Western Ties: Compass Brothers, Book 4 (2 page)

Leah gave her friend a frustrated sigh. “Did you ever stop to think that sometimes it sucks to be the reliable one, the boring friend, the designated driver for every single party? I want to cut loose, Stacey. I want to have my night.”
 

Stacey’s face radiated guilt. “You never seemed to mind picking me up at the bars in college.”

“I didn’t. Not really. You were having fun. I’m pretty sure you got as much, if not more, out of your university experience than I did. Lately, I’ve been feeling restless. I don’t know how to explain it. There’s got to be more to life than work and shitty sex with losers.”

Stacey’s gaze traveled over her outfit. “Yeah, well, looking like you do tonight, I’d say it’s a sure bet you’re going to get a hell of a lot more. Never thought I’d see the day where you’d walk into a party dressed like that.”

Leah laughed. “What? You don’t see me as a sweet little submissive girl?”

Stacey snorted. “You’re sweet, Leah, but I’m worried you may be a little
too
sweet for the kind of stuff that goes on at these parties.”

Leah appreciated her friend’s concern, but it was misplaced. She’d never felt more certain about any decision. She needed to try this or she’d spend a lifetime always wondering. “I’ll be fine. I’ll mingle and make conversation with the big bad Doms. See if I can entice any of them into huffing and puffing and blowing my house down.”

“God. See? This is what I’m talking about. Ever since I picked you up at the airport, it’s been one lame joke after another about this lifestyle.”

Leah shrugged. “I can’t help it. When I’m nervous, I make jokes.”

“I wish Bill was here. If you speak to any of these men like you talk to—”

“Leah?” a familiar male voice behind her said.

Leah closed her eyes and prayed she’d imagined it. There was no way. No possible way—

“Leah Hollister?”

She sighed. Fuck. What were the chances?

Turning, she realized her night wasn’t going to end as she’d planned. She should have saved her money. Should have stayed in Compton Pass. She was screwed.

“Sawyer.” She didn’t bother with the pretense of being happy to see him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Leah,” Stacey whispered, her voice full of warning.

Sawyer narrowed his eyes, refusing to answer. His gaze started at the top, taking in her dramatic makeup, before drifting lower to her breasts, accentuated by the tight corset Stacey had loaned her. She willed herself to remain still as he finished his visual tour with a long look at her short leather skirt and stocking-clad legs.

“Enjoying the view?” she taunted. “You still haven’t answered my question. Shouldn’t you be in San Francisco? What are you doing here?”

He scowled. “That’s my question for you. A BDSM party in L.A. is a long way from a kindergarten classroom in Compton Pass. Last time I saw you, you were leading a pack of five-year-olds around my family’s ranch.”

A couple of years earlier, Sawyer had helped her organize a field trip to Compass ranch. It had been one of the highlights of the year for her students—and for her. It was also the last time she’d seen Sawyer. Two years was a long time. She certainly hadn’t expected their reunion to take place in L.A.

She sucked in a deep breath and tried to hide her disappointment. He was right. She’d purposely put herself as far away from home as possible, so that she could indulge in these two nights. One weekend to confirm a few suspicions she’d always held in regard to her sexual preferences. Sawyer was going to put a wrench in the works.

She gestured at her outfit. “I would think my role here would be obvious.” For the first time, she allowed her gaze to travel over him as well. Her body heated with arousal as she noted how unbelievably sexy he was. He wore tight dark jeans and a black T-shirt that hugged his muscular chest to perfection. No one in the place would fail to read the dominance in his stance, the aura of power he projected.
 

On the surface, she was shocked to find her friend in a place like this, but there was another part—deep inside—that wasn’t a bit surprised. He belonged here.

“So you’re a Dom?” She fought the urge to laugh as she asked the absurd question. Of course he was.

His gaze drifted to her arm. He grasped her wrist, pulling it up and toying with the white wristband the host had given her upon arrival.

“You understand what this means, right?” he asked, gesturing to the bracelet.
 

Sawyer completely ignored her Dom question. It didn’t matter anyway. It had clearly been rhetorical. He was a Compton. Anybody and everybody from their neck of the woods knew that name was synonymous with alpha male.
 

She gave him an annoyed look. “Of course I do.”

It was evident from his tone he didn’t think she belonged here any more than Stacey. One of the reasons she’d planned this adventure far away from home, surrounded by strangers who didn’t know her, was because rumors spread like wildfire in their small hometown. She knew about Sawyer’s sexual proclivities, and she’d always wondered if she shared a few of them.
 

Besides, her
sweet
disposition didn’t inspire the more adventurous cowboys back home to ask her out, so her opportunities for exploration were seriously limited. Stacey was right. She
was
a goody-goody.

Sawyer didn’t appear to like her answer, so he restated the obvious. “It means you are an unattached submissive who’s looking for a Dom. This wristband has declared it open season on you.”

She shrugged, unconcerned. “Sorry to shatter the illusion, Sawyer, but I think I can handle whatever this party dishes out. It’s not like I’m a virgin.”

He frowned. “You lost your virginity in the backseat of a Pontiac to Les Prescott after Compton Pass won the district football championship our senior year. The guy was a shithead. You should’ve chosen better.”

Leah laughed, though a ripple of desire slammed into her. It was always this way with Sawyer. Though they were just friends, there’d never been a time when she hadn’t felt his gaze on her. He’d scared off more than a few would-be boyfriends in her lifetime claiming they were
only after one thing
. Les had fallen into that category, but Sawyer had been playing on that championship team and had been a bit distracted that night.
 

