by Hart, Allysa
“Where have you been for two weeks while we have been busting our asses cleaning around this place?” I exclaimed before slapping both of my hands over my mouth.
Callum clicked his tongue in disapproval.
I shook my head as hard as I could. “Please don’t. It’s my birthday,” I whined.
Rubbing his fingers together, he contemplated before I heard the snap. My feet lifted off the floor, and I was turned into the corner, my ability to move or speak completely taken away. I hated time out, and he knew it. “Birthday or not, vulgar words are never necessary, and the fact we are still dealing with this daily makes it apparent I need to be more serious.”
I whimpered and stared at the wall in front of me.
He passed sentence. “You will stay there until your mother is ready to leave.” He spoke to Mary next. “Take your time. Our girl needs a reminder about proper language.”
Being unable to turn or speak was the most frustrating thing. I could move only my eyes, and that got me nothing. I growled in the back of my throat when I heard the shower turn on. Of course, of course. She is going to take a shower. Didn’t she shower last night? There was no noise behind me, so I had no idea where Callum was or what he was doing. Happy Birthday to me. Happy Birthday to me. I hate the corner. Happy birthday to me. I sang in my head, not realizing I was humming until a sharp line of pain slashed across my bottom. My eyes widened, and I whined before falling silent. I hated that kind of spank. The sting was unbearable, and it left a welt, and the pain spread from there. I would feel it for the entire day, which I knew was his plan. He loved to keep me aware of him. Even when we weren’t together, he could tell when I was thinking about him. It was equally frustrating and arousing. If only he would put out the fires he so loved to start. Tonight, please let it be tonight.
While I was lost in thought, the time seemed to move a little faster, and before I knew it Mary saying she was ready to go. I held my breath until I heard the telltale snap that would bring me face to face with my disciplinarian. I let out the breath and shook out my muscles as I was lowered in front of him. He waited expectantly for me to speak, and not daring to push my luck, I spat out my apology. “I’m sorry for using vulgar language. I am smart enough to think of better ways to say things, and it is disrespectful to you and myself when I choose not to.”
Callum smiled proudly. “Good girl. Now, go have a nice day with your mother.” He leaned in for a kiss and, before he could pull away I wrapped my arms around his neck and jumped into his arms. He growled into my mouth, deepening the kiss for a minute before untangling my hands from the back of his head. “Behave yourself.”
“Yes, Sir,” I said in a singsong tone as I joined Mary at the door.
* * *
To my delight, our first stop for the morning was the salon. We drove out of our little town and into the neighboring city. Since Mary had spent the better part of two weeks teasing me about my soft hands and feet and rolling her eyes whenever I whined about chipping a nail, this was almost a bigger surprise than the coffeemaker. Once again I was overwhelmed with the amount of thought and effort she had put into making this day special. Sitting in the massage chair with my feet in the hot water, I looked over at my mother. Her head was back, her eyes closed, giving her a very relaxed look. I liked seeing peace on her face. The last two weeks had been hard on us. We were tired, but the shop was coming along, and seeing the progress was fulfilling. Not for the first time, I thought about how different my life would have been had I been raised by my mother. Mother. That feeling was becoming less and less foreign, and there had been a couple occasions when I had almost called her Mom. For some reason, I just hadn’t let it come.
Reaching over, I took her hand. She opened her eyes, and we exchanged contented looks. “Thank you.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she nodded.
“For everything.” I finished.
“The pleasure has been all mine, my dear.”
“Are you, okay? You’ve been so quiet and teary.”
“Today is about you. Where would you like to go for lunch?”
I wanted to pry, but the stubborn woman would not crack if she didn’t want to, and pushing would just lead to frustrations. Choosing wisdom, I addressed the question. “Is there any good sushi nearby?”
A smile spread across her face. “Girl after my own heart. I haven’t had sushi in years, but it’s my favorite. I’m sure we can find a place.”
