The Man of Her House

by Constance Masters

  “I thought you weren’t going to boss me.”

  Jesse was sure he’d made some headway and was completely confused by her sudden return to bratting. “I wouldn’t have to boss you if you would just do what you’re supposed to do on your own.”

  “I said I’d do it. I just didn’t say when. So long as I do it before bed, you have nothing to complain about.”

  “If you don’t do the dishes by midnight, I will spank you,” Jesse said with a firm voice and a raised eyebrow. “Seriously, I will.”

  Jesse watched in frustration as Alyssa jogged up the stairs. She was playing him again, he was certain of it. Well, he wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of knowing she’d gotten to him.

  * * *

  Upstairs, Alyssa climbed into her mom’s unmade bed and switched on the TV. Her favorite program was on, but as hard as she tried she just couldn’t concentrate on it. She was being a rude and ungrateful brat, and she knew it. Jesse had gone to the trouble of preparing her a nice meal, even though she’d hidden up here when she was supposed to be helping. How did she repay him? She gave him attitude and stormed out. Guilt weighed heavily on her, and she was really close to going downstairs to apologize.

  She got out of bed again and even had hold of the door handle, but then she pictured him threatening her again with a spanking. Her tummy curled with pleasure at the memory of him standing there, arms folded, eyebrow raised in disapproval…

  I will spank you. The words were on repeat in her head. She couldn’t do this. He didn’t deserve to be treated like this, but she had to get rid of him. He was messing with her head. She had to get him out before he turned her brain completely and she found she couldn’t live without his dominance.

  The program finished and another came on, but Alyssa didn’t even notice. She was too busy watching the clock. She left herself just enough time to get the dishes done without earning herself a spanking but long enough to have Jesse irritated.

  * * *

  Over the next few days Alyssa tried so hard to get at Jesse, but nothing worked. She blared music late at night and didn’t clean up until the very last minute. When she finally heard his bedroom door close, she would clanging the dishes and turn the music up downstairs. She even threw out his hot dogs. That was a bit mean, but when she opened the fridge, they were just sitting there, begging for her to do something with them. She did eat one but they weren’t very nice. She had done him a favor, really.

  All this hard work, and Jesse didn’t even bite. He said nothing. Didn’t even notice. It had left her feeling a bit deflated. In fact, Jesse had been all but ignoring her. She found that was irritating her more than his previous bossiness. The night before, her breath had caught in her throat when she saw him open the fridge and take out a beer. God, why hadn’t she thought about the beer? That would get his attention. Would he care that she’d drunk it, or would he care that he was down a beer or two? Did she care if he cared? God, this was more complicated than it had to be.

  “Alyssa!” Jesse called from the kitchen.

  Alyssa giggled. After a restless night, she’d woken earlier than Jesse with a renewed determination. She was going to get his attention today if it killed her. Looked like she was off to a good start. By the sound of his bellowing, he’d finally bitten.

  * * *

  Jesse picked up an armful of dirty dishes and dumped them on the drainer so he could get a glass of water. He scoffed in disgust when he found half a soggy sandwich underneath the dirty plates. “Alyssa!”

  He had tried for a week to give her the benefit of the doubt like she’d asked. What did he get for it? Not a lot. At first she’d played games with him and left things to the last minute, but she had done them. He hadn’t wanted to give her the attention she’d been looking for, so he’d ignored her behavior. Looking at this mess, though, it was clear that now she wasn’t bothering to clean up at all.

  Alyssa jogged down the stairs in a pair of short shorts and a bikini top.

  “What are you wearing?” he asked looking out back to where the other workers were having their lunch in the sun.

  “What?”

  “Maybe I should have said what are you not wearing? You forgot two thirds of your clothes.”

  “You called me down here to rag on my clothes?”

  “No. I called you down here because you left so much mess in the sink I couldn’t turn on the faucet.”

  “But you have a glass of water in your hand.”

  “I moved it.”

  “The water?”

  “The mess!”

