Page 44 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

“I can’t wait to tell Brad!”

Suzie was talking about the television show again. After leaving The Purple Pelican, she had asked Katie if it was okay if they drove up to the lodge to tell Brad the news and drop off something to a guest.

“Of course. It will be fun,”

she told her. Katie was happy for Suzie and loved the way she and Brad were so supportive of each other. She was happy to tag along. Besides, Katie needed some fresh air and perspective. After a night of deep sleep and that monstrous breakfast, followed by an hour of baby oohing and ahing, her brain was still fuzzy and adjusting to everything. Mountain air was always good to clear the fog.

Would Chris be supportive of her dreams, like Brad was of Suzie’s?

Suzie rattled on while ambling along the mountain road. Katie heard most of it, trying to keep her mind off Chris and…well, off the semi-embarrassing and personal things Katie had said last night to Suzie.

How could she have shared her intimate sexual secrets? She didn’t talk about sex much with other women. That was part of the mystery about who she was, in part. The other part was that sex was private, and she didn’t like chatting about her escapades over morning coffee or a glass of wine. Thinking about what she’d said to Suzie last night made her tummy twist. Thankfully, there had been no mention of it this morning.

Leaning back in the seat, she closed her eyes. The day was crisp and new and the further they moseyed up the mountain, the more serene the surroundings and calmer her heart became. She cracked her passenger window a little for some fresh air—sweet pines tickled her nose and the rush of a brook comforted her ear.

“So, is that all right with you?”

Katie tilted forward and looked as Suzie. Had she slept?

“I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I said…”

But Katie didn’t hear the last of her sentence. Outside Suzie’s window, she saw the Lodge roll by.

“We passed the Lodge.”

“Yes, that’s what I said.”

“Huh?”

“I need to run something out to a guest in one of the cabins.”

Katie settled back into her seat. She had dozed, she guessed.

“Oh, that’s fine. I’m just your sidekick today. I’m glad I don’t have to work today since it’s a holiday.”

Suzie grinned and drove on. In another five minutes, they pulled onto a dirt road and rambled toward the last cabin. She parked and looked ahead.

“I don’t see their car. Hm.”

“Maybe they left for a little while?”

“No, I talked to them this morning. They said they’d be here.”

“Maybe they parked out back.”

“Yes. Maybe. Would you go knock on the door while I get the stuff out?”

Katie was glad to help. “Sure.”

She lifted the latch and left the car. Shivering a little against the mountain chill, she pulled the sweater she had borrowed from Suzie earlier that morning snug around her body. Suzie got out the opposite side of the car and left the engine idling.

As Katie’s foot hit the top porch step, she heard the car door slam behind her, the engine gun, and the crunch of wheels on rocks and dirt. Briskly turning, she caught sight of Suzie’s orange Honda Element heading down the dirt road in a cloud of dust.

“What the heck?”

Behind her, porch floorboards creaked, and something slapped onto her right wrist. She stiffened and a deep male voice said softly.

“Sh, sweetheart. Don’t turn around. Don’t say a word. And do exactly as I say.”

Chris. Oh, hell’s bells.

The next five minutes blurred by in a nano-second. He lifted and carried her upstairs, stripped her naked, and secured her to the four-poster bed with leather restraints before she could protest.

Although she did protest. A little.

“What do you think you are doing?”

“Making you come to your senses.”

“I know my senses and they are just fine. Let me go, you bastard.”

“Not a chance, Sweet Pea. Your ass is mine. Tonight, and forever.”

“You can’t hog-tie me and…”

Shit. She got it.

Oh, damn. Damn! Bless your ever-loving, matchmaking heart, Ms. Suzie Hart! Katie trembled a little inside at the anticipation of what was to come. Apparently, Suzie hadn’t forgotten what she’d told her last night and apparently, she had somehow communicated those private needs and desires of hers to Chris.

Apparently!

