“How are you feeling, baby?”
“Spaced out,” she answered, as she came to rest her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead as she snuggled closer and wrapped his arms protectively around her. He’d always enjoyed the winding down time with a sub, but even more so with Kat. He guessed he loved her.
He stroked his hand down her arm. “Yes, it’s quite a high to come down from.”
“I didn’t know it could be so intense, Colt.”
“Baby, that’s why people practice this lifestyle. They can’t get that surge of endorphins any other way.”
“Mmm, I’d agree with that.” Kat traced her hand over his chest, gliding her fingers across the contours of his muscles. “I would have loved to see Sheriff Bunty’s face when you showed him Momma’s letters. I almost feel sorry for him, almost, but I’m sure he caused her to go off the rails in the first place.”
“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t waste too much sympathy on him. He came up with a whole bunch of reasons why you wouldn’t make a good witness.”
Kat tensed and raised her head. “What did he say?”
He stroked his fingers over her shoulders, regretting mentioning it. “It doesn’t matter, Kat. It all happened a very long time ago.”
“He told you about the charges, didn’t he?”
Colt shrugged. “We all make mistakes, baby. It doesn’t mean we’re bad people.”
Her lips pouted. “Now I’ll have to explain, or you’ll think the worst of me.”
“Never. I’d never think the worst of you.”
She shook her head and smiled. “Uh-uh, now I know what you’re capable of, I’m not going to keep anything from you. That way you won’t be able to coax it from me at a later date.”
Colt laughed and playfully touched her nose. “Too bad, that was to be my next move.”
Kat rolled away and lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. She raised her hands to her forehead. “After my baby died, I felt so empty. There was nothing left except this big empty scar inside me that just wouldn’t heal. Nothing seemed to help. That was when I started to drink too much. Alcohol took away the pain. It numbed the hurt. It helped me forget.”
Colt briefly closed his eyes, knowing that pain only too well. He watched her grip her hands into her hair, but didn’t say anything. Kat needed to confide in him. If he interrupted her now, she might never find the courage to tell him. He just took her hands in his and held them tight.
“I spent the next five years in a stupor. I can barely remember what happened. I guess I got into trouble with the law when I had too much to drink. Me and my big mouth. Luckily, I managed to kick that habit before it completely ruined me.” Her tear-filled eyes sought his. “I guess I’m not a good person. I’m no saint, that’s for sure, and I never will be.”
“Baby, I don’t care what you were like all those years ago. I love you as the person you are now.”
The breath caught in her throat, and he heard the hitch as she fought for air. Her eyes looked huge as she stared at him. “You do?”
“Of course I love you.” He held out his arms. “Come here.”
Kat sunk into his embrace. “I’ve always loved you, Colt. I’ve loved you since I was fourteen, when you saved me from the bullies at school. I loved you then as a girl, and I love you now as a woman.” He felt her tears flow freely over his chest as she held on to him.
Colt combed a hand into her hair, feeling the dark silky strands fall through his fingers. “Now all we’ve got to do to keep you on the straight and narrow is pay off those loan sharks. After that you will never mix with people like that again. Understand.”
“I understand, Colt.”
“How much money do you still owe?”
“Ninety thousand bucks. It’s such a huge amount.”
“I know, and I’m very displeased, but we’ll address that in due course. First, though, we need to get them off your back before we can move on with the rest of our lives.”
“Do you mean that, Colt?”
“Of course I do. These are not nice people, Kat. I don’t like them having a hold over you.”
* * * *
One month later
Kat’s stomach churned as she watched Colt count the money one final time, and then slip it into a canvas bag. She swallowed hard, sighing inwardly. So much money. His mouth firmed into a thin line of disapproval. When he glanced at her she could feel his anger from the other side of the room.
“I’m sorry, Colt.” She loved Colt with all her heart, and it saddened her that her stupidity had brought this unwanted trouble to him.