I pulled out my phone and searched the Internet. We read reviews about some local places and settled on one that looked promising, conveniently located in a mall. It amazed me how comfortable she was being pampered. Her attitude about all things worldly had led me to assume she was a small town hermit who would be uncomfortable around the finer things in life. Contrary to that belief, she acted as if she did things like this every day. It made the entire outing a heck of a lot more fun.
After being pampered, we tried on clothes at the mall and chattered like old girlfriends. While we had carried on hours and hours of conversation working in the shop, this was different. This was the first time I truly felt like we were family instead of strangers trying to make it work. We went into every store, finding objects of interest and things to laugh and joke about. When we got to the sushi place, we both collapsed in our seats.
“I forgot what hard work shopping can be,” Mary announced with a soft laugh.
I shook my head, “You would think this would be easy with the long hours we have been putting in at the store.”
“For you, maybe,” Mary teased. “I’m an old lady.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh please. You have me by twenty years, and we all know that you have better stamina than I do.”
“It’s catching up to me. You will be running circles around me soon.”
Not able to decide on what we wanted when the waitress came, we ordered an obscene amount of food. “We are never going to eat all that,” I joked.
“Did you forget that I said it has been years since I’ve had sushi?”
“Why so long?” I inquired.
She gave a sad smile. “I guess I just haven’t had a reason. I’m sure you noticed I don’t leave town often. I prefer the calm and quiet.”
“Could have fooled me. You’ve been so comfortable, I feel like you do this every weekend.”
“Well, dear, I haven’t always been this way.”
I wasn’t sure how far to pry, but, now that I had Mary talking, I wanted more. “So, what changed?”
She stayed silent for a moment as she stared into the distance, traveling miles away from our table with just one look. I waited patiently for her to find her way back. “People change. I learned how fleeting life could be, and I decided to abandon everything. I put all of my money into the antique shop and made it a home for myself.”
Even though the answer was a bit abstract, I nodded in acceptance.
“You see my dear, life isn’t about fulfilling yourself with materials and people that are fleeting and meaningless. Life is about finding your place in the world. It’s about learning what makes you truly happy and pursuing it. It’s about setting goals and meeting them.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “If you take anything from our time together, please take that. You and only you are responsible for your own happiness.”
I hated being reminded I was supposed to be moving on soon. I had been avoiding emails all day because I didn’t want to see the notice of the bank deposit. I secretly prayed it would never show up. It made me feel like a crazy person. Of course I needed to move on. I was not a small town girl. I loved everything about the city, and I was eventually going to have to go back and find my own way. I needed to move to a large city where no one had ever heard the last name Burelli. Where I could use my money wisely, maybe purchase a home and get a part-time job. I wonder if Callum would like living in the city.
* * *
By the time I lugged my bags up the stairs to the apartment, I was ready to collapse, but as the
door was open, the smell of fresh herbs and garlic permeated the air. Right away, I knew what Callum was making for dinner. Since my diet had flown out the window, I had been craving pizza. He had teased me about using my last wish to fulfill it, but I always rolled my eyes and ignored him. Seeing him in the kitchen rolling out dough and smelling the fresh sauce on the stove, I was more than happy with his choice. He winked at me, and the familiar butterflies rushed my tummy. I had somehow managed to keep thoughts of him at bay through the course of the day, but now my excitement reached new heights. He had made big promises about our evening, and I had been sure to behave so I could get what I deserved. Bar the cuss word that morning, I had been a freakin angel.
“How was your day?” Callum asked as he approached, floating over to us.
“It was great. This lady has been fooling us. She belongs in a city.”
Mary walked by, shaking her head. “Belonged, dear. Those days are in the past. I much prefer my quiet, simple life.”
Callum nodded. “I’ve been in a city. I have to agree with Mary. The quality of life available here feels much better.”