She strained against the leather restraints and eyeballed the cuffs on her wrists. She watched as Chris pulled out a leather paddle from behind his back and straight away, she started breathing heavier.

“Oh. Yes.”

****

Looking down at Katie’s wild and wide eyes, Chris suddenly had second thoughts. He put one knee on the bed and laid the paddle down.

“Katie, I’m sorry. This is a mistake. I don’t want to do anything to hurt you or anything that you don’t want to do, and…”

She glared at him and jerked forward, her lips pressed, and her nostrils flared. The look on her face was reminiscent of something he’d seen in some horror movie with a possessed heroine.

“Chris Marks,”

she spit out.

“you are not going to hurt me. And if you wuss out on me and uncuff me, I will make you pay for the rest of your life. Do you understand? And the way I will make you pay is by not marrying you. Get it? Do I have to spell it out? Now, dammit, do what you set out to do. And do it now!”

Then she collapsed back against the pillows and exhaled.

“Please. Sir!”

Stunned, but jolted to his senses, he grasped the paddle and stood upright, trying to still his panicking heart. Goddamn, would it not stop beating so fast.

“Yes, ma’am,”

he said coolly, moving to the side of the bed and snapping the paddle in his palm. Then he bent to whisper in her ear.

“But let’s get one thing straight. That’s the last “Yes, ma’am”

you’re going to get from me. I’m the boss. Not you. And that is the last order you will utter for the next twenty-four hours. Do you understand?”

She shuddered and locked her gaze with his.

“Yes. Sir.”

Heaving in a deep breath, Katie closed her eyes as Chris dragged tip of the paddle over her nipples, then trailed a line down the center of her belly. Her nipples rose to the occasion and hardened. She grasped the chain of the cuff in each of her palms and increased the tension as he straddled her thighs.

Then he stopped.

She peered up at him.

“Are you going to glare at me every time I stop doing something?”

“Perhaps.”

“No. No, you will not.”

It was at that point he put the blindfold over her eyes.

“Ah, much better.”

Huffing out another breath, she waited.

“What are you doing?”

“You will be quiet.”

“Chris, I…”

He placed something on the third finger of her left hand.

“There,”

he said.

“and you don’t get to see it until we are finished here.”

“What?”

She curled toward her hand.

“No use. You can’t reach it. Don’t even try.”

Then he added.

“Don’t take it off. Ever. You understand that? You are mine now.”

Something was now tickling between her legs, which immediately distracted her from the other…thing. “Oh…”

“Katie, I need a response to my question.”

The tickling again. There. “Wha—?”

“You understand that you never take that ring off your finger, correct? You are mine and you will do as I say. You are marrying me.”

Warmth spread all throughout Katie’s body. Happy warmth.

“Yes, Sir!”

“Good.”

He scooted off her to the side.

“Spread your legs for me.”

Desire flicked through her. “Spread?”

He flicked the paddle firmly on her outer thigh. She flinched. Then shivered in delight.

“Now. No questions. Spread.”

The bed shifted with his weight. She did and his palms inched up the insides of her thighs.

“Where’s the paddle?”

she whispered.

“No questions. We’re doing this my way.”

“Wha…?”

He kissed her. Right at the juncture of her leg and pelvis. Just a breath away from…

“Oh, yes.”

She slithered downward and spread wider.

Chris hooked his arms under her legs and tilted her lower body. She felt herself rise a bit.

“Don’t move,”

he whispered, his breath hot against her.

“I have you.”

Dragging his lips along her inner leg, she clenched her thighs and waited. The prickles of his unshaven beard raked along her tender skin. His tongue left a sweet, moist trail toward her lips.

Then he paused.

She waited. Patiently.

For like, eons.

Then she felt the slightest sensation on her clit. First, it was like a breath, followed by the tip of something rough and wet at the same time.

Tickling. Circling.

Moaning, she strained against the cuffs.

The pressure increased as his tongue bore down harder.

Flicked.

Danced.

