by Abbie Adams
* * * * *
Sunny didn't know why, it wasn't like she'd worked hard, but exhaustion had her straggling. Even though she'd napped on the beach before horseback riding, she felt like she hadn't slept in days. It might have been the heat, as Jesse had suggested. He said it played its toll on many tourists. Her muscles ached and she had to admit that it had been far too long since she'd ridden a horse. Despite the fact that they'd mostly plodded along, having to press against the stirrups and maintain her balance with her legs widely spread had her aching in places she'd forgotten she had. Whatever it was, she grabbed hold of the excuse to camp out in that huge bath tub with a good book. She could sink down into the mound of bubbles currently frothing under the tap and stay as long as she wanted.
She'd loaded her Kindle with the latest Masters of the Castle series before embarking on her Cancun adventure. As a librarian, Sunny had always relished holding a great book in her hands. Hard cover or paperback, books were meant to be treasured and while she would always appreciate the printed novels as superior, she couldn't help but admit eBook readers had opened the doors for so many new books. Books that she hadn't known existed until recently. Books that a person would be embarrassed to carry around. Books that made the reader blush—or worse drench their panties with desire. She had high hopes that the books she'd loaded would entertain, titillate and take her on a journey with some intriguing, interesting characters. The fact that it was a boxed set, containing five full length books by some of her favorite authors, had her anxious to begin with that first page. If she couldn't live the life she secretly dreamed of living, she'd do the next best thing and live vicariously through the sexy, stern alpha males who adored their sassy, strong women. Women who appreciated both a hot bottom and a long hot love scene with the men who'd earned the gift of their submission. She'd already decided to save the book based on age-play for later. Rosie's Resolutions promised to have her expanding her desire to live a life under the watchful, loving eye of a strong Daddy. She giggled at the thought that the room would most likely be filled with a great deal of heat and not all of that would be pouring from the tap!
So staying in her suite with her latest character crush was no hardship. While waiting for the tub to fill, she picked up the room service menu again. Who cared that the only meal she'd eaten outside her room had been that morning's breakfast? No one, that's who! It was her damn vacation and she could eat wherever, whenever, and more importantly, whatever she wanted. Waiting for the phone to be answered, she had to send up thanks again to Tiffany for insisting on an all-inclusive resort. Her choices weren't limited to only those whose price was below a certain number. Smiling, she placed her order and wondered if the person on the other end of the phone was checking the maximum capacity of her room. She'd ordered enough food for three small countries but again, this was her vacation, she could gorge if she wanted to. Besides, it was free.
The only thing more comforting than a hot bubble bath was a tub of Ben and Jerry's Heavenly Hash. Not finding it on the menu, she remembered a saying that would compensate for the stress of that disappointing discovery. After all, 'Desserts was stressed spelled backwards'. It only made sense to reverse her stress by ordering not one but three kinds of cake. And, no, it wasn't a coincidence that the description on the menu of a heavy dark chocolate cake with fresh strawberries came with the promise she'd think it was 'Better than Sex'. Though she couldn't truly imagine that as being true, the fact that she'd also ordered a bottle of wine that she wouldn't have to share couldn't do anything but leave her relaxed and happy. Hanging up the phone, she gave a satisfied nod of her head. Had this self-indulgent and sinfully caloric order come with a price tag, she was positive it would have cost at least as much as that pair of designer shoes she's splurged on that were currently tucked into her suitcase.
As was normal for Sunny, long before the first book was over, she had partially drained and then added more hot water to the tub—twice. The first book in When The Gavel Falls had heated her more than the steam rising from the tub. God, who knew that she'd be doubly blessed that day? First, she'd met a set of incredibly handsome cowboy twins and in the story Sharing Silver by Tabitha Black, she'd met a sexy, seductive pair of twins who demonstrated their skills at pleasuring the submissive they'd purchased in the charity auction. Setting her Kindle aside, she scooted down into the bubbles until only her chin was above the water. Leaning her head back against the porcelain, the story she'd finished reading morphed into the one that was playing unendingly in her mind. She allowed her imagination to take over from there. Who needed Travis and Trevor from the castle when she had Jake and Jesse?
