Page 57 of Over the Line
Within five minutes, she’d gathered her belongings and headed for the back door.
He joined her, following her down the path.
Chewie grazed beyond the fence, exactly where she was supposed to be.
Sydney used her key fob to unlock the vehicle, then placed her purse and other belongings on the back seat.
Before she could escape, he slapped both of his palms on the roof, on either side of her head, making her jump. “Before you go…”
She frowned.
“Turn around.”
“I…”
In his sternest voice, he repeated his order.
Trembling slightly, she did as he said.
Michael moved her a foot or so to the right, then he grabbed her hands and pinned them together at the small of her back.
Once she was captive, helpless, he spanked her delectable butt cheeks several times, hard, until she gasped. Then he placed a kiss on the side of her neck and released her.
Gently, hands on her shoulders, he turned her back to face him. “There’s more of this anytime you’re interested.”
Her eyes opened wide, and her breaths came in ragged little bursts.
“After all, you did select all of the above earlier. Which means I still need to tie you to the fence for your flogging.”
He wanted her thinking about it, imagining it, craving it. Mostly, he wanted her to come back to him.
Where she belonged.
Chapter Six
The next afternoon, in a fancy Miami hotel suite, perched on the couch, Sydney finished telling her two friends about the wild weekend at the Den, then at Master Michael’s ranch.
“Wait, let me get this straight,” Leaundra said, standing near the French doors that led to the patio and an ocean view. She had a glass of wine in hand, and her eyes were wide with shock. “You had a mind-blowing night with a hunky cowboy, and you freaking walked away without giving him your phone number? Girl, are you crazy?”
“You’re going to have to give us more details,” Jacqueline said. She was seated in a high-back chair and was drumming her fingers on the upholstered arm.
The three of them had shared an apartment in college, and they met up once a year to renew their friendship. None of them had changed much.
Leaundra loved men, the idea of being in love, shopping, and dining out. And not necessarily in any particular order. The first time they’d met, she’d said she was only attending school to meet a rich man and marry him. Senior year, she’d found a man who met her requirements. Right after graduation, she’d tied the knot.
Jacqueline, a trial lawyer, was the most successful of them all, at least by worldly goods standards.
“This is going to need more wine,” Leaundra insisted, walking across the room to pick up an oversize bottle with a twist-off lid.
Sydney knew the cheap pink stuff probably wouldn’t be considered wine by connoisseurs, but in their college days, it had been the only thing they could afford. It was sweet and went down easy. Money wasn’t as big of an issue now, but they still bought the same brand—probably more for nostalgic reasons than anything else.
She leaned forward and offered her glass for the refill. “I didn’t come here to discuss my love life,” Sydney insisted. “I want to hear about Leaundra’s upcoming wedding plans.”
“I haven’t turned into bridezilla this time. Well, at least not so far.” She refilled Jacqueline’s glass. “I’m hoping I’ve had enough experience to know what’s worth getting my panties in a wad for.”
True. Though Leaundra wasn’t thirty, this was going to be her third trip down the aisle. At least she’d traded up with each engagement. When she’d first seen the size of the rock on her friend’s hand, Sydney had reached for a pair of sunglasses.
“The worst that has happened so far is that his mother dragged me to a cake tasting. One of her friends owns a bakery. But really, matcha and black sesame?” She pulled back, as if appalled. “Green tea flavor for a wedding cake? Who does that?” She shrugged. “But what the hell? I’ve had vanilla with buttercream frosting before.”