Serendipity Ranch (9 page)

Chapter Five

Serena opened her eyes to the smell of bacon and coffee. Disorientated, she sat up quickly and looked at her surroundings, trying to place where she was and how she got there. Her head swung towards the doorway as Preston walked in, freshly showered and wearing only a pair of shorts.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he leaned across the bed to kiss her nose.

“I didn’t recognize you. Where’s your hat and boots?” Serena asked, pulling the sheet to her chest and crossing her legs under her.

“I don’t wear them to bed or in the shower, smart ass. Did you sleep well?”

“How come you’re allowed to call me names and you won’t let me do it back?” Serena asked with a mischievous grin. “What am I doing here? Did we, uh—?”

“Sleep? Like rocks. I didn’t have the heart to wake you up to go home. You looked so sweet and were so quiet. And if we had made love, you would have remembered it,” Preston grinned back, plopping down to lean on his right side as he twirled a strand of her long, black hair in his fingers.

“Beast. Is that coffee I smell?”

“For me. You, little girl, get milk.”

“Aw, come on. Don’t you give me that look. It’s too early,” Serena pouted.

“Early? It’s after 10. Time for you to get up and start moving. I have a surprise for you, too, if you’re a good girl and mind me.”

“You microphallic turkey buzzard,” Serena stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

Preston wrestled her to her back and straddled her stomach as he pinned her arms over her head. “I assure you, little lady, that I am neither a scavenger nor phallically challenged.”

“Yeah, yeah. All the cowboys say that. Big hats, little dicks.”

Preston tsked her, leaning close to her face. “You’ll wish that were true when the time comes, peanut.”

“So you say. Get off me, you’re heavy.”

“I’m actually very comfortable,” Preston stated stretching out on top of her and pretending to snore. Serena started to yell at him, her voice muffled by the hot, solid neck in her face. She warned him! She sunk her teeth into the muscle at the base of his neck.

“OW! I’m getting you a muzzle,” Preston growled, sitting up and grabbing his neck.

“I told you to get off me, bonehead.”

“I think we need to start the morning out differently with you.” Preston pulled back the blankets, “I think we’ll work on getting you motivated to mind me.”

“Don’t try to think too hard. I don’t want you to hurt yourself on my account.”

“I can’t believe that you are honestly challenging me like this, young lady!”

“Keep talking. I always yawn when I'm interested.”

“Unbelievable. Get your duff over here, you brat.” Preston lunged at her, hearing her squeal as she launched her body off the bed to the other side, and laughing as she quickly dove under the bed. “I told you to get out here this instant,” he ordered, peering under the bed.

“No.” Serena giggled wildly, unsure as to what had come over her.

“This is not funny. You promised to behave yourself and look at what you’re doing. Come out from under there now.”

“No. I don’t want to.”

Preston was too large to slide under the bed to grab her, and the frame was bolted to the RV’s deck, so he couldn’t move it. He fought back his own laughter, amused by the blatant show of playful defiance the woman was demonstrating, despite facing the possibility of consequences. He sat on the edge, feet flat on the ground with his knees spread, and leaned forward to project his voice under the bed.

“Serendipity Nicole Mitchell, you have until the count of three to come out from under there.”

“Are you sure you can count that high?”

“One….”

“Preston, lighten up. You’re pissing in my Cheerios.”

“Two…”

“Aw, come on. I was just playing.”

“Three…”

“I’m coming! Damn, you have the sense of humor of a potato chip,” Serena announced, peaking up between his feet from her place on the floor. Her bright blue eyes stared at him with the rest of her body still under the bed.

“You’re in trouble, young lady,” Preston informed her, looking down at her with a stern countenance. “I don’t want you insulting me anymore, even in playing. It’s not nice.”

“But I’m funny.”

“Sometimes. However, when I tell you to do something, I expect you to listen to me. I made that perfectly clear yesterday. Give me your hands.”

Serena reached up and allowed him to pull her out from under the bed. She quickly found herself being jerked abruptly across his lap with her derriere pointing skywards. “What are you doing?” she demanded as he easily peeled her panties away from her pale bottom.