Chapter Seven
"Thank you for the ride," Sunny said as Jesse lifted her from the saddle. His hands around her waist had her thinking of a totally different sort of ride. As he set her onto her feet, sliding her down the rock-hard plane of his chest, she opened her mouth to say she was glad his brother, that meanie, Jake, couldn't tell his twin 'I told you so'. However, instead of those words, a sharp squeal flew from her mouth. "Shit! Ouch! Ouch!"
"What's the matter?" Jesse said as she pulled away from his hold, jumping on one foot, her other lifted off the ground.
"What do you think?" a new voice sounded as Jake stepped off the porch. "I told you her footwear was not appropriate." Before Jesse or Sunny could react, Jake had snaked an arm around her waist, bending her forward.
"No! You can't spank me!" Sunny squealed again, her hands flailing to grip the nearest thing for support. Of course, that meant she wrapped her hands around his denim covered leg.
"Stop squirming," Jake ordered as his free hand moved to her foot. "You've got some burrs stuck in your heel."
"Ouch!" she yelped as his fingers plucked the first spiky burr from her skin. Looking over her shoulder, she said, "That hurts!"
When his head turned and their eyes met, she had to swallow hard as she struggled to remember how to breathe. "I guarantee it doesn't hurt anywhere near as much as the spanking you have coming."
"What?" she gasped and squealed as a second burr was extracted.
"I didn't stutter and I'm sure you understand the word," Jake replied. "After all, not only did I speak in English, little girl, you were the one who just admitted you deserve a bottom warming."
"I did not!" Sunny countered, "I said you can't…"
"I assure you I can," Jake interrupted, removing the final two burrs.
"I'm not positive that it's proper to threaten to spank our paying guests," Jesse said.
Sunny nodded furiously, grateful to have the sane twin come to her defense. "Thank you," she said, wiggling to escape Jake's hold.
Two identical chuckles had her breath catching in her throat. "I guess what I should have added was that it's a good thing we aren't the least bit concerned about what's proper," Jesse said, his grin matching that of his brother's.
"But… but you were the one who said it didn't matter! You said you'd take care of me!"
"And I did," Jesse agreed. "I kept you safe on your ride but have to admit my brother was right. You might just be the cutest little thing I've ever seen, but if you walk away thinking your cuteness exempts you from following rules meant to keep you safe, you might do something that does have you in danger or seriously injured. I'd feel horrible for contributing to that mind-set. Besides, you assured me that you would pay the price required."
She sputtered, "That's not what I meant!"
"Enough talking," Jake said, flipping Sunny off his leg only long enough to scoop her into his arms. "It's time for action."
Sunny lost the power of speech. How had this happened? One moment she'd been thinking Jesse was the carefree brother while Jake was the unbending twin. Now it appeared that blood ran thicker than she'd thought and that supposed invisible bond between twins was as unbreakable as their rules of riding attire should have been. She didn't utter a sound until they reached a stack of hay bales outside the corral.
"Hey…"
"That'
s right, hay," Jake said as he plopped her to sit on top of one of the bales. "You sit right here and don't move."
"But, it's itchy!"
"Wouldn't bother you if you were wearing jeans," he retorted before turning to Jesse. "Keep an eye on her. I'm going to get stuff to wash her foot and some antibiotic cream." He didn't bother for Jesse's reply as he strode across the yard towards the house.
Sunny decided this was her best chance. "Jesse, he was teasing about… um, you know, right?"
"Jake doesn't do a lot of teasing," Jesse said. "He tends to be the more serious one."
"But you can't let him actually…"
"Spank you?" he supplied when she couldn't finish her sentence. Nodding, she felt her face flush and more hay poking into her skin as she wiggled on the hay bale.
"I've already seen what happens when I attempt to counter my brother's decisions. Just because you weren't hurt, doesn't mean you couldn't have been. Hell, you weren't paying the least bit of attention while riding even after I made a point of telling you to mind your feet."
