Page 30 of Branded

I open the door and stare into the face of the sheriff. He is absolutely not who I want to see right now. “Sheriff, what can I do for you?”

“Heard you were back in town and thought I’d pay a visit. May I come in?” he asks as he moves closer to me, basically pushing his way in. He stops when he sees Lennox. He removes his hat. “Ma’am, I’m Sheriff Morrison.”

“Nice to meet you. Lennox Drake,” she says, politely holding out her hand for him to shake.

“My bride, Sheriff. Now can we get to why you’re out here? We just got home, and we’d like to unpack,” I say as I cross my arms.

“Just wanted to make sure there won’t be any trouble while you’re here. Thomas Marshall is still pretty worked up about that land, you don’t need to go provoking him.” Sheriff Morrison works the hat in his hands.

“Did Marshall send you out here to warn me?” I move closer to him and drop my voice low. “I don’t think I need to remind you who put you in this job, and who tops up your pay, do I?” I question, and the man’s face blanches and then goes red. “Do I need to make changes to your position in this town?”

“No, that won’t be necessary,” he says. “I was just pointing out that we don’t need trouble. I’ll let you get back to your homecoming. It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Drake. Congratulations on your nuptials.” He puts his hat back on and walks out of the house, closing the door behind him.

“What was that about?” Lennox asks, frowning.

“Absolutely nothing. Right now, we have unfinished business.”

“Sebastian, we have to be at cocktails in three hours.”

“Then I’d better make this quick.”

“We can’t do this again,” she says, but her voice lacks any sort of conviction.

“Yes, we can.” I pull her to me, pinning her against me. “Because you’re mine. And I take what’s mine when I want.”

I kiss her hard, swallowing her protests, as I slip my hand into the V of her dress and cup her breast.

“Do you want me to stop?” I ask as I let my hand drift to the slit of her dress again. I might be a bastard, but I’m not going to take her against her will.

“No,” she breathes, lifting her hips, grinding them against my hand. “Don’t stop.”

10

LENNOX

My hands fist in his shirt as his arms come around me, one hand in my hair, the other gripping my ass. He backs me toward the stone wall beside the massive fireplace, each step making my heart pound harder.

“I hate you,” I gasp when he breaks the kiss to trail his mouth down my neck. “Hate that you make me…” I don’t finish the thought; I won’t let him have the satisfaction of knowing he can make me come almost on command.

“Make you what?” His teeth graze the bite mark he left last night, making me moan. “Make you wet? Make you need my cock? Make you come so hard you forget your own name?”

“Yes.” The admission burns, but it is the truth. Every time he touches me, I respond. Every time he commands, I obey. I can’t help myself. I want him.

“Say it.” His hand works the zipper at the side of the dress. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want—” My breath catches as his hand slips inside my pussy, fingers finding that one spot he’s so adept at hitting. “Fuck,” I moan.

“Tell me,” he demands, his fingers circling my clit with maddening pressure. “Or I’ll stop right now, and we’ll go to cocktails with you aching and empty.”

“I want you to fuck me.” The words come out strangled, desperate. “Now.”

“Say please.”

“Now, please.”

“Please, what?”

“Please fuck me against this wall.” I grab his belt, yanking him closer, past caring about pride or resistance. My body is on fire; it has been since the entryway when he almost made me come before the sheriff interrupted. “Now, Sebastian, before I lose my mind.”