Sucked.

She jerked and shuddered. “Oh, God.”

Chris released her and swooped down, taking her more fully into his mouth. Claiming her for his very own. Making sweet love with his tongue.

Her libido swelled from deep inside. Heat gathered under his tongue. Her clit was hard, engorged and erect. Every time he swept his tongue over it, she jerked up and was caught by the restraints.

She would erupt. Knew it. Was so close to exploding. And then he…he….

Stopped.

“Not yet,”

he breathed. “Not yet.”

He moved on top of her.

“Damn you,”

she uttered and squirmed. His hot body covered hers and she relished in the feel of his searing skin. Her body hummed with orgasmic anticipation. He glided along the length of her, his cock branding heat against her hip.

“What are you doing?”

“Quiet.”

He grasped her right hand and she heard a click. Her hand was free.

Finished? No!

“Turn over.”

She lay there.

“Katie, turn over. Now.”

Gulping, and twittering deep inside with expectation, she did, laying slightly on her left side and tummy, because of the other cuff.

He straddled her legs, right about the knees.

“You been really bad, disobeying my wishes. Avoiding me.”

He flicked the paddle over the fleshy part of ass cheek. The sting both shocked and excited her.

“You’ve been holding out on me. Making me wait for your answer.”

“I know. I didn’t mean to upset you. I was so…

“So what?”

He lightly slapped the paddle over her ass again.

“I know. I’ve been difficult.”

“Difficult what?”

“I’ve been difficult, Sir.”

“Yes, you have.”

He paused for a moment.

“But we’re coming to an agreement tonight.”

Her heart did a little butterfly dance.

“Agreement?”

“Yes.”

“But what if I…?”

The paddle again. This time on the left cheek. Why she craved that sting, she didn’t know.

“I know what you want. You just don’t know that you want it, too. So, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands and convince you.”

She squirmed. Waited.

“You will marry me, Katie Long. That is what you want.”

Twitching, she tried to glance over her shoulders, but of course, she still had on the damn blindfold. She wanted to see his face.

“I will not.”

The sting was slightly more intense this time. Dammit, she was so turned on!

“You will.”

“And why should I?”

“Because I love you, and because you love me, you stubborn little vixen.”

He moved and she heard something skitter across the hardwood floor.

“I could throttle you for making me do this. Do you think I like slapping your ass with this thing? Do you think I want to hurt you?”

“You’re not hurting me. I like it. Do it again.”

“Katie?”

“Chris. I love the sting. Oh my God. I’ve never felt anything so erotic in all my life. Please?”

Movement again on the bed. One side gave way and it felt like he was reaching for something on the floor. Then, the slap on her ass again and she moaned in relief.

“I could get used to this.”

“You will marry me.”

“I don’t know…”

Again.

“I said, you will marry me.”

Excitement thrilled up inside of her.

“I may need more convincing.”

“I’m going to turn you over my knee and let the palm of my hand do that convincing.”

“Oh, yes. Do that. And I will marry you.”

This time she knew he’d thrown the paddle because she was sure it bounced off the wall beside of them.

He uncuffed her other hand then and pulled at her hips until her ass was up in the air. He ran his palms over the smooth skin of her cheeks and massaged. Katie moaned. The deliberately, one after the other, he delivered three firm swats to each cheek.

Beneath his hands, Katie quivered and gasped, her entire body shaking.

“I am so turned on,”

she whispered.

As was he. Turned on and throbbing hard. He twisted and grasped her buttocks, penetrating her with rigid, hot length of him from behind.

Groaning, he pumped in and out behind her while she clenched the blankets in her fists and held on, pressure building inside her just as tangible as the ring she knew was on her finger.

“Oh my God, Katie…”

he groaned.

The notion that she pleased him sent trills over her spine as his hands snaked up her back and reached around to grasp her breasts. He pinched her nipples and that one act sent her over the edge with a shout, her body bucking and exploding with the release of pent-up passion and emotion. She rolled with it until it overcame her and then brought her back down to earth.