“We’re going to start your morning with a nice spanking and then see how the rest of the day goes.”

“No!”

Preston stroked the soft, smooth, cheeks of her unrivaled behind for a moment, admiring its snowy perfection as it nervously awaited punishment. He then raised his arm and brought his hand down smartly on the center of her bottom. Serena gave a little whimper and crossed her ankles, trying not to kick into the air. Preston raised his hand again and brought it down harder. A sharp crack echoed throughout the small cabin. Serena yelped and buried her face in his bare calf, the scent of his skin sending her head reeling as she resisted the urge to chomp her teeth into him again.

Preston began alternating cheeks, smacking firmly and with purpose, lecturing her again about the inappropriateness of insults and the consequences of her defiance. Serena heard nothing except the loud popping sound of his palm bouncing off her naked rear end.

It only took about one minute of solid, direct swats to make Serena cry out and begin to loudly beg for release. She began to wriggle her backside about on his knee as she tried evading the blows to her tender rump. Unable to disengage his arm from around her tiny waist, she relented and tightly clutched his leg, pressing her wet cheeks against his flesh. Her cries turned to breathless sobs, and with three more stinging smacks, Preston ended the spanking.

Serena quieted a bit after a few moments, and slowed her dancing bottom as she still lay across his knee. She continued to cry softly as Preston stroked her hot red buttocks with a tender touch. "Hush, little one," he said gently. "It's over with now."

After a minute and still sniffling, Serena pushed herself off of his lap. She slid her hands to her smarting cheeks to rub them vigorously, surprised at the sensually warm, tingly feeling spreading quickly throughout her belly and between her legs. Acting on impulse, she leaned down and took her lips to Preston's to give him a soft, timid kiss. Preston took her in his arms, pressing her face to his chest as he stroked her back and bottom with familiarity. Serena pulled back a little so she could look at him.

“I’m sorry I upset you. I really was just playing and got carried away,” a little girl’s voice peeped.

“And you paid the price for bratting, didn’t you?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Now that’s the respect I want to hear! Get some clothes on while I bring you breakfast.”

Serena, in an effort to avoid another unpleasant encounter across the man’s powerful thighs, gulped down the creamy goat’s milk without being told. She was ravished and inhaled her breakfast. Preston smirked, knowing his firm hand would bring about instant improvement in her behavior.

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s creeping me out.”

“You have a milkstache. And I look like this because I am immensely pleased with myself.”

“You do know that you leave yourself wide open for wisecracks, right?”

“Even more reason for you to exercise self-control. I will allow one a day, if you must. No swearing, no talking against my family, no dissin’ my dogs, and abstain from attacking my intelligence.”

“Then how would you know that I insulted you?” she asked innocently.

He eyed her, raising an eyebrow. “That’s your quota for the day, youngster. Next time, I use an implement on your behind. Do you want to chance it, little girl?”

Serena quickly shook her head. She helped him clean up and then followed him outside to the hot sun. She squinted her eyes. Casba?

“You brought my horse over!” she equaled, running to the animal as she grazed happily beside Dave. “Thank you!”

“Do you think you can go the rest of the day without getting a lickin’?” Preston asked, leaning his arm on the tall Palomino.

“It depends on the type of lickin’ you’re going to give me,” Serena smiled innocently at him.

He laughed, kissing her fully and crushing her in a hug. “You are such a brat. Load the horses into the trailer, we’re going on a trip.”

“It’s too hot for them right now, Preston.”

“There’s AC in there. The gear’s already stored in my truck along with a cooler. I also grabbed a change of clothes for you at the house.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

* * *

The wind brushed her face as Serena raced Preston down the strip of beach near the Del Mar Racetrack, followed by the two yapping border collies. She laughed, throwing her head back as the spray caught her face. They finally slowed to walk the horses in the water as the dogs dug happily in the sand.

“How did you pull this off?” Serena asked, catching her breath as she led Casba through the light surf.

Preston handed her some water from his saddlebag, “I offered my services as the vet for the racing season. In return, I get full beach privileges after the jockeys take the horses out in the morning to exercise them. Pretty nifty, huh?”