  “Oh, so you’re good then.”

  “No, I’m not good. You need to clean up this mess. Actually, go get changed and then come back and clean up the mess.”

  “No.”

  “Alyssa,” he said running his hand through his hair.

  “I’m wearing clothes, and I don’t have to clean up yet if I don’t want to.”

  “You need to put on a shirt at least.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  Jesse looked out the window and could see that the men were coming back inside. “Fine. Then go back up to your room.” It sounded a bit over the top even to him, but he couldn’t help it. He felt like he should protect Alyssa, and part of that was not having his young workmen peering at her half-naked body.

  “What about the mess?”

  “Later, but you will do it.”

  * * *

  Alyssa grinned as she moseyed slowly towards the stairs, very aware that a good deal of her butt cheeks were peeking out from under her shorts. She was a little taken back when a fiery sting burst across the unclothed area of her bottom. “Hey!”

  “Hurry up. Please don’t come down here again without a shirt on.”

  “You only had to ask.” She ran up the stairs with a warm bottom, her tummy twisting with acute awareness and a tingling between her legs. She still wanted this man gone, and that’s why she was baiting him. Why else would she go to so much trouble? She had to admit, though, she found his domineering act sort of exciting in an embarrassing kind of way.

  She was nearly at the top of the stairs when said bossy man called her again.

  “Alyssa? Where are my hotdogs?”

  “At this moment?”

  “Yes, at this moment!?” he called up the stairs.

  “I don’t know!” she yelled back honestly. She suspected—seeing as how the trash had been collected already—that the packets minus the one she’d eaten were probably somewhere in a truck on the way to the dump. She sat down on her mother’s window seat to look at the yard while she pondered some more ways to have fun with Jesse.

  An hour later Alyssa was sick of sitting in the room, so she rifled through her things for a shirt so she could go downstairs. “Yes! Perfect!” She threw the top over her head and went downstairs.

  There was no banging going on in the back of the house, which was unusual. But after looking through the kitchen window, she realized the work had moved outside. Matty was back, and it looked like he’d finished laying pipes. Chase was sinking a large pond into the ground. It looked like the water was going to run out of the fountain, over the rocks, and then finish in the pond. It was probably going to look very pretty, not that she would ever admit that to Jesse.

  It must be hot work, she mused. She looked down at the lacy top she’d put on over her bikini top. She’d chosen it especially to wind Jesse up, and there was no doubt in her mind that if she were to go outside wearing it he would not be happy. She giggled. Maybe all the workers could do with a cold drink. She filled glasses with ice and then topped them with soda before setting them all on a tray.

  As she’d predicted Jesse hadn’t been amused and in fact had dragged her kicking and screaming into the house, but not before smacking her bottom in front of his crew. She was mortified.

  “How could you?” she wailed as Jesse kicked the door shut with his foot and placed her on the ground. “How could you do that in front of everyone?”

&n
bsp; “Hush. You asked for it. Listen, I’ve tried. I put up with your childish games, and I said nothing. I asked you nicely to clean up. You didn’t. I didn’t want you to come outside half naked because it’s not right, it’s not safe, and it’s just plain not nice.”

  “Why are you being such a prude? I’d be wearing less on the beach!”

  “I don’t have time to argue. I’ve had enough. You better have this mess cleaned up by the time I’ve finished work today.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “You’ll get a damn good spanking, and then you’ll clean up the mess anyway.”

  “You don’t have any sense of humor.”

  “I used to. Just clean up, please.”

  There was a part of her that was sure he would follow through with his threat. That part of her scanned the mess and almost caved, but then the rebellious side of her had other ideas. She couldn’t help it. A small part of her just wanted to see what would happen. “Fuck it.” She pulled open the fridge and helped herself to a couple of Jesse’s beers. “Go hard, or go home.” The fact that she was already home was beside the point.

  * * *

  Jesse and the boys stood looking with satisfaction at the new pond. It had really turned out well. Once they put in the water lilies tomorrow, it was going to look even better.

