Page 37 of Branded By Bishop

"No. I'm taking you inside so everyone on the ranch doesn't hear you screaming my name when I spank your gorgeous ass, Callie," I growl, hauling her out of the truck.

"You are not spanking me."

"I am if you think you're turning down a record deal for me."

She growls at me like a pissed-off kitten. It'd be cute if I didn't want to turn her over my knee and turn her little ass red right now. But I absolutely do want to do that right now.

I stomp up the stairs to the cabin, trying to contain her with one hand and open the door with the other.

"Your door isn't locked."

"I'm aware."

"Why do I have to lock mine, but you don't have to lock yours?" she demands.

"Because no one is coming through my door in the middle of the night unless they want to leave in a body bag, songbird," I murmur. You'd have to be the stupidest son of a bitch on the planet to try breaking in here. "If they come through yours, you know damn well that you can't protect yourself."

"Yes, I can."

I plant her gorgeous ass over the back of the couch, face down, holding her easily in place with one hand. She squeals indignantly and tries to kick me, but she doesn't even come close. My free hand lands against her ass in a light smack.

"Bishop!" she screeches. "I swear to God, if you—"

I smack her ass again. "See? You can't even get away from me, baby. How are you going to protect yourself from someone who actually wants to hurt you?"

"I want to hurt you right now."

I chuckle even though there's nothing funny about this, then pluck her up, setting her on her feet again. "Give it your best shot, songbird."

She glares at me like she's trying to decide if she wants to punch me. "You're being a jerk."

"No, I'm being a man who cares about you, your safety, and your future," I murmur. "I'm being one who fucking loves you enough to tell you when you're being unreasonable."

"I'm not being unreasonable."

"You are if you think passing up the record deal you've been working your ass off to get is a good idea."

"Maybe I want something more than I want music," she mutters, crossing her arms. "Have you ever thought of that?"

"It kills me that you think you have to choose, songbird."

"You don't want to chase me, remember?" Her bottom lip quivers, and my fucking heart bleeds. "You watched your dad chase your mom your whole life, and you promised yourself that you wouldn't turn out like him."

"I also promised myself that I'd never fall in love," I say, my voice soft. "But I fell as soon as I fucking met you."

"Don't," she whispers.

"Don't what?"

"Don't make it harder."

"I love you."

A tear slips down her cheek.

"And I know you love me, too. You never would have said it if you didn't feel that way." I tip her chin up, forcing her to look at me. "Part of loving you means chasing you while you chase your dreams, Callie. It means being the lucky motherfucker you come home to between shows, between dreams. It means standing in your corner, even if that corner isn't on this ranch or in Silver Spoon Falls."

"Bishop." Another tear slips down her cheek.