Sawyer had appointed himself her personal guardian in third grade when Jordan Haskiell had shoved her down on the playground after she’d beat him in a footrace. As a result, Sawyer had endured an afternoon in the principal’s office and God only knew what kind of punishment at home after issuing Jordan a very physical, very painful warning of what happened to guys who messed with Leah. While Sawyer hadn’t pursued her romantically, he’d certainly taken the bonds of friendship to a new extreme.

Despite the fact they’d existed in different cliques at school, Sawyer hadn’t let social status stop him from being one of her best friends. He’d run with the jocks and cheerleaders, while she’d been firmly encamped with the brainiacs, less affectionately referred to as nerds by their peers. “How could you have known about Les?”

“I told you. He was a prick. He was bragging about it at school the following Monday.”

She flushed. She’d never heard of Les spreading rumors about her. “I didn’t know—”

Sawyer grinned. “Luckily, he started his boasting with me. I took him out behind the school and gave him a reason to shut his fucking mouth.”

His admission held a hint of humor, but she could tell he was angry. She decided to test the waters to see how screwed she was.

“Well, it was great to see you again, but Stacey and I were going to pop over to the bar for a drink.”

“I’ll go with you.” He confirmed her fear.

She smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re scaring off all the other Doms.”

His wolfish grin let her know that was his intent.
 

Her temper sparked. “God dammit, Sawyer. Go away.”

Stacey lightly touched her arm, alerting Leah that she’d spoken too loudly. Several people glanced in her direction and frowned. She was never going to achieve her goal at this rate.

Sawyer was the only person in the room who didn’t take offense at her faux pas. “You realize this is a weekend party?”

She nodded. It was starting to look like it would be a long two days.

Sawyer reclaimed her hand, slipping off the white bracelet.
 

“What the hell are you doing?” She tried to pull her arm free, attempting to grab the wristband back.

Sawyer’s grip was implacable. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a green bracelet. Suddenly, she felt dizzy. There was no way he would—

Sawyer slipped it around her wrist.

“No,” she whispered when he lifted her hand.

Sawyer leaned closer, his breath hot against her cheek as he murmured in her ear. “The host is going to come over to confirm you’ve been claimed by me. You’re going to tell him you’ve agreed to be my sub. If you don’t, I will personally drag you out of here, take you to the airport and load you on the first plane to Wyoming myself. Don’t test me on this, Leah, because I promise you won’t like the end result.”

The host, Ronald Grey, was a large, attractive black man in his fifties who, according to Stacey, had more money than God.
 

Ronald patted Sawyer on the shoulder in a familiar, friendly manner and Leah wondered how in the hell a cowboy from Bumfuck knew such a powerful man. “You don’t waste any time, Compton. You realize the green band signifies you’re claiming this young lady for the entire weekend? A lot of the players are opting for the purple bracelet—a one-night affair—so they can sample another variety tomorrow night.”

Leah narrowed her eyes at Grey’s condescending comment, talking about her like she was a fucking dessert while warning Sawyer against gorging on one flavor. Sawyer squeezed the hand he’d never released, warning her to remain silent.

“When I see something I like, I take it.”

Grey nodded approvingly before looking at her. “You consent for this man to serve as your Dom?”

Stacey had assured her that while the BDSM play was serious, no one would be allowed to touch her without her agreement.
 

Leah looked at Sawyer. Her plans were shot. He would do exactly as he threatened. She nodded.

Grey collected the white wristband she’d received at the beginning of the night and looked at Sawyer. “You and your sub may participate in the public games or you can take her straight up to the room you were assigned upon arrival.”

Sawyer thanked Grey and they watched the man walk over to another couple.

Leah stared at Sawyer, letting her annoyance show. He’d fucked up everything, and she wasn’t going to let him off easy.

Stacey shook her head in amazement. “Wow. That was fast. I was worried you wouldn’t meet anyone. Oh.” Stacey gestured toward the door. “Bill’s here.”

Her friend looked to Sawyer as if seeking permission for something. Sawyer nodded and Stacey smiled, going to meet her lover.

“What was that?” Leah asked.

Sawyer’s gaze hardened. “Did your friend give you any instructions about what your role would be?”

She nodded. “She told me a few things.”

“And did you listen to her?”

Leah blew out a furious breath. How dare he act like this? He was the one who’d ruined her trip. “Listen, Sawyer. You’ve obviously done what you intended. You’ve got me branded with this stupid green bracelet, which means I’m off-limits for the weekend. I get it. Party’s over. Thanks for nothing.”

She started to follow Stacey, intent on saying goodbye before returning to her friend’s apartment.
 

Sawyer tightened his grip, halting her escape. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Back to Stacey’s.”

“No, you’re not.”

She paused. “What is your problem? It’s obvious you don’t like the idea of me hooking up.” She lifted her arm, pointing to the green wristband. “By the way, you screwed yourself out of a good time too. You want me to leave, so I’m going.”

Her voice had risen again, and several people standing close to them turned to look at her.

Sawyer put his arm around her waist and tugged her toward him—so close their bodies were connected from chest to toe. She tried to put some space between them, but Sawyer was too damn strong. The few muscles he hadn’t acquired through a lifetime of ranch work seemed to have been found during his last seven years with the Coast Guard. The man was rock hard. Everywhere.
 

Arousal awoke in several parts of her body when she became aware of his erection pressing against her stomach.

“I’m not going to punish you for that outburst.” His voice was deep and menacing—and God help her—sexy as hell. “You misunderstood my intent. So here’s what I’m going to do.”

He captured her gaze and held it. “I’m going to clarify for you in no uncertain terms what’s happened. If you still try to leave after I’ve finished explaining, it will be a punishable offense. Do you understand?”

Sawyer had never talked to her like this. Never treated her with anything less than friendly, attentive courtesy. She wasn’t sure how to respond to this commanding man, so she simply nodded.