  “Thanks, boys. We may as well call it a day.”

  He ignored the sniggers as he walked inside. His two helpers and friends were well aware of his handful of a roommate, and it amused them to no end. He was nearly in the house when Uncle Pete touched his arm.

  “You don’t seem happy today. Problems?”

  “A little one.”

  “Cute little problem with red curls?”

  “That’d be the one. I’m so… frustrated with her. She’s without a doubt the most irritating brat I’ve ever known. She’ll go out of her way to be a total pain in the ass and then look at me like I’m some ogre that is trying to destroy her world.”

  “Really. So you don’t like her then?”

  “That’s the really frustrating part. Even though she is all of those things, she’s under my skin. I’m intrigued by her. I like her. I can’t help it. She isn’t always like that. There a glimpses of a heart of gold when she lets her guard down.

  “Interesting.”

  “I know that’s not the only pearl of wisdom you have for me,” Jesse smiled knowing his friend was weighing his words before he spoke.

  “You know, son, when a woman tries to drive a man away, it’s usually because she needs that man. Alyssa is young, and she may not have ever had intense feelings for anyone. She’s probably just scared. Be patient and care for her, but be firm when she needs it.”

  Jesse nodded, his old friend had given him the reassurance that he needed.

  * * *

  As he opened the door Jesse’s blood started to boil. The peace he’d been feeling a few minutes before had melted away. Things were no better than before. Without even bothering to call her this time, he marched straight up the stairs.

  “Alyssa! Alyssa open this door.” He rapped noisily when the music was suddenly turned up full blast.

  “I can’t hear you!” Alyssa called through the noise.

  “Then why did you answer?”

  “I’m psychic!”

  “Good, then you’ll know what’s about to happen next! You have to come out sometime. The longer you take, the worse it’ll be.”

  “Kiss my ass!” she shouted over the top of the music.

  Jesse shook his head before stomping up the hallway to his own room. He slammed the door without going inside, hoping his ruse would fool Alyssa. He crept back across the hallway silently to wait as long as it took.

  Jesse listened intently when the music was suddenly turned down.

  “Jesse?” she ventured. “Are you there?”

  Jesse said nothing, trying hard to breathe noiselessly. When the door creaked open slowly, he pounced on his prey.

  She tried to slam the door again, but she wasn’t fast enough.

  He took her by the arm and marched her back into the bedroom. “You are kidding me Alyssa, aren’t you?” he asked incredulously when his eyes lit on the beer cans. He snatched up one of the open cans with one hand while holding her steady with the other. “You want to see how far you can push me? Well, you’re about to find out.”

  “I don’t. I mean I wasn’t doing that!”

  “Yes you were. I won’t put up with your games any longer, do you hear me?” He sat on the bed and stood her between his legs. His hands went to the button on her shorts.

  “No!” she wailed.

  “No feigning modesty now, missy. You were happy enough to parade your booty outside before for everyone to see.”

  Tears of shame filled Alyssa’s eyes as the shorts were yanked to her knees. “I…” Before she knew it she had been bent over Jesse’s knee, and she was forced to hang onto his leg.

  “Save it,” Jesse said bringing his hand down hard on the cheeky target. “I tried to do things your way, I really did.”

  The first smack had to have stung like the dickens, but he followed it with another. He was determined to get his message across this time. The skimpy thong she wore was no protection at all for Jesse’s hard slaps as he left several pink handprints on each thigh with one hand.

  Alyssa was yelling within minutes of Jesse’s hand landing. “You stop that!” She kicked and fought and flung her hand back. “I didn’t do anything!” she wailed through ragged breaths.

  “No, you didn’t unless you were being contrary. You didn’t clean up after yourself, you weren’t considerate at all. You took my beers and drank them when I specifically said no. You’re underage!”

  “Just barely!” Alyssa squealed loudly. “No!”

