Page 27 of Ranch Rules

“What do you think?”

She thought that the blanket was suddenly fascinating. The thing was it had been a long time... too long. Maybe so long that she wouldn’t even remember how...

“Natalie.”

Unable to stop herself, she looked up, her attention summoned by his sultry call. Suddenly, she knew without a doubt that she would remember. And if it took her a moment, his warm, come-hither eyes promised he would help show her the way. “I... I don’t know...”

“Why don’t you come over here and we’ll talk about it?”

Haltingly, she obeyed. Bit by bit, she moved toward him until she was next to him, her heart beating a rapid tattoo in her chest.

Thomas hooked a finger under her chin and lifted it so that she had no choice but to meet his eyes. “I like pleasure much more than punishment, though I don’t shy away from blistering a butt that needs it. Just remember, Natalie, spankings are always up to you. If you behave and do as you’re told, your butt is safe. If not... well, do I need to remind you what happens then?”

“No!” She let out a squeal of protest.

His lips curved in a sexy smile that began a heat in the middle of her thighs. “Good, then we’ll stick with pleasure for now.” No sooner had he spoken, his mouth was on hers. Gentle, at first, then as her lips yielded to the warm pressure of his own his kiss became hot, demanding.

She hadn’t realized how much she wanted to kiss him until right that moment. Her hands had a life of their own and moved, one to grab a fistful of his hair and the other to stroke the abs she’d been gawking at. She wasn’t disappointed by either. In fact, feeling his rock-hard muscles under her fingertips only served to fuel her desire. Her mind couldn’t help but conjure a picture of other things that might be, right at this moment, hardening...

Thomas slid a hand under her ass and lifted her effortlessly without breaking their kiss. She was now atop his lap, both hands on his firm chest, their tongues intertwined. Then his hands were roving underneath the borrowed flannel shirt, prompting a moan to slip from her mouth into his.

The feeling of his hands on her skin lit a fire inside her that chased all her earlier shyness away. Suddenly, it all came back to her, all the ways she could make him moan as loud as she just had. She pushed her hands against his chest, and the two of them were toppling backward, pasta salad be damned.

“Naughty girl,” he scolded, his voice rough in an oh-so-sexy way. “Now you got my clothes all dirty.” His hands were on the button of her pants, then on the zipper.

Natalie shivered at the sound of it being pulled down. It had been too long, much too long, since she felt the engine of her desire roar to life. The waiting, the wanting, was all a delicious part of the game they were playing, and in her experience the prelude was usually better than the actual act. But something about Thomas—maybe the seductive gleam in his eye, or the wolfish smile he wore—told her it might be different this time. One thing was for sure: she couldn’t wait to find out.

He was shucking her pants down and caressing her pussy through the thin fabric of her panties. Moans spilled out of her mouth faster than she could try to stop them.

“Let me touch you,” she rasped out, her voice breathy with passion.

Thomas’s grin grew and he swept his arm over the blanket, knocking plates and food containers out of the way without a care to where they went. Then he laid back, his hands behind his head.

“Close your eyes.”

“Hey, who’s the one who gives orders here?”

“Right now, I do.” She leaned down and playfully bit his lip.

“Mmm. All right, I’ll play along, vixen.”

Natalie gave a little shiver. Was this really happening? Maybe she had never gotten out of bed at all this morning, maybe she was still snuggled deep under the quilt, her mind dreaming up a fantasy the likes of which would never happen in real life. She didn’t normally have time for such things. But dream or not, just now there was nowhere else she’d rather be.

Once he’d closed his eyes, she took her time savoring the delicious sight of him. His muscles bulged in the strong arms crossed behind his head. The sun fell on his handsome face, making him look equal parts tempting and innocent. God, she wanted him so badly she could barely stand it!

So Natalie took matters into her own hands and before she could second-guess herself, she bent down and pushed up the undershirt he wore. It was all she could do to keep from salivating on his abs once she saw them in their naked glory.

Get ahold of yourself, girl. Maybe it’s been awhile, but you have seen abs before. But none like this. Even if she hadn’t known Thomas worked on a ranch, she’d know he was used to hard work based on his muscular body. Stop thinking so hard. Just move on instinct. It’ll come back to you.

Come back it did as she bent down and licked his skin. Mmm. He even tasted good. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. After all, up to this point he’d been pretty damn perfect. Then her hands reached for his belt buckle. As soon as she’d slid it open and pulled down the zipper, his cock sprang forward, eager to meet her.

Natalie gasped at the sheer size of it. Long and rock hard, it literally took her breath away.

Thomas opened an eye to peer at her. “You okay?”

“I’m okay! Just...”

“I think it’s time for me to take back over.”

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