“I’ll say. Thanks so much. The girls are having fun. It’s like they’ve never seen sand before.”

“Boo goes crazy for puddles. She’ll keep digging as long as there is water filling it up. Gem just gets in her way. I brought balls for them, too.” Preston led the horses to a tented hitching station and filled the trough for them. The dogs jumped in under the horses noses, lapping up the cold, fresh water as well.

“All your kids seem to be happy today,” Serena commented, sitting on the towel he handed her.

“What about you? Is my best girl happy?”

“Taking a long drive then riding a horse on a freshly spanked butt is not the most comfortable of things,” Serena admitted. “But I guess I deserved it.”

“Honey, you straight out asked for it. I didn’t spank you that hard, either. In fact, by the way you were grinding my leg, I think you rather enjoyed it.”

Serena turned red. He never missed a thing, did he? After a bit she whispered, “Preston? Why did you really spank me? You knew I was playing.”

He leaned her against his shoulder and kissed her temple. “You were being difficult. It’s the only thing I know of which will do a little girl any good when she’s in a mind to act out what she won’t say.”

Serena remained quiet a while, enjoying his arms around her and breathing against his chest. Then she asked, “Did you ever spank Genève?”

“I haven’t told you about her yet. How did you find out? Oh wait, Sara. My sweet impulsive niece despised the woman. Yes, once.”

“For the same reason you spanked me?”

“Not quite. Well, somewhat. She provoked me but didn’t like what followed. She wasn’t as happy with a sore back end as she thought she would be,” Preston chuckled quietly.

“I'll really try not to tease you, but it’s so hard to resist. I'll never be the perfect little girl for you that Sara is, either. Preston?”

“Yes, Serena?”

“I didn't really mind being spanked by you. Even when it hurt enough to make me cry. I guess it’s because when you are spanking me, you aren't ignoring me — and any attention is better than none. And besides —” She hesitated, uncomfortable with the truth about her feelings.

“Go on.”

“When you were finished, I just wanted to make love to you until you screamed,” Serena flushed. “I’m a sick little bitch, aren’t I? I’m not into pain, Preston. I’m really not.”

“No one suggested you were, baby doll. You were turned on by my control over you and allowed yourself to experience it. I felt the same. However, my dear, you won’t get that prize until I see better behavior. I told you we would take things slowly, but you’re already pressing buttons for a reaction. Is that why you put down everyone?”

“Not everyone. Just the ones who annoy me.”

“Okay, nearly everyone then. What did you do growing up? Memorize every insult you could?”

“I certainly tried. Except for Drew, I’ve never had positive reinforcement. My big mouth and sarcasm is my defense mechanism.”

“You recognize that, yet you continue. If you don’t like the negativity, you know you can change it, right?”

“At least I have a positive attitude about my destructive habits.”

“Serena—”

“You’re so surly sometimes. Haven’t you learned that the secret of success is sincerity? I sincerely don’t care. People who don’t like who I am can take a flying leap. This is how I am. You won’t understand.”

“No? Have you asked Miss Sara what one of my favorite expressions is? Love me, love my dogs. I won’t budge from that and it has cost me several relationships. But I accept that it’s my decision to be that way, and I’m okay with those who don’t want to partake in my life because of it. It’s caused some hurt, too,” he gently tweaked Gem’s nose
as she brought the ball to him to throw. “But I don’t go out of my way to scare people off either.”

“I do. I just keep wondering how long it will be before I succeed with you.”

“Serena, let’s get something straight. I have no intention of letting you disappear out of my life anytime soon. Once the house is done, we will start with the Ranch. I would also like you to mentor Sara. You will receive a comfortable salary for that.”

“I wouldn’t do that for pay. She’s a smart kid. I would love to teach her what I can.”

“I also want you to consider moving into the house with me.”

Dead silence. Serena pulled away, pulling her knees up to her chest. “You hardly know me, Preston.”

“I know you more than you realize. You can have your own room, even. I’d like you to throw some of your own designs into building the place. Drew and Janie are together all the time now, and it’s not good for you to be home alone. Please think about it.”