Not what I wanted to hear. “What? How do you figure? Its super inconvenient! You have to travel to the city to get anything you want. There’s nowhere good to eat and zero nightlife. Where is the quality?” I tried to keep my temper in check, but it was difficult. I belonged in the city, but life without Callum wasn’t an option. I took my bags to my room and flung them onto my dresser. Throwing myself onto the bed, I wrapped my pillow securely around my face and screamed. Why does everything have to be so complicated? Why can’t I have a normal life? I hadn’t spoken to my father in weeks, I was living hundreds of miles away from the place I had always called home, my mother had been alive and well yet I had spent my whole life thinking otherwise, and, on top of everything else I was madly in love with a freaking genie and there was no promise it could go anywhere. I flopped onto my back and gasped in surprise. Callum was in my room.
“What the f…”
“Don’t.” He cut me off before the word flew.
“You scared the crap out of me!”
“I apologize. I just came to check on you. You left rather quickly.”
“I’m fine,” I sighed.
“You can’t lie to me, little sprite. I can hear you, remember?”
“Ugh, seriously! Get out of my head!”
Callum chuckled. “It’s not my choice. You invite me when you think of me.”
“I know, I know.” As amazing as I thought it would be to have a partner who could read my mind, I was wrong. Some of my thoughts did not need to be overheard, especially by him.
“Where you a good girl today?” That simple question knocked all of the frustration clear out of my system and made my pussy spasm in excitement. “I love it when you blush like that,” he continued to tease. “There is some time before dinner to paint your bottom with that same beautiful blush if you were naughty today.”
I shook my head. A naughty girl spanking was not what I wanted. Not at all. “I was good. I swear.”
His mouth quirked in a half smile. “I hoped you would say that. Come here.” He pointed at the floor directly in front of him.
Scrambling off the bed, I found my place. I stood staring at his abs with my hands behind my back, but I couldn’t keep still. I shook with anticipation. He put a finger under my chin and brought my lips to his. “Good girl.” We settled into a sensual kiss, our lips brushing against one another’s. Wrapping my arms up around his neck, I pulled him closer. This was what I needed. Getting lost in his kiss was the cure for my anxiety.
The timer on the oven beeped, and I stomped my feet in frustration. “How is it done already?” I whined. Thankfully, he snapped his fingers and pulled me back in. Okay, so maybe having a magical boyfriend who can read my mind is a good thing.
“That was the best pizza I’ve ever had. Oh my God, I am so full.” I groaned in satisfaction as I leaned back in my seat. I felt as though I had gained ten pounds in one day. Each meal had been better than the last, and I had stuffed myself. “I can’t remember the last time I ate like this.”
“It’s good for you. You could use a little meat on your bones.” Callum pinched my thigh under the table, making me squeak.
“You two behave. I’m going down to Able’s for poker night,” Mary announced. My stomach flipped. I had never been in the apartment alone with Callum. He made it feel like we were alone, but I would be able to fully relax with Mary gone.
Rounding the table, Mary kissed me on the head. “Happy Birthday, dear. I had a wonderful day with you. Thank you.” She laid her plate next to the sink and slipped her shoes on. “I won’t be back for hours. Bye” Her parting words made Callum and I laugh out loud at her forwardness.
“I think it’s safe to say she’s not worried.”
“She shouldn’t be. She may be my mother, but I am an adult, and she doesn’t get to boss me. It’s not her job,” I argued.
Callum sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Not her job, huh? Then whose job is it?”
My face heated. “I believe that’s your department, Sir.”
A feral growl rumbled through him, and the purple of his eyes began to sparkle. “Come here.”
Each time he gave a command, my pussy flooded my panties with arousal. He didn’t have to ask. With a snap of his fingers, he could do anything he pleased to my body, but sometimes I had to make the decision to obey or not. It empowered me and made me crave the moments when I was able to submit to him.
The table between us disappeared, and I stood up in front of him. Taking my hands, he penetrated me with a look so deep I couldn’t move. “I believe, I made you a promise, did I not?”