"But nothing happened!"
"This time," he agreed, moving to stand in front of her. Placing his hands on the bale to either side of her hips, he shook his head. "But, had your leg slipped earlier when Jasper startled because of that iguana, you might have found yourself sliding from the saddle and being drug through the forest."
"But it didn’t slip. All that happened was that I lost a flip-flop and got a few burrs in my foot. Look, I'll apologize to Jake and promise I won't ever forget the wear jeans and boots again."
"I'm glad to hear that." Her head whipped to the side to see that Jake had returned. When she opened her mouth to repeat her promise, he shook his head. "Don't bother. Words are easy to say, especially when trying to worm your way out of what you know you deserve. Give me your foot."
Sunny had no choice as he was lifting her foot as he spoke. She watched as he washed her foot with cool water and soap. His hands were calloused from physical labor and yet were so gentle as he cleaned the area injured by her own stupidity. When she winced, he looked up.
"Sorry, I don't want to hurt you, I just need to make sure I got all the spikes out. An infection could really harm you."
Opening her mouth to point out the fact that he was planning on spanking her did no good as he continued. "And yes, I can read your mind and that argument doesn't carry any weight. Yes, a spanking is gonna hurt but it won't physically harm you." Sunny gave a huge sigh. It was finally clear that neither one of these men was going to cut her a break. After he'd washed, applied anti-biotic cream and wrapped her foot in gauze, he stood from his kneeling position and looked down at her.
"Ready?"
Okay, she may have to admit that she'd been a ditz about the ride, but she wasn't about to pretend she was ignorant of what he was asking. All three of them knew exactly what he was referencing. Swallowing hard, she gave him a nod. She had known better when she climbed onto the horse and she knew she wouldn't feel better until she climbed into the cab to return to the resort. She just hoped that she'd be able to actually sit and that the bumpy road they'd taken to get reach the stables had magically smoothed by the time they were done here.
Jesse and Jake both helped her off the bale, instructing her to keep her injured foot lifted. They spent a few minutes conversing as she stood on one foot like a crane. Evidently they decided standing wasn't going to work and before she knew it, she was kneeling on a horse blanket that Jesse spread out in front of another bale and Jake was spreading a second blanket over the bale.
Stepping back, he nodded, and she supposed the preparations were to his satisfaction. "Go ahead and bend over."
Out of excuses, she leaned forward and lay her torso down onto the blanket. Determined to show them that she was truly sorry for causing any discord between them, she gripped the rope holding the bale together and waited.
"If you behave, it will be only one set," Jake said and then added, "from each of us."
Two sets didn't sound so bad. Sure, her butt was a bit tender from bouncing in the saddle but she was sure she could easily stay in position for two sets.
"Ready?"
"Yes, sir… sirs," she said, grinning a bit at her cleverness in giving both men a respectful answer.
"Jess, you go first. I want her ass warmed up before it's my turn."
Wait, that didn't sound very promising. Before she could protest, she felt fingers slip inside the waistband of her bikini bottoms and then the warm breeze of the day caressing her now bared behind.
"Hey!"
"Want to make it two sets… each?" Jesse asked. When she shook her head, he chuckled. "Good decision. You should know that any spanking worth its salt is delivered on a bare butt. Now, stick that cute behind out for us."
Us. God, just the thought of there being an 'us', a set of twins not only looking at her bare ass, but getting ready to take turns setting it on fire had her squeezing her inner thighs tightly together. She could only pray they didn't turn her spanking into some sort of competition. She couldn't promise she'd be able to keep her legs together to hide the shame of the glistening she was sure was developing.
The first smack caught her by surprise but the second had her squealing. Oh God, these were not men who sat behind desks pushing paper all day. No, these were men who earned every muscle they had through hard work. By the time a dozen had been given, her butt was swaying from side to side and wagging up and down.