“It’s too late for sorry, Kat. I want them gone from our lives and the club for good.” He held up the bag of money. “There’s no alternative but to pay them off. You clearly didn’t ask what the interest rate was. These people don’t lend money the same way a bank does, for fuck’s sake.”
“I don’t know how to make it up to you.”
“Believe me, you will be making it up. As soon as they’ve gone, I have plans for you.”
“Oh?”
“I’ve been too lenient with you lately. All this talk of love has made me too soft with you. It’s time to show you what your Master is really capable of.” Kat could see the burning intensity in his gaze, and she swallowed hard. She knew that look. Of all the personas that Colt showed her, the one when he was in full Master mode excited her the most.
“Of course, Master,” she replied, slipping easily into her sub role. When Colt took control, she felt safe and secure. She bowed her head and came to kneel at his side. During the past month, he had taught her to respect her Master at all times. Now would be a good time to show him how obedient she had become when he wanted to dominate her. Maybe then he would not be too harsh when choosing her punishment.
He cupped her chin and angled her face to his. “While I deal with these lowlifes, I want you to go to the spanking room, and select a cane, a strap, and a paddle. Take them to the bedroom, and then prepare yourself for me. I shall administer your discipline accordingly, depending on how well you present yourself.”
“Yes, Master.” She rose from her knees and walked slowly from the office, her head still bowed, her stomach knotting in excitement and anticipation. To have his undivided attention for hours on end would be breathtaking. What would the punishment for ninety thousand dollars be?
* * * *
Colt folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. He glanced at the bag of money on his desk. All that hard-earned cash. He shook his head. Too bad he had to pay these loan sharks off. He didn’t want them having a hold on him or Kat. He loved her even with all the trouble she’d caused. He’d pay ten times that if he had to, but she had to know that he didn’t approve of what she’d done. He had to show that he meant business. By sending her away to get ready for his discipline, he could enhance the final effect. Now she would be on tenterhooks wondering what he would do.
Well, it was time to show her he wouldn’t tolerate any more misbehavior. By doing this, he could correct her waywardness. She responded well to his commands, but a little more deterrent would be good for her in the long term. Without defined boundaries, Kat was a woman likely to go off the rails. Her reliance on alcohol in the past was proof of that. He figured she needed his guidance to stay on the straight and narrow.
When he heard a car draw up outside, he turned and saw the black sedan approaching. Colt breathed in. Dealing with lowlife scum was not his idea of fun, but in this case he had no alternative. He grabbed the bag of money and headed outside.
His dogs followed him out onto the drive and sniffed around the tires before lifting a leg and relieving themselves on the bulging rubber. He climbed into the back of the sedan. It reeked of stale cigarettes, and the two guys up front looked at him, unsmiling. One had a large scar on the side of his cheek, and the other wore a dark five o’clock shadow.
“You ain’t Kat,” said the one with the scar.
“You’ll be dealing with me from now on.”
“Fine, I don’t give a fuck who pays, so long as they do.”
“So, how much do you need to go and not come back?”
The man with the scar couldn’t resist laughing. “That crazy fucking bitch tried to skip her payments, so we had to make an adjustment. She owes us an awful lot, Mister.”
“She told me ninety thousand dollars.”
The man with the scar spoke again. “Now, let me see, she’s put us to a hell of a lot of trouble. Why don’t we make it a nice round figure, say one hundred thousand dollars.”
Colt knew that the price might go up, so he handed over the bag. “There’s ninety thousand bucks in there.” He then dug deep into his jeans and pulled out the rest. “Here’s the other ten.”
He watched them count it until they were satisfied it was all there.
“Tell Kat it was nice doing business with her. Anytime you want a loan, you know where to come.”
Without answering, Colt got out of the car and began walking back to the club with a dog on either side of him. As the sedan drove away, he saw Sheriff Bunty’s cruiser meet them on the way out. He watched the lawman lower his window and speak to the occupants of the car before they continued along the track.