Caine

By Kelly Dawson

Tessa Patterson has dreamed of barrel racing in the local rodeo forever. But when the big day finally arrives, her beloved Kaimanawa horse, Thunder, starts acting out, and Tessa's dream starts to slip through her fingers. Just when she's about to give up, the legendary New Zealand National Champion cowboy Caine Foster steps in to help.

 

With a steady hand and a gentle touch, Caine effortlessly tames the unruly horse, repairing the fractured bond between horse and rider and putting Tessa's dreams firmly back in her grasp.

 

But Caine's mastery of horsemanship is just the beginning. Behind the scenes of the rodeo, a fiery passion ignites between them, and Caine's dominant desires awaken a longing in Tessa she never knew existed. He wants to claim her and make her his own, commanding her submission in ways she never would have imagined.

 

Can Tessa find the courage to surrender her heart to Caine and call him Daddy – just as the little girl inside of her desires?

This novella was originally included in the Daddy's Demands anthology published by Stormy Night Publications under the title Trusting Daddy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kelly Dawson
• Release date: May 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386513209

Kelly Dawson

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR KELLY DAWSON loves anything to do with horses, rodeos and cowboys, and loves to get lost in a good book - preferably one containing spanking! Her favourite heroes are sexy, dominant, firm-handed country boys who spoil their women far more than they spank them, and were pretty much born on horseback, being able to ride just about before they could walk. She lives literally at the bottom of the world in the South Island of New Zealand, with her very own romance novel hero (her husband of 18 years), four kids, a dog and a cat. Kelly Dawson has 12 books out, mostly erotic rural romance set in New Zealand. Check out her website to learn more - and connect with Kelly on social media - links on her website. Thank you for reading!

Book preview

This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults.

Chapter One

NO, DON’T DO THIS TO me! Tessa begged the big gelding straining at the end of the rope. Just this one time, please stand still!

She was so tense her whole body was tight. Her heart pounded so hard she figured Thunder, her jet black gelding, could probably hear it. This day was so important to her, the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. And Thunder was ruining it. He was picking the worst possible time to play up. Right now, she missed her father more than anything.

Settle down! she yelled at her prancing horse, but it didn’t help. In fact, it made things worse. Thunder reared straight up on his back legs, striking out with his forelegs, something he hadn’t done in ages, nearly ripping the rope out of her hands. She screamed in fear and sprang back, holding the rope right at the very end. Why was he doing this to her today, of all days? Didn’t he know this day was the reason they’d been running barrels at home for hours on end, wearing a cloverleaf pattern into the grass that probably wouldn’t grow back any time soon? She was shaking, more in anger than anything else. Thunder knew better than to do this.

Stretching as far as she could, her fingertips just reached the whip tucked inside the horse float. Thunder needed to be taught a lesson. No way was he going to keep playing up like this. Not today. She was in charge here, not Thunder. It was about time he remembered that.

Shortening the rope, she raised the whip. Thunder showed the whites of his eyes and began to pull. Just before she lashed the whip down, strong arms wrapped around from behind her, wrenching both the rope and the whip from her grasp. Tessa stood there, shaking and seething with rage, while a cowboy she could only see from the back expertly, patiently, calmed her horse.

Whoa, buddy. The deep voice was quiet, soothing, and Thunder responded. The cowboy had dropped the whip, holding the lead rope just below Thunder’s halter in his left hand and running his right hand down the sleek black neck now lightly coated with sweat. Thunder was snorting, but the cowboy persevered, speaking softly, calmly, and the horse stopped moving. Gradually, he relaxed. But Tessa didn’t. She continued to shake, close to tears, as waves of guilt and desperation racked her body. Why had she thought she would be able to do this? It was stupid of her to even try.

Her eyes blurred with tears as the cowboy tied a now calm Thunder up to the side of the horse float and turned around. She gasped. Caine Foster! He’d won three all-round national championship titles and she’d idolised him for years. OMG. Of all the people she had to make a fool of herself in front of... of all the people to be incompetent and unable to control her horse in front of... she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She turned away. No way could she look at him.

At every rodeo she’d ever been to over the years, Caine had competed. She couldn’t remember ever seeing him get bucked off. Although she’d been too shy to actually approach him and speak to him, she’d followed him on social media and spent hours poring over photos of him. And now here he was, in the flesh, just metres away from her. The timing, the circumstances, could not be worse. She was such an idiot.

Tessa froze as strong arms wrapped around her from behind. They felt very much like the same arms that had wrapped around her earlier. Caine. Her heart pounded.

You know, he’s big and powerful enough to hurt you, but he chooses not to. Why would you take advantage of that? a deep, sexy voice murmured in her ear. She’d never heard his voice before, but it fitted the image she had of him; it matched that rugged, masculine cowboy she’d seen ride and ogled over social media.

I don’t know, she whispered. He just wouldn’t stand still! I couldn’t even brush him, let alone get the saddle on, and I’m in the local barrel race soon... She choked on her breaking voice. The strong arms pulled her closer, a thumb ran up and down her arm, soothing her.

Let me help you.

They stood there like that for ages with Caine’s strong body against her, reassuring her, and slowly her racing heart steadied and her rapid breathing slowed. When she was calm, the cowboy holding her let her go and walked around to stand in front of her. She didn’t want to look at him, but he extended his hand toward her, giving her no choice.

I don’t think we introduced ourselves, his deep voice rumbled. I’m Caine Foster. He winked, and she nearly melted.

Tessa Paterson. She took the hand he offered. His hand was calloused and his grip firm. She couldn’t help but smile as he met her eye.

Nice to meet you, Tessa. Now, how about we get this horse of yours here ready to ride? He held her hand for a second more, his piercing stare seeming to search her very soul, before he let her go.

Thank you, she murmured.

Caine was around the other side of her horse and she couldn’t see his face when he spoke again.

You should be spanked for considering mistreating your horse like that. His growly voice was quiet, and a wee bit muffled by Thunder’s body. Shivers ran down Tessa’s spine. She hadn’t heard him correctly, surely. But if she had... she quivered in excitement.

At the same time, she had a flash of guilt and shame. Even before she’d picked up the whip, she’d known it was a bad idea, but she’d done it anyway. It was so unlike her, something she’d never done before, and likely would never do again, but she was desperate.

I know, she admitted, her voice small. "But I didn’t know what else to do.