Lingerie and Lariats (Rough & Ready#7) by Cheyenne McCray Read Free Book Online Page A

long ago. The way he kept track of her; how he was jealous of any man she’d ever spoken to; his edginess around any of her friends, as if he didn’t want to be there; all of the times he’d gotten upset with her for making decisions without him. All were signs that he wasn’t the kind of man she had fooled herself into thinking he was. He wasn’t the kind of man she deserved.
    Why had it taken her so long to figure it out?
    Because she was too trusting. Too caring.
    Too easy to manipulate.
    The only thing she could do now was try to calm Jerry down and get him to think she was sorry for disobeying him. She would promise to do whatever he wanted while she figured out a way to regain control of her money.
    “I’m sorry.” She did her best to appear as if she was really begging for his forgiveness. “Please don’t be upset with me. I won’t do it again.”
    He lowered his hand and relief made her feel limp. He wasn’t going to hit her. But then he said, “I warned you there would be consequences if you disobeyed me and saw him again.”
    She swallowed. “Please, Jerry. Let’s forget this and start over.”
    “I don’t forget.” He moved his face closer to hers and she took a step back. “Ever.”
    She closed her eyes for a moment but they snapped open when he took her by the shoulders and he shook her hard enough to jar her teeth.
    “I’ve had enough,” she said a new resolve comes over her. “I’m leaving.”
    He raised his hand. “You’ll never leave me and you’ll never disobey me again.”
    Her heart pounded. She tried to step back but couldn’t get out of his grip. He swung his hand and slapped her across the side of the face.
    He hit her so hard that she almost fell but he had a tight hold on her. Her ear rang and her face stung. She felt slightly dizzy.
    And then her skin started to prickle with anger.
    Tears of fury pushed their way out. She didn’t try to stop them. Jerry would think that she was capitulating to him, maybe even that she was repentant for disobeying him.
    She knew exactly what she would do. She would regain control of her money and then she would make sure he never hurt her again.
    “Take off your clothes.” He shoved her toward the bed hard enough that she fell onto the edge of the mattress, barely keeping herself from falling onto the floor. “I’m going to fuck you and show you exactly who you belong to.”
    “No.” She shook her head.
    “No?” Jerry strode to her and grasped the front of her dress and yanked it down, exposing her breasts.”
    With a cry, she crossed her arms over her chest, covering her nakedness. Tears rolled down her cheek and her voice rose, sounding almost hysterical. “I’m not going to have sex with you.”
    Jerry looked like he was going to slap her again and she cringed. Instead he grabbed a pillow and blanket off the bed and threw them across the room and onto the floor. “You can sleep on the floor like a dog. You little bitch.”
    It felt like blood was draining from her face as he looked at her as if he was going to beat her.
    “I’m going out and I want you right here.” He bared his teeth at her. “You don’t so much as blow your nose until I come back. Do you understand?”
    She nodded, feeling trapped and alone.
    He jerked open the dresser drawer where she’d put her panties, bras, and nightgowns and he threw a gown at her. “Get changed for bed.” He watched her as she stripped off her sandals and dress. She hated his eyes on her naked form and she prayed he wasn’t going to try again to force himself on her.
    The look in his eyes made her hurry to pull her nightgown over her head and then tug it down over her hips. She took off her jewelry and set it on the bureau, then started toward the bathroom where she was heading to wash off her makeup. He grabbed her arm and shoved her back toward the blanket and the pillow on the floor. “Lie down where you belong and don’t move until I’m back.”
    Her heart was still