Midnight Roots (Silver Creek Ranch)

Chapter Ten

Heston

I hear the shattering of glass, and Cece and I turn to look at the door.

"I'll be right back," she says, hurrying through the doors to see what happened.

I wait for a moment, curious, but I want to see what's going on when Dillon walks in with my pie and coffee.

"Do I make you so nervous you drop dishes?" I tease her.

She colors and flirts back. "What can I say? It takes one hell of a man to make me shake."

"I'll make you do more than shake," I promise. And it is a promise.

I think of Tessa and what I did to her last night. She didn't shake; she screamed. I wouldn't mind having Dillon screaming my name. Over and over again.

While I eat my pie, Dillon goes to help clean up whatever mess she created. I assume she dropped a coffee cup or plate. I think about Tessa. Last night was good. It taught her a valuable lesson. First, I whipped her. The louder she cried every time I whipped her, the harder I lashed out at her. I explained that to her, but it took her a while to cotton on.

Once she did, she simply whimpered when I struck her. Her skin was black and blue and, in some places, bleeding where the skin had split. She had begged me for something to drink, so I gave her her own urine. It was to quench her thirst. She spat it at me, and that warranted more punishment.

I had clamped her nipples with two little electrical clamps that led to a battery with a button. A little something I'd rigged myself. I flicked the switch, and electricity coursed through her. She shook violently, her body going rigid. I flicked the switch again, and she slumped, sobbing. I flicked the switch again and watched as she convulsed. I flicked it off again and walked to her, stroking her face. I slap her cheek. I told her to wake up, or she was going to regret it.

She had groaned and asked me nicely to let her go. So nicely. As though she hadn't tried that already. As though begging would help, as though anything would help at all. She was a lost cause. Whatever brain cell she had had been fried or beaten out of her. Her parents should have taught her better, but she wanted to play this game, and now I played it better.

I'm brought out of my reverie whenDillon comes back to check on me, and I smile brightly at her. "Pie is great. "

"Thanks. I don't actually know where we get them from, but they look delicious." She wipes the counter off.

"Grab a slice and come sit with me. It's on me," I suggest.

"I'm working," she says hesitantly.

"Cece," I call. "Dillon is gonna have a slice of pie with me."

"Okay," she calls back. "As long as you're paying."

Dillon smiles and disappears. She comes back with a slice of cheesecake and sits on the stool beside me. "Thanks for the pie."

"It's my pleasure," I say, going back to my own. "A pretty girl like you shouldn't be on her feet all day," I comment.

"Well, someone's gotta pay the bills," she says. "And right now, I'm really thankful for the job. "

"So, no boyfriend to help you out?" I ask casually, or at least I'm trying to sound casual.

She glances at me. "Nope, no boyfriend. It's just me. And you? You got a wife at home?"

I think about Tessa, who's literally tied to the trusses in my roof. She might as well be a ball and chain.

"No, nothing at home for me either." I finish my pie and sip my coffee. I glance at her.

She tries to hide a smile, and I know I've struck gold.

"Well, since you're not seeing anyone, do you want to go out tonight?" I ask, looking at her. "On a date?"

That blush that rises in her cheeks does something feral to me. I want to take her here and now on this counter, though Cece wouldn't appreciate that. The things I would do to Dillion, to pleasure her, of course. I would never do anything to bring her harm. She is like a delicate flower and should be treated as such.

"Well, sure. You can pick me up at six. I live at the Starlet apartments," she finishes her pie. "Thanks for this, Heston. I really needed some downtime. I look forward to our date later. Anything in particular I should wear?"

"Just something nice, nothing fancy," I say as I finish my own pie. I fish out my wallet and place a few bills on the counter. "Keep the change, and I'll see you tonight."

I stand up and put my ball cap on before I walk out. I don't want to lose the nerve I've mustered. This time, I don't wait for her through the lunch rush. I go back to the ranch to get my chores done quickly.

Some new calves have been born, so I take my tools to weigh them and make a note, and then I tag them. The little calves run straight back to their mothers, who are watching me with weary eyes as if to tell me off for daring to touch their precious children.

When I'm done, I take a shower and dress nicely—my jeans and a plaid shirt. I don't put on the ball cap this time, but I run my hand through my hair a couple of times. I put on some aftershave and deodorant before I leave the house to drive back to town. It'll take me at least an hour to get there.

I don't bother to check on Tessa. She can hang around until I get back. I'll deal with her later. I already have a host of things I want to do to her. Things I plan on doing to her if tonight doesn't go well and things to do to her if it does.

Maybe if it goes well tonight, I'll give her some actual water.

I don't want her to die on me after all. Where's the fun in that?