Western Ties: Compass Brothers, Book 4 Read Free Page B

breath. How dare he act like this? He was the one who’d ruined her trip. “Listen, Sawyer. You’ve obviously done what you intended. You’ve got me branded with this stupid green bracelet, which means I’m off-limits for the weekend. I get it. Party’s over. Thanks for nothing.”
    She started to follow Stacey, intent on saying goodbye before returning to her friend’s apartment.  
    Sawyer tightened his grip, halting her escape. “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “Back to Stacey’s.”
    “No, you’re not.”
    She paused. “What is your problem? It’s obvious you don’t like the idea of me hooking up.” She lifted her arm, pointing to the green wristband. “By the way, you screwed yourself out of a good time too. You want me to leave, so I’m going.”
    Her voice had risen again, and several people standing close to them turned to look at her.
    Sawyer put his arm around her waist and tugged her toward him—so close their bodies were connected from chest to toe. She tried to put some space between them, but Sawyer was too damn strong. The few muscles he hadn’t acquired through a lifetime of ranch work seemed to have been found during his last seven years with the Coast Guard. The man was rock hard. Everywhere.  
    Arousal awoke in several parts of her body when she became aware of his erection pressing against her stomach.
    “I’m not going to punish you for that outburst.” His voice was deep and menacing—and God help her—sexy as hell. “You misunderstood my intent. So here’s what I’m going to do.”
    He captured her gaze and held it. “I’m going to clarify for you in no uncertain terms what’s happened. If you still try to leave after I’ve finished explaining, it will be a punishable offense. Do you understand?”
    Sawyer had never talked to her like this. Never treated her with anything less than friendly, attentive courtesy. She wasn’t sure how to respond to this commanding man, so she simply nodded.
    “Good,” he continued. “I claimed you as my submissive. You gave your consent to the host. That means I own you, Leah. For the next two days, you’re mine. You aren’t going anywhere except to my bed.”
    She stood spellbound for several moments, trying to process Sawyer’s comments. He wanted her? In his bed? She closed her eyes, light-headed.
    When she opened them again, he patiently studied her face. She shook her head. “I came here because I…” She paused. She couldn’t tell him what she’d been thinking. Hell, she hadn’t been able to admit it to herself for years. “We’re friends, Sawyer. I really wanted— needed —a stranger. Someone who doesn’t know me. I mean, chances are pretty damn good we’ll run into each other again at home. That would be awkward. I was hoping to avoid that.”
    Sawyer frowned. “The last thing you need is someone who doesn’t know you. Have you ever participated in a scene, submitted to someone? Anyone?”
    She shook her head.  
    “Come with me.”
    He took her hand. She knew better than to resist. His face told her she wouldn’t leave until he was ready to let her go. While she should be annoyed by his heavy-handedness, her body was on fire.
    Like most girls in Compton Pass, she had carried a torch for Sawyer, though she had worked very hard to keep her ridiculous attraction to him a secret. After all, he was one of the infamous Compass brothers. Silas and Seth, the older brothers, had been legends by the time Leah entered high school and Sam and Sawyer, identical twin gods, sent most female hearts racing simply by claiming a nearby desk or saying hello in the hallway. At the time, she’d almost despised herself for her crush. She’d considered herself too practical, too intelligent to act like all the other love-struck girls in town.
    Besides, she was smart enough to know nothing would ever come of her infatuation. She and Sawyer lived on two different planets as far as Compton Pass was concerned. Sawyer was the