Why did that sound so dangerous? This man had done things to me I had never allowed anyone to do. He had touched me in ways that would have literally gotten anyone else killed if my father found out, but, more than that, he made me ache for it. “Yes, Sir,” I whispered.
“And what was that promise my little sprite?”
“That you were going to give me a birthday memory that would last the rest of my life.”
“Indeed. I know you don’t like to talk about it, but the truth is we aren’t sure where either of us will be next year or in the years to follow.”
“Please don’t,” I begged. “I can’t think about that. Not tonight.”
“I know it’s hard for you, but it’s important. I want you to let yourself go for me tonight. I want you to relax and allow me to take charge. I want you to feel the way I command your body here, here and here.” He touched my forehead, chest, and unapologetically snaked his hand beneath my skirt, fluttering his fingers against the gusset of my soaked panties. The touch was so light it could have almost gone unnoticed, however, I was acutely aware of everything he did. “Do you trust me?”
“With everything I am, Sir.”
“Good girl. It’s time for your spanking.”
Tugging my arm slightly, he pulled me across his lap. Lap? I wrenched backward to see what was happening. Sure enough, the cloud at his waist was gone. In its place was all man. Hips to feet, he was all there. His chest was bare as always, but he wore light washed jeans. He couldn’t look any sexier. I looked up at his face, and he winked.
“I-is it all there?” I timidly gestured to where his cock should be.
He gave a sad smile and shook his head. “Some things even genies can’t do, but I will make sure you do not miss it. I promise.”
With a sigh, I lay over his knees. It was a wholly new feeling, and a good one. My side was pressed snugly against his muscled abs, and I could feel his warmth. One arm held me securely, and I heard the snap of his fingers just before my pants and panties disappeared. Crossing one ankle over the other, I squeezed as tight as I could. I was already dripping wet, but the intimacy of this position magnified it. Embarrassing to think I could be leaving a wet mark on his pants.
His hand settled on the back of my knee and dragged slo
wly up and around my bottom before descending down the other side. “What I wouldn’t give to be able to claim you as mine, sprite.”
“I’m already yours, Sir.”
“That you are, my girl, that you are.” The tickle of his fingers on my inner thigh coaxed my legs open, giving him full access to all of me, and he took it. With his hand pressed into the seam of my pussy, I moaned in delight. “You are so wet,” he murmured appreciatively. “Is this all for me?” I looked back in time to see him put his finger to his lips to taste my offering in one of the hottest moments I had ever experienced. My face burned with embarrassment as he opened his eyes and regarded me for a moment. “You are so sweet, my little sprite. I can’t wait to have you pinned on your back as I take my fill.”
Words escaped me, and I felt the need to look away. As soon as I did, the first smack fell on my vulnerable bottom before he rubbed the sting away. Moaning, I pressed my bottom into his hand, silently begging for more. He did not disappoint, repeating the pattern over and over. Spank, caress, spank, caress, back and forth, up and down. The pressure in my core built when the caresses changed to him exploring my sex with his fingers. I whimpered in need as I pressed against him, trying to get more.
“Not yet, naughty girl.” His fingers disappeared and the spanking continued. I was on fire, inside and out, my bottom burning from crest to sit spots. Again, his fingers renewed their exploration, this time dragging the moisture toward my most secret area. Ass play had always been off limits, but body sang for him. He massaged my ring, bringing more and more moisture to my bottom hole. Without warning, he pressed his finger to the entrance. Instinctively, I tensed and tried to get away. Clicking his tongue, he laid some intense smacks to the backs of my thighs, making me cry out.
“You don’t get to close yourself off to me. All that you are, is mine and mine alone.”
Whimpering, I forced myself to relax. The pressure built until the tip of his finger glided into my ass. Neither of us moved. It was a show of pure dominance. He would give, and I would take, and there was nothing I could do about it.
