"The only thing I want, May," Caine held her, stroking her hair, "is to love you with all my heart, mind and soul. And I want you to try to love me back with whatever you can give me."
"I do love you that way! Both of you. I need you to believe me."
"We believe you, baby. We really do," Layton said, leaving one hand on his brother's shoulder, and stroking May's tousled hair with the other.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Chapter 11
"You've had enough for this evening, Maybelle," Layton said, pulling the girl gently from Caine's hold. "Go get ready for bed."
"W-whom should I sleep with tonight?" She sniffled.
Layton looked at his brother and then shook his head. "Neither. Tonight you can sleep in your own bed."
May stared at him in disbelief. "Don't you want me anymore?"
"Subbies." Layton rolled his eyes. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down at her. "You are being punished. Grounding includes no sex. That hurts us as much as it hurts you, but this is necessary. Let's go."
May turned around as he led her into her bedroom. "I need to be held. Can you? Just a little while. Please?" she begged, trying desperately to catch her breath between the new onslaught of shaking sobs.
"I will be back in here after I comfort Caine and get some food into him, before he crashes and gets the crankies." He lifted her chin with his index finger. "You really hurt him, baby."
"I know." She lowered her eyes.
"Go," Layton said softly. "I'll take care of him and then I'll be back to take care of you."
"Are you going to punish me too?" May's lips quivered.
"No. I really should take a belt to your ass for this, but doing that would be wrong. It might appease my own anger, but would not benefit in teaching you a lesson. I think Caine was plenty thorough, don't you?"
"I still feel guilty." May wrapped her arms around his waist.
"We'll talk about it later when we're cuddling. Jump in the shower and put on your pajamas. I'll bring you up something to eat."
Layton watched May limp painfully towards her bathroom and close the door behind her. He returned to where his brother was still sitting on the chair in his room. "You okay?"
"No." Caine hid his face in his hands. His shoulders once again trembled with silent sobs. Layton pulled a chair in front of him and placed his hand on his knee, encouraging him to talk. "All I could see was Mom. Reduced to nothing and that hole in her neck. May…"
"Made a huge mistake for the stupidest excuse on the planet. Come here, little brother," Layton ordered, embracing Caine protectively. "I doubt she will ever do it again. Shhh, it will be all right. You did what you needed to do."
"She is going to hate me for hurting her so badly. I lost control," Caine lamented.
"Now see here," Layton gripped Caine's shoulders with both hands and forced him to look into his eyes. "I saw absolutely no loss of control at any time. You showed her that you are strong and determined, and that you love her enough to keep her from harming herself. What you need to do now is to join me in 'two sips of corn liquor, brush off your britches, and get on with shit.' Hear me?"
Caine chuckled, wiping his eyes with the tissue Layton handed him. "Pop used to say that when we were kids. It was his cure for everything."
"He sure did." Layton grinned. "It didn't stop with growing up, either. That was what he told me every time I screwed up on a test, lost a football game, and even when I got my divorce."
"I really miss him. You would think at my age, it wouldn't hurt as much," Caine sighed.
Layton hugged him again. "Me, too. You know what? Let's follow his advice. Clara has some moonshine hiding in a mason jar in the back of the freezer that she claims to be 'natural rubbing alcohol'. We will take two sips in honor of Pop, and then you will grab some dinner while I take care of our baby girl."
"Sounds good. Thank you." Caine stood and hugged his brother gratefully. "You've always known how to pick me up after I've fallen."
"That's what big brothers are for. Don't you ever forget that, okay?"
After leaving Caine downstairs with a 'half of cow' and a 'quarter acre of greens,' Layton made a plate for May and took it up to her room. He tapped on the door, then opened it slowly.
"Fuck," he whispered to himself. May was on her stomach on the bed, still crying into her pillow. Her bottom was purple, with large dark blotches painted over its entirety. He put the tray down on her nightstand and climbed on to the bed next to her. Without being invited, she flung her head into his lap, and sobbed wildly.
Layton stroked her shaking back and smoothed her hair, his eyes not leaving the well-chastised, rainbow-colored mounds. His mouth went dry, and he fought against the arousal that threatened to be his undoing. He had only had the privilege of marking a bottom to that level once before, and it had left him with the same desire—to fuck that gorgeous ass until she screamed with exhaustion. Not now, you pervert! he chastised himself. He slowed his breathing, musing about how delicious those tenderized buns looked.
"I'm sorry," May whimpered. "I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I swear I will never even look at another cigarette again for as long as I live. I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm sorry I called Caine that awful name. I'm just sorry for everything."
"I know you are. There, now…" Layton pulled her to perch upon his lap. He brushed back her hair, and then pressed his lips upon that tiny little spot between her eyes. He kissed her tenderly, then lifted her face and kissed her mouth.
"Will he ever forgive me?" May asked solemnly, tucking her head under Layton's strong chin.
"He's already forgiven you, sweetheart. He just needs to work on forgiving himself. He's never been this severe with anybody before. He's always left that to me."
"I'm just a despicable excuse for a human being. After everything you two have done for me, I go and do something so stupid. I knew somewhere inside of me that it would hurt him somehow, but I did it anyway. I'm such an idiot. I can't believe myself," May said sadly.
