She jumped when he smacked her ass. “Go sit down and we’ll see what the kitchen fixed us,” he said, his voice dropping into the Dominant range that had her body moving before her head caught up.
It wasn’t until he set a plate with a variety of the snack foods they were serving inside that Mallory realized that maybe eating would actually settle her stomach.
She began eating without being prompted and quickly cleaned her plate. Fletcher didn’t say anything, just handed her a bottle of water to drink while he refilled it.
“Thank you,” she whispered when she finished the second plate of finger foods.
“You’re welcome,” he said loading everything including the tablecloth back into the basket. “Do you still need to be tied up? Or would you rather go swing for a few minutes before we go back inside?”
“Can we go sit on that bench and just cuddle for a minute, please?” Mallory pointed to a park bench in the center of the playground.
Fletcher smiled at her. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”
Three hours later, Fletcher watched as Mallory shook the hand of a man who’d been talking to her for quite a while.
“I knew he’d love her work.”
As Fletcher was working hard to fight down a possessive urge to go and punch the stranger in the nose and order the man to keep his hands offhiswoman, it took him a moment to realize that someone else was speaking. Turning, he saw two fellow Dominants, Masters Thorin and Master Wylde flanking Payne who was smiling from ear to ear.
“Excuse me, did you say something?” Fletcher asked.
“I did,” Payne said with an enthusiastic nod. “I was just saying that Mallory is in good hands.” When Fletcher failed to conceal a barely muted growl, Payne giggled and added, “Perhaps I should rephrase that.”
“Good idea,” Master Thorin said while Master Wylde grinned and said, “I don’t know. It might be fun to see this bull in action.”
A quick slap of Master Thorin’s hand against Wylde’s butt had him quickly changing his tune. “Right, rephrasing is a good idea.”
Payne smiled. “I simply meant that Mr. Reynolds is an art agent and knows talent when he sees it. But, seeing as you andMallory have basically spent nearly every minute of the last two weeks attached at the hip, I stand by my earlier statement as it’s quite obvious she is indeed in very good hands.”
Fletcher wasn’t sure whether to feel complimented or not seeing as Mallory had not fully committed to a future with him. Still, he managed a smile. “Thank you, Payne. I see you sold out as well.”
Payne waved his hand as if that fact didn’t matter. “Unlike your rope bunny, I didn’t order my Daddies not to buy my work,” Payne said with a giggle, his love for his two men evident in his huge smile as the trio walked away with their arms around one another.
The evening had been everything Fletcher had hoped for her. As predicted, all her paintings now had sold stickers attached to the price tags on the walls. They would be picked up in the morning by their new owners. The sketches, on the other hand, had all disappeared, having been bought and claimed immediately.
Fletcher looked around and saw that most of the other artists’ works on display had been bought as well. A very, very successful evening for everyone involved.
He turned his attention back to see Mr. Reynolds handing Mallory a business card before walking out the door. Looking around, Fletcher was surprised to see the room had cleared of everyone who had come to support the Ranch’s artists. The kitchen staff was cleaning up the tables in the back while Sadie, Reese, Payne and their men were at the sales table talking quietly.
He opened his arms when Mallory ran toward him. She looked ecstatic as she giggled and threw herself into his arms. He wrapped her up and held her, laughing with her though he didn’t know why.
“Mr. Reynolds wants to discuss holding a show of my work in Helena!” she gushed as she wiggled in his arms, hugging him tight.
“That’s wonderful, bunny! I’m so proud of you. And look at that, I owe you a million dollars. You sold every one of your paintings.”
She looked where he pointed and nodded as her giggles faded and she grew serious. “You don’t owe me anything. If you hadn’t pushed me, I’d never have let you see those paintings, much less agreed to show them to anyone else. Though Payne saw me sketching in the barn, that was a total accident, and even then, it still took me a while to share the paintings with you. I should probably pay you a commission for talking me into all this.”
“That’s what a Dominant does, sweetheart. Love, protect, support, and push their submissive to be the best they can be,” Fletcher said, easing her toward the front door.
He stopped himself from asking the question that would either fill his future with love, or heartbreak. There were still a couple days before he had to leave, even though he really wanted to demand her answer now.
When she yawned widely, he knew it was time to leave.
“Come on, time to head back to the Ranch and our bed,” he said instead as he watched exhaustion claim her.
“Yes, Sir,” she agreed easily as she leaned into his side. “In case I haven’t told you today, I love you, Master Fletcher.”
“I love you, too, bunny.”