Gripping the sheets, she let him ride out the ride, and very soon, he shouted and trembled, tumbling over her and holding her close.

A few blissful minutes later, Chris untied the blindfold. He rolled back over her while kissing her face and threading his fingers through her hair.

“God, I love you,”

he moaned.

“I love you, too, Chris Marks.”

“Marry me.”

“Oh, yes. On one condition.”

He arched a brow.

“And that is?”

“Never stop spanking me.”

“If that is the way to your heart, Katie Marie, then I’m happy to oblige.”

“Oh yes. Never stop, Chris.”

Grinning, he sat back and grasped her hips, pulling her closer.

“Let’s make another baby.”

“I don’t think it’s possible to make another one while I’m already pregnant.”

“Oh, yeah…”

But that didn’t stop them from trying.

****

The next morning, Katie fingered the gorgeous platinum diamond ring on her left finger. Staring at the thing, she realized she had no clue having it there would make her so happy. Exhaling long, she glanced at Chris sleeping beside her. He was exhausted. They had played all night, as was evident by their surroundings.

A dirty movie loop still played on the TV. The cheese board was half-cocked on the nightstand with cheese cubes on the floor. Chris had downed the wine because she didn’t want to drink. The bed restraints and cuffs hung over the side of the bed with other props and toys littered about the floor.

Smiling, she reached over and tugged the wave of hair falling over his forehead.

“Wake up, sleepyhead,”

she whispered.

Without opening his eyes, he dragged her under the covers and pulled her into a bear hug.

“There was something I forgot to ask you last night,”

he mumbled into his pillow.

“What’s that?”

“Suzie will kill me.”

“Suzie? Why?”

He was silent for another moment and then maneuvered so they were face to face on the pillow. “Dreams.”

He touched her lower lip with his fingertip, his eyes following the movement.

“Oh?”

Nodding, he continued.

“What are your dreams, Katie Long?”

She studied his face and for the first time in her life, really and truly knew that her dream had come true. She’d just been too stubborn to know what her dream was.

“Somehow, what I thought was a dream, seems rather insignificant at the moment. I have everything I need right here.”

He shook his head.

“Dreams are important. And whatever yours is, I want you to have it.”

“I have you.”

Nuzzling closer, she kissed him.

“And I have you. But whatever you want in your life, Katie, whatever your dream, I want to know what it is, and I want you to pursue it. And through it all, know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m right beside you.”

“Okay. I will tell you.”

Tears stinging her eyes, she reached for his hand and laid it on her belly. “Later,”

she breathed.

“I have you and I have our baby. That’s all I need right now. My dreams will come when it’s time.”

“Yes.”

He leaned into to kiss her.

“I love you, Katie Marie Long.”

“I love you right back, Chris Marks.”

****

“Well, there they go again.”

Sydney Hart leaned over the doughnut case and stared out the bakery front window.

“And the Labrador is heading straight for Bea across the street.”

Suzie heard the tone of her cousin’s voice and followed her gaze.

“Hells bells. That girl. You stay with the shop and I’ll herd the animals.”

She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and whipped off her apron. Last thing they needed this morning was another episode with dogs and customers. With one eye on Lyssa Larkin and another on the dogs scattered on the sidewalk, Suzie was thankful for the fifteen-mile-an-hour speed limit on North Main. She spied Bea across the street, who was rushing to unlock the library door and get inside. She was afraid of dogs.

With Katie and Chris off on their honeymoon, Bea was manning the library by herself. Last thing the town needed was an incapacitated librarian assistant due to dog bite.

“Matt!”

With a glance and a shout, she alerted her brother-in-law police officer. His morning coffee would have to wait.

“Dog run amok at twelve o’clock!”

She pushed through the bakery crowd.

“I need backup,”

she told him.

“Bring friends.”

She edged by a man entering the bakery who sidestepped her while checking his cell phone messages.

