Free The Devil's Cowboy by Kallista Dane Page B

closer, wafting the sage around her deliberately. He whispered under his breath, watching her closely.
    Ellen shuddered violently as the smoke built up around her again. “Stop it.”
    “I need you with me, Ellen. I need you to be fully present.” His voice rose, issuing a demand that echoed through the smoke-filled room. “I banish all spirits. Ellen alone dwells in this body. No creature of darkness, no other soul has dominion here.”
    She moved away from him, muttering incoherently.
    He put down the sage and grabbed the flask. “I command all other spirits to be gone.”
    Water sprinkled down over her head. Ellen screamed, backing away. “Stop it! What are you doing?”
    “Let this water protect and bless Ellen. Let her body and soul be here together, unmarked and unharmed by any dark entity.”
    The water splashed over her again, burning like acid. With a harsh cry, Ellen struck out, dashing the flask from his hand. It shattered on the wood floor.
    “You can’t trick me,” she snarled. “I know who you really are.”
    Rafe grabbed her, pulling her tight into his arms again as he had earlier in the day.
    “It’s okay, darlin’. It’s me. And you’re not her . I know they’re both strong, stronger than anything you’ve ever experienced. But you can do this. You can drive them out of your mind. I’m here to help.”
    “Help?” Her voice rose into a shriek. “Like you helped all the others? I know what you’ve done. I’ll see you in hell first. Let’s go there right now—together.”
    She caught him off guard, whirled in his arms. Grabbing a lit candle, she hurled it against the wall and narrowly missed setting the filmy white drapes on fire. Rafe let out a muffled curse, dragging her with him as he kicked the candle now lying on the floor and stepped on the wick to make sure it was out.
    Never letting her go, his boot snagged the leg of a dining room chair and he pulled it close. He sank down on it and for the second time that day, Ellen found herself upended over his lap, one strong arm pinning her in place like an iron bar.
    “I’ve had just about enough out of you, ma’am,” Rafe was saying. “Ellen, I’m sorry you had to get caught up in this, but both of you ladies need to know I’m not accepting any more bad behavior—from either of you. Ellen, if you don’t like what’s about to happen, I suggest you fight harder next time this ‘dark soul’ as you call it decides to pop in for a visit. Maybe by the time I’m through spanking you, you’ll believe that evil exists… and you’ll choose to send it packing right from the get-go instead of lettin’ it creep into your mind.”
    His hand descended on her upturned bottom. Ellen screeched. He ignored her outburst, raining down a volley of harsh smacks. She cursed and pounded on his thighs with her fists.
    “I’m guessin’ a real live butt-burnin’ spanking will bring your mind and body back together right quick,” he was saying. “It’s hard to keep your head in the spirit world when your ass is being walloped in this one.”
    She kicked and shrieked, struggling to get away. Rafe draped one leg over both of hers and grabbed a handful of pants and panties around her waist, yanking them both down at once with one swift tug. He stopped for a moment, as though taking in the sight of her quivering ass bared for him once again, then began spanking her in earnest.
    The obscene images disappeared instantly. All other sensations flew out of her head as well, leaving only the vicious sting of his palm cracking down on her already aching bottom. She wailed, she screamed, she pleaded and begged, not even knowing what she was saying. Still his hand whacked her over and over. Her entire world narrowed, focusing only on the agonizing fire he was igniting on her backside.
    Gradually, Ellen realized the frightening visions had vanished for good. The wild anger was gone and the bone-chilling cold that had invaded her body disappeared as