  Jesse whipped the scrap of a thong to Alyssa’s knees to join her shorts and then slapped the pink cheeks hard, ignoring Alyssa’s pleading for him to stop. “You want to act like a first class brat? Brats get spanked.”

  While Alyssa wriggled and squirmed and complained loudly about his treatment of her, Jesse spanked the pretty bottom up, down, and all over until the light stains from his smacks turned a uniform dark pink.

  “I’m sorry!” Alyssa cried as she sucked in ragged breaths. “I only drank one beer!”

  The fact that she didn’t get it that it didn’t matter how many of his beers she drank frustrated Jesse to no end, and he clapped the underside of her bottom several times hard to make his point. “It doesn’t matter how many you drank. You shouldn’t have had any at all!”

  When Alyssa’s complaints became sobs of what he hoped was contrition along with the pain she must be feeling, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief and stopped spanking. He rubbed her back gently for a few minutes to give them both a chance to get themselves together.

  “Is it over?” Alyssa croaked huskily.

  Jesse helped her to stand and tried to hug her, but she remained stiff in his arms. “The spanking is, but you still have to clean up your mess.”

  Alyssa looked at the floor, refusing to make eye contact.

  “Alyssa?” Jesse took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and made her look at him. “You will do it, and I’ll be watching you to make sure.”

  “If you say so,” she dared.

  “I do say so.” His voice was almost a whisper but held a world of promise. He could empathize with her anger, but he wasn’t going to take her attitude, not anymore. He’d allowed her to throw her weight around for long enough.

  Alyssa stood with narrowed eyes and a giant pout. One hand was cupping her sex as she reached for her shorts and underwear.

  Jesse shook his head at her attitude. “You won’t be needing those,” he said quietly. “Wearing skimpy clothes seems to be your thing, so you can do the cleaning with your pants off.”

  Alyssa’s eyes boggled. “No way!”

  “Yes way. Unless you want to go get your hairbrush and lay back over my knee. Your choice.”


  “Fine,” she said. “I’ll give you a thrill.”

  “That’s not what it’s about, and you know it. You’re not going to guilt me into changing my mind either.”

  Alyssa remained silent and sullen.

  “Stand in the corner.” Jesse was less than impressed with her attitude.

  “You said I had to clean. Naked.”

  “You’re twisting my words. You will be cleaning without your pants, but right now I’m telling you to go to the corner.” He slapped her bottom hard, and she moved fast.

  Jesse went to the kitchen, leaving Alyssa to mull over her attitude and hopefully change it. He caught her stomping her bare foot out of the corner of his eye, but he decided to let that slide. She still stayed in the corner, which was something.

  When he found what he was looking for in the kitchen, he came up behind her quietly.

  “You can’t smack me again. I’m still standing here.”

  “I can see that. Thank you.”

  “I’m not doing it for you.”

  This girl was a piece of work. Her attitude hadn’t improved any. He reached around Alyssa with the apron he’d found in the kitchen drawer. “You’re still cleaning with your bottom on display, but your modesty will still be intact.”

  “I shouldn’t be modest about my ass?”

  “You know, you are this close to getting a taste of a wooden spoon. Is that what you want?”

  Alyssa shook her head.

  “Come on then.” Jesse marched to the door and held it open, waiting for Alyssa to pass.

  She did, but she skated around him warily. “You could walk in front you know.”

  “Just concentrate on what you have to get done.”

  “Is this how you plan to treat your wife when you get one?”

  “You can start in the kitchen. Any more lip from you Alyssa, and I will spank you again.” Jesse ignored her question about his future wife. It was none of her business, but it did make him think. It was probably the way he wanted his marriage to be one day. Despite trying to push the thought away, when he imagined a wife, it was Alyssa in that role. It felt as natural as breathing to imagine her as his bride. A very naughty bride that would end up over his knee regularly. It actually surprised him how happy that thought made him. He didn’t punish Alyssa because he enjoyed it, but spanking her had aroused him. Each time his hand had been bouncing off her pretty bottom, he’d thought of it for days afterwards.