go. I’m okay.” She closed her eyes and laid her head against Will’s neck. “Tell Chum I’m sorry, but I need to take some time off.”

  “What…?”

  “Ana, she’ll be okay.” Will turned Daphne’s body to keep her out of the view of others. “You still have my card?” Ana nodded. “Good. Feel free to give her a call or come over. I’ll take good care of her, don’t worry.”

  “Will, please, get me out of here.” Daphne’s whole body shook in his arms. Bile rose in her throat, threatening to choke her.

  He buckled her up in the truck and set off back to his house. “Is there anything you need at your place?”

  She shook her head. Her teeth chattered. The only thing she wanted was to escape the pain. Whatever reason for her dad coming back, she didn’t want to hear it, and it didn’t involve her anymore. If her father didn’t find her at Chum’s, the next place he’d look was over at the house, and thanks to Will, she’d escape that chance.

  Will turned on the radio, and Daphne shut her eyes and leaned back into the seat. Her direction in life had taken a drastic turn the moment she reached out to Will and asked him to take her home with him. Everything will work out. This is what I want. Who knows, maybe Will’s really not like my dad.

  Daphne stepped down from the truck, remembered his orders not to exit a vehicle without him and frowned. She loved the way Will reacted to her submissiveness. She’d try to remember all the things that made him happy.

  Will picked her up and cradled her to him. “Indulge me, sweetheart.” He carried her into the house, sat down on the couch and held her close. “Together we’ll be fine.”

  “I’m sorry for running away,” Daphne whispered.

  Will rubbed her stomach in a slow circular motion, soothing the ache deep inside. “Did I scare you?”

  She shook her head. “Not you, me. I second guessed myself and the change in my life scared me.” She let her head fall back. “I’m so scared of being left that I wanted to hurt you before you could hurt me.”

  “Sweetheart, I would never leave you. I know we rushed into this fast, but I know we’re meant to be together.” He kissed her, long and deep. More intimate than he’d allowed himself in the few days they’d shared.

  He didn’t stop with one or two kisses, but continued to assault her mouth with his tongue. His tongue tasted, teased and discovered every inch of her mouth. She moaned. Her back arched in his arms and he shifted underneath her ass. His cock pressed against her hip.

  “Will.” She inhaled. “Please.” She moved her kisses along his jaw. “Fuck.” Her tongue flicked his earlobe. “Me.”

  He set her on her feet. “It’s time, I believe.” He undid a button on his shirt. “You have one thing you need to do for me first.” He shifted on the couch and pulled his shirttails out of the waistband of his jeans. “You need to give me an answer. A final answer for the rest of our lives, sweetheart.”

  She didn’t hesitate. “Master Will, I want you, only you, forever. I will be your submissive.”

  “That’s my good girl.” He growled and swept her up in his arms.

  He carried her out of the living room, down the hall and to a different bedroom than the one she’d stayed in a few days ago. He hit the light switch with his elbow without losing his hold on her and flooded the room with light.

  Daphne gasped. The most beautiful room was spread out before her.

  A huge king-size bed on a platform, with a couple of steps leading to each side, sat in the middle of the room. Four posts with the most intricate woodcarving grew up from each corner of the bed—the abstract shapes intrigued and tempted her to run her hands up and down the posts.

  Will slid her down his body. “Get undressed.”

  She hurried out of her clothes. Buck-naked, she rubbed her breasts with her hands and gazed over to view him peeling off his jeans. Pussy juice dribbled out of her cunt. Will went commando underneath his Wrangler jeans. Oh sweet Josephine.

  His cock jutted from his body, rock hard and ready. A drip of pre-come beaded at the head. She licked her lips. She wanted more than anything to kneel in front of him and taste his come.

  She stepped forward.

  “No. Get on the bed, on your hands and knees.” Will ran his hands down her back and assisted her up the carpeted steps to the top of the mattress. “I want to taste that pussy. I’ve waited so long to lick your juice. To rub my face over those pussy lips and know your scent with my eyes closed.”

  Daphne crawled across the mattress. Her ass pointed in the air, her hair lay sprawled across her back. A plastic wrapper crackled and she knew he covered his cock with a condom.

  She jumped at the smooth, hot swipe of his tongue against her pussy lips. The ache inside her tummy healed and filled with a burning heat from his attention.

  “Oh yes, Master Will, lick me.” She ground her pussy against his face.

  His tongue slid up inside and fucked her in and out, driving her crazy. Will’s hands came up and held her ass still, making her take everything he gave her, and she wanted it all. Her clit grew and begged for attention and, as if reading her mind, he reached between her legs and circled his finger around the nub without touching the pearl head.

  “You taste so good, so sweet.” Will rose up behind her on his knees. “My cock wants your pussy. It wants the heat and comfort of home, sweetheart. Once I take you, you’re mine forever.”

  “Yes, yours.” She pushed her ass back, wanting him to seal the deal. “Always yours, forever, Master Will.”

  “Let’s rock this bed together, sweetheart.” He reached up and entangled his fist into the ends of her hair and pulled at the same time he plunged into her pussy.

  Daphne’s hands came off the bed at the force of his entrance. Her neck arched back, mouth wide open, she screamed. In her wet pussy, Will thrust once, twice, thrice and sunk balls deep. Her orgasm squeezed every drop of come from his cock.