“Who’s Martha?” she asked. “Did you meet a woman who doesn’t care about your money or oil or cows?”
Fletcher couldn’t help but grin as he answered, “No, Miss Sadie. Martha is the mannequin I’ve been using to practice shibari on.”
“Oh. I think we can find someone better than a dubber rummy for you to tie up,” Sadie said before giggling like a loon. “Rubber dummy, I mean.”
“I think you need a nap, Little girl. Call Erika to come take over and we’ll head home after breakfast,” Derek said even though he was smiling at her silliness. “Fletcher, why don’t you come over to the Big House for lunch and we can catch up and discuss what you’re looking for in a play partner.”
Fletcher nodded. “I’d like that. What time?”
“Is noon all right?”
“Perfect. See you then.”
After Sadie handed him his room key and welcome package, he went to the café for a soda before heading to the room near the end of the hall that overlooked the swimming pool. He thought Derek’s idea of a nap, followed by a quick swim before lunch with Derek and Sadie would be the perfect beginning to his month-long vacation.
He only hoped Derek knew someone he might click with. Otherwise it was going to be a very long month.
Chapter Three
“Mallory! Wait up!” Sadie called later that morning as she hurried across the lobby, earning frowns from the Bigs who were in sight.
Mallory stopped at the entrance to the Ranch store and gift shop to wait for the resort owner’s wife. She was running out of toiletries and needed to restock. She was also debating buying herself a big chocolate bar to celebrate her impending birthday. She would also use it to console herself for having been at Rawhide for almost four months without meeting a man she could see herself submitting to.
“Slow down!” one Big hissed while another said, “Walking feet, little one.”
Sadie ignored them, not slowing down until she tried to slide to a stop in front of Mallory. Only problem was she underestimated her stopping ability and slammed into her. Which sent Mallory staggering back in an effort to keep them both on their feet.
“Whoa, there, sweethearts,” a deep voice said behind her as strong arms wrapped around them both. He managed to keep them all from falling to the floor.
The voice combined with strong arms around her body, his masculine scent, and the big, muscular body caused Mallory’s brain to glitch. She froze for a moment, unable to speak, move, or think, which only added to the embarrassment of being thrown into the man.
“Wow, that could have hurt,” Sadie said as she straightened and stepped out of Mallory’s embrace. She smoothed her shirt then looked at the man Mallory was still leaning against. “Oh hi, Master Fletcher. It’s a good thing you were there, otherwise we might have broken Mallory’s butt.”
Though she was pulled to turn around and snuggle into the man’s embrace, Sadie’s words made Mallory wish for a hole to open in the floor and swallow her whole.
But of course, no hole was forthcoming.
Taking a deep breath, Mallory breathed in the man’s scent and released a sigh as she straightened and forced herself to step away. His spicy, woodsy aroma had her pussy clenching with a need she had not felt in years. Without a glance at the man, she turned toward the store’s doorway.
“Thank you for catching us,” she whispered before trying to hurry inside the store without looking at him.
Only the man’s hand wrapping around her upper arm stopped her before she could escape.
“Are you all right, pet?” he asked in a deep, deep, dark voice that reminded her of one of her favorite country singers.
Keeping her head down and her eyes focused on the floor, she nodded.
“Words, please,” he said, his voice still gentle, but a bit more demanding.
“I’m fine, Sir. Thank you for catching us,” she whispered, her gaze still directed at the floor.
“Can you look at me, bunny?”
Mallory’s breath caught in her lungs for a moment as her entire body froze. She wasn’t sure she wanted to look at this man after falling into his arms as she had. But she could also hear the dominant tone in his deep voice which demanded compliance, so she lifted her gaze to stare at his chin.
Sadie took their near fall in stride. “Master Fletcher, this is Mallory Blackstone, service submissive and great cartoon drawer-er.”
Mallory glanced at the fiercely bold Little with a gaze that should have had her running for cover. Instead, Sadie rocked back and forth, looking rather pleased with herself.
