Page 24 of Savoring Sienna
“Just what a girl wants to hear,” she snickered as she got into the car, blinking up at him with a cheeky grin. “And here I thought it was my sexy smile, not my manifestation properties.”
His expression softened as he leaned in, claiming her lips in a heated kiss.
“It’s more than that, kitten. So much more. It’s you… perfect in every way. The entire package.”
Watching him circle the truck, ice crystallized around her heart.Perfect. The word mocked her. Would he still think so when her clothes came off? When he saw the brutal scars marring her breasts and the cruel hook-shaped mutilation misshaping her belly? The physical reminders of why she had built those walls in the first place?
Her fingers pressed against her stomach, searching for the raised ridge of scar tissue through her shirt. Soon he would see and he would know. And then... then she’d find out if his beautiful words could survive ugly truths.
Chapter Ten
Crone’s house on Rawhide Ridge
Crone
Raw need coursed through Crone’s veins as he unlocked the door. The furnished house had offered instant comfort when he’d first viewed it. A temporary haven that already felt more permanent.
“Welcome to my home,” he guided her inside, watching her eyes absorb the warm glow from the table lamps.
“It’s very nice... but you said it’s temporary?” Her fingers twisted around her purse strap. “Does that mean you’ll be leaving soon?”
“Not necessarily. I accepted the position on a temporary basis, though Derek indicated his desire for it to be permanent.” He caught her face between his palms, keeping his expression earnest and warm. “I’m at a crossroad in my life, Sienna. Like you, I have many demons pulling me down, but it’s been five years and I came to realize that unless I change the direction my life has taken, I will die a lonely and bitter man.” He smiled wryly. “I was fine with that, except one stubborn friend refuses to let me wither away… as do his wife and kids. I know there’s more to life… I had it before. I want it again. So, who knows? Imight decide to move here permanently. However, if I do, I don’t plan on living on the Ranch. I’d probably buy my own piece of land close by.”
She tensed beneath his touch. He sensed that beyond the natural apprehension of being alone with him lay a deeper fear. It was there in her eyes, of facing the possibility of investing herself in their connection only to be abandoned.
His thumb stilled her trembling lip. “Remember, we’re taking this journey together, Sienna. The thread between us deserves to be strengthened.” Honesty compelled him forward. It was important to him that she was aware of his intentions upfront… which had nothing to do with Derek’s condition. His instincts had never led him wrong, and they screamed that Sienna Weathers belonged in his life. “But you need to understand. Once we have sex, you become mine as I become yours. Even within the lifestyle, I believe in exclusivity.”
“Wh-what are you saying?”
“I want a permanent Dom/sub relationship. I know we just met but that’s how strong I feel the connection is between us. That is what I want. If you can’t offer the same, it’s pointless to move on. I’m not a youngster anymore and with what I’ve gone through… I’m past playing games. Either we’re on the same page, or we’re not.”
“What if we have sex tonight... but I can’t promise more… I don’t want to lose…” She struggled visibly. “We just met but I do know that I need you in my life, Crone. I just can’t promise more than being your submissive. It’s just too soon…” Her voice cracked.
Crone knew that deep scars marked her soul. He didn’t know their history but hoped she would trust him enough to one day share them.
“For now, all I ask is that we open ourselves to the possibility of a longtime future, Sienna. In you, that’s what I see... not just here at the Ranch, but us together as a team... as one unit.”
“I can’t, Crone. You have to?—”
“We’re doing this together, kitten, starting as Dom and sub. I won’t pressure you, but I am going to make it damn hard for you to resist me.” Her relieved smile unleashed warmth through his chest. “So, kitten, you asked me to bring you here and fuck you into kingdom come.” He studied her face, searching for signs of retreat. A dim light flickered in the back of her eyes. “Or should I spank you first... to rekindle what all this talk dimmed?”
Color flooded her cheeks. His heart stumbled, then steadied with newfound purpose. He had always dismissed the notion of instant love as youthful fantasy. His relationship with Sarah had grown gradually, built on years of shared experiences and careful trust.
But this blindsided him. Three encounters with Sienna had stripped away five years of carefully constructed barriers. The force of it struck him physically, spreading warmth through his chest and veins to settle deep in his bones. His extensive experience in the lifestyle had taught him to recognize authentic connections, but this surpassed mere compatibility.
Seeing her blush spread beneath his gaze, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place, pointing to an inescapable truth. He’d fallen in love with her. Instalove. Head over heels. The realization should terrify him. Instead, it filled empty spaces he’d forgotten existed.
To hide what must surely be a look of puppy love on his face, he settled on the sofa and pulled her over his lap. She yielded without protest.
“These need to go.” He hooked his fingers at the top of her jeans, dragging them down along with her lace panties. “Lift.”
She obeyed, allowing him to bare her completely. His palm skimmed over the curves of her ass, raising goosebumps in its wake.
“Such a pretty shade of pink you’ll be.” The first strike landed sharp and quick.
She yelped at the unexpectedness of it. “Master Crone!”
“Hmm… that’s just the first one, kitten.” Another swift spank, followed by a gentle caress that dipped teasingly between her thighs. “Though I do love hearing you scream my name.”
