Long Hard Ride (Rough Riders #1)(24)

“Channing, girl, you didn’t do that, did you?”


She nodded warily at Trevor.


Trevor stood and stretched. “Ah, this is gonna be an interestin’


afternoon. What do you want me to do?”


“Find the ropes and that set of clamps.” Colby flashed his teeth at her. “Lube would be good, too.”


“You’re helping him?” Channing said to Trevor.


“Yep. We ain’t gonna listen to nobody talkin’ you down, least of all you doin’ it to yourself. And when Colby or I or Edgard want to talk to you, it’d be in your best interest to listen up. You’ll learn there will be consequences. You heard him. Strip.” Hiding the devilish twinkle in his eye, Trevor unlocked the door separating the living quarters from the horse stalls, and rummaged around in the tack closet.


She was frozen in place.


Colby watched and waited for her reaction.


“But—”


“No buts. You said you’d do whatever we wanted. That means you don’t get to ask questions. Or argue, especially when you’ve been bad.”


Edgard sidled in front of her and gently stroked her cheek. “Listen to me and let me help.”


“You, too? But I thought you didn’t want—”


“It is not for you to question what I want. It is for you to do as you’re told.”


Colby frowned at Edgard’s surprising response.


“But I’m scared.”


“Sweet thing, none of us would ever really hurt you. But you have to understand there is a price for insolence. No backtalk. Ever. That don’t mean you can’t speak your mind, but you don’t get to dress us down in public. Ever.” Edgard stroked her neck, sweetly, like they’d been lovers for years, and nuzzled her temple. “Take off your clothes, chica. I’m sayin’


this for your own good and as your friend.”


Her shaking hands fumbled with the button before the swishy skirt fell to the floor. The T-shirt was next, leaving Channing clad only in a bra and panties.


Colby’s cock grew impossibly harder at her exposed creamy skin and her hesitation. “Leave the boots on,” he said gruffly. “Everything else, off.”


She wouldn’t meet his gaze as she shimmied the lemon yellow panties down her taut thighs and whisked off the matching bra.


“Beautiful.” Colby ambled to stand beside her, squeezing his hands in fists to keep from touching her. “We’re gonna condition you. So you’ll know why it pisses me off that you’d ever be foolish enough to think you’d embarrass me. Or any of us. Why you never, ever get to talk to me that way in public again.” Even if I sort of deserved it. He called over his shoulder, “Trev? Where are those goddamn ropes?”


“Right here. We lost the last set of clamps, remember?”


“Looks like we’ll be makin’ a trip to the adult toy store soon.” He withheld a wicked smile at Channing’s wide-eyed stare. “Tie her hands behind her back with that one; give the other one to me.” He smacked it on his palm twice and Channing jumped.


Trevor nodded and twirled her around. Once he finished securing her, Colby said, “Ed, grab the mirror out of the bathroom.” He led Channing to the square dining table and stretched her across the surface, belly down.


“This is cold!”


Colby couldn’t help but shape his hands over her silky flesh, drawing a shudder and a fresh set of goose bumps across her soft skin. “You’ll get used to it.”


When Edgard returned with the mirror, Colby tilted it against the plaid seat cushion so Channing could see the smooth line of her back and the intriguing curve of her ass.


“What are you doing?”


“Hush, or I’ll gag you. Watch the mirror. If we see you lookin’



anywhere else, the punishment starts over from the beginning, understand?”


She nodded.


Using the soft, frayed end of the old cotton rope, Colby swished it across her shoulder blades. He flicked it over the top of her arms. The ticklish bend of her torso. Trailed it up and down her spine softly, like a feather. He crisscrossed it over her legs. He performed the caress a dozen times, watching her squirm more thoroughly with every pass. Smelling her excitement with each pass.


Then he snapped his wrist and whipped the rope against her ass, each cheek, ten times in rapid succession.


Channing gasped.


He angled his face near her head. “Listen up. I’m not embarrassed by you.”


She didn’t answer.


Colby flicked the rope on each cheek again. “Repeat it back to me.”


“You’re not embarrassed by me.”


“Good.” He dragged the silky end of the rope down her butt crack.


“Say: I want you around.”


She hesitated.


Three whips this time. Her cheeks flexed. “I want you around. Say it.”


“You want me around.”


“You’re learnin’. Last thing. You wanna dress me down, do it in private.” Four sharp cracks.