Owned for Christmas Read Free Page B

“My husband’s family built up quite an operation here. David—God rest his soul—loved this place, just like my boys do.” Gale tapped Grant’s arm.
    He nodded and continued eating his meal as if he were a death-row inmate.
    “And my grandchildren will too,” Gale lifted an eyebrow toward Daniel, as if in challenge.
    Kate focused on taking deep breaths. She’d only known this woman a few hours and Gale was already talking about grandchildren. Gale had no idea what kind of person Kate was. Gale didn’t know how dark and twisted Kate was underneath her innocent exterior, nor did she know the broken, shattered state of Kate’s core. Yet she’s already cast me in the role of future daughter-in-law and mother of her grandchildren.
    Maybe Grant wasn’t the only person she had to worry about at this dinner.
    Under the table, Daniel reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Mom, come on.”
    “Sorry, sorry.” Gale laughed. “Can’t blame me for planting a seed. We are ranchers after all.”
     
    Grant stared at the woman across the table from him who laughed politely with his mother and brother. God, she is beautiful. He’d always thought so. So sweet and caring. The kind of woman who would wear lily-white lace underwear and still have a teddy bear on her bed.
    Except for that mouth of hers. He almost groaned as he watched her spoon a mouthful of potatoes between her lips. Her delicate tongue licked the spoon. That mouth had been made for sucking a man’s cock. Her wicked tongue could drive him to the edge and he’d be grateful to be there.
    She was a goddamn kindergarten teacher. She was everything good and sweet in the world. I shouldn’t be having these thoughts about her. But she’d been the one to come searching for him. She’d shown up at the dungeon that night seeking out a Dom.
    She’d looked so scared sitting at the bar, her gaze roaming the room as if she was waiting for someone. Not that he’d cared at that moment. She could have been waiting for the Second Coming and he would have still gone up to talk to her.
    She’d worn a skimpy black dress, but from the way she pushed at the straps and hem, he knew she didn’t feel comfortable in it, which only interested him more. He enjoyed a woman who was willing to get a little uncomfortable, who was willing to push her boundaries for what she wanted.
    He’d never anticipated how much Kate liked pushing those boundaries.
    It was a rare combination to find—sweet and innocent on the outside, wild and crazy underneath. A combination he hadn’t found close to home. Not that he had much time to look—after a hard day on the ranch he was too exhausted to go trolling for women. The need to control burned in his gut, though. After going a year without anyone to take it out on, it threatened to eat him alive. What he wouldn’t give to have Kate bent over his lap right now, his hand on her ass, spanking her until she climaxed.
    “Come on, Mom, give Kate a break. She just got here.” Daniel’s whiny voice grated on his nerves like nails on a chalkboard. “You have all weekend to torture her about the future.”
    “Fine, fine,” his mother continued, after swallowing down a mouthful of mashed potatoes. “I’ll try to keep myself in check.”
    Kate’s dark hair fell around her face, protecting most of her expression from his view. A rosy pink highlighted the section of cheek he could see. She directed her jewel eyes downward. Grant fisted his hand against his thigh, forcing himself to swallow the envy roaring up his throat. He wanted to be the one his mother was poking fun at, the one who was sitting next to Kate, holding her hand. He wanted to be the one taking her to his room tonight, to his bed.
    But he’d left her with hardly a word. He didn’t deserve anything from her. Not that she would have left Dallas for him. He was just her Master, the man who had fed her needs. He wasn’t her boyfriend. They’d never had that kind of relationship.
    But