“Oh, excuse me. Sorry,”

she said, bumping him from the side.

He looked up.

“No worries. All okay?”

Suzie shook her head.

“Just morning puppy rescue,”

she returned.

His face held a puzzled look, but Suzie didn’t stick around long enough to explain. For the next several minutes she, Matt, and a couple of coffee-goers helped herd Lyssa Larkin’s puppy mess while Lyssa stood on the sidewalk frantically calling out dog names and grabbing leashes.

“Oh God, the Labrador is taking a whiz on the newspaper stand!”

Dammit. It wasn’t the first time this had happened. Lyssa’s new puppy nanny business was experiencing a ton of growing pains.

“Take the Shih Tzu!”

She handed the leash to Lyssa.

“Thank you! Oh God, Suzie, I’m so sorry!”

Suddenly it seemed half of Harbor Falls’ residents were scrambling in an attempt to capture all of the dogs. Finally, Suzie, out of breath and breaking a sweat, caught up with Lyssa who was now holding tightly onto several leashes with critters in tow.

“Do a head count?”

“Seven.”

Lyssa huffed out a breath.

“There are seven. That’s right. Moose, Gilda, Jeremiah, Sophie, Crackers, Spot, and Harold.”

“Harold?”

“He’s the Standard Poodle.”

Suzie shook her head and noticed the crowd around them dissipating.

“Lyssa, you either need to chain those dogs to your body or get another profession.”

“But I love the dogs!”

“Then control them! I can’t do this every morning.”

Lyssa eyed her.

“It’s not every morning, Suzie. Seriously.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Besides, it wasn’t my fault. Mrs. Pierson’s cat, Mellow Yellow, jumped out of the alley and scared Crackers—he’s the Chihuahua—and started him barking. Then Sophie, who doesn’t really like little dogs at all, got annoyed at Crackers and started lunging at the little guy. Then, Jeremiah, the Lab, spotted Bea across the street and well… Well, it was all over then.”

Suzie shook her head and glanced toward the bakery.

“It’s not good for business, Lyssa, all of this commotion. People will stop coming. You understand that, right?”

Lyssa bit her lip. Suzie knew the woman was trying to make a living and she appreciated that, but Lyssa really needed to get a grip on things. Literally.

The bakery door opened, and the man Suzie nudged earlier exited. He paused for a moment, looking down at his cell phone again and scrolling with one hand. In the other, he balanced a cup of coffee and a bag of pastries.

Lyssa shouted.

“Harold no!”

Harold, at that moment, mistook the gentleman’s leg for a fire hydrant, and sprinkled on his shoe.

“No, no, no, no!”

Lyssa jerked all of the dogs and they started barking in unison.

Suzie shouted to the man over the cacophony.

“Oh my God. So sorry!”

Then back to Lyssa, she ordered.

“Get the dogs out of here! I’ll handle this.”

Lyssa’s face twisted into a grimace and then she mouthed the words, I’m sorry, and took off with the dogs, tripping and skipping down the street trying to keep up with them. Suzie turned back to the man.

“I am so sorry. Let me get some towels inside. The bakery will pay for cleaning everything.”

He stared at his shoe and the damp cuff of his trousers, and then lifted his gaze to stare at Suzie.

“No worries,”

he said.

“I have puppies.”

“Then you understand.”

“Sort of. I’m learning.”

“Oh great. We’ll still pay. Please bring the cleaning bill by.”

He nodded. “Sure.”

Then he left. Quickly. Without a backward glance. Suzie didn’t blame him.

Huffing out a quick breath, she glanced back down the street in the opposite direction, following Lyssa Larkin as she stumbled after and tried to control her collection of canines.

Lord a mercy. That woman.

The Dating Game

Suzie Hart is earning quite the reputation as a matchmaking chef in the small town of Harbor Falls, North Carolina. Can she navigate the dating game for Lyssa Larkin?