Page 4 of Punished by the Cowboy
Chapter Two
A sharp tremor of heat coursed between Liz’s thighs, and she pressed her legs closer together to relieve the building ache. It didn’t help. Her desire only grew as she gaped up at Jacob, trying to think of something witty to say. She hadn’t expected to be threatened with a spanking not five minutes after their first face-to-face encounter, but she wasn’t about to complain. In fact, she’d done an exceptional job waxing and grooming her ladybits, on the chance that he might see her unclothed at some point during the evening.
“Have you eaten dinner yet?” He leaned closer, and his cologne tantalized her senses.
“No, not really.” It was after eight o’clock, but she’d been too nervous to eat anything since lunch.
Without a word, he directed her toward a doorway and out into an empty corridor lined with smaller doors—the hotel’s private banquet rooms. The sound of the party faded as the door slammed shut behind them. She welcomed the quiet, but she became acutely aware of Jacob’s strong presence.
“If at any point this evening, you feel uneasy being alone with me, just suggest that we return to the party, and I’ll take you back immediately, no questions asked and no hard feelings. I give you my word. I want you to feel safe, Elizabeth. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Her stomach flip-flopped, even as his words warmed her all over. His care for her safety was touching. Quite the gentleman, this cowboy escorting her down the hallway.
“Um, are we allowed back here?” Worry crept into the corners of her mind. If Jacob thought he could drag her off somewhere and fuck her minutes after meeting, he’d better think twice. Fellow spanko or not, she’d kick his balls to a pulp with her cowgirl boots.
“I’ve booked us a private room for dinner.”
She shot him a questioning look as he ushered her into one of the private rooms. “Why did you want to meet at a Halloween party? We could’ve met for dinner instead. You know, at a restaurant—where people wear normal clothes.” She’d spent hours agonizing over the perfect cowgirl costume to complement his cowboy costume. Now that they weren’t at the party anymore, her faux attire seemed ridiculous. Jacob’s outfit was more authentic though. He looked like a real cowboy, as if he’d just stepped inside after wrangling cattle, baling hay, and repairing fence posts all day.
“I had to make an appearance at the party,” he said, stopping to face her halfway into the room. “Remember I said I was in the hotel business?”
She crinkled her forehead as she recalled their brief discussions about jobs. They’d spent a great deal of time talking about their kinky interests, but not much beyond that. “Do you manage this hotel?”
“No, though I am very much the boss around here.”
“Do you own this hotel?” Power radiated from his body like an aura of steel, and she doubted he was below management.
“Yes, I do,” he said, reaching for her hat. He slipped it off and fingered one of her braids. “These are nice. They make you look like an innocent little girl, but after all the conversations we’ve had these last few weeks, I know you are anything but.”
Face burning, she peered at him in wonderment. Her endorphins raced throughout her body when he moved her other braid around. He stroked her hair while holding her gaze, no longer touching her skin. Her will was becoming pliable. Yep, it was practically official—this would surely be her last first date.
They would move fast, and she welcomed that. Alrighty, so maybe she wouldn’t kick his balls to a pulp if he tried to fuck her tonight. Her mind turned to mush as goosebumps rushed down her neck and arms.
She gave a breathy sigh.
“Dinner first,” Jacob said. “Dessert later.”
Oh, she hoped for a big serving of something sweet later, all right. Something sinfully decadent.
He tossed both their hats on a chair, and she was grateful for the opportunity to get a better look at him. She wasn’t disappointed, and averted her eyes to avoid being caught gawking at his stunning profile.
A tall, slim candle burned in the center of the eloquently set table. Red rose petals were scattered over the tablecloth. It reminded Liz of Valentine’s Day. One glance at the gaudy fringe on her western shirt, though, and she remembered the correct holiday. Jacob released her and pulled out her chair. Overcome by a swift wave of shyness, she forced a smile and took her seat.
He sank down in the chair across from her and folded his hands at his chin, as if he were about to pray, but his eyes remained locked with hers, unblinking and full of unrestrained excitement. Liz felt relief. She had no illusions that she was a great beauty, though she supposed she was probably above average on her best days, and sensing his approval of her was the reinforcement she desperately needed to quell all her uncertainties.
“I hope you like eggplant parmesan, because that’s what I ordered for us. I remember you said you don’t eat much meat.”
“I love eggplant parmesan.” She resisted the urge to suggest skipping straight to dessert.
Her heart warmed—he’d remembered a detail like her virtual vegetarianism, and he’d even ordered the same dish for himself. Most men liked their meat with an extra serving of meat, and his sacrifice spoke for his character.
A young waiter emerged from a back door carrying two steaming plates of food. He placed them down on the table with a flourish. He uncorked a bottle of wine and filled two glasses. Jacob nodded and thanked him, and the waiter soon disappeared through the door. Liz was impressed by the tiptop service, although she couldn’t have expected less when Jacob was involved. He had told her he required near perfection from those who served him. During their online conversations, he had mentioned he had rules he expected a woman who belonged to him to follow. The nerve endings in her pussy seized with delight.
The eggplant parmesan was exquisite, and the dry red wine complemented it perfectly. Jacob asked about Liz’s week, so she told him about her predictable but satisfying week spent working at the college library. She loved her job, but would Jacob find her boring? She was an introverted bookworm with a degree in English and no aspirations beyond working at the local college library. But Jacob seemed to hang on her every word.
“Did you read anything naughty this week while at work?”