"You are not despicable by any means. You screwed up, got caught, and paid your dues. Don't beat yourself up any more than your butt has endured."
"I wasn't just talking about the smoking. I can't believe I called him a fuckfaced dickweasel."
"Yeah, well, that was rather creative." Layton smiled, hugging her.
"I had been saving it for you." May looked up at him with a partial grin.
"Good choice not to use it on me. You haven't experienced a mouthful of soap yet."
"That sounds awful," May shuddered.
"It is. He really did a number on your bottom, didn't he?"
"Yeah," May said sadly. "I deserve much more than this though."
"You do? Is there something you haven't shared with us?"
"Yes, sir." Her voice was tiny. "I've been smoking for months now. Not just since I started my lessons."
"I see. Do you need an incentive to stop?"
May inhaled sharply, her hesitation obvious. "Maybe. I don't know."
"I want you to start keeping a book, and writing down the things you have done that you know are off limits. Since you will not be in a position to get yourself into mischief until you are off restriction, we will initiate your book keeping in one month."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I will look through that book, and discipline you for your transgressions, every Sunday night. I will also reward you for positive actions. Just understand right now that each repeated offense will result in a more severe punishment," Layton warned. "I will also make certain you don't have the chance to drift into subspace. Pain is only fun when the endorphins kick in."
"I know," May whispered, "I saw that tonight."
"I have to say that my brother impressed me. I didn't know he had that in him."
"It was awful," May murmured, rubbing her nose against his thigh before resting her head back down in his lap.
"Did you learn something?"
/> "I won't ever mess with him again when it comes to serious stuff, that's for sure."
"Good girl. May? We love you so dearly and so deeply. Please don't take advantage of that love. We've both been burned and, honestly, are still a little gun shy."
"But she pitted you against each other and made you jealous. I would never do that. I swear!"
"We know you won't. At least, you won't do it intentionally. Jealousy can rear its ugly head anytime, and we have to be so careful not to allow it to separate us."
"Do you really think I could do it even accidentally?" May's lip started to quiver as a hurt expression flashed across her face.
"Maybelle," he made her rise to her knees, and held her face firmly in his hands, "None of us would hurt each other intentionally, but it still happens. Do you remember that day you said that fishing was for losers?"
"Yeah, so?"
"I love to fish. It is my second happiest thing next to loving you. But your statement immediately sent the message that you thought I was a loser, and someone not worthy of your love or respect."
"I never thought that for a minute! I just meant it bored me."
"I know, baby. But there was a split second where I was injured by that false belief."
"I'm so sorry." May ran her finger over his lips. "I never meant to hurt you."
"Do you see my point? You didn't mean to, yet you did. We are human. It's what we do."
"I love you, Layton," she sighed, and leaned her cheek to his chest.
"I love you too, my love." He kissed her, and then pushed her gently away. "I need to remind you that you are grounded for one month. If you try to seduce either of us during that time, there will be hell to pay."
May kissed his nose, and then fluttered her eyelashes against his. "I wouldn't dream of it."
Layton's eyes widened as her hand touched his crotch. "I owe you for this, you little vixen. Do you want me to warm up your dinner?" he asked, pulling himself off the bed.
She shook her head and slid under the covers, "No, thank you. I'm not hungry. I am going to sleep. Good night."
Layton adjust her blankets and leaned over to kiss her temple. "Good night, baby."
"Layton?"
"Yes, sweetheart?" He turned from the doorway.
"Please leave the light on."
Layton nodded. "You won't have any nightmares tonight. You will just sleep, and let tomorrow be a new day."
"If I do, can I come into bed with you?" Her voice trembled nervously.
"Of course you may. Grounded or not, you will always receive my love and comfort, and as many cuddles as you need."
"Thank you."
"Sleep well, baby girl. I love you."
***
May stretched under the stroking of the large, warm hand across her back. She shifted to look into bright blue eyes, and a wrinkled forehead expressing concern.
"Caine?" she croaked, her voice hoarse from crying.
He handed her a glass of water. "Drink this. Your throat has got to be dry. I brought you a straw so you don't have to sit up."
"Thanks. Sitting is not an option for me right now," May said quietly, accepting the glass.
"I know I was harsh on you. I had to be. I just wish…"
"I deserved every bit of it, and more. I already confessed to Layton that I've been hiding this from you guys for a while. I'm sorry," May said, as his expression began to change to one depicting anger. "I know I was dishonest and deceptive. I promise you, no more cigarettes. It's not worth the pain I caused you guys."
Caine was silent, running his hand lightly over the bruised flesh of her backside. "No, it's not. Move over. I need to hold you for a while."
May pulled his hand to her chest, covering her heart, as he spooned her. She winced as his thighs pressed against her bottom. "Ow. I am going to burn that brush the second I am allowed to see daylight again."
Caine chuckled. "Layton told me years ago that implements are very effective in making a lesson stick. I disagreed. Not anymore."
"I prefer that you just stick to your hand. You have a very potent swing without additional help."