"I'm sorry!" she cried out, yelping as another swat landed on the lower half of her left buttock. "Ow! That hurts!" Her observation was ignored as a matching swat was given to her right buttock. Of course, Jesse was a twin after all and seemed determined to make every swat on one poor cheek mirror the ones placed on its twin.
"I think she's pretty warm now," Jesse said, straightening and running his palm across her bottom. She was ashamed that instead of groaning, she actually moaned at the sensation, causing Jesse to chuckle. "Warm but not yet very repentant it seems."
"No! I mean, I am sorry! I promise!"
"Good to know." Though their voices were identical, Sunny knew the men had swapped places as one hand was lifted and replaced by another. "Good job, Jess. She'll be able to handle the next set without any problems." He paused and when he chuckled, Sunny felt her stomach flip and additional moisture slip down her thigh. "Of course, our naughty little girl might not agree by the time we're done."
Sunny turned her head to plead and to apologize when her words were lost at the sight of Jake bending down before straightening, her remaining flip-flop in his hand. He met her eyes and his eyebrow lifted as he smacked the shoe against his palm. She jumped and yelped and he chuckled. "The perfect tool to remind our little equestrian that while flip-flops are not suitable footwear, they are extremely suitable for swatting and searing a naughty girl's seat."
She felt her entire body clutch as he ran the shoe's sole across her tender behind. Many of her favorite books set in the Victorian era contained discipline scenes that included 'slippering' but never in a million years had she expected to experience it—much less experience it with her own 'slipper' as the implement of her correction.
By the time Jake had given her his set of twelve with the shoe, she had a far better understanding of how loud those Victorian ladies had howled. God, her butt felt like it was on fire. The flip-flop had made a horrible smacking sound, its flexibility allowing it to flex with each swat as if the plastic was determined to mold to her ass cheeks. She'd screeched and bucked so hard that Jesse had placed his own hand on one side of her back, his brother's on the other to hold her in place. She'd started apologizing and begging from the very first stroke. Now that an even dozen had been delivered and her punisher had stepped away, she was blubbering like a baby and her hands were clutching her scorched seat.
"Shh, it's over," Jesse said, using his fingers to swipe hair that had escaped her ponytail off her tearstained cheek.
Jake scooped her up again, turned and sat down o
n the bale and held her on his lap. She attempted to lift up, her bottom protesting not only her weight but the scratch of his clothing. "Shh, settle down. I've got you." Jesse squatted down, his hand running up and down her legs as his twin's ran up and down her back and arms until she was calm. A red bandana was pulled from Jesse's pocket and held by Jake as he instructed her to blow. It was both embarrassing but incredibly comforting having not one but two men giving her aftercare.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up," Jesse said. "Good thing we have a huge bathtub."
Did that mean he… no they… were they planning on joining her in that tub? Sunny didn't give it another thought as Jake stood, cradling her in his arms as the trio began to walk towards the house. She smiled against the cowboy's incredible chest and hoped they also had a huge supply of hot water….
* * * * *
Water? Oh shit! Sunny jolted forward causing more water to slosh onto the floor. Somehow in her little trip to dreamland, her foot must have nudged the tap. Bending forward, she shut off the water and then stood up to allow the water to have more room to swirl in the tub instead of spilling yet more gallons onto the floor. Crap! There was no way she had enough towels to clean up the mess she'd made. Gasping, she whipped around and almost slipped in her panic to make sure that her Kindle wasn't floating like a raft lost at sea. Thankfully, she'd had the presence of mind to set the electronic reader on the toilet seat so it was safe. She had to giggle thinking that even if it had taken an unexpected dip, it appeared she could slip into fantasy land without having to turn even an electronic page.
Sighing, she pulled the plug from the tub, wrapped herself in the terrycloth robe graciously provided by the resort and then went to call housekeeping. Despite her embarrassment, she knew she had to call and ask for additional towels. Hell, while she was at it, she might as well order a little snack. After cleaning the bathroom, she was sure she'd be hungry and would appreciate at least a little something before crawling into bed for the night.