"I'm sure you would fancy that," Caine chuckled. "But I am changing my policy. One reason is that my hands starts to hurt after a while. Another is that you stop feeling it."
"That just means it's time to stop, right?" May suggested hopefully.
"Wrong, you little brat. Damn it, May. I love you," Caine sighed, pulling her close.
"I love you, too. Caine?"
"Yes, dear?" He kissed the back of her neck.
"Will you stay with me tonight? Just to hold me?"
"What did Layton tell you?"
"He said no," May said with a loud sigh. "He said I'm grounded which means no sex or bed sharing unless I have a nightmare."
"Do you understand why he would say that?"
"Yeah," May wrinkled her nose, "because he's horny and knows that it won't take much for me to convince him to give it up."
"And you realize that it has nothing to do with how much he loves or wants you, right?"
"I guess not. I know he's not rejecting me. Just trying to save himself from blue-balls."
"No, he is not rejecting you. As for the blue-balls, I think his reasoning is more in the direction that when you are being punished, there is no play time."
"I still get cuddles though, right?"
"Of course. We are not locking you in a tower and sending a food basket through your window."
"I don't wanna sleep by myself. You guys keep me warm and snuggly."
"Just mind him. I promise to hold you until you fall asleep, okay?"
"Thank you. I really do love you, you know that right?"
"I never doubted that for a minute. Now, sleep."
Chapter 12
The month dragged on like molasses for all three of them. Even with Clara's cheerful chattering when she came to clean and cook, the mood was still overcast and bleak. Without having May 'to play with', the two men grew grumpy and argumentative with one another. May, too, grew irritable as the four walls of her bedroom seemed to close in on her. She learned that when Layton said she was grounded, it literally meant to her room, and out for no reason except meals.
"Maybelle?" Layton patted the dining room table to get her attention.
"What?"
"Did you hear what I just said?"
"No, I'm sorry. I was drifting."
"Well, pay attention. After you are done with breakfast, I want you to get dressed and be ready to leave by nine."
"Leave? You're letting me out of my prison?" May blinked dumbly.
"Your grounding is over today, darling. We're going to take a little drive to see a friend of mine."
"For what?"
"It's a surprise."
***
May fidgeted excitedly in the back seat of the pickup, sucking on a cherry tootsie pop. Cuddled in her arms was a big, stuffed teddy bear, given to her by the boys as a 'welcome back into the world of the living' present. On the seat by her side sat a picnic basket, filled to the brim with home-made fried chicken, biscuits and bacon jelly (immediately claimed by Layton), chocolate-chip cookies and a jug of sweet tea. Her two high ponytails bobbed as she kept leaning forward to ask, "Are we there yet?"
"This girl has more energy that a puppy. We will be there in ten minutes, Maybelle. Calm down," Layton said patiently.
"I can't! I've been locked away in a prison for what feels like forever," she said dramatically.
"Would it help to have a sore bottom?" Layton asked, eyeing her through the rear-view mirror. "It's been a long time since I've gotten to turn your backside nice and red."
"Stop looking for reasons to spank me, you big bully. I've been an angel."
"That is only because you couldn't get into anything. I'm sure that, had your room been on the bottom level of the house, you would have been escaping as often as you could."
"Nu uh, would not."
"Maybe not right away, but as soon as
your bottom stopped aching. Don't you go fibbing to me, now. I know you better."
"That's because he used to slip out of the house every time Pop grounded him." Caine laughed.
"I had to! I would have lived my entire life stuck in my bedroom with as much trouble I used to get into."
"You used to get into trouble, Layton? You're such a goody two shoes," May commented.
"Don't let his law-abiding nature fool you, Miss May. Layton was notorious for two things as a boy," Caine laughed, turning to look at her. "One, he was always getting himself into fights with the local bullies. And the second was his obsessive need to get in the last word."
"You used to fight?" May asked, stunned.
"A bit. Caine makes it sound worse than it was. I was the defender of the little man. You know, the guy who kicked the shit out of the big guys for picking on the nerds."
"Watch your language," Caine scolded. "He came to my rescue constantly. I didn't hit my growing spurt until I was a teenager and, prior to that, got constantly picked on. He also defended the shy girls against the mean ones."
"That's how I got into spanking. I was sort of dating this gal who tended to be a bit nasty to the less fortunate young ladies. I had heard rumors about it, but never witnessed her behavior. One day, while changing classes, I heard someone crying under the school staircase."
"I remember that. Sally, right?" Caine asked. "The railroader's daughter."
"Yep. She had orange soda poured over her head and it had stained her new white cotton dress. She came from a poor section of town, and had received a brand new dress for her fourteenth birthday. Apparently, the mean girls took that as an invitation to harass her. Becky led the pack."
"That poor girl was devastated. Not only did they ruin her dress, but she was afraid she would get a whipping when she got home because she was only supposed to wear it to church," Caine clucked.
"Caine took Sally home to get her cleaned up, and I went to find Becky. I was sixteen at the time," Layton mused, "and I remember feeling this holy anger at what she and her friends had done to that girl. I found them on the bleachers, and heard them making a joke about how hideous Sally's plain white dress was, and that it looked better with orange stains. I was livid."
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